Alert archive / Tennessee / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 92, NWS Huntsville, AL

April 27, 2011Franklin County, Tennessee

NWS Huntsville, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 27, 2011, 5:15 PM CDT for Franklin County, Tennessee. It was in force for 45 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Apr 27, 2011, 5:15 PM CDT (22:15 UTC)
Expired: Apr 27, 2011, 6:00 PM CDT
In force: 45 min
Issued by: NWS Huntsville, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Emergency: Tornado emergency

County Franklin County, TN

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 32 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:16 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 27, 1:42 PM CDT	Tornado Watch PDS	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 119 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 714 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 57 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -84 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: -38 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

421 
WFUS54 KHUN 272215
TORHUN
TNC051-272300-
/O.NEW.KHUN.TO.W.0092.110427T2215Z-110427T2300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
515 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  FRANKLIN COUNTY IN TENNESSEE...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF WINCHESTER...

* UNTIL 600 PM CDT

* AT 515 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 15 MILES
  SOUTHWEST OF WINCHESTER MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  WINCHESTER AND DECHERD BY 525 PM CDT...
  COWAN BY 530 PM CDT...
  SEWANEE BY 535 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WARNING MEANS THAT A TORNADO IS OCCURRING OR IMMINENT. YOU
SHOULD ACTIVATE YOUR TORNADO ACTION PLAN AND TAKE PROTECTIVE ACTION
NOW.

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

&&

LAT...LON 3532 8596 3528 8590 3527 8589 3523 8589
      3523 8587 3502 8586 3500 8588 3500 8608
      3520 8624 3533 8599
TIME...MOT...LOC 2215Z 242DEG 51KT 3505 8623

$$

CME

1 follow-up statement

704 
WWUS54 KHUN 272219
SVSHUN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
519 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

TNC051-272300-
/O.CON.KHUN.TO.W.0092.000000T0000Z-110427T2300Z/
FRANKLIN TN-
519 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR FRANKLIN
COUNTY...

...THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY...

AT 516 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR 
HUNTLAND...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
DECHERD...COWAN...SHERWOOD...SEWANEE...ALTO AND ST. ANDREWS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY! DO NOT RUN
OUTSIDE TO FIND THE TORNADO...THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY
LIFE THREATENING SITUATION!

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE.

&&

LAT...LON 3532 8596 3528 8590 3527 8589 3523 8589
      3523 8587 3502 8586 3500 8588 3500 8608
      3520 8624 3533 8599
TIME...MOT...LOC 2219Z 242DEG 51KT 3508 8617

$$

BCC

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Huntsville, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Apr 27, 3:09 PM CDT, 2 hours 6 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 27, 3:09 PM CDT, 2 hours 6 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
309 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...MAJOR SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK CONTINUES ACROSS THE TENNESSEE
VALLEY...

THE TENNESSEE VALLEY IS CURRENTLY BEING BOMBARDED BY A THIRD ROUND
OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. WITH THE COLD FRONT AND SURFACE LOW STILL
WELL TO OUR WEST...THE AREA IS RECOVERING QUICKLY FROM EARLIER COLD
POOLING AND DISCRETE STORMS DEVELOPING ALONG THE DRYLINE ACROSS
NORTH MISSISSIPPI ARE RAPIDLY MOVING INTO THE CWFA. 18Z SOUNDINGS
FROM KBMX AND REDSTONE ARSENAL INDICATE AN EXTREMELY VOLATILE
SITUATION WILL EXIST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING WITH
SIGNIFICANT CAPE AND SHEAR PRESENT. SPC MESO ANALYSIS SUGGESTS
WHATEVER CIN WAS PRESENT IS QUICKLY DISSIPATING.

THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING HOURS...EXPECT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...WITH
LONG TRACK TORNADOES...DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND FLASH
FLOODING ANYWHERE ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY. RESIDENTS OF THE
TENNESSEE VALLEY ARE URGED TO REMAIN EXTREMELY VIGILANT THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS AS THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION
CONTINUES TO UNFOLD!

THE SEVERE THREAT WILL WANE THIS EVENING AS THE COLD FRONT
EVENTUALLY MOVES THROUGH THE CWFA. WHILE A FEW SHOWERS WILL LINGER
THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING IN FROM THE
WEST WILL BRING SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES AND DRY CONDITIONS TO THE
AREA THROUGH AT LEAST SATURDAY.

THE NEXT COLD FRONT WILL IMPACT THE CWFA FROM THE NORTHWEST SUNDAY
NIGHT. LOOKS LIKE GLOBAL MODELS HAVE SLOWED A TOUCH IN HOW QUICKLY
THEY BRING THE FRONT THROUGH...AND AS A RESULT MAY SEE THUNDERSTORMS
LINGER THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. WEAK UPPER RIDGING AND A SURFACE HIGH
WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
HUNTSVILLE    53  72  49  78  51 /  70   0   0   0   0
SHOALS        51  72  49  78  51 /  40   0   0   0   0
VINEMONT      51  70  46  76  48 /  70   0   0   0   0
FAYETTEVILLE  51  69  48  75  50 /  70   0   0   0   0
ALBERTVILLE   53  70  43  77  46 /  90   0   0   0   0
FORT PAYNE    55  70  44  77  45 /  90  10   0   0   0

&&

.HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: COLBERT...CULLMAN...DEKALB...FRANKLIN AL...JACKSON...
     LAUDERDALE...LAWRENCE...LIMESTONE...MADISON...MARSHALL...
     MORGAN.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     COLBERT...CULLMAN...DEKALB...FRANKLIN AL...JACKSON...
     LAUDERDALE...LAWRENCE...LIMESTONE...MADISON...MARSHALL...
     MORGAN.

TN...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: FRANKLIN TN...LINCOLN...MOORE.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     FRANKLIN TN...LINCOLN...MOORE.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 27, 5:07 PM CDT, 8 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
507 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-291000-
LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN-
MARSHALL-JACKSON-DEKALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN-
507 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS
OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE.

.DAY ONE...THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT...

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY UNTIL
1000 PM CDT.

CLUSTERS OF SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO FORM AHEAD OF...AND ALONG
A STRONG COLD FRONT AND MOVE RAPIDLY ACROSS THE REGION. A POTENTIAL
FOR VIOLENT...LONG TRACK TORNADOES EXISTS...IN ADDITION TO DAMAGING
WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. RESIDENTS ACROSS THE
TENNESSEE VALLEY ARE URGED TO REMAIN ALERT FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND
WARNINGS.

THE HEAVY RAINFALL FROM THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE
THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING...WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY EVOLVE
INTO A SMALL STREAM AND RIVER FLOODING EVENT OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
PLEASE REFER TO THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH AND THE FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS THREAT...AND CONTINUE TO MONITOR
RIVER FLOOD WARNINGS AS THEY ARE ISSUED FOR SEVERAL RIVERS AND
STREAMS ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY.

ALSO...GUSTY WINDS OUTSIDE OF THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL LIKELY
REACH ADVISORY CRITERIA...THEREFORE A WIND ADVISORY WILL BE IN
EFFECT THROUGH 8 PM WEDNESDAY EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...

THERE IS ANOTHER CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS WEEKEND...AS
ANOTHER COLD FRONT PUSHES ACROSS THE AREA.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS
EXPECTED THROUGH THIS EVENING. SPOTTER STORM REPORTS ARE GREATLY
APPRECIATED.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 27, 4:44 PM CDT, 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
444 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0439 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     HARVEST                 34.86N 86.75W
04/27/2011                   MADISON            AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WALL TRIANA AND NICK DAVIS

&&

Local storm report, Apr 27, 4:45 PM CDT, 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
445 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0433 PM     TORNADO          HARVEST                 34.86N 86.75W
04/27/2011                   MADISON            AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO ON GROUND AT NICK DAVIS AND INTERSTATE 65.

&&

Local storm report, Apr 27, 5:00 PM CDT, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
500 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0454 PM     TORNADO          4 N MERIDIANVILLE       34.90N 86.57W
04/27/2011                   MADISON            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TORNADO ON GROUND HWY 231 AND WALKER LANE.

&&

Local storm report, Apr 27, 5:02 PM CDT, 13 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
502 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0444 PM     TORNADO          4 N MERIDIANVILLE       34.90N 86.57W
04/27/2011                   MADISON            AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            HOMES DAMAGED

&&

Local storm report, Apr 27, 5:06 PM CDT, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
506 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0445 PM     TORNADO          2 ESE HARVEST           34.85N 86.71W
04/27/2011                   MADISON            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            HWY 53 AND JEFF ROAD TORNADO ON GROUND. GAS STATION
            LEVELED. PIGGLY WIGGLY GROCERY STORE DAMAGED. PEOPLE
            TRAPPED.

&&

Local storm report, Apr 27, 5:08 PM CDT, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
508 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0340 PM     TORNADO          NEW HOPE                34.54N 86.42W
04/27/2011                   MADISON            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            DEBRIS FALLING OUT OF SKY. LOCATION WAS MAPLE ROAD AND
            BUTLER MILL ROAD.

0343 PM     TORNADO          UNION GROVE             34.40N 86.45W
04/27/2011                   MARSHALL           AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            POWER LINES DOWN AND DEBRIS BLOCKING ROADS.

0344 PM     HAIL             MT HOPE                 34.46N 87.48W
04/27/2011  M1.00 INCH       LAWRENCE           AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            MEASURED BY SPOTTER.

0345 PM     HAIL             MT HOPE                 34.46N 87.48W
04/27/2011  E1.75 INCH       LAWRENCE           AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

0346 PM     TORNADO          MT HOPE                 34.46N 87.48W
04/27/2011                   LAWRENCE           AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TORNADO ON GROUND WITH DEBRIS AND ROARING SOUND.

0348 PM     TORNADO          MT HOPE                 34.46N 87.48W
04/27/2011                   LAWRENCE           AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TORNADO ON GROUND.

0352 PM     TORNADO          HATTON                  34.56N 87.41W
04/27/2011                   LAWRENCE           AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            MT HOPE TO HATTON. NUMEROUS HOUSES ARE GONE.

0353 PM     TORNADO          HATTON                  34.56N 87.41W
04/27/2011                   LAWRENCE           AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ONE HALF MILE WIDE TORNADO ALONG HWY 157 AND HWY 101 NEAR
            HATTON.

0355 PM     TORNADO          MOULTON                 34.48N 87.29W
04/27/2011                   LAWRENCE           AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            TORNADO ON GROUN NORTH OF MOULTON AT 102 AND CR41.

0407 PM     TORNADO          HULACO                  34.31N 86.60W
04/27/2011                   MORGAN             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TORNADO ON GROUND HULACO RD.

0411 PM     TORNADO          4 WNW ARAB              34.33N 86.56W
04/27/2011                   MARSHALL           AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREE FELL ON CAR WITH ENTRAPMENT. INJURIES UNKNOWN.

0416 PM     TORNADO          4 W TRINITY             34.61N 87.15W
04/27/2011                   LAWRENCE           AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TORNADO REPORTED ON GROUND IN MORGAN COUNTY MOVING INTO
            SOURTHERN LIMESTON COUNTY.

0426 PM     TORNADO          HUNTSVILLE              34.73N 86.59W
04/27/2011                   MADISON            AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            TORNADO ON GROUND LILLY FLAG AND SOUTH MEMORIAL PARKWAY.

0431 PM     TORNADO          HUNTSVILLE              34.73N 86.59W
04/27/2011                   MADISON            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TORNADO ON GROUND. HWY 72 AND MOORESVILLE ROAD. PATH 22
            YARDS WIDE.

0433 PM     TORNADO          HARVEST                 34.86N 86.75W
04/27/2011                   MADISON            AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO ON GROUND AT NICK DAVIS AND INTERSTATE 65.

0506 PM     TORNADO          MADISON                 34.70N 86.75W
04/27/2011                   MADISON            AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO ON GROUND AT U.S. HIGHWAY 72 AND SLAUGHTER ROAD.

&&

The office that day

Everything else NWS Huntsville, AL issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 27, 5:36 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	HUN	Lincoln, Moore	24 min
Apr 27, 5:40 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Franklin, Lincoln	35 min
Apr 27, 5:51 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	HUN	Lincoln, Moore	24 min
Apr 27, 6:11 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	HUN	Franklin	34 min
Apr 27, 6:20 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Franklin, Lincoln	40 min
Apr 27, 7:01 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	HUN	Franklin	29 min
Apr 27, 9:39 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Lincoln	27 min
Apr 27, 10:06 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	HUN	Franklin, Lincoln	49 hr
Apr 27, 10:07 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	HUN	Franklin	53 min
Apr 27, 11:29 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Franklin, Lincoln, Moore	46 min
Apr 27, 12:04 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	HUN	Franklin, Lincoln	26 min
Apr 27, 12:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Franklin, Lincoln, Moore	47 min
Apr 27, 12:25 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	HUN	Franklin	20 min
Apr 27, 12:40 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	HUN	Franklin, Lincoln, Moore	8 hr
Apr 27, 4:37 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Emergency	HUN	Lincoln	23 min
Apr 27, 4:56 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Emergency	HUN	Franklin, Lincoln	34 min
Apr 27, 5:19 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Emergency	HUN	Franklin	26 min
Apr 27, 5:23 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Emergency	HUN	Franklin	22 min
Apr 27, 5:30 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	HUN	Lincoln	30 min
Apr 27, 5:43 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	HUN	Franklin, Lincoln	32 min
Apr 27, 5:54 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	HUN	Franklin	21 min
Apr 27, 6:10 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	HUN	Franklin	20 min
Apr 27, 6:13 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	HUN	Lincoln, Moore	32 min
Apr 27, 6:39 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	HUN	Franklin, Lincoln, Moore	21 min
Apr 27, 6:55 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	HUN	Franklin	35 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Tennessee, 2011 Every tornado warning in 2011 Tornadoes in 2011

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.