Alert archive / California / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 3, NWS Sacramento, CA

October 22, 2012Nevada County, Yuba County, California

NWS Sacramento, CA issued this tornado warning at Oct 22, 2012, 3:42 PM PDT for Nevada County, Yuba County, California. It was in force for 48 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
Oct 22, 2012, 3:42 PM PDT (22:42 UTC)
Expired
Oct 22, 2012, 4:30 PM PDT
In force
48 min
Issued by
NWS Sacramento, CA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Nevada County, CA, Yuba County, CA

The radar

The Beale AFB radar (KBBX), 36 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:45 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
Oct 22, 4:10 PM PDTTORNADO 03 Wsw Browns Valley, CATHE NWS STORM SURVEY HAS RATED THE 10/22/2012 BROWNS VALLEY STORM AS AN EF0 TORNADO. THIS TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN A RICE FIELD NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF SPRING VALLEY ROAD AND JOINES ROAD AND TRAVELED A DISTANCE OF AROUND 100 FEET TO THE NORTHEAST. WINDS WERE E
Oct 22, 4:15 PM PDTTORNADO3 Wsw Browns Valley, CADEPUTY SAW TORNADO TOUCH DOWN IN RICE FIELD NEAR SPRING VALLEY ROAD AND JOINES RD

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Oakland, CA (KOAK), launched 12:00Z, 10.7 hours before the alert went out and 182 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, Oakland, CA at 12:00Z on 2012-10-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 4 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, Oakland, CA at 12:00Z on 2012-10-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 276 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
4 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-8 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
650 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
69 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
276 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
345 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.

659 
WFUS56 KSTO 222242
TORSTO
CAC057-115-222330-
/O.NEW.KSTO.TO.W.0003.121022T2242Z-121022T2330Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
342 PM PDT MON OCT 22 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WEST CENTRAL NEVADA COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA...
  CENTRAL YUBA COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA...

* UNTIL 430 PM PDT

* AT 337 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 6 MILES
  SOUTHWEST OF HAMMONTON...OR NEAR MARYSVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
  20 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO BEALE
  AFB...BROWNS VALLEY...TIMBUCTOO...SMARTVILLE...STANFIELD HILL AND
  LAKE WILDWOOD

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.

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.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3937 12136 3921 12116 3906 12146 3918 12160
TIME...MOT...LOC 2242Z 228DEG 18KT 3916 12148

$$

CS
3 follow-up statements
703 
WWUS56 KSTO 222303
SVSSTO

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
403 PM PDT MON OCT 22 2012

CAC057-115-222330-
/O.CON.KSTO.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-121022T2330Z/
NEVADA CA-YUBA CA-
403 PM PDT MON OCT 22 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM PDT FOR CENTRAL
YUBA AND WEST CENTRAL NEVADA COUNTIES...

AT 401 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BROWNS VALLEY...OR
12 MILES NORTHEAST OF MARYSVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO PENN
VALLEY...LOMA RICA...LAKE WILDWOOD AND STANFIELD HILL

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.

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.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3907 12145 3927 12148 3937 12136 3921 12116
TIME...MOT...LOC 2303Z 211DEG 20KT 3926 12140

$$

CS
713 
WWUS56 KSTO 222316
SVSSTO

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
416 PM PDT MON OCT 22 2012

CAC057-115-222330-
/O.CON.KSTO.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-121022T2330Z/
NEVADA CA-YUBA CA-
416 PM PDT MON OCT 22 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM PDT FOR CENTRAL
YUBA AND WEST CENTRAL NEVADA COUNTIES...

AT 412 PM PDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD. 
THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED JUST EAST OF BROWNS VALLEY...OR 13 MILES 
NORTHEAST OF MARYSVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO LAKE
WILDWOOD...LOMA RICA AND STANFIELD HILL

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3907 12145 3927 12148 3937 12136 3921 12116
TIME...MOT...LOC 2315Z 201DEG 15KT 3924 12135

$$

CS
002 
WWUS56 KSTO 222327
SVSSTO

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
427 PM PDT MON OCT 22 2012

CAC057-115-222337-
/O.EXP.KSTO.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-121022T2330Z/
NEVADA CA-YUBA CA-
427 PM PDT MON OCT 22 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL YUBA AND WEST CENTRAL NEVADA
COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 430 PM PDT...

LAT...LON 3907 12145 3927 12148 3937 12136 3921 12116
TIME...MOT...LOC 2327Z 201DEG 15KT 3929 12133

$$

CS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Sacramento, CA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 22, 1:11 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementSTOShasta49 min
Oct 22, 1:42 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementSTOTehama48 min
Oct 22, 2:13 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementSTOYuba62 min
Oct 22, 2:37 PM PDTTornado WarningSTOButte, Yuba38 min
Oct 22, 3:14 PM PDTTornado WarningSTOSutter, Yuba31 min
Oct 22, 3:52 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementSTOShasta38 min
Oct 22, 4:11 PM PDTTornado WarningSTONevada, Placer, Yuba49 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in California, 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.