Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 21, NWS Wakefield, VA

August 15, 20125 counties in Virginia

NWS Wakefield, VA issued this tornado warning at Aug 15, 2012, 3:26 PM EDT for 5 counties in Virginia. It was in force for 34 min. 9 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
Aug 15, 2012, 3:26 PM EDT (19:26 UTC)
Expired
Aug 15, 2012, 4:00 PM EDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Wakefield, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Chesterfield County, VA, City of Colonial Heights, VA, City of Petersburg, VA, Dinwiddie County, VA, Prince George County, VA

The radar

The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 44 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:29 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
Aug 15, 3:30 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGSysonby Ridge, VATREES DOWN ALONG MCILWAINE ROAD
Aug 15, 3:32 PM EDTFUNNEL CLOUDOak Hill Estates, VA
Aug 15, 3:36 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGGreenwood Farms, VANUMEROUS TREES DOWN ACROSS THE WEST END OF PETERSBURG.
Aug 15, 3:37 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGPetersburg, VAESTIMATED 30 MPH WINDS... LARGE BRANCHES DOWN... PEA SIZE HAIL
Aug 15, 3:39 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGParkview, VATREES ON POWER LINES AT PARKVIEW AVE AND BOYTON PLANK ROAD.
Aug 15, 3:40 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGWestover Park, VATREES BLOCKING THE ROAD IN THE 800 BLOCK OF SUNSET AVE.
Aug 15, 3:42 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGParkview, VASEVERAL TREES DOWN ALONG FORT LEE ROAD. ONE HOUSE WAS STRUCK BY A FALLING TREE RESULTING IN ROOF AND SIDING DAMAGE.
Aug 15, 3:44 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGWestchester, VATREE ON A PARKED CAR AT SOUTH BOULEVARD AND CRATER ROAD.
Aug 15, 3:55 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGPrince George Golf Cour, VATREES DOWN ALONG HIGHWAY 460 JUST EAST OF ROUTE 156.

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
Aug 15, 2:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 7.4 hours before the alert went out and 186 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 12:00Z on 2012-08-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 134 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 12:00Z on 2012-08-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 13 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
134 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-74 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
892 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
13 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
58 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.

428 
WFUS51 KAKQ 151926
TORAKQ
VAC041-053-149-570-730-152000-
/O.NEW.KAKQ.TO.W.0021.120815T1926Z-120815T2000Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
326 PM EDT WED AUG 15 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WAKEFIELD HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL CHESTERFIELD COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA...
  NORTHEASTERN DINWIDDIE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...
  WESTERN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...
  SOUTH CENTRAL CITY OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA...
  CITY OF PETERSBURG IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 400 PM EDT

* AT 324 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR SUTHERLAND...OR 7
  MILES WEST OF PETERSBURG...AND MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

* THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  ETTRICK AROUND 335 PM EDT.
  PETERSBURG AROUND 340 PM EDT.
  FORT LEE AROUND 345 PM EDT.
  PRINCE GEORGE AROUND 350 PM EDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS DANGEROUS STORM INCLUDE RICHARD
BLAND COLLEGE...PETERSBURG NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD...NEW BOHEMIA...
BIRCHETT ESTATE AND PRINCE GEORGE GOLF.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS TORNADO WARNING REPLACES THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING THAT
WAS IN EFFECT FOR THE SAME AREA.

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE... OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 3724 7757 3727 7733 3726 7733 3727 7729
      3728 7725 3709 7725 3716 7757
TIME...MOT...LOC 1926Z 273DEG 24KT 3719 7750

$$

JM
2 follow-up statements
950 
WWUS51 KAKQ 151936
SVSAKQ

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
336 PM EDT WED AUG 15 2012

VAC041-570-151946-
/O.CAN.KAKQ.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-120815T2000Z/
CITY OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS VA-CHESTERFIELD VA-
336 PM EDT WED AUG 15 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL CHESTERFIELD AND
SOUTH CENTRAL CITY OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED 
AREA.

LAT...LON 3722 7746 3724 7740 3726 7725 3710 7725
      3715 7746 3718 7747
TIME...MOT...LOC 1936Z 273DEG 24KT 3719 7742

$$

VAC053-149-730-152000-
/O.CON.KAKQ.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-120815T2000Z/
PRINCE GEORGE VA-CITY OF PETERSBURG VA-DINWIDDIE VA-
336 PM EDT WED AUG 15 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN DINWIDDIE...
CITY OF PETERSBURG AND WESTERN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTIES UNTIL 400 PM
EDT...

AT 333 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR PETERSBURG...MOVING
EAST AT 30 MPH.

THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  FORT LEE AROUND 345 PM EDT.
  PRINCE GEORGE AROUND 350 PM EDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS DANGEROUS STORM INCLUDE PETERSBURG
NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD...NEW BOHEMIA AND PRINCE GEORGE GOLF.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 3722 7746 3724 7740 3726 7725 3710 7725
      3715 7746 3718 7747
TIME...MOT...LOC 1936Z 273DEG 24KT 3719 7742

$$

JM
202 
WWUS51 KAKQ 151954
SVSAKQ

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
354 PM EDT WED AUG 15 2012

VAC053-149-730-152004-
/O.EXP.KAKQ.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-120815T2000Z/
PRINCE GEORGE VA-CITY OF PETERSBURG VA-DINWIDDIE VA-
354 PM EDT WED AUG 15 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN DINWIDDIE...CITY OF
PETERSBURG AND WESTERN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 400 PM
EDT...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED BELOW SEVERE
LIMITS...AND NO LONGER POSES AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO LIFE OR PROPERTY
FROM HAIL OR DAMAGING WINDS.  HOWEVER SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND
HEAVY RAIN ARE STILL POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.

LAT...LON 3722 7746 3724 7740 3726 7725 3710 7725
      3715 7746 3718 7747
TIME...MOT...LOC 1954Z 273DEG 24KT 3718 7727

$$

JM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 14, 11:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQBrunswick43 min
Aug 15, 12:08 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQBrunswick, Dinwiddie22 min
Aug 15, 12:58 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQChesterfield, Dinwiddie, City of Petersburg32 min
Aug 15, 1:16 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ89 min
Aug 15, 2:45 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQAmelia, Chesterfield, Nottoway45 min
Aug 15, 2:52 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQIsle of Wight, City of Newport News, City of Portsmouth38 min
Aug 15, 3:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQAmelia, Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Henrico, Prince George and 4 more24 min
Aug 15, 3:19 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ56 min
Aug 15, 3:22 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ83 min
Aug 15, 3:39 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQCity of Hampton, City of Norfolk, City of Portsmouth, City of Virginia Beach51 min
Aug 15, 3:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQCharles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Prince George, Surry, Sussex and 3 more42 min
Aug 15, 4:01 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQCity of Chesapeake, City of Newport News, City of Norfolk, City of Portsmouth, City of Suffolk, City of Virginia Beach44 min
Aug 15, 4:12 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryAKQCity of Chesapeake, City of Norfolk, City of Portsmouth, City of Virginia Beach108 min
Aug 15, 4:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQIsle of Wight, James City, Prince George, Southampton, Surry, Sussex31 min
Aug 15, 4:18 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ87 min
Aug 15, 4:24 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ96 min
Aug 15, 4:31 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ74 min
Aug 15, 4:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQCity of Chesapeake, City of Virginia Beach42 min
Aug 15, 4:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQIsle of Wight, Surry, York, City of Chesapeake, City of Hampton, City of Newport News and 4 more50 min
Aug 15, 4:47 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ118 min
Aug 15, 4:57 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ60 min
Aug 15, 5:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQCity of Norfolk, City of Portsmouth, City of Virginia Beach35 min
Aug 15, 5:51 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQFluvanna, Goochland, Louisa54 min
Aug 15, 6:55 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQCaroline, Fluvanna, Goochland, Hanover, Powhatan65 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 2012Every tornado warning in 2012Tornadoes in 2012

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.