Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 14, NWS Raleigh, NC

April 16, 2011Chatham County, Lee County, Moore County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at Apr 16, 2011, 2:43 PM EDT for Chatham County, Lee County, Moore County, North Carolina. It was in force for 47 min. 9 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, 2:43 PM EDT (18:43 UTC)
Expired
Apr 16, 2011, 3:30 PM EDT
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Raleigh, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Chatham County, NC, Lee County, NC, Moore County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 82 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:45 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, 2:50 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG4 Ese Carthage, NCTWO 18 INCH TREES DOWN NEAR UNION PINES HIGH SCHOOL
Apr 16, 3:03 PM EDTTORNADO3 Se Sanford, NCCARS OVERTURNED AND TREES DOWN
Apr 16, 3:05 PM EDTHAIL 1Sanford, NC
Apr 16, 3:05 PM EDTTORNADO1 Ne Tramway, NC4 HOMES SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE... 1 HOME DESTROYED... TREES SNAPPED
Apr 16, 3:09 PM EDTTORNADO3 Sse Sanford, NCHOUSES DAMAGED AND TREES DOWN IN THE ST ANDREWS SUBDIVISION.
Apr 16, 3:10 PM EDTTORNADOBroadway, NCMULTIPLE STRUCTURES DAMAGED AND POSSIBLE HOUSES COLLAPSED.
Apr 16, 3:17 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG5 Ne Seven Lakes, NCMULTIPLE TREES DOWN IN ROAD BETWEEN SEVEN LAKES AND CARTHAGE
Apr 16, 3:20 PM EDTTORNADOSanford, NCMULTIPLE MOBILE HOMES COLLAPSED... LEMMON SPRINGS RD AND HWY 42.
Apr 16, 3:25 PM EDTTORNADOBroadway, NC*** 2 FATAL, 1 INJ *** OVER 30 HOMES DESTROYED ALONG WITH A LOWES HARDWARE. A WAL-MART AND BIG LOTS WERE ALSO SEVERELY DAMAGED.

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, 6.7 hours before the alert went out and 91 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.

105 
WFUS52 KRAH 161843
TORRAH
NCC037-105-125-161930-
/O.NEW.KRAH.TO.W.0014.110416T1843Z-110416T1930Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN MOORE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  LEE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  SOUTH CENTRAL CHATHAM COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 330 PM EDT

* AT 236 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  TORNADO NEAR CARTHAGE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CARTHAGE...CUMNOCK...SANFORD...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

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 3533 7962 3568 7921 3548 7901 3540 7909
      3521 7946
TIME...MOT...LOC 1843Z 228DEG 56KT 3545 7932

$$

13
3 follow-up statements
539 
WWUS52 KRAH 161855
SVSRAH

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

NCC037-105-125-161930-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-110416T1930Z/
MOORE NC-LEE NC-CHATHAM NC-
255 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 330 PM EDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL CHATHAM...LEE AND NORTHEASTERN MOORE COUNTIES...

AT 245 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS BETWEEN CARTHAGE AND 
CAMERON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.

HAZARDS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
A TORNADO.
OTHER DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MPH.

LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE TRAMWAY...GUM 
SPRINGS...SANFORD...CUMNOCK.

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 3535 7956 3568 7921 3548 7901 3547 7902
      3540 7909 3523 7942
TIME...MOT...LOC 1853Z 228DEG 56KT 3555 7917

$$

13
171 
WWUS52 KRAH 161906
SVSRAH

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

NCC125-161913-
/O.CAN.KRAH.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-110416T1930Z/
MOORE NC-
306 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN MOORE COUNTY IS CANCELLED...


THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA AND 
THE WARNING IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

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 3535 7927 3540 7929 3542 7933 3544 7933
      3547 7936 3549 7934 3551 7934 3552 7938
      3568 7921 3548 7901 3540 7909 3533 7924
TIME...MOT...LOC 1903Z 228DEG 56KT 3565 7902

$$

NCC037-105-161930-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-110416T1930Z/
LEE NC-CHATHAM NC-
306 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 330 PM EDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL CHATHAM AND LEE COUNTIES...

AT 254 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A TORNADO LOCATED ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTH OF SANFORD...MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH. LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE 
SANFORD...GUM SPRINGS.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION...SEEK SHELTER NOW.

HAZARDS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
A TORNADO.

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 3535 7927 3540 7929 3542 7933 3544 7933
      3547 7936 3549 7934 3551 7934 3552 7938
      3568 7921 3548 7901 3540 7909 3533 7924
TIME...MOT...LOC 1903Z 228DEG 56KT 3565 7902

$$

13
916 
WWUS52 KRAH 161924
SVSRAH

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

NCC037-105-161934-
/O.EXP.KRAH.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-110416T1930Z/
LEE NC-CHATHAM NC-
324 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL CHATHAM AND LEE COUNTIES
EXPIRES AT 330 PM EDT...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED NORTHEAST INTO 
SOUTHERN WAKE COUNTY...OUT OF THE AREA...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 3535 7927 3540 7929 3542 7933 3544 7933
      3547 7936 3549 7934 3551 7934 3552 7938
      3568 7921 3548 7901 3540 7909 3533 7924
TIME...MOT...LOC 1924Z 228DEG 56KT 3587 7872

$$

13

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, 2:16 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHAlamance29 min
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, 2:44 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.