Alert archive / Kentucky / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 12, NWS Jackson, KY

February 29, 20124 counties in Kentucky

NWS Jackson, KY issued this tornado warning at Feb 29, 2012, 4:47 PM EST for 4 counties in Kentucky. It was in force for 43 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
Feb 29, 2012, 4:47 PM EST (21:47 UTC)
Expired
Feb 29, 2012, 5:30 PM EST
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS Jackson, KY
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Bell County, KY, Harlan County, KY, Knox County, KY, Leslie County, KY

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 73 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:49 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, 4:48 PM ESTTSTM WND DMG1 Se Beverly, KYTREES DOWN ON COW FORK ROAD. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Feb 29, 4:52 PM ESTTSTM WND DMGCallaway, KYTREES DOWN ALONG U.S. HIGHWAY 119. 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

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 12:00Z, 9.8 hours before the alert went out and 297 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, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 2012-02-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 18 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 2012-02-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 791 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
18 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-228 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
454 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
56 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
791 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
857 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

415 
WFUS53 KJKL 292147
TORJKL
KYC013-095-121-131-292230-
/O.NEW.KJKL.TO.W.0012.120229T2147Z-120229T2230Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSON KY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN BELL COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY...
  HARLAN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY...
  EXTREME EAST CENTRAL KNOX COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY...
  SOUTH CENTRAL LESLIE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY...

* UNTIL 530 PM EST

* AT 443 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS
  STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR CLEAR CREEK SPRINGS...OR NEAR PINEVILLE...
  AND MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH.

  IN ADDITION...THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING SEVERE         
  WEATHER. DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HARLAN...RELLA...CALVIN...EROSE...KETTLE ISLAND...VARILLA...
  FIELD...MIRACLE...CALLAWAY...OAKS...BALKAN...STONY FORK JUNCTION...
  CUBAGE...BLACK SNAKE...SANDY FORK...MOLUS...INSULL...TACKY TOWN...
  PATHFORK AND LAYMAN.

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 3668 8362 3694 8364 3695 8312 3687 8295
      3685 8296 3686 8299 3684 8301 3685 8303
      3685 8307 3678 8313 3675 8312 3674 8314
      3674 8319 3670 8333
TIME...MOT...LOC 2146Z 266DEG 52KT 3673 8367

$$

RAY
2 follow-up statements
429 
WWUS53 KJKL 292212
SVSJKL

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

KYC013-121-131-292221-
/O.CAN.KJKL.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-120229T2230Z/
KNOX KY-LESLIE KY-BELL KY-
512 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN BELL...SOUTH CENTRAL LESLIE
AND EXTREME EAST CENTRAL KNOX COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

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

HOWEVER...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MAY REDEVELOP...AND A TORNADO WATCH 
REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EST.

LAT...LON 3673 8350 3678 8349 3681 8351 3685 8348
      3689 8349 3689 8341 3692 8340 3693 8337
      3695 8312 3687 8295 3684 8301 3685 8307
      3678 8313 3675 8312 3674 8314 3670 8333
      3669 8346
TIME...MOT...LOC 2211Z 266DEG 52KT 3675 8322

$$

KYC095-292230-
/O.CON.KJKL.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-120229T2230Z/
HARLAN KY-
512 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR HARLAN COUNTY UNTIL 530 PM
EST...

AT 509 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR YANCEY...OR 6 MILES SOUTH OF HARLAN...MOVING
EAST AT 60 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  EVARTS...BAILEY CREEK...LADEN...WOODS...CRANKS...DARKMONT...PINE   
  MOUNTAIN...RIVER RIDGE...REDBUD...BLACK MOUNTAIN...COLTS...        
  SHIELDS...GANO AND BENITO.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM. 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 3673 8350 3678 8349 3681 8351 3685 8348
      3689 8349 3689 8341 3692 8340 3693 8337
      3695 8312 3687 8295 3684 8301 3685 8307
      3678 8313 3675 8312 3674 8314 3670 8333
      3669 8346
TIME...MOT...LOC 2211Z 266DEG 52KT 3675 8322

$$

BECKER
042 
WWUS53 KJKL 292226
SVSJKL

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

KYC095-292235-
/O.EXP.KJKL.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-120229T2230Z/
HARLAN KY-
526 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR HARLAN COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 530 PM EST...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED
AREA...HOWEVER GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN ARE STILL POSSIBLE WITH
THIS THUNDERSTORM.

IN ADDITION...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MAY REDEVELOP...AND A TORNADO 
WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EST.

LAT...LON 3673 8350 3678 8349 3681 8351 3685 8348
      3689 8349 3689 8341 3692 8340 3693 8337
      3695 8312 3687 8295 3684 8301 3685 8307
      3678 8313 3675 8312 3674 8314 3670 8333
      3669 8346
TIME...MOT...LOC 2225Z 266DEG 52KT 3676 8297

$$

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, 3:55 PM ESTTornado WarningJKLMcCreary, Wayne, Whitley35 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, 4:50 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.