Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008
Tornado Warning 101, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at May 8, 2008, 2:17 PM CDT for Blount County, Jefferson County, Walker County, Alabama. It was in force for 49 min. 1 report 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
- May 8, 2008, 2:17 PM CDT (19:17 UTC)
- Expired
- May 8, 2008, 3:06 PM CDT
- In force
- 49 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), 67 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2:17 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Nnw Dora, AL | MULTIPLE TREES DOWN ON DARTY HOLLOW RD. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 12:40 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 5 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 7.3 hours before the alert went out and 66 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
- 212 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -132 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 567 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 63 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 193 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 216 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.1
- Supercell composite
- 2.1
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 WFUS54 KBMX 081917 TORBMX ALC009-073-127-082015- /O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0101.080508T1917Z-080508T2015Z/ BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 217 PM CDT THU MAY 8 2008 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... SOUTHWESTERN BLOUNT COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA... NORTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA... THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE... GARDENDALE... EAST CENTRAL WALKER COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA... THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...SUMITON...DORA... * UNTIL 315 PM CDT * AT 214 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR BELOIT...OR NEAR CORDOVA...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. * THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR... QUINTON AND SUMITON BY 225 PM CDT... MORRIS...KIMBERLY AND 8 MILES SOUTH OF WARRIOR BY 245 PM CDT... GARDENDALE BY 250 PM CDT... 8 MILES SOUTH OF COUNTY LINE AND 8 MILES SOUTH OF TRAFFORD BY 255 PM CDT... PINSON AND PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE BY 300 PM CDT... THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS. TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER... CALL 1-800-856-0758. LAT...LON 3389 8662 3365 8661 3366 8717 3379 8716 TIME...MOT...LOC 1917Z 271DEG 32KT 3371 8713 $$ 61
3 follow-up statements
000
WWUS54 KBMX 081929
SVSBMX
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
229 PM CDT THU MAY 8 2008
ALC009-073-127-082015-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0101.000000T0000Z-080508T2015Z/
JEFFERSON AL-WALKER AL-BLOUNT AL-
229 PM CDT THU MAY 8 2008
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN BLOUNT...EXTREME EAST CENTRAL WALKER AND NORTHERN
JEFFERSON COUNTIES...
AT 226 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR SUMITON...MOVING EAST AT 37
MPH.
THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
PARTRIDGE CROSSROADS BY 235 PM CDT...
MORRIS AND KIMBERLY BY 245 PM CDT...
GARDENDALE BY 250 PM CDT...
PINSON...PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE AND PALMERDALE BY 300 PM CDT...
VILLAGE SPRINGS BY 305 PM CDT...
THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT THURSDAY EVENING
FOR ALABAMA.
LAT...LON 3389 8662 3365 8661 3365 8703 3366 8703
3367 8706 3380 8705
TIME...MOT...LOC 1929Z 271DEG 32KT 3371 8700
$$
03000 WWUS54 KBMX 081944 SVSBMX SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 244 PM CDT THU MAY 8 2008 ALC127-081954- /O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0101.000000T0000Z-080508T2015Z/ WALKER AL- 244 PM CDT THU MAY 8 2008 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME EAST CENTRAL WALKER COUNTY IS CANCELLED... A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT THURSDAY EVENING FOR ALABAMA. LAT...LON 3389 8662 3365 8661 3365 8695 3378 8695 TIME...MOT...LOC 1944Z 259DEG 26KT 3374 8687 $$ ALC009-073-082015- /O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0101.000000T0000Z-080508T2015Z/ JEFFERSON AL-BLOUNT AL- 244 PM CDT THU MAY 8 2008 ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM CDT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL BLOUNT AND NORTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTIES... AT 239 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR PARTRIDGE CROSSROADS...OR ABOUT 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF GARDENDALE...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR... MORRIS...KIMBERLY AND GARDENDALE BY 250 PM CDT... WARRIOR BY 255 PM CDT... TRAFFORD BY 300 PM CDT... COUNTY LINE AND PINSON BY 305 PM CDT... VILLAGE SPRINGS...PALMERDALE AND DALLAS BY 310 PM CDT... THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT THURSDAY EVENING FOR ALABAMA. LAT...LON 3389 8662 3365 8661 3365 8695 3378 8695 TIME...MOT...LOC 1944Z 259DEG 26KT 3374 8687 $$ 03
000 WWUS54 KBMX 082006 SVSBMX SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 306 PM CDT THU MAY 8 2008 ALC009-073-082016- /O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0101.000000T0000Z-080508T2015Z/ JEFFERSON AL-BLOUNT AL- 306 PM CDT THU MAY 8 2008 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL BLOUNT AND NORTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTIES IS CANCELLED... THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED. THE STORMS THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAVE WEAKENED. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT THURSDAY EVENING FOR ALABAMA. LAT...LON 3389 8662 3365 8661 3365 8695 3378 8695 TIME...MOT...LOC 2006Z 259DEG 26KT 3377 8668 $$ 03
The office that day
Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 12:52 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston | 38 min |
| May 8, 1:05 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Fayette, Marion, Walker, Winston | 55 min |
| May 8, 1:13 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Fayette, Lamar, Pickens, Tuscaloosa | 47 min |
| May 8, 1:37 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Fayette, Walker | 53 min |
| May 8, 1:44 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Fayette, Jefferson, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Walker | 31 min |
| May 8, 1:59 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Walker, Winston | 16 min |
| May 8, 2:13 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Fayette, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker | 47 min |
| May 8, 2:58 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Jefferson, Shelby | 47 min |
| May 8, 3:00 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa | 60 min |
| May 8, 3:11 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Blount, Etowah | 45 min |
| May 8, 3:34 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BMX | Jefferson, Shelby | 3 hr |
| May 8, 3:37 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby | 23 min |
| May 8, 3:59 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Bibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa | 46 min |
| May 8, 4:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Bibb | 49 min |
| May 8, 4:30 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BMX | Coosa, Shelby | 3 hr |
| May 8, 4:40 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BMX | Talladega | 3 hr |
| May 8, 4:46 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Clay, Cleburne, Talladega | 32 min |
| May 8, 4:51 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BMX | Chilton | 3 hr |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2008Every tornado warning in 2008Tornadoes 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.