Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2008
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 477, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Dec 10, 2008, 12:41 AM CST for 5 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 49 min. 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
- Dec 10, 2008, 12:41 AM CST (06:41 UTC)
- Expired
- Dec 10, 2008, 1:30 AM CST
- In force
- 49 min
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
Counties Blount County, AL, Fayette County, AL, Jefferson County, AL, Tuscaloosa County, AL, Walker County, AL
The radar
The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 74 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:43 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 10, 12:43 AM CST | TSTM WND DMG | Oakman, AL | POSSIBLE TORNADO TOUCHDOWN IN THE OAKMAN AREA. OAKMAN HAD SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SOME DAMAGE TO THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIELD...THE VISITORS BLEACHERS ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. THERE ARE SEVERAL TREES DOWN AND ROOF DAMAGE TO HOM |
| Dec 10, 12:43 AM CST | TORNADO | N Oakman, AL | STORM SURVEY INDICATED AN EF1 MAGNITUDE TORNADO WITH MAXIMUM WINDS OF 80-90 MPH. PATH LENGTH 0.75 MILES, WIDTH 300 YARDS. DAMAGE INCLUDED METAL BLEACHERS TWISTED AND MOVED, HOUSES WITH SIGNIFICANT ROOF DAMAGE, APPROXIMATELY 150 TREES UPROOTED AND/OR SNAPPED. |
| Dec 10, 1:01 AM CST | TORNADO | 5 Nne Cordova, AL | STORM SURVEY INDICATED AN EF2 TORNADO WITH MAXIMUM WINDS ESTIMATED AROUND 130 MPH. PATH LENGTH WAS 4.6 MILES AND THE MAXIMUM WIDTH WAS 400 YARDS. DAMAGE INCLUDED ONE MOBILE HOME DESTROYED, 2 MOBILE HOMES SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, 2 CHICKEN HOUSES DAMAGED, AND A FEW |
| Dec 10, 1:15 AM CST | TSTM WND DMG | Oakman, AL | REPORTS OF TREES DOWN IN OAKMAN, SIPSEY, AND PARRISH. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 9, 8:03 PM CST | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 6.7 hours before the alert went out and 72 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
- 167 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -33 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 741 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 49 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 336 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 421 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 3.8
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
WUUS54 KBMX 100641
SVRBMX
ALC009-057-073-125-127-100730-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0477.081210T0641Z-081210T0730Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1241 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN BLOUNT COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
NORTHWESTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
SOUTHERN WALKER COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...SUMITON...DORA...CORDOVA...
EXTREME EAST CENTRAL FAYETTE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
NORTH CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
* UNTIL 130 AM CST
* AT 1241 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A LINE OF
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND
DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED
ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM BOLEY SPRINGS TO 9 MILES SOUTH OF BOLEY
SPRINGS...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 17 MILES SOUTH OF CARBON
HILL TO 18 MILES NORTH OF HOLT...AND MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
PARRISH BY 1255 AM CST...
CORDOVA AND GORGAS BY 100 AM CST...
LYNNS PARK...BELOIT AND GORGAS STEAM PLANT BY 105 AM CST...
ROCKY HOLLOW...SIPSEY...DORA AND BURNWELL BY 110 AM CST...
THIS INCLUDES US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 65 THROUGH 87.
WINDS OF 70 TO 80 MPH WILL UPROOT TREES...DOWN POWER LINES AND CAUSE
DAMAGE TO HOMES AND STRUCTURES.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS INDICATED SOME WEAK ROTATION WITHIN
THIS STORM. WHILE NOT IMMEDIATELY LIKELY...A TORNADO MAY STILL
DEVELOP. IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF
SAFETY IN A STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR
ROOM.
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS...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 300 AM CST WEDNESDAY MORNING
FOR WESTERN ALABAMA.
TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...
CALL 1-800-856-0758.
LAT...LON 3373 8750 3388 8699 3387 8698 3387 8696
3390 8691 3387 8694 3351 8691 3346 8758
TIME...MOT...LOC 0641Z 249DEG 41KT 3367 8744 3352 8750
$$
10/ARM1 follow-up statement
000
WWUS54 KBMX 100703
SVSBMX
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
103 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008
ALC009-057-073-125-127-100730-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0477.000000T0000Z-081210T0730Z/
TUSCALOOSA AL-JEFFERSON AL-FAYETTE AL-WALKER AL-BLOUNT AL-
103 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 130 AM CST
FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN BLOUNT...SOUTHERN WALKER...EXTREME EAST
CENTRAL FAYETTE...NORTHWESTERN JEFFERSON AND NORTH CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA
COUNTIES...
AT 103 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN
EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING
FROM PARRISH TO WINDHAM SPRINGS...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM
CORDOVA TO 20 MILES NORTH OF HOLT...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
LYNNS PARK...GOODSPRINGS AND CORDOVA BY 110 AM CST...
LITTLE SHOAL...BELOIT...SIPSEY AND GORGAS BY 115 AM CST...
ROCKY HOLLOW...GORGAS STEAM PLANT AND DORA BY 120 AM CST...
THIS INCLUDES US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 65 THROUGH 87.
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS AND DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.
PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG
BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM CST WEDNESDAY MORNING
FOR WESTERN ALABAMA.
LAT...LON 3373 8750 3388 8699 3387 8698 3387 8696
3390 8692 3389 8691 3386 8694 3351 8691
3348 8757
TIME...MOT...LOC 0703Z 249DEG 41KT 3379 8721 3355 8743
$$
10/ARMThe office that day
Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 9, 8:52 PM CST | Flash Flood Watch | BMX | Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Walker, Winston | 7 hr |
| Dec 9, 9:15 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Lamar, Marion | 45 min |
| Dec 9, 9:45 PM CST | Areal Flood Advisory | BMX | Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston | 3 hr |
| Dec 9, 9:59 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Lamar, Marion | 31 min |
| Dec 9, 10:01 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Pickens | 44 min |
| Dec 9, 10:47 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Fayette, Greene, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Walker | 43 min |
| Dec 9, 11:01 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Winston | 3 hr |
| Dec 9, 11:13 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Greene, Pickens | 32 min |
| Dec 9, 11:36 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Fayette, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Winston | 39 min |
| Dec 9, 11:45 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Pickens, Tuscaloosa | 30 min |
| Dec 10, 12:06 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Fayette, Tuscaloosa, Walker | 24 min |
| Dec 10, 12:22 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Greene, Hale, Pickens, Sumter | 38 min |
| Dec 10, 12:31 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Fayette, Walker | 29 min |
| Dec 10, 12:50 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Pickens, Tuscaloosa | 40 min |
| Dec 10, 12:55 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Greene, Hale, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa | 50 min |
| Dec 10, 12:59 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Walker, Winston | 16 min |
| Dec 10, 1:09 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Blount, Walker | 6 min |
| Dec 10, 1:31 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Greene, Hale, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa | 44 min |
| Dec 10, 1:32 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Pickens, Tuscaloosa | 28 min |
| Dec 10, 1:55 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Jefferson | 9 min |
| Dec 10, 1:57 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Blount, Jefferson, Walker | 33 min |
| Dec 10, 2:00 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Fayette, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker | 30 min |
| Dec 10, 2:12 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter, Tuscaloosa | 48 min |
| Dec 10, 2:26 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Blount, Etowah | 34 min |
| Dec 10, 2:32 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Blount, Jefferson | 28 min |
| Dec 10, 3:07 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Marengo, Sumter | 23 min |
| Dec 10, 3:11 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Bibb, Tuscaloosa | 34 min |
| Dec 10, 3:28 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Autauga, Chilton, Dallas | 34 min |
| Dec 10, 3:38 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Jefferson | 37 min |
| Dec 10, 4:17 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Cherokee | 13 min |
| Dec 10, 4:38 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | St. Clair | 20 min |
| Dec 10, 4:40 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Lowndes, Montgomery | 35 min |
| Dec 10, 4:44 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Jefferson | 3 hr |
| Dec 10, 5:07 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Bibb, Chilton, Dallas, Perry | 23 min |
| Dec 10, 5:32 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Coosa, Tallapoosa | 28 min |
| Dec 10, 6:24 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Pike | 51 min |
| Dec 10, 6:43 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Pike | 47 min |
| Dec 10, 6:49 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Cleburne, Randolph | 15 min |
| Dec 10, 6:51 AM CST | River Flood Warning | BMX | Greene, Hale, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter | 6 days |
| Dec 10, 6:51 AM CST | River Flood Warning | BMX | Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter | 6 days |
| Dec 10, 7:18 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Coosa, Tallapoosa | 27 min |
| Dec 10, 7:41 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Barbour, Pike | 49 min |
| Dec 10, 8:24 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Barbour | 36 min |
| Dec 10, 9:56 AM CST | Areal Flood Advisory | BMX | Barbour, Pike | 4 hr |
| Dec 10, 3:24 PM CST | Flash Flood Watch | BMX | Autauga, Barbour, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers and 24 more | 20 hr |
| Dec 10, 3:54 PM CST | Winter Storm Watch | BMX | Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Walker, Winston | 12 hr |
| Dec 10, 4:01 PM CST | Lake Wind Advisory | BMX | Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more | 29 hr |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2008Every 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.