Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 87, NWS Morristown, TN

April 28, 2011Washington County, City of Bristol, Virginia; Johnson County, Sullivan County, Tennessee

NWS Morristown, TN issued this tornado warning at Apr 28, 2011, 12:51 AM EDT for Washington County, City of Bristol, Virginia; Johnson County, Sullivan County, Tennessee. It was in force for 39 min. 1 report 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 28, 2011, 12:51 AM EDT (04:51 UTC)
Expired
Apr 28, 2011, 1:30 AM EDT
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Morristown, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Johnson County, TN, Sullivan County, TN, City of Bristol, VA, Washington County, VA

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 135 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:51 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 28, 1:15 AM EDTTORNADOGlade Spring, VA*** 3 FATAL, 50 INJ *** EF3. MAX WIND 130 MPH. SMALL CHURCH DESTROYED. DAMAGE TO RESIDENTIAL AREA AND TO BUSINESSES. NUMEROUS TREES DOWN.

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 27, 5:44 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr
Apr 28, 12:41 AM EDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr
Apr 27, 4:36 PM EDTTornado Watch PDSSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 00:00Z, 4.9 hours before the alert went out and 193 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 00:00Z on 2011-04-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2272 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 00:00Z on 2011-04-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 233 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
2272 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-5 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
766 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
51 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
233 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
271 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
3.5
Supercell composite
14.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

772 
WFUS54 KMRX 280451
TORMRX
TNC091-163-VAC191-520-280530-
/O.NEW.KMRX.TO.W.0087.110428T0451Z-110428T0530Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1251 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MORRISTOWN HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  JOHNSON COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
  EASTERN SULLIVAN COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
  WASHINGTON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...
  CITY OF BRISTOL IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 130 AM EDT

* AT 1247 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR BRISTOL TN.
  DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS TORNADO MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.

* THIS TORNADIC STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  ABINGDON AROUND 105 AM EDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE
HARR...DAMASCUS...EMORY-MEADOW VIEW AND GLADE SPRING.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS TORNADO WARNING REPLACES THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING THAT
WAS IN EFFECT FOR THE SAME AREA.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING 
FOR NORTHEAST TENNESSE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3649 8198 3650 8199 3651 8199 3649 8201
      3649 8204 3647 8206 3646 8210 3642 8221
      3660 8225 3686 8177 3679 8169 3662 8160
TIME...MOT...LOC 0450Z 238DEG 55KT 3654 8217

$$

DMG
1 follow-up statement
053 
WWUS54 KMRX 280517
SVSMRX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
117 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

TNC091-163-280525-
/O.CAN.KMRX.TO.W.0087.000000T0000Z-110428T0530Z/
SULLIVAN TN-JOHNSON TN-
117 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR JOHNSON AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES IS
CANCELLED...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHEAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.

LAT...LON 3661 8163 3662 8192 3659 8193 3660 8225
      3686 8178 3679 8169 3666 8163 3662 8160
TIME...MOT...LOC 0515Z 180DEG 0KT 3675 8188

$$

VAC191-520-280530-
/O.CON.KMRX.TO.W.0087.000000T0000Z-110428T0530Z/
WASHINGTON VA-CITY OF BRISTOL VA-
117 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 130 AM EDT FOR CITY OF
BRISTOL AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES...

AT 114 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR GLADE SPRING. 
THIS TORNADO IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IS MOVING NORTHEAST NEAR 70 
MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING
FOR CENTRAL TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3661 8163 3662 8192 3659 8193 3660 8225
      3686 8178 3679 8169 3666 8163 3662 8160
TIME...MOT...LOC 0515Z 180DEG 0KT 3675 8188

$$

17

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 27, 8:16 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXLee, Wise, City of Norton29 min
Apr 27, 8:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXRussell, Scott, Washington, City of Bristol66 min
Apr 27, 9:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXLee, Scott45 min
Apr 27, 9:18 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXRussell, Scott, Washington, City of Bristol42 min
Apr 27, 9:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXLee, Scott, Wise, City of Norton53 min
Apr 27, 9:50 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXRussell, Scott, Washington, City of Bristol55 min
Apr 27, 10:11 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXRussell34 min
Apr 27, 10:41 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXWashington, City of Bristol64 min
Apr 27, 11:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXWashington16 min
Apr 28, 12:19 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXRussell, Scott, Washington, City of Bristol56 min
Apr 28, 1:29 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMRXLee, Russell, Scott, Washington, Wise, City of Bristol and 1 more3 hr
Apr 27, 8:07 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXAnderson, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Meigs and 3 more53 min
Apr 27, 8:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXCampbell, Claiborne, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Union65 min
Apr 27, 8:10 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXBradley, Hamilton65 min
Apr 27, 8:26 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningMRXAnderson, Knox, Loudon, Meigs, Rhea, Roane3 hr
Apr 27, 8:29 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXCocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Jefferson and 2 more61 min
Apr 27, 8:29 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXMarion61 min
Apr 27, 8:42 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXMcMinn, Polk47 min
Apr 27, 8:48 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXBlount, Knox27 min
Apr 27, 8:53 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXBradley, McMinn34 min
Apr 27, 9:08 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXBledsoe, Hamilton, Rhea, Sequatchie52 min
Apr 27, 9:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXCampbell, Morgan, Scott45 min
Apr 27, 9:17 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXBlount, Loudon, McMinn, Monroe43 min
Apr 27, 9:26 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXCocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Jefferson, Sevier and 2 more64 min
Apr 27, 9:40 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXMeigs, Rhea, Roane50 min
Apr 27, 9:53 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXBradley, Hamilton, McMinn, Rhea25 min
Apr 27, 9:58 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXBlount, Cocke, Jefferson, Sevier62 min
Apr 27, 10:03 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningMRXAnderson, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Hamilton and 14 more8 hr
Apr 27, 10:05 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXAnderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Loudon, Morgan, Scott and 1 more40 min
Apr 27, 10:14 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXBlount, Bradley, Loudon, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe and 2 more46 min
Apr 27, 10:24 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXKnox51 min
Apr 27, 10:46 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXClaiborne, Grainger, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Union59 min
Apr 27, 10:49 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXBlount, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Sevier26 min
Apr 27, 10:50 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXGreene, Unicoi, Washington40 min
Apr 27, 10:52 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXBlount, Loudon, McMinn, Monroe, Polk23 min
Apr 27, 10:57 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXBlount, Cocke, Jefferson, Sevier63 min
Apr 27, 11:10 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXCarter, Johnson65 min
Apr 27, 11:13 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXBlount, Knox, Loudon, Monroe47 min
Apr 27, 11:21 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXBlount, Jefferson, Knox, Sevier24 min
Apr 27, 11:27 PM EDTTornado WarningMRXCocke, Greene, Jefferson, Sevier63 min
Apr 28, 12:26 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXGreene49 min
Apr 28, 12:40 AM EDTTornado WarningMRXCarter, Greene, Unicoi, Washington31 min
Apr 28, 12:59 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningMRXBledsoe, Marion, Sequatchie51 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 2011Tornado 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.