Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 76, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 4, 2008Calhoun County, Cherokee County, Cleburne County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 4, 2008, 3:31 PM CDT for Calhoun County, Cherokee County, Cleburne County, Alabama. It was in force for 29 min. 5 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, 3:31 PM CDT (20:31 UTC)
Expired
Apr 4, 2008, 4:00 PM CDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Calhoun County, AL, Cherokee County, AL, Cleburne County, AL

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 119 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:30 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, 3:32 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUD12 N Anniston, ALA FUNNEL CLOUD WAS REPORTED OVER THE STATE TROOPERS POST IN JACKSONVILLE.
Apr 4, 3:32 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUD12 N Anniston, ALFUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED COMING OVER STATE TROOPERS POST IN JACKSONVILLE.
Apr 4, 3:50 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGJacksonville, ALA FEW TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN IN AND NEAR JACKSONVILLE.
Apr 4, 3:50 PM CDTHAIL 0.5Jacksonville, ALMARBLE HAIL REPORTED ON FRANCIS STREET EAST.
Apr 4, 3:50 PM CDTHAIL 1Jacksonville, ALQUARTER SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED IN AND AROUND JACKSONVILLE.

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, 1:27 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 8.5 hours before the alert went out and 124 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2008-04-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2008-04-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 184 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
504 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
184 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
245 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 042031
TORBMX
ALC015-019-029-042100-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0076.080404T2031Z-080404T2100Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN CALHOUN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...WEAVER...PIEDMONT...JACKSONVILLE...
  FORT MCCLELLAN...
  NORTH CENTRAL CLEBURNE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  SOUTH CENTRAL CHEROKEE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 400 PM CDT

* AT 327 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR SAKS...OR NEAR
  WEAVER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  PIEDMONT BY 350 PM CDT...
  SPRING GARDEN BY 355 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 EASTERN ALABAMA.

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

LAT...LON 3379 8547 3369 8587 3382 8594 3395 8575
      3395 8574 3397 8574 3410 8554
TIME...MOT...LOC 2031Z 239DEG 41KT 3379 8584

$$
1 follow-up statement
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 042047
SVSBMX

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

ALC015-019-029-042100-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0076.000000T0000Z-080404T2100Z/
CLEBURNE AL-CALHOUN AL-CHEROKEE AL-
347 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL CHEROKEE...NORTHEASTERN CALHOUN AND NORTH CENTRAL CLEBURNE
COUNTIES...

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  SPRING GARDEN BY 355 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 EASTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3410 8554 3379 8547 3375 8563 3375 8564
      3373 8569 3374 8570 3388 8577 3395 8575
      3395 8573 3397 8573
TIME...MOT...LOC 2047Z 239DEG 41KT 3387 8559

$$

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, 1:28 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXShelby, Talladega47 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, 3:32 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.