Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 18, NWS Memphis, TN

February 29, 2012Randolph County, Arkansas

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at Feb 29, 2012, 3:51 AM CST for Randolph County, Arkansas. It was in force for 39 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Feb 29, 2012, 3:51 AM CST (09:51 UTC)
Expired
Feb 29, 2012, 4:30 AM CST
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Randolph County, AR

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 160 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:52 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Feb 29, 3:20 AM CSTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 00:00Z, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 203 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, Little Rock, AR at 00:00Z on 2012-02-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 61 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, Little Rock, AR at 00:00Z on 2012-02-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 335 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
61 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-316 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
578 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
70 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
335 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
421 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
3.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

733 
WFUS54 KMEG 290951
TORMEG
ARC121-291030-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0018.120229T0951Z-120229T1030Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
351 AM CST WED FEB 29 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN RANDOLPH COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...

* UNTIL 430 AM CST

* AT 351 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING A TORNADO 23 MILES WEST OF DALTON...
  OR 34 MILES NORTHWEST OF BLACK ROCK...MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO RURAL AREAS
  OF NORTHERN RANDOLPH COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

.IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE GOLFBALL SIZE 
HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH.

.THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A STORM SHELTER. IF NO
STORM SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE
BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE
BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3651 9079 3649 9077 3644 9078 3644 9075
      3641 9077 3641 9075 3634 9076 3633 9128
      3637 9128 3639 9132 3641 9131 3643 9136
      3646 9137 3650 9142
TIME...MOT...LOC 0951Z 260DEG 54KT 3645 9150

$$
2 follow-up statements
454 
WWUS54 KMEG 291009
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
409 AM CST WED FEB 29 2012

ARC121-291030-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-120229T1030Z/
RANDOLPH AR-
409 AM CST WED FEB 29 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 AM CST FOR NORTHERN
RANDOLPH COUNTY...

AT 408 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES WEST OF ELM
STORE...OR 23 MILES NORTHWEST OF POCAHONTAS...MOVING EAST AT 65 MPH.
IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE GOLFBALL SIZE 
HAIL OR LARGER AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 
MPH. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ELM STORE...
WARM SPRINGS...PITMAN...MIDDLEBROOK...BRAKEBILL...INGRAM...HAMIL...
ELKINS PARK AND STOKES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A STORM SHELTER. IF NO
STORM SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE
BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE
BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

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

.A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALERT AREA.

&&

LAT...LON 3651 9079 3649 9077 3644 9078 3644 9075
      3641 9077 3641 9075 3634 9076 3633 9128
      3637 9128 3639 9132 3641 9131 3643 9136
      3646 9137 3650 9142
TIME...MOT...LOC 1008Z 264DEG 58KT 3647 9118

$$
609 
WWUS54 KMEG 291018
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
418 AM CST WED FEB 29 2012

ARC121-291030-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-120229T1030Z/
RANDOLPH AR-
418 AM CST WED FEB 29 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 AM CST FOR NORTHERN
RANDOLPH COUNTY...

AT 418 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WARM SPRINGS...OR
15 MILES NORTH OF POCAHONTAS...MOVING EAST AT 65 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO WARM
SPRINGS...PITMAN...MIDDLEBROOK...BRAKEBILL...INGRAM...HAMIL...ELKINS
PARK AND STOKES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN 
EXCESS OF 70 MPH.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A STORM SHELTER. IF NO
STORM SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE
BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE
BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

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

.A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALERT AREA.

&&

LAT...LON 3650 9115 3651 9084 3651 9079 3648 9077
      3644 9078 3642 9075 3642 9076 3642 9077
      3641 9077 3641 9075 3634 9076 3633 9128
      3639 9128
TIME...MOT...LOC 1018Z 266DEG 59KT 3648 9097

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Memphis, TN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 29, 12:34 AM CSTWind AdvisoryMEGClay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Greene, Lawrence and 6 more10 hr
Feb 29, 4:22 AM CSTTornado WarningMEGLawrence, Randolph38 min
Feb 29, 4:25 AM CSTTornado WarningMEGClay, Randolph50 min
Feb 29, 4:56 AM CSTTornado WarningMEGClay, Randolph49 min
Feb 29, 5:30 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGClay30 min
Feb 29, 5:48 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLawrence, Randolph42 min
Feb 29, 6:25 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGClay, Greene, Lawrence, Randolph50 min
Feb 29, 6:43 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLawrence47 min
Feb 29, 6:51 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGClay, Greene39 min
Feb 29, 7:25 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLawrence33 min
Feb 29, 7:43 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCraighead, Greene23 min
Feb 29, 2:32 PM CSTRed Flag WarningMEGClay, Craighead, Cross, Greene, Lawrence, Mississippi and 2 more3 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Arkansas, 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.