Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 55, NWS Birmingham, AL

February 17, 20084 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Feb 17, 2008, 4:20 PM CST for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 43 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, 4:20 PM CST (22:20 UTC)
Expired: Feb 17, 2008, 5:03 PM CST
In force: 43 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

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

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, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 94 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 172220
TORBMX
ALC017-027-111-123-172315-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0055.080217T2220Z-080217T2315Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
420 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...
  SOUTHEASTERN CLAY COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  RANDOLPH COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...WEDOWEE...ROANOKE...
  NORTHEASTERN TALLAPOOSA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 515 PM CST

* AT 420 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR NEW SITE...
  OR 11 MILES NORTHEAST OF ALEXANDER CITY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30
  MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  MOTLEY AND DAVISTON BY 430 PM CST...
  WADLEY BY 440 PM CST...
  CONCORD BY 445 PM CST...
  TENNANT...6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WEDOWEE AND 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF
  ROANOKE BY 500 PM CST...
  NAPOLEON BY 510 PM CST...
  BIG SPRINGS BY 515 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 3295 8579 3309 8589 3341 8537 3325 8524
      3324 8525 3323 8524 3319 8524
TIME...MOT...LOC 2220Z 238DEG 30KT 3306 8576

$$

JD/81

4 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 172230
SVSBMX

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

ALC017-027-111-123-172315-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0055.000000T0000Z-080217T2315Z/
TALLAPOOSA AL-CHAMBERS AL-CLAY AL-RANDOLPH AL-
430 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM CST FOR
RANDOLPH...SOUTHEASTERN CLAY...NORTHWESTERN CHAMBERS AND NORTHEASTERN
TALLAPOOSA COUNTIES...

AT 428 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MOTLEY...OR ABOUT
15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ASHLAND...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  WADLEY BY 440 PM CST...
  CORINTH...MALONE...CONCORD AND ABANDA BY 445 PM CST...
  ROCK STAND...TENNANT AND 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WEDOWEE BY 500 PM
  CST...
  NAPOLEON BY 510 PM CST...
  BIG SPRINGS BY 515 PM CST...

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

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 3313 8578 3341 8537 3333 8531 3325 8524
      3324 8525 3323 8524 3319 8524 3301 8568
TIME...MOT...LOC 2230Z 238DEG 30KT 3310 8568

$$

JD/81

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 172240
SVSBMX

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

ALC027-123-172250-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0055.000000T0000Z-080217T2315Z/
TALLAPOOSA AL-CLAY AL-
440 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN CLAY AND NORTHEASTERN
TALLAPOOSA COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

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

LAT...LON 3309 8560 3311 8560 3312 8563 3316 8566
      3322 8565 3341 8537 3325 8524 3319 8524
      3306 8558
TIME...MOT...LOC 2240Z 238DEG 30KT 3315 8559

$$

ALC017-111-172315-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0055.000000T0000Z-080217T2315Z/
CHAMBERS AL-RANDOLPH AL-
440 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM CST FOR RANDOLPH
AND NORTHWESTERN CHAMBERS COUNTIES...

AT 438 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WADLEY...OR ABOUT
14 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WEDOWEE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  CORINTH...MALONE...CONCORD AND ABANDA BY 445 PM CST...
  ROCK STAND...TENNANT...6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WEDOWEE AND 7 MILES
  NORTHWEST OF ROANOKE BY 500 PM CST...
  NAPOLEON BY 510 PM CST...
  BIG SPRINGS BY 515 PM CST...

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

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 3309 8560 3311 8560 3312 8563 3316 8566
      3322 8565 3341 8537 3325 8524 3319 8524
      3306 8558
TIME...MOT...LOC 2240Z 238DEG 30KT 3315 8559

$$

JD/81

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 172251 RRA
SVSBMX

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

ALC017-172301-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0055.000000T0000Z-080217T2315Z/
CHAMBERS AL-
451 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 3325 8559 3341 8537 3333 8531 3325 8524
      3324 8525 3323 8524 3319 8524 3311 8548
TIME...MOT...LOC 2251Z 238DEG 30KT 3320 8550

$$

ALC111-172315-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0055.000000T0000Z-080217T2315Z/
RANDOLPH AL-
451 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM CST FOR RANDOLPH
COUNTY...

AT 447 PM CST...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 7
MILES WEST OF ROCK STAND...OR ABOUT 9 MILES SOUTH OF WEDOWEE...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  ROCK STAND...TENNANT...6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WEDOWEE AND 7 MILES
  NORTHWEST OF ROANOKE BY 500 PM CST...
  BIG SPRINGS AND NAPOLEON BY 510 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 3325 8559 3341 8537 3333 8531 3325 8524
      3324 8525 3323 8524 3319 8524 3311 8548
TIME...MOT...LOC 2251Z 238DEG 30KT 3320 8550

$$

JD/81

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 172303
SVSBMX

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

ALC111-172314-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0055.000000T0000Z-080217T2315Z/
RANDOLPH AL-
504 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR RANDOLPH COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

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

LAT...LON 3325 8559 3341 8537 3333 8531 3325 8524
      3324 8525 3323 8524 3319 8524 3311 8548
TIME...MOT...LOC 2304Z 238DEG 30KT 3326 8539

$$

JD/81

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, 2:08 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 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, 4:40 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.