Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2012
Tornado Warning 14, NWS Raleigh, NC
NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at Sep 18, 2012, 3:38 PM EDT for Franklin County, Nash County, Wake County, North Carolina. It was in force for 14 min. 2 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
- Sep 18, 2012, 3:38 PM EDT (19:38 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 18, 2012, 3:52 PM EDT
- In force
- 14 min
- Issued by
- NWS Raleigh, NC
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
Counties Franklin County, NC, Nash County, NC, Wake County, NC
The radar
The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 33 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:41 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 3:38 PM EDT | TORNADO | 3 Nne Wendell, NC | AN NWS DAMAGE SURVEY THIS MORNING HAS CONCLUDED THAT A WEAK EF-0 TORNADO BRIEFLY TOUCHED DOWN TUESDAY AFTERNOON JUST WEST OF THE TOWN OF ZEBULON... NC. THE TORNADO DAMAGE WAS FOUND IN A STAND OF TREES AS A WELL-DEFINED DAMAGE PATH OF ABOUT ONE-HALF MILE LONG A |
| Sep 18, 3:42 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 4 Sw Pilot, NC | RESIDENT ON KARIAL COURT HEARD TORNADO WARNING AND SOUGHT SHELTER. UPON LEAVING SHELTER... 60-FOOT TREE ACROSS STREET WAS TOPPED AT ABOUT 30-FOOT LEVEL WITH BRANCHES BLOWN DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED. |
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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 9:45 AM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 7.6 hours before the alert went out and 156 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 533 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 545 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 35 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 221 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 313 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.5
- Supercell composite
- 4.1
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
408
WFUS52 KRAH 181938
TORRAH
NCC069-127-183-182015-
/O.NEW.KRAH.TO.W.0014.120918T1938Z-120918T2015Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
338 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
SOUTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
EAST CENTRAL WAKE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
NASH COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
* UNTIL 415 PM EDT
* AT 337 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO OVER WENDELL...OR 17 MILES EAST OF RALEIGH...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58
MPH ARE ALSO LIKELY WITH THIS STORM.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
PILOT...
BUNN...
SPRING HOPE...
CASTALIA...
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...VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS
AVAILABLE LIE DOWN IN A LOW LYING AREA. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING
DEBRIS.
IF CAUGHT IN A VEHICLE...AS A LAST RESORT...EITHER PARK YOUR VEHICLE
AND STAY PUT LEAVING YOUR SEAT BELT ON...OR ABANDON YOUR VEHICLE AND
LIE DOWN IN A LOW LYING AREA. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.
MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT TAKE SHELTER UNDER HIGHWAY OVERPASSES.
PLEASE REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING...1...8 7 7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2 OR NOTIFY YOUR LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EDT TUESDAY AFTERNOON
FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.
&&
LAT...LON 3590 7783 3575 7823 3577 7825 3580 7825
3581 7827 3576 7836 3575 7838 3585 7848
3617 7805
TIME...MOT...LOC 1938Z 230DEG 32KT 3584 7832
$$
ELLIS2 follow-up statements
854
WWUS52 KRAH 181947
SVSRAH
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
347 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012
NCC183-181956-
/O.CAN.KRAH.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-120918T2015Z/
WAKE NC-
347 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL WAKE COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA AND
THE WARNING IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.
IF YOU OBSERVED SEVERE WEATHER INCLUDING DAMAGING WINDS OR LARGE
HAIL...PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL
FREE 1...8 7 7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2...OR NOTIFY YOUR NEAREST LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN RALEIGH.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EDT TUESDAY AFTERNOON
FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.
LAT...LON 3590 7783 3575 7823 3577 7825 3584 7826
3587 7828 3590 7831 3589 7832 3591 7835
3593 7835 3593 7837 3617 7805
TIME...MOT...LOC 1946Z 230DEG 32KT 3589 7825
$$
NCC069-127-182015-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-120918T2015Z/
FRANKLIN NC-NASH NC-
347 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM EDT FOR NASH AND
SOUTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES...
AT 345 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR PILOT...OR 15
MILES SOUTH OF LOUISBURG...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. RADAR TRENDS
ARE WEAKENING AND WARNING COULD BE CANCELLED WITHIN A FEW MINUTES IF
CURRENT TRENDS CONTINUE.
HAZARDS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
A TORNADO.
OTHER DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MPH.
LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE... BUNN...SPRING HOPE...
NASHVILLE AND CASTALIA.
TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS
AVAILABLE LIE DOWN IN A LOW LYING AREA. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING
DEBRIS.
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. COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING
DEBRIS.
WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE CALL IN YOUR REPORTS OF PENNY OR
LARGER SIZED HAIL...AS WELL AS WIND DAMAGE...INCLUDING TREES OR LARGE
LIMBS DOWNED BY CALLING THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT...
1...8 7 7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EDT TUESDAY AFTERNOON
FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.
LAT...LON 3590 7783 3575 7823 3577 7825 3584 7826
3587 7828 3590 7831 3589 7832 3591 7835
3593 7835 3593 7837 3617 7805
TIME...MOT...LOC 1946Z 230DEG 32KT 3589 7825
$$
ELLIS125
WWUS52 KRAH 181952
SVSRAH
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
352 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012
NCC069-127-182002-
/O.CAN.KRAH.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-120918T2015Z/
FRANKLIN NC-NASH NC-
352 PM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NASH AND SOUTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES IS
CANCELLED...
THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED AND THE WARNING IS
NO LONGER IN EFFECT.
IF YOU OBSERVED SEVERE WEATHER INCLUDING DAMAGING WINDS OR LARGE
HAIL...PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL
FREE 1...8 7 7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2...OR NOTIFY YOUR NEAREST LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN RALEIGH.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EDT TUESDAY AFTERNOON
FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.
LAT...LON 3590 7783 3575 7823 3577 7825 3584 7826
3587 7828 3590 7831 3589 7832 3591 7835
3593 7835 3593 7837 3617 7805
TIME...MOT...LOC 1952Z 230DEG 32KT 3592 7820
$$
ELLISThe office that day
Everything else NWS Raleigh, NC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 17, 8:32 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Davie | 58 min |
| Sep 17, 10:33 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Forsyth | 27 min |
| Sep 18, 6:52 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Anson, Stanly | 38 min |
| Sep 18, 7:46 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Anson, Montgomery, Richmond, Stanly | 89 min |
| Sep 18, 8:04 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Davidson, Guilford, Randolph | 86 min |
| Sep 18, 8:34 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Montgomery | 56 min |
| Sep 18, 8:56 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Alamance, Chatham, Guilford, Randolph | 94 min |
| Sep 18, 9:34 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Alamance, Chatham, Orange | 56 min |
| Sep 18, 10:45 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Durham, Granville, Person, Vance | 45 min |
| Sep 18, 11:35 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Orange | 40 min |
| Sep 18, 11:52 AM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | RAH | Alamance, Chatham, Randolph | 2 hr |
| Sep 18, 12:03 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Granville, Orange | 57 min |
| Sep 18, 12:14 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Chatham | 31 min |
| Sep 18, 12:50 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Person | 25 min |
| Sep 18, 12:55 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Anson, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Scotland | 65 min |
| Sep 18, 1:29 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Granville | 46 min |
| Sep 18, 1:37 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Granville, Vance | 53 min |
| Sep 18, 1:40 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Franklin, Halifax, Warren | 35 min |
| Sep 18, 1:47 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Chatham, Harnett, Hoke, Lee | 58 min |
| Sep 18, 2:27 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Alamance, Chatham, Orange, Randolph | 63 min |
| Sep 18, 2:37 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RAH | Granville | 21 min |
| Sep 18, 2:40 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Cumberland, Harnett, Johnston | 65 min |
| Sep 18, 2:43 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Franklin, Wake | 62 min |
| Sep 18, 2:51 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Harnett, Johnston, Wake | 54 min |
| Sep 18, 3:04 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | RAH | Wake | 2 hr |
| Sep 18, 3:13 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Chatham, Durham, Granville, Vance | 32 min |
| Sep 18, 3:19 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RAH | Cumberland, Harnett, Johnston, Sampson | 41 min |
| Sep 18, 3:24 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | RAH | Cumberland, Johnston, Sampson | 23 min |
| Sep 18, 3:27 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Warren | 33 min |
| Sep 18, 3:37 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RAH | Wake | 93 min |
| Sep 18, 3:52 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Johnston, Wilson | 53 min |
| Sep 18, 3:56 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Halifax, Nash | 64 min |
| Sep 18, 5:01 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RAH | Halifax | 44 min |
| Sep 18, 5:09 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | RAH | Halifax | 85 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 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.