Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 110, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 11, 2008Jefferson County, Shelby County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at May 11, 2008, 2:01 AM CDT for Jefferson County, Shelby County, Alabama. It was in force for 44 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 11, 2008, 2:01 AM CDT (07:01 UTC)
Expired: May 11, 2008, 2:45 AM CDT
In force: 44 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Jefferson County, AL, Shelby County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 43 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:02 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 11, 2:47 AM CDT	FUNNEL CLOUD	Vincent, AL	HAM RADIO REPORTS ROTATION ON HIGHWAY 231 IN VINCENT.

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 11, 1:37 AM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 7.0 hours before the alert went out and 43 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: 2301 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -22 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 691 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 59 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 136 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 163 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 1.5
Supercell composite: 5.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS54 KBMX 110701
TORBMX
ALC073-117-110745-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0110.080511T0701Z-080511T0745Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
201 AM CDT SUN MAY 11 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EAST CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...TRUSSVILLE...LEEDS...IRONDALE...
  NORTHEASTERN SHELBY COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF WILSONVILLE...

* UNTIL 245 AM CDT

* AT 158 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR ALTON...OR NEAR
  LEEDS...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 28 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  GREYSTONE BY 210 AM CDT...
  VANDIVER AND 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF MOUNT LAUREL BY 215 AM CDT...
  WESTOVER BY 230 AM CDT...
  VINCENT BY 235 AM CDT...
  HARPERSVILLE BY 240 AM CDT...
  8 MILES NORTHEAST OF WILSONVILLE BY 245 AM CDT...

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.

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 900 AM CDT SUNDAY MORNING FOR
ALABAMA.

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

LAT...LON 3363 8654 3356 8655 3355 8649 3350 8647
      3350 8640 3347 8637 3340 8638 3338 8635
      3330 8637 3328 8643 3321 8647 3357 8676
      3368 8659
TIME...MOT...LOC 0701Z 322DEG 25KT 3355 8661

$$

17/KLAWS

2 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 110714
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
214 AM CDT SUN MAY 11 2008

ALC073-117-110745-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0110.000000T0000Z-080511T0745Z/
SHELBY AL-JEFFERSON AL-
214 AM CDT SUN MAY 11 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 245 AM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL JEFFERSON AND NORTHEASTERN SHELBY COUNTIES...

AT 212 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR VANDIVER...OR ABOUT NEAR
LEEDS...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 29 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  STERRETT BY 220 AM CDT...
  WESTOVER BY 230 AM CDT...
  VINCENT BY 235 AM CDT...
  HARPERSVILLE BY 240 AM CDT...
  7 MILES NORTHEAST OF WILSONVILLE AND 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF GASTON
  STEAM PLANT BY 245 AM CDT...

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.

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 900 AM CDT SUNDAY MORNING FOR
ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3355 8649 3350 8647 3350 8640 3348 8638
      3340 8638 3339 8636 3330 8637 3328 8643
      3321 8647 3347 8667
TIME...MOT...LOC 0714Z 322DEG 25KT 3348 8654

$$

17/KLAWS

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 110724
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
224 AM CDT SUN MAY 11 2008

ALC073-110734-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0110.000000T0000Z-080511T0745Z/
JEFFERSON AL-
224 AM CDT SUN MAY 11 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 AM CDT SUNDAY MORNING FOR
ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3348 8638 3346 8639 3340 8637 3331 8637
      3328 8643 3321 8647 3342 8662 3350 8647
      3350 8640
TIME...MOT...LOC 0724Z 322DEG 25KT 3342 8649

$$

ALC117-110745-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0110.000000T0000Z-080511T0745Z/
SHELBY AL-
224 AM CDT SUN MAY 11 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 245 AM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN SHELBY COUNTY...

AT 221 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR STERRETT...OR ABOUT 8 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF LEEDS...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 29 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  WESTOVER BY 230 AM CDT...
  HARPERSVILLE AND VINCENT BY 235 AM CDT...
  8 MILES NORTHEAST OF WILSONVILLE AND 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF GASTON
  STEAM PLANT BY 245 AM CDT...

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.

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 900 AM CDT SUNDAY MORNING FOR
ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3348 8638 3346 8639 3340 8637 3331 8637
      3328 8643 3321 8647 3342 8662 3350 8647
      3350 8640
TIME...MOT...LOC 0724Z 322DEG 25KT 3342 8649

$$

17/KLAWS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 10, 10:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston	65 min
May 10, 11:20 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marion	40 min
May 10, 11:44 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marion, Winston	61 min
May 10, 11:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Fayette, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker	36 min
May 10, 11:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Walker, Winston	32 min
May 11, 12:01 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston	3 hr
May 11, 12:11 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Shelby	36 min
May 11, 12:21 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Fayette, Jefferson, Walker, Winston	39 min
May 11, 12:26 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount, Jefferson, St. Clair, Walker, Winston	49 min
May 11, 12:35 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chilton, Clay, Coosa, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega	40 min
May 11, 12:38 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker	52 min
May 11, 12:51 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount, Walker	39 min
May 11, 12:53 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar	52 min
May 11, 12:59 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Jefferson, Walker	46 min
May 11, 1:08 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Coosa, Elmore, Tallapoosa	52 min
May 11, 1:18 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Calhoun, Etowah, Jefferson, St. Clair, Talladega	42 min
May 11, 1:29 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Tuscaloosa, Walker	46 min
May 11, 1:32 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chilton, Clay, Coosa, Shelby, Talladega, Tallapoosa	43 min
May 11, 1:37 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Walker	3 hr
May 11, 1:44 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers, Lee, Randolph, Tallapoosa	46 min
May 11, 1:45 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Blount, Jefferson, St. Clair, Talladega	3 hr
May 11, 1:49 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Shelby	41 min
May 11, 2:05 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Greene, Hale, Tuscaloosa	40 min
May 11, 2:05 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cleburne, Jefferson, St. Clair, Talladega	40 min
May 11, 2:08 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Dallas	45 min
May 11, 2:10 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Shelby	50 min
May 11, 2:22 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers, Clay, Cleburne, Lee, Randolph, Tallapoosa	23 min
May 11, 2:39 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Cleburne	23 min
May 11, 2:44 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Jefferson, Randolph and 3 more	46 min
May 11, 2:48 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson, St. Clair	87 min
May 11, 2:57 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Shelby	3 hr
May 11, 3:01 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers, Lee, Macon, Russell	29 min
May 11, 3:06 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Cleburne, Randolph	39 min
May 11, 3:16 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette	16 min
May 11, 3:30 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers, Coosa, Lee, Randolph, Tallapoosa	45 min
May 11, 4:12 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lee, Russell	33 min
May 11, 4:25 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Barbour, Bullock, Macon, Pike, Russell	50 min
May 11, 5:16 AM CDT	Wind Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more	14 hr

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.