Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Raleigh, NC

March 18, 2021Guilford County, Randolph County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at Mar 18, 2021, 4:54 PM EDT for Guilford County, Randolph County, North Carolina. It was in force for 66 min. 3 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: Mar 18, 2021, 4:54 PM EDT (20:54 UTC)
Expired: Mar 18, 2021, 6:00 PM EDT
In force: 66 min
Issued by: NWS Raleigh, NC
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

Counties Guilford County, NC, Randolph County, NC

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 112 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:54 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
Mar 18, 5:00 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 Nnw Archdale, NC	TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF HIGH POINT, INCLUDING AT SOUTH MAIN ST AND MODEL FARM RD. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE ALSO REPORTED IN THE AREA OF I-85 AND MAIN ST, WITH REPORTS OF ROOFS OFF BUILDINGS IN THE AREA. A POSSIBLE FUNNEL CLOUD IS ALSO BEING RE
Mar 18, 5:00 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 Nnw Archdale, NC	TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ON MODEL FARM RD.
Mar 18, 5:01 PM EDT	TORNADO	2 Nnw Archdale, NC	NWS STORM SURVEY TEAM OBSERVED TREE DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH THAT OF AN EF-0 TORNADO. TORNADO WAS ON THE GROUND FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES BEFORE LIFTING. PATH LENGTH ESTIMATED AT 1 MILE, PATH WIDTH ESTIMATED AT 100 YARDS.

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
Mar 18, 4:45 PM EDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	4 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 11 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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 486 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 67 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 470 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 562 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

843 
WFUS52 KRAH 182054
TORRAH
NCC081-151-182200-
/O.NEW.KRAH.TO.W.0002.210318T2054Z-210318T2200Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
454 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northwestern Randolph County in central North Carolina...
  Central Guilford County in central North Carolina...

* Until 600 PM EDT.
    
* At 454 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over High Point, moving northeast at 40 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...
  Greensboro around 525 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Haw
River State Park, Jamestown, Trinity, Lake Townsend Marina and Lake
Townsend.

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 3624 7953 3622 7953 3586 7992 3589 8005
      3599 8004 3625 7982
TIME...MOT...LOC 2054Z 220DEG 34KT 3593 8004 

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

$$

Leins

4 follow-up statements

874 
WWUS52 KRAH 182122
SVSRAH

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
522 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

NCC151-182131-
/O.CAN.KRAH.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-210318T2200Z/
Randolph NC-
522 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN RANDOLPH 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 central North
Carolina.

LAT...LON 3624 7953 3622 7953 3598 7979 3599 7986
      3607 7991 3625 7978
TIME...MOT...LOC 2121Z 220DEG 30KT 3606 7977 

$$

NCC081-182200-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-210318T2200Z/
Guilford NC-
522 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EDT FOR EASTERN
GUILFORD COUNTY...
    
At 521 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Greensboro, 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...
  McLeansville around 535 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Haw
River State Park, Lake Townsend Marina, Lake Townsend, Lake Jeanette
Marina and Monticello.

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 3624 7953 3622 7953 3598 7979 3599 7986
      3607 7991 3625 7978
TIME...MOT...LOC 2121Z 220DEG 30KT 3606 7977 

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

$$

Leins

836 
WWUS52 KRAH 182133
SVSRAH

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
533 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

NCC081-182200-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-210318T2200Z/
Guilford NC-
533 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN GUILFORD COUNTY...
    
At 533 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near McLeansville, or 11 miles northeast of Greensboro,
moving northeast at 30 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 tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
northeastern Guilford County, including the following locations...
Lake Townsend Marina, Lake Townsend and Monticello.

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 3624 7953 3622 7953 3609 7967 3612 7974
      3616 7978 3625 7973
TIME...MOT...LOC 2133Z 228DEG 25KT 3617 7965 

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

$$

Leins

567 
WWUS52 KRAH 182142
SVSRAH

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
542 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

NCC081-182200-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-210318T2200Z/
Guilford NC-
542 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN GUILFORD COUNTY...
    
At 541 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 7 miles northeast of McLeansville, or 8 miles southwest
of Camp Springs, moving northeast at 30 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 tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
northeastern Guilford County.

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 3624 7953 3622 7953 3614 7962 3617 7966
      3619 7967 3624 7967
TIME...MOT...LOC 2141Z 228DEG 25KT 3621 7960 

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

$$

Leins

739 
WWUS52 KRAH 182151
SVSRAH

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
551 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

NCC081-182201-
/O.EXP.KRAH.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-210318T2200Z/
Guilford NC-
551 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN GUILFORD COUNTY WILL EXPIRE
AT 600 PM EDT...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.  However gusty
winds are still possible with this thunderstorm.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for central North
Carolina.

LAT...LON 3624 7953 3622 7953 3614 7962 3617 7966
      3619 7967 3624 7967
TIME...MOT...LOC 2151Z 220DEG 34KT 3627 7953 

$$

Leins

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 18, 3:55 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Davidson, Forsyth	65 min
Mar 18, 4:41 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford	31 min
Mar 18, 5:07 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Halifax	23 min
Mar 18, 5:13 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Alamance, Chatham, Davidson, Guilford, Randolph	62 min
Mar 18, 5:34 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Alamance, Guilford	26 min
Mar 18, 5:37 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Montgomery, Randolph, Stanly	38 min
Mar 18, 5:58 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Alamance, Durham, Orange, Person	62 min
Mar 18, 6:07 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Anson, Richmond	38 min
Mar 18, 6:09 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Alamance, Orange	66 min
Mar 18, 6:13 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Stanly	47 min
Mar 18, 6:39 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Durham, Orange	34 min
Mar 18, 6:41 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Granville	34 min
Mar 18, 6:45 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Anson, Hoke, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond	45 min
Mar 18, 6:57 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Granville	48 min
Mar 18, 6:59 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Alamance, Chatham, Orange, Randolph	21 min
Mar 18, 7:11 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Halifax, Vance, Warren	54 min
Mar 18, 7:12 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Durham, Orange	63 min
Mar 18, 7:25 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Franklin, Vance, Warren	47 min
Mar 18, 7:30 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Moore	45 min
Mar 18, 7:41 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Hoke, Scotland	64 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 2021 Every tornado warning in 2021 Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.