Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 6, NWS Birmingham, AL

January 10, 2008Pickens County, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Jan 10, 2008, 3:31 PM CST for Pickens County, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. It was in force for 44 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: Jan 10, 2008, 3:31 PM CST (21:31 UTC)
Expired: Jan 10, 2008, 4:15 PM CST
In force: 44 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Pickens County, AL, Tuscaloosa County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 72 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:34 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
Jan 10, 3:45 PM CST	TSTM WND DMG	Gordo, AL	EXTENSIVE STRUCTURE DAMAGE TO A BARN ON COUNTY ROAD 33 AND NUMEROUS POWER OUTAGES IN THE TOWN...POSSIBLE TORNADO.
Jan 10, 3:45 PM CST	TORNADO 1	Gordo, AL	EXTENSIVE STRUCTURE DAMAGE TO A BARN ON COUNTY ROAD 33 AND NUMEROUS POWER OUTAGES IN THE TOWN. NUMEROUS OLD CHICKEN HOUSES WERE ALSO DAMAGED. THE TORNADO WAS RATED AN EFI...WITH ESTIMATED WINDS OF 90-100 MPH. IT HAD A PATH LENGTH OF 1.76 MILES AND WAS 100 YARD

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
Jan 10, 11:33 AM CST	Tornado Watch PDS	SPC	9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 96 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: 261 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -34 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 621 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 162 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 132 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS54 KBMX 102131
TORBMX
ALC107-125-102215-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0006.080110T2131Z-080110T2215Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
331 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EAST CENTRAL PICKENS COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF REFORM...
  NORTHWESTERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 415 PM CST

* AT 325 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR OWENS...OR
  NEAR CARROLLTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  LUBBUB BY 340 PM CST...
  ECHOLA AND MOORES BRIDGE BY 345 PM CST...
  7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NEW LEXINGTON BY 400 PM CST...
  WINDHAM SPRINGS BY 405 PM CST...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

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 700 PM CST THURSDAY EVENING
FOR WESTERN ALABAMA.

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

LAT...LON 3334 8813 3353 8774 3353 8768 3357 8766
      3362 8756 3361 8750 3344 8739 3318 8803
TIME...MOT...LOC 2131Z 242DEG 47KT 3331 8797

$$

12/SIRMON

4 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 102138
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
337 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

ALC107-125-102215-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-080110T2215Z/
PICKENS AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-
337 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CST FOR
NORTHWESTERN TUSCALOOSA AND EAST CENTRAL PICKENS COUNTIES...

AT 334 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR GORDO...OR ABOUT 6
MILES SOUTHEAST OF REFORM...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  ECHOLA AND MOORES BRIDGE BY 345 PM CST...
  7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NEW LEXINGTON BY 400 PM CST...
  WINDHAM SPRINGS 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.

LAT...LON 3353 8774 3353 8768 3357 8766 3362 8756
      3361 8750 3344 8739 3325 8793 3337 8798
TIME...MOT...LOC 2137Z 242DEG 47KT 3334 8789

$$
STEFKOVICH

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 102149
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
348 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

ALC107-125-102215-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-080110T2215Z/
PICKENS AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-
348 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CST FOR
NORTHWESTERN TUSCALOOSA AND EXTREME EAST CENTRAL PICKENS COUNTIES...

AT 344 PM CST...A THUNDERSTORM WITH ROTATION CONTINUED NEAR 
ECHOLA...OR ABOUT 10 MILES EAST OF REFORM...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 
MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  WINDHAM SPRINGS BY 415 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 3353 8774 3353 8768 3357 8766 3362 8756
      3361 8750 3344 8739 3328 8786 3340 8788
TIME...MOT...LOC 2148Z 245DEG 41KT 3336 8779

$$
STEFKOVICH

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 102153
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
351 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

ALC107-102201-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-080110T2215Z/
PICKENS AL-
351 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME EAST CENTRAL PICKENS COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CST THURSDAY EVENING
FOR WESTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3353 8774 3353 8768 3357 8766 3362 8756
      3361 8750 3344 8739 3331 8782 3341 8782
TIME...MOT...LOC 2151Z 246DEG 37KT 3336 8776

$$

ALC125-102215-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-080110T2215Z/
TUSCALOOSA AL-
351 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

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

AT 348 PM CST...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH ROTATION.  ALTHOUGH THE STORM HAS WEAKENED 
FOR THE MOMENT...IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO RESTRENGTHEN.  THE ROTATION 
WAS LOCATED NEAR ECHOLA...OR ABOUT 13 MILES EAST OF REFORM...MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  WINDHAM SPRINGS BY 415 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 3353 8774 3353 8768 3357 8766 3362 8756
      3361 8750 3344 8739 3331 8782 3341 8782
TIME...MOT...LOC 2151Z 246DEG 37KT 3336 8776

$$

STEFKOVICH

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 102200
SVSBMX
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
401 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

ALC125-102215-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-080110T2215Z/
TUSCALOOSA AL-
401 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CST FOR NORTH
CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA COUNTY...

AT 357 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 10 MILES SOUTH OF NEW
LEXINGTON...OR ABOUT 13 MILES NORTH OF NORTHPORT...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 45 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  WINDHAM SPRINGS 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 3351 8771 3353 8768 3357 8766 3362 8756
      3361 8750 3344 8739 3344 8752 3336 8770
      3345 8774
TIME...MOT...LOC 2201Z 240DEG 39KT 3345 8764

$$
STEFKOVICH

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jan 10, 4:21 AM CST	Lake Wind Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more	16 hr
Jan 10, 12:26 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Sumter	34 min
Jan 10, 12:51 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marengo	24 min
Jan 10, 1:00 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Tuscaloosa	30 min
Jan 10, 1:16 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Dallas, Hale, Marengo, Perry	29 min
Jan 10, 1:53 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion, Winston	29 min
Jan 10, 2:03 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar	42 min
Jan 10, 2:14 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lamar	46 min
Jan 10, 2:40 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion	24 min
Jan 10, 2:48 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Pickens	42 min
Jan 10, 3:31 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marengo, Sumter	29 min
Jan 10, 3:57 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter	33 min
Jan 10, 4:11 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker	34 min
Jan 10, 4:43 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount, Jefferson, Walker	34 min
Jan 10, 5:49 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Shelby	41 min
Jan 10, 5:56 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee	19 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.