Alert archive / Delaware / Tornado Warnings in 2019

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

April 15, 2019Sussex County, Delaware

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this tornado warning at Apr 15, 2019, 3:31 AM EDT for Sussex County, Delaware. It was in force for 29 min. 7 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 15, 2019, 3:31 AM EDT (07:31 UTC)
Expired: Apr 15, 2019, 4:00 AM EDT
In force: 29 min
Issued by: NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

County Sussex County, DE

The radar

The Dover AFB radar (KDOX), 11 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:34 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Apr 15, 3:38 AM EDT	TORNADO	1 E Bethel, DE	* 1 INJ * A TORNADO CAUSED DAMAGE ALONG A PATH FROM LAUREL TO SEAFORD DELAWARE. A TREE FELL ON A HOUSE, CAUSING ONE INJURY. ONE BARN WAS DESTROYED. THERE WAS ROOF DAMAGE TO SEVERAL OTHER HOMES AND BARNS. MANY TREES WERE UPROOTED ALONG THE PATH AND A FEW WE
Apr 15, 3:38 AM EDT	TORNADO	1 E Bethel, DE	* 1 INJ * EF2 TORNADO CONFIRMED WITH ESTIMATED MAXIMUM WINDS OF 120 MPH. A TORNADO CAUSED DAMAGE ALONG A PATH FROM LAUREL TO SEAFORD DELAWARE. A TREE FELL ON A HOUSE, CAUSING ONE INJURY. ONE BARN WAS DESTROYED. THERE WAS ROOF DAMAGE TO SEVERAL OTHER HOMES
Apr 15, 3:40 AM EDT	TSTM WND GST 50	Seaford, DE
Apr 15, 3:40 AM EDT	TSTM WND GST 55	Laurel, DE
Apr 15, 3:45 AM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 Nne Seaford, DE	CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 3 NNE SEAFORD. US 13 NB & SB BETWEEN CAMP RD AND BOYCE RD IS CLOSED DUE TO WIRES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Apr 15, 3:45 AM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 Nne Seaford, DE	US 13 NB & SB BETWEEN CAMP RD AND BOYCE RD IS CLOSED DUE TO WIRES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Apr 15, 3:59 AM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 N Harbeson, DE	ROOF DAMAGE TO A MOBILE HOME AND SHED. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 15, 1:05 AM EDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Wallops Is Stn, VA (KWAL), launched 00:00Z, 7.5 hours before the alert went out and 90 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 124 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -158 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 806 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 64 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 196 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 209 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 1.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

900 
WFUS51 KPHI 150731
TORPHI
DEC005-150800-
/O.NEW.KPHI.TO.W.0004.190415T0731Z-190415T0800Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
331 AM EDT MON APR 15 2019

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly NJ has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Central Sussex County in southern Delaware...

* Until 400 AM EDT.
    
* At 331 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Sharptown, or 11 miles southeast of Hurlock,
  moving northeast at 50 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  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...
  Georgetown, Milford, Seaford, Laurel, Lewes, Milton, Bridgeville,
  Ellendale, Sycamore, Blades and Bethel.

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.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

To report severe weather contact your nearest law enforcement agency.
They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in
Mount Holly NJ.

&&

LAT...LON 3867 7571 3895 7534 3895 7532 3896 7531
      3876 7509 3846 7566 3846 7569
TIME...MOT...LOC 0731Z 229DEG 46KT 3856 7567 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

MPS

2 follow-up statements

774 
WWUS51 KPHI 150749
SVSPHI

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
349 AM EDT MON APR 15 2019

DEC005-150800-
/O.CON.KPHI.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-190415T0800Z/
Sussex DE-
349 AM EDT MON APR 15 2019

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 AM EDT FOR CENTRAL
SUSSEX COUNTY...
    
At 349 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Georgetown, moving northeast at 55 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

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...
Georgetown, Lewes, Milton and Ellendale. 

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.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

If a tornado or other severe weather is spotted, report it to the
National Weather Service or your local nearest law enforcement agency
who will send your report. This act may save lives of others in the
path of dangerous weather.

&&

LAT...LON 3871 7557 3895 7534 3895 7532 3896 7531
      3894 7528 3892 7528 3888 7522 3876 7509
      3859 7547
TIME...MOT...LOC 0749Z 229DEG 46KT 3871 7544 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

MPS

775 
WWUS51 KPHI 150755
SVSPHI

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
355 AM EDT MON APR 15 2019

DEC005-150805-
/O.EXP.KPHI.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-190415T0800Z/
Sussex DE-
355 AM EDT MON APR 15 2019

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL SUSSEX COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 400
AM EDT...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.  However gusty
winds and heavy rain are still possible with this thunderstorm.

A tornado watch remains in effect until 700 AM EDT for central and
southern Delaware.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
in Mount Holly NJ.

Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for
Sussex county until 4:15 am.

LAT...LON 3871 7557 3895 7534 3895 7532 3896 7531
      3894 7528 3892 7528 3888 7522 3876 7509
      3859 7547
TIME...MOT...LOC 0755Z 229DEG 46KT 3874 7539 

$$

MPS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 15, 2:46 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	New Castle	44 min
Apr 15, 3:07 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Kent, New Castle, Sussex	38 min
Apr 15, 3:19 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	PHI	New Castle	26 min
Apr 15, 3:19 AM EDT	Wind Advisory	PHI	Kent, New Castle, Sussex	18 hr
Apr 15, 3:21 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	PHI	Kent	24 min
Apr 15, 3:28 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Sussex	47 min
Apr 15, 3:36 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	PHI	Kent, Sussex	24 min
Apr 15, 3:41 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Kent, Sussex	64 min
Apr 15, 3:59 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PHI	Kent, Sussex	4 hr
Apr 15, 4:19 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	PHI	Sussex	26 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Delaware, 2019 Every tornado warning in 2019 Tornadoes in 2019

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.