Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 67, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 4, 2008Shelby County, Talladega County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 4, 2008, 1:28 PM CDT for Shelby County, Talladega County, Alabama. It was in force for 47 min. 4 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
Apr 4, 2008, 1:28 PM CDT (18:28 UTC)
Expired
Apr 4, 2008, 2:15 PM CDT
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Shelby County, AL, Talladega County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 50 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:31 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 4, 1:55 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUD1 E Harpersville, ALA FUNNEL CLOUD WAS REPORTED BY AMATUER RADIO OPERATOR OVER US HIGHWAY 280.
Apr 4, 1:55 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUD1 E Harpersville, ALFUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY AMATUER RADIO OPERATOR OVER US HIGHWAY 280.
Apr 4, 1:57 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUDWilsonville, ALA FUNNEL CLOUD WAS REPORTED NEAR WILSONVILLE.
Apr 4, 2:04 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUD3 Sse Alpine, ALA FUNNEL CLOUD WAS OBSERVED NEAR WINTERBORO.

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 4, 9:48 AM CDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 6.5 hours before the alert went out and 51 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 2008-04-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 464 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 2008-04-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 278 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
464 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-105 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
608 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
52 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
278 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
379 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
5.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS54 KBMX 041828
TORBMX
ALC117-121-041915-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0067.080404T1828Z-080404T1915Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
128 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EAST CENTRAL SHELBY COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF WILSONVILLE...
  CENTRAL TALLADEGA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...TALLADEGA...CHILDERSBURG...

* UNTIL 215 PM CDT

* AT 126 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR WILSONVILLE...
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  CHILDERSBURG...HARPERSVILLE AND BON AIR BY 140 PM CDT...
  LOGAN MARTIN DAM BY 150 PM CDT...
  ALPINE BY 155 PM CDT...
  TALLADEGA AND HOWELLS COVE BY 205 PM CDT...
  WALDO BY 210 PM CDT...

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 600 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHERN ALABAMA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM
CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR NORTHEASTERN ALABAMA.

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

LAT...LON 3356 8612 3336 8601 3317 8659 3325 8662
TIME...MOT...LOC 1828Z 239DEG 37KT 3324 8652

$$

17/KLAWS
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 041838
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
138 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

ALC117-121-041915-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0067.000000T0000Z-080404T1915Z/
SHELBY AL-TALLADEGA AL-
138 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
TALLADEGA AND EAST CENTRAL SHELBY COUNTIES...

AT 135 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR WILSONVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  LOGAN MARTIN DAM BY 150 PM CDT...
  ALPINE BY 155 PM CDT...
  TALLADEGA AND HOWELLS COVE BY 205 PM CDT...
  WALDO BY 210 PM CDT...

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 600 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHERN ALABAMA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM
CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR NORTHEASTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3356 8612 3336 8601 3323 8649 3331 8653
TIME...MOT...LOC 1838Z 239DEG 37KT 3329 8641

$$

17/KLAWS
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 041852
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
152 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

ALC117-041902-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0067.000000T0000Z-080404T1915Z/
SHELBY AL-
152 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL SHELBY COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHERN ALABAMA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM
CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR NORTHEASTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3356 8612 3338 8603 3334 8619 3334 8620
      3330 8635 3340 8636
TIME...MOT...LOC 1852Z 239DEG 37KT 3336 8626

$$

ALC121-041915-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0067.000000T0000Z-080404T1915Z/
TALLADEGA AL-
152 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
TALLADEGA COUNTY...

AT 149 PM CDT...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR ALPINE...OR ABOUT 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF CHILDERSBURG...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  TALLADEGA AND HOWELLS COVE BY 205 PM CDT...

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 600 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHERN ALABAMA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM
CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR NORTHEASTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3356 8612 3338 8603 3334 8619 3334 8620
      3330 8635 3340 8636
TIME...MOT...LOC 1852Z 239DEG 37KT 3336 8626

$$

17/KLAWS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 4, 3:58 AM CDTLake Wind AdvisoryBMXAutauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more15 hr
Apr 4, 12:55 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCherokee35 min
Apr 4, 1:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Hale, Tuscaloosa44 min
Apr 4, 1:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXShelby, Talladega40 min
Apr 4, 1:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCherokee29 min
Apr 4, 1:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDallas, Hale, Marengo, Perry51 min
Apr 4, 1:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Etowah, St. Clair35 min
Apr 4, 1:45 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, Talladega45 min
Apr 4, 1:45 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCherokee30 min
Apr 4, 1:55 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBibb35 min
Apr 4, 1:58 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDallas, Hale, Marengo, Perry47 min
Apr 4, 2:01 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBibb, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby44 min
Apr 4, 2:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Etowah, St. Clair28 min
Apr 4, 2:09 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, Cleburne, Talladega51 min
Apr 4, 2:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter26 min
Apr 4, 2:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson, St. Clair, Shelby39 min
Apr 4, 2:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChilton, Shelby23 min
Apr 4, 2:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXWalker, Winston35 min
Apr 4, 2:33 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton, Dallas, Perry42 min
Apr 4, 2:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Etowah, St. Clair15 min
Apr 4, 2:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Sumter and 1 more45 min
Apr 4, 2:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChilton, Coosa, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega29 min
Apr 4, 2:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChambers, Clay, Randolph, Tallapoosa42 min
Apr 4, 2:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker35 min
Apr 4, 2:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDallas, Marengo50 min
Apr 4, 2:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, St. Clair, Talladega35 min
Apr 4, 3:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount34 min
Apr 4, 3:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, St. Clair29 min
Apr 4, 3:17 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton, Coosa43 min
Apr 4, 3:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXClay, Talladega27 min
Apr 4, 3:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Chilton, Hale, Jefferson, Perry, Shelby and 1 more51 min
Apr 4, 3:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChambers, Randolph32 min
Apr 4, 3:31 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne29 min
Apr 4, 3:32 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDallas, Lowndes43 min
Apr 4, 3:46 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCoosa, Tallapoosa44 min
Apr 4, 3:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCherokee, Cleburne20 min
Apr 4, 3:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Chilton, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby36 min
Apr 4, 4:03 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXShelby27 min
Apr 4, 4:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCleburne26 min
Apr 4, 4:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga, Lowndes, Montgomery47 min
Apr 4, 4:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga, Clay, Coosa, Elmore, Tallapoosa40 min
Apr 4, 4:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXSt. Clair, Shelby, Talladega52 min
Apr 4, 4:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Etowah, St. Clair, Talladega46 min
Apr 4, 4:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChambers, Clay, Randolph, Tallapoosa36 min
Apr 4, 4:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDallas14 min
Apr 4, 4:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah, Randolph and 1 more52 min
Apr 4, 4:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery66 min
Apr 4, 5:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLowndes36 min
Apr 4, 5:38 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDallas37 min
Apr 4, 5:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXElmore, Macon, Tallapoosa42 min
Apr 4, 5:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXElmore, Montgomery38 min
Apr 4, 6:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChambers, Lee, Macon, Tallapoosa63 min
Apr 4, 6:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXElmore, Lee, Macon, Montgomery, Tallapoosa31 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.