Alert archive / Kentucky / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 91, NWS Louisville, KY

May 5, 2012Grayson County, Kentucky

NWS Louisville, KY issued this tornado warning at May 5, 2012, 2:56 AM CDT for Grayson County, Kentucky. It was in force for 19 min. 1 report 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 5, 2012, 2:56 AM CDT (07:56 UTC)
Expired
May 5, 2012, 3:15 AM CDT
In force
19 min
Issued by
NWS Louisville, KY
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Grayson County, KY

The radar

The Louisville radar (KLVX), 62 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:59 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
May 5, 3:03 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGLeitchfield, KYLAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTS SEVERAL TREES DOWN AND WINDOWS SHATTERED IN THE TOWN OF LEITCHFIELD.

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 5, 2:49 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC4 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 00:00Z, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 153 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 00:00Z on 2012-05-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1078 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 00:00Z on 2012-05-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 2 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
1078 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-70 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1542 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
2 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
111 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
1.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

649 
WFUS53 KLMK 050756
TORLMK
KYC085-050815-
/O.NEW.KLMK.TO.W.0091.120505T0756Z-120505T0815Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
256 AM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOUISVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN GRAYSON COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY...

* UNTIL 315 AM CDT...

* AT 254 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS
  STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR HANGING ROCK...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* THIS TORNADIC STORM WILL ALSO IMPACT...
  LEITCHFIELD...
  GRAYSON SPRINGS AND SKAGGSTOWN...
  HILLTOP AND ROCK CREEK...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...STRONG
ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY ALREADY BE ON
THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. MOVE INDOORS TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

TAKE COVER NOW! TORNADOES AT NIGHT CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT
WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. IT MAY BE TOO LATE.

&&

LAT...LON 3757 8641 3757 8640 3758 8639 3756 8635
      3758 8635 3747 8605 3747 8606 3745 8606
      3734 8613 3735 8615 3734 8615 3734 8617
      3750 8646
TIME...MOT...LOC 0756Z 308DEG 42KT 3751 8630

$$

RS
3 follow-up statements
379 
WWUS53 KLMK 050805
SVSLMK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
305 AM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

KYC085-050815-
/O.CON.KLMK.TO.W.0091.000000T0000Z-120505T0815Z/
GRAYSON KY-
305 AM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 AM CDT FOR EASTERN
GRAYSON COUNTY...

AT 303 AM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS
LOCATED NEAR CLARKSON...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL ALSO IMPACT...
  LEITCHFIELD...
  FRAGRANT AND ROCK CREEK...
  HILLTOP AND ROYAL...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORNADOES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. TAKE COVER NOW.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
IN LOUISVILLE.

&&

LAT...LON 3755 8626 3747 8606 3745 8606 3734 8613
      3735 8615 3734 8616 3734 8617 3744 8636
TIME...MOT...LOC 0805Z 308DEG 42KT 3748 8621

$$

RS
778 
WWUS53 KLMK 050810
SVSLMK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
310 AM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

KYC085-050815-
/O.CON.KLMK.TO.W.0091.000000T0000Z-120505T0815Z/
GRAYSON KY-
310 AM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 AM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN GRAYSON COUNTY...

AT 308 AM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS
LOCATED NEAR PEONIA...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL ALSO IMPACT...

  MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF SOUTHEASTERN GRAYSON COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
IN LOUISVILLE.

&&

LAT...LON 3751 8622 3746 8609 3742 8609 3734 8613
      3735 8615 3734 8616 3734 8617 3744 8634
TIME...MOT...LOC 0811Z 320DEG 41KT 3741 8620

$$

RS
503 
WWUS53 KLMK 050816
SVSLMK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
316 AM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

KYC085-050825-
/O.EXP.KLMK.TO.W.0091.000000T0000Z-120505T0815Z/
GRAYSON KY-
316 AM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN GRAYSON COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...

THE STORMS THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAVE MOVED ONTO THE 
SOUTHEAST...WHERE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NOW IS IN EFFECT.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...CALL YOUR 
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS..

LAT...LON 3751 8622 3746 8609 3742 8609 3734 8613
      3735 8615 3734 8616 3734 8617 3744 8634
TIME...MOT...LOC 0810Z 320DEG 41KT 3742 8621

$$

RS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 4, 9:21 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKTrimble3 hr
May 4, 9:29 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKTrimble46 min
May 4, 9:41 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLMKTrimble3 hr
May 4, 10:50 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKFranklin, Jefferson, Oldham, Scott, Shelby40 min
May 4, 11:20 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKBourbon, Harrison, Nicholas40 min
May 4, 11:22 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKMeade23 min
May 4, 11:23 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKFranklin, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby3 hr
May 4, 11:40 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKBullitt, Meade35 min
May 4, 11:45 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKAnderson, Fayette, Franklin, Scott, Spencer, Woodford45 min
May 5, 12:01 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKBourbon, Nicholas29 min
May 5, 12:14 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKBullitt, Hardin, Larue, Marion, Nelson, Washington31 min
May 5, 12:24 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKBoyle, Clark, Garrard, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison and 2 more66 min
May 5, 12:46 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKLarue, Marion, Nelson44 min
May 5, 1:44 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLMKMeade3 hr
May 5, 2:22 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningLMKHardin, Meade3 hr
May 5, 2:22 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKBreckinridge, Grayson, Hancock, Ohio23 min
May 5, 3:14 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKBarren, Edmonson, Grayson, Hart31 min
May 5, 3:44 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLMKAdair, Barren, Green, Hart, Metcalfe31 min
May 5, 3:53 AM CDTTornado WarningLMKBarren, Metcalfe22 min
May 5, 4:13 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKClinton, Cumberland, Metcalfe, Monroe47 min
May 5, 5:34 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLMKSimpson41 min

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.