Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Wilmington, NC

April 16, 2011Darlington County, Dillon County, Marlboro County, South Carolina

NWS Wilmington, NC issued this tornado warning at Apr 16, 2011, 2:48 PM EDT for Darlington County, Dillon County, Marlboro County, South Carolina. It was in force for 42 min. 4 reports 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 16, 2011, 2:48 PM EDT (18:48 UTC)
Expired
Apr 16, 2011, 3:30 PM EDT
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS Wilmington, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Darlington County, SC, Dillon County, SC, Marlboro County, SC

The radar

The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 123 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:49 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 16, 2:53 PM EDTHAIL 0.88Darlington, SCNICKLE SIZE HAIL REPORTED 3 MI E OF DARLINTON JET PORT
Apr 16, 3:02 PM EDTHAIL 0.883 W Brownsville, SCDIME TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL
Apr 16, 3:25 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGLittle Rock, SCTREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
Apr 16, 3:25 PM EDTTORNADOLittle Rock, SCAT LEAST FIVE TREES ON HOMES. THREE PEOPLE WERE ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND WERE RELEASED.

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 16, 12:02 PM EDTTornado Watch PDSSPC11 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 6.8 hours before the alert went out and 170 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 2011-04-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 421 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 2011-04-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 0 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
421 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-9 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
687 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
0 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
0 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
0 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.

053 
WFUS52 KILM 161848
TORILM
SCC031-033-069-161930-
/O.NEW.KILM.TO.W.0002.110416T1848Z-110416T1930Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
248 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON NC HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN DARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA
  NORTHWESTERN DILLON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA
  SOUTHERN MARLBORO COUNTY IN NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 330 PM EDT

* AT 244 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR
  DARLINGTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

* SOME LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
   BROWNSVILLE...
   BINGHAM...
   DUNBAR...
   MINTURN...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 1 
INCH OR GREATER 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 900 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING
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 3467 7961 3464 7946 3462 7945 3452 7932
      3430 7965 3431 7966 3428 7970 3429 7973
      3427 7974 3425 7978 3425 7981 3422 7986
      3436 8000
TIME...MOT...LOC 1848Z 231DEG 50KT 3435 7984

$$

DCH
2 follow-up statements
838 
WWUS52 KILM 161912
SVSILM

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
312 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

SCC031-033-069-161930-
/O.CON.KILM.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-110416T1930Z/
MARLBORO SC-DILLON SC-DARLINGTON SC-
312 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 330 PM EDT FOR EASTERN
DARLINGTON...NORTHWESTERN DILLON AND SOUTHERN MARLBORO COUNTIES...

AT 309 PM EDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR BROWNSVILLE...OR 12 MILES WEST OF DILLON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...
   DUNBAR...
   MINTURN...

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.

DIME TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL HAS BEEN REPORTED BY THE PUBLIC WITH THIS 
STORM WHEN IT WAS JUST WEST OF BROWNSVILLE AROUND 305 PM. 

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING
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 3467 7961 3464 7946 3462 7945 3452 7932
      3430 7965 3431 7966 3428 7970 3429 7973
      3427 7974 3425 7978 3425 7981 3422 7986
      3436 8000
TIME...MOT...LOC 1910Z 232DEG 49KT 3442 7957

$$

DCH
444 
WWUS52 KILM 161931
SVSILM

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
331 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

SCC031-033-069-161939-
/O.EXP.KILM.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-110416T1930Z/
MARLBORO SC-DILLON SC-DARLINGTON SC-
331 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN DARLINGTON...NORTHWESTERN DILLON
AND SOUTHERN MARLBORO COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 330 PM EDT...

AT 326 PM EDT...THE TORNADO WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING WILL MOVE OUT 
OF THE WARNED AREA AROUND 330 PM...THUS THE TORNADO WARNING WAS 
ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING
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 3467 7961 3464 7946 3462 7945 3452 7932
      3430 7965 3431 7966 3428 7970 3429 7973
      3427 7974 3425 7978 3425 7981 3422 7986
      3436 8000
TIME...MOT...LOC 1929Z 232DEG 49KT 3458 7932

$$

DCH

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 16, 12:07 PM EDTTornado WarningILMDillon, Horry, Marion37 min
Apr 16, 1:16 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMHorry29 min
Apr 16, 2:16 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMDarlington, Dillon, Florence, Marlboro44 min
Apr 16, 3:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMDillon, Marlboro70 min
Apr 16, 3:27 PM EDTTornado WarningILMDillon, Marlboro48 min
Apr 16, 3:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMDillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, Williamsburg35 min
Apr 16, 4:17 PM EDTTornado WarningILMDillon, Horry, Marion58 min
Apr 16, 4:18 PM EDTTornado WarningILMFlorence, Williamsburg42 min
Apr 16, 4:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMDillon, Florence, Horry, Marion, Williamsburg41 min
Apr 16, 5:03 PM EDTTornado WarningILMFlorence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, Williamsburg42 min
Apr 16, 5:03 PM EDTTornado WarningILMDillon, Horry57 min
Apr 16, 5:28 PM EDTTornado WarningILMGeorgetown, Williamsburg47 min
Apr 16, 5:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMHorry42 min
Apr 16, 6:19 PM EDTTornado WarningILMGeorgetown26 min
Apr 16, 6:47 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningILM43 min
Apr 16, 7:10 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningILM110 min
Apr 16, 7:48 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningILM57 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 2011Every tornado warning in 2011Tornadoes 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.