Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 47, NWS Birmingham, AL

February 17, 20086 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Feb 17, 2008, 2:08 PM CST for 6 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 49 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: Feb 17, 2008, 2:08 PM CST (20:08 UTC)
Expired: Feb 17, 2008, 2:57 PM CST
In force: 49 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Chambers County, AL, Clay County, AL, Cleburne County, AL, Coosa County, AL, Randolph County, AL, Tallapoosa County, AL

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Feb 17, 2:11 PM CST	HAIL 0.75	10 S Heflin, AL	EMA REPORTED PENNY SIZE HAIL AND CIRCULATION IN CLOUDS IN THE HOLLIS CROSSROADS AREA NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 431 AND COUNTY ROAD 2.
Feb 17, 2:20 PM CST	TORNADO	6 Nnw Roanoke, AL	POSSIBLE TORNADO...TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN IN THE ROCK STAND AREA...TREES DOWN ON COUNTY ROAD 15...STRUCTURE DAMAGE ON COUNTY ROADS 44 AND 609 JUST SOUTH OF WEDOWEE.

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, 12:32 PM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 8.1 hours before the alert went out and 99 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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 1892 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 54 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 320 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 438 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 172009
TORBMX
ALC017-027-029-037-111-123-172115-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0047.080217T2008Z-080217T2115Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
208 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN CHAMBERS COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  EASTERN CLAY COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF ASHLAND...
  SOUTHEASTERN CLEBURNE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  EASTERN COOSA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...KELLYTON...ROCKFORD...GOODWATER...
  RANDOLPH COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...WEDOWEE...ROANOKE...
  NORTHERN TALLAPOOSA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF ALEXANDER CITY...

* UNTIL 315 PM CST

* AT 204 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR ROCKFORD...
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.  A SECOND POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS NEAR    
  MELLOW VALLEY IN CLAY COUNTY.  BOTH STORMS WILL MOVE NORTHEAST AT  
  50 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  BRADFORD...HATCHET AND KELLYTON BY 215 PM CST...
  GOODWATER BY 220 PM CST...
  CLEVELAND CROSSROADS AND HACKNEYVILLE BY 225 PM CST...
  MILLERVILLE BY 230 PM CST...
  ASHLAND AND MELLOW VALLEY BY 240 PM CST...
  LINEVILLE BY 245 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.


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

LAT...LON 3294 8630 3373 8535 3372 8533 3351 8530
      3348 8529 3345 8529 3339 8527 3334 8527
      3311 8522 3277 8622
TIME...MOT...LOC 2008Z 224DEG 52KT 3291 8618

$$
03

4 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 172024
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
222 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

ALC017-027-029-037-111-123-172115-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0047.000000T0000Z-080217T2115Z/
COOSA AL-TALLAPOOSA AL-CHAMBERS AL-CLAY AL-RANDOLPH AL-CLEBURNE AL-
222 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM CST FOR
SOUTHEASTERN CLEBURNE...RANDOLPH...EASTERN CLAY...NORTHWESTERN
CHAMBERS...NORTHERN TALLAPOOSA AND EASTERN COOSA COUNTIES...

AT 218 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE TWO POSSIBLE TORNADOES.  THE FIRST TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR 
BRADFORD...OR ABOUT NEAR KELLYTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  MILLERVILLE AND HILLABEE CREEK BY 230 PM CST...
  ASHLAND AND MELLOW VALLEY BY 240 PM CST...
  LINEVILLE AND CRAGFORD BY 245 PM CST...
  BARFIELD AND OFELIA BY 250 PM CST...
  FOSTERS CROSS ROADS AND MORRISON CROSS ROADS BY 300 PM CST...

THE SECOND POSSIBLE TORNADO IS JUST WEST OF WEDOWEE...MOVING TO THE 
NORTHEAST AT 60 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.

LAT...LON 3294 8630 3373 8535 3372 8533 3351 8530
      3348 8529 3345 8529 3339 8527 3334 8527
      3311 8522 3277 8622
TIME...MOT...LOC 2022Z 224DEG 52KT 3306 8601

$$

27

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 172033
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
232 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

ALC017-172042-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0047.000000T0000Z-080217T2115Z/
CHAMBERS AL-
232 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN CHAMBERS COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST SUNDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3372 8533 3312 8523 3311 8560 3298 8593
      3312 8609 3314 8606 3373 8535
TIME...MOT...LOC 2032Z 224DEG 52KT 3316 8589

$$

ALC027-029-037-111-123-172115-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0047.000000T0000Z-080217T2115Z/
COOSA AL-TALLAPOOSA AL-CLAY AL-RANDOLPH AL-CLEBURNE AL-
232 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM CST FOR
SOUTHEASTERN CLEBURNE...RANDOLPH...EASTERN CLAY...NORTHERN TALLAPOOSA
AND EXTREME NORTHEASTERN COOSA COUNTIES...

AT 227 PM CST...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR CLEVELAND CROSSROADS...OR ABOUT 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF
GOODWATER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  ASHLAND AND MELLOW VALLEY BY 240 PM CST...
  LINEVILLE AND CRAGFORD BY 245 PM CST...
  BARFIELD AND OFELIA BY 250 PM CST...
  FOSTERS CROSS ROADS AND MORRISON CROSS ROADS BY 300 PM CST...
  RANBURNE BY 310 PM CST...
  ABERNATHY BY 315 PM CST...

ANOTHER POSSIBLE TORNADO IS LOCATED JUST NORTH OF WEDOWEE...MOVING 
TO THE NORTHEAST AT 60 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.

LAT...LON 3372 8533 3312 8523 3311 8560 3298 8593
      3312 8609 3314 8606 3373 8535
TIME...MOT...LOC 2032Z 224DEG 52KT 3316 8589

$$

27

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 172048
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
248 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

ALC037-123-172058-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0047.000000T0000Z-080217T2115Z/
COOSA AL-TALLAPOOSA AL-
248 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN TALLAPOOSA AND EXTREME
NORTHEASTERN COOSA COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST SUNDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3368 8534 3326 8527 3311 8560 3312 8605
TIME...MOT...LOC 2048Z 224DEG 52KT 3333 8570

$$

ALC027-029-111-172115-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0047.000000T0000Z-080217T2115Z/
CLAY AL-RANDOLPH AL-CLEBURNE AL-
248 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM CST FOR
SOUTHEASTERN CLEBURNE...RANDOLPH AND SOUTHEASTERN CLAY COUNTIES...

AT 246 PM CST...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR LINEVILLE...OR ABOUT 7 MILES EAST OF ASHLAND...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 60 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  FOSTERS CROSS ROADS AND MORRISON CROSS ROADS BY 300 PM CST...
  7 MILES NORTHWEST OF NEWELL BY 305 PM CST...
  RANBURNE AND 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF GRAHAM BY 310 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 3368 8534 3326 8527 3311 8560 3312 8605
TIME...MOT...LOC 2048Z 224DEG 52KT 3333 8570

$$

27

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 172057
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
257 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

ALC027-029-111-172107-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0047.000000T0000Z-080217T2115Z/
CLAY AL-RANDOLPH AL-CLEBURNE AL-
257 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN CLEBURNE...RANDOLPH AND
SOUTHEASTERN CLAY COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED. THE STORMS THAT PROMPTED THE
WARNING HAVE WEAKENED.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST SUNDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3368 8534 3326 8527 3311 8560 3312 8605
TIME...MOT...LOC 2057Z 224DEG 52KT 3342 8559

$$

27

The 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, 12:08 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chilton, Dallas, Perry	52 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, 2:31 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Coosa, Elmore, Tallapoosa	44 min
Feb 17, 2:31 PM CST	Tornado Warning Emergency	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, 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.