Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 41, NWS Blacksburg, VA

April 27, 20116 counties in Virginia; Mercer County, Monroe County, West Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this tornado warning at Apr 27, 2011, 11:53 PM EDT for 6 counties in Virginia; Mercer County, Monroe County, West Virginia. It was in force for 52 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 27, 2011, 11:53 PM EDT (03:53 UTC)
Expired
Apr 28, 2011, 12:45 AM EDT
In force
52 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Bland County, VA, Giles County, VA, Montgomery County, VA, Pulaski County, VA, Tazewell County, VA, Wythe County, VA, Mercer County, WV, Monroe County, WV

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 59 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:54 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 28, 12:05 AM EDTTSTM WND DMGBastian, VAPOWER LINE BLOWN DOWN THAT TOOK OUT POWER FOR MOST OF THE COUNTY
Apr 28, 12:45 AM EDTHAIL 2White Gate, VA

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, 5:44 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr
Apr 27, 6:15 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 00:00Z, 3.9 hours before the alert went out and 122 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.

323 
WFUS51 KRNK 280353
TORRNK
VAC021-071-121-155-185-197-WVC055-063-280445-
/O.NEW.KRNK.TO.W.0041.110428T0353Z-110428T0445Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1153 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN PULASKI COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  EASTERN TAZEWELL COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  NORTHWESTERN WYTHE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  GILES COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  BLAND COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  WESTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  SOUTHWESTERN MONROE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA
  SOUTHEASTERN MERCER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 1245 AM EDT.

* AT 1150 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR FAVONIA...
  OR 6 MILES EAST OF CERES...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BLAND...
  KIMBERLING...
  MECHANICSBURG...
  WHITE GATE...
  THESSALIA...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

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 3754 8067 3721 8039 3691 8125 3708 8140
TIME...MOT...LOC 0354Z 238DEG 52KT 3705 8118

$$

16
2 follow-up statements
997 
WWUS51 KRNK 280400
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1200 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

VAC021-071-121-155-185-197-WVC055-063-280445-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0041.000000T0000Z-110428T0445Z/
PULASKI VA-TAZEWELL VA-WYTHE VA-GILES VA-BLAND VA-MONTGOMERY VA-
MONROE WV-MERCER WV-
1200 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1245 AM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN MERCER...SOUTHWESTERN MONROE...WESTERN MONTGOMERY...
GILES...NORTHWESTERN WYTHE...EASTERN TAZEWELL AND NORTHERN PULASKI...
AND  COUNTIESBLAND COUNTY...

AT 1159 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR KIMBERLING...OR
NEAR BLAND...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  KIMBERLING...
  MECHANICSBURG...
  WHITE GATE...
  THESSALIA...
  PEARISBURG...

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.

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 3754 8067 3721 8039 3691 8125 3708 8140
TIME...MOT...LOC 0400Z 236DEG 58KT 3713 8105

$$
866 
WWUS51 KRNK 280440
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1240 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

VAC021-071-121-155-185-197-WVC055-063-280449-
/O.EXP.KRNK.TO.W.0041.000000T0000Z-110428T0445Z/
PULASKI VA-TAZEWELL VA-WYTHE VA-GILES VA-BLAND VA-MONTGOMERY VA-
MONROE WV-MERCER WV-
1240 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN MERCER...SOUTHWESTERN 
MONROE...WESTERN MONTGOMERY...GILES...EASTERN TAZEWELL AND NORTHERN 
PULASKI EXPIRES AT 1245 AM EDT...

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG AT...1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4.

LAT...LON 3754 8067 3721 8039 3691 8125 3708 8140
TIME...MOT...LOC 0439Z 236DEG 58KT 3733 8027

$$

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, 8:32 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKCampbell, Charlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania43 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, 11:56 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
Apr 27, 10:32 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKGreenbrier43 min
Apr 27, 10:57 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKGreenbrier, Mercer, Summers48 min
Apr 27, 11:43 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKGreenbrier, Summers36 min
Apr 28, 1:45 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKGreenbrier, Mercer, Monroe, Summers31 min
Apr 28, 11:16 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningRNKGreenbrier, Monroe, Summers10 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 2011Tornado Warnings in West 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.