Alert archive / West Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 5, NWS Charleston, WV

March 2, 2012Cabell County, Lincoln County, Wayne County, West Virginia; Lawrence County, Kentucky

NWS Charleston, WV issued this tornado warning at Mar 2, 2012, 6:27 PM EST for Cabell County, Lincoln County, Wayne County, West Virginia; Lawrence County, Kentucky. It was in force for 48 min. 9 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, 6:27 PM EST (23:27 UTC)
Expired
Mar 2, 2012, 7:15 PM EST
In force
48 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Lawrence County, KY, Cabell County, WV, Lincoln County, WV, Wayne County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 53 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:27 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, 6:30 PM ESTHAIL 1.75Louisa, KY
Mar 2, 6:30 PM ESTTORNADOLouisa, KY*** 2 FATAL *** CONFIRMED BY PHONE WITH EMERGENCY MANAGER VIA PHONE 0800 ON 03 03 2012.
Mar 2, 6:35 PM ESTHAIL 1.25Louisa, KY
Mar 2, 6:35 PM ESTHAIL 1.75Se Fort Gay, WV
Mar 2, 6:40 PM ESTTSTM WND DMG7 S East Lynn Lake, WVNUMEROUS TREES DOWN AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE BETWEEN DUNLOW WV AND KIAHSVILLE WV.
Mar 2, 6:41 PM ESTHAIL 1.75Fort Gay, WV
Mar 2, 6:50 PM ESTTSTM WND DMG5 Se East Lynn Lake, WVNUMEROUS TREES DOWN AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE BETWEEN DUNLOW WV AND KIAHSVILLE WV.
Mar 2, 6:55 PM ESTTORNADO1 N Dunlow, WVSURVEY TEAM CONFIRMED AN EF3 TORNADO MOVING FROM NEAR DUNLOW ON A PATH MOVING NEAR KIAHSVILLE AND ON TOWARD LINCOLN COUNTY. NUMEROUS BUILDINGS DAMAGED AND NUMEROUS TREES DOWN. RADAR TIMED 640PM TO 655PM IN WAYNE COUNTY.
Mar 2, 7:00 PM ESTTSTM WND DMG9 Ssw East Lynn Lake, WV4 HOUSES, 3 CARS DAMAGED IN DUNLOW, WV AND NUMEROUS TREES DOWN.

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, 4:19 PM ESTTornado Watch PDSSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Cncnati-Daytn, OH (KILN), launched 12:00Z, 11.5 hours before the alert went out and 195 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, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 2012-03-02Temperature 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, Cncnati-Daytn, OH at 12:00Z on 2012-03-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 217 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1876 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
78 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
217 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
254 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.

788 
WFUS51 KRLX 022327
TORRLX
KYC127-WVC011-043-099-030015-
/O.NEW.KRLX.TO.W.0005.120302T2327Z-120303T0015Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
627 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN LAWRENCE COUNTY IN KENTUCKY...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...YATESVILLE LAKE STATE PARK...
  LOUISA...
  SOUTH CENTRAL CABELL COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA...
  WESTERN LINCOLN COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF HAMLIN...
  CENTRAL WAYNE COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF WAYNE...

* UNTIL 715 PM EST

* AT 624 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
  A TORNADO 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF CHARLEY...OR NEAR BLAINE...MOVING
  EAST AT 55 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO FORT
  GAY...DUNLOW...EAST LYNN LAKE...KIAHSVILLE...RANGER...HARTS AND
  GILL.

.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

PLEASE REPORT TORNADOES...HAIL OR STRONG WINDS TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE...877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN DO
SO SAFELY.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST SATURDAY MORNING
FOR CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST OHIO AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND
CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3832 8208 3802 8199 3801 8205 3795 8272
      3815 8279
TIME...MOT...LOC 2327Z 256DEG 49KT 3803 8276

$$
1 follow-up statement
122 
WWUS51 KRLX 022347
SVSRLX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
647 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

WVC011-022357-
/O.CAN.KRLX.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120303T0015Z/
CABELL WV-
647 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL CABELL COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST SATURDAY MORNING
FOR CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST OHIO AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND
CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA.

PLEASE REPORT HAIL OR STRONG WINDS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

LAT...LON 3825 8230 3824 8229 3823 8227 3827 8224
      3832 8208 3802 8199 3801 8205 3801 8255
      3814 8262
TIME...MOT...LOC 2347Z 256DEG 49KT 3809 8242

$$

KYC127-WVC043-099-030015-
/O.CON.KRLX.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120303T0015Z/
LAWRENCE KY-LINCOLN WV-WAYNE WV-
647 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM EST FOR EAST
CENTRAL LAWRENCE COUNTY IN KENTUCKY...AND CENTRAL WAYNE AND WESTERN
LINCOLN COUNTIES IN WEST VIRGINIA...

AT 642 PM EST...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR GLENHAYES...OR 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LOUISA...MOVING EAST AT 55
MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO EAST
LYNN LAKE...EAST LYNN...KIAHSVILLE...RANGER...BRANCHLAND...HARTS...
GILL...MYRA...HAMLIN AND PALERMO

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST SATURDAY MORNING
FOR CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEAST OHIO AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND
CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA.

&&

PLEASE REPORT HAIL OR STRONG WINDS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

LAT...LON 3825 8230 3824 8229 3823 8227 3827 8224
      3832 8208 3802 8199 3801 8205 3801 8255
      3814 8262
TIME...MOT...LOC 2347Z 256DEG 49KT 3809 8242

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 2, 9:20 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementRLXLincoln, Logan, Mingo, Wayne55 min
Mar 2, 9:39 AM ESTFlash Flood WatchRLXBarbour, Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay and 22 more15 hr
Mar 2, 10:11 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementRLXLincoln, Logan, Mingo, Wayne64 min
Mar 2, 10:29 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBoone, Fayette, Kanawha, Logan, Raleigh, Wyoming46 min
Mar 2, 5:52 PM ESTTornado WarningRLXWayne38 min
Mar 2, 6:10 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXMason35 min
Mar 2, 6:23 PM ESTTornado WarningRLXCabell37 min
Mar 2, 6:29 PM ESTTornado WarningRLXWayne46 min
Mar 2, 6:38 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXJackson, Kanawha, Mason, Putnam, Roane, Wirt and 1 more52 min
Mar 2, 6:58 PM ESTTornado WarningRLXBoone, Kanawha, Lincoln47 min
Mar 2, 5:50 PM ESTTornado WarningRLXCarter, Greenup40 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in West Virginia, 2012Tornado Warnings in Kentucky, 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.