Alert archive / Tennessee / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 38, NWS Morristown, TN

March 2, 2012Polk County, Tennessee

NWS Morristown, TN issued this tornado warning at Mar 2, 2012, 7:06 PM EST for Polk County, Tennessee. It was in force for 39 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
Mar 2, 2012, 7:06 PM EST (00:06 UTC)
Expired
Mar 2, 2012, 7:45 PM EST
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Morristown, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Polk County, TN

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 133 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:09 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
Mar 2, 7:25 PM ESTTSTM WND DMG8 Ese Benton, TNSEVERAL TREES DOWN.

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
Mar 2, 3:19 PM ESTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 0.1 hours before the alert went out and 191 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 00:00Z on 2012-03-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 540 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 00:00Z on 2012-03-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 212 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
540 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-34 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
948 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
62 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
212 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
274 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.8
Supercell composite
4.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

727 
WFUS54 KMRX 030006
TORMRX
TNC139-030045-
/O.NEW.KMRX.TO.W.0038.120303T0006Z-120303T0045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
706 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MORRISTOWN HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  POLK COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...

* UNTIL 745 PM EST

* AT 705 PM EST...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD 9
  MILES SOUTHEAST OF CLEVELAND. DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS TORNADO
  MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
  BENTON...DUCKTOWN...CONASAUGA...PARKSVILLE...RELIANCE...BIG FROG
  MOUNTAIN...ARCHVILLE AND TURTLETOWN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3506 8475 3508 8474 3510 8474 3518 8470
      3521 8429 3499 8433 3499 8477
TIME...MOT...LOC 0006Z 265DEG 40KT 3507 8478

$$
DGS
3 follow-up statements
982 
WWUS54 KMRX 030017
SVSMRX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
717 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

TNC139-030045-
/O.CON.KMRX.TO.W.0038.000000T0000Z-120303T0045Z/
POLK TN-
717 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM EST FOR POLK
COUNTY...

AT 714 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR PARKSVILLE...OR 7
MILES SOUTH OF BENTON...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
  DUCKTOWN...RELIANCE...BIG FROG MOUNTAIN...ARCHVILLE AND TURTLETOWN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO. CARS ARE EASILY 
TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADO WINDS. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF A 
TORNADO...LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING. IF NO SAFE 
STRUCTURE IS NEARBY...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER 
YOUR HEAD.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST FRIDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST
VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3506 8475 3508 8474 3510 8474 3518 8470
      3521 8429 3499 8433 3499 8477
TIME...MOT...LOC 0017Z 267DEG 42KT 3508 8462

$$
DGS
260 
WWUS54 KMRX 030029
SVSMRX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
729 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

TNC139-030045-
/O.CON.KMRX.TO.W.0038.000000T0000Z-120303T0045Z/
POLK TN-
729 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM EST FOR POLK
COUNTY...

AT 723 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ARCHVILLE...OR 9
MILES SOUTHEAST OF BENTON...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
  DUCKTOWN AND TURTLETOWN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW
SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST FRIDAY EVENING 
FOR SOUTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA AND EAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST 
VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3506 8475 3508 8474 3510 8474 3518 8470
      3521 8429 3499 8433 3499 8477
TIME...MOT...LOC 0029Z 266DEG 39KT 3509 8446

$$

DGS
049 
WWUS54 KMRX 030045
SVSMRX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
745 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

TNC139-030056-
/O.EXP.KMRX.TO.W.0038.000000T0000Z-120303T0045Z/
POLK TN-
745 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR POLK COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...

THE STORMS THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED
AREA. THEREFORE...THE WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST FRIDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA AND EAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST
VIRGINIA.

LAT...LON 3506 8475 3508 8474 3510 8474 3518 8470
      3521 8429 3499 8433 3499 8477
TIME...MOT...LOC 0029Z 266DEG 39KT 3509 8446

$$
DGS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 2, 7:02 PM ESTTornado WarningMRXBlount, Cocke, Jefferson, Sevier43 min
Mar 2, 7:10 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXBradley, Hamilton50 min
Mar 2, 7:10 PM ESTTornado WarningMRXCampbell, Scott50 min
Mar 2, 7:40 PM ESTTornado WarningMRXCocke, Sevier35 min
Mar 2, 7:48 PM ESTTornado WarningMRXCampbell, Claiborne, Scott42 min
Mar 2, 7:49 PM ESTTornado WarningMRXBradley, Hamilton, Polk26 min
Mar 2, 8:07 PM ESTTornado WarningMRXBledsoe, Rhea38 min
Mar 2, 8:10 PM ESTTornado WarningMRXPolk35 min
Mar 2, 8:21 PM ESTTornado WarningMRXClaiborne, Hancock, Hawkins39 min
Mar 2, 8:29 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXAnderson, Campbell, Morgan, Scott46 min
Mar 2, 8:35 PM ESTTornado WarningMRXPolk40 min
Mar 2, 8:38 PM ESTTornado WarningMRXLoudon, Morgan, Rhea, Roane37 min
Mar 2, 8:56 PM ESTTornado WarningMRXHancock, Hawkins, Sullivan49 min
Mar 2, 9:05 PM ESTTornado WarningMRXAnderson, Knox, Morgan, Roane40 min
Mar 2, 9:14 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXAnderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger, Scott, Union46 min
Mar 2, 9:41 PM ESTTornado WarningMRXAnderson, Grainger, Jefferson, Knox, Sevier, Union34 min
Mar 2, 9:45 PM ESTTornado WarningMRXJohnson, Sullivan60 min
Mar 2, 9:59 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXBlount, Knox, Sevier22 min
Mar 2, 9:59 PM ESTTornado WarningMRXClaiborne, Grainger, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins46 min
Mar 2, 10:05 PM ESTTornado WarningMRXCocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Jefferson and 1 more25 min
Mar 2, 10:27 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXCocke, Greene, Hamblen, Sevier, Unicoi48 min
Mar 2, 10:44 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXGreene, Hawkins, Sullivan, Washington46 min
Mar 2, 10:57 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXUnicoi33 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Tennessee, 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.