Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008
Tornado Warning 38, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Feb 17, 2008, 12:08 PM CST for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 52 min. 5 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
- Feb 17, 2008, 12:08 PM CST (18:08 UTC)
- Expired
- Feb 17, 2008, 1:00 PM CST
- In force
- 52 min
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
Counties Autauga County, AL, Chilton County, AL, Dallas County, AL, Perry County, AL
The radar
The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 65 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 17, 12:29 PM CST | TORNADO 2 | 6 Nw Selma, AL | A TORNADO AFFECTED COUNTY ROADS 843, 37, 16, OAKMULGEE ROAD, AND CENTENARY ROAD. NUMEROUS TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF AND UPROOTED ALONG THE PATH. AT LEAST 7 HOMES AND 15 BUSINESSES WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED INCLUDING HUGHS BODY SHOP. |
| Feb 17, 12:43 PM CST | TSTM WND DMG | 10 N Selma, AL | POSSIBLE TORNADO...SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE IN THE SUMMERFIELD AREA. NO DETAILS AT THIS TIME. |
| Feb 17, 12:43 PM CST | TORNADO | 10 N Selma, AL | SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE IN THE SUMMERFIELD AREA. DAMAGE BEING REPORTED ON COUNTY ROADS 843...37...AND 16...OAKMULGEE ROAD...AND CENTENARY ROAD. NUMEROUS TREES DOWN...SEVERAL HOMES DAMAGED/DESTROYED...AND HUGHS BODY SHOP DESTROYED. |
| Feb 17, 12:58 PM CST | TSTM WND DMG | 10 Sw Clanton, AL | TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN ON COUNTY ROAD 37. |
| Feb 17, 1:10 PM CST | HAIL 1 | 3 Ene Selma, AL | QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN BRANTLEY. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 17, 5:26 AM CST | Tornado Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 6.1 hours before the alert went out and 66 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
- 5 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -13 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 560 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 56 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 277 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 350 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 WFUS54 KBMX 171808 TORBMX ALC001-021-047-105-171900- /O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0038.080217T1808Z-080217T1900Z/ BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1208 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... NORTHWESTERN AUTAUGA COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA... SOUTHWESTERN CHILTON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA... EAST CENTRAL PERRY COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA... NORTHERN DALLAS COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA... THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF SELMA... * UNTIL 100 PM CST * AT 1208 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 9 MILES WEST OF HAZEN...OR 20 MILES WEST OF SELMA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. * THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR... HAZEN BY 1215 PM CST... SELMA AND 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SUTTLE BY 1225 PM CST... PAUL M GRIST STATE PARK BY 1235 PM CST... DAWSON MILL BY 1250 PM CST... BILLINGSLEY AND 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF VIDE JUNCTION BY 1255 PM CST... POOLES CROSSROADS BY 100 PM 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 100 PM CST SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA. TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER... CALL 1-800-856-0758. LAT...LON 3285 8677 3257 8658 3231 8727 3244 8734 TIME...MOT...LOC 1808Z 239DEG 46KT 3236 8733 $$
2 follow-up statements
000
WWUS54 KBMX 171824
SVSBMX
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1223 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008
ALC001-021-047-105-171900-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0038.000000T0000Z-080217T1900Z/
DALLAS AL-AUTAUGA AL-PERRY AL-CHILTON AL-
1223 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 PM CST FOR
SOUTHWESTERN CHILTON...EAST CENTRAL PERRY...NORTHWESTERN AUTAUGA AND
NORTHERN DALLAS COUNTIES...
AT 1222 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR POTTER STATION...
OR ABOUT 7 MILES WEST OF SELMA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
SUMMERFIELD BY 1230 PM CST...
BARRETT CREEK...VALLEY GRANDE AND PAUL M GRIST STATE PARK BY 1235
PM CST...
MULBERRY CREEK JONES AND VALLEY CREEK JUNCTION BY 1240 PM CST...
DAWSON MILL BY 1250 PM CST...
BILLINGSLEY AND PLECHER BY 1255 PM CST...
POOLES CROSSROADS BY 100 PM CST...
THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
LAT...LON 3244 8734 3250 8726 3265 8705 3266 8705
3270 8697 3285 8677 3262 8661 3257 8659
3231 8727
TIME...MOT...LOC 1823Z 239DEG 46KT 3246 8714
$$
JBW000
WWUS54 KBMX 171853
SVSBMX
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1253 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008
ALC047-105-171903-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0038.000000T0000Z-080217T1900Z/
DALLAS AL-PERRY AL-
1253 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL PERRY AND NORTHERN DALLAS
COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST SUNDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA.
LAT...LON 3253 8686 3265 8687 3269 8686 3285 8677
3262 8661 3257 8659
TIME...MOT...LOC 1853Z 241DEG 47KT 3265 8679
$$
ALC001-021-171900-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0038.000000T0000Z-080217T1900Z/
AUTAUGA AL-CHILTON AL-
1253 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 PM CST FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL CHILTON AND NORTHWESTERN AUTAUGA COUNTIES...
AT 1250 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND STORM
SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO. THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR DAWSON MILL...OR ABOUT 18 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
CLANTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
BILLINGSLEY AND POOLES CROSSROADS BY 100 PM CST...
THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST SUNDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA.
LAT...LON 3253 8686 3265 8687 3269 8686 3285 8677
3262 8661 3257 8659
TIME...MOT...LOC 1853Z 241DEG 47KT 3265 8679
$$
STEFKOVICHThe office that day
Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 17, 4:08 AM CST | Lake Wind Advisory | BMX | Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more | 14 hr |
| Feb 17, 10:59 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Bibb, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Tuscaloosa | 31 min |
| Feb 17, 11:13 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Dallas, Hale, Marengo, Perry | 32 min |
| Feb 17, 11:24 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Autauga, Bibb, Chilton, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore and 8 more | 66 min |
| Feb 17, 11:40 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Dallas, Marengo, Perry | 35 min |
| Feb 17, 12:11 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Dallas, Marengo | 49 min |
| Feb 17, 12:28 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Autauga, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Elmore and 5 more | 62 min |
| Feb 17, 12:48 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Autauga, Dallas | 42 min |
| Feb 17, 12:53 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Autauga, Chilton | 34 min |
| Feb 17, 1:09 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Autauga, Chilton, Coosa, Elmore | 51 min |
| Feb 17, 1:27 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Randolph, Talladega | 63 min |
| Feb 17, 1:31 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Autauga, Chilton, Elmore | 44 min |
| Feb 17, 1:40 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Chambers, Clay, Coosa, Randolph, Tallapoosa | 35 min |
| Feb 17, 1:45 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Dallas, Lowndes | 60 min |
| Feb 17, 1:50 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Barbour, Bullock, Pike | 55 min |
| Feb 17, 2:08 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Chambers, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Randolph, Tallapoosa | 49 min |
| Feb 17, 2:31 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Coosa, Elmore, Tallapoosa | 44 min |
| Feb 17, 2:31 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Autauga, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery | 59 min |
| Feb 17, 2:41 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Barbour, Bullock, Pike, Russell | 64 min |
| Feb 17, 2:49 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Chambers, Coosa, Elmore, Randolph, Tallapoosa | 56 min |
| Feb 17, 3:26 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Coosa, Elmore, Tallapoosa | 34 min |
| Feb 17, 3:31 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Pike | 44 min |
| Feb 17, 3:37 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Barbour, Russell | 38 min |
| Feb 17, 4:05 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Barbour, Pike | 40 min |
| Feb 17, 4:10 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Barbour, Bullock, Pike, Russell | 50 min |
| Feb 17, 4:20 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Chambers, Clay, Randolph, Tallapoosa | 43 min |
| Feb 17, 4:40 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Barbour, Russell | 25 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.