Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 1996

Tornado Warning 23, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 6, 1996Barbour County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Mar 6, 1996, 8:50 AM CST for Barbour County, Alabama. It was in force for 40 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 6, 1996, 8:50 AM CST (14:50 UTC)
Expired
Mar 6, 1996, 9:30 AM CST
In force
40 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Whole counties

County Barbour County, AL

The nearest sounding before it

Eglin AFB/Valpar, FL (KVPS), launched 12:00Z, 2.8 hours before the alert went out and 187 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, Eglin AFB/Valpar, FL at 12:00Z on 1996-03-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 847 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, Eglin AFB/Valpar, FL at 12:00Z on 1996-03-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 158 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
847 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-18 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
476 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
158 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
255 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KBHM 061453
TORBHM
ALC005-061530-
 
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
850 AM CST WED MAR 6 1996
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  930 AM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN SOUTHEAST ALABAMA
 
   ...BARBOUR COUNTY
 
RADAR INDICATED A TORNADO OVER SOUTHWEST BARBOUT COUNTY SOUTH OF CLIO.
THE TORNADO WAS MOVING TO THE EAST-NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
 
THE STORM WILL PASS NEAR TEXASVILLE AND BAKERHILL.
 
 
 
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 NO 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, Mar 6, 4:37 AM CST, 4 hours 13 minutes before
ALZALL-GAZ089-090-102-120-FLZ001>015-061115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
436 AM CST (536 AM EST) WED MAR 6 1996

...RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS ALABAMA...WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA...
AND THE WESTERN PANHANDLE OF FLORIDA...

A STRONG UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM CONTINUES TO MOVE ACROSS PARTS OF
ALABAMA...AND WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA THIS MORNING.  THIS UPPER LEVEL
DISTURBANCE WAS INTERACTING WITH THE WARM...MOIST...UNSTABLE...
ACROSS THE AREA.  SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THESE REST OF
THE MORNING ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF ALABAMA AND INTO WEST CENTRAL
GEORGIA.  THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF LARGE HAIL ASSOCIATED WITH
STORMS THIS MORNING AND DAMAGE TO TRAILERS IN DALLAS COUNTY ALABAMA.
THE THREAT OF DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES IS REAL AND
YOU SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS FOR THE SEVERE WEATHER NOW.  A
TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF EAST AND SOUTHEAST ALABAMA
THROUGH 1000 AM THIS MORNING.

THIS STORM SYSTEM WILL EXIT THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON.  HOWEVER...A
SECOND STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT AND
INTO THURSDAY MORNING BRINGING ANOTHER ROUND OF SEVERE WEATHER.  THE
ATMOSPHERE ACROSS ALABAMA...WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST
FLORIDA WILL CONTINUE TO BE WARM AND UNSTABLE. THE MAIN THREAT OF
SEVERE WEATHER THROUGH THE NIGHTTIME HOURS WILL BE ACROSS THE PARTS
OF NORTH AND CENTRAL ALABAMA...BUT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
SEVERE WEATHER TO OCCUR ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF ALABAMA...WEST
CENTRAL GEORGIA AND THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE.  DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE
HAIL AND TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT

PLEASE KEEP UPDATED ON THIS DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION THROUGH
THURSDAY.
Local storm report, Mar 6, 6:00 AM CST, 2 hours 50 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
600 AM CST WED MAR 06 1996

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

510 AM     CITY OF MONTGOMERY       AL
03/06/96   MONTGOMERY

DIME SIZE HAIL SOUTH MONTGOMERY.  HOMES DAMAGED IN CITY OF MONTGOMERY.
NUMEROUS HOME AND BUSINESSES DAMAGED.  ROOFS BLOWN FROM SEVERAL
APARTMENTS AND SEVERAL OTHERS ONLY PARTIAL ROOFS REMAIN.  MOST OF THE
DAMAGE APPARENTLY OCCURRED IN THE SOUTHERN AND EASTERN PART OF THE CITY
OF MONTGOMERY ESPECIALLY IN THE NORMANDALE AREA.  NORMANDALE MALL
EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED.  SEVERAL TREES REPORTED ON HOMES. EIGHTEEN WHEELER
BLOWN OFF INTERSTATE 65.  NUMEROC
tTERSTATE 65.  NUMEROUS SIGNS BLOWN DOWN.  TWO HOME SEVERLY
DAMAGED TO THE POINT UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF MOBILE HOMES OR HOUSES.
INJURIES UNKNOWN OR NOT REPORTED AT THIS TIME.
Local storm report, Mar 6, 6:02 AM CST, 2 hours 48 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
600 AM CST WED MAR 06 1996

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

245 AM     CORDOVA                  AL    MARBLE SIZE HAI.
03/06/96   WALKER

351 AM     DALLAS?                  AL    ALABAMA POWER REPORTS A
03/06/96                                  POWER LOCKOUT BETWEEN SELMA
                                          AND DEMOPOLIS.

451 AM     DALLAS                   AL    DALLAS CO SHERIFF REPORTS A
                                          TRAILER PARK HIT JUST NORTH
                                          OF SELMA. AT LEAST 2 TRAILERS
    2                                      HIT.

...MORE REPORTS TO FOLLOW...
Local storm report, Mar 6, 6:10 AM CST, 2 hours 40 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
600 AM CST WED MAR 06 1996

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

510 AM     CITY OF MONTGOMERY       AL
03/06/96   MONTGOMERY

DIME SIZE HAIL SOUTH MONTGOMERY.  HOMES DAMAGED IN CITY OF MONTGOMERY.
NUMEROUS HOME AND BUSINESSES DAMAGED.  ROOFS BLOWN FROM SEVERAL
APARTMENTS AND SEVERAL OTHERS ONLY PARTIAL ROOFS REMAIN.  MOST OF THE
DAMAGE APPARENTLY OCCURRED IN THE SOUTHERN AND EASTERN PART OF THE CITY
OF MONTGOMERY ESPECIALLY IN THE NORMANDALE AREA.  NORMANDALE MALL
EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED.  SEVERAL TREES REPORTED ON HOMES. EIGHTEEN WHEELER
BLOWN OFF INtTERSTATE 65.  NUMEROUS SIGNS BLOWN DOWN.  TWO HOME SEVERLY
DAMAGED TO THE POINT UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF MOBILE HOMES OR HOUSES.
INJURIES UNKNOWN OR NOT REPORTED AT THIS TIME.
Special weather statement, Mar 6, 6:57 AM CST, 1 hour 53 minutes before
ALZ025-027>029-033>038-040-054-055-061400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
657 AM CST WED MAR 6 1996

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 56 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...SHELBY...TALLADEGA...CLAY...RANDOLPH...BIBB...CHILTON...
COOSA...TALLAPOOSA...CHAMBERS...PERRY...DALLAS...WILCOX...AND MONROE.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 5, 6:06 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXWalker54 min
Mar 5, 9:04 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarion41 min
Mar 5, 9:34 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXWinston41 min
Mar 5, 9:45 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFranklin, Lawrence60 min
Mar 5, 10:21 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMorgan69 min
Mar 6, 12:56 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLawrence64 min
Mar 6, 1:26 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXColbert, Lauderdale3 hr
Mar 6, 2:15 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXSumter45 min
Mar 6, 3:44 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPerry31 min
Mar 6, 3:52 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXDallas53 min
Mar 6, 3:59 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChilton46 min
Mar 6, 4:12 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXAutauga48 min
Mar 6, 4:19 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXLowndes41 min
Mar 6, 4:58 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXLowndes47 min
Mar 6, 5:03 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMontgomery57 min
Mar 6, 5:11 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXMontgomery49 min
Mar 6, 5:27 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXBullock, Macon63 min
Mar 6, 5:51 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXLee, Russell69 min
Mar 6, 6:37 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBarbour, Bullock38 min
Mar 6, 7:31 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXJefferson3 hr
Mar 6, 12:54 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXColbert, Lawrence66 min
Mar 6, 1:39 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXLawrence66 min
Mar 6, 2:10 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Walker50 min
Mar 6, 2:37 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCullman53 min
Mar 6, 2:52 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson38 min
Mar 6, 3:14 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson46 min
Mar 6, 3:19 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXWalker41 min
Mar 6, 3:26 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXSt. Clair49 min
Mar 6, 4:11 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, Talladega34 min
Mar 6, 4:40 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, Talladega35 min
Mar 6, 4:52 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXClay, Cleburne53 min
Mar 6, 4:56 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXSt. Clair49 min
Mar 6, 4:58 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLauderdale, Limestone62 min
Mar 6, 5:22 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMadison68 min
Mar 6, 5:31 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXLimestone59 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 1996Every tornado warning in 1996Tornadoes in 1996

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.