Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 18, NWS Blacksburg, VA

June 1, 20124 counties in Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this tornado warning at Jun 1, 2012, 5:08 PM EDT for 4 counties in Virginia. It was in force for 40 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: Jun 1, 2012, 5:08 PM EDT (21:08 UTC)
Expired: Jun 1, 2012, 5:48 PM EDT
In force: 40 min
Issued by: NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Amherst County, VA, City of Buena Vista, VA, City of Lexington, VA, Rockbridge County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 119 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:10 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
Jun 1, 5:31 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 E Buena Vista City, VA	TREE DOWN ON ROUTE 60W
Jun 1, 5:31 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 W Buena Vista City, VA	SMALL TREE DOWN ON WESLEY CHAPEL ROAD

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
Jun 1, 1:28 PM EDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 66 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 347 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -5 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 528 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 162 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 193 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.3
Supercell composite: 2.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

439 
WFUS51 KRNK 012108
TORRNK
VAC009-163-530-678-012200-
/O.NEW.KRNK.TO.W.0018.120601T2108Z-120601T2200Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
508 PM EDT FRI JUN 1 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  CITY OF BUENA VISTA IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  CITY OF LEXINGTON IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  NORTHWESTERN AMHERST COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 600 PM EDT.

* AT 505 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR GLASGOW...
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  GLASGOW...
  BUENA VISTA CITY...
  CORNWALL...
  FAIRFIELD...
  BROWNSBURG...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO. CARS ARE EASILY
TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADO WINDS. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF A
TORNADO...LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING. IF NO SAFE
STRUCTURE IS NEARBY...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER
YOUR HEAD.

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST
WEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3784 7915 3783 7915 3761 7944 3761 7946
      3771 7956 3798 7933
TIME...MOT...LOC 2109Z 226DEG 29KT 3771 7946

$$

SK

4 follow-up statements

033 
WWUS51 KRNK 012118
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
518 PM EDT FRI JUN 1 2012

VAC009-012128-
/O.CAN.KRNK.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-120601T2200Z/
AMHERST VA-
518 PM EDT FRI JUN 1 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN AMHERST COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST
WEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3784 7915 3783 7915 3779 7921 3782 7923
      3779 7927 3778 7927 3774 7930 3768 7941
      3774 7947 3798 7933
TIME...MOT...LOC 2118Z 230DEG 27KT 3774 7939

$$

VAC163-530-678-012200-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-120601T2200Z/
ROCKBRIDGE VA-CITY OF BUENA VISTA VA-CITY OF LEXINGTON VA-
518 PM EDT FRI JUN 1 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EDT FOR THE CITY
OF BUENA VISTA...THE CITY OF LEXINGTON... EASTERN ROCKBRIDGE
COUNTY...

AT 515 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BUENA VISTA
CITY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BUENA VISTA CITY...
  CORNWALL...
  FAIRFIELD...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

DO NOT USE HIGHWAY OVERPASSES FOR SHELTER. OVERPASSES DO NOT PROVIDE
PROTECTION FROM TORNADIC WINDS. VEHICLES STOPPED UNDER BRIDGES BLOCK
TRAFFIC AND PREVENT PEOPLE FROM GETTING OUT OF THE STORM'S PATH AND
TO SHELTER. IF YOU CANNOT DRIVE AWAY FROM THE TORNADO...GET OUT OF
YOUR VEHICLE AND LIE FLAT IN A DITCH AS A LAST RESORT.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST
WEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3784 7915 3783 7915 3779 7921 3782 7923
      3779 7927 3778 7927 3774 7930 3768 7941
      3774 7947 3798 7933
TIME...MOT...LOC 2118Z 230DEG 27KT 3774 7939

$$

SK

950 
WWUS51 KRNK 012128
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
528 PM EDT FRI JUN 1 2012

VAC678-012138-
/O.CAN.KRNK.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-120601T2200Z/
CITY OF LEXINGTON VA-
528 PM EDT FRI JUN 1 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR THE CITY OF LEXINGTON... IS CANCELLED...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST
WEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3784 7915 3783 7915 3779 7921 3782 7923
      3779 7927 3778 7928 3774 7935 3779 7941
      3797 7932
TIME...MOT...LOC 2128Z 230DEG 27KT 3779 7932

$$

VAC163-530-012200-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-120601T2200Z/
ROCKBRIDGE VA-CITY OF BUENA VISTA VA-
528 PM EDT FRI JUN 1 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EDT FOR THE CITY
OF BUENA VISTA... EASTERN ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY...

AT 524 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR CORNWALL...OR NEAR
BUENA VISTA CITY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CORNWALL...
  FAIRFIELD...
  BROWNSBURG...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST
WEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3784 7915 3783 7915 3779 7921 3782 7923
      3779 7927 3778 7928 3774 7935 3779 7941
      3797 7932
TIME...MOT...LOC 2128Z 230DEG 27KT 3779 7932

$$

SK

870 
WWUS51 KRNK 012138
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
538 PM EDT FRI JUN 1 2012

VAC530-012147-
/O.CAN.KRNK.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-120601T2200Z/
CITY OF BUENA VISTA VA-
538 PM EDT FRI JUN 1 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR THE CITY OF BUENA VISTA... IS CANCELLED...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST
WEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3795 7929 3784 7915 3783 7915 3779 7921
      3782 7923 3778 7928 3777 7931 3782 7936
TIME...MOT...LOC 2137Z 230DEG 27KT 3783 7925

$$

VAC163-012200-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-120601T2200Z/
ROCKBRIDGE VA-
538 PM EDT FRI JUN 1 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EDT FOR EASTERN
ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY...

AT 533 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR CORNWALL...OR 7
MILES NORTHEAST OF BUENA VISTA CITY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CORNWALL...
  FAIRFIELD...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

POLICE SCANNER REPORTS MENTIONED A LARGE TREE DOWN ON INTERSTATE 81 
NEAR HIGHWAY 60.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST
WEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3795 7929 3784 7915 3783 7915 3779 7921
      3782 7923 3778 7928 3777 7931 3782 7936
TIME...MOT...LOC 2137Z 230DEG 27KT 3783 7925

$$

SK

550 
WWUS51 KRNK 012148
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
548 PM EDT FRI JUN 1 2012

VAC163-012159-
/O.CAN.KRNK.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-120601T2200Z/
ROCKBRIDGE VA-
548 PM EDT FRI JUN 1 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

THE TORNADO THREAT FOR THE WARNED AREA HAS ENDED. THE THUNDERSTORM
PRODUCING THE TORNADO HAS WEAKENED AND MOVED OUT OF THE WARNING AREA.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...TV OR YOUR LOCAL NEW SOURCE FOR
THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION. REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER OR STORM
RELATED DAMAGE TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND ASK THEM TO
IMMEDIATELY RELAY THE REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
BLACKSBURG.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST
WEST VIRGINIA.

LAT...LON 3795 7929 3784 7915 3783 7915 3779 7921
      3782 7923 3778 7928 3777 7931 3782 7936
TIME...MOT...LOC 2149Z 230DEG 27KT 3789 7916

$$

SK

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 31, 8:21 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Botetourt	24 min
Jun 1, 1:00 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	City of Lynchburg	30 min
Jun 1, 1:18 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Bland, Smyth, Tazewell	117 min
Jun 1, 1:29 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Amherst	31 min
Jun 1, 1:40 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Amherst	38 min
Jun 1, 1:53 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Amherst	24 min
Jun 1, 2:33 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Bedford	27 min
Jun 1, 2:48 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Amherst, Appomattox, Buckingham, Campbell	24 min
Jun 1, 2:56 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Appomattox	34 min
Jun 1, 3:05 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Campbell, City of Lynchburg	35 min
Jun 1, 3:16 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Bland, Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe	29 min
Jun 1, 3:28 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Buckingham	32 min
Jun 1, 3:45 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Bland, Grayson, Wythe	30 min
Jun 1, 3:46 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Buckingham	44 min
Jun 1, 4:00 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Appomattox, Charlotte	30 min
Jun 1, 4:14 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Carroll, Giles, Pulaski, City of Galax, City of Radford	31 min
Jun 1, 4:25 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Bedford	65 min
Jun 1, 4:32 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Bedford	58 min
Jun 1, 4:36 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Buckingham	24 min
Jun 1, 4:44 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Craig, Montgomery, Roanoke, City of Radford	31 min
Jun 1, 4:45 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Carroll	30 min
Jun 1, 4:46 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Floyd	29 min
Jun 1, 4:58 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Halifax	32 min
Jun 1, 5:13 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Craig, Roanoke, City of Roanoke, City of Salem	32 min
Jun 1, 5:15 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Botetourt	30 min
Jun 1, 5:38 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Bedford, Botetourt, Roanoke, City of Roanoke	37 min
Jun 1, 5:52 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington	38 min
Jun 1, 6:02 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Patrick	28 min
Jun 1, 6:14 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Amherst, Bedford, Campbell, City of Lynchburg	31 min
Jun 1, 6:17 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Henry, City of Martinsville	28 min
Jun 1, 6:44 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	City of Martinsville	31 min
Jun 1, 7:13 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	City of Danville	32 min
Jun 1, 7:27 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Buckingham	33 min
Jun 1, 7:44 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Halifax	31 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 2012 Every tornado warning in 2012 Tornadoes 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.