Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 26, NWS Raleigh, NC

April 16, 2011Cumberland County, Sampson County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at Apr 16, 2011, 4:29 PM EDT for Cumberland County, Sampson County, North Carolina. It was in force for 31 min. 3 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, 4:29 PM EDT (20:29 UTC)
Expired: Apr 16, 2011, 5:00 PM EDT
In force: 31 min
Issued by: NWS Raleigh, NC
Area: Storm-based polygon
Emergency: Tornado emergency

Counties Cumberland County, NC, Sampson County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 78 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:31 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Apr 16, 4:40 PM EDT	HAIL 1	Salemburg, NC
Apr 16, 4:40 PM EDT	TORNADO	2 S Roseboro, NC	MOBILE HOME COLLAPSED ON HWY 242... 2 MILES SOUTH OF ROSEBORO. OTHER REPORTS OF TREES DOWN.
Apr 16, 4:50 PM EDT	HAIL 2	Clinton, NC	TIME ESTIMATED.

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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 16, 12:02 PM EDT	Tornado Watch PDS	SPC	11 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Newport, NC (KMHX), launched 12:00Z, 8.5 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 7 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -6 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 824 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 201 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 308 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.

049 
WFUS52 KRAH 162029
TORRAH
NCC051-163-162100-
/O.NEW.KRAH.TO.W.0026.110416T2029Z-110416T2100Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  SAMPSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 500 PM EDT

* AT 426 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  TORNADO 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ROSEBORO...OR 16 MILES NORTH OF
  ELIZABETHTOWN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  ROSEBORO...SALEMBURG...
  CLINTON...

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 3480 7845 3485 7849 3484 7852 3484 7872
      3488 7876 3489 7876 3526 7829 3522 7825
      3519 7817 3510 7817 3507 7815 3496 7814
      3488 7815
TIME...MOT...LOC 2029Z 237DEG 40KT 3487 7860

$$

VINCENT

3 follow-up statements

415 
WWUS52 KRAH 162036
SVSRAH

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

NCC051-163-162100-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0026.000000T0000Z-110416T2100Z/
CUMBERLAND NC-SAMPSON NC-
436 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EDT FOR SAMPSON
AND SOUTHEASTERN CUMBERLAND COUNTIES...

AT 431 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING 
A DESTRUCTIVE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS 
LOCATED 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ROSEBORO...OR 17 MILES SOUTHWEST OF 
CLINTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

HAZARDS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
A TORNADO.
OTHER DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 75 MPH.

THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR...SALEMBURG...CLINTON...TURKEY AND 
HOBBTON.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION! TAKE 
COVER IMMEDIATELY. 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.

REPEATING...THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR...SALEMBURG...CLINTON... 
TURKEY AND HOBBTON.

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 3480 7845 3485 7849 3484 7852 3487 7865
      3490 7869 3494 7870 3526 7829 3522 7825
      3519 7817 3510 7817 3507 7815 3497 7814
      3488 7815
TIME...MOT...LOC 2036Z 238DEG 43KT 3491 7852

$$

VINCENT

740 
WWUS52 KRAH 162046 RRA
SVSRAH

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

NCC051-162055-
/O.CAN.KRAH.TO.W.0026.000000T0000Z-110416T2100Z/
CUMBERLAND NC-
446 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN CUMBERLAND COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA AND 
THE WARNING FOR CUMBERLAND COUNTY HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

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 3491 7854 3497 7862 3499 7863 3520 7829
      3522 7825 3519 7817 3510 7817 3507 7815
      3499 7814 3496 7815 3484 7848
TIME...MOT...LOC 2045Z 238DEG 43KT 3497 7841

$$

NCC163-162100-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0026.000000T0000Z-110416T2100Z/
SAMPSON NC-
446 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
SAMPSON COUNTY...

AT 440 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING 
A DESTRUCTIVE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS 
LOCATED NEAR ROSEBORO...OR 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CLINTON...MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

HAZARDS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
A TORNADO.
OTHER DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 75 MPH.

THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR...CLINTON...TURKEY AND HOBBTON.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. TAKE 
COVER IMMEDIATELY! 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.

REPEATING...THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR...CLINTON...TURKEY AND 
HOBBTON.

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 3491 7854 3497 7862 3499 7863 3520 7829
      3522 7825 3519 7817 3510 7817 3507 7815
      3499 7814 3496 7815 3484 7848
TIME...MOT...LOC 2045Z 238DEG 43KT 3497 7841

$$

VINCENT

539 
WWUS52 KRAH 162054
SVSRAH

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

NCC163-162100-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0026.000000T0000Z-110416T2100Z/
SAMPSON NC-
454 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
SAMPSON COUNTY...

AT 449 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR CLINTON...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

HAZARDS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
A TORNADO.
OTHER DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 75 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE...TURKEY AND HOBBTON.

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 3496 7843 3508 7849 3522 7825 3519 7817
      3510 7817 3507 7815 3500 7814 3496 7815
      3488 7837
TIME...MOT...LOC 2055Z 235DEG 45KT 3505 7828

$$

VINCENT

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 16, 8:44 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Anson, Davidson, Guilford, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph and 1 more	61 min
Apr 16, 12:17 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Davidson, Forsyth	43 min
Apr 16, 12:26 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Davidson	64 min
Apr 16, 12:43 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Davidson	47 min
Apr 16, 12:45 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Moore, Richmond, Scotland	60 min
Apr 16, 1:03 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Anson, Stanly	27 min
Apr 16, 1:07 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Guilford, Randolph	53 min
Apr 16, 1:08 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Hoke, Scotland	37 min
Apr 16, 1:22 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Anson, Stanly	53 min
Apr 16, 1:26 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Harnett, Lee, Moore	28 min
Apr 16, 1:39 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Randolph	21 min
Apr 16, 1:42 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Guilford, Randolph	3 hr
Apr 16, 1:43 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Alamance	62 min
Apr 16, 1:46 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Montgomery, Moore, Richmond	59 min
Apr 16, 2:02 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Alamance	18 min
Apr 16, 2:05 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Chatham, Guilford, Randolph	55 min
Apr 16, 2:14 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Alamance	3 hr
Apr 16, 2:16 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Alamance	29 min
Apr 16, 2:17 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Orange, Person	58 min
Apr 16, 2:25 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Orange	35 min
Apr 16, 2:34 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Person	22 min
Apr 16, 2:36 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Person	24 min
Apr 16, 2:43 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Chatham, Lee, Moore	47 min
Apr 16, 2:44 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Durham, Granville, Orange, Person	2 hr
Apr 16, 2:49 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Hoke, Richmond, Scotland	41 min
Apr 16, 3:02 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Hoke, Scotland	43 min
Apr 16, 3:05 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Durham, Granville, Person, Wake	40 min
Apr 16, 3:06 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RAH	Guilford	110 min
Apr 16, 3:12 PM EDT	Tornado Warning Emergency	RAH	Chatham, Durham, Harnett, Lee, Wake	48 min
Apr 16, 3:25 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Granville, Vance	50 min
Apr 16, 3:26 PM EDT	Tornado Warning Emergency	RAH	Cumberland, Hoke	49 min
Apr 16, 3:38 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Cumberland, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Harnett and 11 more	3 hr
Apr 16, 3:38 PM EDT	Tornado Warning Emergency	RAH	Franklin, Nash, Wake	37 min
Apr 16, 3:42 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Cumberland, Sampson	48 min
Apr 16, 3:53 PM EDT	Tornado Warning Emergency	RAH	Cumberland, Harnett, Sampson	37 min
Apr 16, 3:57 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Franklin, Granville, Vance, Warren	48 min
Apr 16, 3:59 PM EDT	Tornado Warning Emergency	RAH	Franklin, Granville, Johnston, Nash, Vance, Wake	46 min
Apr 16, 4:15 PM EDT	Tornado Warning Emergency	RAH	Harnett, Johnston, Sampson	45 min
Apr 16, 4:25 PM EDT	Tornado Warning Emergency	RAH	Franklin, Halifax, Nash, Warren	50 min
Apr 16, 4:53 PM EDT	Tornado Warning Emergency	RAH	Johnston, Nash, Wilson	52 min
Apr 16, 4:59 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Sampson, Wayne	46 min
Apr 16, 5:02 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Franklin, Wake	58 min
Apr 16, 5:12 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Halifax	18 min
Apr 16, 5:23 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Sampson	41 min
Apr 16, 5:25 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Edgecombe, Nash, Wilson	30 min
Apr 16, 5:30 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Wayne	14 min
Apr 16, 5:41 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Franklin, Nash, Wilson	34 min
Apr 16, 5:51 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash	42 min
Apr 16, 5:51 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Wayne, Wilson	24 min
Apr 16, 5:58 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Wayne	32 min
Apr 16, 6:08 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Sampson	17 min
Apr 16, 6:11 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Sampson, Wayne	20 min
Apr 16, 6:20 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Wayne	10 min
Apr 16, 7:43 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Edgecombe, Halifax, Sampson, Wayne, Wilson	47 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 2011 Every tornado warning in 2011 Tornadoes 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.