Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 10, NWS Birmingham, AL

January 10, 2008Blount County, Jefferson County, Walker County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Jan 10, 2008, 4:43 PM CST for Blount County, Jefferson County, Walker County, Alabama. It was in force for 34 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: Jan 10, 2008, 4:43 PM CST (22:43 UTC)
Expired: Jan 10, 2008, 5:17 PM CST
In force: 34 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Blount County, AL, Jefferson County, AL, Walker County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 82 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:43 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
Jan 10, 5:02 PM CST	FUNNEL CLOUD	Arkadelphia, AL	FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED NEAR THE BLOUNT AND CULLMAN COUNTY LINE.
Jan 10, 5:10 PM CST	TSTM WND DMG	Hayden, AL	A FEW TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN IN SOUTHWESTERN BLOUNT COUNTY.

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
Jan 10, 11:33 AM CST	Tornado Watch PDS	SPC	9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 10.7 hours before the alert went out and 81 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: 261 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -34 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 621 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 162 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 132 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS54 KBMX 102243
TORBMX
ALC009-073-127-102330-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0010.080110T2243Z-080110T2330Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
443 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN BLOUNT COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  NORTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  EAST CENTRAL WALKER COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 530 PM CST

* AT 439 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR BURNWELL...
  OR NEAR CORDOVA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  SUMITON AND SIPSEY BY 450 PM CST...
  PARTRIDGE CROSSROADS BY 455 PM CST...
  ARKADELPHIA BY 500 PM CST...
  SMOKE RISE AND WARRIOR BY 505 PM CST...
  HAYDEN...BLOUNT SPRINGS AND TRAFFORD BY 510 PM CST...
  MT OLIVE BY 515 PM CST...

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.

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

LAT...LON 3404 8670 3385 8652 3366 8716 3373 8720
      3390 8702 3387 8698 3388 8694 3392 8692
      3396 8683 3396 8680 3405 8672
TIME...MOT...LOC 2243Z 240DEG 46KT 3372 8712

$$

61

3 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 102255
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
455 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

ALC009-073-127-102330-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-080110T2330Z/
JEFFERSON AL-WALKER AL-BLOUNT AL-
455 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CST FOR
SOUTHWESTERN BLOUNT...EXTREME EAST CENTRAL WALKER AND NORTH CENTRAL
JEFFERSON COUNTIES...

AT 452 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR EMPIRE...OR ABOUT
11 MILES EAST OF CORDOVA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  ARKADELPHIA BY 500 PM CST...
  SMOKE RISE...WARRIOR...LOCUST FORK WARRIOR AND KIMBERLY BY 505 PM
  CST...
  HAYDEN...TRAFFORD...BLOUNT SPRINGS AND COUNTY LINE BY 510 PM CST...
  MT OLIVE BY 515 PM CST...

DO NOT USE HIGHWAY OVERPASSES FOR SHELTER. OVERPASSES DO NOT PROVIDE
PROTECTION FROM TORNADIC WINDS. VEHICLES STOPPED UNDER BRIDGES BLOCK
TRAFFIC AND PREVENT PEOPLE FROM GETTING OUT OF THE STORMS PATH AND
TO SHELTER. IF YOU CANNOT DRIVE AWAY FROM THE TORNADO...GET OUT OF
YOUR VEHICLE AND LIE FLAT IN A DITCH AS A LAST RESORT.

LAT...LON 3385 8652 3370 8702 3382 8703 3387 8698
      3388 8694 3392 8692 3396 8683 3396 8680
      3405 8672
TIME...MOT...LOC 2255Z 240DEG 46KT 3379 8695

$$

61

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 102305
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
505 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

ALC127-102315-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-080110T2330Z/
WALKER AL-
505 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME EAST CENTRAL WALKER COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CST THURSDAY EVENING
FOR WESTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3402 8671 3385 8652 3375 8689 3388 8694
      3396 8680
TIME...MOT...LOC 2305Z 246DEG 33KT 3380 8685

$$

ALC009-073-102330-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-080110T2330Z/
JEFFERSON AL-BLOUNT AL-
505 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CST FOR
SOUTHWESTERN BLOUNT AND NORTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTIES...

AT 502 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WARRIOR...OR ABOUT
10 MILES NORTHWEST OF GARDENDALE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  WARRIOR...LOCUST FORK WARRIOR AND SMOKE RISE BY 510 PM CST...
  TRAFFORD AND COUNTY LINE BY 515 PM CST...
  MT OLIVE AND HAYDEN BY 520 PM CST...
  DALLAS AND REMLAP BY 525 PM CST...
  CLEAR SPRINGS BY 530 PM CST...

DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO. CARS ARE EASILY
TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADO WINDS. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF A
TORNADO...LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING. IF NO SAFE
STRUCTURE IS NEARBY...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER
YOUR HEAD.

LAT...LON 3402 8671 3385 8652 3375 8689 3388 8694
      3396 8680
TIME...MOT...LOC 2305Z 246DEG 33KT 3380 8685

$$

61

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 102317
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
516 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

ALC009-073-102326-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-080110T2330Z/
JEFFERSON AL-BLOUNT AL-
516 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN BLOUNT AND NORTH CENTRAL
JEFFERSON COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED. THE STORMS THAT PROMPTED THE
WARNING HAVE WEAKENED.

LAT...LON 3402 8671 3385 8652 3375 8689 3388 8694
      3396 8680
TIME...MOT...LOC 2316Z 246DEG 33KT 3384 8674

$$

61

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jan 10, 4:21 AM CST	Lake Wind Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more	16 hr
Jan 10, 12:26 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Sumter	34 min
Jan 10, 12:51 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marengo	24 min
Jan 10, 1:00 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Tuscaloosa	30 min
Jan 10, 1:16 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Dallas, Hale, Marengo, Perry	29 min
Jan 10, 1:53 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion, Winston	29 min
Jan 10, 2:03 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar	42 min
Jan 10, 2:14 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lamar	46 min
Jan 10, 2:40 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion	24 min
Jan 10, 2:48 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Pickens	42 min
Jan 10, 3:31 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Pickens, Tuscaloosa	44 min
Jan 10, 3:31 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marengo, Sumter	29 min
Jan 10, 3:57 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter	33 min
Jan 10, 4:11 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker	34 min
Jan 10, 5:49 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Shelby	41 min
Jan 10, 5:56 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee	19 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2008 Every tornado warning in 2008 Tornadoes 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.