Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 8, NWS Raleigh, NC

March 18, 2021Halifax County, Vance County, Warren County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this tornado warning at Mar 18, 2021, 7:11 PM EDT for Halifax County, Vance County, Warren County, North Carolina. It was in force for 54 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, 7:11 PM EDT (23:11 UTC)
Expired
Mar 18, 2021, 8:05 PM EDT
In force
54 min
Issued by
NWS Raleigh, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Halifax County, NC, Vance County, NC, Warren County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 98 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:16 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, 4:45 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC4 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 148 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.

883 
WFUS52 KRAH 182311
TORRAH
NCC083-181-185-190015-
/O.NEW.KRAH.TO.W.0008.210318T2311Z-210319T0015Z/

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

The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Vance County in central North Carolina...
  Northern Warren County in central North Carolina...
  Northwestern Halifax County in central North Carolina...

* Until 815 PM EDT.
    
* At 711 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Oxford, 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.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Henderson around 715 PM EDT.
  Warrenton and Norlina around 745 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Macon,
Steele Creek Marina & Campground, Middleburg, Kerr Lake and Lake
Gaston.

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 3654 7790 3651 7790 3650 7782 3648 7776
      3647 7776 3629 7851 3646 7851 3650 7850
      3654 7839
TIME...MOT...LOC 2311Z 250DEG 32KT 3640 7854 

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

$$

26
4 follow-up statements
512 
WWUS52 KRAH 182335
SVSRAH

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

NCC083-181-185-190015-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-210319T0015Z/
Vance NC-Warren NC-Halifax NC-
735 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM EDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL VANCE...NORTHERN WARREN AND NORTHWESTERN HALIFAX COUNTIES...
    
At 735 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 
was located near Drewry, or 8 miles northwest of Warrenton, moving 
east 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...
  Warrenton around 740 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Macon,
Drewry, Middleburg, Lake Gaston and Wise.

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 3654 7790 3651 7790 3650 7782 3648 7776
      3647 7776 3633 7841 3642 7833 3647 7832
      3654 7831
TIME...MOT...LOC 2335Z 254DEG 33KT 3649 7826 

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

$$

26
289 
WWUS52 KRAH 182346
SVSRAH

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

NCC181-182355-
/O.CAN.KRAH.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-210319T0015Z/
Vance NC-
746 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL VANCE 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 3654 7790 3651 7790 3650 7782 3648 7776
      3647 7777 3644 7790 3636 7829 3638 7829
      3654 7821
TIME...MOT...LOC 2345Z 254DEG 33KT 3651 7814 

$$

NCC083-185-190015-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-210319T0015Z/
Warren NC-Halifax NC-
746 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM EDT FOR NORTHERN
WARREN AND NORTHWESTERN HALIFAX COUNTIES...
    
At 745 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 
was located near Wise, or 7 miles north of Warrenton, moving east 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 tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
northern Warren and northwestern Halifax Counties, including the
following locations... Macon, Lake Gaston, Wise, Southpointe And
Morningstar Marinas 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3654 7790 3651 7790 3650 7782 3648 7776
      3647 7777 3644 7790 3636 7829 3638 7829
      3654 7821
TIME...MOT...LOC 2345Z 254DEG 33KT 3651 7814 

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

$$

26
058 
WWUS52 KRAH 182352
SVSRAH

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

NCC083-185-190015-
/O.CON.KRAH.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-210319T0015Z/
Warren NC-Halifax NC-
752 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM EDT FOR NORTHERN
WARREN AND NORTHWESTERN HALIFAX COUNTIES...
    
At 752 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 
was located near Lake Gaston, or 10 miles northeast of Warrenton, 
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...
Warrenton, Norlina, Littleton, Macon, Lake Gaston, Wise, Southpointe
And Morningstar Marinas 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3654 7790 3651 7790 3650 7782 3648 7776
      3647 7777 3644 7790 3638 7819 3642 7823
      3654 7814
TIME...MOT...LOC 2352Z 250DEG 32KT 3653 7806 

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

$$

26
775 
WWUS52 KRAH 190005
SVSRAH

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

NCC083-185-190014-
/O.CAN.KRAH.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-210319T0015Z/
Warren NC-Halifax NC-
805 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN WARREN AND NORTHWESTERN HALIFAX
COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

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.

Remember, a Tornado Warning still remains in effect for southern 
Warren County until 830 PM EDT. 

LAT...LON 3654 7790 3651 7790 3650 7782 3648 7776
      3647 7777 3644 7790 3638 7819 3642 7823
      3654 7814
TIME...MOT...LOC 0004Z 250DEG 32KT 3657 7793 

$$

26

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 18, 3:55 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHDavidson, Forsyth65 min
Mar 18, 4:41 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHDavidson, Forsyth, Guilford31 min
Mar 18, 4:54 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHGuilford, Randolph66 min
Mar 18, 5:07 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHHalifax23 min
Mar 18, 5:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAlamance, Chatham, Davidson, Guilford, Randolph62 min
Mar 18, 5:34 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHAlamance, Guilford26 min
Mar 18, 5:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHMontgomery, Randolph, Stanly38 min
Mar 18, 5:58 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHAlamance, Durham, Orange, Person62 min
Mar 18, 6:07 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAnson, Richmond38 min
Mar 18, 6:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAlamance, Orange66 min
Mar 18, 6:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHMontgomery, Moore, Randolph, Stanly47 min
Mar 18, 6:39 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHDurham, Orange34 min
Mar 18, 6:41 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHGranville34 min
Mar 18, 6:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAnson, Hoke, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond45 min
Mar 18, 6:57 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHGranville48 min
Mar 18, 6:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAlamance, Chatham, Orange, Randolph21 min
Mar 18, 7:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHDurham, Orange63 min
Mar 18, 7:25 PM EDTTornado WarningRAHFranklin, Vance, Warren47 min
Mar 18, 7:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHCumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Moore45 min
Mar 18, 7:41 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRAHHoke, Scotland64 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.