Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 152, NWS Birmingham, AL

August 25, 2008Chilton County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Aug 25, 2008, 8:27 AM CDT for Chilton County, Alabama. It was in force for 33 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 25, 2008, 8:27 AM CDT (13:27 UTC)
Expired
Aug 25, 2008, 9:00 AM CDT
In force
33 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Chilton County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 23 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 13:31 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Aug 25, 7:28 AM CDTTornado WatchSPC13 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 1.5 hours before the alert went out and 24 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2008-08-25Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 675 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2008-08-25The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 166 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
675 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-4 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
533 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
22 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
166 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
168 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS54 KBMX 251327
TORBMX
ALC021-251400-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0152.080825T1327Z-080825T1400Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
827 AM CDT MON AUG 25 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN CHILTON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...JEMISON...CLANTON...

* UNTIL 900 AM CDT

* AT 827 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR CLANTON...MOVING
  NORTHWEST AT 32 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  GAP OF THE MOUNTAIN BY 840 AM CDT...
  THORSBY BY 845 AM CDT...
  UNION GROVE AND JEMISON BY 850 AM CDT...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 205 THROUGH 219.

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 300 PM CDT MONDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHERN ALABAMA.

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

LAT...LON 3273 8658 3303 8690 3305 8689 3308 8682
      3307 8681 3308 8667 3308 8666 3308 8664
      3278 8648
TIME...MOT...LOC 1327Z 147DEG 28KT 3282 8658

$$

17/KLAWS
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 251331
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
831 AM CDT MON AUG 25 2008

ALC021-251400-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0152.000000T0000Z-080825T1400Z/
CHILTON AL-
831 AM CDT MON AUG 25 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 AM CDT FOR CENTRAL
CHILTON COUNTY...

AT 828 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR CLANTON...MOVING NORTHWEST AT
26 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  LOMAX...I 65 REST AREA AND GAP OF THE MOUNTAIN BY 845 AM CDT...
  THORSBY AND UNION GROVE BY 855 AM CDT...
  JEMISON AND 6 MILES SOUTH OF MINOOKA PARK BY 900 AM 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 300 PM CDT MONDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3278 8660 3303 8689 3305 8689 3308 8682
      3307 8681 3308 8664 3280 8653
TIME...MOT...LOC 1331Z 141DEG 23KT 3282 8660

$$

STEFKOVICH
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 251342
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
842 AM CDT MON AUG 25 2008

ALC021-251400-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0152.000000T0000Z-080825T1400Z/
CHILTON AL-
842 AM CDT MON AUG 25 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 AM CDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL CHILTON COUNTY...

AT 837 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR LOMAX...OR ABOUT NEAR
CLANTON...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 31 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  UNION GROVE BY 850 AM CDT...
  JEMISON BY 855 AM CDT...
  MINOOKA PARK BY 900 AM 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.

LAT...LON 3284 8663 3303 8689 3305 8689 3308 8682
      3307 8681 3308 8664 3286 8657
TIME...MOT...LOC 1342Z 145DEG 27KT 3291 8667

$$

STEFKOVICH

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 25, 5:49 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXDallas, Perry26 min
Aug 25, 6:06 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXHale, Perry24 min
Aug 25, 6:27 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter4 hr
Aug 25, 7:05 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXLowndes, Montgomery25 min
Aug 25, 7:40 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Lowndes, Montgomery35 min
Aug 25, 7:57 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXBullock, Montgomery, Pike33 min
Aug 25, 7:57 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Elmore, Montgomery33 min
Aug 25, 8:12 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXMontgomery33 min
Aug 25, 8:16 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXBarbour29 min
Aug 25, 8:44 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXBarbour, Bullock, Macon, Russell31 min
Aug 25, 8:47 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXClay, Coosa, Tallapoosa28 min
Aug 25, 8:59 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXMontgomery3 days
Aug 25, 9:04 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXChilton, Shelby26 min
Aug 25, 9:10 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXClay, Talladega35 min
Aug 25, 9:12 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXBullock, Macon, Russell33 min
Aug 25, 9:24 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXBullock, Macon3 hr
Aug 25, 9:25 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXChambers, Randolph35 min
Aug 25, 9:27 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXShelby3 hr
Aug 25, 9:30 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXJefferson, Shelby30 min
Aug 25, 9:33 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXClay, Cleburne27 min
Aug 25, 9:36 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXLee, Macon, Russell39 min
Aug 25, 9:43 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXJefferson3 hr
Aug 25, 9:57 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXCleburne, Randolph22 min
Aug 25, 10:49 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXClay, Talladega26 min
Aug 25, 10:59 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXMontgomery3 hr
Aug 25, 11:03 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXBlount, St. Clair27 min
Aug 25, 11:31 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXBlount29 min
Aug 25, 11:55 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, Clay, Cleburne35 min
Aug 25, 11:57 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXRandolph33 min
Aug 25, 12:21 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXCoosa, Jefferson, Shelby4 hr
Aug 25, 12:30 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, Cherokee, Etowah30 min
Aug 25, 12:56 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCherokee, Etowah34 min
Aug 25, 1:30 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXPike30 min
Aug 25, 2:28 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBarbour32 min
Aug 25, 3:02 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBullock, Macon13 min
Aug 25, 3:03 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBarbour27 min
Aug 25, 5:45 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBarbour, Bullock, Pike30 min

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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.