Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 49, NWS Baltimore/Washington

April 28, 20114 counties in Virginia

NWS Baltimore/Washington issued this tornado warning at Apr 28, 2011, 5:50 AM EDT for 4 counties in Virginia. It was in force for 40 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 28, 2011, 5:50 AM EDT (09:50 UTC)
Expired: Apr 28, 2011, 6:30 AM EDT
In force: 40 min
Issued by: NWS Baltimore/Washington
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Culpeper County, VA, Fauquier County, VA, Prince William County, VA, Rappahannock County, VA

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 39 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:52 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.

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, 12:41 AM EDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 00:00Z, 9.8 hours before the alert went out and 44 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: 1143 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -34 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 834 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 283 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 353 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 1.8
Supercell composite: 14.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

653 
WFUS51 KLWX 280950
TORLWX
VAC047-061-153-157-281030-
/O.NEW.KLWX.TO.W.0049.110428T0950Z-110428T1030Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
550 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CULPEPER COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA...
  RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY IN NORTHWEST VIRGINIA...
  FAUQUIER COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA...
  PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 630 AM EDT

* AT 547 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 18 MILES
  SOUTHWEST OF THE PLAINS...OR 11 MILES WEST OF WARRENTON...MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  THE PLAINS...
  MEADOWVILLE...
  AIRLIE...
  MARSHALL...
  ANISSVILLE...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING AND AVOID WINDOWS. IF OUTDOORS OR IN A MOBILE HOME OR
VEHICLE...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

THE TORNADO MAY BE WRAPPED IN RAIN AND HARD TO SEE. DO NOT WAIT TO
SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

TORNADOES AT NIGHT ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 3887 7794 3897 7782 3893 7765 3887 7762
      3878 7770 3865 7795 3864 7799 3864 7803
      3870 7806
TIME...MOT...LOC 0950Z 225DEG 45KT 3870 7797

$$

GMS

4 follow-up statements

959 
WWUS51 KLWX 280958
SVSLWX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
558 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

VAC047-157-281009-
/O.CAN.KLWX.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-110428T1030Z/
CULPEPER VA-RAPPAHANNOCK VA-
558 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR RAPPAHANNOCK AND CULPEPER
COUNTIES...

THE THUNDERSTORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS EXITED THE WARNED
AREA. THUS THE TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

LAT...LON 3871 7789 3872 7795 3877 7797 3887 7791
      3897 7782 3893 7765 3887 7762 3878 7770
TIME...MOT...LOC 0959Z 225DEG 45KT 3878 7787

$$

VAC061-153-281030-
/O.CON.KLWX.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-110428T1030Z/
FAUQUIER VA-PRINCE WILLIAM VA-
558 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 AM EDT FOR PRINCE
WILLIAM AND FAUQUIER COUNTIES...

AT 556 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF WARRENTON...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 50 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MARSHALL...
  THE PLAINS...
  HALFWAY...
  BROAD RUN...
  WOOLSEY...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING AND AVOID WINDOWS. IF OUTDOORS OR IN A MOBILE HOME OR
VEHICLE...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

THIS TORNADO MAY BE WRAPPED IN RAIN AND HARD TO SEE. DO NOT WAIT TO 
SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. TORNADOES AT NIGHT ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AND 
CONFIRM. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 3871 7789 3872 7795 3877 7797 3887 7791
      3897 7782 3893 7765 3887 7762 3878 7770
TIME...MOT...LOC 0959Z 225DEG 45KT 3878 7787

$$

GMS

375 
WWUS51 KLWX 281004
SVSLWX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
604 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

VAC061-153-281030-
/O.CON.KLWX.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-110428T1030Z/
FAUQUIER VA-PRINCE WILLIAM VA-
604 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 AM EDT FOR PRINCE
WILLIAM AND FAUQUIER COUNTIES...

AT 600 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF WARRENTON...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 50 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  THE PLAINS...
  HALFWAY...
  BROAD RUN...
  WOOLSEY...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING AND AVOID WINDOWS. IF OUTDOORS OR IN A MOBILE HOME OR
VEHICLE...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

THIS TORNADO MAY BE WRAPPED IN RAIN AND HARD TO SEE. DO NOT WAIT TO
SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

TORNADOES AT NIGHT ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 3875 7786 3879 7790 3887 7788 3897 7782
      3893 7765 3887 7762 3880 7773
TIME...MOT...LOC 1004Z 225DEG 45KT 3882 7781

$$

GMS

726 
WWUS51 KLWX 281019
SVSLWX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
619 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

VAC061-153-281030-
/O.CON.KLWX.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-110428T1030Z/
FAUQUIER VA-PRINCE WILLIAM VA-
619 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 AM EDT FOR PRINCE
WILLIAM AND FAUQUIER COUNTIES...

AT 617 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR THE PLAINS...OR 8 MILES NORTH OF
WARRENTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HALFWAY...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING AND AVOID WINDOWS. IF OUTDOORS OR IN A MOBILE HOME OR
VEHICLE...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

TORNADOES AT NIGHT ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 3881 7780 3882 7788 3887 7788 3897 7782
      3893 7765 3891 7765 3882 7774
TIME...MOT...LOC 1020Z 228DEG 34KT 3885 7779

$$

GMS

287 
WWUS51 KLWX 281029
SVSLWX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
629 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

VAC061-153-281039-
/O.EXP.KLWX.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-110428T1030Z/
FAUQUIER VA-PRINCE WILLIAM VA-
629 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 630 AM EDT FOR PRINCE WILLIAM
AND FAUQUIER COUNTIES...

THE THUNDERSTORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS EXITED THE WARNED
AREA. THUS THE TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

LAT...LON 3881 7780 3882 7788 3887 7788 3897 7782
      3893 7765 3891 7765 3882 7774
TIME...MOT...LOC 1029Z 228DEG 34KT 3891 7771

$$

GMS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Baltimore/Washington issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 27, 8:02 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	LWX	Fauquier, Loudoun	28 min
Apr 27, 8:12 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LWX	Orange, Spotsylvania	28 min
Apr 27, 8:19 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LWX	Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William	36 min
Apr 27, 8:20 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Albemarle, City of Charlottesville	25 min
Apr 27, 8:28 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LWX	Clarke, Fauquier, Loudoun, Warren	19 min
Apr 27, 8:30 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Orange, Spotsylvania	30 min
Apr 27, 8:51 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	LWX	Greene, Madison	24 min
Apr 27, 9:24 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Culpeper, Fauquier, Orange, Spotsylvania, Stafford	18 min
Apr 27, 9:40 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Culpeper, Madison, Orange	35 min
Apr 27, 10:00 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Culpeper, Fauquier	30 min
Apr 27, 10:28 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Fauquier, Prince William, City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park	47 min
Apr 27, 10:39 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	LWX	Highland	111 min
Apr 28, 12:04 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LWX	Highland	71 min
Apr 28, 12:05 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	LWX	Highland	5 hr
Apr 28, 1:09 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LWX	Augusta, Highland, Rockingham	66 min
Apr 28, 1:29 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LWX	Frederick	35 min
Apr 28, 1:33 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	LWX	Rockingham, Shenandoah	4 hr
Apr 28, 2:07 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Augusta, City of Staunton	42 min
Apr 28, 2:10 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LWX	Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Warren	65 min
Apr 28, 2:24 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Shenandoah	25 min
Apr 28, 2:53 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, City of Harrisonburg	36 min
Apr 28, 2:59 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LWX	Clarke, Frederick, Loudoun, Warren, City of Winchester	62 min
Apr 28, 3:04 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	LWX	Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Warren and 1 more	7 hr
Apr 28, 3:09 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	LWX	Augusta	36 min
Apr 28, 3:19 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Augusta, City of Staunton	41 min
Apr 28, 3:23 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Clarke, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah, Warren	39 min
Apr 28, 3:50 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, City of Harrisonburg	40 min
Apr 28, 3:54 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Clarke, Frederick, City of Winchester	34 min
Apr 28, 4:26 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Fauquier, Page, Rappahannock, Warren	23 min
Apr 28, 4:32 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	LWX	Albemarle, Greene, Nelson, City of Charlottesville, City of Waynesboro	28 min
Apr 28, 4:44 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LWX	Albemarle, Culpeper, Greene, Madison, Orange, Rappahannock and 1 more	46 min
Apr 28, 5:09 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	LWX	Loudoun	51 min
Apr 28, 5:35 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Loudoun	26 min
Apr 28, 6:05 AM EDT	Special Marine Warning	LWX		55 min
Apr 28, 6:37 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Loudoun	38 min
Apr 28, 7:27 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	LWX	Loudoun	5 hr
Apr 28, 8:01 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	LWX	Clarke, Loudoun	119 min
Apr 28, 8:45 AM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	LWX	Albemarle, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun and 3 more	6 hr
Apr 28, 9:39 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LWX	Fairfax, Loudoun	36 min
Apr 28, 9:45 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	LWX	Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William	101 min
Apr 28, 9:58 AM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	LWX	Loudoun	3 hr
Apr 28, 10:03 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LWX	King George, Spotsylvania, Stafford, City of Fredericksburg	42 min
Apr 28, 10:06 AM EDT	Special Marine Warning	LWX		84 min
Apr 28, 10:16 AM EDT	Special Marine Warning	LWX		59 min
Apr 28, 10:38 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LWX	King George	52 min
Apr 28, 10:59 AM EDT	Special Marine Warning	LWX		81 min
Apr 28, 11:38 AM EDT	Coastal Flood Advisory	LWX	Arlington, Fairfax, King George, Stafford, City of Alexandria, City of Fairfax and 1 more	7 hr
Apr 28, 3:34 PM EDT	Small Craft Advisory	LWX		37 hr
Apr 28, 4:07 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	LWX		53 min
Apr 28, 4:15 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	LWX		60 min
Apr 28, 4:51 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	LWX		36 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 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.