Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 63, NWS Memphis, TN

April 26, 2011Cross County, Lee County, St. Francis County, Arkansas

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at Apr 26, 2011, 4:35 PM CDT for Cross County, Lee County, St. Francis County, Arkansas. It was in force for 55 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 26, 2011, 4:35 PM CDT (21:35 UTC)
Expired: Apr 26, 2011, 5:30 PM CDT
In force: 55 min
Issued by: NWS Memphis, TN
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Cross County, AR, Lee County, AR, St. Francis County, AR

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 111 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:35 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Apr 26, 4:59 PM CDT	HAIL 1.75	Palestine, AR	EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTS GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL NEAR PALESTINE
Apr 26, 5:08 PM CDT	HAIL 1	Forrest City, AR	PUBLIC REPORTS QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN FORREST CITY
Apr 26, 5:08 PM CDT	HAIL 1.75	Forrest City, AR
Apr 26, 5:08 PM CDT	HAIL 1.75	Palestine, AR

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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 26, 3:02 PM CDT	Tornado Watch PDS	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 96 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: 112 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -229 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 861 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 70 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 88 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 159 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 1.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

712 
WFUS54 KMEG 262135
TORMEG
ARC037-077-123-262230-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0063.110426T2135Z-110426T2230Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
435 PM CDT TUE APR 26 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN CROSS COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
  NORTHWESTERN LEE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
  ST. FRANCIS COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...

* UNTIL 530 PM CDT

* AT 435 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR NEW SALEM...OR 8 MILES
  EAST OF BRINKLEY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO FORREST
  CITY...MADISON...PALESTINE AND VILLAGE CREEK STATE PARK.

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.

.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 3497 9115 3501 9109 3501 9105 3504 9105
      3532 9061 3501 9039 3484 9073 3477 9107
      3483 9111 3487 9110 3488 9112 3491 9112
      3492 9116
TIME...MOT...LOC 2135Z 240DEG 20KT 3489 9102

$$

4 follow-up statements

031 
WWUS54 KMEG 262145
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
445 PM CDT TUE APR 26 2011

ARC037-077-123-262230-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0063.000000T0000Z-110426T2230Z/
CROSS AR-LEE AR-ST. FRANCIS AR-
445 PM CDT TUE APR 26 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR ST.
FRANCIS...NORTHWESTERN LEE AND SOUTHEASTERN CROSS COUNTIES...

AT 443 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR NEW SALEM...OR 7
MILES SOUTHWEST OF PALESTINE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

IN ADDITION...THERE IS ALSO A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM LOCATED NORTHEAST 
OF THE TORNADIC CELL...BETWEEN CALDWELL AND FORREST CITY IN ST. 
FRANCIS COUNTY. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE THE MAIN THREATS 
WITH THIS CELL.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO FORREST
CITY...MADISON...PALESTINE...L'ANGVILLE...FITZGERALD CROSSING...
WITTSBURG...LEVESQUE...RIVER FRONT...PRINCEDALE...MC DONALD...
CHATFIELD...POSEY...BLOSSOM AND GOODWIN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HEN 
EGG 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 3501 9109 3501 9105 3504 9105 3532 9061
      3515 9050 3501 9039 3484 9073 3479 9102
      3485 9110 3490 9110 3497 9114
TIME...MOT...LOC 2143Z 240DEG 20KT 3491 9097

$$

138 
WWUS54 KMEG 262153
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
453 PM CDT TUE APR 26 2011

ARC037-077-123-262230-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0063.000000T0000Z-110426T2230Z/
CROSS AR-LEE AR-ST. FRANCIS AR-
453 PM CDT TUE APR 26 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR ST.
FRANCIS...NORTHWESTERN LEE AND SOUTHEASTERN CROSS COUNTIES...

AT 454 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR GILL...OR 6 MILES
SOUTH OF PALESTINE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO FORREST
CITY...MADISON...PALESTINE...L'ANGVILLE...FITZGERALD CROSSING...
WITTSBURG...LEVESQUE...RIVER FRONT...PRINCEDALE...MC DONALD...
CHATFIELD...BLOSSOM...GOODWIN AND FOUR GUMS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
BASEBALL 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 3481 9096 3486 9103 3491 9106 3497 9111
      3501 9107 3501 9105 3504 9105 3532 9061
      3515 9050 3501 9039 3484 9073
TIME...MOT...LOC 2154Z 237DEG 22KT 3490 9089

$$

580 
WWUS54 KMEG 262203
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
503 PM CDT TUE APR 26 2011

ARC037-077-123-262230-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0063.000000T0000Z-110426T2230Z/
CROSS AR-LEE AR-ST. FRANCIS AR-
503 PM CDT TUE APR 26 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR ST.
FRANCIS...NORTH CENTRAL LEE AND SOUTHEASTERN CROSS COUNTIES...

AT 502 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR FOUR FORKS...OR
NEAR PALESTINE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

AT 500 PM CDT...GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED NEAR PALESTINE.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO FORREST
CITY...MADISON...PALESTINE...L'ANGVILLE...FITZGERALD CROSSING...
WITTSBURG...LEVESQUE...RIVER FRONT...PRINCEDALE...MC DONALD...
CHATFIELD...FOUR GUMS...HAWKINS AND SLONIKERS MILL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BASEBALL 
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 3484 9073 3482 9088 3487 9095 3492 9099
      3496 9100 3499 9100 3502 9103 3504 9105
      3532 9061 3515 9050 3501 9039
TIME...MOT...LOC 2202Z 238DEG 19KT 3492 9086

$$

663 
WWUS54 KMEG 262219
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
519 PM CDT TUE APR 26 2011

ARC037-077-123-262230-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0063.000000T0000Z-110426T2230Z/
CROSS AR-LEE AR-ST. FRANCIS AR-
519 PM CDT TUE APR 26 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR ST.
FRANCIS...NORTH CENTRAL LEE AND SOUTHEASTERN CROSS COUNTIES...

AT 518 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS 
LOCATED NEAR BONAIR...OR JUST SOUTH OF FORREST CITY...MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. GOLFBALL HAIL WAS REPORTED JUST SOUTH OF 
FORREST CITY AT 515 PM...HOWEVER BASEBALL SIZE IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS 
STORM.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CALDWELL...
FORREST CITY...HAYNES...MADISON...NEW HOME...WIDENER...CHATFIELD...
HORTON...DODSONS CORNER...BONAIR...HEUSTESS...CROW CREEK...NEW CASTLE
AND KINTON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 9039 3500 9041 3486 9083 3504 9092
      3527 9058 3515 9050 3505 9042
TIME...MOT...LOC 2218Z 238DEG 19KT 3496 9077

$$

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 25, 7:44 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	MEG	Clay, Greene	3 hr
Apr 25, 8:28 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MEG	Clay	35 min
Apr 25, 8:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Cross, Lee, Phillips, St. Francis	66 min
Apr 25, 9:00 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MEG	Cross, Poinsett	45 min
Apr 25, 9:15 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	MEG	Clay	3 hr
Apr 25, 9:18 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Poinsett	42 min
Apr 25, 9:33 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	MEG	Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Greene, Lee, Poinsett and 1 more	3 hr
Apr 25, 9:35 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Crittenden, Cross, Lee, St. Francis	55 min
Apr 25, 9:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Phillips	61 min
Apr 25, 9:45 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Craighead, Crittenden, Mississippi, Poinsett	45 min
Apr 25, 10:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Mississippi	47 min
Apr 25, 10:38 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	MEG	Mississippi	3 hr
Apr 25, 10:45 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	MEG	Clay, Greene	3 hr
Apr 25, 10:47 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Mississippi	43 min
Apr 26, 12:14 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	MEG	Clay, Craighead, Greene, Lawrence, Randolph	12 hr
Apr 26, 1:32 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	MEG	Clay, Greene	10 hr
Apr 26, 3:18 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	MEG	Phillips	3 hr
Apr 26, 6:32 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Lee, Phillips	30 min
Apr 26, 11:39 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	MEG	Clay, Craighead, Greene, Lawrence, Randolph	8 hr
Apr 26, 3:08 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Lee, St. Francis	52 min
Apr 26, 3:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Cross, Lee, St. Francis	44 min
Apr 26, 3:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Crittenden, Cross, Mississippi, Poinsett, St. Francis	51 min
Apr 26, 4:00 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Cross, Lee, St. Francis	45 min
Apr 26, 4:09 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	MEG	Cross, Lee, St. Francis	6 hr
Apr 26, 4:13 PM CDT	Wind Advisory	MEG	Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Greene, Lawrence and 6 more	13 hr
Apr 26, 4:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Craighead, Mississippi	50 min
Apr 26, 5:06 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MEG	Phillips	54 min
Apr 26, 5:26 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	MEG	Lee, Phillips	6 hr
Apr 26, 5:27 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MEG	Crittenden, St. Francis	48 min
Apr 26, 5:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Crittenden, Cross, St. Francis	41 min
Apr 26, 5:49 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	MEG	Crittenden, Cross, Mississippi, Poinsett, St. Francis	6 hr
Apr 26, 5:52 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MEG	Lee, Phillips	53 min
Apr 26, 5:53 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MEG	Crittenden	37 min
Apr 26, 6:02 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MEG	Lee, Phillips, St. Francis	58 min
Apr 26, 6:09 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MEG	Crittenden	50 min
Apr 26, 6:15 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MEG	Phillips	60 min
Apr 26, 6:31 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	MEG	Crittenden, Mississippi	6 hr
Apr 26, 6:33 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Mississippi	42 min
Apr 26, 6:34 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MEG	Phillips	56 min
Apr 26, 6:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Crittenden, Lee, St. Francis	38 min
Apr 26, 6:56 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	MEG	Crittenden, Lee	6 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Arkansas, 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.