Alert archive / Virginia / Tornado Warnings in 2022

Tornado Warning 3, NWS Morristown, TN

May 6, 2022Washington County, City of Bristol, Virginia

NWS Morristown, TN issued this tornado warning at May 6, 2022, 4:36 PM EDT for Washington County, City of Bristol, Virginia. It was in force for 39 min. 1 report 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: May 6, 2022, 4:36 PM EDT (20:36 UTC)
Expired: May 6, 2022, 5:15 PM EDT
In force: 39 min
Issued by: NWS Morristown, TN
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.0 in

Counties City of Bristol, VA, Washington County, VA

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 131 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:36 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 6, 4:55 PM EDT	HAIL 1.25	2 Ese Benhams, VA	SEVERAL TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN AS WELL.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 6, 1:41 PM EDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 8.6 hours before the alert went out and 208 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: 606 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 53 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 160 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 213 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

106 
WFUS54 KMRX 062036
TORMRX
VAC191-520-062115-
/O.NEW.KMRX.TO.W.0003.220506T2036Z-220506T2115Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Morristown TN
436 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022

The National Weather Service in Morristown has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  The City of Bristol in southwestern Virginia...
  Southwestern Washington County in southwestern Virginia...

* Until 515 PM EDT.
    
* At 435 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Bristol Va, moving east at 30 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...
  Bristol Va around 450 PM EDT.
  Abingdon around 510 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Hilander Park, Benhams and Holston.

This includes Interstate 81 in Virginia between mile markers 1 and
20.
 
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 3662 8192 3661 8193 3659 8221 3660 8228
      3670 8233 3673 8231 3678 8219 3680 8211
      3681 8211 3685 8199 3662 8186
TIME...MOT...LOC 2035Z 253DEG 28KT 3666 8224 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

DGS

1 follow-up statement

378 
WWUS54 KMRX 062051
SVSMRX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
451 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022

VAC191-520-062115-
/O.CON.KMRX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-220506T2115Z/
City of Bristol VA-Washington VA-
451 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY AND THE NORTHEASTERN CITY OF
BRISTOL...
    
At 450 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Bristol Va, moving east at 30 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...
  Abingdon around 505 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Hilander Park and Holston.

This includes Interstate 81 in Virginia between mile markers 9 and
20.
 
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.

Motorists should not take shelter under highway overpasses. If you
cannot safely drive away from the tornado, as a last resort, either
park your vehicle and stay put, or abandon your vehicle and lie down
in a low lying area and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3665 8194 3664 8203 3664 8213 3665 8218
      3670 8223 3675 8222 3678 8219 3680 8211
      3681 8211 3685 8199 3666 8188
TIME...MOT...LOC 2050Z 253DEG 28KT 3670 8209 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

DGS

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Morristown, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 6, 3:11 PM EDT, 1 hour 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 6, 3:11 PM EDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Morristown TN
311 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022

.SHORT TERM (Tonight and Saturday)...

Key Messages:

1. The severe thunderstorm threat will continue through the
remainder of the afternoon, diminishing this evening.

2. Lingering showers under an upper low on Saturday, with cooler
temperatures.

Discussion:

The threat of severe thunderstorms continues for the entire area,
with the threat shifting to the northeastern portions over the
next few hours. Radar signatures in last hour have shown less
rotation, so the tornado threat may be diminishing, although it
cannot be ruled out entirely yet in southern sections. The primary
threats through the evening will be large hail and damaging winds.
The large hail threat will be rising in the next hour or two as
WBZ heights drop with the passage of the mid/upper trough axis.
The severe threat will end once the trough moves east, which is
expected to occur around 00-02Z.

A slow-moving closed mid/upper low will track across the central
Appalachians tonight, and be located near the Chesapeake Bay area
tomorrow. Cold temps aloft and overcast cloud cover will keep
temperatures well below normal through Saturday. Light showers
under the low will be scattered to numerous through the day, with
greater coverage in northern sections.

DGS

.LONG TERM (Saturday Night through Friday)...

Key Messages:

1. Some lingering showers possible Saturday night, mainly across far
NE TN and SW VA.

2. Warming temperatures and dry conditions into the new work week.

Discussion:

On Saturday night, an upper level low ENE of the CWA will continue
to shift eastward through the weekend, all while a deepening trough
over the western CONUS begins to amplify ridging over the midwest.
Some lingering activity will be possible Saturday night as the upper
level low still meanders eastward, however, just expect light rain
showers generally in far northeast TN and southwest VA.

Heading into the work week, the synoptic pattern will continue to
amplify. This will result in upper level ridging and surface high
pressure influencing the weather across the south and central
Appalachian region. Warming temperatures can be expected into the
midweek with temperatures above normal by Tuesday through Thursday.

By the end of the week, guidance suggest the upper level low
shifting ENE at the start of the period will sink back southward.
There still remains some discrepancies among long term guidance,
nonetheless, NBM has populated with a return of some slight chance
to chance PoPs Thursday and Friday afternoon. Currently nothing
stands out enough to go against it this far out. Temperatures should
remain above normal Friday as well.

KS

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

Thunderstorms will be affecting the area through the rest of the
afternoon, tracking from SW to NE. Gusty winds are expected at the
TAF sites with the storms, along with IFR vis in heavy rainfall.
Most of this activity should exit the area by 00Z. Tonight, an
upper low pressure system will track overhead, which will lead to
low clouds developing at all sites. MVFR cigs are expected to
prevail, although IFR may be possible at TYS and moreso at TRI. A
few scattered showers will also linger into tomorrow morning at
TRI.

DGS

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Chattanooga Airport, TN             56  65  52  76  54 /  20  20   0   0   0
Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport, TN  55  61  51  72  51 /  40  40  10   0   0
Oak Ridge, TN                       55  63  50  72  51 /  40  30  10   0   0
Tri Cities Airport, TN              54  60  49  68  47 /  80  80  40  10   0

&&

.MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...NONE.
TN...NONE.
VA...NONE.
&&

Hazardous weather outlook, May 6, 2:54 PM EDT, 1 hour 42 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Morristown TN
254 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022

NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002-
005-006-008-071900-
Cherokee-Clay-Scott TN-Campbell-Claiborne-Hancock-Hawkins-
Sullivan-Johnson-Morgan-Anderson-Union-Grainger-Hamblen-
Northwest Cocke-Cocke Smoky Mountains-Northwest Greene-
Southeast Greene-Washington TN-Unicoi-Northwest Carter-
Southeast Carter-Roane-Loudon-Knox-Jefferson-Northwest Blount-
Blount Smoky Mountains-North Sevier-Sevier Smoky Mountains-
Sequatchie-Bledsoe-Rhea-Meigs-McMinn-Northwest Monroe-
Southeast Monroe-Marion-Hamilton-Bradley-West Polk-East Polk-Lee-
Wise-Scott VA-Russell-Washington VA-
254 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022 /154 PM CDT Fri May 6 2022/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest North
Carolina...east Tennessee and southwest Virginia.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

A threat of severe storms will continue across the entire area for
the remainder of the afternoon. Damaging winds and large hail are
the main threats. Isolated tornadoes are also possible. The severe
threat is expected to diminish between 6 and 9 pm EDT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter reports will continue to be needed through this afternoon.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 6, 3:55 PM EDT, 41 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
355 PM EDT FRI MAY 6 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0350 PM     HAIL             HILLSVIEW               35.39N 84.80W
05/06/2022  E1.00 INCH       MCMINN             TN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0350 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HILLSVIEW               35.39N 84.80W
05/06/2022                   MCMINN             TN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN.

&&

Local storm report, May 6, 4:04 PM EDT, 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
404 PM EDT FRI MAY 6 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0353 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 SE CHATTANOOGA        35.03N 85.20W
05/06/2022  M61 MPH          HAMILTON           TN   ASOS

            ASOS STATION KCHA CHATTANOOGA AIRPORT.

&&

Special weather statement, May 6, 4:07 PM EDT, 29 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
407 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022

NCZ060-TNZ087-100>102-062045-
Cherokee NC-West Polk TN-East Polk TN-Southeast Monroe TN-Bradley TN-
407 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Cherokee,
southeastern Bradley, Polk and southeastern Monroe Counties through
445 PM EDT...

At 407 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Charleston to 9 miles north of Eton.
Movement was east at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Cleveland, Murphy, Benton, Ducktown, Wildwood Lake, William L.
Davenport Refuge, Coker Creek, Violet, Conasauga and Big Frog
Mountain.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for southwestern
North Carolina...and east Tennessee.

&&

LAT...LON 3499 8485 3524 8482 3525 8470 3524 8470
      3525 8468 3528 8447 3524 8437 3529 8431
      3532 8403 3530 8402 3499 8402
TIME...MOT...LOC 2007Z 271DEG 46KT 3522 8475 3497 8476

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

DH

Local storm report, May 6, 4:08 PM EDT, 28 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
408 PM EDT FRI MAY 6 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0345 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CHATTANOOGA             35.07N 85.26W
05/06/2022                   HAMILTON           TN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            REPORTS OF TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ACROSS
            THE CITY.

&&

Local storm report, May 6, 4:18 PM EDT, 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
418 PM EDT FRI MAY 6 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0410 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SSW LENOIR CITY       35.78N 84.28W
05/06/2022                   LOUDON             TN   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES DOWN. BROWDER HOLLOW RD AND LOUDON
            RIDGE RD AND 1.25 MIL SOUTH OF LOUDON RIDGE
            RD/ OLD HWY 95.HARRISON RD.

&&

Local storm report, May 6, 4:36 PM EDT, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
436 PM EDT FRI MAY 6 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0431 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 N ALCOA               35.82N 83.98W
05/06/2022  M64 MPH          BLOUNT             TN   ASOS

            ASOS STATION KTYS KNOXVILLE MCGHEE TYSON.

&&

The office that day

Everything else NWS Morristown, TN issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 6, 1:07 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	MRX	Lee	5 hr
May 6, 3:08 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	MRX	Scott	52 min
May 6, 3:16 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Lee, Scott, Wise	20 min
May 6, 4:31 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Russell, Washington, City of Bristol	44 min
May 6, 4:58 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Washington, City of Bristol	34 min
May 6, 5:03 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	MRX	Washington	42 min
May 6, 5:23 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Washington	37 min
May 6, 5:27 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Lee	48 min
May 6, 5:29 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	MRX	Russell, Scott, Washington, City of Bristol	3 hr
May 6, 5:41 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Lee, Scott	49 min
May 6, 6:14 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Lee, Russell, Scott, Washington, Wise, City of Bristol and 1 more	46 min
May 6, 6:29 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Washington	46 min
May 6, 6:56 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Russell, Washington	34 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Virginia, 2022 Every tornado warning in 2022 Tornadoes in 2022

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.