Alert archive / Kentucky / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 47, NWS Paducah, KY

March 2, 20124 counties in Kentucky; Hardin County, Illinois

NWS Paducah, KY issued this tornado warning at Mar 2, 2012, 1:54 PM CST for 4 counties in Kentucky; Hardin County, Illinois. It was in force for 36 min. 3 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
Mar 2, 2012, 1:54 PM CST (19:54 UTC)
Expired
Mar 2, 2012, 2:30 PM CST
In force
36 min
Issued by
NWS Paducah, KY
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Hardin County, IL, Crittenden County, KY, Hopkins County, KY, Union County, KY, Webster County, KY

The radar

The Paducah radar (KPAH), 89 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:57 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, 2:04 PM CSTFUNNEL CLOUDClay, KYREPORTED BETWEEN THE COMMUNITIES OF CLAY AND DIXON ALONG HWY 132.
Mar 2, 2:08 PM CSTHAIL 1.75Clay, KYGOLF BALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED.
Mar 2, 2:10 PM CSTTORNADOClay, KYVERY LARGE TORNADO REPORTED BY STORM CHASER JUST OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY OF CLAY.

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, 9:54 AM CSTTornado Watch PDSSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 185 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 12:00Z on 2012-03-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1667 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 2012-03-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 175 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
1667 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-25 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
523 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
68 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
175 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
169 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
6.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

810 
WFUS53 KPAH 021954
TORPAH
ILC069-KYC055-107-225-233-022030-
/O.NEW.KPAH.TO.W.0047.120302T1954Z-120302T2030Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
154 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PADUCAH HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EAST CENTRAL HARDIN COUNTY IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...
  NORTHEASTERN CRITTENDEN COUNTY IN WESTERN KENTUCKY...
  NORTH CENTRAL HOPKINS COUNTY IN NORTHWEST KENTUCKY...
  SOUTHEASTERN UNION COUNTY IN NORTHWEST KENTUCKY...
  WEBSTER COUNTY IN NORTHWEST KENTUCKY...

* UNTIL 230 PM CST.

* AT 152 PM CST...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO 7 MILES
  SOUTH OF STURGIS. DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS TORNADO MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNED AREA INCLUDE...
  STURGIS...PROVIDENCE...CLAY...DIXON...WHEATCROFT AND NEBO.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3734 8806 3750 8815 3764 8764 3740 8749
TIME...MOT...LOC 1954Z 247DEG 53KT 3746 8798

$$
2 follow-up statements
534 
WWUS53 KPAH 022004
SVSPAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
204 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

ILC069-KYC055-225-022014-
/O.CAN.KPAH.TO.W.0047.000000T0000Z-120302T2030Z/
HARDIN IL-UNION KY-CRITTENDEN KY-
204 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL HARDIN COUNTY IN SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS...AND SOUTHEASTERN UNION COUNTY IN NORTHWEST KENTUCKY...AND
NORTHEASTERN CRITTENDEN COUNTY IN WESTERN KENTUCKY IS CANCELLED...

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

LAT...LON 3740 8749 3739 8782 3752 8789 3758 8781
      3764 8764
TIME...MOT...LOC 2004Z 247DEG 53KT 3750 8779

$$

KYC107-233-022030-
/O.CON.KPAH.TO.W.0047.000000T0000Z-120302T2030Z/
WEBSTER KY-HOPKINS KY-
204 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTH CENTRAL HOPKINS AND
CENTRAL WEBSTER COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST KENTUCKY UNTIL 230 PM CST...

AT 201 PM CST...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD. 
THE FUNNEL CLOUD WAS LOCATED NEAR CLAY...OR 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF 
PROVIDENCE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3740 8749 3739 8782 3752 8789 3758 8781
      3764 8764
TIME...MOT...LOC 2004Z 247DEG 53KT 3750 8779

$$
681 
WWUS53 KPAH 022011
SVSPAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
211 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

KYC107-233-022030-
/O.CON.KPAH.TO.W.0047.000000T0000Z-120302T2030Z/
WEBSTER KY-HOPKINS KY-
211 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTH CENTRAL HOPKINS AND
CENTRAL WEBSTER COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST KENTUCKY UNTIL 230 PM CST...

AT 206 PM CST...THE PUBLIC REPORTED A LARGE TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO 
WAS LOCATED NEAR CLAY...OR 8 MILES NORTH OF PROVIDENCE...MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3740 8749 3741 8777 3754 8785 3757 8782
      3758 8780 3764 8764
TIME...MOT...LOC 2011Z 247DEG 53KT 3753 8763

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 2, 1:30 AM CSTWind AdvisoryPAHBallard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden and 16 more19 hr
Mar 2, 6:16 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHTodd14 min
Mar 2, 12:42 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHBallard33 min
Mar 2, 1:23 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHCrittenden, Livingston22 min
Mar 2, 1:26 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHBallard, Carlisle, Graves, McCracken34 min
Mar 2, 1:28 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHHenderson, Union32 min
Mar 2, 1:38 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHGraves, Livingston, McCracken, Marshall37 min
Mar 2, 1:49 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHCrittenden, Livingston, Lyon, McCracken, Marshall26 min
Mar 2, 1:55 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHDaviess, Henderson50 min
Mar 2, 1:58 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHFulton, Hickman18 min
Mar 2, 2:12 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHDaviess, Hopkins, McLean, Webster33 min
Mar 2, 2:15 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHCaldwell, Crittenden, Hopkins, Lyon30 min
Mar 2, 2:27 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHCalloway, Graves, Marshall33 min
Mar 2, 2:39 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHDaviess12 min
Mar 2, 2:44 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHHopkins, McLean, Muhlenberg19 min
Mar 2, 2:48 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHCaldwell, Lyon, Trigg27 min
Mar 2, 3:06 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHCaldwell, Christian, Trigg24 min
Mar 2, 3:21 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHChristian, Muhlenberg, Todd39 min
Mar 2, 3:30 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHMuhlenberg, Todd30 min
Mar 2, 3:50 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHChristian, Todd25 min
Mar 2, 11:12 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHFranklin, Jackson, Williamson33 min
Mar 2, 11:33 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHFranklin, Jackson, Williamson42 min
Mar 2, 11:37 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHFranklin, Hamilton, Saline23 min
Mar 2, 11:44 AM CSTTornado WarningPAHFranklin, Hamilton, Saline, Williamson31 min
Mar 2, 12:02 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHEdwards, Hamilton, White28 min
Mar 2, 12:03 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHAlexander, Pulaski, Union42 min
Mar 2, 12:07 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHHamilton, White38 min
Mar 2, 12:29 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHWabash, White46 min
Mar 2, 12:39 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHJohnson, Union36 min
Mar 2, 12:53 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHJohnson, Pope22 min
Mar 2, 12:58 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHWhite24 min
Mar 2, 1:09 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHMassac, Pulaski20 min
Mar 2, 1:11 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHGallatin, Hardin, Pope, Saline34 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.