Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2005

Tornado Warning 6, NWS Huntsville, AL

January 13, 2005Colbert County, Franklin County, Alabama; Franklin County, Tennessee

NWS Huntsville, AL issued this tornado warning at Jan 13, 2005, 10:10 AM CST for Colbert County, Franklin County, Alabama; Franklin County, Tennessee. It was in force for 255 days. 4 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Jan 13, 2005, 10:10 AM CST (16:10 UTC)
Expired: Sep 25, 2005, 3:30 PM CDT
In force: 255 days
Issued by: NWS Huntsville, AL
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Colbert County, AL, Franklin County, AL, Franklin County, TN

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 36 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:12 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Jun 20, 5:08 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	5 Nw Winchester, TN	TREE DOWN ON HIGHWAY 130.
Aug 16, 5:20 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Cowan, TN	A TREE AND A FEW POWER LINES BLOWN DOWN BY THUNDERSTORM WINDS.
Aug 16, 6:25 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Estill Springs, TN	LARGE TREE DOWNED IN ESTILL SPRINGS AND ANOTHER DOWNED 10 E ESTILL SPRINGS NEAR ALTO
Sep 15, 5:27 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Cowan, TN	POWER LINES DOWN

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Jan 13, 7:15 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 4.2 hours before the alert went out and 106 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 2 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -152 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 972 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 69 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 482 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 632 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 
WFUS54 KHUN 131610
TORHUN
TNC051-131645-
/X.NEW.KHUN.TO.W.0006.050113T1610Z-050113T1645Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1010 AM CST THU JAN 13 2005

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  FRANKLIN COUNTY IN TENNESSEE

* UNTIL 1045 AM CST

* AT 1007 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  RAPIDLY DEVELOPING TORNADO 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ESTILL             
  SPRINGS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE...
  ESTILL SPRINGS.
  COWAN.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

LAT...LON 3535 8627 3510 8627 3511 8587 3536 8605

$$

KULA

3 follow-up statements

000 
WFUS54 KHUN 251954
TORHUN
ALC033-059-252100-
/O.NEW.KHUN.TO.W.0006.050925T1954Z-050925T2100Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
254 PM CDT SUN SEP 25 2005

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  COLBERT COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA
  FRANKLIN COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA

* UNTIL 400 PM CDT

* AT 249 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR
  RUSSELLVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE...
  RUSSELLVILLE.
  LITTLEVILLE.
  MUSCLE SHOALS.
  LEIGHTON.

THIS STORM SHOWS STRONG ROTATION AND MAY PRODUCE A TORNADO AT ANY
TIME. DO NOT WAIT...GO TO A SAFE PLACE NOW PUT AS MANY WALLS AS
POSSIBLE BETWEEN YOU AND THE STORM.

LAT...LON 3435 8808 3435 8758 3460 8755 3477 8746
      3473 8784

$$

000 
WWUS54 KHUN 252011
SVSHUN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
310 PM CDT SUN SEP 25 2005

ALC033-059-252100-
/O.CON.KHUN.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-050925T2100Z/
FRANKLIN AL-COLBERT AL-
310 PM CDT SUN SEP 25 2005

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CDT FOR COLBERT
AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES...

AT 305 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR 
LITTLEVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. ANOTHER STORM SHOWING 
STRONG ROTATION WAS LOCATED JUST SOUTH OF HALEYVILLE...MOVING 
NORTHEAQST AT 45 MPH. THIS STORM MAY CLIP THE EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN 
PORTION OF FRANKLIN COUNTY NEAR PHIL CAMPBELL.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  MUSCLE SHOALS.
  LEIGHTON.

THIS STORM SHOWS STRONG ROTATION AND MAY PRODUCE A TORNADO AT ANY
TIME. DO NOT WAIT...GO TO A SAFE PLACE NOW PUT AS MANY WALLS AS
POSSIBLE BETWEEN YOU AND THE STORM.

LAT...LON 3435 8808 3435 8758 3460 8755 3477 8746
      3473 8784

$$

27

000 
WWUS54 KHUN 252030
SVSHUN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
328 PM CDT SUN SEP 25 2005

ALC033-059-252038-
/O.CAN.KHUN.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-050925T2100Z/
FRANKLIN AL-COLBERT AL-
328 PM CDT SUN SEP 25 2005

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR COLBERT AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES HAS BEEN
CANCELLED...

AT 328 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT
THE THUNDERSTORM THAT PROMPTED THE TORNADO WARNING HAD EXITED
FRANKLIN AND COLBERT COUNTIES. THEREFORE...THE TORNADO WARNING HAS
BEEN CANCELED.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT.

LAT...LON 3435 8808 3435 8758 3460 8755 3477 8746
      3473 8784

$$

27

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.

NWS Huntsville, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Jan 13, 9:50 AM CST, 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 13, 9:50 AM CST, 20 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
950 AM CST THU JAN 13 2005

.DISCUSSION...
WELL...SVR LINE OF STORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE EWD...WITH A LOW ECHO
EVENT WITH HIGH SHEAR AND LOW INSTABILITY EVENT ONGOING.  SEVERAL
REPORTS OF WIND DAMAGE HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THE MAIN LINE JUST
WEST OF THE OFFICE. LOTS OF LOW HANGING STRATA-FRACTUS AND SCUD
UNDERNEATH LINE AS WE SPEAK JUST TO THE WEST OF THE OFFICE AT UAH
CAMPUS. WE HAVE SOME MAMMATUS CLOUDS TOO.

WE HAVE NOW CANCELED THE SVR WATCH FOR
LAUDERDALE...COLBERT...FRANKLIN AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES AS THE LINE
HAS PUSHED THRU. RAIN WILL CONTINUE BEHIND THE LINE...WITH
TEMPERATURES DROPPING INTO THE MID 50S AT MSL AND INTO WRN TN.

CLASSIC BOOKEND VORTICE IN NERN LINCOLN COUNTY TN...AND A TORNADO
WARNING CONTINUES FOR LINCOLN AND MOORE COUNTY TIL 1030. THE REST OF
THE LINE HAS A MDT THREAT OF GUSTNADOES ALONG THE LEADING EDGE.
IN FACT THE CLOUDS TOPS ARE LESS THAN 25K. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE
DAMAGING WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN...AND A DRASTIC DROP IN
TEMPERATURES.

UPDATE OUT SOON...TO DROP TEMPS IN THE WEST AND RECONFIGURING THE
SPC WATCH.
&&

.HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
.AL...SVR TSTM WATCH TIL 1 PM FOR
LIMESTONE...MORGAN....MARSHAL...CULLMAN...MADISON...JACKSON...DEKALB
AND LAKE WIND ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN AL UNTIL 4 PM CST TODAY.
.TN...SVR TSTM WATCH TIL 1 PM AND LAKE WIND ADVISORY FOR
LINCOLN...MOORE...AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL 4 PM CST TODAY.

&&

JDG/SS

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 13, 9:43 AM CST, 27 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
943 AM CST THU JAN 13 2005

ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-131900-
COLBERT-CULLMAN-DE KALB-FRANKLIN AL-FRANKLIN TN-JACKSON-LAUDERDALE-
LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-LINCOLN-MADISON-MARSHALL-MOORE-MORGAN-
943 AM CST THU JAN 13 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PARTS OF
SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE.

.DAY ONE...(TODAY AND TONIGHT)...

A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO NORTHWEST ALABAMA BY NOON. AHEAD
OF THE FRONT WILL BE A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH...HEAVY RAIN AND
SMALL HAIL. THE LINE OF STORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE TENNESSEE
VALLEY THIS MORNING AND AFTERNOON. RAINFALL AMOUNTS WILL RANGE FROM 1
TO 2 INCHES...WHICH MAY PRODUCE MINOR FLOODING.

THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BEGIN TO END BETWEEN 4 PM AND 5 PM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...(FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)...

THE PROBABILITY OF HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

THE MUCH WARMER WARMER WEATHER RECENTLY EXPERIENCED WILL END...AS
COLD HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE WESTERN PLAINS BUILDS EASTWARD.
TEMPERATURES INTO THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK WILL REMAIN CLOSER TO
MID JANUARY LEVELS...WITH NO RAIN EXPECTED.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...
ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL MAY
BE REQUESTED FROM THE LATE MORNING HOURS THROUGH TONIGHT.

SS

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 13, 7:59 AM CST, 2 hours 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
759 AM CST THU JAN 13 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0743 AM     TSTM WND DMG     CHEROKEE                34.76N 87.97W
01/13/2005                   COLBERT            AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SEVERAL TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN IN THE SOUTHWEST
            PORTION OF CHEROKEE ON BUDDY DURHAM ROAD.

&&

KWEBER

Special weather statement, Jan 13, 8:23 AM CST, 1 hour 47 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
823 AM CST THU JAN 13 2005

ALZ004-005-007-016-131515-
CULLMAN-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MORGAN-
823 AM CST THU JAN 13 2005

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN
AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH...

A SQUALL LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE EAST AT 45 MPH ACROSS
THE ALERT AREA.  THESE STORMS WILL BEGIN WITH A SUDDEN WIND GUST OF
30 TO 40 MPH...FOLLOWED BY HEAVY RAINS REDUCING VISIBILITY TO 1 MILE
OR LESS.  THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF INCREASING IN
INTENSITY...SO STAY TUNED FOR POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS.

TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE...IT WOULD BE WISE TO STAY INDOORS AND BE
READY TO TAKE SHELTER IF A WARNING IS ISSUED.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR LOCAL MEDIA...FOR FURTHER
UPDATES FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE.

KULA

Local storm report, Jan 13, 8:33 AM CST, 1 hour 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
833 AM CST THU JAN 13 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0810 AM     TSTM WND DMG     PHIL CAMPBELL           34.35N 87.71W
01/13/2005                   FRANKLIN           AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            A FEW POWERLINES WERE BLOWN DOWN ON HIGHWAY 81 IN PHIL
            CAMPBELL.

&&

KWEBER

Special weather statement, Jan 13, 8:56 AM CST, 1 hour 14 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
856 AM CST THU JAN 13 2005

ALZ006-TNZ096-131600-
LINCOLN-MADISON-
856 AM CST THU JAN 13 2005

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN
AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH...

AT 856 AM CST...A SQUALL LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS INDICATED
ON DOPPLER RADAR. IT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST AT 45 MPH...ENTERING
LINCOLN COUNTY AROUND 9 AM...AND MADISON COUNTY BY 915 AM. THE SQUALL
LINE WILL CONTAIN WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH...FOLLOWED BY VERY HEAVY
RAIN...WHICH MAY REDUCE VISIBILITY TO 1 MILE OR LESS. SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS MAY BE REQUIRED...AS THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE
OF INCREASING IN INTENSITY.

REMAIN ALERT TO RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS...AND BE READY
TO SEEK SHELTER IF A WARNING IS ISSUED.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR LOCAL MEDIA...FOR FURTHER
UPDATES FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE.

JE

Local storm report, Jan 13, 9:29 AM CST, 41 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
929 AM CST THU JAN 13 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0820 AM     TSTM WND DMG     ROGERSVILLE             34.83N 87.28W
01/13/2005                   LAUDERDALE         AL   UTILITY COMPANY

            A FEW POWER LINES DOWN IN ROGERSVILLE, AFFECTING 60 TO 70
            CUSTOMERS.

0845 AM     TSTM WND DMG     HATTON                  34.56N 87.41W
01/13/2005                   LAWRENCE           AL   PUBLIC

            A ROOF WAS RIPPED OFF ONE HOUSE IN HATTON AREA. ALSO
            OTHER HOMES REPORTED SHINGLES BEING BLOWN OFF. THIS
            DAMAGE OCCURRED NEAR COUNTY ROADS 161 AND 160.

0845 AM     TSTM WND DMG     HATTON                  34.56N 87.41W
01/13/2005                   LAWRENCE           AL   PUBLIC

            A FEW TREES DOWN IN THE HATTON AREA.

&&

KWEBER

Special weather statement, Jan 13, 9:37 AM CST, 33 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
937 AM CST THU JAN 13 2005

ALZ001>004-131630-
COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAUDERDALE-LAWRENCE-
937 AM CST THU JAN 13 2005

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR LAUDERDALE...COLBERT...LAWRENCE
AND FRANKLIN TENNESSEE HAS BEEN CANCELED...

AT 930 AM...A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM
FAYETTEVILLE TO PRICEVILLE AND WAS MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. NORTHWEST
ALABAMA CAN EXPECT MORE RAIN FOR THE REST OF THE MORNING BUT NO
SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED. AS A RESULT THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WATCH FOR NORTHWEST ALABAMA HAS BEEN CANCELED.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR LOCAL MEDIA...FOR FURTHER
UPDATES FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE.

SS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jan 13, 7:16 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Colbert, Jackson, Madison	39 days
Jan 13, 7:42 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Lauderdale	39 days
Jan 13, 7:52 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Colbert, Franklin	39 days
Jan 13, 8:33 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Lawrence, Limestone, Madison	39 days
Jan 13, 8:56 AM CST	Tornado Warning	HUN	Limestone	34 min
Jan 13, 9:15 AM CST	Tornado Warning	HUN	DeKalb, Madison	99 days
Jan 13, 9:17 AM CST	Tornado Warning	HUN	Madison, Marshall	229 days
Jan 13, 9:25 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Lauderdale, Morgan	39 days
Jan 13, 9:35 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Lauderdale	39 days
Jan 13, 9:43 AM CST	Tornado Warning	HUN	Colbert, Franklin	255 days
Jan 13, 9:44 AM CST	Tornado Warning	HUN	Lauderdale, Madison	255 days
Jan 13, 9:55 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Cullman, Limestone, Marshall	39 days
Jan 13, 11:39 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Jackson, Madison	39 days
Jan 13, 9:07 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Franklin, Lincoln	39 days

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2005 Tornado Warnings in Tennessee, 2005 Every tornado warning in 2005 Tornadoes in 2005

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.