Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2016

Tornado Warning 5, NWS Wakefield, VA

February 24, 20165 counties in Virginia

NWS Wakefield, VA issued this tornado warning at Feb 24, 2016, 3:31 PM EST for 5 counties in Virginia. It was in force for 29 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
Feb 24, 2016, 3:31 PM EST (20:31 UTC)
Expired
Feb 24, 2016, 4:00 PM EST
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Wakefield, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties City of Chesapeake, VA, City of Norfolk, VA, City of Portsmouth, VA, City of Suffolk, VA, City of Virginia Beach, VA

The radar

The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 65 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:34 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
Feb 24, 3:59 PM ESTFUNNEL CLOUDGreen Hill Farms, VAROTATING CLOUDS EXTENDING TOWARDS THE GROUND. ALSO MEASURED 1.5 INCHES OF RAIN IN 10 MINUTES.

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
Feb 24, 1:46 PM ESTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Wallops Is Stn, VA (KWAL), launched 12:00Z, 8.5 hours before the alert went out and 141 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 2016-02-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 5 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, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 12:00Z on 2016-02-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 218 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
5 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-165 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
504 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
53 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
218 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
268 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

240 
WFUS51 KAKQ 242031
TORAKQ
VAC550-710-740-800-810-242100-
/O.NEW.KAKQ.TO.W.0005.160224T2031Z-160224T2100Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
331 PM EST WED FEB 24 2016

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WAKEFIELD HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  THE CITY OF NORFOLK IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA...
  THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA...
  THE EAST CENTRAL CITY OF SUFFOLK IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA...
  THE NORTHWESTERN CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA...
  THE NORTHWESTERN CITY OF CHESAPEAKE IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 400 PM EST
    
* AT 331 PM EST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS
  STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR BOWERS HILL...OR NEAR DEEP CREEK...AND MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  DEEP CREEK...CHESAPEAKE...BOWERS HILL AND WESTERN BRANCH AROUND 340 
  PM EST. 
  CHURCHLAND...DOWNTOWN PORTSMOUTH AND CRADOCK AROUND 345 PM EST. 
  OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY...DOWNTOWN NORFOLK...NORFOLK STATE 
  UNIVERSITY...PORTSMOUTH...GHENT AND NORVIEW AROUND 350 PM EST. 
  OCEAN VIEW...VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE...NORFOLK...NORFOLK NAS AND 
  NORFOLK INTERNATIONAL ARPT AROUND 355 PM EST. 

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE SOUTH
NORFOLK...HUNTERSVILLE...DEANES...WILLOUGHBY SPIT...PORTLOCK...BAYSIDE AND
WARDS CORNER.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3694 7605 3663 7643 3670 7654 3687 7645
      3692 7641 3696 7634 3699 7626 3696 7608
TIME...MOT...LOC 2031Z 211DEG 42KT 3671 7646 

$$

DEROSA
3 follow-up statements
320 
WWUS51 KAKQ 242043
SVSAKQ

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
343 PM EST WED FEB 24 2016

VAC800-242053-
/O.CAN.KAKQ.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-160224T2100Z/
CITY OF SUFFOLK VA-
343 PM EST WED FEB 24 2016

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR THE EAST CENTRAL CITY OF SUFFOLK IS
CANCELLED...
    
THE TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT
OF THE WARNED AREA. THEREFORE THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

LAT...LON 3694 7605 3674 7630 3677 7640 3684 7641
      3692 7641 3696 7634 3699 7626 3696 7608
TIME...MOT...LOC 2043Z 211DEG 42KT 3683 7637 

$$

VAC550-710-740-810-242100-
/O.CON.KAKQ.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-160224T2100Z/
CITY OF NORFOLK VA-CITY OF PORTSMOUTH VA-CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH VA-
CITY OF CHESAPEAKE VA-
343 PM EST WED FEB 24 2016

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM EST FOR ...THE
CITY OF NORFOLK...THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH...THE NORTHWESTERN CITY OF
VIRGINIA BEACH AND THE NORTHWESTERN CITY OF CHESAPEAKE...
    
AT 343 PM EST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE
OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED OVER
PORTSMOUTH...OR OVER CHURCHLAND...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE AND NORVIEW AROUND 350 PM EST. 
  OCEAN VIEW...NORFOLK...NORFOLK NAS AND NORFOLK INTERNATIONAL ARPT 
  AROUND 355 PM EST. 

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE SOUTH
NORFOLK...WILLOUGHBY SPIT...PORTLOCK...BAYSIDE AND WARDS CORNER.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3694 7605 3674 7630 3677 7640 3684 7641
      3692 7641 3696 7634 3699 7626 3696 7608
TIME...MOT...LOC 2043Z 211DEG 42KT 3683 7637 

$$

DEROSA
780 
WWUS51 KAKQ 242053
SVSAKQ

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
353 PM EST WED FEB 24 2016

VAC550-740-242103-
/O.CAN.KAKQ.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-160224T2100Z/
CITY OF PORTSMOUTH VA-CITY OF CHESAPEAKE VA-
353 PM EST WED FEB 24 2016

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR ...THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH AND THE
NORTHWESTERN CITY OF CHESAPEAKE IS CANCELLED...
    
THE TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT
OF THE WARNED AREA. THEREFORE THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

LAT...LON 3694 7605 3683 7618 3685 7630 3689 7633
      3690 7633 3691 7634 3692 7634 3692 7636
      3693 7637 3696 7634 3699 7626 3696 7608
TIME...MOT...LOC 2053Z 211DEG 42KT 3693 7629 

$$

VAC710-810-242100-
/O.CON.KAKQ.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-160224T2100Z/
CITY OF NORFOLK VA-CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH VA-
353 PM EST WED FEB 24 2016

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM EST FOR ...THE
CITY OF NORFOLK AND THE NORTHWESTERN CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH...
    
AT 353 PM EST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE
OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED OVER NORFOLK
NAS...OR OVER OCEAN VIEW...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF ...
THE CITY OF NORFOLK AND THE NORTHWESTERN CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH...
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: WILLOUGHBY SPIT...WARDS CORNER AND
BAYSIDE.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3694 7605 3683 7618 3685 7630 3689 7633
      3690 7633 3691 7634 3692 7634 3692 7636
      3693 7637 3696 7634 3699 7626 3696 7608
TIME...MOT...LOC 2053Z 211DEG 42KT 3693 7629 

$$

DEROSA
679 
WWUS51 KAKQ 242101
SVSAKQ

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
401 PM EST WED FEB 24 2016

VAC710-810-242111-
/O.EXP.KAKQ.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-160224T2100Z/
CITY OF NORFOLK VA-CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH VA-
401 PM EST WED FEB 24 2016

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR ...THE CITY OF NORFOLK AND THE
NORTHWESTERN CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH HAS EXPIRED...
    
THE TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT
OF THE WARNED AREA. THEREFORE THE WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

LAT...LON 3694 7605 3683 7618 3685 7630 3689 7633
      3690 7633 3691 7634 3692 7634 3692 7636
      3693 7637 3696 7634 3699 7626 3696 7608
TIME...MOT...LOC 2059Z 211DEG 42KT 3693 7629 

$$

DEROSA

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 23, 7:17 PM ESTMarine Dense Fog AdvisoryAKQ15 hr
Feb 24, 4:17 AM ESTGale WarningAKQ24 hr
Feb 24, 8:43 AM ESTRiver Flood WarningAKQBrunswick53 hr
Feb 24, 10:13 AM ESTRiver Flood WarningAKQChesterfield, Henrico, City of Richmond65 hr
Feb 24, 12:51 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementAKQCumberland, Prince Edward39 min
Feb 24, 1:02 PM ESTCoastal Flood AdvisoryAKQLancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland18 hr
Feb 24, 1:40 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementAKQSouthampton, City of Emporia50 min
Feb 24, 2:20 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQPrince George, Surry, Sussex25 min
Feb 24, 2:37 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQCharles City, James City, Prince George, Surry, Sussex, City of Williamsburg23 min
Feb 24, 2:56 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQCharles City, James City, King and Queen, King William, New Kent34 min
Feb 24, 3:11 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQCaroline, Goochland, Hanover, Louisa, Powhatan23 min
Feb 24, 3:24 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQIsle of Wight, York, City of Hampton, City of Newport News, City of Poquoson, City of Suffolk36 min
Feb 24, 3:29 PM ESTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ46 min
Feb 24, 3:40 PM ESTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ50 min
Feb 24, 3:51 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQPrince Edward27 min
Feb 24, 3:54 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQGloucester, Mathews, York, City of Poquoson36 min
Feb 24, 3:59 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementAKQCity of Norfolk16 min
Feb 24, 4:02 PM ESTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ43 min
Feb 24, 4:08 PM ESTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ37 min
Feb 24, 4:08 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQFluvanna37 min
Feb 24, 4:22 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQLunenburg, Mecklenburg23 min
Feb 24, 4:25 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQCumberland, Fluvanna, Goochland35 min
Feb 24, 4:28 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQCumberland, Nottoway, Prince Edward32 min
Feb 24, 4:32 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQLouisa28 min
Feb 24, 4:39 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQBrunswick, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg36 min
Feb 24, 4:41 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQAmelia, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Nottoway, Prince Edward34 min
Feb 24, 4:47 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQFluvanna, Goochland, Louisa28 min
Feb 24, 4:49 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQLunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Prince Edward26 min
Feb 24, 4:51 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQAccomack39 min
Feb 24, 5:04 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQAmelia, Chesterfield, Goochland, Nottoway, Powhatan, Prince Edward26 min
Feb 24, 5:11 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQBrunswick, Dinwiddie, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway34 min
Feb 24, 5:22 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQCaroline, Goochland, Hanover, Louisa, Powhatan23 min
Feb 24, 5:28 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQAmelia, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, Powhatan32 min
Feb 24, 5:32 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQBrunswick, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Mecklenburg, Sussex43 min
Feb 24, 5:34 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQAmelia, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Nottoway41 min
Feb 24, 5:39 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQCaroline, Goochland, Hanover, Louisa36 min
Feb 24, 5:52 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQChesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, City of Richmond38 min
Feb 24, 5:58 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQCaroline, Hanover32 min
Feb 24, 6:06 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQBrunswick, Dinwiddie, Prince George, Sussex, City of Petersburg39 min
Feb 24, 6:11 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQBrunswick, Greensville, Sussex, City of Emporia34 min
Feb 24, 6:14 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQEssex, Hanover, King and Queen, King William46 min
Feb 24, 6:35 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQCharles City, New Kent, Prince George, City of Hopewell40 min
Feb 24, 6:38 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQEssex, Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland37 min
Feb 24, 6:45 PM ESTTornado WarningAKQDinwiddie, Prince George, Sussex30 min
Feb 24, 6:51 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQBrunswick, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Sussex24 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 2016Every tornado warning in 2016Tornadoes in 2016

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.