Alert archive / Oklahoma / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 5, NWS Norman, OK

March 18, 2012Beckham County, Washita County, Oklahoma

NWS Norman, OK issued this tornado warning at Mar 18, 2012, 8:00 PM CDT for Beckham County, Washita County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 38 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Mar 18, 2012, 8:00 PM CDT (01:00 UTC)
Expired
Mar 18, 2012, 8:38 PM CDT
In force
38 min
Issued by
NWS Norman, OK
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Beckham County, OK, Washita County, OK

The radar

The Altus AFB radar (KFDR), 110 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:03 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Mar 18, 3:12 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Norman, OK (KOUN), launched 00:00Z, 1.0 hours before the alert went out and 170 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, Norman, OK at 00:00Z on 2012-03-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 832 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, Norman, OK at 00:00Z on 2012-03-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 199 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
832 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-48 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
874 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
199 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
292 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.6
Supercell composite
3.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

346 
WFUS54 KOUN 190100
TOROUN
OKC009-149-190145-
/O.NEW.KOUN.TO.W.0005.120319T0100Z-120319T0145Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
800 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORMAN HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EXTREME EAST CENTRAL BECKHAM COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA...
  WEST CENTRAL WASHITA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA...

* UNTIL 845 PM CDT

* AT 759 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A 
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS 
  STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR RETROP...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BURNS FLAT...DILL CITY AND CANUTE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE 
LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE 
HOME OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND 
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

THIS TORNADO IS LIKELY OBSCURED BY RAIN AND MAY NOT BE VISIBLE. DO 
NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW. ABANDON 
MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES. IF POSSIBLE...MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR 
STORM SHELTER.  OTHERWISE  MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM OR HALLWAY ON 
THE LOWEST FLOOR.  STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

&&

LAT...LON 3545 9926 3537 9902 3512 9931 3524 9947
TIME...MOT...LOC 0059Z 217DEG 22KT 3522 9934 

$$

WR
2 follow-up statements
561 
WWUS54 KOUN 190114
SVSOUN
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
814 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

OKC009-190155-
/O.CAN.KOUN.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120319T0145Z/
BECKHAM OK-
814 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME EAST CENTRAL BECKHAM COUNTY IS 
CANCELLED...

THE TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT 
OF THE WARNED AREA. THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED. 

LAT...LON 3535 9934 3545 9926 3537 9902 3520 9928
      3534 9936
TIME...MOT...LOC 0113Z 214DEG 23KT 3529 9929 

$$

OKC149-190145-
/O.CON.KOUN.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120319T0145Z/
WASHITA OK-
814 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM CDT FOR 
WESTERN WASHITA COUNTY...

AT 812 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS 
STORM WAS LOCATED 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BURNS FLAT...MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. 

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BURNS FLAT AND CANUTE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE 
LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE 
HOME OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND 
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

THIS TORNADO IS LIKELY OBSCURED BY RAIN AND MAY NOT BE VISIBLE. DO 
NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW. ABANDON 
MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES. IF POSSIBLE...MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR 
STORM SHELTER.  OTHERWISE  MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM OR HALLWAY ON 
THE LOWEST FLOOR.  STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

&&

LAT...LON 3535 9934 3545 9926 3537 9902 3520 9928
      3534 9936
TIME...MOT...LOC 0112Z 214DEG 23KT 3529 9929 

$$

WR
089 
WWUS54 KOUN 190138
SVSOUN
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
838 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

OKC149-190155-
/O.CAN.KOUN.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120319T0145Z/
WASHITA OK-
838 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR WESTERN WASHITA COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED BELOW SEVERE 
LIMITS AND EXITED THE WARNED AREA. THEREFORE THE WARNING HAS BEEN 
CANCELLED.  HOWEVER SMALL HAIL IS STILL POSSIBLE WITH THIS 
THUNDERSTORM.

IN ADDITION...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM REDEVELOPMENT REMAINS POSSIBLE...
AND A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT.

LAT...LON 3535 9934 3545 9926 3537 9902 3520 9928
      3534 9936
TIME...MOT...LOC 0132Z 217DEG 22KT 3529 9929 

$$

WR

The office that day

Everything else NWS Norman, OK issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 18, 7:27 PM CDTTornado WarningOUNBeckham, Greer33 min
Mar 18, 7:36 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNWashita24 min
Mar 18, 7:42 PM CDTTornado WarningOUNBeckham, Greer, Kiowa, Washita33 min
Mar 18, 10:03 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNRoger Mills27 min
Mar 18, 11:01 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNRoger Mills, Woodward29 min
Mar 19, 2:24 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNBeckham, Ellis, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Roger Mills51 min
Mar 19, 2:28 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNEllis, Harper32 min
Mar 19, 3:03 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNEllis, Harper27 min
Mar 19, 3:09 AM CDTFlash Flood WatchOUNAtoka, Bryan, Carter, Cleveland, Coal, Garvin and 13 more32 hr
Mar 19, 3:17 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNBeckham, Comanche, Custer, Dewey, Greer, Harmon and 5 more58 min
Mar 19, 3:35 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNDewey, Ellis, Harper, Major, Roger Mills, Woods and 1 more40 min
Mar 19, 3:59 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNAlfalfa, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Kingfisher, Major46 min
Mar 19, 4:35 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNAlfalfa, Blaine, Kingfisher, Major40 min
Mar 19, 5:17 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNGarfield, Grant, Kingfisher43 min
Mar 19, 6:03 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNKay, Logan, Noble57 min
Mar 19, 6:21 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNGarfield, Grant, Kay, Noble24 min
Mar 19, 7:06 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNKay24 min
Mar 19, 9:13 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNCotton47 min
Mar 19, 9:42 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNComanche, Cotton, Grady, Stephens48 min
Mar 19, 10:11 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryOUNCleveland, Oklahoma3 hr
Mar 19, 10:59 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNCleveland31 min
Mar 19, 11:22 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningOUNCanadian, Cleveland, Grady, Lincoln, Logan, McClain and 2 more6 hr
Mar 19, 12:06 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNSeminole24 min
Mar 19, 1:05 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryOUNStephens3 hr
Mar 19, 2:06 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningOUNPottawatomie, Seminole18 hr
Mar 19, 2:20 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNHughes25 min
Mar 19, 2:32 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNStephens28 min
Mar 19, 4:28 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNLove32 min
Mar 19, 4:57 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningOUNOklahoma4 hr
Mar 19, 5:11 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNJohnston, Marshall49 min
Mar 19, 6:39 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNHughes36 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Oklahoma, 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.