Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 16, NWS Raleigh, NC

May 3, 2021Montgomery County, Moore County, Randolph County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at May 3, 2021, 2:32 PM EDT for Montgomery County, Moore County, Randolph County, North Carolina. It was in force for 32 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
May 3, 2021, 2:32 PM EDT (18:32 UTC)
Expired
May 3, 2021, 3:04 PM EDT
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Raleigh, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.0 in

Counties Montgomery County, NC, Moore County, NC, Randolph County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 111 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:36 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
May 3, 1:25 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 6.5 hours before the alert went out and 66 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 2021-05-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 631 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 2021-05-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 162 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
631 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-16 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
538 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
162 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
183 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
2.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

413 
WFUS52 KRAH 031832
TORRAH
NCC123-125-151-031915-
/O.NEW.KRAH.TO.W.0016.210503T1832Z-210503T1915Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
232 PM EDT Mon May 3 2021

The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northwestern Moore County in central North Carolina...
  Northern Montgomery County in central North Carolina...
  Southeastern Randolph County in central North Carolina...

* Until 315 PM EDT.
    
* At 232 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Troy, moving east at 35 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.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Troy around 240 PM EDT.
  Biscoe around 245 PM EDT.
  Seagrove around 255 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Highfalls, Steeds, Eldorado, Robbins and Star.

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 3571 7972 3553 7955 3552 7956 3551 7954
      3539 7942 3528 8001 3545 8009
TIME...MOT...LOC 1832Z 248DEG 32KT 3540 7997 

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

$$

JJT
4 follow-up statements
682 
WWUS52 KRAH 031841
SVSRAH

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
241 PM EDT Mon May 3 2021

NCC123-125-151-031915-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-210503T1915Z/
Moore NC-Montgomery NC-Randolph NC-
241 PM EDT Mon May 3 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN MOORE...NORTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY AND SOUTHEASTERN
RANDOLPH COUNTIES...
    
At 240 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Troy, moving east at 35 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.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  Biscoe around 245 PM EDT.
  Seagrove around 250 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Highfalls, Steeds, Robbins and Star.

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 3571 7972 3553 7955 3552 7956 3551 7954
      3539 7942 3534 7991 3547 7996
TIME...MOT...LOC 1840Z 260DEG 32KT 3541 7987 

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

$$

JJT
062 
WWUS52 KRAH 031849
SVSRAH

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
249 PM EDT Mon May 3 2021

NCC123-125-151-031915-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-210503T1915Z/
Moore NC-Montgomery NC-Randolph NC-
249 PM EDT Mon May 3 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN MOORE...NORTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY AND SOUTHEASTERN
RANDOLPH COUNTIES...
    
At 248 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Biscoe, or 8 miles northeast of Troy, moving
northeast 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.

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
northwestern Moore, northeastern Montgomery and southeastern Randolph
Counties, including the following locations... Highfalls, Steeds,
Robbins and Star.

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 3553 7955 3552 7956 3551 7954 3539 7942
      3537 7980 3548 7986 3569 7970
TIME...MOT...LOC 1848Z 246DEG 37KT 3543 7977 

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

$$

JJT
743 
WWUS52 KRAH 031856
SVSRAH

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
256 PM EDT Mon May 3 2021

NCC123-031906-
/O.CAN.KRAH.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-210503T1915Z/
Montgomery NC-
256 PM EDT Mon May 3 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY 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 700 PM EDT for central North
Carolina.

LAT...LON 3553 7955 3552 7956 3551 7954 3542 7945
      3539 7973 3549 7976 3564 7965
TIME...MOT...LOC 1856Z 248DEG 32KT 3546 7969 

$$

NCC125-151-031915-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-210503T1915Z/
Moore NC-Randolph NC-
256 PM EDT Mon May 3 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN MOORE AND SOUTHEASTERN RANDOLPH COUNTIES...
    
At 256 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 7 miles southeast of Seagrove, or 12 miles south of North
Carolina Zoo, moving east 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.

Locations impacted include...
Robbins and Highfalls. 

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 3553 7955 3552 7956 3551 7954 3542 7945
      3539 7973 3549 7976 3564 7965
TIME...MOT...LOC 1856Z 248DEG 32KT 3546 7969 

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

$$

JJT
330 
WWUS52 KRAH 031904
SVSRAH

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
304 PM EDT Mon May 3 2021

NCC125-151-031913-
/O.CAN.KRAH.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-210503T1915Z/
Moore NC-Randolph NC-
304 PM EDT Mon May 3 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN MOORE AND SOUTHEASTERN
RANDOLPH COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
                
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for central North
Carolina.

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

LAT...LON 3553 7955 3552 7956 3551 7954 3542 7945
      3539 7973 3549 7976 3564 7965
TIME...MOT...LOC 1900Z 248DEG 32KT 3548 7962 

$$

JJT

The office that day

Everything else NWS Raleigh, NC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 3, 8:48 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHForsyth57 min
May 3, 11:52 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHAlamance, Orange53 min
May 3, 12:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHEdgecombe, Franklin, Halifax, Nash, Sampson, Warren and 2 more63 min
May 3, 1:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHEdgecombe33 min
May 3, 2:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHMontgomery49 min
May 3, 4:55 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHWayne35 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 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.