Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 1994

Tornado Warning 55, NWS Birmingham, AL

November 28, 1994Marengo County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Nov 28, 1994, 12:59 AM CST for Marengo County, Alabama. It was in force for 31 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Nov 28, 1994, 12:59 AM CST (06:59 UTC)
Expired
Nov 28, 1994, 1:30 AM CST
In force
31 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Whole counties

County Marengo County, AL

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 7.0 hours before the alert went out and 140 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, Birmingham, AL at 00:00Z on 1994-11-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 313 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Birmingham, AL at 00:00Z on 1994-11-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 189 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
313 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-20 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
761 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
189 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
189 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KBHM 280659
TORBHM
ALC091-280730-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1259 AM CST MON NOV 28 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  130 AM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA
 
   ...MARENGO COUNTY
 
AT 1255 AM CST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS OVER MARENGO COUNTY. A TORNADO WAS INDICATED OVER SOUTHERN
MARENGO COUNTY IN THE GENERAL VICINITY OF DIXONS MILL. THESE STORMS WERE
ALL MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
 
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A
BASEMENT.  GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.
IF vNO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM
SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  USE BLANKETS...PILLOWS...
OR CUSHIONS TO COVER YOUR BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.

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, Nov 27, 8:34 PM CST, 4 hours 25 minutes before
ALZ011>029-031>035-039-280335-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
834 PM CST SUN NOV 27 1994

...TORNADO WATCH FOR MUCH OF NORTH AND CENTRAL ALABAMA UNTIL 1 AM.

AT 830 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS INDICATED INTENSE
THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...MOVING RAPIDLY TOWARDS
MARION COUNTY AND OTHER PARTS OF NORTHWESTERN ALABAMA.

THESE STORMS WILL BE MOVING THROUGH SHOTTSVILLE...HACKLEBURG...AND
HAMILTON BY 900 PM.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS APPEAR TO BE PRODUCING VERY
STRONG WINDS AS THEY MOVE TO THE EAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

IF THESE INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS HOLD TOGETHER...A WARNING WILL LIKELY BE
REQUIRED AS THEY MOVE INTO NORTHWESTERN ALABAMA.

WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A
STRONG BUILDING.  DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.  DON'T USE TELEPHONES
OR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY UNTIL THE STORM
HAS PASSED.  MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS.
Special weather statement, Nov 27, 10:29 PM CST, 2 hours 30 minutes before
ALZ040-054-280630-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
1029 PM CST SUN NOV 27 1994

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR DALLAS AND WILCOX COUNTIES UNTIL 5:00 AM
MONDAY MORNING...

AT 10:25 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT MONTGOMERY INDICATED THAT
A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH A COLD FRONT LOCATED TO THE
WEST OF THE STATE WAS MOVING THROUGH THE NORTHWEST THIRD OF ALABAMA.
THE LEADING EDGE OF THE PRECIPITATION WAS LOCATED THROUGH
BIRMINGHAM...AND EXTENDED SOUTHWEST TO SOUTH OF TUSCALOOSA AND INTO
MISSISSIPPI WITH NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING BEHIND THIS LEADING
EDGE. SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE GENERATING SEVERE WEATHER...WITH
HIGH WIND GUSTS...LARGE HAIL...AND EVEN TORNADOES EITHER HAVING BEEN
SPOTTED OR INDICATED BY RADAR.

PERSONS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE
POTENTIALLY SEVERE CONDITIONS WHICH EXIST...AND NEED TO TAKE NECESSARY
PRECAUTIONS AS THESE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO APPROACH THE LOCAL AREA.
Special weather statement, Nov 27, 10:33 PM CST, 2 hours 26 minutes before
ALZ040-054-280630-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
1029 PM CST SUN NOV 27 1994

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR DALLAS AND WILCOX COUNTIES UNTIL 5:00 AM
MONDAY MORNING...

AT 10:25 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT MONTGOMERY INDICATED THAT
A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH A COLD FRONT LOCATED TO THE
WEST OF THE STATE WAS MOVING THROUGH THE NORTHWEST THIRD OF ALABAMA.
THE LEADING EDGE OF THE PRECIPITATION WAS LOCATED THROUGH
BIRMINGHAM...AND EXTENDED SOUTHWEST TO SOUTH OF TUSCALOOSA AND INTO
MISSISSIPPI WITH NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING BEHIND THIS LEADING
EDGE. SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE GENERATING SEVERE WEATHER...WITH
HIGH WIND GUSTS...LARGE HAIL...AND EVEN TORNADOES EITHER HAVING BEEN
SPOTTED OR INDICATED BY RADAR.

PERSONS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE
POTENTIALLY SEVERE CONDITIONS WHICH EXIST...AND NEED TO TAKE NECESSARY
PRECAUTIONS AS THESE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO APPROACH THE LOCAL AREA.
Special weather statement, Nov 28, 12:39 AM CST, 20 minutes before
ALZ040-054-280840-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
1239 AM CST MON NOV 28 1994

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR DALLAS AND WILCOX COUNTIES UNTIL 5:00 AM
MONDAY MORNING...

AT 12:30 AM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT MONTGOMERY INDICATED 60
MILE WIDE BAND OF PRECIPITATION EXTENDING FROM THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF
ALABAMA SOUTHWEST THROUGH WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA AND INTO SOUTHEST
MISSISSIPPI. SEVERAL THUNDERSTORMS WERE IMBEDDED IN THIS LINE...THE
STRONGEST OF WHICH WERE LOCATED IN CHOCTAW COUNTY OF SOUTHWEST
ALABAMA...APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES EAST OF THE ALABAMA-MISSISSIPPI STATE
LINE AND IN EXTREME EASTERN SUMTER COUNTY APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES WEST
OF DEMOPOLIS. THIS LINE CONTINUED TO MOVE TO THE EAST-NORTHEAST AT 40
MPH.

PERSONS IN AND NEAR THE TORNADO WATCH AREA MUST BE AWARE THAT SOME OF
THE STORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM HAVE BEEN SEVERE AND THAT
POTENTIALLY SEVERE CONDITIONS REMAIN AS THE THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH THE
LOCAL AREA.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IN A HOME OR
BUSINESS IS AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE.  AVOID
WINDOWS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...MEANWHILE...PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN
EXCESS OF 55 MPH... DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY
HEAVY RAIN.
Special weather statement, Nov 28, 12:42 AM CST, 17 minutes before
ALZ040-054-280840-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
1239 AM CST MON NOV 28 1994

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR DALLAS AND WILCOX COUNTIES UNTIL 5:00 AM
MONDAY MORNING...

AT 12:30 AM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT MONTGOMERY INDICATED 60
MILE WIDE BAND OF PRECIPITATION EXTENDING FROM THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF
ALABAMA SOUTHWEST THROUGH WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA AND INTO SOUTHEST
MISSISSIPPI. SEVERAL THUNDERSTORMS WERE IMBEDDED IN THIS LINE...THE
STRONGEST OF WHICH WERE LOCATED IN CHOCTAW COUNTY OF SOUTHWEST
ALABAMA...APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES EAST OF THE ALABAMA-MISSISSIPPI STATE
LINE AND IN EXTREME EASTERN SUMTER COUNTY APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES WEST
OF DEMOPOLIS. THIS LINE CONTINUED TO MOVE TO THE EAST-NORTHEAST AT 40
MPH.

PERSONS IN AND NEAR THE TORNADO WATCH AREA MUST BE AWARE THAT SOME OF
THE STORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM HAVE BEEN SEVERE AND THAT
POTENTIALLY SEVERE CONDITIONS REMAIN AS THE THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH THE
LOCAL AREA.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IN A HOME OR
BUSINESS IS AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE.  AVOID
WINDOWS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...MEANWHILE...PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN
EXCESS OF 55$ MPH... DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY
HEAVY RAIN.
Special weather statement, Nov 28, 12:51 AM CST, 8 minutes before
ALZ001>029-031>035-039-280755-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1251 AM CST MON NOV 28 1994

...TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL
ALABAMA TIL 500 AM CST...

THE TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN
NORTH AND CENTRAL ALABAMA.

IN NORTH ALABAMA...

LIMESTONE...MADISON...LAWRENCE...MORGAN...MARION...WINSTON...AND
CULLMAN COUTNIES.

IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...

LAMAR...FAYETTE AND PICKENS.

IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...

WALKER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 27, 6:04 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXLamar41 min
Nov 27, 6:21 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXPickens54 min
Nov 27, 7:13 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXFayette47 min
Nov 27, 7:14 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXColbert, Lauderdale61 min
Nov 27, 8:47 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar43 min
Nov 27, 8:54 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarion51 min
Nov 27, 9:10 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLimestone50 min
Nov 27, 9:44 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXWinston31 min
Nov 27, 10:04 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Marion, Walker56 min
Nov 27, 10:12 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPickens63 min
Nov 27, 10:16 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXMorgan44 min
Nov 27, 10:27 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCullman63 min
Nov 27, 10:41 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXWalker, Winston34 min
Nov 27, 10:48 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMadison57 min
Nov 27, 10:48 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLimestone12 min
Nov 27, 11:14 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTuscaloosa61 min
Nov 27, 11:52 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson53 min
Nov 28, 12:25 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Tuscaloosa50 min
Nov 28, 12:50 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson40 min
Nov 28, 1:09 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXShelby51 min
Nov 28, 1:09 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPerry51 min
Nov 28, 1:31 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChilton44 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 1994Every tornado warning in 1994Tornadoes in 1994

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.