Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2013

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Blacksburg, VA

May 23, 2013Henry County, Patrick County, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this tornado warning at May 23, 2013, 5:29 PM EDT for Henry County, Patrick County, Virginia. It was in force for 31 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
May 23, 2013, 5:29 PM EDT (21:29 UTC)
Expired
May 23, 2013, 6:00 PM EDT
In force
31 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Henry County, VA, Patrick County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 43 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:29 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
May 23, 5:33 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG1 Wnw Critz, VAMULTIPLE ONE TO TWO INCH DIAMETER LIMBS WERE BLOWN DOWN.
May 23, 5:37 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG1 Sw Sanville, VAAT LEAST A DOZEN LARGE TREE LIMBS WERE BLOWN DOWN.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 68 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2013-05-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 29 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2013-05-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 23 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
29 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-97 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
790 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
27 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
23 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
24 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.

959 
WFUS51 KRNK 232129
TORRNK
VAC089-141-232200-
/O.NEW.KRNK.TO.W.0002.130523T2129Z-130523T2200Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
529 PM EDT THU MAY 23 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EAST CENTRAL PATRICK COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...
  WEST CENTRAL HENRY COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 600 PM EDT
    
* AT 524 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
  CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED
  NEAR CRITZ...OR 7 MILES EAST OF STUART...AND MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  SANVILLE...
  CRITZ...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE RELAY YOUR REPORTS OF SEVERE
WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE AT 1...8
6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. REPORTS AND PICTURES CAN ALSO BE SHARED ON THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG FACEBOOK PAGE AND ON TWITTER.

&&

LAT...LON 3663 8017 3664 8021 3669 8021 3675 8002
      3661 8002
TIME...MOT...LOC 2128Z 265DEG 14KT 3666 8016 

$$

DS
3 follow-up statements
002 
WWUS51 KRNK 232140
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
540 PM EDT THU MAY 23 2013

VAC089-141-232200-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-130523T2200Z/
PATRICK VA-HENRY VA-
540 PM EDT THU MAY 23 2013

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL PATRICK COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...
EXTREME WEST CENTRAL HENRY COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...
   
AT 537 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE
OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
CRITZ...OR 6 MILES WEST OF SPENCER...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SANVILLE...
CRITZ...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEEK SHELTER NOW IN A NEARBY REINFORCED BUILDING. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT
OUTSIDE...AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR
OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE SEND YOUR REPORTS OF QUARTER SIZE
OR LARGER HAIL...AS WELL AS ANY REPORTS OF WIND DAMAGE...INCLUDING
DOWNED TREES OR LARGE LIMBS...TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE AT 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. REPORTS AND
PICTURES CAN ALSO BE SHARED ON THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
BLACKSBURG FACEBOOK PAGE AND ON TWITTER.

&&

LAT...LON 3663 8016 3664 8016 3667 8015 3671 8011
      3673 8002 3661 8002
TIME...MOT...LOC 2137Z 281DEG 13KT 3664 8012 

$$

DS
172 
WWUS51 KRNK 232149
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
549 PM EDT THU MAY 23 2013

VAC089-141-232200-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-130523T2200Z/
PATRICK VA-HENRY VA-
549 PM EDT THU MAY 23 2013

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL PATRICK COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...
EXTREME WEST CENTRAL HENRY COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...
   
AT 546 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE
OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR PENNS
STORE...OR 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF SPENCER...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
RURAL AREAS BETWEEN SANVILL AND SPENCER...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEEK SHELTER NOW IN A NEARBY REINFORCED BUILDING. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT
OUTSIDE...AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR
OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE SEND YOUR REPORTS OF QUARTER SIZE
OR LARGER HAIL...AS WELL AS ANY REPORTS OF WIND DAMAGE...INCLUDING
DOWNED TREES OR LARGE LIMBS...TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE AT 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. REPORTS AND
PICTURES CAN ALSO BE SHARED ON THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
BLACKSBURG FACEBOOK PAGE AND ON TWITTER.

&&

LAT...LON 3663 8013 3666 8013 3670 8009 3671 8002
      3661 8002
TIME...MOT...LOC 2146Z 267DEG 15KT 3665 8006 

$$

DS
762 
WWUS51 KRNK 232201
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
601 PM EDT THU MAY 23 2013

VAC089-141-232210-
/O.EXP.KRNK.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-130523T2200Z/
PATRICK VA-HENRY VA-
601 PM EDT THU MAY 23 2013

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR 
EAST CENTRAL PATRICK AND EXTREME WEST CENTRAL HENRY COUNTIES HAS
EXPIRED...
    
THE TORNADO THREAT HAS DIMINISHED...THEREFORE THE TORNADO WARNING 
HAS EXPIRED. HOWEVER...LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS REMAIN LIKELY 
AND A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF 
HENRY COUNTY AND THE CITY OF MARTINSVILLE. 

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE SEND YOUR REPORTS OF QUARTER SIZE
OR LARGER HAIL...AS WELL AS ANY REPORTS OF WIND DAMAGE...INCLUDING
DOWNED TREES OR LARGE LIMBS...TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE AT 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. REPORTS AND
PICTURES CAN ALSO BE SHARED ON THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
BLACKSBURG FACEBOOK PAGE AND ON TWITTER.

LAT...LON 3663 8013 3666 8013 3670 8009 3671 8002
      3661 8002
TIME...MOT...LOC 2200Z 265DEG 14KT 3665 8006 

$$

DS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 23, 1:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Buena Vista, City of Lexington50 min
May 23, 4:48 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPatrick27 min
May 23, 4:58 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKTazewell47 min
May 23, 5:16 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPatrick29 min
May 23, 5:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKHenry, City of Martinsville63 min
May 23, 5:59 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAmherst46 min
May 23, 6:02 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBland28 min
May 23, 6:05 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKHenry, City of Martinsville115 min
May 23, 6:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKMontgomery30 min
May 23, 6:31 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Martinsville29 min
May 23, 6:47 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Covington28 min
May 23, 6:58 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKMontgomery, Roanoke32 min
May 23, 6:59 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Danville46 min
May 23, 7:15 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKRockbridge, City of Lexington30 min
May 23, 7:22 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPatrick23 min
May 23, 7:24 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBotetourt36 min
May 23, 7:28 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Roanoke, City of Salem62 min
May 23, 7:44 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKBedford, Botetourt, Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington3 hr
May 23, 7:59 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKRockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington31 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 2013Every tornado warning in 2013Tornadoes in 2013

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.