Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 19, NWS Memphis, TN

February 29, 2012Lawrence County, Randolph County, Arkansas

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at Feb 29, 2012, 4:22 AM CST for Lawrence County, Randolph County, Arkansas. It was in force for 38 min. 3 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, 4:22 AM CST (10:22 UTC)
Expired: Feb 29, 2012, 5:00 AM CST
In force: 38 min
Issued by: NWS Memphis, TN
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Lawrence County, AR, Randolph County, AR

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 146 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:25 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

Time	Report	Where
Feb 29, 4:30 AM CST	HAIL 1	Ravenden Springs, AR
Feb 29, 4:44 AM CST	HAIL 1	Attica, AR
Feb 29, 4:50 AM CST	HAIL 1	Stokes, AR

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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Feb 29, 3:20 AM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 00:00Z, 10.4 hours before the alert went out and 187 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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.

709 
WFUS54 KMEG 291022
TORMEG
ARC075-121-291100-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0019.120229T1022Z-120229T1100Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN LAWRENCE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
  SOUTHERN RANDOLPH COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...

* UNTIL 500 AM CST

* AT 421 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING A TORNADO 11 MILES WEST OF
  RAVENDEN...OR 22 MILES NORTHWEST OF LAKE CHARLES STATE PARK...
  MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO POCAHONTAS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

.IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3625 9133 3625 9127 3637 9128 3639 9075
      3630 9076 3628 9078 3629 9079 3629 9081
      3621 9080 3617 9082 3618 9136 3623 9136
TIME...MOT...LOC 1021Z 265DEG 51KT 3628 9137

$$

2 follow-up statements

106 
WWUS54 KMEG 291036
SVSMEG

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

ARC075-121-291100-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-120229T1100Z/
LAWRENCE AR-RANDOLPH AR-
436 AM CST WED FEB 29 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM CST FOR SOUTHERN
RANDOLPH AND NORTHWESTERN LAWRENCE COUNTIES...

AT 435 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR RAVENDEN
SPRINGS...OR 14 MILES WEST OF POCAHONTAS...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO POCAHONTAS...
STOKES...BROCKETT...ENGELERG...BIRDELL...SHARUM...FENDER...MANSON AND
SHANNON.

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 3625 9133 3625 9127 3637 9128 3639 9075
      3630 9076 3628 9078 3629 9079 3629 9081
      3621 9080 3617 9082 3618 9136 3623 9136
TIME...MOT...LOC 1035Z 277DEG 47KT 3628 9113

$$

185 
WWUS54 KMEG 291043
SVSMEG

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

ARC075-291053-
/O.CAN.KMEG.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-120229T1100Z/
LAWRENCE AR-
443 AM CST WED FEB 29 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN LAWRENCE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

AT 443 AM CST...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT THE 
THUNDERSTORMS WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE AREA 
AND NO LONGER POSE AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO LIFE OR PROPERTY. 
THEREFORE...THE TORNADO WARNING IS CANCELLED.

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

LAT...LON 3626 9116 3638 9111 3639 9075 3630 9076
      3628 9078 3629 9079 3629 9081 3624 9081
TIME...MOT...LOC 1043Z 270DEG 52KT 3631 9097

$$

ARC121-291100-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-120229T1100Z/
RANDOLPH AR-
443 AM CST WED FEB 29 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM CST FOR SOUTHERN
RANDOLPH COUNTY...

AT 443 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ATTICA...OR NEAR
POCAHONTAS...MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO POCAHONTAS...
STOKES...BROCKETT AND ENGELERG.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
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.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3626 9116 3638 9111 3639 9075 3630 9076
      3628 9078 3629 9079 3629 9081 3624 9081
TIME...MOT...LOC 1043Z 270DEG 52KT 3631 9097

$$

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Feb 29, 12:34 AM CST	Wind Advisory	MEG	Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Greene, Lawrence and 6 more	10 hr
Feb 29, 3:51 AM CST	Tornado Warning	MEG	Randolph	39 min
Feb 29, 4:25 AM CST	Tornado Warning	MEG	Clay, Randolph	50 min
Feb 29, 4:56 AM CST	Tornado Warning	MEG	Clay, Randolph	49 min
Feb 29, 5:30 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Clay	30 min
Feb 29, 5:48 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Lawrence, Randolph	42 min
Feb 29, 6:25 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Clay, Greene, Lawrence, Randolph	50 min
Feb 29, 6:43 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Lawrence	47 min
Feb 29, 6:51 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Clay, Greene	39 min
Feb 29, 7:25 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Lawrence	33 min
Feb 29, 7:43 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Craighead, Greene	23 min
Feb 29, 2:32 PM CST	Red Flag Warning	MEG	Clay, Craighead, Cross, Greene, Lawrence, Mississippi and 2 more	3 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Arkansas, 2012 Every tornado warning in 2012 Tornadoes 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.