Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2015

Tornado Warning 21, NWS Wakefield, VA

September 12, 2015Lancaster County, Middlesex County, Northumberland County, Virginia

NWS Wakefield, VA issued this tornado warning at Sep 12, 2015, 10:26 AM EDT for Lancaster County, Middlesex County, Northumberland County, Virginia. It was in force for 34 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Sep 12, 2015, 10:26 AM EDT (14:26 UTC)
Expired
Sep 12, 2015, 11:00 AM EDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Wakefield, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Lancaster County, VA, Middlesex County, VA, Northumberland County, VA

The radar

The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 94 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 14:28 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Wallops Is Stn, VA (KWAL), launched 12:00Z, 2.4 hours before the alert went out and 94 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, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 12:00Z on 2015-09-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 104 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, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 12:00Z on 2015-09-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 38 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
104 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-40 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
857 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
38 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
98 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

919 
WFUS51 KAKQ 121426
TORAKQ
VAC103-119-133-121500-
/O.NEW.KAKQ.TO.W.0021.150912T1426Z-150912T1500Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
1026 AM EDT SAT SEP 12 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WAKEFIELD HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN LANCASTER COUNTY IN EASTERN VIRGINIA...
  SOUTHEASTERN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY IN EASTERN VIRGINIA...
  NORTHWESTERN MIDDLESEX COUNTY IN EASTERN VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 1100 AM EDT
    
* AT 1026 AM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO. THIS 
  DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED OVER URBANNA...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 
  20 MPH.

* THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  URBANNA AROUND 1030 AM EDT.
  WHITE STONE AROUND 1055 AM EDT.
  KILMARNOCK...LANCASTER AND WICOMICO CHURCH AROUND 1100 AM EDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE
WARNER...BROWNS STORE...WEEMS...BERTRAND...REHOBOTH CHURCH...
REGINA...MILLENBECK...MOLLUSK...SLABTOWN AND REMLIK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE IN A MOBILE
HOME OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR
THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 3778 7630 3773 7631 3774 7633 3769 7630
      3769 7635 3764 7630 3763 7640 3765 7645
      3770 7647 3772 7643 3771 7648 3775 7651
      3768 7648 3764 7650 3763 7657 3761 7653
      3760 7661 3764 7665 3789 7639
TIME...MOT...LOC 1426Z 240DEG 18KT 3764 7661 

$$

BROWN
2 follow-up statements
737 
WWUS51 KAKQ 121449
SVSAKQ

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
1049 AM EDT SAT SEP 12 2015

VAC119-121456-
/O.CAN.KAKQ.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-150912T1500Z/
MIDDLESEX VA-
1049 AM EDT SAT SEP 12 2015

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN MIDDLESEX COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
    
THE TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT 
OF THE WARNED AREA. THEREFORE THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

LAT...LON 3786 7637 3786 7640 3778 7630 3773 7631
      3774 7633 3769 7630 3770 7631 3769 7635
      3767 7632 3766 7632 3765 7645 3768 7644
      3770 7647 3772 7643 3771 7648 3775 7651
      3768 7648 3764 7651 3770 7657 3789 7639
TIME...MOT...LOC 1446Z 241DEG 17KT 3768 7651 

$$

VAC103-133-121500-
/O.CON.KAKQ.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-150912T1500Z/
LANCASTER VA-NORTHUMBERLAND VA-
1049 AM EDT SAT SEP 12 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 AM EDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL LANCASTER AND SOUTHEASTERN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTIES...
    
AT 1046 AM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
SENORA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  KILMARNOCK...LANCASTER AND WICOMICO CHURCH AROUND 1100 AM EDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE
REHOBOTH CHURCH...REGINA...MILLENBECK...MOLLUSK...BROWNS STORE...
SLABTOWN...BERTRAND...BYRDTON...CHRIST CHURCH AND BROOK VALE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE IN A MOBILE
HOME OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR
THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 3786 7637 3786 7640 3778 7630 3773 7631
      3774 7633 3769 7630 3770 7631 3769 7635
      3767 7632 3766 7632 3765 7645 3768 7644
      3770 7647 3772 7643 3771 7648 3775 7651
      3768 7648 3764 7651 3770 7657 3789 7639
TIME...MOT...LOC 1446Z 241DEG 17KT 3768 7651 

$$

BROWN
580 
WWUS51 KAKQ 121459
SVSAKQ

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
1059 AM EDT SAT SEP 12 2015

VAC103-133-121509-
/O.EXP.KAKQ.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-150912T1500Z/
LANCASTER VA-NORTHUMBERLAND VA-
1059 AM EDT SAT SEP 12 2015

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL LANCASTER AND SOUTHEASTERN
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 1100 AM EDT...
                
THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED BELOW SEVERE
LIMITS...AND NO LONGER APPEARS TO BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.
THEREFORE THE WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. HOWEVER GUSTY WINDS
ARE STILL POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.

LAT...LON 3786 7637 3786 7640 3778 7630 3773 7631
      3774 7633 3769 7630 3770 7631 3769 7635
      3767 7632 3766 7632 3765 7645 3768 7644
      3770 7647 3772 7643 3771 7648 3775 7651
      3768 7648 3764 7651 3770 7657 3789 7639
TIME...MOT...LOC 1455Z 240DEG 18KT 3768 7651 

$$

BROWN

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 12, 4:41 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQAmelia49 min
Sep 12, 5:28 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQLunenburg32 min
Sep 12, 6:06 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQLunenburg24 min
Sep 12, 6:09 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQLunenburg, Nottoway36 min
Sep 12, 6:25 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQGoochland, Hanover, Powhatan65 min
Sep 12, 6:55 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQDinwiddie35 min
Sep 12, 7:28 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQChesterfield, City of Colonial Heights, City of Hopewell47 min
Sep 12, 7:37 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQHanover, King William23 min
Sep 12, 7:59 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ46 min
Sep 12, 8:05 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQCaroline, Hanover40 min
Sep 12, 8:11 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQCharles City, Henrico34 min
Sep 12, 8:40 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ35 min
Sep 12, 8:40 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQNew Kent35 min
Sep 12, 8:45 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQEssex, King and Queen, King William45 min
Sep 12, 9:12 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ48 min
Sep 12, 9:22 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQNew Kent38 min
Sep 12, 9:29 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQEssex, Richmond, Westmoreland46 min
Sep 12, 9:30 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ90 min
Sep 12, 9:57 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQMiddlesex33 min
Sep 12, 10:05 AM EDTTornado WarningAKQGloucester, King and Queen, Lancaster, Middlesex25 min
Sep 12, 10:27 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQRichmond33 min
Sep 12, 11:03 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQLancaster57 min
Sep 12, 2:13 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ92 min
Sep 12, 2:38 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ37 min
Sep 12, 3:17 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ43 min
Sep 12, 3:33 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQGreensville, James City, Southampton, Surry, Sussex, City of Emporia27 min
Sep 12, 3:38 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ37 min
Sep 12, 4:40 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQAccomack35 min
Sep 12, 5:21 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ24 min
Sep 12, 5:22 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ23 min
Sep 12, 5:23 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryAKQAccomack3 hr
Sep 12, 5:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQNorthampton64 min
Sep 12, 6:01 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQCity of Chesapeake, City of Norfolk, City of Virginia Beach59 min
Sep 12, 6:05 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ40 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 2015Every tornado warning in 2015Tornadoes in 2015

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.