Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 16, NWS Blacksburg, VA

April 16, 2011Caswell County, Rockingham County, North Carolina; Halifax County, Pittsylvania County, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this tornado warning at Apr 16, 2011, 1:57 PM EDT for Caswell County, Rockingham County, North Carolina; Halifax County, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. It was in force for 48 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, 1:57 PM EDT (17:57 UTC)
Expired: Apr 16, 2011, 2:45 PM EDT
In force: 48 min
Issued by: NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Caswell County, NC, Rockingham County, NC, Halifax County, VA, Pittsylvania County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 107 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:58 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, 2:12 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 Nne Providence, NC	TREE DOWN
Apr 16, 2:12 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 Sse Milton, NC	TREE DOWN

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

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 6.0 hours before the alert went out and 65 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: 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.

829 
WFUS51 KRNK 161757
TORRNK
NCC033-157-VAC083-143-161845-
/O.NEW.KRNK.TO.W.0016.110416T1757Z-110416T1845Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
157 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CASWELL COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  SOUTHEASTERN ROCKINGHAM COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  SOUTHEASTERN PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  SOUTHWESTERN HALIFAX COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 245 PM EDT.

* AT 153 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR CAMP
  SPRINGS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CAMP SPRINGS...
  YANCEYVILLE...
  HAMER...
  MILTON...
  SEMORA...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE RELAY YOUR SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE AT...1...8 6
6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3625 7961 3632 7966 3674 7906 3654 7903
      3653 7913 3641 7914
TIME...MOT...LOC 1757Z 237DEG 42KT 3632 7954

$$

RCS

3 follow-up statements

330 
WWUS51 KRNK 161807
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
207 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

NCC157-161817-
/O.CAN.KRNK.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-110416T1845Z/
ROCKINGHAM NC-
207 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3632 7946 3639 7950 3674 7906 3654 7903
      3653 7913 3641 7914
TIME...MOT...LOC 1807Z 242DEG 50KT 3639 7937

$$

NCC033-VAC083-143-161845-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-110416T1845Z/
CASWELL NC-PITTSYLVANIA VA-HALIFAX VA-
207 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 245 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN HALIFAX...SOUTHEASTERN PITTSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN CASWELL
COUNTIES...

AT 202 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
YANCEYVILLE...OR NEAR CAMP SPRINGS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  YANCEYVILLE...
  HAMER...
  SEMORA...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW
SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG AT...1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4...WHEN YOU CAN
DO SO SAFELY.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3632 7946 3639 7950 3674 7906 3654 7903
      3653 7913 3641 7914
TIME...MOT...LOC 1807Z 242DEG 50KT 3639 7937

$$

RCS

207 
WWUS51 KRNK 161819
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
219 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

NCC033-VAC083-143-161845-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-110416T1845Z/
CASWELL NC-PITTSYLVANIA VA-HALIFAX VA-
219 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 245 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN HALIFAX...SOUTHEASTERN PITTSYLVANIA AND NORTHEASTERN
CASWELL COUNTIES...

AT 216 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HAMER...OR NEAR
PROVIDENCE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BLANCH...
  MILTON...
  ELMO...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO. CARS ARE EASILY
TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADO WINDS. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF A
TORNADO...LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING. IF NO SAFE
STRUCTURE IS NEARBY...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER
YOUR HEAD.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG AT...1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4...WHEN YOU CAN
DO SO SAFELY.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3637 7928 3648 7937 3674 7906 3654 7903
      3653 7913 3641 7914
TIME...MOT...LOC 1820Z 228DEG 47KT 3652 7925

$$

RCS

903 
WWUS51 KRNK 161840
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
240 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

NCC033-VAC083-143-161848-
/O.EXP.KRNK.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-110416T1845Z/
CASWELL NC-PITTSYLVANIA VA-HALIFAX VA-
240 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN HALIFAX...SOUTHEASTERN
PITTSYLVANIA AND NORTHEASTERN CASWELL COUNTIES EXPIRES AT 245 PM
EDT...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA.

LAT...LON 3637 7928 3648 7937 3674 7906 3654 7903
      3653 7913 3641 7914
TIME...MOT...LOC 1838Z 228DEG 47KT 3668 7903

$$

RCS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Blacksburg, VA issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 16, 5:13 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Watauga	9 hr
Apr 16, 9:35 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Alleghany, Ashe, Wilkes	5 hr
Apr 16, 9:58 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Ashe	32 min
Apr 16, 11:38 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Surry	67 min
Apr 16, 1:51 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Caswell, Rockingham	69 min
Apr 16, 2:10 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Caswell	35 min
Apr 16, 2:22 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RNK	Caswell	3 hr
Apr 16, 11:27 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, Carroll, Craig, Floyd and 8 more	63 min
Apr 16, 12:10 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Carroll, Floyd, Franklin, Montgomery, Roanoke, City of Roanoke and 1 more	65 min
Apr 16, 12:16 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Montgomery, Roanoke and 1 more	59 min
Apr 16, 12:24 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, Montgomery, Roanoke, City of Covington and 2 more	4 hr
Apr 16, 1:04 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Bedford, Floyd, Franklin, Patrick, Roanoke	3 hr
Apr 16, 1:06 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Alleghany, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista and 1 more	54 min
Apr 16, 1:26 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Amherst, Bedford, Botetourt, Campbell, Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista and 2 more	6 hr
Apr 16, 1:43 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Amherst, Bedford, Rockbridge	47 min
Apr 16, 1:43 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Amherst, Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington	32 min
Apr 16, 2:23 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Bath	37 min
Apr 16, 2:25 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Amherst, Bedford, Campbell, City of Lynchburg	35 min
Apr 16, 2:34 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Appomattox, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania	71 min
Apr 16, 2:45 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Charlotte, Halifax	45 min
Apr 16, 2:56 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Charlotte, Halifax	37 min
Apr 16, 3:04 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Amherst, Appomattox, Buckingham	26 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 2011 Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 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.