Alert archive / Tennessee / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 22, NWS Memphis, TN

April 4, 2011Fayette County, Shelby County, Tennessee

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at Apr 4, 2011, 12:02 PM CDT for Fayette County, Shelby County, Tennessee. It was in force for 28 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
Apr 4, 2011, 12:02 PM CDT (17:02 UTC)
Expired
Apr 4, 2011, 12:30 PM CDT
In force
28 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Fayette County, TN, Shelby County, TN

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 46 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:04 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 4, 12:10 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG5 S Oakland, TNTREES DOWN 2-3 FEET IN DIAMETER ALONG HIGHWAY 193 NEAR MURRELL ROAD. A SHEET METAL BARN WAS ALSO SEVERELY DAMAGED.
Apr 4, 12:10 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGOakland, TNROOF AND STEEPLE DAMAGE TO A CHURCH IN OAKLAND.
Apr 4, 12:11 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGOakland, TN2 TO 3 INCH LIMBS DOWN...FLAG POLE BLOWN OVER IN OAKLAND.
Apr 4, 12:15 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGSomerville, TNMULTIPLE TREES DOWN IN SOMERVILLE...A HOUSE WAS STRUCK BY FALLING TREES.
Apr 4, 12:20 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG2 Sw Laconia, TNROOF WAS BLOWN OFF A BARN NEAR ALONG HWY 64. MULTIPLE TREES ARE DOWN.
Apr 4, 12:23 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG1 Ene Macon, TN4 TO 6 INCH TREE LIMBS DOWN AND BLOWN ACROSS HWY 193 JUST EAST OF MACON. WIND GUSTS ESTIMATED AT 70 MPH.
Apr 4, 12:34 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGWilliston, TN2 TO 4 INCH LIMBS BLOWN DOWN AND BLOWN ACROSS HWY 195 IN WILLISTON.

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 4, 7:22 AM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 5.0 hours before the alert went out and 53 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 2011-04-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1771 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 2011-04-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 39 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
1771 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-22 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
636 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
39 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
71 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.6
Supercell composite
2.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

756 
WFUS54 KMEG 041702
TORMEG
TNC047-157-041730-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0022.110404T1702Z-110404T1730Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1202 PM CDT MON APR 4 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN FAYETTE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...
  SOUTHEASTERN SHELBY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...

* UNTIL 1230 PM CDT

* AT 1202 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR GERMANTOWN...MOVING
  EAST AT 70 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  COLLIERVILLE...GERMANTOWN AND CORDOVA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

.HEAVY RAINFALL MAY HIDE THIS TORNADO. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE
TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

.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 3501 8920 3500 8985 3516 8988 3530 8919
TIME...MOT...LOC 1702Z 264DEG 61KT 3506 8971

$$
1 follow-up statement
635 
WWUS54 KMEG 041710
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1210 PM CDT MON APR 4 2011

TNC157-041720-
/O.CAN.KMEG.TO.W.0022.000000T0000Z-110404T1730Z/
SHELBY TN-
1210 PM CDT MON APR 4 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN SHELBY COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

AT 1210 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 3501 8920 3501 8965 3521 8964 3530 8919
TIME...MOT...LOC 1710Z 264DEG 61KT 3507 8954

$$

TNC047-041730-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0022.000000T0000Z-110404T1730Z/
FAYETTE TN-
1210 PM CDT MON APR 4 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1230 PM CDT FOR SOUTHERN
FAYETTE COUNTY...

AT 1210 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ROSSVILLE...OR
NEAR COLLIERVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 70 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO LA GRANGE...
MOSCOW...OAKLAND...PIPERTON...ROSSVILLE...WILLISTON...LACONIA...
WARREN...POWERS...PATTERSONVILLE...FORTY FIVE...HAYS CROSSING...
CANADAVILLE AND MACON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO. CARS ARE EASILY
TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADO WINDS. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF A
TORNADO...LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING. IF NO SAFE
STRUCTURE IS NEARBY...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER
YOUR HEAD.

.HEAVY RAINFALL MAY HIDE THIS TORNADO. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE
TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 3501 8920 3501 8965 3521 8964 3530 8919
TIME...MOT...LOC 1710Z 264DEG 61KT 3507 8954

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 4, 9:15 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGChester, Decatur, Hardeman, McNairy, Madison30 min
Apr 4, 9:39 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLake, Obion51 min
Apr 4, 9:43 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCarroll, Crockett, Gibson, Henderson, Madison47 min
Apr 4, 10:25 AM CDTRiver Flood AdvisoryMEGLauderdale, Tipton68 hr
Apr 4, 10:35 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGDecatur, Hardin, Henderson, McNairy26 min
Apr 4, 10:53 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLauderdale, Shelby, Tipton52 min
Apr 4, 10:59 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGHardeman34 min
Apr 4, 11:18 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGDyer, Haywood, Lauderdale, Tipton27 min
Apr 4, 11:29 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGShelby46 min
Apr 4, 11:39 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGFayette, Haywood, Lauderdale, Shelby, Tipton51 min
Apr 4, 11:49 AM CDTTornado WarningMEGShelby20 min
Apr 4, 12:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGFayette, Hardeman, Shelby43 min
Apr 4, 12:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCarroll, Crockett, Gibson, Haywood, Henderson, Henry and 2 more38 min
Apr 4, 12:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGChester, Fayette, Hardeman, Haywood, McNairy, Madison45 min
Apr 4, 12:20 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGChester, Fayette, Hardeman, Haywood, McNairy, Madison25 min
Apr 4, 12:23 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGChester, Fayette, Hardeman, McNairy37 min
Apr 4, 12:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGHardin, McNairy41 min
Apr 4, 12:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCarroll, Decatur, Henderson, Henry, Madison, Weakley35 min
Apr 4, 12:43 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGChester, Decatur, Hardeman, Hardin, Henderson, McNairy and 1 more47 min
Apr 4, 12:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGChester, Decatur, Hardeman, Hardin, McNairy42 min
Apr 4, 12:57 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGChester, Hardin, McNairy33 min
Apr 4, 1:08 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGDecatur, Hardin77 min
Apr 4, 1:19 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGHardin, McNairy29 min
Apr 4, 1:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGDecatur, Hardin, McNairy37 min
Apr 4, 3:51 PM CDTFrost AdvisoryMEGCarroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette and 14 more12 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Tennessee, 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.