Alert archive / Delaware / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 16, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

August 27, 2011Kent County, Sussex County, Delaware

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this tornado warning at Aug 27, 2011, 8:33 PM EDT for Kent County, Sussex County, Delaware. It was in force for 27 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
Aug 27, 2011, 8:33 PM EDT (00:33 UTC)
Expired
Aug 27, 2011, 9:00 PM EDT
In force
27 min
Issued by
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Kent County, DE, Sussex County, DE

The radar

The Dover AFB radar (KDOX), 26 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:34 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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Aug 27, 7:56 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Wallops Is Stn, VA (KWAL), launched 00:00Z, 0.6 hours before the alert went out and 84 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, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 00:00Z on 2011-08-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 43 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, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 00:00Z on 2011-08-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 45 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
43 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-4 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
962 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
3 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
45 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
47 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

295 
WFUS51 KPHI 280033
TORPHI
DEC001-005-280100-
/O.NEW.KPHI.TO.W.0016.110828T0033Z-110828T0100Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
833 PM EDT SAT AUG 27 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY NJ HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTH CENTRAL KENT COUNTY IN CENTRAL DELAWARE...
  NORTHERN SUSSEX COUNTY IN SOUTHERN DELAWARE...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN...

* UNTIL 900 PM EDT

* AT 830 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR BETHANY
  BEACH...OR 20 MILES EAST OF GEORGETOWN...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 45
  MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  REHOBOTH BEACH BY 840 PM EDT...
  7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LEWES BY 845 PM EDT...
  MILTON AND GEORGETOWN BY 855 PM EDT...
  ELLENDALE AND 8 MILES SOUTH OF MILFORD BY 900 PM EDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

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.

PLEASE REPORT HAIL OR STRONG WINDS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM EDT SUNDAY MORNING FOR
SOUTHERN DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY.

&&

LAT...LON 3878 7564 3897 7548 3873 7506 3865 7505
      3863 7506 3860 7504 3859 7505 3851 7504
      3850 7505
TIME...MOT...LOC 0033Z 124DEG 41KT 3862 7508

$$

HAYES
2 follow-up statements
747 
WWUS51 KPHI 280045
SVSPHI

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
845 PM EDT SAT AUG 27 2011

DEC001-005-280100-
/O.CON.KPHI.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-110828T0100Z/
KENT DE-SUSSEX DE-
845 PM EDT SAT AUG 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT FOR NORTHERN
SUSSEX AND SOUTH CENTRAL KENT COUNTIES...

AT 843 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR LONG NECK...OR 10
MILES EAST OF GEORGETOWN...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 45 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  MILTON AND GEORGETOWN BY 855 PM EDT...
  ELLENDALE AND 9 MILES SOUTH OF MILFORD BY 900 PM EDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

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.

PLEASE REPORT HAIL OR STRONG WINDS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM EDT SUNDAY MORNING FOR
SOUTHERN DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY.

&&

LAT...LON 3878 7564 3897 7548 3873 7506 3865 7505
      3863 7506 3860 7504 3859 7505 3851 7504
      3850 7505
TIME...MOT...LOC 0045Z 124DEG 41KT 3869 7523

$$

HAYES/GAINES
678 
WWUS51 KPHI 280059
SVSPHI

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
859 PM EDT SAT AUG 27 2011

DEC001-005-280109-
/O.EXP.KPHI.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-110828T0100Z/
KENT DE-SUSSEX DE-
859 PM EDT SAT AUG 27 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN SUSSEX AND SOUTH CENTRAL KENT
COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 900 PM EDT...

PLEASE REPORT HAIL OR STRONG WINDS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM EDT SUNDAY MORNING FOR
SOUTHERN DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY.

LAT...LON 3878 7564 3897 7548 3873 7506 3865 7505
      3863 7506 3860 7504 3859 7505 3851 7504
      3850 7505
TIME...MOT...LOC 0059Z 124DEG 41KT 3878 7540

$$

HAYES/GAINES

The office that day

Everything else NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 27, 8:28 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHIKent, New Castle, Sussex12 hr
Aug 27, 8:49 PM EDTTornado WarningPHIKent26 min
Aug 27, 9:46 PM EDTTornado WarningPHINew Castle29 min
Aug 27, 10:14 PM EDTTornado WarningPHINew Castle31 min
Aug 27, 11:37 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHINew Castle12 hr
Aug 28, 7:07 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningPHIKent, Sussex12 hr
Aug 28, 8:09 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningPHINew Castle12 hr
Aug 28, 11:07 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningPHINew Castle18 hr
Aug 28, 7:03 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningPHISussex22 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Delaware, 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.