Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 18, NWS Blacksburg, VA

April 16, 2011Charlotte County, Halifax County, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this tornado warning at Apr 16, 2011, 2:45 PM EDT for Charlotte County, Halifax County, Virginia. It was in force for 45 min. 8 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, 2:45 PM EDT (18:45 UTC)
Expired: Apr 16, 2011, 3:30 PM EDT
In force: 45 min
Issued by: NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Charlotte County, VA, Halifax County, VA

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 124 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Apr 16, 2:50 PM EDT	TORNADO	5 W Virgilina, VA	* 4 INJ * CONFIRMED EF-2 TORNADO. ENTERED COUNTY FROM PERSON COUNTY. MAXIMUM WIND SPEED 120 MPH. MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH 300 YARDS. PATH LENGTH IN VA 16.6 MILES. ENDED 310 PM AT 36.72N...78.67W. FOUR MOBILE HOMES DESTROYED AND 12 OTHER RESIDENCES DAMAGED. 60 TO
Apr 16, 2:55 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	4 Nw Virgilina, VA	* 4 INJ * POSSIBLE TORNADO. 8 HOMES DESTROYED. 2 HOMES WITH SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. 4 MINOR INJURIES. NUMEROUS TREES DOWN. NWS WILL CONDUCT STORM SURVEY SUNDAY 4/17/2011.
Apr 16, 2:55 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	5 Se Halifax, VA	TREE DOWN AT 1071 PLYWOOD TRAIL
Apr 16, 3:03 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	5 Nw Hitesburg, VA	NUMEROUS TRES DOWN. ROUTE 58 EASTBOUND WAS CLOSED DUE TO TREES ON THE ROAD. POSSIBLE TORNADO.
Apr 16, 3:05 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 Sse Saxe, VA	TREE DOWN
Apr 16, 3:05 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	4 Nnw Hitesburg, VA	3 TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN AT 10028 BILL TUCK HIGHWAY
Apr 16, 3:10 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 Sse Dryburg, VA	POSSIBLE TORNADO. TREES DOWN LIMITING ACCESS IN OR OUT OF STAUTON RIVER STATE PARK. THIS DAMAGE LINES UP AND IS CONSISTENT WITH THE DAMAGE 4 MILES NW OF VIRGILINA AND CROSSING STATE ROUTE 58 NEAR HYCO LANDING. NWS WILL CONDUCT A SURVEY OF THIS DAMAGE SUNDAY 4/
Apr 16, 3:12 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 Se Dryburg, VA	TREE DOWN AT 8100 MCDONALD RD

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

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 6.8 hours before the alert went out and 92 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: 1 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 480 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 76 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 747 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 975 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.

281 
WFUS51 KRNK 161845
TORRNK
VAC037-083-161930-
/O.NEW.KRNK.TO.W.0018.110416T1845Z-110416T1930Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN HALIFAX COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  SOUTHEASTERN CHARLOTTE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 330 PM EDT.

* AT 244 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR ALTON...OR
  7 MILES NORTH OF ROXBORO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  STAUNTON RIVER STATE PARK...
  REDOAK...

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 3689 7848 3670 7864 3668 7863 3665 7858
      3664 7859 3669 7865 3669 7867 3665 7870
      3654 7873 3653 7907 3709 7848 3709 7846
      3708 7844
TIME...MOT...LOC 1846Z 227DEG 45KT 3652 7894

$$

RCS

4 follow-up statements

089 
WWUS51 KRNK 161900 RRA
SVSRNK

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

VAC037-083-161930-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-110416T1930Z/
HALIFAX VA-CHARLOTTE VA-
300 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 330 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN CHARLOTTE AND SOUTHEASTERN HALIFAX COUNTIES...

AT 258 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES WEST OF
HITESBURG...OR NEAR VIRGILINA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HITESBURG...
  STAUNTON RIVER STATE PARK...
  REDOAK...
  WYLLIESBURG...

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 3689 7848 3670 7864 3668 7863 3665 7858
      3664 7859 3669 7865 3669 7867 3665 7870
      3654 7873 3665 7893 3709 7848 3709 7846
      3708 7844
TIME...MOT...LOC 1900Z 226DEG 45KT 3663 7880

$$

RCS

826 
WWUS51 KRNK 161908
SVSRNK

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

VAC037-083-161930-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-110416T1930Z/
HALIFAX VA-CHARLOTTE VA-
308 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 330 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN CHARLOTTE AND EASTERN HALIFAX COUNTIES...

AT 303 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HITESBURG...OR 8
MILES NORTH OF VIRGILINA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  DRYBURG...
  REDOAK...
  WYLLIESBURG...
  KEYSVILLE...

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.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3689 7848 3670 7864 3668 7863 3665 7858
      3664 7859 3669 7865 3669 7867 3665 7870
      3661 7871 3672 7886 3709 7848 3709 7846
      3708 7844
TIME...MOT...LOC 1908Z 224DEG 45KT 3671 7870

$$

RCS

676 
WWUS51 KRNK 161919 RRA
SVSRNK

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

VAC037-083-161930-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-110416T1930Z/
HALIFAX VA-CHARLOTTE VA-
319 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 330 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN CHARLOTTE AND EASTERN HALIFAX COUNTIES...

AT 316 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR REDOAK...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WYLLIESBURG...

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 3689 7848 3672 7862 3683 7873 3709 7848
      3709 7846 3708 7844
TIME...MOT...LOC 1919Z 227DEG 46KT 3680 7855

$$

RCS

658 
WWUS51 KRNK 161926
SVSRNK

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

VAC037-083-161934-
/O.EXP.KRNK.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-110416T1930Z/
HALIFAX VA-CHARLOTTE VA-
326 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN CHARLOTTE AND EASTERN HALIFAX
COUNTIES EXPIRES AT 330 PM EDT...

THE STORM...WHICH DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED AS A TORNADO...HAS EXITED 
THE WARNED AREA. THEREFORE...THE WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE 
AT 330 PM.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG 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 3689 7848 3672 7862 3683 7873 3709 7848
      3709 7846 3708 7844
TIME...MOT...LOC 1924Z 227DEG 46KT 3684 7849

$$

RCS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 16, 9:35 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Carroll, Floyd, Grayson, Patrick, City of Galax	5 hr
Apr 16, 9:58 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Grayson, Wythe	32 min
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, 1:51 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Charlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania, City of Danville	69 min
Apr 16, 1:57 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Halifax, Pittsylvania	48 min
Apr 16, 2:22 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RNK	Halifax, Pittsylvania, City of Danville	3 hr
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, 2:56 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 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.