Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2015

Tornado Warning 3, NWS Blacksburg, VA

April 20, 2015Caswell County, Rockingham County, North Carolina

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this tornado warning at Apr 20, 2015, 3:52 PM EDT for Caswell County, Rockingham County, North Carolina. It was in force for 23 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
Apr 20, 2015, 3:52 PM EDT (19:52 UTC)
Expired
Apr 20, 2015, 4:15 PM EDT
In force
23 min
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.5 in

Counties Caswell County, NC, Rockingham County, NC

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 109 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:52 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
Apr 20, 4:05 PM EDTHAIL 14 Ese Quick, NC
Apr 20, 4:17 PM EDTHAIL 1.75Yanceyville, NC

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
Apr 20, 2:55 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 51 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 2015-04-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 17 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 2015-04-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 59 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
17 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-48 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
654 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
59 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
77 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

164 
WFUS51 KRNK 201952
TORRNK
NCC033-157-202015-
/O.NEW.KRNK.TO.W.0003.150420T1952Z-150420T2015Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
352 PM EDT MON APR 20 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CASWELL COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...
  SOUTHEASTERN ROCKINGHAM COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...

* UNTIL 415 PM EDT
    
* AT 352 PM EDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
  TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR REIDSVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

  HAZARD...TORNADO AND PING PONG BALL SIZE HAIL. 

  SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION. 

  IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT 
           SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. 
           DAMAGE TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR.  TREE 
           DAMAGE IS LIKELY. 

* THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  CAMP SPRINGS AROUND 400 PM EDT.
  YANCEYVILLE AND JERICHO AROUND 415 PM EDT.

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 OUTDOORS...IN A
MOBILE HOME...OR IN A VEHICLE...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL
SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE SEND YOUR REPORTS OF HAIL OF ANY
SIZE...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 3630 7968 3653 7923 3634 7915 3628 7915
      3625 7937 3625 7964
TIME...MOT...LOC 1952Z 251DEG 33KT 3629 7961 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.50IN

$$

WP
2 follow-up statements
655 
WWUS51 KRNK 202003
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
403 PM EDT MON APR 20 2015

NCC157-202012-
/O.CAN.KRNK.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-150420T2015Z/
ROCKINGHAM NC-
403 PM EDT MON APR 20 2015

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

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT FOR
NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA.

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE SEND YOUR REPORTS OF HAIL OF ANY
SIZE...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 3628 7953 3638 7952 3653 7923 3634 7915
      3628 7915 3625 7937
TIME...MOT...LOC 2002Z 251DEG 33KT 3632 7950 

$$

NCC033-202015-
/O.CON.KRNK.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-150420T2015Z/
CASWELL NC-
403 PM EDT MON APR 20 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM EDT FOR 
CASWELL COUNTY...
    
AT 402 PM EDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO
WAS LOCATED OVER CAMP SPRINGS...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

HAZARD...TORNADO AND PING PONG BALL SIZE HAIL. 

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION. 

IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT 
         SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. DAMAGE 
         TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR.  TREE DAMAGE IS 
         LIKELY. 

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
YANCEYVILLE...
CAMP SPRINGS...
JERICHO...
HAMER...
AND BAYNES. 

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 OUTDOORS...IN A
MOBILE HOME...OR IN A VEHICLE...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL
SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE SEND YOUR REPORTS OF HAIL OF ANY
SIZE...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 3628 7953 3638 7952 3653 7923 3634 7915
      3628 7915 3625 7937
TIME...MOT...LOC 2002Z 251DEG 33KT 3632 7950 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.50IN

$$

WP
006 
WWUS51 KRNK 202017
SVSRNK

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
417 PM EDT MON APR 20 2015

NCC033-202026-
/O.EXP.KRNK.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-150420T2015Z/
CASWELL NC-
417 PM EDT MON APR 20 2015

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR 
CASWELL COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...
    
THE TORNADO THREAT HAS DIMINISHED...THEREFORE THE TORNADO WARNING HAS
BEEN CANCELLED. HOWEVER...LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS REMAIN LIKELY
AND A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT FOR
NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA.

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE SEND YOUR REPORTS OF HAIL OF ANY
SIZE...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.

BE ADVISED THAT...WHILE THIS WARNING HAS ENDED...A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR CASWELL COUNTY.

LAT...LON 3628 7953 3638 7952 3653 7923 3634 7915
      3628 7915 3625 7937
TIME...MOT...LOC 2014Z 251DEG 33KT 3632 7950 

$$

WP

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 19, 11:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAshe, Watauga65 min
Apr 20, 12:19 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAlleghany, Ashe26 min
Apr 20, 12:54 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKAlleghany, Ashe, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes9 hr
Apr 20, 3:29 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKRockingham, Stokes6 hr
Apr 20, 9:44 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKWatauga3 hr
Apr 20, 3:10 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKRockingham35 min
Apr 20, 3:19 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCaswell, Rockingham56 min
Apr 20, 3:23 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAlleghany37 min
Apr 20, 3:29 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKWilkes61 min
Apr 20, 3:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKRockingham34 min
Apr 20, 4:03 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKWatauga27 min
Apr 20, 4:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCaswell30 min
Apr 20, 4:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAshe30 min
Apr 20, 4:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlleghany, Ashe38 min
Apr 20, 4:53 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKAlleghany, Ashe, Watauga5 hr
Apr 20, 5:42 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKWatauga33 min
Apr 20, 7:01 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKWatauga29 min
Apr 20, 7:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAlleghany25 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.