Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 32, NWS Blacksburg, VA

April 27, 20114 counties in Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this tornado warning at Apr 27, 2011, 8:32 PM EDT for 4 counties in Virginia. It was in force for 43 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 27, 2011, 8:32 PM EDT (00:32 UTC)
Expired
Apr 27, 2011, 9:15 PM EDT
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Campbell County, VA, Charlotte County, VA, Halifax County, VA, Pittsylvania County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 113 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:34 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 27, 8:45 PM EDTTORNADO7 Nw Halifax, VA*** 1 FATAL, 8 INJ *** EF2 TORNADO CONFIRMED IN HALIFAX COUNTY. TOUCHED DOWN NEAR CHATHAM ROAD 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF HALIFAX. TRAVELED NORTHEAST WITH MOST DAMAGE ALONG WITH THE ONE DEATH AND INJURIES OCCURRING ALONG LIBERTY ROAD. THE TORNADO LIFTED AT 908 PM JU
Apr 27, 8:53 PM EDTTORNADO5 Sw Nathalie, VAONE DEATH, SEVEN SIGNIFICANT INJURIES, 20 TO 30 HOMES DAMAGED.
Apr 27, 8:54 PM EDTTORNADO4 Ssw Nathalie, VA*** 1 FATAL, 6 INJ *** POSSIBLE TORNADO.

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 27, 6:15 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 00:00Z, 0.5 hours before the alert went out and 53 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, Roanoke, VA at 00:00Z on 2011-04-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 372 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Roanoke, VA at 00:00Z on 2011-04-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 226 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
372 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-24 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1272 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
226 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
335 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
3.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

582 
WFUS51 KRNK 280032
TORRNK
VAC031-037-083-143-280115-
/O.NEW.KRNK.TO.W.0032.110428T0032Z-110428T0115Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
832 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  NORTHERN HALIFAX COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  WESTERN CHARLOTTE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  SOUTHEASTERN CAMPBELL COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 915 PM EDT.

* AT 830 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR INGRAM...
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  INGRAM...
  RIDGEWAY...
  LEDA...
  NATHALIE...
  BROOKNEAL...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3710 7896 3695 7873 3669 7915 3678 7926
TIME...MOT...LOC 0032Z 225DEG 27KT 3679 7915

$$

16
1 follow-up statement
547 
WWUS51 KRNK 280053
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
853 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

VAC143-280103-
/O.CAN.KRNK.TO.W.0032.000000T0000Z-110428T0115Z/
PITTSYLVANIA VA-
853 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND
SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
100 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3678 7903 3685 7914 3709 7895 3695 7873
TIME...MOT...LOC 0053Z 222DEG 33KT 3690 7896

$$

VAC031-037-083-280115-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0032.000000T0000Z-110428T0115Z/
HALIFAX VA-CHARLOTTE VA-CAMPBELL VA-
853 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN CAMPBELL...WESTERN CHARLOTTE AND NORTHERN HALIFAX
COUNTIES...

AT 851 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR NATHALIE...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  NATHALIE...
  BROOKNEAL...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3678 7903 3685 7914 3709 7895 3695 7873
TIME...MOT...LOC 0053Z 222DEG 33KT 3690 7896

$$

16

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 27, 8:01 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKHalifax, Pittsylvania, City of Danville44 min
Apr 27, 8:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAppomattox, Buckingham, Campbell66 min
Apr 27, 8:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKHalifax, Pittsylvania, City of Danville45 min
Apr 27, 9:06 PM EDTFlash Flood WatchRNKAlleghany, Amherst, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt and 21 more13 hr
Apr 27, 9:11 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKCharlotte, Halifax34 min
Apr 27, 10:12 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Smyth, Tazewell48 min
Apr 27, 10:26 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe49 min
Apr 27, 10:39 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKBland, Smyth, Tazewell6 hr
Apr 27, 11:09 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Giles, Tazewell51 min
Apr 27, 11:12 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe48 min
Apr 27, 11:19 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKCarroll, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski, Wythe and 2 more6 hr
Apr 27, 11:53 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, Tazewell, Wythe52 min
Apr 27, 11:56 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKAlleghany, City of Covington49 min
Apr 28, 12:01 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, Wythe44 min
Apr 28, 12:40 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKBath35 min
Apr 28, 12:45 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, Wythe, City of Radford45 min
Apr 28, 12:48 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKAlleghany, Bath, Craig, Giles, City of Covington6 hr
Apr 28, 1:03 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlleghany, Bath, Rockbridge, City of Covington57 min
Apr 28, 1:12 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe33 min
Apr 28, 1:19 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKCraig, Giles, Montgomery, Roanoke26 min
Apr 28, 1:20 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe25 min
Apr 28, 1:28 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlleghany, Botetourt, Rockbridge, City of Lexington21 min
Apr 28, 1:34 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKAlleghany, Bath, Botetourt, Rockbridge, City of Lexington41 min
Apr 28, 1:39 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKBland3 hr
Apr 28, 1:43 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKAlleghany, Botetourt, Craig, Montgomery19 min
Apr 28, 1:47 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Giles, Tazewell, Wythe9 min
Apr 28, 2:17 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKCraig, Giles28 min
Apr 28, 3:22 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKAlleghany, Botetourt, Craig, Franklin, Montgomery, Roanoke and 2 more4 hr
Apr 28, 4:17 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCharlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania, City of Danville30 min
Apr 28, 5:32 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKCarroll, Floyd, Grayson, Montgomery, City of Galax3 hr
Apr 28, 5:51 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCarroll, Floyd, Franklin, Patrick54 min
Apr 28, 6:40 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAmherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Buckingham, Campbell, City of Buena Vista and 1 more65 min
Apr 28, 6:46 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPatrick29 min
Apr 28, 6:47 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKAlleghany, Bath, Craig, City of Covington6 hr
Apr 28, 6:48 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCarroll, Henry, Patrick24 min
Apr 28, 7:13 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPatrick32 min
Apr 28, 7:44 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAppomattox, Bedford, Buckingham, City of Lynchburg76 min
Apr 28, 7:48 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCampbell72 min
Apr 28, 8:09 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKAlleghany, Botetourt, Craig10 hr
Apr 28, 8:56 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAppomattox, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, City of Lynchburg64 min
Apr 28, 10:06 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHalifax39 min
Apr 28, 12:38 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Danville52 min
Apr 28, 12:44 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKBath6 hr
Apr 28, 6:33 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKAlleghany, Botetourt, Craig6 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 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.