Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 9, NWS Blacksburg, VA

March 24, 2012Franklin County, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this tornado warning at Mar 24, 2012, 4:41 PM EDT for Franklin County, Virginia. It was in force for 34 min. 1 report 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, 4:41 PM EDT (20:41 UTC)
Expired
Mar 24, 2012, 5:15 PM EDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Franklin County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 37 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:42 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, 4:55 PM EDTHAIL 1Rocky Mount, 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, 3:38 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 8.7 hours before the alert went out and 42 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°0°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.

578 
WFUS51 KRNK 242041
TORRNK
VAC067-242115-
/O.NEW.KRNK.TO.W.0009.120324T2041Z-120324T2115Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN FRANKLIN COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 515 PM EDT.

* AT 438 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR FERRUM...
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  FERRUM...
  ROCKY MOUNT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GOLF 
BALL SIZE OR LARGER 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA. A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT SATURDAY
EVENING FOR NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA. A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
SATURDAY EVENING FOR WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST
VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3707 7985 3696 7969 3687 7978 3686 7999
      3693 8004
TIME...MOT...LOC 2041Z 232DEG 22KT 3691 7996

$$

DS
2 follow-up statements
100 
WWUS51 KRNK 242047
SVSRNK

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

VAC067-242115-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120324T2115Z/
FRANKLIN VA-
447 PM EDT SAT MAR 24 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
FRANKLIN COUNTY...

AT 442 PM EDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 7
MILES SOUTHWEST OF ROCKY MOUNT...OR NEAR FERRUM...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  SONTAG...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GOLF 
BALL SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA. A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT SATURDAY
EVENING FOR NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA. A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
SATURDAY EVENING FOR WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST
VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3689 7994 3695 7999 3707 7985 3696 7969
      3687 7978
TIME...MOT...LOC 2047Z 237DEG 24KT 3693 7990

$$

DS
264 
WWUS51 KRNK 242058
SVSRNK

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

VAC067-242115-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120324T2115Z/
FRANKLIN VA-
458 PM EDT SAT MAR 24 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
FRANKLIN COUNTY...

AT 455 PM EDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR SONTAG...OR NEAR ROCKY MOUNT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  SONTAG...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA. A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT SATURDAY
EVENING FOR NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA. A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
SATURDAY EVENING FOR WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST
VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3692 7973 3690 7981 3692 7989 3696 7993
      3707 7985 3696 7969
TIME...MOT...LOC 2058Z 240DEG 24KT 3696 7982

$$

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, 4:48 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, 6:25 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKAmherst, Bedford, Campbell, City of Lynchburg35 min
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.