Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 54, NWS Raleigh, NC

September 6, 20115 counties in North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at Sep 6, 2011, 11:27 AM EDT for 5 counties in North Carolina. It was in force for 26 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
Sep 6, 2011, 11:27 AM EDT (15:27 UTC)
Expired
Sep 6, 2011, 11:53 AM EDT
In force
26 min
Issued by
NWS Raleigh, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Chatham County, NC, Durham County, NC, Lee County, NC, Orange County, NC, Wake County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 52 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:28 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
Sep 6, 5:17 AM EDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 3.5 hours before the alert went out and 83 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 2011-09-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1434 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 2011-09-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 246 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
1434 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
515 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
246 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
274 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.9
Supercell composite
11.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

843 
WFUS52 KRAH 061527
TORRAH
NCC037-063-105-135-183-061615-
/O.NEW.KRAH.TO.W.0054.110906T1527Z-110906T1615Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
1127 AM EDT TUE SEP 6 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN CHATHAM COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  SOUTHERN DURHAM COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  NORTHEASTERN LEE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  SOUTH CENTRAL ORANGE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  WEST CENTRAL WAKE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 1215 PM EDT

* AT 1123 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  TORNADO OVER MONCURE...OR 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF SANFORD...MOVING
  NORTH AT 35 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  JORDAN LAKE...
  FEARRINGTON...
  CHAPEL HILL...PARKWOOD...
  BETHESDA...
  DURHAM...

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.

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 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 200 PM EDT TUESDAY AFTERNOON
FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

&&

LAT...LON 3602 7911 3596 7878 3552 7900 3556 7920
TIME...MOT...LOC 1527Z 197DEG 30KT 3560 7909

$$

WSS
2 follow-up statements
780 
WWUS52 KRAH 061537
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
1137 AM EDT TUE SEP 6 2011

NCC105-061547-
/O.CAN.KRAH.TO.W.0054.000000T0000Z-110906T1615Z/
LEE NC-
1137 AM EDT TUE SEP 6 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN LEE 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 200 PM EDT TUESDAY AFTERNOON
FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3563 7899 3566 7916 3602 7911 3596 7878
TIME...MOT...LOC 1537Z 200DEG 30KT 3568 7904

$$

NCC037-063-135-183-061615-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0054.000000T0000Z-110906T1615Z/
CHATHAM NC-DURHAM NC-ORANGE NC-WAKE NC-
1137 AM EDT TUE SEP 6 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1215 PM EDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL WAKE...SOUTH CENTRAL ORANGE...SOUTHERN DURHAM AND
NORTHEASTERN CHATHAM COUNTIES...

AT 1133 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 7 MILES SOUTH OF JORDAN
LAKE...OR 9 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PITTSBORO...MOVING NORTH AT 35 MPH.

HAZARDS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
A TORNADO.

LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE... FEARRINGTON...
CARPENTER...CARRBORO...PARKWOOD...CHAPEL HILL...RESEARCH TRIANGLE
PARK...BETHESDA AND DURHAM.

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

IF YOU OBSERVED A TORNADO...DAMAGING WINDS...OR LARGE HAIL...PLEASE
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 200 PM EDT TUESDAY AFTERNOON
FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3563 7899 3566 7916 3602 7911 3596 7878
TIME...MOT...LOC 1537Z 200DEG 30KT 3568 7904

$$

WSS
218 
WWUS52 KRAH 061553
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
1153 AM EDT TUE SEP 6 2011

NCC037-063-135-183-061601-
/O.CAN.KRAH.TO.W.0054.000000T0000Z-110906T1615Z/
CHATHAM NC-DURHAM NC-ORANGE NC-WAKE NC-
1153 AM EDT TUE SEP 6 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR WEST CENTRAL WAKE...SOUTH CENTRAL
ORANGE...SOUTHERN DURHAM AND NORTHEASTERN CHATHAM COUNTIES IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED AND THE WARNING IS 
NO LONGER IN EFFECT. HOWEVER DOPPLER RADAR STILL INDICATED WEAK 
ROTATION WITH THIS STORM. SHOULD THE STORM ROTATION INCREASE AND THE 
STORM INTENSIFY A NEW WARNING MAY NEED TO BE ISSUED. PEOPLE ARE 
ADVISED TO CLOSELY MONITOR LOCAL CONDITIONS AND TAKE QUICK ACTION IF 
A WARNING IS ISSUED. 

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 200 PM EDT TUESDAY AFTERNOON
FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3563 7899 3566 7916 3602 7911 3596 7878
TIME...MOT...LOC 1551Z 197DEG 30KT 3579 7902

$$

WSS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 5, 8:20 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHDavidson, Forsyth55 min
Sep 5, 8:40 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHStanly31 min
Sep 5, 8:51 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHDavidson39 min
Sep 5, 9:04 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHRandolph56 min
Sep 5, 9:20 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHForsyth55 min
Sep 6, 4:24 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHPerson36 min
Sep 6, 5:39 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHDurham36 min
Sep 6, 5:44 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHPerson31 min
Sep 6, 5:50 AM EDTTornado WarningRAHGranville, Person40 min
Sep 6, 6:19 AM EDTTornado WarningRAHGranville, Vance33 min
Sep 6, 6:44 AM EDTTornado WarningRAHLee, Moore46 min
Sep 6, 7:52 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHChatham, Durham, Orange2 hr
Sep 6, 8:14 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHDurham, Granville, Orange, Person61 min
Sep 6, 8:34 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHHarnett, Wake56 min
Sep 6, 8:49 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHDurham, Granville, Orange, Person112 min
Sep 6, 9:22 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHDurham, Granville, Vance, Warren68 min
Sep 6, 9:25 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHWake65 min
Sep 6, 9:30 AM EDTTornado WarningRAHDurham, Granville, Person45 min
Sep 6, 9:34 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHWake69 min
Sep 6, 9:37 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHMoore, Scotland53 min
Sep 6, 9:59 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHChatham61 min
Sep 6, 10:08 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHFranklin, Vance67 min
Sep 6, 10:09 AM EDTTornado WarningRAHGranville, Vance51 min
Sep 6, 10:10 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHSampson50 min
Sep 6, 10:27 AM EDTTornado WarningRAHFranklin, Vance, Warren63 min
Sep 6, 10:33 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHChatham, Lee57 min
Sep 6, 10:40 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHAlamance, Chatham, Moore, Randolph3 hr
Sep 6, 11:01 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHAlamance59 min
Sep 6, 11:02 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHGuilford58 min
Sep 6, 11:07 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHAnson, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Scotland, Stanly53 min
Sep 6, 11:13 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHWayne62 min
Sep 6, 11:25 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHChatham, Durham, Granville, Orange, Person, Wake80 min
Sep 6, 11:28 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHEdgecombe62 min
Sep 6, 12:03 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHCumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Moore57 min
Sep 6, 12:05 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHDurham, Orange, Person3 hr
Sep 6, 12:06 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHGuilford, Randolph54 min
Sep 6, 12:27 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHDurham, Granville, Person63 min
Sep 6, 12:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHEdgecombe, Halifax58 min
Sep 6, 12:42 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHGuilford, Randolph87 min
Sep 6, 12:55 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHCumberland, Harnett, Lee, Wake65 min
Sep 6, 1:05 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHAlamance18 min
Sep 6, 1:09 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHCumberland, Harnett, Hoke66 min
Sep 6, 1:31 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHDurham, Orange, Person44 min
Sep 6, 1:37 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHEdgecombe38 min
Sep 6, 1:44 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHDavidson, Forsyth61 min
Sep 6, 2:07 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHFranklin, Granville, Vance, Warren53 min
Sep 6, 2:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHJohnston, Sampson, Wayne58 min
Sep 6, 2:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHHarnett, Johnston, Wake46 min
Sep 6, 2:49 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHFranklin, Halifax, Nash, Warren56 min
Sep 6, 2:55 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHGuilford, Randolph65 min
Sep 6, 3:01 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHFranklin, Johnston, Wake44 min
Sep 6, 3:19 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHDavidson, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph2 hr
Sep 6, 3:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHFranklin, Halifax, Vance, Warren56 min
Sep 6, 3:39 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHDavidson, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph111 min
Sep 6, 3:48 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHHalifax, Nash57 min
Sep 6, 4:33 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHHoke, Scotland87 min
Sep 6, 5:00 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHEdgecombe, Halifax60 min
Sep 6, 5:04 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHHoke, Lee, Moore56 min
Sep 6, 5:07 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHCumberland, Sampson68 min
Sep 6, 5:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHChatham, Harnett, Lee, Wake31 min
Sep 6, 5:47 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHWayne, Wilson43 min
Sep 6, 6:42 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHWake63 min
Sep 6, 7:14 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHOrange61 min
Sep 6, 7:40 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHFranklin65 min
Sep 6, 7:42 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHPerson63 min
Sep 6, 7:58 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHCumberland47 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.