Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 9, NWS Morristown, TN

March 1, 2012Scott County, Washington County, City of Bristol, Virginia; Sullivan County, Tennessee

NWS Morristown, TN issued this tornado warning at Mar 1, 2012, 12:12 AM EST for Scott County, Washington County, City of Bristol, Virginia; Sullivan County, Tennessee. It was in force for 33 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 1, 2012, 12:12 AM EST (05:12 UTC)
Expired
Mar 1, 2012, 12:45 AM EST
In force
33 min
Issued by
NWS Morristown, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Sullivan County, TN, City of Bristol, VA, Scott County, VA, Washington County, VA

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 111 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:12 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
Mar 1, 12:35 AM ESTTSTM WND DMGGate City, VASEVERAL TREES DOWN.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 00:00Z, 5.2 hours before the alert went out and 223 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 00:00Z on 2012-03-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 62 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 00:00Z on 2012-03-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 271 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
62 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-165 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
686 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
55 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
271 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
241 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

736 
WFUS54 KMRX 010512
TORMRX
TNC163-VAC169-191-520-010545-
/O.NEW.KMRX.TO.W.0009.120301T0512Z-120301T0545Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1212 AM EST THU MAR 1 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MORRISTOWN HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SULLIVAN COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
  SCOTT COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...
  WASHINGTON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...
  CITY OF BRISTOL IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 1245 AM EST

* AT 1208 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR WEBER
  CITY...OR NEAR GATE CITY. DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS TORNADO MOVING
  EAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
  BRISTOL TN...BRISTOL VA...HILTONS...BLOUNTVILLE AND BENHAMS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 3668 8210 3647 8215 3660 8260 3672 8255
TIME...MOT...LOC 0512Z 279DEG 38KT 3663 8250

$$

DGS
3 follow-up statements
852 
WWUS54 KMRX 010524
SVSMRX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1224 AM EST THU MAR 1 2012

TNC163-VAC169-191-520-010545-
/O.CON.KMRX.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120301T0545Z/
SULLIVAN TN-SCOTT VA-WASHINGTON VA-CITY OF BRISTOL VA-
1224 AM EST THU MAR 1 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1245 AM EST FOR CITY OF
BRISTOL...WASHINGTON...SCOTT AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES...

AT 1222 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES EAST OF
HILTONS...OR 10 MILES WEST OF BRISTOL TN...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
  BRISTOL TN...BRISTOL VA...BLOUNTVILLE AND BENHAMS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3668 8210 3647 8215 3660 8260 3672 8255
TIME...MOT...LOC 0524Z 277DEG 39KT 3662 8234

$$

DGS
038 
WWUS54 KMRX 010535
SVSMRX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1235 AM EST THU MAR 1 2012

VAC169-010545-
/O.CAN.KMRX.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120301T0545Z/
SCOTT VA-
1235 AM EST THU MAR 1 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SCOTT COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

LAT...LON 3669 8225 3668 8210 3647 8215 3652 8233
TIME...MOT...LOC 0535Z 275DEG 39KT 3661 8219

$$

TNC163-VAC191-520-010545-
/O.CON.KMRX.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120301T0545Z/
SULLIVAN TN-WASHINGTON VA-CITY OF BRISTOL VA-
1235 AM EST THU MAR 1 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1245 AM EST FOR CITY OF
BRISTOL...WASHINGTON AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES...

AT 1231 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BENHAMS...OR NEAR
BRISTOL VA...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
  BRISTOL VA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

&&

LAT...LON 3669 8225 3668 8210 3647 8215 3652 8233
TIME...MOT...LOC 0535Z 275DEG 39KT 3661 8219

$$

DGS
406 
WWUS54 KMRX 010540
SVSMRX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1240 AM EST THU MAR 1 2012

TNC163-VAC191-520-010550-
/O.EXP.KMRX.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120301T0545Z/
SULLIVAN TN-WASHINGTON VA-CITY OF BRISTOL VA-
1240 AM EST THU MAR 1 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CITY OF BRISTOL...WASHINGTON AND SULLIVAN
COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 1245 AM EST...

THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED BELOW SEVERE
LEVELS. THEREFORE...THE WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

LAT...LON 3669 8225 3668 8210 3647 8215 3652 8233
TIME...MOT...LOC 0540Z 275DEG 39KT 3660 8212

$$
DGS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 29, 7:08 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXRussell30 min
Feb 29, 11:39 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXLee, Scott36 min
Feb 29, 11:50 PM ESTTornado WarningMRXScott25 min
Mar 1, 1:16 AM ESTAreal Flood AdvisoryMRXScott, Washington, City of Bristol119 min
Feb 29, 7:20 PM ESTTornado WarningMRXBlount, Loudon, Monroe, Sevier40 min
Feb 29, 7:58 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXBlount, Cocke, Sevier17 min
Feb 29, 10:46 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXCampbell, Scott29 min
Feb 29, 11:02 PM ESTTornado WarningMRXCampbell, Claiborne, Scott, Union43 min
Mar 1, 2:44 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXCocke, Sevier31 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 2012Tornado 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.