Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 117, NWS Birmingham, AL

August 23, 2008Lee County, Russell County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Aug 23, 2008, 5:41 PM CDT for Lee County, Russell County, Alabama. It was in force for 34 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Aug 23, 2008, 5:41 PM CDT (22:41 UTC)
Expired: Aug 23, 2008, 6:15 PM CDT
In force: 34 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Lee County, AL, Russell County, AL

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

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 nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 10.7 hours before the alert went out and 126 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: 117 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -3 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 587 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 298 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 373 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS54 KBMX 232241
TORBMX
ALC081-113-232315-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0117.080823T2241Z-080823T2315Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
541 PM CDT SAT AUG 23 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN LEE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  NORTHERN RUSSELL COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 615 PM CDT

* AT 539 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 8 MILES EAST OF RUSSELL
  COUNTY SPORTS COMPLEX...OR 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FORT BENNING
  SOUTH...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 45 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  RUSSELL COUNTY SPORTS COMPLEX AND 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LADONIA BY
  550 PM CDT...
  9 MILES NORTHEAST OF UCHEE BY 605 PM 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.

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

LAT...LON 3233 8543 3258 8521 3239 8496 3237 8497
      3234 8499 3233 8497 3232 8493 3226 8489
      3217 8499
TIME...MOT...LOC 2240Z 126DEG 39KT 3230 8503

$$

16

2 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 232252
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
552 PM CDT SAT AUG 23 2008

ALC081-113-232315-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0117.000000T0000Z-080823T2315Z/
RUSSELL AL-LEE AL-
551 PM CDT SAT AUG 23 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN LEE AND NORTHERN RUSSELL COUNTIES...

AT 548 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR RUSSELL COUNTY SPORTS
COMPLEX...OR ABOUT 10 MILES WEST OF FORT BENNING SOUTH...MOVING
NORTHWEST AT 45 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  CRAWFORD BY 600 PM CDT...
  8 MILES NORTHEAST OF UCHEE BY 605 PM 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.

LAT...LON 3233 8543 3258 8521 3237 8497 3234 8499
      3233 8497 3227 8499 3219 8504
TIME...MOT...LOC 2251Z 126DEG 39KT 3237 8515

$$

16

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 232304
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
604 PM CDT SAT AUG 23 2008

ALC081-113-232315-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0117.000000T0000Z-080823T2315Z/
RUSSELL AL-LEE AL-
604 PM CDT SAT AUG 23 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR EXTREME
SOUTH CENTRAL LEE AND NORTHWESTERN RUSSELL COUNTIES...

AT 601 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR RUSSELL COUNTY SPORTS
COMPLEX...OR ABOUT 14 MILES NORTHEAST OF HURTSBORO...MOVING NORTHWEST
AT 36 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  UCHEE BY 615 PM 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.

LAT...LON 3233 8543 3241 8535 3242 8535 3246 8531
      3234 8512 3232 8510 3228 8513 3224 8517
TIME...MOT...LOC 2304Z 118DEG 31KT 3233 8522

$$

16

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at Aug 23, 3:27 PM CDT, 2 hours 14 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 23, 3:27 PM CDT, 2 hours 14 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
327 PM CDT SAT AUG 23 2008

.DISCUSSION...

RAIN CONTINUES TO MOVE IN FROM THE EAST THIS AFTERNOON AS TROPICAL
STORM FAY MAKES ITS WAY WESTWARD. THE HEAVIER RAIN BANDS ARE NOW
BEGINNING TO MOVE IN ALONG THE SOUTHEAST PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST
AREA. THESE BANDS WILL PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN IN A SHORT AMOUNT
OF TIME. MINOR FLOODING COULD BE A PROBLEM. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT
OUR HWO PRODUCT FOR A MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE EXPECTED
THREATS.

THE FORECAST OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS WILL DEPEND OF COURSE ON
FAYS TRACK. THE LATEST COMPUTER MODELS SHOW THAT FAY WILL
EVENTUALLY BEGIN TO MOVE TO THE NORTHEAST. THE BIG QUESTION MARK
IS WHEN THIS CHANGE IN THE TRACK WILL OCCUR. THE GFS AND ECMWF
HAVE VERY SIMILAR TRACKS AS THEY MOVE THE SYSTEM OUT BY LATE
WEDNESDAY. HOWEVER...THE NAM IS MUCH SLOWER IN MOVING THE SYSTEM
OUT AND THUS IT PREDICTS HEAVIER AMOUNTS FOR THE AREA. FOR
NOW...WILL KEEP THE FORECAST CLOSELY MATCHED WITH HPC QPF GUIDANCE
WHICH WILL BRING BETWEEN 1 TO 11 INCHES THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT WITH
AN ADDITIONAL 5 INCHES THROUGH TUESDAY. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR
ADDITIONAL UPDATES AS THIS FORECAST CONDITIONS CAN QUICKLY CHANGE.

THINGS SHOULD HOPEFULLY BEGIN TO GO BACK TO NORMAL TOWARDS THE END
OF NEXT WEEK. ONCE FAY EXITS THE FORECAST AREA...EXPECT
TEMPERATURES TO RETURN BACK TO NORMAL.

10/ARM

&&

.AVIATION...18Z DISCUSSION.

WENT AHEAD AND UPDATED THE DISCUSSION TO SPECIFY THAT THE STRONGER
WINDS WILL BE AROUND THE MGM AND TOI AREA. WINDS WILL GUST NEAR 40
KNOTS THERE. THE REST OF THE SITES WILL RANGE BETWEEN 25 AND 35.
STILL EXPECTING A LOT OF RAIN AND FLUCTUATING CEILINGS. WELL START
OUT WITH MOSTLY MVFR...THEN SWITCH TO IFR WELL AFTER 06Z.

10/ARM

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     70  80  69  82  71 /  60  80  50  90  60
ANNISTON    73  81  71  82  70 /  60  90  50  90  60
BIRMINGHAM  70  80  71  82  70 /  70  90  50  90  60
TUSCALOOSA  71  80  72  82  70 /  90 100  70  90  60
CALERA      70  80  71  82  70 /  90  90  60  90  60
AUBURN      71  80  72  82  70 / 100  90  50  80  60
MONTGOMERY  72  80  72  83  73 / 100  90  70  90  60
TROY        71  80  71  84  72 / 100  80  70  80  60

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH 7 AM SUNDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...BLOUNT-ETOWAH-CALHOUN-CHEROKEE-CLEBURNE-PICKENS-
TUSCALOOSA- JEFFERSON-SHELBY-ST. CLAIR-TALLADEGA-CLAY-RANDOLPH-
SUMTER-GREENE- HALE-PERRY-BIBB-CHILTON-COOSA-TALLAPOOSA-CHAMBERS-
MARENGO-DALLAS- AUTAUGA-LOWNDES-ELMORE-MONTGOMERY-MACON-BULLOCK-
LEE-RUSSELL-PIKE- BARBOUR.

FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH 7 PM SUNDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...SUMTER-GREENE-HALE-PERRY-BIBB-CHILTON-COOSA-TALLAPOOSA-
CHAMBERS- MARENGO-DALLAS-AUTAUGA-LOWNDES-ELMORE-MONTGOMERY-
MACON-BULLOCK- LEE-RUSSELL-PIKE-BARBOUR.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 23, 1:30 PM CDT, 4 hours 11 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
130 PM CDT SAT AUG 23 2008

ALZ011>015-017>050-241130-
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-
130 PM CDT SAT AUG 23 2008

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

WIND GUSTS MAY POTENTIALLY REACH 25 TO 35 MPH FOR AREAS GENERALLY
ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 59 THROUGH TONIGHT. FOR AREAS NEAR
AND SOUTH OF THE U.S. 80 AND INTERSTATE 85 CORRIDOR...WIND GUSTS
OF 35 TO 45 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. AREA MARINE INTERESTS SHOULD EXERCISE
EXTREME CAUTION WHEN VENTURING OUT INTO THE OPEN WATERWAYS. HIGH
PROFILE VEHICLES...ESPECIALLY TRAVELING NORTH TO SOUTH...SHOULD BE
ESPECIALLY ALERT TO THESE CROSS WINDS. DUE TO THE STRESS ON TREES
FROM THE RECENT DROUGHT...TREE LIMBS MAY BE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO
BREAKING UNDER THESE CONDITIONS.

RAIN WILL BE VERY HEAVY AT TIMES THROUGH TONIGHT FOR AREAS GENERALLY
SOUTH OF A LINE FROM EUTAW...TO CENTREVILLE...TO LAFAYETTE.
CONVECTIVE BANDS FROM TROPICAL STORM FAY WILL CONTINUE ROTATING
ACROSS THE AREA. BUT PREPARED TO TAKE QUICK ACTION IF WARNINGS ARE
ISSUED.

ISOLATED TORNADOES MAY BE POSSIBLE ACROSS A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA THROUGH TONIGHT. THE BEST CHANCE WILL REMAIN SOUTH ALONG
AND NEAR THE U.S. 80 AND INTERSTATE 85 CORRIDOR. STAY TUNED FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION DURING THIS PERIOD AS WATCHES OR WARNINGS MAY
BECOME NECESSARY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

IN REGARDS TO THE RAINFALL...EXPECT TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS
BY SUNDAY NIGHT TO BE ANYWHERE FROM 3 TO 11 INCHES...WITH LOCALIZED
HIGHER AMOUNTS. THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL OCCUR ALONG AND SOUTH OF A
LINE FROM LIVINGSTON...TO MONTGOMERY...TO HURTSBORO.

THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAINFALL EXIST MONDAY AND TUESDAY UNTIL THE
CIRCULATION ASSOCIATED WITH FAY EXITS THE AREA. SOME UNCERTAINTY
DOES EXIST WITH PLACEMENT OF THE HIGHEST RAIN AMOUNTS...BUT AN
ADDITIONAL 5 TO 10 INCHES MAY BE POSSIBLE ALONG THE INTERSTATE 20
CORRIDOR. THIS RAIN FALL WILL TRANSLATE INTO POTENTIAL RIVER
FLOODING BY THE WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY TIME FRAME.

ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL AGAIN BE POSSIBLE ON SUNDAY ACROSS A LARGE
PART OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...ON THE EAST SIDE OF FAYS PATH.

FOR MORE INFORMATION...CONSULT THE LATEST GUIDANCE AND INFORMATION
FROM THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER CONCERNING THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS
FROM FAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BECOME
NECESSARY THROUGH SUNDAY.

75/LINHARES

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 23, 2:52 PM CDT, 2 hours 49 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
252 PM CDT SAT AUG 23 2008

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

0155 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG CLIO                    31.71N 85.61W
08/23/2008                   BARBOUR            AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            SEVERAL TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN NEAR CLIO AND A FEW TREES
            WERE BLOWN DOWN ACROSS THE COUNTY. THESE DOWNED TREES
            PRODUCED SOME POWER OUTAGES. TREES DOWNED DUE TO HEAVY
            RAIN AND ESTIMATED WINDS AROUND 40 MPH.

&&

LINHARES

Local storm report, Aug 23, 2:54 PM CDT, 2 hours 47 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
254 PM CDT SAT AUG 23 2008

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

0251 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG AUBURN                  32.59N 85.48W
08/23/2008                   LEE                AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            A FEW TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN IN AUBURN. TREES DOWNED DUE
            TO HEAVY RAIN AND ESTIMATED WIND GUSTS AROUND 40 MPH.

&&

LINHARES

Local storm report, Aug 23, 3:11 PM CDT, 2 hours 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
311 PM CDT SAT AUG 23 2008

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

0305 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG TROY                    31.81N 85.97W
08/23/2008                   PIKE               AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            A FEW SMALL TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN AND SOME LIMBS SNAPPED
            OFF NEAR TROY.

&&

LINHARES

Local storm report, Aug 23, 3:14 PM CDT, 2 hours 27 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
314 PM CDT SAT AUG 23 2008

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

0305 PM     HEAVY RAIN       TROY                    31.81N 85.97W
08/23/2008  U0.00 INCH       PIKE               AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            HEAVY RAIN BEGINNING TO COLLECT ON ROADWAYS NEAR TROY.
            THESE ROADS WERE STILL PASSABLE BUT CONDITIONS ARE
            DETERIORATING.

&&

LINHARES

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 23, 12:44 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Barbour, Pike	4 hr
Aug 23, 3:15 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Bullock	90 min
Aug 23, 4:41 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Barbour, Bullock, Pike	3 hr
Aug 23, 5:49 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Bullock, Macon, Russell	26 min
Aug 23, 6:08 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Bullock, Macon, Russell	37 min
Aug 23, 6:42 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lee, Macon, Russell, Tallapoosa	33 min
Aug 23, 6:50 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lee, Russell	25 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.