Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 56, NWS Blacksburg, VA

May 24, 2011Alleghany County, Surry County, Wilkes County, North Carolina

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this tornado warning at May 24, 2011, 3:21 PM EDT for Alleghany County, Surry County, Wilkes County, North Carolina. It was in force for 39 min. 5 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
May 24, 2011, 3:21 PM EDT (19:21 UTC)
Expired
May 24, 2011, 4:00 PM EDT
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Alleghany County, NC, Surry County, NC, Wilkes County, NC

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 114 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:21 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
May 24, 3:28 PM EDTHAIL 1.51 Ssw Mc Grady, NC
May 24, 3:48 PM EDTHAIL 1.75E Traphill, NC
May 24, 4:00 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG6 Wsw Mountain Park, NCLARGE BRADFORD PEAR TREE SPLIT
May 24, 4:03 PM EDTHAIL 1.255 Wsw Mountain Park, NC
May 24, 4:10 PM EDTHAIL 1.54 N Elkin, NC

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
May 24, 10:00 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 7.4 hours before the alert went out and 121 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2011-05-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 451 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2011-05-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 4 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
451 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-124 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1350 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
4 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
99 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

549 
WFUS51 KRNK 241921
TORRNK
NCC005-171-193-242000-
/O.NEW.KRNK.TO.W.0056.110524T1921Z-110524T2000Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
321 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN ALLEGHANY COUNTY IN NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA
  WESTERN SURRY COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  NORTHERN WILKES COUNTY IN NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 400 PM EDT.

* AT 316 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR WILBAR...
  MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WILBAR...
  HALLS MILLS...
  DOCKERY...
  TRAPHILL...
  ROARING GAP...

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.

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 3623 8135 3628 8137 3633 8136 3636 8128
      3636 8125 3638 8124 3650 8092 3629 8084
TIME...MOT...LOC 1921Z 252DEG 24KT 3629 8126

$$

16
2 follow-up statements
344 
WWUS51 KRNK 241939
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
339 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 2011

NCC005-171-193-242000-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0056.000000T0000Z-110524T2000Z/
ALLEGHANY NC-SURRY NC-WILKES NC-
339 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN WILKES...WESTERN SURRY AND SOUTHERN ALLEGHANY
COUNTIES...

AT 335 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HALLS MILLS...OR
NEAR MC GRADY...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HALLS MILLS...
  DOCKERY...
  TRAPHILL...
  ROARING GAP...

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
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

&&

LAT...LON 3625 8121 3637 8125 3638 8124 3650 8092
      3629 8084
TIME...MOT...LOC 1939Z 254DEG 25KT 3632 8114

$$

16
308 
WWUS51 KRNK 241947
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
347 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 2011

NCC005-171-193-242000-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0056.000000T0000Z-110524T2000Z/
ALLEGHANY NC-SURRY NC-WILKES NC-
347 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN WILKES...WESTERN SURRY AND SOUTHERN ALLEGHANY
COUNTIES...

AT 344 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR DOCKERY...OR NEAR
TRAPHILL...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  TRAPHILL...
  ROARING GAP...
  BENHAM...

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
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3625 8121 3637 8125 3638 8124 3650 8092
      3629 8084
TIME...MOT...LOC 1948Z 263DEG 24KT 3630 8101

$$

16

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 24, 11:27 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAlleghany48 min
May 24, 12:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKStokes58 min
May 24, 12:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCaswell, Rockingham, Stokes58 min
May 24, 3:04 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlleghany, Ashe, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin56 min
May 24, 3:51 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKSurry, Wilkes, Yadkin39 min
May 24, 3:56 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlleghany, Surry, Wilkes, Yadkin64 min
May 24, 4:27 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKStokes, Surry, Yadkin40 min
May 24, 4:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKRockingham, Stokes, Surry, Yadkin53 min
May 24, 5:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlleghany, Ashe, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes57 min
May 24, 5:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAshe, Watauga, Wilkes58 min
May 24, 5:51 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKAlleghany, Ashe, Wilkes39 min
May 24, 6:08 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKAlleghany, Ashe, Watauga, Wilkes5 hr
May 24, 6:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlleghany, Ashe, Watauga, Wilkes65 min
May 24, 6:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKStokes, Surry55 min
May 24, 6:47 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKWilkes28 min
May 24, 6:55 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlleghany, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes, Yadkin65 min
May 24, 7:10 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAlleghany, Ashe50 min
May 24, 7:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCaswell61 min
May 24, 7:14 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKWilkes, Yadkin46 min
May 24, 7:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKSurry, Wilkes, Yadkin67 min
May 24, 7:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKRockingham, Stokes65 min
May 24, 7:56 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKYadkin49 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 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.