Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 3, NWS Fort Worth, TX

April 3, 2012Dallas County, Ellis County, Texas

NWS Fort Worth, TX issued this tornado warning at Apr 3, 2012, 12:55 PM CDT for Dallas County, Ellis County, Texas. It was in force for 50 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 3, 2012, 12:55 PM CDT (17:55 UTC)
Expired
Apr 3, 2012, 1:45 PM CDT
In force
50 min
Issued by
NWS Fort Worth, TX
Area
Storm-based polygon
Emergency
Tornado emergency

Counties Dallas County, TX, Ellis County, TX

The radar

The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 47 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:59 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 3, 1:07 PM CDTTORNADOOak Leaf, TXSPOTTERS OBSERVE DEVELOPING TORNADO NEAR OAK LEAF
Apr 3, 1:16 PM CDTTORNADOLancaster, TXSPOTTERS CONFIRM LARGE AND DANGEROUS TORNADO LOCATED NEAR LANCASTER

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 3, 9:18 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC8 hr
Apr 3, 12:08 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Fort Worth, TX (KFWD), launched 12:00Z, 5.9 hours before the alert went out and 52 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, Fort Worth, TX at 12:00Z on 2012-04-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1939 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, Fort Worth, TX at 12:00Z on 2012-04-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 109 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
1939 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-2 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
469 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
109 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
92 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.6
Supercell composite
2.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

979 
WFUS54 KFWD 031755
TORFWD
TXC113-139-031845-
/O.NEW.KFWD.TO.W.0003.120403T1755Z-120403T1845Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
1255 PM CDT TUE APR 3 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FORT WORTH HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN DALLAS COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS...
  NORTH CENTRAL ELLIS COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS...

* UNTIL 145 PM CDT

* AT 1256 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR OAK LEAF...
  MOVING NORTH AT 20 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  GLENN HEIGHTS AND RED OAK AROUND 105 PM CDT...
  DESOTO AROUND 115 PM CDT...
  LANCASTER AND DUNCANVILLE AROUND 120 PM CDT...
  WILMER AROUND 125 PM CDT...
  HUTCHINS AROUND 135 PM CDT...
  COCKRELL HILL AROUND 140 PM CDT...

THIS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING INTERSTATES...
I-35E BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 46 AND 60...
I-20 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 452 AND 467...
I-30 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 31 AND 49...
I-45 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 282 AND 284.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOVE TO AN INTERIOR BATHROOM...CLOSET...OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR OF YOUR BUILDING. COVER YOURSELF WITH BLANKETS...PILLOWS...OR A
MATTRESS FOR PROTECTION.

&&

LAT...LON 3277 9688 3276 9658 3251 9668 3244 9680
      3244 9700
TIME...MOT...LOC 1756Z 201DEG 17KT 3250 9686

$$


CAVANAUGH
3 follow-up statements
050 
WWUS54 KFWD 031807
SVSFWD

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
107 PM CDT TUE APR 3 2012

TXC113-139-031845-
/O.CON.KFWD.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-120403T1845Z/
DALLAS TX-ELLIS TX-
107 PM CDT TUE APR 3 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 PM CDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL ELLIS AND SOUTHERN DALLAS COUNTIES...

AT 107 PM CDT...STORM SPOTTERS AND DOPPLER RADAR OBSERVED A
DEVELOPING TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR OAK LEAF...MOVING
NORTH AT 20 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  DESOTO AROUND 115 PM CDT...
  HUTCHINS AROUND 135 PM CDT...
  BALCH SPRINGS AROUND 145 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOVE TO AN INTERIOR BATHROOM...CLOSET...OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR OF YOUR BUILDING. COVER YOURSELF WITH BLANKETS...PILLOWS...OR A
MATTRESS FOR PROTECTION.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT TUESDAY EVENING
FOR EASTERN TEXAS.

&&

LAT...LON 3248 9684 3254 9693 3277 9688 3276 9658
      3251 9668
TIME...MOT...LOC 1807Z 201DEG 17KT 3255 9684

$$


DUNN
724 
WWUS54 KFWD 031814
SVSFWD

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
114 PM CDT TUE APR 3 2012

TXC139-031823-
/O.CAN.KFWD.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-120403T1845Z/
ELLIS TX-
114 PM CDT TUE APR 3 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL ELLIS COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT TUESDAY EVENING
FOR EASTERN TEXAS.

LAT...LON 3276 9659 3275 9658 3255 9668 3255 9688
      3256 9689 3277 9688
TIME...MOT...LOC 1813Z 202DEG 17KT 3257 9681

$$

TXC113-031845-
/O.CON.KFWD.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-120403T1845Z/
DALLAS TX-
114 PM CDT TUE APR 3 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 PM CDT FOR SOUTHERN
DALLAS COUNTY...

AT 113 PM CDT...STORM SPOTTERS AND DOPPLER RADAR OBSERVED A TORNADO. 
THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR GLENN HEIGHTS...MOVING NORTH AT 20 
MPH. MEDIA VIDEO SHOWS A TORNADO APPROACHING LANCASTER.  THIS IS A 
DANGEROUS STORM.  SEEK SHELTER NOW!

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  LANCASTER AROUND 120 PM CDT...
  HUTCHINS AROUND 135 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED! THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE
THREATENING SITUATION. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DESTRUCTIVE
TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT TUESDAY EVENING
FOR EASTERN TEXAS.

&&

LAT...LON 3276 9659 3275 9658 3255 9668 3255 9688
      3256 9689 3277 9688
TIME...MOT...LOC 1813Z 202DEG 17KT 3257 9681

$$


DUNN
299 
WWUS54 KFWD 031816
SVSFWD

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
116 PM CDT TUE APR 3 2012

TXC113-031845-
/O.CON.KFWD.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-120403T1845Z/
DALLAS TX-
116 PM CDT TUE APR 3 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 PM CDT FOR SOUTHERN
DALLAS COUNTY...

AT 116 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS CONFIRMED A
LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR
LANCASTER...MOVING NORTH AT 20 MPH.

THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE CITY OF 
DALLAS AND THE CITY OF LANCASTER!  SEEK SHELTER NOW!

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  LANCASTER AROUND 125 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED! THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE
THREATENING SITUATION. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DESTRUCTIVE
TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT TUESDAY EVENING
FOR EASTERN TEXAS.

&&

LAT...LON 3276 9659 3275 9658 3255 9668 3255 9688
      3256 9689 3277 9688
TIME...MOT...LOC 1816Z 202DEG 17KT 3258 9680

$$


DUNN

The office that day

Everything else NWS Fort Worth, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 2, 10:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDYoung59 min
Apr 3, 7:00 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFWDStephens, Young30 min
Apr 3, 7:28 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFWDYoung32 min
Apr 3, 7:32 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDJack, Young58 min
Apr 3, 8:11 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDEastland49 min
Apr 3, 8:29 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDJack, Young46 min
Apr 3, 8:35 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFWDMontague25 min
Apr 3, 8:58 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDEastland47 min
Apr 3, 9:01 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFWDPalo Pinto29 min
Apr 3, 9:11 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDJack, Palo Pinto, Young49 min
Apr 3, 9:27 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFWDPalo Pinto33 min
Apr 3, 9:41 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFWDComanche34 min
Apr 3, 9:49 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDPalo Pinto41 min
Apr 3, 10:00 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFWDErath30 min
Apr 3, 10:04 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDComanche, Eastland, Erath56 min
Apr 3, 10:24 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDJack, Palo Pinto51 min
Apr 3, 10:40 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFWDPalo Pinto35 min
Apr 3, 10:51 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDErath, Hood, Palo Pinto, Parker39 min
Apr 3, 11:11 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDJack49 min
Apr 3, 11:28 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDParker28 min
Apr 3, 11:35 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDMontague40 min
Apr 3, 11:42 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDErath, Palo Pinto48 min
Apr 3, 11:50 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFWDErath, Hood25 min
Apr 3, 11:59 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDHood, Parker61 min
Apr 3, 12:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDJack55 min
Apr 3, 12:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDMontague67 min
Apr 3, 12:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDJohnson57 min
Apr 3, 12:44 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDJohnson, Tarrant46 min
Apr 3, 12:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDHood, Johnson, Parker, Tarrant54 min
Apr 3, 1:16 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDParker, Tarrant44 min
Apr 3, 1:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDMontague39 min
Apr 3, 1:25 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyFWDDallas, Tarrant50 min
Apr 3, 1:26 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyFWDDallas49 min
Apr 3, 1:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDBosque47 min
Apr 3, 1:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDHood, Johnson, Somervell, Tarrant41 min
Apr 3, 1:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDEllis, Johnson45 min
Apr 3, 1:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDTarrant60 min
Apr 3, 1:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDDenton, Wise40 min
Apr 3, 2:03 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDDenton42 min
Apr 3, 2:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDDelta, Hopkins, Hunt63 min
Apr 3, 2:13 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDCollin, Dallas, Rockwall62 min
Apr 3, 2:13 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDCollin, Dallas, Denton, Tarrant47 min
Apr 3, 2:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDBosque, Hill60 min
Apr 3, 2:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDDallas, Tarrant26 min
Apr 3, 2:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDDallas, Ellis56 min
Apr 3, 2:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDHopkins, Rains68 min
Apr 3, 2:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDCollin, Dallas, Denton, Tarrant63 min
Apr 3, 2:42 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDDelta, Hopkins, Hunt48 min
Apr 3, 2:45 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDDallas, Tarrant17 min
Apr 3, 2:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDEllis, Hill, Johnson65 min
Apr 3, 3:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDBosque, McLennan42 min
Apr 3, 3:15 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDDallas, Kaufman, Rockwall45 min
Apr 3, 3:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDBell, Coryell40 min
Apr 3, 3:25 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDDelta, Hopkins50 min
Apr 3, 3:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDDelta, Hopkins, Hunt62 min
Apr 3, 3:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDCollin, Dallas, Ellis41 min
Apr 3, 3:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDHill, McLennan46 min
Apr 3, 3:50 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDCollin, Hunt, Rockwall40 min
Apr 3, 4:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDKaufman58 min
Apr 3, 4:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDLamar28 min
Apr 3, 4:13 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDDelta, Hopkins, Lamar33 min
Apr 3, 4:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDFalls, Hill, Limestone, McLennan, Navarro43 min
Apr 3, 4:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDEllis51 min
Apr 3, 4:27 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyFWDHunt48 min
Apr 3, 4:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDHopkins, Rains44 min
Apr 3, 4:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDFannin, Hunt53 min
Apr 3, 4:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDKaufman, Van Zandt64 min
Apr 3, 4:56 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDDelta, Hunt, Lamar20 min
Apr 3, 4:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDEllis, Falls, Freestone, Henderson, Hill, Limestone and 3 more63 min
Apr 3, 5:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDDelta, Hopkins, Lamar, Rains60 min
Apr 3, 5:11 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDHopkins49 min
Apr 3, 5:36 PM CDTTornado WarningFWDHopkins24 min
Apr 3, 5:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDRains, Van Zandt54 min
Apr 3, 5:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDBell, Falls, Limestone, Milam66 min
Apr 3, 5:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDFreestone, Henderson, Navarro62 min
Apr 3, 6:24 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFWDAnderson36 min
Apr 3, 6:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDAnderson65 min
Apr 3, 6:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDAnderson, Freestone38 min
Apr 3, 6:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWDMilam, Robertson46 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 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.