Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 6, NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC

August 15, 2012Craven County, Pamlico County, North Carolina

NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC issued this tornado warning at Aug 15, 2012, 1:29 PM EDT for Craven County, Pamlico County, North Carolina. It was in force for 46 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
Aug 15, 2012, 1:29 PM EDT (17:29 UTC)
Expired
Aug 15, 2012, 2:15 PM EDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Craven County, NC, Pamlico County, NC

The radar

The Morehead City radar (KMHX), 41 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:32 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
Aug 15, 1:40 PM EDTFUNNEL CLOUDArapahoe, NCREPORTED RELAYED BY LOCAL MEDIA OF A FUNNEL CLOUD SPOTTED NEAR ARAPAHOE

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Newport, NC (KMHX), launched 12:00Z, 5.5 hours before the alert went out and 41 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, Newport, NC at 12:00Z on 2012-08-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2363 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, Newport, NC at 12:00Z on 2012-08-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 80 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
2363 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-22 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
852 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
26 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
80 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
103 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
3.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

146 
WFUS52 KMHX 151729
TORMHX
NCC049-137-151815-
/O.NEW.KMHX.TO.W.0006.120815T1729Z-120815T1815Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
129 PM EDT WED AUG 15 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NEWPORT HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  PAMLICO COUNTY IN NORTH CAROLINA
  CENTRAL CRAVEN COUNTY IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 215 PM EDT

* AT 126 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  TORNADO OVER FAIRFIELD HARBOR...OR 6 MILES EAST OF JAMES CITY...
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  ARAPAHOE...
  GRANTSBORO...
  ALLIANCE...
  BAYBORO...
  MERRITT...STONEWALL...
  MARIBEL...

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...VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS
AVAILABLE LIE DOWN IN A LOW LYING AREA. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING
DEBRIS.

PLEASE REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING...1...8 0 0...8 8 9...6 8 8 9 OR NOTIFY YOUR LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

&&

LAT...LON 3502 7692 3511 7701 3522 7676 3523 7665
      3520 7659 3517 7661 3516 7659 3517 7660
      3518 7658 3512 7655 3506 7660 3506 7663
      3502 7668 3499 7686
TIME...MOT...LOC 1729Z 247DEG 18KT 3505 7689

$$

29
3 follow-up statements
100 
WWUS52 KMHX 151741
SVSMHX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
141 PM EDT WED AUG 15 2012

NCC049-151751-
/O.CAN.KMHX.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120815T1815Z/
CRAVEN NC-
141 PM EDT WED AUG 15 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL CRAVEN COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS HAS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA 
AND THE WARNING IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

IF YOU OBSERVED SEVERE WEATHER INCLUDING DAMAGING WINDS OR LARGE
HAIL...PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL
FREE 1...8 0 0...8 8 9...6 8 8 9...OR NOTIFY YOUR NEAREST LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN NEWPORT.

LAT...LON 3502 7686 3505 7693 3513 7693 3522 7676
      3523 7665 3520 7659 3517 7661 3516 7659
      3517 7660 3518 7658 3512 7655 3506 7660
      3506 7663 3502 7668
TIME...MOT...LOC 1741Z 257DEG 17KT 3505 7682

$$

NCC137-151815-
/O.CON.KMHX.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120815T1815Z/
PAMLICO NC-
141 PM EDT WED AUG 15 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
PAMLICO COUNTY...

AT 138 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ARAPAHOE...OR 10
MILES EAST OF JAMES CITY...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

HAZARDS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
A TORNADO.

LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE... SILVER HILL...
ALLIANCE...BAYBORO...STONEWALL...MERRITT...ORIENTAL...MARIBEL...
PAMLICO...VANDEMERE...WHORTONSVILLE...FLORENCE AND MESIC.

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS
AVAILABLE LIE DOWN IN A LOW LYING AREA. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING
DEBRIS.

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE CALL IN YOUR REPORTS OF PENNY OR
LARGER SIZED HAIL...AS WELL AS WIND DAMAGE...INCLUDING TREES OR LARGE
LIMBS DOWNED BY CALLING THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT...
1...8 0 0...8 8 9...6 8 8 9.

LAT...LON 3502 7686 3505 7693 3513 7693 3522 7676
      3523 7665 3520 7659 3517 7661 3516 7659
      3517 7660 3518 7658 3512 7655 3506 7660
      3506 7663 3502 7668
TIME...MOT...LOC 1741Z 257DEG 17KT 3505 7682

$$

29
741 
WWUS52 KMHX 151753
SVSMHX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
153 PM EDT WED AUG 15 2012

NCC137-151815-
/O.CON.KMHX.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120815T1815Z/
PAMLICO NC-
153 PM EDT WED AUG 15 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
PAMLICO COUNTY...

AT 149 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ORIENTAL...OR 15
MILES NORTHEAST OF HAVELOCK...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

HAZARDS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
A TORNADO.
QUARTER SIZED HAIL.
OTHER DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE... PAMLICO...WHORTONSVILLE
AND FLORENCE.

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS
AVAILABLE LIE DOWN IN A LOW LYING AREA. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING
DEBRIS.

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE CALL IN YOUR REPORTS OF PENNY OR
LARGER SIZED HAIL...AS WELL AS WIND DAMAGE...INCLUDING TREES OR LARGE
LIMBS DOWNED BY CALLING THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT...
1...8 0 0...8 8 9...6 8 8 9.

LAT...LON 3502 7674 3514 7679 3519 7660 3517 7661
      3516 7659 3517 7660 3518 7658 3512 7655
      3506 7660 3506 7663 3502 7668
TIME...MOT...LOC 1753Z 259DEG 17KT 3506 7667

$$

29
807 
WWUS52 KMHX 151807
SVSMHX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
207 PM EDT WED AUG 15 2012

NCC137-151816-
/O.EXP.KMHX.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120815T1815Z/
PAMLICO NC-
207 PM EDT WED AUG 15 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL PAMLICO COUNTY EXPIRES AT 215 PM
EDT...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA AND 
THE WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

IF YOU OBSERVED SEVERE WEATHER INCLUDING DAMAGING WINDS OR LARGE
HAIL...PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL
FREE 1...8 0 0...8 8 9...6 8 8 9...OR NOTIFY YOUR NEAREST LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN NEWPORT.

WHILE THE IMMEDIATE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT HAS DISSIPATED...ADDITIONAL
SEVERE WEATHER IS POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS. BE PREPARED TO
MOVE QUICKLY TO AN INTERIOR ROOM OF A SAFE SHELTER IF A WARNING IS
ISSUED.

LAT...LON 3502 7674 3514 7679 3519 7660 3517 7661
      3516 7659 3517 7660 3518 7658 3512 7655
      3506 7660 3506 7663 3502 7668
TIME...MOT...LOC 1806Z 259DEG 17KT 3507 7660

$$

29

The office that day

Everything else NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 14, 8:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXDuplin43 min
Aug 15, 4:40 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXTyrrell65 min
Aug 15, 4:46 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXCarteret29 min
Aug 15, 5:18 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXHyde57 min
Aug 15, 5:37 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXTyrrell53 min
Aug 15, 1:55 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX35 min
Aug 15, 2:04 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXPamlico41 min
Aug 15, 2:48 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXCarteret42 min
Aug 15, 3:15 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXHyde30 min
Aug 15, 3:29 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXDuplin46 min
Aug 15, 3:55 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXTyrrell65 min
Aug 15, 4:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXPamlico64 min
Aug 15, 4:15 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXBeaufort, Duplin, Jones, Lenoir60 min
Aug 15, 5:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXJones63 min
Aug 15, 5:16 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX44 min
Aug 15, 5:18 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXHyde, Pamlico57 min
Aug 15, 5:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXPitt50 min
Aug 15, 5:27 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMHXCarteret, Craven, Jones, Onslow27 min
Aug 15, 6:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXCarteret41 min
Aug 15, 7:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXPitt41 min
Aug 15, 7:29 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMHXCraven61 min
Aug 15, 7:40 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX50 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 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.