Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 192, NWS Birmingham, AL

December 10, 2008Cherokee County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Dec 10, 2008, 4:17 AM CST for Cherokee County, Alabama. It was in force for 13 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
Dec 10, 2008, 4:17 AM CST (10:17 UTC)
Expired
Dec 10, 2008, 4:30 AM CST
In force
13 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Cherokee County, AL

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 75 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:21 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
Dec 10, 1:41 AM CSTTornado WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 152 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 00:00Z on 2008-12-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 4 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 00:00Z on 2008-12-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 291 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
4 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-86 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1004 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
291 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
366 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS54 KBMX 101017
TORBMX
ALC019-101030-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0192.081210T1017Z-081210T1030Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
417 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN CHEROKEE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 430 AM CST

* AT 417 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF
  WEISS LAKE...OR 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF CEDAR BLUFF...MOVING NORTHEAST
  AT 45 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CLOUDLAND BY 430 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 800 AM CST WEDNESDAY MORNING
FOR ALABAMA.

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

LAT...LON 3452 8551 3431 8546 3420 8566 3430 8574
      3439 8563 3444 8559 3446 8559
TIME...MOT...LOC 1017Z 232DEG 40KT 3433 8561

$$

10/ARM
1 follow-up statement
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 101025
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
425 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008

ALC019-101030-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0192.000000T0000Z-081210T1030Z/
CHEROKEE AL-
425 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 AM CST FOR NORTH
CENTRAL CHEROKEE COUNTY...

AT 451 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR NEW MOON...OR ABOUT 9 MILES
NORTH OF CEDAR BLUFF...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 800 AM CST WEDNESDAY MORNING
FOR ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3452 8551 3431 8546 3427 8556 3435 8564
      3444 8556
TIME...MOT...LOC 1025Z 232DEG 40KT 3438 8552

$$

10/ARM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 9, 8:52 PM CSTFlash Flood WatchBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Walker, Winston7 hr
Dec 9, 9:15 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Marion45 min
Dec 9, 9:45 PM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston3 hr
Dec 9, 9:59 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Marion31 min
Dec 9, 10:01 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXPickens44 min
Dec 9, 10:47 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Greene, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Walker43 min
Dec 9, 11:01 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion, Winston3 hr
Dec 9, 11:13 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Pickens32 min
Dec 9, 11:36 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Winston39 min
Dec 9, 11:45 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa30 min
Dec 10, 12:06 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Tuscaloosa, Walker24 min
Dec 10, 12:22 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Pickens, Sumter38 min
Dec 10, 12:31 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Walker29 min
Dec 10, 12:41 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Fayette, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker49 min
Dec 10, 12:50 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa40 min
Dec 10, 12:55 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa50 min
Dec 10, 12:59 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXWalker, Winston16 min
Dec 10, 1:09 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXBlount, Walker6 min
Dec 10, 1:31 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa44 min
Dec 10, 1:32 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa28 min
Dec 10, 1:55 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXJefferson9 min
Dec 10, 1:57 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson, Walker33 min
Dec 10, 2:00 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker30 min
Dec 10, 2:12 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter, Tuscaloosa48 min
Dec 10, 2:26 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXBlount, Etowah34 min
Dec 10, 2:32 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson28 min
Dec 10, 3:07 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarengo, Sumter23 min
Dec 10, 3:11 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Tuscaloosa34 min
Dec 10, 3:28 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton, Dallas34 min
Dec 10, 3:38 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson37 min
Dec 10, 4:38 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXSt. Clair20 min
Dec 10, 4:40 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXLowndes, Montgomery35 min
Dec 10, 4:44 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXJefferson3 hr
Dec 10, 5:07 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXBibb, Chilton, Dallas, Perry23 min
Dec 10, 5:32 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXCoosa, Tallapoosa28 min
Dec 10, 6:24 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXPike51 min
Dec 10, 6:43 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPike47 min
Dec 10, 6:49 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXCleburne, Randolph15 min
Dec 10, 6:51 AM CSTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter6 days
Dec 10, 6:51 AM CSTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter6 days
Dec 10, 7:18 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXCoosa, Tallapoosa27 min
Dec 10, 7:41 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBarbour, Pike49 min
Dec 10, 8:24 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBarbour36 min
Dec 10, 9:56 AM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXBarbour, Pike4 hr
Dec 10, 3:24 PM CSTFlash Flood WatchBMXAutauga, Barbour, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers and 24 more20 hr
Dec 10, 3:54 PM CSTWinter Storm WatchBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Walker, Winston12 hr
Dec 10, 4:01 PM CSTLake Wind AdvisoryBMXAutauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more29 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.