Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 16, NWS Blacksburg, VA

March 24, 20124 counties in Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this tornado warning at Mar 24, 2012, 6:25 PM EDT for 4 counties in Virginia. It was in force for 35 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 24, 2012, 6:25 PM EDT (22:25 UTC)
Expired
Mar 24, 2012, 7:00 PM EDT
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Amherst County, VA, Bedford County, VA, Campbell County, VA, City of Lynchburg, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 103 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:26 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 24, 6:25 PM EDTHAIL 11 Ese Green Meadows, VA
Mar 24, 6:45 PM EDTHAIL 1.5Thomas Terrace, VAHAIL UP TO WALNUT SIZE STARTED AT 645PM AND LASTED UNTIL 700PM
Mar 24, 6:54 PM EDTHAIL 0.881 Se Concord, VA

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 24, 12:46 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr
Mar 24, 3:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC5 hr
Mar 24, 3:38 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 10.4 hours before the alert went out and 33 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, Roanoke, VA at 12:00Z on 2012-03-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 250 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, Roanoke, VA at 12:00Z on 2012-03-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 45 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
250 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-9 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
519 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
45 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-13 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.

412 
WFUS51 KRNK 242225
TORRNK
VAC009-019-031-680-242300-
/O.NEW.KRNK.TO.W.0016.120324T2225Z-120324T2300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
625 PM EDT SAT MAR 24 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CITY OF LYNCHBURG IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  NORTHERN CAMPBELL COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  EASTERN BEDFORD COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  SOUTHERN AMHERST COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 700 PM EDT.

* AT 622 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR LYNCHBURG
  AIRPORT...OR NEAR EVINGTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  RUSTBURG...
  BOCOCK...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE RELAY YOUR SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE AT...1...8 6
6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4.

&&

LAT...LON 3720 7922 3731 7933 3740 7924 3741 7926
      3742 7925 3743 7927 3745 7926 3745 7925
      3747 7922 3746 7918 3747 7916 3737 7898
      3730 7895
TIME...MOT...LOC 2225Z 227DEG 23KT 3727 7918

$$

DS
2 follow-up statements
477 
WWUS51 KRNK 242241
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
641 PM EDT SAT MAR 24 2012

VAC009-019-680-242249-
/O.CAN.KRNK.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-120324T2300Z/
CITY OF LYNCHBURG VA-BEDFORD VA-AMHERST VA-
641 PM EDT SAT MAR 24 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR THE CITY OF LYNCHBURG... EASTERN BEDFORD
AND SOUTHERN AMHERST COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM THAT IS PRODUCING THE POTENTIAL TORNADO WILL REMAIN EAST 
OF THE CITY OF LYNCHBURG AND EASTERN BEDFORD COUNTY. THEREFORE...THE 
WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL AND 
GUSTY WINDS ARE STILL POSSIBLE IN THE CITY OF LYNCHBURG...ESPECIALLY 
THE EAST SIDE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

&&

LAT...LON 3726 7905 3734 7921 3734 7918 3738 7913
      3737 7912 3739 7909 3739 7907 3742 7907
      3738 7899 3730 7895
TIME...MOT...LOC 2239Z 232DEG 26KT 3733 7906

$$

VAC031-242300-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-120324T2300Z/
CAMPBELL VA-
641 PM EDT SAT MAR 24 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT FOR NORTHERN
CAMPBELL COUNTY...

AT 635 PM EDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR BOCOCK...OR NEAR RUSTBURG...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BOCOCK...
  CONCORD...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3726 7905 3734 7921 3734 7918 3738 7913
      3737 7912 3739 7909 3739 7907 3742 7907
      3738 7899 3730 7895
TIME...MOT...LOC 2239Z 232DEG 26KT 3733 7906

$$

DS
758 
WWUS51 KRNK 242255
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
655 PM EDT SAT MAR 24 2012

VAC031-242304-
/O.EXP.KRNK.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-120324T2300Z/
CAMPBELL VA-
655 PM EDT SAT MAR 24 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN CAMPBELL COUNTY EXPIRES AT 700 PM
EDT...

THE ROTATION WITHIN STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS DECREASED. 
THEREFORE...THE WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. 

LAT...LON 3726 7905 3734 7921 3734 7918 3738 7913
      3737 7912 3739 7909 3739 7907 3742 7907
      3738 7899 3730 7895
TIME...MOT...LOC 2254Z 232DEG 26KT 3740 7895

$$

DS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Blacksburg, VA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 24, 12:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGrayson, Wythe43 min
Mar 24, 1:21 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCarroll39 min
Mar 24, 1:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGrayson50 min
Mar 24, 1:28 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKWythe47 min
Mar 24, 1:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKGrayson, Smyth, Wythe60 min
Mar 24, 1:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBland, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe63 min
Mar 24, 2:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCarroll60 min
Mar 24, 2:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBland, Grayson, Pulaski, Smyth, Wythe53 min
Mar 24, 2:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBland, Tazewell60 min
Mar 24, 2:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCarroll, Grayson, Wythe, City of Galax56 min
Mar 24, 2:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCarroll, Grayson, City of Galax56 min
Mar 24, 2:44 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCarroll, Floyd, Patrick61 min
Mar 24, 2:52 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKCarroll, Patrick6 hr
Mar 24, 2:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBland, Giles, Pulaski, Wythe63 min
Mar 24, 3:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCarroll, Grayson, City of Galax64 min
Mar 24, 3:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPulaski30 min
Mar 24, 3:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlleghany, Craig, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski53 min
Mar 24, 3:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKFloyd, Franklin, Henry, Patrick66 min
Mar 24, 3:46 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKFloyd, Patrick29 min
Mar 24, 4:08 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCarroll, Patrick67 min
Mar 24, 4:15 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKFranklin, Patrick30 min
Mar 24, 4:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAlleghany34 min
Mar 24, 4:41 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKFranklin34 min
Mar 24, 4:48 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKPatrick42 min
Mar 24, 5:09 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKBedford, Franklin36 min
Mar 24, 5:17 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKFloyd, Patrick5 hr
Mar 24, 5:24 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKHenry, Patrick36 min
Mar 24, 5:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCarroll, Patrick55 min
Mar 24, 5:38 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBedford, Campbell, Pittsylvania67 min
Mar 24, 5:51 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKFranklin, Henry, City of Martinsville39 min
Mar 24, 6:05 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKCampbell25 min
Mar 24, 6:07 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKPatrick53 min
Mar 24, 6:16 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGrayson29 min
Mar 24, 6:19 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKPittsylvania41 min
Mar 24, 6:25 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKFranklin, Henry, Patrick4 hr
Mar 24, 6:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKHenry, City of Martinsville34 min
Mar 24, 6:46 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKAmherst, Bedford, Campbell, City of Lynchburg3 hr
Mar 24, 6:53 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAppomattox, Campbell37 min
Mar 24, 7:04 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKPittsylvania56 min
Mar 24, 7:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBuckingham30 min
Mar 24, 7:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCampbell, Charlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania81 min
Mar 24, 7:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBuckingham33 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 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.