Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 1990
Tornado Warning 24, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Feb 10, 1990, 2:54 AM CST for Talladega County, Alabama. It was in force for 66 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
- Feb 10, 1990, 2:54 AM CST (08:54 UTC)
- Expired
- Feb 10, 1990, 4:00 AM CST
- In force
- 66 min
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
- Area
- Whole counties
County Talladega 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 10, 3:15 AM CST | Thunderstorm Wind 0 | Talladega, 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
Centreville/Bibb, AL (KCKL), launched 00:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 110 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 897 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -14 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 603 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 50 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 282 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 340 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.5
- Supercell composite
- 7.7
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KBHM 100855 RRA TORBHM ALC121-101000- BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 254 AM CST SAT FEB 10 1990 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 400 AM CST FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS... IN NORTH ALABAMA ...TALLADEGA COUNTY AT 255 AM CST A TORNADO WAS INDICATED BY RADAR MOVING INTO WESTERN TALLADEGA COUNTY AT 50 MPH.
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, Feb 9, 10:48 PM CST, 4 hours 6 minutes before
ALZ010-100600- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL 1055 PM CST FRI FEB 9 1990 ...TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4AM CST FOR COOSA AND TALLAPOOSA COUNTIES... ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 11PM UNTIL 6AM FOR PARTS OF SOUTHWEST ALABAMA... AT 10 55PM CST WEATHER RADAR AT MONTGOMERY SHOWED SCATTERED LIGHT TO MODERATE SHOWERS OVER PARTS OF EAST CENTRAL THROUGH SOUTH ALABAMA. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING OVER NORTH ALABAMA SOUTHWESTWARD INTO MISSISSIPPI. THE SHOWERS AND THUNDER STORMS WERE MOVING RAPIDLY TOWARD THE NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 50 MPH. THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER OVER ALABAMA FOR TONIGHT IS HIGH AND PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREAS AS WELL A>S OTHER PARTS OF ALABAMA SHOULD REMAIN ON THE ALERT. PETTIT
Special weather statement, Feb 10, 12:13 AM CST, 2 hours 41 minutes before
ALZ010-100800- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL 1215 AM CST FRI FEB 10 1990 ...TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4AM CST FOR COOSA AND TALLAPOOSA COUNTIES... ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 11PM UNTIL 6AM FOR PARTS OF SOUTHWEST ALABAMA... AT 1215 AM CST WEATHER RADAR AT MONTGOMERY SHOWED SCATTERED LIGHT TO MODERATE THUNDERSHOWERS OVER PARTS OF EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA EXTENDING SOUTHWARD INTO THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE. THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS WERE MOVING RAPIDLY TOWARD THE NORTHEAST. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE FROM NORTH ALABAMA SOUTHWESTWARD INTO MISSISSIPPI. THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER OVER ALABAMA FOR TONIGHT IS HIGH. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE LdIKELY TO SPREAD ACROSS SOUTH ALABAMA LATER TONIGHT. PERSONS IN SOUTH ALABAMA SHOULD REMAIN ON THE ALERT. PETTIT
Local storm report, Feb 10, 12:16 AM CST, 2 hours 38 minutes before
STORM REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1215 AM CST SAT FEB 10 1990 ...AT 915 PM CST A HAM RADIO OPERATOR REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD 5 MILES EAST OF FAYETTE IN FAYETTE COUNTY. ...TREES WERE REPORTED DOWN ACROSS HIGHWAY 18 WEST IN LAMAR COUNTY AROUND 1045 PM CST...ALSO WINDS WERE ESTIMATED AT 50 TO 60 MPH. REPORT FROM LAMAR COUNTY EMA AT 1120 PM CST. ...AT 1120 PM CST WALKER COUNTY EMA REPORTS TREES DOWN ACROSS HIGHWAY 78 IN THE CARBON HILL AND ELDRIDGE AREAS IN WALKER COUNTY. ...AT 1123 PM CST REPORT FROM CARBON HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT VIA HAM RADIO OPERATORS OF FUNNEL CLOUD OVER CARBON MILL MOVING NORTHEAST AROUND 55 MPH. ...AT 1124 PM CST BIRMINGHAM STATE RELAYS REPORT OF TREES DOWN IN JASPER. ...AT 1125 PM MARBLE SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN THE ARLEY AREA IN WINSTON COUNTY AND FUNNEL CLOUDS REPORTED OVER DUNCANS BRIDGE IN SOUTHEAST WINSTON COUNTY. ...AT 1132 PM CST REPORTS OF FUNNEL CLOUD 6 MILES EAST NORTHEAST OF ARLEY IN THE SMITH LAKE AREA OF WINSTON COUNTY...MOVING NORTHEAST. HOUSE ALSO REPORTED STRUCK BY LIGHTNING AND BURNED DOWN. ...AT 1135 PM CST HAM RADIO OPERATORS REPORT 45 MPH WINDS AND BLUE LIGHTNING 7 MILES NORTH ON MANCHESTER IN WALKER COUNTY. ...AT 1140 PM CST...FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED MOVING FROM PARISH TOWARD JASPER IN WALKER COUNTY BY WALKER COUNTY EMA. ...AT 1143 PM CST NUMEROUS REPORTS OF FUNNEL CLOUDS SIGHTED NEAR LEWIS SMILTH LAKE AND IN SOUTHERN CULLMAN COUNTY. ...AT 1146 PM CST PEA SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN VINEMONT IN CULLMAN COUNTY. TREES AND POWER LINES REPORTED DOWN AT SAME TIME IN THE HELICON AREA. REPORT RECEIVED FROM HAM RADIO OPERATORS. ...AT 1155 PM TREES REPORTEDg FALLING 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF BERRY ALONG THE WALKER...FAYETTE COUNTY LINE. REPORT RECEIVED FROM HAM RADIO OPERATORS. ...AT 1200 AM CST PEA SIZE HAIL AND 45 MPH GUSTS REPORTED 7 MILES NORTH OF MANCHESTER IN WALKER COUNTY.
Special weather statement, Feb 10, 1:55 AM CST, 59 minutes before
ALZALL-100830- SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 150 AM CST SAT FEB 10 1990 THE TORNADO WATCH THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ALABAMA HAS BEEN UPDATED TO REMOVE SECTIONS OF NORTHWEST ALABAMA AND TO INCLUDE SECTIONS OF SOUTH ALABAMA. THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES OF ALABAMA ARE NOT UNDER ANY TORNADO WATCH AT THE PRESENT TIME...LAUDERDALE...COLBERT...LAWRENCE...FRANKLIN...LIMESTONE... MADISON...MORGAN...JACKSON...MARSHALL...DEKALB...CULLMAN...MARION... LAMAR...WINSTON...BARBOUR...DALE...HENRY...AND HOUSTON. THE REMAINDER OF THE STATE REMAINS UNDER A TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 6 AM THIS MORNING. ROUGHLY...IF YOU LIVE IN EXTREME NORTH ALABAMA AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST ALABAMA YOU ARE NOT UNDER A TORNADO WATCH. HOWEVER....REPEATING ONCE AGAIN THE MAJORITY OF ALABAMA IS UNDER A TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 6AM THIS MORNING. AT 145 AM WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO WEST-mCENTRAL ALABAMA. THIS LINE WILL MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTH ALABAMA THE REMAINDER OF TONIGHT.
Local storm report, Feb 10, 2:38 AM CST, 16 minutes before
STORM REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 235 AM CST SAT FEB 10 1990 ...AT 140 AM CST POWER OUTAGE IN PICKENS COUNTY AND ONE BUILDING DAMAGED. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IN EFFECT. ...200 AM MARBLE SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS IN HALE COUNTY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IN EFFECT. ...200 AM 65 MPH WINDS AT TUSCALOOSA AIRPORT IN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY. ...200-215 AM WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES AND NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ACROSS TUSCALOOSA COUNTY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IN EFFECT. ...205 AM WIND GUSTED BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH AT RADIO STATION IN MARENGO COUNTY NEAR DEMOPOLIS COUNTY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IN EFFECT. ...225 AM WIND GUSTED TO 65 MPH AT CENTREVILLE IN BIBB COUNTY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IN EFFECT.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 9, 8:29 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Lauderdale | 61 min |
| Feb 9, 8:45 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Lamar | 30 min |
| Feb 9, 8:56 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Fayette | 34 min |
| Feb 9, 9:23 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Lamar | 37 min |
| Feb 9, 9:30 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Fayette | 30 min |
| Feb 9, 9:43 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Walker | 47 min |
| Feb 9, 10:08 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Limestone | 27 min |
| Feb 9, 10:22 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Madison | 68 min |
| Feb 9, 10:53 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Jackson, Madison | 37 min |
| Feb 9, 11:02 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Walker | 28 min |
| Feb 9, 11:16 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Colbert, Lauderdale | 4 hr |
| Feb 9, 11:28 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Cullman, Winston | 47 min |
| Feb 9, 11:35 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Walker | 40 min |
| Feb 9, 11:35 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Lamar | 40 min |
| Feb 10, 12:53 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Walker | 22 min |
| Feb 10, 12:53 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Jefferson | 37 min |
| Feb 10, 1:06 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Pickens | 69 min |
| Feb 10, 1:22 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Greene | 68 min |
| Feb 10, 1:30 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence | 5 hr |
| Feb 10, 1:30 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Morgan | 5 hr |
| Feb 10, 1:30 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Lauderdale | 5 hr |
| Feb 10, 1:30 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | DeKalb, Jackson | 5 hr |
| Feb 10, 1:33 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Tuscaloosa | 57 min |
| Feb 10, 1:53 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Hale | 67 min |
| Feb 10, 2:00 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Greene, Hale | 35 min |
| Feb 10, 2:06 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Marengo | 29 min |
| Feb 10, 2:19 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Jefferson | 56 min |
| Feb 10, 2:20 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Bibb | 55 min |
| Feb 10, 2:32 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Shelby | 58 min |
| Feb 10, 2:39 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Chilton | 51 min |
| Feb 10, 2:40 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Jefferson, Shelby | 30 min |
| Feb 10, 2:50 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | St. Clair | 55 min |
| Feb 10, 3:11 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Clay | 64 min |
| Feb 10, 3:11 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Calhoun | 64 min |
| Feb 10, 3:33 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Cleburne, Randolph | 37 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 1990Every tornado warning in 1990Tornadoes in 1990
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.