Alert archive / Kentucky / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 14, NWS Paducah, KY

February 29, 2012Ballard County, McCracken County, Kentucky; Massac County, Pulaski County, Illinois

NWS Paducah, KY issued this tornado warning at Feb 29, 2012, 5:14 AM CST for Ballard County, McCracken County, Kentucky; Massac County, Pulaski County, Illinois. It was in force for 31 min. 7 reports 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
Feb 29, 2012, 5:14 AM CST (11:14 UTC)
Expired
Feb 29, 2012, 5:45 AM CST
In force
31 min
Issued by
NWS Paducah, KY
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Massac County, IL, Pulaski County, IL, Ballard County, KY, McCracken County, KY

The radar

The Paducah radar (KPAH), 15 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:15 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
Feb 29, 5:16 AM CSTTSTM WND DMGLa Center, KYPOWER POLE SNAPPED AND LAYING ACROSS A MOBILE HOME. INDIVIDUALS TRAPPED INSIDE. WIND GUSTS ESTIMATED 60 MPH. NO INJURIES REPORTED AT THIS TIME.
Feb 29, 5:18 AM CSTTSTM WND DMGBandana, KYLATE REPORT...POSSIBLE TORNADO. DAMAGE PATH BETWEEN BANDANA AND RAGSDALE. 1 MOBILE HOME AND 1 FARM DESTROYED NEAR BANDANA. 1 MOBILE HOME DESTORYED IN RAGSDALE ALONG OSCAR TURNER ROAD.
Feb 29, 5:20 AM CSTTSTM WND DMGRagland, KYMOBILE HOME DESTORYED ALONG OGDEN LANDING ROAD. LATE REPORT.
Feb 29, 5:20 AM CSTTSTM WND DMGWest Paducah, KYMOBILE HOME DESTORYED ALONG OGDEN LANDING ROAD. LATE REPORT.
Feb 29, 5:25 AM CSTTSTM WND GST 60Round Knob, IL60 PLUS MPH WINDS REPORTED AND DIME SIZE HAIL
Feb 29, 5:35 AM CSTTORNADOMetropolis, ILOFFICE OF EM REPORTING TORNADO NEAR METROPOLIS ILLINOIS. SEEING POWER FLASHES FROM TRANSFORMERS ALSO.
Feb 29, 5:40 AM CSTTSTM WND DMGOscar, KYA FEW BARNS AND A MACHINE SHED BLOWN DOWN. PORCH BLOWN OFF OF HOME.

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
Feb 29, 1:14 AM CSTTornado WatchSPC11 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 00:00Z, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 232 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 00:00Z on 2012-02-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 00:00Z on 2012-02-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 171 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1873 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
171 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
309 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

906 
WFUS53 KPAH 291114
TORPAH
ILC127-153-KYC007-145-291145-
/O.NEW.KPAH.TO.W.0014.120229T1114Z-120229T1145Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
514 AM CST WED FEB 29 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PADUCAH HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  MASSAC COUNTY IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...
  EAST CENTRAL PULASKI COUNTY IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...
  NORTHERN BALLARD COUNTY IN WESTERN KENTUCKY...
  NORTHERN MCCRACKEN COUNTY IN WESTERN KENTUCKY...

* UNTIL 545 AM CST.

* AT 510 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS
  STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF LA CENTER...AND MOVING EAST
  AT 55 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNED AREA INCLUDE...
  METROPOLIS...WEST PADUCAH...BROOKPORT...KEVIL AND JOPPA.

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...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

TORNADOES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 3722 8907 3729 8864 3727 8862 3709 8856
      3706 8908
TIME...MOT...LOC 1114Z 263DEG 48KT 3715 8898

$$
2 follow-up statements
536 
WWUS53 KPAH 291127
SVSPAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
527 AM CST WED FEB 29 2012

KYC007-291137-
/O.CAN.KPAH.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-120229T1145Z/
BALLARD KY-
527 AM CST WED FEB 29 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN BALLARD COUNTY IN WESTERN
KENTUCKY IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED 
AREA.

LAT...LON 3711 8886 3726 8884 3729 8865 3726 8862
      3714 8858
TIME...MOT...LOC 1127Z 258DEG 49KT 3719 8874

$$

ILC127-KYC145-291145-
/O.CON.KPAH.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-120229T1145Z/
MASSAC IL-MCCRACKEN KY-
527 AM CST WED FEB 29 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL MASSAC COUNTY IN
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...AND NORTH CENTRAL MCCRACKEN COUNTY IN WESTERN
KENTUCKY UNTIL 545 AM CST...

AT 524 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR METROPOLIS...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

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...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

TORNADOES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 3711 8886 3726 8884 3729 8865 3726 8862
      3714 8858
TIME...MOT...LOC 1127Z 258DEG 49KT 3719 8874

$$
693 
WWUS53 KPAH 291134
SVSPAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
534 AM CST WED FEB 29 2012

ILC127-KYC145-291144-
/O.CAN.KPAH.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-120229T1145Z/
MASSAC IL-MCCRACKEN KY-
534 AM CST WED FEB 29 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL MASSAC COUNTY IN SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS...AND NORTH CENTRAL MCCRACKEN COUNTY IN WESTERN KENTUCKY IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED BELOW SEVERE
LIMITS...AND NO LONGER POSES AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO LIFE OR
PROPERTY...HOWEVER SMALL HAIL IS STILL POSSIBLE WITH THIS
THUNDERSTORM.

LAT...LON 3711 8886 3726 8884 3729 8865 3726 8862
      3714 8858
TIME...MOT...LOC 1134Z 258DEG 49KT 3720 8862

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Paducah, KY issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 29, 4:46 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHBallard29 min
Feb 29, 5:04 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHHenderson, Union26 min
Feb 29, 5:16 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHBallard, Carlisle29 min
Feb 29, 5:23 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHFulton37 min
Feb 29, 5:31 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHHenderson, Union29 min
Feb 29, 5:46 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHCaldwell, Crittenden, Livingston29 min
Feb 29, 5:50 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHBallard, Livingston, McCracken16 min
Feb 29, 5:54 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHCarlisle, Hickman15 min
Feb 29, 5:56 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHDaviess, Henderson34 min
Feb 29, 5:59 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHCaldwell, Crittenden, Livingston31 min
Feb 29, 5:59 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHHenderson31 min
Feb 29, 6:17 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHCaldwell, Crittenden, Hopkins, Webster28 min
Feb 29, 6:22 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHDaviess, Henderson, McLean38 min
Feb 29, 6:28 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHDaviess17 min
Feb 29, 6:34 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHHopkins, McLean, Muhlenberg26 min
Feb 29, 6:58 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHMcLean, Muhlenberg17 min
Feb 29, 7:01 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHGraves, Livingston, Lyon, McCracken, Marshall44 min
Feb 29, 7:06 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHFulton24 min
Feb 29, 7:20 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHHopkins, McLean, Muhlenberg25 min
Feb 29, 7:29 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHFulton31 min
Feb 29, 7:35 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHCaldwell, Calloway, Graves, Lyon, Marshall, Trigg25 min
Feb 29, 7:58 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHMcLean, Muhlenberg17 min
Feb 29, 8:02 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHCaldwell, Christian, Hopkins, Lyon, Trigg28 min
Feb 29, 8:19 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHCaldwell, Christian, Trigg26 min
Feb 29, 8:44 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHChristian, Todd46 min
Feb 29, 8:50 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHMuhlenberg25 min
Feb 29, 8:59 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHCalloway, Marshall, Trigg31 min
Feb 29, 9:19 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHCaldwell, Christian, Hopkins, Lyon, Muhlenberg, Todd and 1 more26 min
Feb 29, 9:24 AM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPAHCalloway6 hr
Feb 29, 9:27 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHCaldwell, Christian, Trigg33 min
Feb 29, 9:50 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHChristian, Todd25 min
Feb 29, 9:54 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningPAHCalloway, Marshall, Trigg6 hr
Feb 29, 9:58 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHChristian, Trigg32 min
Feb 29, 10:14 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHChristian, Muhlenberg, Todd11 min
Feb 29, 10:19 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningPAHChristian, Todd6 hr
Feb 29, 10:21 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHCalloway, Marshall, Trigg24 min
Feb 29, 10:31 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHChristian, Muhlenberg, Todd29 min
Feb 29, 11:17 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHMuhlenberg28 min
Feb 29, 11:28 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHTodd20 min
Feb 28, 10:36 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHGallatin, White24 min
Feb 29, 3:43 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHUnion32 min
Feb 29, 4:08 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHJackson, Johnson, Union, Williamson22 min
Feb 29, 4:25 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHJackson, Johnson, Saline, Union, Williamson35 min
Feb 29, 4:43 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHGallatin, Saline, Williamson32 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Kentucky, 2012Tornado Warnings in Illinois, 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.