Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 1989

Tornado Warning 29, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 4, 1989DeKalb County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 4, 1989, 11:35 AM CDT for DeKalb County, Alabama. It was in force for 55 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Apr 4, 1989, 11:35 AM CDT (16:35 UTC)
Expired
Apr 4, 1989, 12:30 PM CDT
In force
55 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Whole counties

County DeKalb County, AL

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 4, 11:45 AM CDTHail 1Dekalb, AL

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 4.6 hours before the alert went out and 199 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 1989-04-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 1989-04-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 146 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
645 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
67 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
146 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
146 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KHSV 041634
TORHSV
ALC049-041730-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1135 AM CDT TUE APR 4 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1230 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN NORTH ALABAMA
          ...DEKALB
 
AT 1130 AM CDT... RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WITH A POSSIBLE TORNADO IN EXTREME EASTERN MARSHALL COUNTY NEAR THE
TOWNS OF BOAZ AND HUSTLEVILLE. THE STORM HAS BEEN MOVING
EAST-NORTHEAST AT 45 TO 50 MPH.
 
THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE THROUGH THE MIDDLE TO SOUTHERN PART OF
DEKALB COUNTY... THROUGH GERALDINE AND CROSSVILLE AND FORT PAYNE.
 
THIS THUNDERSTORM HAS ALREADY DROPPED 3/4 INCH HAIL AND SHOWS
STRONG TORNADO INDICATIONS.
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SITUATION.  ACT QUICKLY.  IF YOU ARE
IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO A SHELTER BELOW GROUND IF
AVAILABLE.  OTHERWISE...GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR POSSIBLE.  AVOID WINDOWS.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES
FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING OR GET INTO A DITCH OR CULVERT.

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.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 4, 7:01 AM CDT, 4 hours 34 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
700 AM CST TUE APR 04 1989

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PARTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA
REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11AM CDT.

WEATHER RADAR AT MONTGOMERY SHOWED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
FROM NEAR ANNISTON TO SOUTHERN SHELBY COUNTY AND ON WESTWARD TO
NEAR CENTREVILLE.  THE LINE WAS MOVING SLOWLY TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST.
STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE  NEAR ANNISTON AND FROM CEkNTREVILLE
TO SOUTHEAST SHELBY COUNTY.

THESE STORMS WILL BE ENTERING COOSA AND CHILTON COUNTIES WITHIN
THE NEXT HOUR.

THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER REMAINS HIGH. PERSONS IN THE WATCH
AREA SHOULD REMAIN ON THE ALERT.
PETTIT
Local storm report, Apr 4, 7:19 AM CDT, 4 hours 16 minutes before
STORM REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
715 AM CDT TUE APR 4 1989

...TREES WERE UPROOTED ON HIGHWAY 13 I FOUR MILES NORTH OF
   ELDRIDGE IN EXTREME NORTHWEST WALKER COUNTY. THIS NORTHWEST
   ALABAMA DAMAGE PROBABLY OCCURRED ABOUT 330 AM CDT.

...LATER INFORMATION FROM THE MARION COUNTY EMA OFFICE...
   INDICATES THAT DAMAGE OCCURED ALL THE WAY ACROSS MARION
   COUNTY..FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST EARLY THIS MORNING.
   MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS IN A ONE-HALF MILE WIDE SWATH.
   EARLY REPORTS INDICATE THAT AT LEAST 10 HOMES WERE DAMAGED
   BY FALLING TREES...CRUSHING THE ROOFS. AUTOMOBILES WERE
   ALSO DAMAGED...INCLUDING A STATE TROOPER CRUISER.

   ON THE WEST SIDE OF HALEYVILLE...WHICH IS ACTUALLY IN THE
   EDGE OF MARION COUNTY...TWO MOBILE HOMES WERE DESTROYED
   AT THE GREEN ACRES MOBILE HOME PARK. ANOTHER MOBILE HOME
   WAS DAMAGED ON WEST 14TH STREET IN HALEYVILLE. STILL ANOTHER
   MOBILE HOME WAS OVERTURNED AND CARRIED 20-30 FEET ON COUNTY
   ROAD 253 IN MARION COUNTY.

   MOST OF THE MARION COUNTY DAMAGE WAS AROUND 315 TO 330 AM.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 7:37 AM CDT, 3 hours 58 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
735 AM CDT TUE APR 4 1989

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR MUCH OF NORTH
   AND CENTRAL ALABAMA UNTIL 11 AM CDT...

THUNDERSTORMS WERE GROWING MORE INTENSE OVER EAST CENTRAL
ALABAMA. AT 735 AM...THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE
IN EASTERN CLAY AND RANDOLPH COUNTY...EXTENDING FROM EAST
OF ASHLAND TO NEAR WEDOWEE. THEY WERE MOVING EAST RAPIDLY.
THEY MAY CONTAIN HAIL AND HIGH WINDS.

OTHER INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS IN CENTRAL ALABAMA OVER BIBB
AND NORTHERN CHILTON COUNTIES.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO BECOMING SEVERE AGAIN OVER PARTS
OF EAST MISSISSIPPI. SOME OF THESE WILL BE MOVING INTO
WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA LATER...POSSIBLY INTO WEST ALABAMA'S
PICKENS COUNTY.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 8:03 AM CDT, 3 hours 32 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
800 AM CST TUE APR 04 1989

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PARTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA
REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11AM CDT.

WEATHER RADAR AT MONTGOMERY SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME OF THEM
QUITE STRONG ACROSS THE NORTHERN EDGES OF CHAMBERS...TALLAPOOSA
...COOSA AND CHILTON COUNTIES.  THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TOWARD
THE EAST NORTHEAST WHILE THE AREA WAS DRIFTING SLOWLY SOUTHEAST.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED IN SOUTHERN CLAY COUNTY SOUTH
OF ASHLAND.
NEWLY FORMED THUNDERSHOWERS WERE SCATTERED ACROSS SOUTH ALABAMA.

THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER REMAINS HIGH. PERSONS IN THE WATCH
AREA SHOULD REMAIN ON THE ALERT.
PETTIT
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 8:06 AM CDT, 3 hours 29 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
800 AM CDT TUE APR 04 1989

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PARTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA
REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11AM CDT.

WEATHER RADAR AT MONTGOMERY SHOWED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME OF THEM
QUITE STRONG ACROSS THE NORTHERN EDGES OF CHAMBERS...TALLAPOOSA
...COOSA AND CHILTON COUNTIES.  THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TOWARD
THE EAST NORTHEAST WHILE THE AREA WAS DRIFTING SLOWLY SOUTHEAST.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED IN SOUTHERN CLAY COUNTY SOUTH
OF ASHLAND.
NEWLY FORMED THUNDERSHOWERS WERE SCATTERED ACROSS SOUTH ALABAMA.

THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER REMAINS HIGH. PERSONS IN THE WATCH
AREA SHOULD REMAIN ON THE ALERT.
PETTIT
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 9:53 AM CDT, 1 hour 42 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
955 AM CDT TUE APR 4 1989

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR MUCH OF NORTH
   AND CENTRAL ALABAMA UNTIL 11 AM CDT...

THUNDERSTORMS HAVE NOT BEEN AS STRONG DURING THE PAST HOUR AND THERE
ARE NO WARNINGS IN EFFECT FOR ANY PART OF THE STATE AT THIS TIME.
THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE RAPIDLY ACROSS A PORTION OF NORTHERN
ALABAMA. THESE STORMS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY
WINDS. STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER EASTERN MISSISSIPPI WEST
OF COLUMBUS. THESE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO LAMAR COUNTY
SHORTLY AFTER 10 AM.

RAINFALL HAS BEEN HEAVY OVER SECTIONS OF NORTH ALABAMA THIS MORNING.
OVER TWO INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN WINFIELD AND NEARLY TWO INCHES AT
CORDOVA. MORE THAN ONE INCH WAS RECORDED AT HODGES...HANCEVILLE
AGOAL

The office that day

Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 4, 3:01 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Marion59 min
Apr 4, 4:14 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLimestone30 min
Apr 4, 4:14 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMadison, Morgan50 min
Apr 4, 4:41 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker64 min
Apr 4, 4:41 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount64 min
Apr 4, 5:02 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPickens43 min
Apr 4, 5:04 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarshall46 min
Apr 4, 7:54 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Pickens, Tuscaloosa66 min
Apr 4, 10:00 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCullman60 min
Apr 4, 10:07 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXBlount, Cullman68 min
Apr 4, 10:11 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Pickens64 min
Apr 4, 10:21 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarshall69 min
Apr 4, 10:21 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMorgan59 min
Apr 4, 10:30 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXEtowah60 min
Apr 4, 10:36 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette54 min
Apr 4, 10:59 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarshall46 min
Apr 4, 11:21 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPickens69 min
Apr 4, 11:38 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTuscaloosa67 min
Apr 4, 11:56 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson64 min
Apr 4, 12:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount69 min
Apr 4, 12:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Hale61 min
Apr 4, 12:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXSt. Clair, Shelby64 min
Apr 4, 12:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXEtowah65 min
Apr 4, 12:49 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXShelby41 min
Apr 4, 1:01 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, Cherokee, Etowah59 min
Apr 4, 1:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXHale, Marengo60 min
Apr 4, 1:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXClay, Cleburne60 min
Apr 4, 1:32 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXHale, Marengo43 min
Apr 4, 1:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXRandolph60 min
Apr 4, 1:59 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXChilton31 min
Apr 4, 2:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarengo63 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 1989Every tornado warning in 1989Tornadoes in 1989

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.