Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 8, NWS Birmingham, AL

January 10, 20084 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Jan 10, 2008, 3:57 PM CST for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 33 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, 3:57 PM CST (21:57 UTC)
Expired
Jan 10, 2008, 4:30 PM CST
In force
33 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Greene County, AL, Hale County, AL, Marengo County, AL, Sumter County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 123 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:57 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
Jan 10, 4:08 PM CSTFUNNEL CLOUDDemopolis, AL3 SIGHTINGS OF FUNNEL CLOUD BY TRAIN CONDUCTOR, FIRE DEPT., AND CITIZEN.
Jan 10, 4:13 PM CSTTSTM WND DMGBellamy, ALONE TREE DOWN.

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
Jan 10, 11:33 AM CSTTornado Watch PDSSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 10.0 hours before the alert went out and 123 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 2008-01-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 261 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 2008-01-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 162 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
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 102158
TORBMX
ALC063-065-091-119-102230-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0008.080110T2157Z-080110T2230Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN MARENGO COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF DEMOPOLIS...
  SOUTHEASTERN GREENE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  SOUTHWESTERN HALE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  EAST CENTRAL SUMTER COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 430 PM CST

* AT 352 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR LILITA...OR
  12 MILES EAST OF YORK...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  DEMOPOLIS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT BY 405 PM CST...
  MCDOWELL BY 410 PM CST...
  DEMOPOLIS LOCK AND DAM AND DEMOPOLIS BY 415 PM CST...
  FORKLAND BY 420 PM CST...
  6 MILES NORTHWEST OF CEDARVILLE BY 430 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.

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 3282 8784 3251 8754 3233 8807 3248 8817
TIME...MOT...LOC 2157Z 232DEG 34KT 3246 8805

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 102202
SVSBMX
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
402 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

ALC063-065-091-119-102230-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-080110T2230Z/
MARENGO AL-SUMTER AL-HALE AL-GREENE AL-
402 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM CST FOR
SOUTHEASTERN GREENE...SOUTHWESTERN HALE...EAST CENTRAL SUMTER AND
NORTHWESTERN MARENGO COUNTIES...

AT 357 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR COATOPA...OR ABOUT
13 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LIVINGSTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  MCDOWELL AND BELMONT BY 410 PM CST...
  DEMOPOLIS LOCK AND DAM AND DEMOPOLIS BY 415 PM CST...
  FORKLAND BY 420 PM CST...
  BIRDINE AND ARCOLA BY 425 PM CST...
  DUFFYS BEND AND 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF CEDARVILLE BY 430 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.

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

LAT...LON 3282 8784 3251 8754 3238 8804 3250 8811
TIME...MOT...LOC 2202Z 232DEG 34KT 3249 8800

$$
STEFKOVICH
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 102212
SVSBMX
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
411 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

ALC063-065-091-119-102230-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-080110T2230Z/
MARENGO AL-SUMTER AL-HALE AL-GREENE AL-
411 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM CST FOR
SOUTHEASTERN GREENE...SOUTHWESTERN HALE...EAST CENTRAL SUMTER AND
NORTHWESTERN MARENGO COUNTIES...

AT 406 PM CST...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR MCDOWELL...OR ABOUT 8 MILES WEST OF DEMOPOLIS...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 35 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  FORKLAND AND 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THORNHILL BY 420 PM CST...
  BIRDINE AND ARCOLA BY 425 PM CST...
  DUFFYS BEND...6 MILES NORTHWEST OF CEDARVILLE AND 9 MILES SOUTHEAST
  OF WALDEN QUARTERS BY 430 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 3282 8784 3251 8754 3238 8804 3250 8811
TIME...MOT...LOC 2211Z 232DEG 34KT 3254 8793

$$
STEFKOVICH

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 10, 4:21 AM CSTLake Wind AdvisoryBMXAutauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more16 hr
Jan 10, 12:26 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Sumter34 min
Jan 10, 12:51 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXMarengo24 min
Jan 10, 1:00 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Tuscaloosa30 min
Jan 10, 1:16 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDallas, Hale, Marengo, Perry29 min
Jan 10, 1:53 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Marion, Winston29 min
Jan 10, 2:03 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar42 min
Jan 10, 2:14 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXLamar46 min
Jan 10, 2:40 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion24 min
Jan 10, 2:48 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXPickens42 min
Jan 10, 3:31 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa44 min
Jan 10, 3:31 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXMarengo, Sumter29 min
Jan 10, 4:11 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXJefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker34 min
Jan 10, 4:43 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson, Walker34 min
Jan 10, 5:49 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXShelby41 min
Jan 10, 5:56 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCherokee19 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.