Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008
Tornado Warning 71, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 4, 2008, 1:58 PM CDT for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 47 min. 1 report 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, 1:58 PM CDT (18:58 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 4, 2008, 2:45 PM CDT
- In force
- 47 min
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
Counties Dallas County, AL, Hale County, AL, Marengo County, AL, Perry County, AL
The radar
The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 77 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:59 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 4, 2:26 PM CDT | HAIL 0.75 | 5 Ne Cahaba River At Su, AL | PEA TO PENNY SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED NEAR THE SUTTLE COMMUNITY. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 4, 9:48 AM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 9 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 7.0 hours before the alert went out and 77 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.
- 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
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
WFUS54 KBMX 041857
TORBMX
ALC047-065-091-105-041945-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0071.080404T1858Z-080404T1945Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
158 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
PERRY COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF MARION...
WEST CENTRAL DALLAS COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
NORTHEASTERN MARENGO COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...
SOUTH CENTRAL HALE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
* UNTIL 245 PM CDT
* AT 158 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR UNIONTOWN...OR 16
MILES SOUTHWEST OF MARION...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
VALDEN BY 205 PM CDT...
HAMBURG BY 210 PM CDT...
MARION BY 215 PM CDT...
RED FORD AND SUTTLE BY 220 PM CDT...
SPROTT BY 225 PM CDT...
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM.. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL AND DEADLY CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING.
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 3283 8713 3265 8704 3253 8716 3234 8748
3249 8761
TIME...MOT...LOC 1858Z 234DEG 37KT 3247 8745
$$1 follow-up statement
000
WWUS54 KBMX 041930
SVSBMX
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
230 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008
ALC065-091-041940-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0071.000000T0000Z-080404T1945Z/
MARENGO AL-HALE AL-
230 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL HALE AND NORTHEASTERN
MARENGO COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHERN ALABAMA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM
CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR NORTHEASTERN ALABAMA.
LAT...LON 3251 8744 3274 8709 3266 8704 3264 8704
3251 8718 3247 8726 3241 8736 3241 8737
TIME...MOT...LOC 1930Z 234DEG 37KT 3266 8713
$$
ALC047-105-041945-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0071.000000T0000Z-080404T1945Z/
DALLAS AL-PERRY AL-
230 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 245 PM CDT FOR SOUTHERN
PERRY AND WEST CENTRAL DALLAS COUNTIES...
AT 226 PM CDT...THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR RED FORD...OR ABOUT 8
MILES EAST OF MARION...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
RURAL EASTERN PERRY COUNTY AT 240 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 3251 8744 3274 8709 3266 8704 3264 8704
3251 8718 3247 8726 3241 8736 3241 8737
TIME...MOT...LOC 1930Z 234DEG 37KT 3266 8713
$$
17/KLAWSThe office that day
Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 4, 3:58 AM CDT | Lake Wind Advisory | BMX | Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more | 15 hr |
| Apr 4, 12:55 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Cherokee | 35 min |
| Apr 4, 1:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Bibb, Hale, Tuscaloosa | 44 min |
| Apr 4, 1:20 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Shelby, Talladega | 40 min |
| Apr 4, 1:28 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Shelby, Talladega | 47 min |
| Apr 4, 1:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Cherokee | 29 min |
| Apr 4, 1:39 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Dallas, Hale, Marengo, Perry | 51 min |
| Apr 4, 1:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Etowah, St. Clair | 35 min |
| Apr 4, 1:45 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Talladega | 45 min |
| Apr 4, 1:45 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Cherokee | 30 min |
| Apr 4, 1:55 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Bibb | 35 min |
| Apr 4, 2:01 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Bibb, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby | 44 min |
| Apr 4, 2:02 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Etowah, St. Clair | 28 min |
| Apr 4, 2:09 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Cleburne, Talladega | 51 min |
| Apr 4, 2:19 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Greene, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter | 26 min |
| Apr 4, 2:21 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby | 39 min |
| Apr 4, 2:22 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Chilton, Shelby | 23 min |
| Apr 4, 2:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Walker, Winston | 35 min |
| Apr 4, 2:33 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Autauga, Chilton, Dallas, Perry | 42 min |
| Apr 4, 2:36 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Etowah, St. Clair | 15 min |
| Apr 4, 2:45 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Bibb, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Sumter and 1 more | 45 min |
| Apr 4, 2:46 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Chilton, Coosa, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega | 29 min |
| Apr 4, 2:48 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Chambers, Clay, Randolph, Tallapoosa | 42 min |
| Apr 4, 2:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker | 35 min |
| Apr 4, 2:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Dallas, Marengo | 50 min |
| Apr 4, 2:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Calhoun, St. Clair, Talladega | 35 min |
| Apr 4, 3:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Blount | 34 min |
| Apr 4, 3:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Calhoun, St. Clair | 29 min |
| Apr 4, 3:17 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Autauga, Chilton, Coosa | 43 min |
| Apr 4, 3:18 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Clay, Talladega | 27 min |
| Apr 4, 3:24 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Bibb, Chilton, Hale, Jefferson, Perry, Shelby and 1 more | 51 min |
| Apr 4, 3:28 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Chambers, Randolph | 32 min |
| Apr 4, 3:31 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne | 29 min |
| Apr 4, 3:32 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Dallas, Lowndes | 43 min |
| Apr 4, 3:46 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Coosa, Tallapoosa | 44 min |
| Apr 4, 3:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Cherokee, Cleburne | 20 min |
| Apr 4, 3:57 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Bibb, Chilton, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby | 36 min |
| Apr 4, 4:03 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Shelby | 27 min |
| Apr 4, 4:04 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Cleburne | 26 min |
| Apr 4, 4:13 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Autauga, Lowndes, Montgomery | 47 min |
| Apr 4, 4:20 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Autauga, Clay, Coosa, Elmore, Tallapoosa | 40 min |
| Apr 4, 4:23 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega | 52 min |
| Apr 4, 4:29 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Etowah, St. Clair, Talladega | 46 min |
| Apr 4, 4:39 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Chambers, Clay, Randolph, Tallapoosa | 36 min |
| Apr 4, 4:49 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Dallas | 14 min |
| Apr 4, 4:53 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah, Randolph and 1 more | 52 min |
| Apr 4, 4:54 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Autauga, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery | 66 min |
| Apr 4, 5:24 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Lowndes | 36 min |
| Apr 4, 5:38 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Dallas | 37 min |
| Apr 4, 5:48 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Elmore, Macon, Tallapoosa | 42 min |
| Apr 4, 5:52 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Elmore, Montgomery | 38 min |
| Apr 4, 6:27 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Chambers, Lee, Macon, Tallapoosa | 63 min |
| Apr 4, 6:44 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Elmore, Lee, Macon, Montgomery, Tallapoosa | 31 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.