Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 19, NWS Wilmington, NC

April 28, 2011Bladen County, North Carolina

NWS Wilmington, NC issued this tornado warning at Apr 28, 2011, 2:01 PM EDT for Bladen County, North Carolina. It was in force for 44 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Apr 28, 2011, 2:01 PM EDT (18:01 UTC)
Expired: Apr 28, 2011, 2:45 PM EDT
In force: 44 min
Issued by: NWS Wilmington, NC
Area: Storm-based polygon

County Bladen County, NC

The radar

The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 78 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:02 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Apr 28, 2:20 PM EDT	FUNNEL CLOUD	3 Sw Elizabethtown, NC	FUNNEL CLOUD WAS SPOTTED NEAR CENTER RD. MOVED TO SUGGS TALOR ROAD AND OWEN HILL RD.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

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 28, 8:48 AM EDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Newport, NC (KMHX), launched 12:00Z, 6.0 hours before the alert went out and 141 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: 1638 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -4 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 502 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 227 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 220 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 1.0
Supercell composite: 6.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

966 
WFUS52 KILM 281801
TORILM
NCC017-281845-
/O.NEW.KILM.TO.W.0019.110428T1801Z-110428T1845Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
201 PM EDT THU APR 28 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON NC HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL BLADEN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 245 PM EDT

* AT 158 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR LISBON...OR
  ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTH OF ELIZABETHTOWN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* SOME LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
   WHITE LAKE...

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

GET UNDER A TABLE OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. SEEK SHELTER ON
THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH
AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS
STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM EDT THURSDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.

&&

PLEASE REPORT HAIL...DOWNED TREES OR DAMAGING WINDS TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON NC...TOLL FREE AT 877-633-6772...WHEN
YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

LAT...LON 3477 7842 3477 7841 3474 7838 3470 7837
      3469 7835 3466 7832 3465 7833 3464 7831
      3462 7831 3445 7858 3458 7872 3480 7844
      3479 7843
TIME...MOT...LOC 1802Z 230DEG 43KT 3458 7856

$$

BACON

4 follow-up statements

421 
WWUS52 KILM 281813
SVSILM

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
213 PM EDT THU APR 28 2011

NCC017-281845-
/O.CON.KILM.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-110428T1845Z/
BLADEN NC-
213 PM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 245 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
BLADEN COUNTY...

AT 211 PM EDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR WHITE LAKE...OR 7 MILES EAST OF ELIZABETHTOWN...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 45 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF THE
INDICATED COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

&&

PLEASE REPORT HAIL...DOWNED TREES OR DAMAGING WINDS TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON NC...TOLL FREE AT 877-633-6772...WHEN
YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

LAT...LON 3477 7842 3477 7841 3474 7838 3470 7837
      3469 7835 3466 7832 3465 7833 3464 7831
      3462 7831 3449 7851 3458 7872 3466 7862
      3479 7843
TIME...MOT...LOC 1813Z 229DEG 38KT 3463 7847

$$

BACON

395 
WWUS52 KILM 281824
SVSILM

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
224 PM EDT THU APR 28 2011

NCC017-281845-
/O.CON.KILM.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-110428T1845Z/
BLADEN NC-
224 PM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 245 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
BLADEN COUNTY...

AT 219 PM EDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 
NEAR ELIZABETHTOWN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. A SECOND TORNADO 
WAS JUST WEST OF HICKORY GROVE...ALSO MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO LAGOON AND
WHITE LAKE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM EDT THURSDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.

&&

PLEASE REPORT HAIL...DOWNED TREES OR DAMAGING WINDS TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON NC...TOLL FREE AT 877-633-6772...WHEN
YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

LAT...LON 3477 7842 3477 7841 3474 7838 3470 7837
      3469 7835 3466 7832 3465 7833 3464 7831
      3462 7831 3449 7851 3458 7872 3466 7862
      3479 7843
TIME...MOT...LOC 1824Z 229DEG 38KT 3465 7856

$$

BACON

005 
WWUS52 KILM 281832
SVSILM

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
232 PM EDT THU APR 28 2011

NCC017-281845-
/O.CON.KILM.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-110428T1845Z/
BLADEN NC-
232 PM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 245 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
BLADEN COUNTY...

AT 228 PM EDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR WHITE LAKE...OR 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF ELIZABETHTOWN...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF THE
INDICATED COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

PLEASE REPORT HAIL...DOWNED TREES OR DAMAGING WINDS TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON NC...TOLL FREE AT 877-633-6772...WHEN
YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

LAT...LON 3477 7842 3477 7841 3474 7838 3470 7837
      3469 7835 3467 7833 3454 7852 3465 7863
      3466 7862 3479 7843
TIME...MOT...LOC 1831Z 230DEG 36KT 3467 7851

$$

BACON

648 
WWUS52 KILM 281845
SVSILM

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
245 PM EDT THU APR 28 2011

NCC017-281855-
/O.EXP.KILM.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-110428T1845Z/
BLADEN NC-
245 PM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL BLADEN COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...

AT 240 PM EDT...THE TORNADO WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT 
OF THE WARNED AREA INTO SAMPSON COUNTY...THUS THE TORNADO WARNING 
WAS ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. 

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM EDT THURSDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.

PLEASE REPORT HAIL...DOWNED TREES OR DAMAGING WINDS TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON NC...TOLL FREE AT 877-633-6772...WHEN
YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

LAT...LON 3477 7842 3477 7841 3474 7838 3470 7837
      3469 7835 3467 7833 3454 7852 3465 7863
      3466 7862 3479 7843
TIME...MOT...LOC 1845Z 230DEG 36KT 3476 7838

$$

BACON

The office that day

Everything else NWS Wilmington, NC issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 28, 9:06 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	ILM	Bladen	54 min
Apr 28, 9:32 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	ILM	Bladen	28 min
Apr 28, 9:40 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	ILM	Brunswick, Columbus	50 min
Apr 28, 9:43 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	ILM	Bladen	62 min
Apr 28, 10:18 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	ILM	Pender	57 min
Apr 28, 11:33 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILM	Robeson	57 min
Apr 28, 12:15 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	ILM	Robeson	34 min
Apr 28, 12:42 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	ILM	Bladen, Columbus, Robeson	48 min
Apr 28, 1:02 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	ILM	Bladen, Robeson	43 min
Apr 28, 1:51 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	ILM	Bladen, Robeson	54 min
Apr 28, 2:24 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILM	Columbus, Robeson	51 min
Apr 28, 2:52 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	ILM	Bladen, Columbus	38 min
Apr 28, 3:24 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILM	Bladen, Columbus, Pender	51 min
Apr 28, 3:37 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	ILM	Bladen, Columbus, Pender	38 min
Apr 28, 4:10 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	ILM	Pender	40 min
Apr 28, 4:22 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	ILM	Bladen	23 min
Apr 28, 4:49 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	ILM	Pender	41 min
Apr 28, 5:13 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	ILM	Pender	32 min
Apr 28, 5:36 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	ILM	Pender	24 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.