Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2008

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 22, NWS Birmingham, AL

February 6, 2008Clay County, Coosa County, Talladega County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Feb 6, 2008, 6:24 AM CST for Clay County, Coosa County, Talladega County, Alabama. It was in force for 21 min. 2 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: Feb 6, 2008, 6:24 AM CST (12:24 UTC)
Expired: Feb 6, 2008, 6:45 AM CST
In force: 21 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Clay County, AL, Coosa County, AL, Talladega County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 61 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 12:26 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
Feb 6, 6:35 AM CST	TORNADO 2	1 E Marble Valley, AL	200 TO 300 TREES UPROOTED OR SNAPPED OFF. SOME TOPS OF PINES SHEARED OFF. PATH CROSSES COUNTY ROAD 56 NORTH OF PAINT CREEK AND PARALLELS TO PAINT CREEK. MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH OF ONE-HALF MILE. PATH LENGTH ESTIMATED AT SEVERAL MILES.
Feb 6, 6:45 AM CST	TSTM WND DMG	3 S Stewartville, AL	POSSIBLE TORNADO...LARGE TREES DOWN ALONG AND ON COUNTY ROAD 56.

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

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 21 minutes after it went out.

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
Feb 6, 4:06 AM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 0.4 hours before the alert went out and 62 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: 118 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -5 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 549 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 63 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 467 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 528 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.3
Supercell composite: 1.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS54 KBMX 061225
SVRBMX
ALC027-037-121-061300-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0022.080206T1224Z-080206T1300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
624 AM CST WED FEB 6 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN CLAY COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  COOSA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...WEOGUFKA...STEWARTVILLE...KELLYTON...
  ROCKFORD...GOODWATER...
  SOUTHERN TALLADEGA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF SYLACAUGA...

* UNTIL 700 AM CST

* AT 621 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS
  OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 10 MILES WEST OF MORIAH...OR 9
  MILES NORTHEAST OF CLANTON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  MORIAH BY 630 AM CST...
  WEOGUFKA BY 635 AM CST...
  STEWARTVILLE AND GANTTS QUARRY BY 640 AM CST...
  OVERBROOK BY 645 AM CST...
  HOLLINS BY 650 AM CST...
  ROSELLE BY 655 AM CST...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...AND DEADLY CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM CST WEDNESDAY MORNING
FOR ALABAMA.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...
CALL 1-800-856-0758.

LAT...LON 3311 8647 3338 8603 3311 8585 3311 8597
      3309 8598 3309 8600 3296 8600 3282 8633
TIME...MOT...LOC 1224Z 236DEG 48KT 3295 8647

$$

1 follow-up statement

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 061245
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
644 AM CST WED FEB 6 2008

ALC027-037-121-061254-
/O.CAN.KBMX.SV.W.0022.000000T0000Z-080206T1300Z/
COOSA AL-CLAY AL-TALLADEGA AL-
644 AM CST WED FEB 6 2008

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHERN TALLADEGA...
SOUTHWESTERN CLAY AND COOSA COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

HOWEVER...A TORNADO WARNING IS IN AFFECT FOR ALL THREE COUNTIES.  
THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS 
STORM YOU SHOULD TAKE COVER IN A STURDY BUILDING IMMEDIATELY.  DO 
NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

LAT...LON 3311 8647 3338 8603 3311 8585 3311 8597
      3309 8598 3309 8600 3296 8600 3282 8633
TIME...MOT...LOC 1244Z 236DEG 48KT 3310 8620

$$
JPS

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Feb 6, 5:25 AM CST, 59 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 6, 5:25 AM CST, 59 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
525 AM CST WED FEB 6 2008

.UPDATE...FOR AVIATION DISCUSSION.

&&

.SHORT TERM...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

ACTIVE MORNING AS SEVERE STORMS MOVE RAPIDLY EASTWARD ACROSS THE
AREA. COLD FRONT WILL SHIFT FROM WEST TO EAST ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH
THE MORNING HOURS AND BE TO OUR EAST LATER THIS AFTERNOON. WILL
UPDATE POPS JUST BEFORE RELEASE TIME BUT EXPECT WIDESPREAD SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS FOR MOST SECTIONS DURING THE MORNING AND QUICKLY
ENDING FROM WEST TO EAST DURING THE AFTERNOON.  MUCH DRIER AND
COLDER AIR WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE AREA LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT.  HIGHS TODAY WILL OCCUR THIS MORNING...THEN GRADUALLY
FALL THROUGH THE DAY. HIGHS MAINLY IN THE 60S.  LOWS TONIGHT IN THE
30S.

.LONG TERM...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...WEAK HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE
AREA ON THURSDAY AND EARLY FRIDAY...WITH A WEAK SHORT WAVE SHIFTING
ACROSS THE NORTHERN SECTIONS ON FRIDAY NIGHT.  WILL FORECAST A
SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS ACROSS THE NORTHERN SECTIONS FRIDAY
NIGHT.  HIGHS ON THURSDAY IN THE 50S AND IN THE 60S FRIDAY.  LOWS
THURSDAY NIGHT MAINLY 30 TO 35. LOWS FRIDAY NIGHT UPPER 30S TO LOWER
40S.

SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY...HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD ACROSS THE AREA
DURING THIS PERIOD.  WILL CONTINUE WITH DRY CONDITIONS.  HIGHS
SATURDAY IN THE 60S...UPPER 40S TO UPPER 50S SUNDAY AND 55 TO 65 ON
MONDAY.

TUESDAY...NEXT STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA FROM THE
WEST ON TUESDAY.  WILL FORECAST A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AREA-WIDE.
HIGHS 55 TO 65.

&&

.AVIATION...12Z TAF DISCUSSION.

COLD FRONT ACROSS THE WESTERN SECTIONS OF THE AREA WILL SHIFT EAST
ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH 18Z.  WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
WITH SOME POSSIBLE SEVERE STORMS CAN BE EXPECTED THROUGH 18Z.
CEILINGS 1000 TO 2000 FEET WITH VSBYS 1 TO 3 MILES CAN BE
EXPECTED THROUGH 18Z.  WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED.
AFTER 18Z GRADUAL CLEARING WILL TAKE PLACE WITH VFR CONDTIONS
EXPECTED AFTER 21Z.

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THRU 12 NOON WEDNESDAY
FOR ALL COUNTIES.

&&

50

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 6, 6:03 AM CST, 21 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
603 AM CST WED FEB 6 2008

ALZ011>015-017>050-071203-
AUTAUGA-BARBOUR-BIBB-BLOUNT-BULLOCK-CALHOUN-CHAMBERS-CHEROKEE-
CHILTON-CLAY-CLEBURNE-COOSA-DALLAS-ELMORE-ETOWAH-FAYETTE-GREENE-HALE-
JEFFERSON-LAMAR-LEE-LOWNDES-MACON-MARENGO-MARION-MONTGOMERY-PERRY-
PICKENS-PIKE-RANDOLPH-RUSSELL-SHELBY-ST CLAIR-SUMTER-TALLADEGA-
TALLAPOOSA-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER-WINSTON-
603 AM CST WED FEB 6 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG AND EAST OF
THE INTERSTATE 65 CORRIDOR FROM 6 AM TO NOON.  THE THREAT WILL
DISSIPATE FROM WEST TO EAST AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS AS
A COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH. THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING
STRAIGHT LINE WINDS ALONG WITH SOME ISOLATED TORNADOES.

A LAKE WIND ADVISORY IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE AREA
FOR WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH BOTH IN ADVANCE AND IMMEDIATELY
BEHIND THE FRONT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL
WILL CONTINUE THROUGH NOON WEDNESDAY ALONG AND EAST OF THE
INTERSTATE 65 CORRIDOR...DUE TO THE THREAT OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS.

50

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 6, 3:41 AM CST, 2 hours 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
341 AM CST WED FEB 06 2008

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

0303 AM     TSTM WND DMG     8 NNE SAMANTHA          33.51N 87.53W
02/06/2008                   TUSCALOOSA         AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            POSSIBLE TORNADO...DAMAGE TO BUILDING AND TREES DOWN ON
            U.S. 43. NEAR THE TOWN OF NEW LEXINGTON.

&&

SUNGER

Local storm report, Feb 6, 3:46 AM CST, 2 hours 38 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
346 AM CST WED FEB 06 2008

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

0329 AM     TSTM WND DMG     JASPER                  33.85N 87.27W
02/06/2008                   WALKER             AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            POSSIBLE TORNADO...BILLBOARD BLOWN DOWN ON HIGHWAY 118
            AND AIRPORT ROAD.

&&

SUNGER

Local storm report, Feb 6, 3:47 AM CST, 2 hours 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
347 AM CST WED FEB 06 2008

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

0204 AM     TSTM WND DMG     N BEAVERTON             33.93N 88.02W
02/06/2008                   LAMAR              AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            POSSIBLE TORNADO...POWERLINES AND TREES DOWN ON COUNTY
            ROAD 49. DAMAGE TO THE ROOF OF THE POST OFFICE IN
            BEAVERTON. ALSO...TREES DOWN AND OTHER STRUCTURES
            DAMAGED.

&&

SUNGER

Local storm report, Feb 6, 4:47 AM CST, 1 hour 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
447 AM CST WED FEB 06 2008

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

0434 AM     FUNNEL CLOUD     JASPER                  33.85N 87.27W
02/06/2008                   WALKER             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SIGHTED AT THE WALKER COUNTY EOC.

&&

SUNGER

Local storm report, Feb 6, 4:48 AM CST, 1 hour 36 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
448 AM CST WED FEB 06 2008

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

0204 AM     TSTM WND DMG     N BEAVERTON             33.93N 88.02W
02/06/2008                   LAMAR              AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            POSSIBLE TORNADO...POWERLINES AND TREES DOWN ON COUNTY
            ROAD 49. DAMAGE TO THE ROOF OF THE POST OFFICE IN
            BEAVERTON. ALSO...TREES DOWN AND OTHER STRUCTURES
            DAMAGED.

0205 AM     FUNNEL CLOUD     3 E SULLIGENT           33.89N 88.08W
02/06/2008                   LAMAR              AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SIGHTED ON HWY 278 BETWEEN SULLIGENT AND BEAVERTON.

0303 AM     TSTM WND DMG     8 NNE SAMANTHA          33.51N 87.53W
02/06/2008                   TUSCALOOSA         AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            POSSIBLE TORNADO...DAMAGE TO BUILDING AND TREES DOWN ON
            U.S. 43. NEAR THE TOWN OF NEW LEXINGTON.

0305 AM     HAIL             SULLIGENT               33.89N 88.13W
02/06/2008  E0.75 INCH       LAMAR              AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

0316 AM     TSTM WND DMG     4 WSW OAKMAN            33.69N 87.45W
02/06/2008                   WALKER             AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            *** 1 INJ *** POSSIBLE TORNADO...DAMAGE TO A TRAILER ON
            HAYSHILL ROAD NEAR COUNTY ROAD 18.

0329 AM     TSTM WND DMG     JASPER                  33.85N 87.27W
02/06/2008                   WALKER             AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            POSSIBLE TORNADO...BILLBOARD BLOWN DOWN ON HIGHWAY 118
            AND AIRPORT ROAD.

0434 AM     FUNNEL CLOUD     JASPER                  33.85N 87.27W
02/06/2008                   WALKER             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SIGHTED AT THE WALKER COUNTY EOC.

&&

SUNGER

Local storm report, Feb 6, 6:01 AM CST, 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
601 AM CST WED FEB 06 2008

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

0559 AM     FUNNEL CLOUD     MAPLESVILLE             32.79N 86.88W
02/06/2008                   CHILTON            AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SIGHTED AT THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 22 AND 82.

&&

SUNGER

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Feb 6, 1:29 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lamar	31 min
Feb 6, 1:51 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pickens	54 min
Feb 6, 1:54 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Pickens	51 min
Feb 6, 1:59 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion	46 min
Feb 6, 2:30 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Winston	27 min
Feb 6, 2:39 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Pickens, Tuscaloosa	51 min
Feb 6, 2:57 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar	48 min
Feb 6, 3:11 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Walker	39 min
Feb 6, 3:20 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Pickens	40 min
Feb 6, 3:21 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston	39 min
Feb 6, 3:38 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Pickens, Sumter	52 min
Feb 6, 3:48 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Pickens, Tuscaloosa	30 min
Feb 6, 3:53 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Walker, Winston	52 min
Feb 6, 4:05 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter	40 min
Feb 6, 4:13 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Walker	47 min
Feb 6, 4:14 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount	31 min
Feb 6, 4:27 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Hale, Marengo	33 min
Feb 6, 4:53 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Dallas, Hale, Marengo, Perry	37 min
Feb 6, 5:22 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chilton, Dallas, Perry	38 min
Feb 6, 5:50 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chilton, Coosa	40 min
Feb 6, 5:51 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa	39 min
Feb 6, 6:29 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Clay, Coosa, Talladega	46 min
Feb 6, 7:05 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, Talladega	40 min
Feb 6, 7:08 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lowndes, Montgomery	37 min
Feb 6, 7:25 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Montgomery	50 min
Feb 6, 7:38 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Cleburne	22 min
Feb 6, 7:40 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Barbour, Bullock, Elmore, Lee, Macon, Montgomery and 2 more	65 min
Feb 6, 8:09 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Barbour, Bullock, Pike	36 min
Feb 6, 9:13 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Russell	17 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2008 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2008

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.