Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 19, NWS Raleigh, NC

April 16, 2011Franklin County, Nash County, Wake County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at Apr 16, 2011, 3:38 PM EDT for Franklin County, Nash County, Wake County, North Carolina. It was in force for 37 min. 22 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, 3:38 PM EDT (19:38 UTC)
Expired
Apr 16, 2011, 4:15 PM EDT
In force
37 min
Issued by
NWS Raleigh, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Emergency
Tornado emergency

Counties Franklin County, NC, Nash County, NC, Wake County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 31 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:40 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, 3:48 PM EDTTORNADORaleigh, NCMULTIPLE POWER FLASHES... RAIN WRAPPED TORNADO AT I440 AT EXIT 16
Apr 16, 3:50 PM EDTTORNADO4 Ne Rdu International, NCDEBRIS INCLUDING FOAM INSULATION... STRIPPED TREE BRANCHES... AND SQUARES OF PLYWOOD
Apr 16, 3:50 PM EDTTORNADO4 N Raleigh, NC8 INCH LIMBS DOWN AND BLOCKING 2 LANES OF SPRING FOREST ROAD IN RALEIGH
Apr 16, 3:51 PM EDTTORNADORaleigh, NCDEBRIS FALLING IN NORTH RALEIGH FROM LARGE TORNADO ON THE GROUND.
Apr 16, 3:55 PM EDTTORNADO2 Ene Raleigh, NCSEVERAL BLDGS PARTIALLY DESTROYED AT YONKERS RD AND THE BELTLINE. DEBRIS SPREAD UP TO CAPITAL BLVD AND RALEIGH ICEPLEX.
Apr 16, 3:55 PM EDTTORNADO2 N New Hope, NCLARGE HIGH TENSION STEEL WIRE TOWER TWISTED.
Apr 16, 3:56 PM EDTTORNADO1 Wnw New Hope, NCDAMAGE TO ROOF SHINGLES AND LARGE PINE TREES ACROSS THE ROAD
Apr 16, 3:56 PM EDTTORNADO3 Se Raleigh, NCTREES ON HOUSES ON MILBURNIE RD AND STEVENS RD. POWER LINES ON GROUND.
Apr 16, 3:57 PM EDTTORNADORaleigh, NCNUMEROUS TREES DOWN. WINDOWS BLOWN OUT AND ROOFS OFF BUILDINGS AT BLOUNT AND WILMINGTON STREETS IN DOWNTOWN RALEIGH.
Apr 16, 3:58 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG2 E Raleigh, NCTRUCK OVERTURNED... TREES IN ROAD... ROOF OFF BUILDING AT YONKERS ROAD
Apr 16, 3:58 PM EDTTORNADO2 E Raleigh, NCTRUCK OVERTURNED... TREES IN ROAD... ROOF OFF BUILDING AT YONKERS ROAD
Apr 16, 3:58 PM EDTTORNADORaleigh, NCNUMEROUS BRICK BUILDINGS DESTROLYED ALONG SOUTH SAUNDERS STREET IN SOUTHEAST RALEIGH.
Apr 16, 3:59 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG2 Nw New Hope, NCPOWER LINES AND LARGE TREES DOWN
Apr 16, 4:00 PM EDTHAIL 1.752 Sw Falls Lake, NCHAIL SHREDDED LEAVES AND DENTED CARS
Apr 16, 4:03 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG5 Sw Rolesville, NCROOF DAMAGE... TREES SHEARED OFF... TREES IN THE ROAD
Apr 16, 4:05 PM EDTTORNADO2 Ene Raleigh, NC*** 3 FATAL *** MOBILES HOMES DESTROYED NEAR BRENTWOOD DR IN RALEIGH.
Apr 16, 4:05 PM EDTTORNADO3 Ne New Hope, NCNUMEROUS TREES DOWN AT I-540 AND BUFFALOE RD. TREES 50 FT TALL AND 1-2 FT DIAMETER.
Apr 16, 4:06 PM EDTHAIL 14 Nne Raleigh, NCQUARTER SIZE HAIL ON SPRING FOREST ROAD IN RALEIGH
Apr 16, 4:07 PM EDTHAIL 0.882 Ssw Falls Lake, NCNICKEL HAIL ON CUB TRAIL IN RALEIGH
Apr 16, 4:10 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG2 N New Hope, NCTRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED 89 MPH WIND GUST... SIDING BLOWN OFF BUILDING
Apr 16, 4:10 PM EDTHAIL 1.751 Sse Falls Lake, NCGOLF BALL HAIL AT INTERSECTION OF DUNN ROAD AND FALLS OF NEUSE ROAD IN RALEIGH
Apr 16, 4:17 PM EDTTORNADO6 Ene Rolesville, NCNUMEROUS TREES DOWN NEAR ZEBULON TO NORTH OF BUNN.

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, 7.6 hours before the alert went out and 139 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.

820 
WFUS52 KRAH 161938
TORRAH
NCC069-127-183-162015-
/O.NEW.KRAH.TO.W.0019.110416T1938Z-110416T2015Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN WAKE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  WEST CENTRAL NASH COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  FRANKLIN COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 415 PM EDT

* AT 336 PM EDT...EMERGENCY OFFICIALS REPORTED A DESTRUCTIVE AND     
  EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO NEAR HOLLY SPRINGS...OR 9 MILES SOUTH  
  OF CARY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL AND     
  DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH ARE ALSO LIKELY WITH THIS    
  STORM.

* THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR...
  RALEIGH...
  NEW HOPE...
  KNIGHTDALE...
  ROLESVILLE...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY...ACT NOW TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE. MOVE TO
AN INTERIOR ROOM OF THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. USE
BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO PROTECT YOUR BODY FROM FLYING DEBRIS. AVOID
WINDOWS. IF IN A VEHICLE OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER.

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 3590 7795 3578 7824 3581 7826 3568 7849
      3591 7876 3603 7860 3601 7855 3607 7855
      3622 7834
TIME...MOT...LOC 1937Z 235DEG 44KT 3567 7880

$$

JO

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, 2:43 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, 3:42 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.