Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 10, NWS Raleigh, NC

April 16, 2011Alamance County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at Apr 16, 2011, 2:16 PM EDT for Alamance County, North Carolina. It was in force for 29 min. 2 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 16, 2011, 2:16 PM EDT (18:16 UTC)
Expired
Apr 16, 2011, 2:45 PM EDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Raleigh, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Alamance County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 95 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:17 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 16, 2:18 PM EDTHAIL 1.75Burlington, NCMULTIPLE REPORTS OF GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL IN BURLINGTON
Apr 16, 2:25 PM EDTFUNNEL CLOUD2 Nnw Graham, NCPUBLIC REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD NEAR THE FAIRCHILD COMMUNITY CENTER.

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 16, 12:02 PM EDTTornado Watch PDSSPC11 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 6.3 hours before the alert went out and 47 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 12:00Z on 2011-04-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 12:00Z on 2011-04-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 605 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
516 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
54 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
605 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
909 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.

772 
WFUS52 KRAH 161816
TORRAH
NCC001-161845-
/O.NEW.KRAH.TO.W.0010.110416T1816Z-110416T1845Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
216 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN ALAMANCE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 245 PM EDT

* AT 213 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  TORNADO OVER ALAMANCE...OR 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BURLINGTON...MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH. DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60
  MPH ARE ALSO LIKELY WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BURLINGTON...HAW RIVER...
  MEBANE...UNION RIDGE...
  PLEASANT GROVE...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

PLEASE REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING...1...8 7 7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2 OR NOTIFY YOUR LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

&&

LAT...LON 3624 7926 3608 7926 3594 7946 3594 7953
      3615 7953 3625 7937
TIME...MOT...LOC 1815Z 232DEG 59KT 3604 7950

$$

VINCENT
4 follow-up statements
010 
WWUS52 KRAH 161822
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
222 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

NCC001-161845-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-110416T1845Z/
ALAMANCE NC-
222 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 245 PM EDT FOR NORTHERN
ALAMANCE COUNTY...

AT 217 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BURLINGTON...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.

HAZARDS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
A TORNADO.
OTHER DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE...MEBANE...UNION RIDGE 
AND PLEASANT GROVE.

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS
AVAILABLE LIE DOWN IN A LOW LYING AREA. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING
DEBRIS.

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE CALL IN YOUR REPORTS OF PENNY OR
LARGER SIZED HAIL...AS WELL AS WIND DAMAGE...INCLUDING TREES OR LARGE
LIMBS DOWNED BY CALLING THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT...
1...8 7 7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3624 7926 3608 7926 3602 7944 3601 7953
      3615 7953 3625 7937
TIME...MOT...LOC 1822Z 232DEG 55KT 3611 7939

$$

VINCENT
408 
WWUS52 KRAH 161824
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
224 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

NCC001-161845-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-110416T1845Z/
ALAMANCE NC-
224 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 245 PM EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN ALAMANCE COUNTY...

AT 222 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HAW RIVER...OR
NEAR GRAHAM...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.

HAZARDS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
A TORNADO.
OTHER DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE... MEBANE...UNION RIDGE
AND PLEASANT GROVE.

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS
AVAILABLE LIE DOWN IN A LOW LYING AREA. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING
DEBRIS.

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE CALL IN YOUR REPORTS OF PENNY OR
LARGER SIZED HAIL...AS WELL AS WIND DAMAGE...INCLUDING TREES OR LARGE
LIMBS DOWNED BY CALLING THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT...
1...8 7 7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3604 7944 3605 7945 3617 7946 3625 7937
      3624 7926 3608 7926
TIME...MOT...LOC 1824Z 232DEG 56KT 3613 7937

$$

VINCENT
945 
WWUS52 KRAH 161829
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
229 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

NCC001-161845-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-110416T1845Z/
ALAMANCE NC-
229 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 245 PM EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN ALAMANCE COUNTY...

AT 227 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR PLEASANT GROVE...
OR 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF GRAHAM...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

HAZARDS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
A TORNADO.
GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL.
OTHER DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE... PLEASANT GROVE.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING 
SITUATION. DOPPLER RADAR IS STRONGLY INDICATING A TORNADO. TAKE 
COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY 
BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...VEHICLE OR 
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS 
AVAILABLE LIE DOWN IN A LOW LYING AREA. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING 
DEBRIS.

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE CALL IN YOUR REPORTS OF PENNY OR
LARGER SIZED HAIL...AS WELL AS WIND DAMAGE...INCLUDING TREES OR LARGE
LIMBS DOWNED BY CALLING THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT...
1...8 7 7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3606 7939 3615 7939 3625 7937 3624 7926
      3608 7926
TIME...MOT...LOC 1829Z 231DEG 48KT 3616 7932

$$

VINCENT
853 
WWUS52 KRAH 161838
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
238 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

NCC001-161848-
/O.EXP.KRAH.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-110416T1845Z/
ALAMANCE NC-
238 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN ALAMANCE COUNTY EXPIRES AT 
245 PM EDT...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA INTO 
EXTREME NORTHERN ORANGE COUNTY...AND THE WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO 
EXPIRE.

IF YOU OBSERVED SEVERE WEATHER INCLUDING DAMAGING WINDS OR LARGE
HAIL...PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL
FREE 1...8 7 7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2...OR NOTIFY YOUR NEAREST LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN RALEIGH.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3606 7939 3615 7939 3625 7937 3624 7926
      3608 7926
TIME...MOT...LOC 1838Z 231DEG 48KT 3624 7920

$$

VINCENT

The office that day

Everything else NWS Raleigh, NC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 16, 8:44 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHAnson, Davidson, Guilford, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph and 1 more61 min
Apr 16, 12:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHDavidson, Forsyth43 min
Apr 16, 12:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHDavidson64 min
Apr 16, 12:43 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHDavidson47 min
Apr 16, 12:45 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHHarnett, Hoke, Lee, Moore, Richmond, Scotland60 min
Apr 16, 1:03 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHAnson, Stanly27 min
Apr 16, 1:07 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHGuilford, Randolph53 min
Apr 16, 1:08 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHHoke, Scotland37 min
Apr 16, 1:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAnson, Stanly53 min
Apr 16, 1:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHHarnett, Lee, Moore28 min
Apr 16, 1:39 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHRandolph21 min
Apr 16, 1:42 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHGuilford, Randolph3 hr
Apr 16, 1:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAlamance62 min
Apr 16, 1:46 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHMontgomery, Moore, Richmond59 min
Apr 16, 2:02 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHAlamance18 min
Apr 16, 2:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHChatham, Guilford, Randolph55 min
Apr 16, 2:14 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHAlamance3 hr
Apr 16, 2:17 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHOrange, Person58 min
Apr 16, 2:25 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHOrange35 min
Apr 16, 2:34 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHPerson22 min
Apr 16, 2:36 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHPerson24 min
Apr 16, 2:43 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHChatham, Lee, Moore47 min
Apr 16, 2:44 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHDurham, Granville, Orange, Person2 hr
Apr 16, 2:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHHoke, Richmond, Scotland41 min
Apr 16, 3:02 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHHoke, Scotland43 min
Apr 16, 3:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHDurham, Granville, Person, Wake40 min
Apr 16, 3:06 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHGuilford110 min
Apr 16, 3:12 PM EDTTornado Warning EmergencyRAHChatham, Durham, Harnett, Lee, Wake48 min
Apr 16, 3:25 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHGranville, Vance50 min
Apr 16, 3:26 PM EDTTornado Warning EmergencyRAHCumberland, Hoke49 min
Apr 16, 3:38 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHCumberland, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Harnett and 11 more3 hr
Apr 16, 3:38 PM EDTTornado Warning EmergencyRAHFranklin, Nash, Wake37 min
Apr 16, 3:42 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHCumberland, Sampson48 min
Apr 16, 3:53 PM EDTTornado Warning EmergencyRAHCumberland, Harnett, Sampson37 min
Apr 16, 3:57 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHFranklin, Granville, Vance, Warren48 min
Apr 16, 3:59 PM EDTTornado Warning EmergencyRAHFranklin, Granville, Johnston, Nash, Vance, Wake46 min
Apr 16, 4:15 PM EDTTornado Warning EmergencyRAHHarnett, Johnston, Sampson45 min
Apr 16, 4:25 PM EDTTornado Warning EmergencyRAHFranklin, Halifax, Nash, Warren50 min
Apr 16, 4:29 PM EDTTornado Warning EmergencyRAHCumberland, Sampson31 min
Apr 16, 4:53 PM EDTTornado Warning EmergencyRAHJohnston, Nash, Wilson52 min
Apr 16, 4:59 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHSampson, Wayne46 min
Apr 16, 5:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHFranklin, Wake58 min
Apr 16, 5:12 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHHalifax18 min
Apr 16, 5:23 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHSampson41 min
Apr 16, 5:25 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHEdgecombe, Nash, Wilson30 min
Apr 16, 5:30 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHWayne14 min
Apr 16, 5:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHFranklin, Nash, Wilson34 min
Apr 16, 5:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHEdgecombe, Halifax, Nash42 min
Apr 16, 5:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHWayne, Wilson24 min
Apr 16, 5:58 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHWayne32 min
Apr 16, 6:08 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHSampson17 min
Apr 16, 6:11 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHSampson, Wayne20 min
Apr 16, 6:20 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHWayne10 min
Apr 16, 7:43 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHEdgecombe, Halifax, Sampson, Wayne, Wilson47 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 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.