Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 6, NWS Wilmington, NC

April 16, 2011Bladen County, Columbus County, Robeson County, North Carolina

NWS Wilmington, NC issued this tornado warning at Apr 16, 2011, 4:53 PM EDT for Bladen County, Columbus County, Robeson County, North Carolina. It was in force for 45 min. 3 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, 4:53 PM EDT (20:53 UTC)
Expired
Apr 16, 2011, 5:38 PM EDT
In force
45 min
Issued by
NWS Wilmington, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Bladen County, NC, Columbus County, NC, Robeson County, NC

The radar

The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 79 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:54 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, 4:58 PM EDTTORNADOBladenboro, NC*** 1 FATAL *** SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AND 1 FATALITY IN BLADENBORO AREA.
Apr 16, 5:04 PM EDTTORNADO1 E Bladenboro, NCFIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED TORNADO ON THE GROUND WITH MAJOR DAMAGE.
Apr 16, 5:37 PM EDTTORNADO1 Nne Clarkton, NCTORNADO ON THE GROUND... INTERSECT OF 701 AND 131

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

Newport, NC (KMHX), launched 12:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 148 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, Newport, NC at 12:00Z on 2011-04-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 7 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, Newport, NC at 12:00Z on 2011-04-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 201 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
7 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-6 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
824 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
201 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
308 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.

447 
WFUS52 KILM 162053
TORILM
NCC017-047-155-162200-
/O.NEW.KILM.TO.W.0006.110416T2053Z-110416T2200Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON NC HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN ROBESON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA
  BLADEN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA
  NORTHERN COLUMBUS COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 600 PM EDT

* AT 450 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR
  BLADENBORO...OR ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LUMBERTON...MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

* SOME LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
   EMERSON...
   DUART...
   RUSKIN...
   AMMON...
   HICKORY GROVE...

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 3475 7839 3472 7838 3470 7836 3468 7833
      3464 7831 3463 7832 3459 7829 3441 7886
      3467 7904 3485 7876 3485 7852 3485 7850
TIME...MOT...LOC 2053Z 233DEG 49KT 3456 7885

$$

REK
3 follow-up statements
373 
WWUS52 KILM 162112
SVSILM

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

NCC047-155-162122-
/O.CAN.KILM.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-110416T2200Z/
COLUMBUS NC-ROBESON NC-
512 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL ROBESON AND NORTHWESTERN
COLUMBUS COUNTIES IS CANCELED...

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 3475 7839 3469 7836 3468 7833 3464 7831
      3463 7832 3459 7829 3451 7875 3465 7882
      3468 7881 3475 7867 3485 7852 3485 7850
TIME...MOT...LOC 2112Z 253DEG 33KT 3462 7864

$$

NCC017-162200-
/O.CON.KILM.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-110416T2200Z/
BLADEN NC-
512 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
BLADEN COUNTY...

AT 507 PM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR DUBLIN...OR 5 MILES WEST OF ELIZABETHTOWN...
MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO RUSKIN...
AMMON...WHITE LAKE...LAGOON AND HICKORY GROVE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THIS
STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG TO VIOLENT TORNADOES. IF YOU ARE
IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY!

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 3475 7839 3469 7836 3468 7833 3464 7831
      3463 7832 3459 7829 3451 7875 3465 7882
      3468 7881 3475 7867 3485 7852 3485 7850
TIME...MOT...LOC 2112Z 253DEG 33KT 3462 7864

$$

REK
665 
WWUS52 KILM 162130
SVSILM

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

NCC017-162200-
/O.CON.KILM.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-110416T2200Z/
BLADEN NC-
530 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL BLADEN COUNTY...

AT 528 PM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED OVER NORTH CENTRAL BLADEN COUNTY...OR 14 MILES
NORTHEAST OF ELIZABETHTOWN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THIS
STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG TO VIOLENT TORNADOES. IF YOU ARE
IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY!

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 3475 7839 3469 7837 3469 7838 3468 7840
      3467 7844 3463 7852 3466 7859 3469 7862
      3474 7865 3485 7850
TIME...MOT...LOC 2130Z 237DEG 49KT 3477 7841

$$

REK
678 
WWUS52 KILM 162138
SVSILM

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

NCC017-162148-
/O.CAN.KILM.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-110416T2200Z/
BLADEN NC-
538 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL BLADEN COUNTY IS CANCELED...

AT 537 PM EDT...THE TORNADO WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAD MOVED OUT
OF THE WARNED AREA...THEREFORE THE TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELED.

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 3475 7839 3469 7837 3469 7838 3468 7840
      3467 7844 3463 7852 3466 7859 3469 7862
      3474 7865 3485 7850
TIME...MOT...LOC 2138Z 237DEG 49KT 3483 7830

$$

REK

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 16, 12:07 PM EDTTornado WarningILMColumbus, Robeson37 min
Apr 16, 3:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMBladen, Robeson70 min
Apr 16, 3:27 PM EDTTornado WarningILMBladen, Robeson48 min
Apr 16, 4:17 PM EDTTornado WarningILMBladen, Columbus, Robeson58 min
Apr 16, 5:03 PM EDTTornado WarningILMBladen, Columbus, Robeson57 min
Apr 16, 5:42 PM EDTTornado WarningILMBladen, Columbus, Pender29 min
Apr 16, 5:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMBrunswick, Columbus42 min
Apr 16, 6:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMBladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Pender39 min
Apr 16, 6:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMBladen11 min
Apr 16, 7:01 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMBladen, Columbus, Robeson34 min
Apr 16, 7:13 PM EDTTornado WarningILMBrunswick, New Hanover, Pender32 min
Apr 16, 7:43 PM EDTTornado WarningILMPender17 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North 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.