Alert archive / Kentucky / Tornado Warnings in 2020

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Jackson, KY

March 12, 2020Bell County, McCreary County, Whitley County, Kentucky

NWS Jackson, KY issued this tornado warning at Mar 12, 2020, 10:29 PM EDT for Bell County, McCreary County, Whitley County, Kentucky. It was in force for 31 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
Mar 12, 2020, 10:29 PM EDT (02:29 UTC)
Expired
Mar 12, 2020, 11:00 PM EDT
In force
31 min
Issued by
NWS Jackson, KY
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.0 in

Counties Bell County, KY, McCreary County, KY, Whitley County, KY

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 80 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:28 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Mar 12, 6:09 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 00:00Z, 2.5 hours before the alert went out and 237 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 00:00Z on 2020-03-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 130 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 00:00Z on 2020-03-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 550 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
130 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-136 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1005 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
54 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
550 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
879 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
1.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

257 
WFUS53 KJKL 130229
TORJKL
KYC013-147-235-130300-
/O.NEW.KJKL.TO.W.0002.200313T0229Z-200313T0300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
1029 PM EDT Thu Mar 12 2020

The National Weather Service in JACKSON KY has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southwestern Bell County in southeastern Kentucky...
  Southeastern McCreary County in south central Kentucky...
  Southern Whitley County in south central Kentucky...

* Until 1100 PM EDT.
    
* At 1029 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a
  tornado was located over Ayers, or near Williamsburg, moving east
  at 20 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and quarter 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...
  Williamsburg, Ayers, Gatliff, Emlyn, Zion Hill, Red Ash, Verne,
  Pleasant View, Pruden, Polly Camp, Nevisdale and Bon.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3659 8433 3678 8426 3671 8392 3669 8389
      3670 8387 3670 8384 3659 8388
TIME...MOT...LOC 0229Z 287DEG 19KT 3665 8419 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

KAS
3 follow-up statements
995 
WWUS53 KJKL 130235
SVSJKL

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
1035 PM EDT Thu Mar 12 2020

KYC147-130245-
/O.CAN.KJKL.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-200313T0300Z/
McCreary KY-
1035 PM EDT Thu Mar 12 2020

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN MCCREARY COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 AM EDT for south central
Kentucky.

LAT...LON 3659 8422 3662 8425 3671 8417 3665 8386
      3659 8388
TIME...MOT...LOC 0235Z 288DEG 36KT 3662 8411 

$$

KYC013-235-130300-
/O.CON.KJKL.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-200313T0300Z/
Bell KY-Whitley KY-
1035 PM EDT Thu Mar 12 2020

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN BELL AND SOUTHEASTERN WHITLEY COUNTIES...
    
At 1035 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Red Ash, or 8 miles south of Williamsburg, moving
east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter 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...
Ayers, Gatliff, Frakes, Emlyn, Packard, Fonde, Zion Hill, Wilkerson,
Red Ash, Lot, Pearl and Pleasant View.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3659 8422 3662 8425 3671 8417 3665 8386
      3659 8388
TIME...MOT...LOC 0235Z 288DEG 36KT 3662 8411 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

KAS
169 
WWUS53 KJKL 130249
SVSJKL

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
1049 PM EDT Thu Mar 12 2020

KYC013-235-130300-
/O.CON.KJKL.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-200313T0300Z/
Bell KY-Whitley KY-
1049 PM EDT Thu Mar 12 2020

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN BELL AND SOUTH CENTRAL WHITLEY COUNTIES...
    
At 1049 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Wilkerson, or 12 miles southeast of Williamsburg,
moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter 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...
Fonde, Pearl, Pruden and Wilkerson. 

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3659 8409 3662 8408 3666 8400 3662 8387
      3659 8388
TIME...MOT...LOC 0249Z 287DEG 19KT 3660 8402 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

KAS
477 
WWUS53 KJKL 130259
SVSJKL

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service JACKSON KY
1059 PM EDT Thu Mar 12 2020

KYC013-235-130309-
/O.EXP.KJKL.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-200313T0300Z/
Bell KY-Whitley KY-
1059 PM EDT Thu Mar 12 2020

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN BELL AND SOUTH CENTRAL
WHITLEY COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 1100 PM EDT...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

LAT...LON 3659 8409 3662 8408 3666 8400 3662 8387
      3659 8388
TIME...MOT...LOC 0259Z 287DEG 19KT 3658 8396 

$$

KAS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Jackson, KY issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 12, 8:39 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJKLPulaski36 min
Mar 12, 9:13 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJKLWayne32 min
Mar 12, 9:20 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJKLLaurel25 min
Mar 12, 9:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJKLMcCreary29 min
Mar 12, 10:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJKLMcCreary, Whitley43 min
Mar 12, 11:01 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryJKLBell, Clay, Knox, Laurel, McCreary, Pulaski and 2 more3 hr
Mar 13, 12:21 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryJKLEstill, Lee, Powell, Wolfe114 min
Mar 13, 2:19 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryJKLEstill, Lee, Powell, Wolfe56 min
Mar 13, 9:55 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryJKLBreathitt, Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, Martin, Pike3 hr
Mar 13, 10:17 AM EDTRiver Flood AdvisoryJKLLee4 days
Mar 13, 10:17 AM EDTRiver Flood AdvisoryJKLEstill5 days
Mar 13, 1:02 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryJKLBreathitt, Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, Martin, Pike3 hr
Mar 13, 4:23 PM EDTRiver Flood AdvisoryJKLMagoffin10 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Kentucky, 2020Every tornado warning in 2020Tornadoes in 2020

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.