Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 52, NWS Birmingham, AL

February 17, 2008Pike County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Feb 17, 2008, 3:31 PM CST for Pike County, Alabama. It was in force for 44 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
Feb 17, 2008, 3:31 PM CST (21:31 UTC)
Expired
Feb 17, 2008, 4:15 PM CST
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Pike County, AL

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Feb 17, 12:32 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 167 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 2008-02-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 5 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, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2008-02-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 277 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS54 KBMX 172132
TORBMX
ALC109-172215-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0052.080217T2131Z-080217T2215Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  PIKE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...TROY...GOSHEN...

* UNTIL 415 PM CST

* AT 326 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 10 MILES WEST OF
  GOSHEN...OR NEAR LUVERNE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  6 MILES NORTHWEST OF GOSHEN BY 340 PM CST...
  ANSLEY BY 345 PM CST...
  9 MILES NORTHWEST OF MOSSY GROVE BY 350 PM CST...
  TROY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AND TROY BY 355 PM CST...
  8 MILES NORTHWEST OF BANKS BY 405 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.

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

LAT...LON 3166 8617 3168 8615 3178 8615 3180 8621
      3189 8619 3198 8607 3197 8600 3202 8599
      3205 8594 3177 8569 3164 8594 3163 8615
TIME...MOT...LOC 2131Z 242DEG 35KT 3177 8624

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 172141
SVSBMX

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

ALC109-172215-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0052.000000T0000Z-080217T2215Z/
PIKE AL-
341 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CST FOR PIKE
COUNTY...

AT 337 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
ANSLEY...OR ABOUT 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF GOSHEN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
40 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  9 MILES NORTHWEST OF MOSSY GROVE BY 350 PM CST...
  TROY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AND TROY BY 355 PM CST...
  ORION BY 400 PM CST...
  LINWOOD...8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CHINA GROVE AND 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF
  BANKS BY 405 PM CST...
  9 MILES NORTHWEST OF MONTICELLO BY 410 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 3171 8612 3178 8615 3180 8621 3189 8619
      3198 8607 3197 8600 3202 8599 3205 8594
      3180 8572 3170 8595 3168 8605
TIME...MOT...LOC 2141Z 242DEG 35KT 3182 8614

$$

27
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 172206
SVSBMX

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

ALC109-172215-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0052.000000T0000Z-080217T2215Z/
PIKE AL-
406 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CST FOR NORTHERN
PIKE COUNTY...

AT 404 PM CST...A POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS REPORTED.  THIS TORNADO WAS 
LOCATED NEAR LINWOOD...OR ABOUT 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF TROY...MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 40 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 3178 8615 3180 8621 3189 8619 3198 8607
      3197 8600 3202 8599 3205 8594 3186 8579
      3179 8594 3174 8612
TIME...MOT...LOC 2206Z 242DEG 35KT 3193 8589

$$

27

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 17, 4:08 AM CSTLake Wind AdvisoryBMXAutauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more14 hr
Feb 17, 10:59 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Tuscaloosa31 min
Feb 17, 11:13 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDallas, Hale, Marengo, Perry32 min
Feb 17, 11:24 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga, Bibb, Chilton, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore and 8 more66 min
Feb 17, 11:40 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXDallas, Marengo, Perry35 min
Feb 17, 12:08 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton, Dallas, Perry52 min
Feb 17, 12:11 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXDallas, Marengo49 min
Feb 17, 12:28 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Elmore and 5 more62 min
Feb 17, 12:48 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Dallas42 min
Feb 17, 12:53 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton34 min
Feb 17, 1:09 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton, Coosa, Elmore51 min
Feb 17, 1:27 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Randolph, Talladega63 min
Feb 17, 1:31 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton, Elmore44 min
Feb 17, 1:40 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXChambers, Clay, Coosa, Randolph, Tallapoosa35 min
Feb 17, 1:45 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXDallas, Lowndes60 min
Feb 17, 1:50 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXBarbour, Bullock, Pike55 min
Feb 17, 2:08 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXChambers, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Randolph, Tallapoosa49 min
Feb 17, 2:31 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCoosa, Elmore, Tallapoosa44 min
Feb 17, 2:31 PM CSTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXAutauga, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery59 min
Feb 17, 2:41 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXBarbour, Bullock, Pike, Russell64 min
Feb 17, 2:49 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXChambers, Coosa, Elmore, Randolph, Tallapoosa56 min
Feb 17, 3:26 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXCoosa, Elmore, Tallapoosa34 min
Feb 17, 3:37 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXBarbour, Russell38 min
Feb 17, 4:05 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXBarbour, Pike40 min
Feb 17, 4:10 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBarbour, Bullock, Pike, Russell50 min
Feb 17, 4:20 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXChambers, Clay, Randolph, Tallapoosa43 min
Feb 17, 4:40 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXBarbour, Russell25 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.