Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 80, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 4, 2008Dallas County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 4, 2008, 5:38 PM CDT for Dallas County, Alabama. It was in force for 37 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Apr 4, 2008, 5:38 PM CDT (22:38 UTC)
Expired
Apr 4, 2008, 6:15 PM CDT
In force
37 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Dallas County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 115 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:41 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.

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, 10.6 hours before the alert went out and 115 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 042238
TORBMX
ALC047-042315-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0080.080404T2238Z-080404T2315Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  DALLAS COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...SELMONT-WEST SELMONT...SELMA...

* UNTIL 615 PM CDT

* AT 536 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR CRUMPTONIA...OR 11
  MILES NORTH OF CAMDEN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  WHITES BLUFF AND 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ORRVILLE BY 550 PM CDT...
  7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF HAZEN BY 555 PM CDT...
  SKYHARBOR AIRPORT AND 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF BELKNAP BY 600 PM CDT...
  SELMONT-WEST SELMONT AND SELMA BY 610 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 3212 8724 3217 8732 3220 8733 3220 8736
      3223 8738 3251 8698 3227 8686 3209 8722
TIME...MOT...LOC 2238Z 234DEG 39KT 3216 8730

$$

JD/81
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 042252
SVSBMX

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

ALC047-042315-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0080.000000T0000Z-080404T2315Z/
DALLAS AL-
550 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR DALLAS
COUNTY...

AT 550 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A 
POSSIBLE TORNADO WHICH WAS LOCATED NEAR CRUMPTONIA...OR ABOUT 13 
MILES NORTH OF CAMDEN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  WHITES BLUFF BY 555 PM CDT...
  9 MILES SOUTHEAST OF HAZEN BY 600 PM CDT...
  OLD CAHABA PARK AND BELKNAP BY 605 PM CDT...
  7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SKYHARBOR AIRPORT BY 610 PM CDT...
  SARDIS...CRAIG FIELD AIRPORT...TYLER AND 6 MILES SOUTH OF
  SELMONT-WEST SELMONT BY 615 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.

LAT...LON 3212 8724 3217 8732 3220 8733 3220 8736
      3223 8738 3251 8698 3227 8686 3209 8722
TIME...MOT...LOC 2250Z 240DEG 31KT 3219 8721

$$

10/ARM
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 042302
SVSBMX

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

ALC047-042315-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0080.000000T0000Z-080404T2315Z/
DALLAS AL-
602 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
DALLAS COUNTY...

AT 602 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WHITES BLUFF...OR ABOUT 13
MILES SOUTHWEST OF SELMONT-WEST SELMONT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  SARDIS AND 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SKYHARBOR AIRPORT BY 610 PM CDT...
  CRAIG FIELD AIPORT...TYLER AND 6 MILES SOUTH OF SELMONT-WEST
  SELMONT BY 615 PM CDT...

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED...IT MEANS THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS
BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...
OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS
DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE LOWEST LEVEL OF THE
BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO NOT SEEK SHELTER
UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

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 900 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
EASTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3213 8716 3227 8725 3246 8696 3227 8686
TIME...MOT...LOC 2302Z 240DEG 31KT 3224 8710

$$

JD/81
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 042308
SVSBMX

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

ALC047-042319-
/O.EXP.KBMX.TO.W.0080.000000T0000Z-080404T2315Z/
DALLAS AL-
609 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL DALLAS COUNTY EXPIRES AT 615 PM
CDT...

THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED. THE STORMS THAT PROMPTED THE
WARNING HAVE WEAKENED.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3213 8716 3227 8725 3246 8696 3227 8686
TIME...MOT...LOC 2309Z 240DEG 31KT 3227 8704

$$

JD/81

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, 3:31 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, 5:48 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.