A low level jet developed in advance of a cold front moving across the Southern Appalachian Mountains during the early morning hours. Isolated severe convection developed resulting in wind damage.
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Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS MRX wrote it up.
A low level jet developed in advance of a cold front moving across the Southern Appalachian Mountains during the early morning hours. Isolated severe convection developed resulting in wind damage.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Feb 29, 9:11 PM EST, 2 hours 49 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 911 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012 .DISCUSSION... SEVERE WEATHER THREAT HAS ENDED ACROSS THE AREA. A LINE OF SHOWERS OVER MIDDLE TN AND E KY MARKS THE POSITION OF A COLD FRONT. WITH VERY DRY MIDLEVEL AIR ABOVE AN INVERSION SEEN IN UPSTREAM SOUNDINGS...DO NOT EXPECT MUCH INTENSIFICATION OF THIS LINE...AND ACTIVITY SHOULD REMAIN SCATTERED AND SHALLOW. THE UPDATE LOWERED POPS INTO THE CHANCE RANGE OVERNIGHT AND ADJUSTED TEMPS AND SKY GRIDS BASED ON LATEST OBSERVED TRENDS. && .MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...NONE. TN...NONE. VA...NONE. && DGS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 916 AM EST WED FEB 29 2012 NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002- 005-006-008-011430- 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-NW 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-RUSSELL-WASHINGTON- 916 AM EST WED FEB 29 2012 /816 AM CST WED FEB 29 2012/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...EAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE STORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS EAST TENNESSEE...EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND A SMALL PART OF SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA. HAIL UP TO QUARTER SIZE OR LARGER...DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH... AND A FEW TORNADOES ARE EXPECTED TO OCCUR WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS. A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS CONTINUED TO DEVELOP THIS MORNING ACROSS NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI AND WESTERN KENTUCKY...AHEAD OF A STRONG COLD FRONT. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE EAST INTO THE NORTHWEST SECTIONS OF THE AREA DURING THE AFTERNOON...THEN MOVE THROUGH THE REST OF THE AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE THREAT HAS BEEN UPGRADED FROM SLIGHT TO MODERATE...SO A GREATER COVERAGE OF SEVERE STORMS IS EXPECTED...WITH A GREATER THREAT OF TORNADOES AS WELL. GET PREPARED NOW FOR THIS SEVERE WEATHER EVENT...AND PLAN WHERE YOU WILL GO IF WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA. LATE TONIGHT...STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO SLOWLY WEAKEN AS THE AIR MASS BECOMES MORE STABLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE AREA SATURDAY MORNING. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME WIDESPREAD ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY ON FRIDAY. ANOTHER AREA OF ORGANIZED CONVECTION WILL DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT. THIS ACTIVITY WILL LIKELY MOVE THROUGH THE REGION FRIDAY NIGHT. THIS SECOND ROUND OF ACTIVITY ALSO POSES A THREAT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. THE MAIN THREATS BEING DAMAGING WINDS...PLUS HAIL UP TO ONE INCH IN DIAMETER. ALSO...ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS VERY LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...AND THEN AGAIN ON FRIDAY NIGHT. TG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 1054 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012 VAZ002-010430- WISE VA- 1054 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CITY OF NORTON AND WISE COUNTIES UNTIL 1130 PM EST... AT 1049 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES NORTH OF CUMBERLAND...OR 7 MILES WEST OF WHITESBURG...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF DIMES OR PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR... PARDEE AROUND 1100 PM EST. POUND AROUND 1110 PM EST. WISE AROUND 1115 PM EST. COEBURN AROUND 1120 PM EST. THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. DGS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 1057 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012 TNZ015-VAZ001-010445- HANCOCK TN-LEE VA- 1057 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LEE AND HANCOCK COUNTIES UNTIL 1145 PM EST... AT 1054 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR BLACKMONT...OR 11 MILES EAST OF PINEVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR... EWING AROUND 1105 PM EST. ROSE HILL AROUND 1115 PM EST. JONESVILLE AROUND 1125 PM EST. PENNINGTON GAP AROUND 1130 PM EST. KYLES FORD AROUND 1135 PM EST. PATTONSVILLE AROUND 1140 PM EST. THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. DGS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1116 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1055 PM HAIL 15 SW JELLICO 36.42N 84.32W
02/29/2012 E0.50 INCH CAMPBELL TN PUBLIC
PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL.
&&
KGUILLETSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 1123 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012 TNZ012-013-010515- CAMPBELL TN-SCOTT TN- 1123 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CAMPBELL AND SCOTT COUNTIES UNTIL 1215 AM EST... AT 1117 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF HUNTSVILLE...OR 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ONEIDA...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...LA FOLLETTE... JACKSBORO...ROYAL BLUE...ELK VALLEY...CARYVILLE...DISNEY AND FINCASTLE. THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. MJB
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 1133 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012 TNZ015-016-VAZ001-005-010515- HANCOCK TN-HAWKINS TN-LEE VA-SCOTT VA- 1133 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LEE...SCOTT...HAWKINS AND HANCOCK COUNTIES UNTIL 1215 AM EST... AT 1131 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR PENNINGTON GAP...OR NEAR JONESVILLE... MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF DIMES OR PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR... PATTONSVILLE AROUND 1140 PM EST. DUFFIELD AND JASPER AROUND 1150 PM EST. CLINCHPORT AND OKOLONA AROUND MIDNIGHT EST. CHURCH HILL AROUND 1205 AM EST. MOUNT CARMEL AND FORT BLACKMORE AROUND 1210 AM EST. THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. DGS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 1155 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012 TNZ012>015-036>038-010545- ANDERSON TN-CAMPBELL TN-CLAIBORNE TN-GRAINGER TN-HANCOCK TN-SCOTT TN-UNION TN- 1155 PM EST WED FEB 29 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HANCOCK...GRAINGER...CLAIBORNE... CAMPBELL...ANDERSON...UNION AND SCOTT COUNTIES UNTIL 1245 AM EST... AT 1148 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM TAZEWELL TO 11 MILES NORTHEAST OF WARTBURG...AND MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...SNEEDVILLE...HOWARD QUARTER...DISNEY...SHARPS CHAPEL...ROSEDALE...LONE MOUNTAIN...NORRIS LAKE...LAKE CITY...EVANSTON...ROSE HILL AND NORRIS. MJB
The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 89 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:59 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A few trees and power lines were reported down in Gate City.
This small tornado developed in the Combs Valley area from a supercell moving to the east through southwest Virginia. The tornado started on a hill crossed much of a farm, downed some trees and causing damage to several farm buildings. The tornado dissipated while on this same farm.
Several trees were reported down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Virginia, 2012Warnings in Virginia, March 2012
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 374013, 374127, 374014.