Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Memphis, TN

January 22, 2012Lee County, St. Francis County, Arkansas

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at Jan 22, 2012, 8:11 PM CST for Lee County, St. Francis County, Arkansas. It was in force for 49 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
Jan 22, 2012, 8:11 PM CST (02:11 UTC)
Expired
Jan 22, 2012, 9:00 PM CST
In force
49 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Lee County, AR, St. Francis County, AR

The radar

The Little Rock radar (KLZK), 112 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:12 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
Jan 22, 8:52 PM CSTHAIL 13 W Colt, ARST. FRANCIS COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTS QUARTER SIZE HAIL WEST OF COLT NEAR AR 306 AND AR 193.

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
Jan 22, 5:16 PM CSTTornado Watch PDSSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 00:00Z, 2.2 hours before the alert went out and 100 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 2012-01-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 998 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 2012-01-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 475 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
998 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-5 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
455 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
69 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
475 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
474 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
10.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

809 
WFUS54 KMEG 230211
TORMEG
ARC077-123-230300-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0002.120123T0211Z-120123T0300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
811 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN LEE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
  WESTERN ST. FRANCIS COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...

* UNTIL 900 PM CST

* AT 810 PM CST...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO 19
  MILES WEST OF GARRET GROVE...OR NEAR DE VALLS BLUFF...MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO FORREST
  CITY...MADISON AND PALESTINE.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3500 9116 3501 9106 3514 9105 3515 9064
      3485 9071 3475 9110 3486 9111 3487 9112
      3490 9113 3491 9116
TIME...MOT...LOC 0210Z 238DEG 44KT 3480 9137

$$
3 follow-up statements
844 
WWUS54 KMEG 230228
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
828 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

ARC077-123-230300-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120123T0300Z/
LEE AR-ST. FRANCIS AR-
828 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CST FOR WESTERN
ST. FRANCIS AND NORTHWESTERN LEE COUNTIES...

AT 827 PM CST...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WHEATLEY...OR NEAR BRINKLEY...MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. THIS STORM WILL TRACK NEAR OR JUST NORTH OF 
FORREST CITY IN THE NEXT 30 MINUTES. TRAINED SPOTTERS ALSO REPORTED 
BASEBALL SIZE HAIL IN BRINKLEY AT 825 PM.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO FORREST
CITY...MADISON...PALESTINE...L'ANGVILLE...POSEY...BLOSSOM...
GOODWIN...FOUR GUMS...HAWKINS...SLONIKERS MILL...HORTON...
ROSENBAUM...DODSONS CORNER AND BONAIR.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3500 9116 3501 9106 3514 9105 3515 9064
      3485 9071 3475 9110 3486 9111 3487 9112
      3490 9113 3491 9116
TIME...MOT...LOC 0227Z 238DEG 44KT 3489 9114

$$
947 
WWUS54 KMEG 230245
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
845 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

ARC077-123-230300-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120123T0300Z/
LEE AR-ST. FRANCIS AR-
845 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CST FOR WESTERN
ST. FRANCIS AND NORTHWESTERN LEE COUNTIES...

AT 845 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A POSSIBLE TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR 
PALESTINE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO FORREST
CITY...MADISON...PALESTINE...L'ANGVILLE...POSEY...BLOSSOM...
GOODWIN...FOUR GUMS...HAWKINS...SLONIKERS MILL...HORTON...
ROSENBAUM...DODSONS CORNER AND BONAIR.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BASEBALL 
SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

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 3500 9115 3501 9106 3502 9105 3514 9105
      3515 9064 3514 9064 3485 9071 3475 9110
      3485 9109 3489 9113 3490 9113 3492 9117
TIME...MOT...LOC 0245Z 238DEG 44KT 3499 9090

$$
655 
WWUS54 KMEG 230255
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
855 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

ARC077-123-230305-
/O.EXP.KMEG.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120123T0300Z/
LEE AR-ST. FRANCIS AR-
855 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR WESTERN ST. FRANCIS AND NORTHWESTERN LEE
COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 900 PM CST...

AT 855 PM CST...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT THE
THUNDERSTORMS WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE AREA
AND WEAKENED. THEREFORE...THE TORNADO WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO
EXPIRE.

LAT...LON 3500 9115 3501 9106 3502 9105 3514 9105
      3515 9064 3514 9064 3485 9071 3475 9110
      3485 9109 3489 9113 3490 9113 3492 9117
TIME...MOT...LOC 0255Z 238DEG 44KT 3505 9077

$$


WRB/RRH

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 22, 6:59 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCraighead, Greene, Lawrence, Randolph46 min
Jan 22, 7:26 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCraighead, Greene, Lawrence34 min
Jan 22, 7:42 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGClay, Greene, Lawrence, Randolph48 min
Jan 22, 7:53 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGClay, Greene52 min
Jan 22, 7:56 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCraighead, Cross, Poinsett49 min
Jan 22, 8:18 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCross, Poinsett42 min
Jan 22, 8:27 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGClay, Greene63 min
Jan 22, 8:43 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGLee, Phillips47 min
Jan 22, 8:44 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCraighead, Mississippi, Poinsett61 min
Jan 22, 8:58 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCrittenden, Cross, St. Francis38 min
Jan 22, 9:01 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGPhillips44 min
Jan 22, 9:18 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGLee, Phillips27 min
Jan 22, 9:20 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCrittenden, Mississippi55 min
Jan 22, 9:21 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLee, Phillips24 min
Jan 22, 9:41 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLee, Phillips49 min
Jan 22, 9:46 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGLee, Phillips29 min
Jan 22, 9:55 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGCrittenden, St. Francis22 min

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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.