Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008
Tornado Warning 79, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 4, 2008, 4:03 PM CDT for Shelby County, Alabama. It was in force for 27 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, 4:03 PM CDT (21:03 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 4, 2008, 4:30 PM CDT
- In force
- 27 min
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
County Shelby County, AL
The radar
The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 31 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:04 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, 4:23 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | Harpersville, AL | A FEW SHEDS AND SMALL BUILDINGS WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED NEAR HARPERSVILLE. |
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, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 31 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 042103 TORBMX ALC117-042130- /O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0079.080404T2103Z-080404T2130Z/ BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 403 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... EASTERN SHELBY COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA... * UNTIL 430 PM CDT * AT 403 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR CHELSEA...OR 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PELHAM...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. * THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR... WESTOVER BY 415 PM CDT... HARPERSVILLE...VINCENT AND 7 MILES SOUTH OF STERRETT BY 420 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 3350 8638 3330 8638 3317 8672 3334 8680 TIME...MOT...LOC 2103Z 250DEG 42KT 3329 8665 $$
1 follow-up statement
000
WWUS54 KBMX 042114
SVSBMX
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
414 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008
ALC117-042130-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0079.000000T0000Z-080404T2130Z/
SHELBY AL-
414 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN SHELBY COUNTY...
AT 414 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WESTOVER...OR ABOUT 6 MILES
NORTHWEST OF WILSONVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.
THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
HARPERSVILLE BY 420 PM CDT...
VINCENT BY 425 PM CDT...
DO NOT USE HIGHWAY OVERPASSES FOR SHELTER. OVERPASSES DO NOT PROVIDE
PROTECTION FROM TORNADIC WINDS. VEHICLES STOPPED UNDER BRIDGES BLOCK
TRAFFIC AND PREVENT PEOPLE FROM GETTING OUT OF THE STORMS PATH AND
TO SHELTER. IF YOU CANNOT DRIVE AWAY FROM THE TORNADO...GET OUT OF
YOUR VEHICLE AND LIE FLAT IN A DITCH AS A LAST RESORT.
THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
LAT...LON 3333 8662 3350 8638 3339 8638 3339 8639
3335 8638 3334 8639 3330 8638 3322 8658
TIME...MOT...LOC 2114Z 261DEG 42KT 3332 8653
$$The 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, 1:58 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Dallas, Hale, Marengo, Perry | 47 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, 4:04 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.