Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Raleigh, NC

March 18, 20214 counties in North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at Mar 18, 2021, 5:58 PM EDT for 4 counties in North Carolina. It was in force for 62 min. 4 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, 5:58 PM EDT (21:58 UTC)
Expired: Mar 18, 2021, 7:00 PM EDT
In force: 62 min
Issued by: NWS Raleigh, NC
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

Counties Alamance County, NC, Durham County, NC, Orange County, NC, Person County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 85 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:01 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, 6:04 PM EDT	TORNADO	4 Ssw Carr, NC	NWS STORM SURVEY TEAM CONFIRMED A PATH OF DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH THAT OF AN EF-1 TORNADO ACROSS NORTHERN ORANGE COUNTY. THE TORNADO WAS ON THE GROUND FOR 6 MINUTES BEFORE LIFTING. PATH LENGTH ESTIMATED AT 4.25 MILES. PATH WIDTH APPROXIMATELY 200 YARDS.
Mar 18, 6:07 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 Sse Carr, NC	TREES DOWN AND ROOFS OFF HOUSE ALONG PENTECOST RD.
Mar 18, 6:35 PM EDT	TSTM WND GST 45	5 Nw Rougemont, NC	MEASURED AT ROXBORO PERSON COUNTY AIRPORT.
Mar 18, 6:35 PM EDT	TSTM WND GST 46	5 Nw Rougemont, NC	MEASURED AT ROXBORO PERSON COUNTY AIRPORT.

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, 10.0 hours before the alert went out and 75 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.

973 
WFUS52 KRAH 182158
TORRAH
NCC001-063-135-145-182300-
/O.NEW.KRAH.TO.W.0004.210318T2158Z-210318T2300Z/

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

The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northeastern Alamance County in central North Carolina...
  Person County in central North Carolina...
  Northern Orange County in central North Carolina...
  Northwestern Durham County in central North Carolina...

* Until 700 PM EDT.
    
* At 557 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Graham, 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...
  Rougemont around 635 PM EDT.
  Roxboro around 640 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Carr,
Bushy Fork, Moriah, Surl and Schley.

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 3622 7880 3607 7929 3611 7938 3625 7938
      3624 7915 3639 7915 3652 7880
TIME...MOT...LOC 2157Z 243DEG 32KT 3613 7935 

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

$$

26

3 follow-up statements

278 
WWUS52 KRAH 182213
SVSRAH

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

NCC001-182220-
/O.CAN.KRAH.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-210318T2300Z/
Alamance NC-
613 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN ALAMANCE 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 3622 7880 3608 7926 3624 7926 3624 7915
      3639 7915 3652 7880
TIME...MOT...LOC 2210Z 242DEG 42KT 3621 7917 

$$

NCC063-135-145-182300-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-210318T2300Z/
Person NC-Orange NC-Durham NC-
613 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT FOR PERSON...
NORTHERN ORANGE AND NORTHWESTERN DURHAM COUNTIES...
    
At 610 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Prospect Hill, 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.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  The Person County Airport in Roxboro around 625 PM EDT.
  Surl around 630 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Carr,
Bushy Fork, Surl, Schley and Moriah.

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 3622 7880 3608 7926 3624 7926 3624 7915
      3639 7915 3652 7880
TIME...MOT...LOC 2210Z 242DEG 42KT 3621 7917 

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

$$

26

182 
WWUS52 KRAH 182230
SVSRAH

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

NCC135-182239-
/O.CAN.KRAH.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-210318T2300Z/
Orange NC-
630 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN ORANGE 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 3617 7896 3624 7895 3624 7901 3639 7915
      3652 7880 3622 7880
TIME...MOT...LOC 2229Z 242DEG 24KT 3628 7899 

$$

NCC063-145-182300-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-210318T2300Z/
Person NC-Durham NC-
630 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT FOR PERSON
AND NORTHWESTERN DURHAM COUNTIES...
    
At 629 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 
was located near the Person County Airport in Roxboro, or about 8 
miles south of the city of Roxboro, moving northeast at 25 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...
  Surl around 635 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Moriah, Surl and Mayo Reservoir.

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 3617 7896 3624 7895 3624 7901 3639 7915
      3652 7880 3622 7880
TIME...MOT...LOC 2229Z 242DEG 24KT 3628 7899 

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

$$

26

510 
WWUS52 KRAH 182251
SVSRAH

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

NCC063-145-182300-
/O.EXP.KRAH.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-210318T2300Z/
Person NC-Durham NC-
651 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR PERSON AND NORTHWESTERN DURHAM COUNTIES
WILL EXPIRE AT 700 PM EDT...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 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 3617 7896 3624 7895 3624 7901 3639 7915
      3652 7880 3622 7880
TIME...MOT...LOC 2250Z 243DEG 32KT 3636 7878 

$$

26

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, 4:54 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RAH	Guilford, Randolph	66 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, 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.