Alert archive / Tennessee / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 182, NWS Memphis, TN

September 25, 2011Shelby County, Tipton County, Tennessee; Crittenden County, Arkansas

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at Sep 25, 2011, 4:41 PM CDT for Shelby County, Tipton County, Tennessee; Crittenden County, Arkansas. It was in force for 49 min. 7 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
Sep 25, 2011, 4:41 PM CDT (21:41 UTC)
Expired
Sep 25, 2011, 5:30 PM CDT
In force
49 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Crittenden County, AR, Shelby County, TN, Tipton County, TN

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 22 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:43 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
Sep 25, 5:10 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUD5 Ne Downtown Memphis, TN
Sep 25, 5:18 PM CDTHAIL 0.75Millington, TN
Sep 25, 5:18 PM CDTHAIL 1.252 Nw Frayser, TN
Sep 25, 5:20 PM CDTHAIL 11 S Millington, TNALSO HAD 40-50 MPH WIND GUSTS.
Sep 25, 5:23 PM CDTHAIL 1Millington, TNAT MILLINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND AT MILLINGTON POLICE DEPT.
Sep 25, 5:25 PM CDTHAIL 1.75Millington, TN
Sep 25, 5:31 PM CDTHAIL 1Bolton, TN

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
Sep 25, 3:19 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 59 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, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 2011-09-25Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 552 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, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 2011-09-25The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 127 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
552 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-212 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1112 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
127 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
295 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

351 
WFUS54 KMEG 252141
TORMEG
ARC035-TNC157-167-252230-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0182.110925T2141Z-110925T2230Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
441 PM CDT SUN SEP 25 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN CRITTENDEN COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
  NORTHERN SHELBY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...
  SOUTHWESTERN TIPTON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...

* UNTIL 530 PM CDT

* AT 441 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR CRAWFORDSVILLE...OR 7
  MILES WEST OF MARION...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO MARION...
  WEST MEMPHIS...BARTLETT...MIDTOWN MEMPHIS...MILLINGTON...CORDOVA
  AND MEEMAN SHELBY FOREST STATE PARK.

 THIS WARNING ALSO INCLUDES AREAS NEAR BRANDYWINE LAKE...CORONEE LAKE
  AND WAPANOCCA LAKE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

.IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE TENNIS BALL SIZE 
HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

.THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A STORM SHELTER. IF NO
STORM SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...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.

&&

LAT...LON 3538 9042 3545 9008 3541 9006 3543 9003
      3546 9002 3554 8964 3511 8964 3514 9040
      3515 9042
TIME...MOT...LOC 2141Z 267DEG 31KT 3521 9031

$$
2 follow-up statements
343 
WWUS54 KMEG 252154
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
454 PM CDT SUN SEP 25 2011

ARC035-TNC157-167-252230-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0182.000000T0000Z-110925T2230Z/
CRITTENDEN AR-SHELBY TN-TIPTON TN-
454 PM CDT SUN SEP 25 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN TIPTON...NORTHERN SHELBY AND NORTHEASTERN CRITTENDEN
COUNTIES...

AT 454 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MARION...MOVING
EAST AT 35 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO MARION...
TURRELL...WEST MEMPHIS...ATOKA...BARTLETT...BOLTON...MIDTOWN
MEMPHIS...MILLINGTON...ST THOMAS...STACY...LAMBETHVILLE...BOOKER...
VINCENT AND JULIUS.

 THIS WARNING ALSO INCLUDES AREAS NEAR BRANDYWINE LAKE...CORONEE LAKE
  AND WAPANOCCA LAKE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A STORM SHELTER. IF NO
STORM SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...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.

&&

LAT...LON 3540 9030 3545 9008 3541 9006 3543 9003
      3546 9002 3554 8964 3511 8964 3514 9028
      3518 9031
TIME...MOT...LOC 2154Z 267DEG 31KT 3521 9017

$$
903 
WWUS54 KMEG 252209
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
509 PM CDT SUN SEP 25 2011

ARC035-252219-
/O.CAN.KMEG.TO.W.0182.000000T0000Z-110925T2230Z/
CRITTENDEN AR-
509 PM CDT SUN SEP 25 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN CRITTENDEN COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

AT 509 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT THE 
THUNDERSTORMS WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE AREA 
...AND NO LONGER POSE AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO LIFE OR PROPERTY. 
THEREFORE...THE TORNADO WARNING IS CANCELLED.

LAT...LON 3543 9016 3545 9008 3541 9006 3546 9002
      3554 8964 3511 8964 3513 9007 3519 9012
      3522 9007 3527 9017 3530 9016 3531 9011
      3534 9011 3538 9007 3541 9014 3538 9014
      3538 9017
TIME...MOT...LOC 2209Z 267DEG 33KT 3522 9000

$$

TNC157-167-252230-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0182.000000T0000Z-110925T2230Z/
SHELBY TN-TIPTON TN-
509 PM CDT SUN SEP 25 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN TIPTON AND NORTHERN SHELBY COUNTIES...

AT 509 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BENJESTOWN...OR 6
MILES NORTHWEST OF MIDTOWN MEMPHIS...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ATOKA...
BARTLETT...BOLTON...MIDTOWN MEMPHIS...MILLINGTON...ST THOMAS...
BEAVER...DRUMMONDS...QUITO...WILKINSVILLE...TIPTON...CROSSTOWN...
IDAVILLE AND CLOPTON.

 THIS WARNING ALSO INCLUDES AREAS NEAR CORONEE LAKE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A STORM SHELTER. IF NO
STORM SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...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.

&&

LAT...LON 3543 9016 3545 9008 3541 9006 3546 9002
      3554 8964 3511 8964 3513 9007 3519 9012
      3522 9007 3527 9017 3530 9016 3531 9011
      3534 9011 3538 9007 3541 9014 3538 9014
      3538 9017
TIME...MOT...LOC 2209Z 267DEG 33KT 3522 9000

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Memphis, TN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 25, 5:24 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGFayette, Shelby20 min
Sep 25, 6:42 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGHenry48 min
Sep 25, 3:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCrittenden, Cross, Poinsett, St. Francis45 min
Sep 25, 4:05 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGCrittenden, Cross40 min
Sep 25, 4:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCross, Lee, St. Francis45 min
Sep 25, 5:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCrittenden, Lee, St. Francis32 min
Sep 25, 6:39 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGPhillips36 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Tennessee, 2011Tornado Warnings in Arkansas, 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.