Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 1, NWS Wakefield, VA

March 18, 2021Northampton County, North Carolina; Greensville County, Virginia

NWS Wakefield, VA issued this tornado warning at Mar 18, 2021, 5:18 PM EDT for Northampton County, North Carolina; Greensville County, Virginia. It was in force for 27 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 18, 2021, 5:18 PM EDT (21:18 UTC)
Expired
Mar 18, 2021, 5:45 PM EDT
In force
27 min
Issued by
NWS Wakefield, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Northampton County, NC, Greensville County, VA

The radar

The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 75 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:22 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 18, 5:09 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 9.3 hours before the alert went out and 185 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, Roanoke, VA at 12:00Z on 2021-03-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Roanoke, VA at 12:00Z on 2021-03-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 626 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
517 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
70 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
626 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
780 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

282 
WFUS51 KAKQ 182118
TORAKQ
NCC131-VAC081-182145-
/O.NEW.KAKQ.TO.W.0001.210318T2118Z-210318T2145Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
518 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

The National Weather Service in Wakefield has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  North central Northampton County in northeastern North Carolina...
  South central Greensville County in southeastern Virginia...

* Until 545 PM EDT.
    
* At 517 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Dahlia, moving northeast at 35 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.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Claresville around 530 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Pleasant Hill, Gum Forks, Lanes Corner, Turners Crossroads, Bryants
Corner, Slates Corner and Roanoke Rapids Lake.

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!

Please report severe weather by calling 757-899-2415, posting to the
NWS Wakefield Facebook page, or using Twitter @NWSWAKEFIELDVA.

&&

LAT...LON 3647 7764 3648 7765 3648 7768 3652 7774
      3668 7752 3657 7737 3645 7763
TIME...MOT...LOC 2117Z 229DEG 29KT 3656 7756 

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

$$

05
2 follow-up statements
083 
WWUS51 KAKQ 182127
SVSAKQ

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
527 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

NCC131-182137-
/O.CAN.KAKQ.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-210318T2145Z/
Northampton NC-
527 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTHAMPTON 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 900 PM EDT for northeastern
North Carolina...and southeastern Virginia.

LAT...LON 3655 7746 3655 7770 3668 7752 3657 7737
      3654 7743
TIME...MOT...LOC 2127Z 229DEG 29KT 3661 7748 

$$

VAC081-182145-
/O.CON.KAKQ.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-210318T2145Z/
Greensville VA-
527 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM EDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL GREENSVILLE COUNTY...
    
At 527 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Claresville, or near Dahlia, moving northeast at 35
mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar 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...
  Claresville around 530 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Turners Crossroads, Bryants Corner, Slates Corner and Lanes 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 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!

&&

LAT...LON 3655 7746 3655 7770 3668 7752 3657 7737
      3654 7743
TIME...MOT...LOC 2127Z 229DEG 29KT 3661 7748 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.25IN

$$

05
174 
WWUS51 KAKQ 182145 RRA
SVSAKQ

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
545 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

VAC081-182155-
/O.EXP.KAKQ.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-210318T2145Z/
Greensville VA-
545 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL GREENSVILLE COUNTY HAS
EXPIRED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been allowed to 
expire.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for northeastern
North Carolina...and southeastern Virginia.

LAT...LON 3655 7746 3655 7770 3668 7752 3657 7737
      3654 7743
TIME...MOT...LOC 2145Z 229DEG 29KT 3670 7736 

$$

05

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 18, 3:50 AM EDTCoastal Flood WatchAKQCurrituck39 hr
Mar 18, 4:11 AM EDTWind AdvisoryAKQCamden, Currituck, Pasquotank45 hr
Mar 18, 2:08 PM EDTHigh Surf AdvisoryAKQCurrituck60 hr
Mar 18, 4:08 AM EDTGale WarningAKQ45 hr
Mar 18, 5:07 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQGreensville, City of Emporia38 min
Mar 18, 5:11 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQSouthampton, Sussex34 min
Mar 18, 5:31 PM EDTTornado WarningAKQGreensville, Southampton, Sussex29 min
Mar 18, 5:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQIsle of Wight, Southampton, Surry38 min
Mar 18, 5:40 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ65 min
Mar 18, 5:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQSouthampton, Sussex27 min
Mar 18, 6:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQIsle of Wight, York, City of Hampton, City of Newport News, City of Poquoson45 min
Mar 18, 6:04 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningAKQ56 min
Mar 18, 6:17 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQIsle of Wight, Southampton28 min
Mar 18, 6:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQNorthampton41 min
Mar 18, 6:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQYork, City of Hampton, City of Newport News, City of Poquoson29 min
Mar 18, 6:52 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementAKQAccomack38 min
Mar 18, 7:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQPrince George, Surry, Sussex47 min
Mar 18, 7:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQBrunswick, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, City of Emporia30 min
Mar 18, 7:59 PM EDTTornado WarningAKQBrunswick, Greensville, Mecklenburg31 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 2021Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 2021Every tornado warning in 2021Tornadoes in 2021

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.