Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008
Tornado Warning 184, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Dec 10, 2008, 12:31 AM CST for Fayette County, Walker County, Alabama. It was in force for 29 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
- Dec 10, 2008, 12:31 AM CST (06:31 UTC)
- Expired
- Dec 10, 2008, 1:00 AM CST
- In force
- 29 min
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
Counties Fayette County, AL, Walker County, AL
The radar
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 84 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 10, 12:43 AM CST | TSTM WND DMG | Oakman, AL | POSSIBLE TORNADO TOUCHDOWN IN THE OAKMAN AREA. OAKMAN HAD SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SOME DAMAGE TO THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIELD...THE VISITORS BLEACHERS ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. THERE ARE SEVERAL TREES DOWN AND ROOF DAMAGE TO HOM |
| Dec 10, 12:43 AM CST | TORNADO | N Oakman, AL | STORM SURVEY INDICATED AN EF1 MAGNITUDE TORNADO WITH MAXIMUM WINDS OF 80-90 MPH. PATH LENGTH 0.75 MILES, WIDTH 300 YARDS. DAMAGE INCLUDED METAL BLEACHERS TWISTED AND MOVED, HOUSES WITH SIGNIFICANT ROOF DAMAGE, APPROXIMATELY 150 TREES UPROOTED AND/OR SNAPPED. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 9, 8:03 PM CST | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 6.5 hours before the alert went out and 93 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
- 167 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -33 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 741 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 49 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 336 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 421 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 3.8
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 WFUS54 KBMX 100631 TORBMX ALC057-127-100700- /O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0184.081210T0631Z-081210T0700Z/ BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1231 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... CENTRAL WALKER COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA... THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...JASPER...CORDOVA... EAST CENTRAL FAYETTE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA... * UNTIL 100 AM CST * AT 1231 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR BERRY...OR 15 MILES SOUTH OF CARBON HILL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. * THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR... OAKMAN BY 1245 AM CST... 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF PARRISH BY 1255 AM CST... JASPER AND 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF CORDOVA BY 100 AM CST... THIS INCLUDES US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 52 THROUGH 70. 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 AM CST WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR WESTERN ALABAMA. TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER... CALL 1-800-856-0758. LAT...LON 3400 8742 3377 8710 3361 8756 3369 8763 TIME...MOT...LOC 0631Z 232DEG 28KT 3370 8752 $$ 10/ARM
2 follow-up statements
000 WWUS54 KBMX 100644 SVSBMX SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1244 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008 ALC057-127-100700- /O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0184.000000T0000Z-081210T0700Z/ FAYETTE AL-WALKER AL- 1244 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008 ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM CST FOR CENTRAL WALKER AND EXTREME EAST CENTRAL FAYETTE COUNTIES... AT 1244 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR CORONA...OR ABOUT 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JASPER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR... LOST CREEK ABOVE PARRISH...TOWNLEY...HOLLY GROVE AND PARRISH BY 1250 AM CST... JASPER...GAMBLE...WALKER COUNTY AIRPORT AND 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF CORDOVA BY 100 AM CST... THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM CST WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR WESTERN ALABAMA. LAT...LON 3400 8742 3377 8710 3365 8746 3373 8753 TIME...MOT...LOC 0644Z 232DEG 28KT 3376 8740 $$ 10/ARM
000 WWUS54 KBMX 100651 SVSBMX SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1251 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008 ALC057-100701- /O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0184.000000T0000Z-081210T0700Z/ FAYETTE AL- 1251 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME EAST CENTRAL FAYETTE COUNTY IS CANCELLED... A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM CST WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR WESTERN ALABAMA. LAT...LON 3400 8742 3377 8710 3369 8740 3376 8747 TIME...MOT...LOC 0651Z 229DEG 38KT 3383 8731 $$ ALC127-100700- /O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0184.000000T0000Z-081210T0700Z/ WALKER AL- 1251 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008 ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM CST FOR CENTRAL WALKER COUNTY... AT 1251 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR LOST CREEK ABOVE PARRISH...OR ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JASPER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM CST WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR WESTERN ALABAMA. LAT...LON 3400 8742 3377 8710 3369 8740 3376 8747 TIME...MOT...LOC 0651Z 229DEG 38KT 3383 8731 $$ 10/ARM
The office that day
Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 9, 8:52 PM CST | Flash Flood Watch | BMX | Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Walker, Winston | 7 hr |
| Dec 9, 9:15 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Lamar, Marion | 45 min |
| Dec 9, 9:45 PM CST | Areal Flood Advisory | BMX | Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston | 3 hr |
| Dec 9, 9:59 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Lamar, Marion | 31 min |
| Dec 9, 10:01 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Pickens | 44 min |
| Dec 9, 10:47 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Fayette, Greene, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Walker | 43 min |
| Dec 9, 11:01 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Winston | 3 hr |
| Dec 9, 11:13 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Greene, Pickens | 32 min |
| Dec 9, 11:36 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Fayette, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Winston | 39 min |
| Dec 9, 11:45 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Pickens, Tuscaloosa | 30 min |
| Dec 10, 12:06 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Fayette, Tuscaloosa, Walker | 24 min |
| Dec 10, 12:22 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Greene, Hale, Pickens, Sumter | 38 min |
| Dec 10, 12:41 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Blount, Fayette, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker | 49 min |
| Dec 10, 12:50 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Pickens, Tuscaloosa | 40 min |
| Dec 10, 12:55 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Greene, Hale, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa | 50 min |
| Dec 10, 12:59 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Walker, Winston | 16 min |
| Dec 10, 1:09 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Blount, Walker | 6 min |
| Dec 10, 1:31 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Greene, Hale, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa | 44 min |
| Dec 10, 1:32 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Pickens, Tuscaloosa | 28 min |
| Dec 10, 1:55 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Jefferson | 9 min |
| Dec 10, 1:57 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Blount, Jefferson, Walker | 33 min |
| Dec 10, 2:00 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Fayette, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker | 30 min |
| Dec 10, 2:12 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter, Tuscaloosa | 48 min |
| Dec 10, 2:26 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Blount, Etowah | 34 min |
| Dec 10, 2:32 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Blount, Jefferson | 28 min |
| Dec 10, 3:07 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Marengo, Sumter | 23 min |
| Dec 10, 3:11 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Bibb, Tuscaloosa | 34 min |
| Dec 10, 3:28 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Autauga, Chilton, Dallas | 34 min |
| Dec 10, 3:38 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Jefferson | 37 min |
| Dec 10, 4:17 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Cherokee | 13 min |
| Dec 10, 4:38 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | St. Clair | 20 min |
| Dec 10, 4:40 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Lowndes, Montgomery | 35 min |
| Dec 10, 4:44 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Jefferson | 3 hr |
| Dec 10, 5:07 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Bibb, Chilton, Dallas, Perry | 23 min |
| Dec 10, 5:32 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Coosa, Tallapoosa | 28 min |
| Dec 10, 6:24 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Pike | 51 min |
| Dec 10, 6:43 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Pike | 47 min |
| Dec 10, 6:49 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Cleburne, Randolph | 15 min |
| Dec 10, 6:51 AM CST | River Flood Warning | BMX | Greene, Hale, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter | 6 days |
| Dec 10, 6:51 AM CST | River Flood Warning | BMX | Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter | 6 days |
| Dec 10, 7:18 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Coosa, Tallapoosa | 27 min |
| Dec 10, 7:41 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Barbour, Pike | 49 min |
| Dec 10, 8:24 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Barbour | 36 min |
| Dec 10, 9:56 AM CST | Areal Flood Advisory | BMX | Barbour, Pike | 4 hr |
| Dec 10, 3:24 PM CST | Flash Flood Watch | BMX | Autauga, Barbour, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers and 24 more | 20 hr |
| Dec 10, 3:54 PM CST | Winter Storm Watch | BMX | Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Walker, Winston | 12 hr |
| Dec 10, 4:01 PM CST | Lake Wind Advisory | BMX | Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more | 29 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.