Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Raleigh, NC

May 1, 20124 counties in North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at May 1, 2012, 6:14 PM EDT for 4 counties in North Carolina. It was in force for 31 min. 6 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
May 1, 2012, 6:14 PM EDT (22:14 UTC)
Expired
May 1, 2012, 6:45 PM EDT
In force
31 min
Issued by
NWS Raleigh, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Durham County, NC, Granville County, NC, Orange County, NC, Wake County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 53 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:14 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
May 1, 6:15 PM EDTHAIL 14 Ese Schley, NCQUARTER SIZE HAIL CURRENTLY FALLING IN NORTHEAST HILLSBOROUGH.
May 1, 6:24 PM EDTHAIL 15 Sw Bahama, NC1 INCH HAIL COVERING THE GROUND AT OAK FOREST ROAD DR AND GUESS ROAD.
May 1, 6:26 PM EDTHAIL 15 Ssw Bahama, NCQUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED AT BARCLAY DRIVE AND SMITH DRIVE
May 1, 6:26 PM EDTHAIL 1.54 Sw Bahama, NC1.5 INCH HAIL COVERING THE GROUND NEAR GUESS ROAD AND MILTON ROAD
May 1, 6:35 PM EDTHAIL 14 S Bahama, NCQUARTER SIZE HAIL AT CABIN BRANCH DRIVE AND VINTAGE HILL PARKWAY
May 1, 6:51 PM EDTHAIL 11 Nne Gorman, NC

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
May 1, 3:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 10.2 hours before the alert went out and 97 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 12:00Z on 2012-05-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 6 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 12:00Z on 2012-05-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 144 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
6 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-386 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1318 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
144 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
137 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

561 
WFUS52 KRAH 012214
TORRAH
NCC063-077-135-183-012245-
/O.NEW.KRAH.TO.W.0002.120501T2214Z-120501T2245Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
614 PM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  DURHAM COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  SOUTHWESTERN GRANVILLE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  NORTHEASTERN ORANGE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  NORTH CENTRAL WAKE COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 645 PM EDT

* AT 610 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  TORNADO OVER SCHLEY...OR 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF HILLSBOROUGH...MOVING
  SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH. TWO INCH DIAMETER HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS
  IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH ARE ALSO LIKELY WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BAHAMA...
  DURHAM...
  GORMAN...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 85 BETWEEN EXITS 170 AND 184.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 540 BETWEEN EXITS 2 AND 11.

THIS INCLUDES THE DURHAM FREEWAY BETWEEN EXITS 6 AND 16.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY HIDE THIS TORNADO MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. DO
NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

PLEASE REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
FORECAST OFFICE IN RALEIGH.

&&

LAT...LON 3599 7852 3580 7872 3613 7915 3624 7903
      3624 7896
TIME...MOT...LOC 2214Z 310DEG 21KT 3614 7898

$$

WSS
3 follow-up statements
558 
WWUS52 KRAH 012229
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
629 PM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

NCC135-012237-
/O.CAN.KRAH.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120501T2245Z/
ORANGE NC-
629 PM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN ORANGE 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 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3599 7852 3580 7872 3601 7899 3624 7895
TIME...MOT...LOC 2227Z 311DEG 24KT 3608 7892

$$

NCC063-077-183-012245-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120501T2245Z/
DURHAM NC-GRANVILLE NC-WAKE NC-
629 PM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM EDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL WAKE...SOUTHWESTERN GRANVILLE AND DURHAM COUNTIES...

AT 629 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
BAHAMA...OR 8 MILES NORTH OF DURHAM...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

HAZARDS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
A TORNADO.
TWO INCH DIAMETER HAIL.
OTHER DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE... GORMAN...RDU
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND BETHESDA.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 85 BETWEEN EXITS 172 AND 184.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 540 BETWEEN EXITS 2 AND 11.

THIS INCLUDES THE DURHAM FREEWAY BETWEEN EXITS 6 AND 16.

SEVERAL SIGHTINGS OF FUNNEL CLOUDS HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS
STORM. TAKE COVER NOW! IF A BASEMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE...MOVE TO AN
INTERIOR ROOM OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS 
AND EXTERIOR WALLS. LARGE...DAMAGING HAIL UP TO ONE AND ONE HALF 
INCHES WAS ALSO RECENTLY REPORTED 4 MILES NORTH OF THE CITY OF 
DURHAM.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3599 7852 3580 7872 3601 7899 3624 7895
TIME...MOT...LOC 2227Z 311DEG 24KT 3608 7892

$$

MWS
060 
WWUS52 KRAH 012239
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
639 PM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

NCC063-077-183-012245-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120501T2245Z/
DURHAM NC-GRANVILLE NC-WAKE NC-
639 PM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM EDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL WAKE...SOUTHWESTERN GRANVILLE AND EASTERN DURHAM COUNTIES...

AT 637 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR GORMAN...OR 7 
MILES NORTHEAST OF DURHAM...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH. 


HAZARDS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
A TORNADO.
GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL.
OTHER DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF THE
INDICATED COUNTIES.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 85 BETWEEN EXITS 177 AND 189.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 540 BETWEEN EXITS 3 AND 11.

IF YOU OBSERVED A TORNADO...DAMAGING WINDS...OR LARGE HAIL...PLEASE
NOTIFY YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR
REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN RALEIGH.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3606 7893 3618 7885 3599 7852 3580 7872
TIME...MOT...LOC 2237Z 311DEG 24KT 3605 7883

$$

WSS
382 
WWUS52 KRAH 012243
SVSRAH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
643 PM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

NCC063-077-183-012253-
/O.EXP.KRAH.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120501T2245Z/
DURHAM NC-GRANVILLE NC-WAKE NC-
643 PM EDT TUE MAY 1 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL WAKE...SOUTHWESTERN
GRANVILLE AND EASTERN DURHAM COUNTIES EXPIRES AT 645 PM EDT...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED AND THE WARNING 
WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. 

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 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3606 7893 3618 7885 3599 7852 3580 7872
TIME...MOT...LOC 2243Z 311DEG 24KT 3604 7882

$$

WSS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Raleigh, NC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 30, 10:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHForsyth58 min
May 1, 3:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHForsyth, Guilford35 min
May 1, 4:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHGranville, Person, Vance, Warren80 min
May 1, 4:52 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHForsyth38 min
May 1, 5:10 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHDavidson, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph80 min
May 1, 5:17 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHHalifax, Warren58 min
May 1, 5:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHFranklin, Vance58 min
May 1, 5:37 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHDurham53 min
May 1, 5:46 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHDurham, Granville, Orange, Person, Wake44 min
May 1, 6:21 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHEdgecombe54 min
May 1, 6:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHDurham, Franklin, Granville, Wake36 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.