Alert archive / West Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 53, NWS Blacksburg, VA

April 28, 2011Mercer County, Monroe County, Summers County, West Virginia; Craig County, Giles County, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this tornado warning at Apr 28, 2011, 2:17 AM EDT for Mercer County, Monroe County, Summers County, West Virginia; Craig County, Giles County, Virginia. It was in force for 28 min. 1 report 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 28, 2011, 2:17 AM EDT (06:17 UTC)
Expired: Apr 28, 2011, 2:45 AM EDT
In force: 28 min
Issued by: NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Craig County, VA, Giles County, VA, Mercer County, WV, Monroe County, WV, Summers County, WV

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 64 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:18 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 28, 2:25 AM EDT	HAIL 0.75	Wayside, WV

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 28, 12:41 AM EDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 00:00Z, 6.3 hours before the alert went out and 105 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: 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.

553 
WFUS51 KRNK 280617
TORRNK
VAC045-071-WVC055-063-089-280645-
/O.NEW.KRNK.TO.W.0053.110428T0617Z-110428T0645Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
217 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN GILES COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  WESTERN CRAIG COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  MONROE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA
  EASTERN MERCER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA
  SOUTHERN SUMMERS COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 245 AM EDT.

* AT 213 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR RICH
  CREEK...OR NEAR PETERSTOWN...MOVING EAST AT 65 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  PETERSTOWN...
  LINDSIDE...
  ZENITH...
  WAITEVILLE...

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 800 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND
SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3769 8049 3743 8030 3729 8082 3742 8104
      3770 8053
TIME...MOT...LOC 0618Z 253DEG 56KT 3742 8075

$$

3 follow-up statements

096 
WWUS51 KRNK 280624
SVSRNK

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

WVC055-280634-
/O.CAN.KRNK.TO.W.0053.000000T0000Z-110428T0645Z/
MERCER WV-
224 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND
SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3769 8052 3769 8049 3743 8030 3735 8070
      3736 8079 3749 8088 3770 8053
TIME...MOT...LOC 0624Z 243DEG 56KT 3746 8070

$$

VAC045-071-WVC063-089-280645-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0053.000000T0000Z-110428T0645Z/
GILES VA-CRAIG VA-MONROE WV-SUMMERS WV-
224 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 245 AM EDT FOR SOUTHERN
SUMMERS...MONROE...WESTERN CRAIG AND NORTHEASTERN GILES COUNTIES...

AT 222 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR LINDSIDE...OR NEAR
PETERSTOWN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  LINDSIDE...
  RAINES CORNER...
  LAUREL BRANCH...
  GAP MILLS...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW! IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

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 800 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND
SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3769 8052 3769 8049 3743 8030 3735 8070
      3736 8079 3749 8088 3770 8053
TIME...MOT...LOC 0624Z 243DEG 56KT 3746 8070

$$

866 
WWUS51 KRNK 280633
SVSRNK

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

VAC045-WVC089-280643-
/O.CAN.KRNK.TO.W.0053.000000T0000Z-110428T0645Z/
CRAIG VA-SUMMERS WV-
233 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHERN SUMMERS AND WESTERN CRAIG
COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND
SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3750 8036 3741 8059 3741 8076 3755 8072
      3770 8053 3769 8052 3769 8049
TIME...MOT...LOC 0633Z 232DEG 34KT 3751 8059

$$

VAC071-WVC063-280645-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0053.000000T0000Z-110428T0645Z/
GILES VA-MONROE WV-
233 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 245 AM EDT FOR CENTRAL
MONROE AND NORTHEASTERN GILES COUNTIES...

AT 231 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR RAINES CORNER...OR
7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF UNION...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  RAINES CORNER...
  LAUREL BRANCH...
  HOLLYWOOD...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 800 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND
SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3750 8036 3741 8059 3741 8076 3755 8072
      3770 8053 3769 8052 3769 8049
TIME...MOT...LOC 0633Z 232DEG 34KT 3751 8059

$$

772 
WWUS51 KRNK 280643
SVSRNK

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

VAC071-WVC063-280654-
/O.EXP.KRNK.TO.W.0053.000000T0000Z-110428T0645Z/
GILES VA-MONROE WV-
243 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL MONROE AND NORTHEASTERN GILES
COUNTIES EXPIRES AT 245 AM EDT...

REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER OR STORM RELATED DAMAGE TO LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND ASK THEM TO IMMEDIATELY RELAY THE REPORT TO
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BLACKSBURG.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND
SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA.

LAT...LON 3750 8036 3741 8059 3741 8076 3755 8072
      3770 8053 3769 8052 3769 8049
TIME...MOT...LOC 0644Z 232DEG 34KT 3757 8048

$$

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 27, 9:06 PM EDT	Flash Flood Watch	RNK	Mercer, Monroe, Summers	13 hr
Apr 27, 10:12 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Mercer	48 min
Apr 27, 10:32 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Greenbrier	43 min
Apr 27, 10:57 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Greenbrier, Mercer, Summers	48 min
Apr 27, 11:09 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Mercer, Monroe, Summers	51 min
Apr 27, 11:43 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Greenbrier, Summers	36 min
Apr 27, 11:53 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Mercer, Monroe	52 min
Apr 27, 11:56 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Greenbrier, Monroe, Summers	49 min
Apr 28, 12:40 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Greenbrier	35 min
Apr 28, 12:45 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Mercer, Monroe, Summers	45 min
Apr 28, 12:48 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Greenbrier, Monroe	6 hr
Apr 28, 1:03 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Greenbrier, Monroe	57 min
Apr 28, 1:19 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Monroe	26 min
Apr 28, 1:39 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Mercer, Monroe, Summers	3 hr
Apr 28, 1:43 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Monroe	19 min
Apr 28, 1:45 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Greenbrier, Mercer, Monroe, Summers	31 min
Apr 28, 1:47 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Mercer	9 min
Apr 28, 6:47 AM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RNK	Greenbrier, Monroe	6 hr
Apr 28, 11:16 AM EDT	River Flood Warning	RNK	Greenbrier, Monroe, Summers	10 hr
Apr 27, 8:01 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Halifax, Pittsylvania, City of Danville	44 min
Apr 27, 8:09 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Appomattox, Buckingham, Campbell	66 min
Apr 27, 8:32 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Campbell, Charlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania	43 min
Apr 27, 8:45 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Halifax, Pittsylvania, City of Danville	45 min
Apr 27, 9:11 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Charlotte, Halifax	34 min
Apr 27, 10:26 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Bland, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe	49 min
Apr 27, 10:39 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Bland, Smyth, Tazewell	6 hr
Apr 27, 11:12 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Bland, Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe	48 min
Apr 27, 11:19 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Carroll, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski, Wythe and 2 more	6 hr
Apr 28, 12:01 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, Wythe	44 min
Apr 28, 1:12 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Bland, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe	33 min
Apr 28, 1:20 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Bland, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe	25 min
Apr 28, 1:28 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Alleghany, Botetourt, Rockbridge, City of Lexington	21 min
Apr 28, 1:34 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, Rockbridge, City of Lexington	41 min
Apr 28, 3:22 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, Franklin, Montgomery, Roanoke and 2 more	4 hr
Apr 28, 4:17 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Charlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania, City of Danville	30 min
Apr 28, 5:32 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Carroll, Floyd, Grayson, Montgomery, City of Galax	3 hr
Apr 28, 5:51 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Carroll, Floyd, Franklin, Patrick	54 min
Apr 28, 6:40 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Buckingham, Campbell, City of Buena Vista and 1 more	65 min
Apr 28, 6:46 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Patrick	29 min
Apr 28, 6:48 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Carroll, Henry, Patrick	24 min
Apr 28, 7:13 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Patrick	32 min
Apr 28, 7:44 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Appomattox, Bedford, Buckingham, City of Lynchburg	76 min
Apr 28, 7:48 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Campbell	72 min
Apr 28, 8:09 AM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RNK	Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig	10 hr
Apr 28, 8:56 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Appomattox, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, City of Lynchburg	64 min
Apr 28, 10:06 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Halifax	39 min
Apr 28, 12:38 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	City of Danville	52 min
Apr 28, 12:44 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RNK	Bath	6 hr
Apr 28, 6:33 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RNK	Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig	6 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in West Virginia, 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.