Alert archive / Kentucky / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 10, NWS Jackson, KY

February 29, 2012McCreary County, Wayne County, Whitley County, Kentucky

NWS Jackson, KY issued this tornado warning at Feb 29, 2012, 3:55 PM EST for McCreary County, Wayne County, Whitley County, Kentucky. It was in force for 35 min. 4 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
Feb 29, 2012, 3:55 PM EST (20:55 UTC)
Expired
Feb 29, 2012, 4:30 PM EST
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS Jackson, KY
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties McCreary County, KY, Wayne County, KY, Whitley County, KY

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 106 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:58 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
Feb 29, 4:01 PM ESTTSTM WND DMGCumberland Falls S.P., KYTREES AND LARGE LIMBS DOWN.
Feb 29, 4:01 PM ESTTSTM WND DMGWilliamsburg, KYSTRUCTURAL DAMAGE. OCCURRED BETWEEN 401 AND 431 PM.
Feb 29, 4:05 PM ESTHAIL 0.25Whitley City, KYPEA SIZED HAIL ACCUMULATED TO A DEPTH OF 2 TO 4 INCHES.
Feb 29, 4:18 PM ESTTSTM WND DMG2 N Williamsburg, KYSOME MINOR DAMAGE TO OUT BUILDINGS AND TREES DOWN ALONG HWY 26. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

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
Feb 29, 12:31 PM ESTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 215 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 2012-02-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 580 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 2012-02-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 365 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
580 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-25 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
510 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
61 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
365 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
485 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.9
Supercell composite
8.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

143 
WFUS53 KJKL 292055
TORJKL
KYC147-231-235-292130-
/O.NEW.KJKL.TO.W.0010.120229T2055Z-120229T2130Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
355 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSON KY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL MCCREARY COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY...
  EAST CENTRAL WAYNE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY...
  CENTRAL WHITLEY COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY...

* UNTIL 430 PM EST

* AT 352 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS
  STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR CO-OPERATIVE...OR 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
  WHITLEY CITY...AND MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

  IN ADDITION...HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS WILL BE POSSIBLE. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WHITLEY CITY...WILLIAMSBURG...BLUE HERON...STEARNS...MARSHES
  SIDING...WIBORG...PARKERS LAKE...STRUNK...PINE KNOT...BEULAH
  HEIGHTS...HONEYBEE...HOLLYHILL...CUMBERLAND FALLS S.P....DUCKRUN...
  BOUNTY...AYERS...JELLICO CREEK...KRUPP...REDBIRD AND LIBERTY.

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 3687 8410 3663 8411 3661 8471 3684 8464
TIME...MOT...LOC 2055Z 261DEG 48KT 3667 8460

$$

RAY
3 follow-up statements
160 
WWUS53 KJKL 292105
SVSJKL

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
405 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012

KYC147-231-235-292130-
/O.CON.KJKL.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-120229T2130Z/
MCCREARY KY-WAYNE KY-WHITLEY KY-
405 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL WHITLEY...EXTREME
EAST CENTRAL WAYNE AND CENTRAL MCCREARY COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM EST...

AT 400 PM EST...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD. 
THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MARSHES SIDING...OR NEAR WHITLEY
CITY...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WILLIAMSBURG...HONEYBEE...HOLLYHILL...CUMBERLAND FALLS S.P....
  DUCKRUN...BOUNTY...AYERS...JELLICO CREEK...KRUPP...REDBIRD...
  LIBERTY...BON...CLIO...GOLDBUG...EMLYN...WALDEN...MOUNTAIN ASH...
  PLEASANT VIEW...SAXTON AND WOFFORD.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM. YOU SHOULD 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 3684 8464 3687 8410 3663 8411 3661 8467
TIME...MOT...LOC 2104Z 261DEG 45KT 3676 8438

$$

BECKER
911 
WWUS53 KJKL 292117
SVSJKL

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
417 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012

KYC147-231-235-292130-
/O.CON.KJKL.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-120229T2130Z/
MCCREARY KY-WAYNE KY-WHITLEY KY-
417 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL WHITLEY...EAST
CENTRAL WAYNE AND CENTRAL MCCREARY COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM EST...

AT 406 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
CONFIRMED TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR DUCKRUN...
OR 7 MILES EAST OF WHITLEY CITY...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

AT 3:54 P.M. E.S.T....A TORNADO WAS REPORTED NEAR MARSHES SIDING.  

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WILLIAMSBURG...CLIO...GOLDBUG...EMLYN...WALDEN...MOUNTAIN ASH...
  PLEASANT VIEW...WOFFORD AND ROCKHOLDS.

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 3684 8464 3687 8410 3663 8411 3661 8467
TIME...MOT...LOC 2115Z 261DEG 45KT 3677 8421

$$

BECKER
326 
WWUS53 KJKL 292128
SVSJKL

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY
428 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012

KYC147-231-235-292134-
/O.EXP.KJKL.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-120229T2130Z/
MCCREARY KY-WAYNE KY-WHITLEY KY-
428 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL WHITLEY...EAST CENTRAL WAYNE AND 
CENTRAL MCCREARY COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 4:30 PM EST...AND HAS BEEN 
REPLACED WITH A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING. 

PLEASE REFER TO THAT BULLETIN FOR THE LATEST SEVERE WEATHER 
INFORMATION.

IN ADDITION...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EST. 

LAT...LON 3684 8464 3687 8410 3663 8411 3661 8467
TIME...MOT...LOC 2124Z 261DEG 45KT 3678 8407

$$

BECKER

The office that day

Everything else NWS Jackson, KY issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 29, 11:31 AM ESTFlash Flood WatchJKLBath, Bell, Breathitt, Clay, Elliott, Estill and 27 more6 hr
Feb 29, 12:45 PM ESTTornado WarningJKLEstill, Menifee, Montgomery, Powell45 min
Feb 29, 12:49 PM ESTAreal Flood AdvisoryJKLBath, Elliott, Estill, Magoffin, Menifee, Montgomery and 4 more6 hr
Feb 29, 1:18 PM ESTTornado WarningJKLMenifee, Morgan, Powell, Wolfe27 min
Feb 29, 1:40 PM ESTTornado WarningJKLMagoffin, Morgan35 min
Feb 29, 1:46 PM ESTAreal Flood AdvisoryJKLBreathitt, Estill, Jackson, Lee, Magoffin, Morgan and 4 more5 hr
Feb 29, 1:59 PM ESTTornado WarningJKLElliott, Johnson, Magoffin, Morgan31 min
Feb 29, 2:10 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningJKLBreathitt, Estill, Jackson, Lee, Owsley, Pulaski and 2 more5 hr
Feb 29, 2:13 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJKLBreathitt, Lee, Magoffin, Menifee, Morgan, Wolfe32 min
Feb 29, 2:19 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJKLBreathitt, Jackson, Lee, Magoffin, Owsley, Wolfe41 min
Feb 29, 2:28 PM ESTTornado WarningJKLPulaski32 min
Feb 29, 2:33 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJKLElliott, Johnson, Magoffin, Morgan42 min
Feb 29, 2:38 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJKLBreathitt, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Magoffin, Martin and 4 more37 min
Feb 29, 2:54 PM ESTTornado WarningJKLJackson, Laurel, Pulaski, Rockcastle36 min
Feb 29, 2:58 PM ESTTornado WarningJKLMcCreary, Pulaski, Wayne47 min
Feb 29, 3:10 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJKLBreathitt, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Magoffin, Martin and 1 more50 min
Feb 29, 3:25 PM ESTTornado WarningJKLClay, Jackson, Laurel, Rockcastle23 min
Feb 29, 3:31 PM ESTTornado WarningJKLMcCreary, Wayne29 min
Feb 29, 4:02 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJKLMcCreary, Wayne28 min
Feb 29, 4:18 PM ESTTornado WarningJKLBell, Knox, Whitley42 min
Feb 29, 4:25 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJKLMcCreary, Wayne, Whitley35 min
Feb 29, 4:47 PM ESTTornado WarningJKLBell, Harlan, Knox, Leslie43 min
Feb 29, 4:50 PM ESTAreal Flood AdvisoryJKLBell, Clay, Harlan, Knox, Leslie, McCreary and 2 more3 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Kentucky, 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.