Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 15, NWS Huntsville, AL

April 4, 2008DeKalb County, Alabama

NWS Huntsville, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 4, 2008, 12:47 PM CDT for DeKalb County, Alabama. It was in force for 28 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, 12:47 PM CDT (17:47 UTC)
Expired: Apr 4, 2008, 1:15 PM CDT
In force: 28 min
Issued by: NWS Huntsville, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

County DeKalb County, AL

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 60 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:50 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 5.8 hours before the alert went out and 167 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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 KHUN 041747
TORHUN
ALC049-041815-
/O.NEW.KHUN.TO.W.0015.080404T1747Z-080404T1815Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1247 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL DEKALB COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 115 PM CDT

* AT 1245 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR
  RAINSVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE...
  RAINSVILLE.
  FORT PAYNE.

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...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.

LAT...LON 3449 8556 3445 8557 3432 8586 3450 8597
      3452 8596 3470 8555 3467 8553 3457 8550
      3452 8550
TIME...MOT...LOC 1747Z 242DEG 42KT 3448 8580

$$

JLL

1 follow-up statement

000 
WWUS54 KHUN 041821
SVSHUN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
119 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

ALC049-041829-
/O.EXP.KHUN.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-080404T1815Z/
DEKALB AL-
119 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL DEKALB COUNTY EXPIRES AT 115 PM
CDT...

WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THE TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM
THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAD MOVED OUT OF THE COUNTY. THEREFORE THE 
TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS STILL IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF 
DEKALB COUNTY UNTIL 130 PM. 

HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING WERE 
STILL POSSIBLE FROM OTHER THUNDERSTORMS IN THE COUNTY. STAY INDOORS 
UNTIL THE STORMS HAVE PASSED.

LAT...LON 3449 8556 3445 8557 3432 8586 3450 8597
      3452 8596 3470 8555 3467 8553 3457 8550
      3452 8550
TIME...MOT...LOC 1747Z 244DEG 39KT 3442 8584

$$

JLL

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Huntsville, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Apr 4, 11:05 AM CDT, 1 hour 42 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 4, 11:05 AM CDT, 1 hour 42 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1105 AM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

.DISCUSSION...
COLD FRONT CURRENTLY STRETCHES FROM WESTERN KENTUCKY SOUTHWEST
THROUGH NORTHEASTERN ARKANSAS INTO EASTERN TEXAS. A LARGE AREA OF
RAIN EXTENDS EAST FROM THIS FRONTAL BOUNDARY INTO NORTHWESTERN
ALABAMA. ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM NEAR HUNTSVILLE TO WREN IN
SOUTHERN LAWRENCE COUNTY...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME
STRONG...CONTINUE TO DEVELOP. ALTHOUGH THIS LINE HAS BEEN
WEAKENING OVER THE LAST 2 HOURS OVERALL...SOME BREAKS HAVE
DEVELOPED IN THE CLOUDS SOUTH OF THIS LINE OF SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS. AN IMPRESSIVE TONGUE OF DEWPOINTS AROUND 65
DEGREES...AND AROUND 70 IN SOUTH ALABAMA...CONTINUE ADVECTING
INTO THIS LINE OF SCATTERED STORMS. FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AND
INTENSIFICATION OF THESE STORMS IS POSSIBLE AS THE AFTERNOON
CONTINUES. HOWEVER...BELIEVE THE MAJORITY OF STRONGER STORMS WILL
REMAIN AROUND BIRMINGHAM AND POINTS SOUTH...UNTIL MORE UPPER
LEVEL ENERGY ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY APPROACHES
NORTHERN ALABAMA IN THE AFTERNOON HOURS.

THEN BELIEVE A SECOND ROUND OF DEVELOPMENT WILL OCCUR PRIMARILY
ALONG AND SOUTH OF A HARVEST TO WREN LINE. MODELS DO BRING 65 AND
HIGHER DEWPOINTS NORTH OF THE TENNESSEE RIVER...BUT BELIEVE THEY
ARE OVERDOING IT A TAD. DEWPOINTS IN CULLMAN...MORGAN...DEKALB...AND
SOUTHERN LAWRENCE COULD REACH THE MID 60S GIVEN UPSTREAM AIR.

A SECOND ROUND OF SEVERE WEATHER ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED BETWEEN
NOON AND 6 PM ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. THE HIGHEST THREAT OF
SEVERE WEATHER WILL REMAIN SOUTH OF THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS...WHICH
WILL MOVE VERY SLOWLY TO THE SOUTHEAST DURING THE AFTERNOON
HOURS. THEREFORE...IN MORGAN...CULLMAN...MARSHALL...DEKALB
COUNTIES THE CHANCES OF A SECOND ROUND OF SEVERE WEATHER IS
HIGHEST. A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS COULD ARE POSSIBLE
ELSEWHERE...BUT EXTENSIVE CLOUD COVER AND MORE STABLE CONDITIONS
IN THESE AREAS WILL LIMIT THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. ISOLATED
TORNADOES CANNOT BE RULED OUT...BUT BELIEVE MAIN THREAT WILL BE
STRAIGHT LINE WIND DAMAGE AND LARGE HAIL. THE SEVERE WEATHER
THREAT WILL DIMINISH MARKEDLY AFTER SUNSET.

NO MAJOR CHANGES TO GRIDS MADE.

&&

.HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...NONE.
TN...NONE.
&&

20

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 4, 12:42 PM CDT, 5 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1242 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-050300-
LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN-
MARSHALL-JACKSON-DE KALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN-
1242 PM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS
OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE.

.DAY ONE...THROUGH TONIGHT...

A SECOND WAVE OF LOW PRESSURE WILL RIDE ALONG THE TRAILING COLD
FRONT AND MOVE THROUGH THE CENTRAL TENNESSEE VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON.
SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON
ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHERN AND EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA...PRIMARILY
IN CULLMAN...MORGAN...MARSHALL...JACKSON...AND DEKALB COUNTIES.
DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES
WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE PRIMARY WEATHER THREATS THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON HOURS.

RAIN AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE
OVERNIGHT...BEFORE DIMINISHING TOWARD DAYBREAK ON SATURDAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY LATE
TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY AS A SERIES OF STORM SYSTEMS MOVE
THROUGH THE REGION.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL
IS POSSIBLE THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.

KTW

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 4, 9:39 AM CDT, 3 hours 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
939 AM CDT FRI APR 04 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0820 AM     TSTM WND DMG     ROGERSVILLE             34.83N 87.29W
04/04/2008                   LAUDERDALE         AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREE WAS BLOWN DOWN AT THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROADS
            26 AND 165 IN ROGERSVILLE.

0820 AM     TSTM WND DMG     MUSCLE SHOALS           34.74N 87.67W
04/04/2008                   COLBERT            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            HIGHWAY PATROL REPORTED SHED DAMAGED. ALSO, TREES AND
            POWERLINES BLOWN DOWN AT THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 157
            AND 20.

0924 AM     FLASH FLOOD      ROGERSVILLE             34.83N 87.29W
04/04/2008                   LAUDERDALE         AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FLOODING REPORTED IN MANY LOCATIONS ACROSS THE
            ROGERSVILLE COMMUNITY.

&&

KWEBER

Special weather statement, Apr 4, 10:07 AM CDT, 2 hours 40 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1007 AM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

ALZ004-007-041530-
LAWRENCE-MORGAN-
1007 AM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR LAWRENCE AND MORGAN COUNTIES UNTIL
1030 AM CDT...

AT 1004 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 11 MILES NORTHEAST OF HALEYVILLE...MOVING EAST
AT 40 MPH.

ONE HALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH
THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  WREN.
  SPEAKE.

THIS THUNDERSTORM COULD INTENSIFY QUICKLY...SO BE READY TO ACT IF A
WARNING IS ISSUED.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA.

KULA

Special weather statement, Apr 4, 10:48 AM CDT, 1 hour 59 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1048 AM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

ALZ006-009-041630-
JACKSON-MADISON-
1048 AM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR JACKSON AND MADISON COUNTIES UNTIL
1130 AM CDT...

AT 1043 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES NORTH OF MORGAN CITY...OR 10 MILES
SOUTH OF REDSTONE ARSENAL...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

ONE HALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH
THIS STORM.

PEOPLE IN JACKSON AND SOUTHEASTERN MADISON COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE
CITIES OF OWENS CROSSROADS...NEW HOPE...WOODVILLE...SCOTTSBORO AND
HOLLYWOOD...SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR
POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD
SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN.

THIS THUNDERSTORM COULD INTENSIFY QUICKLY...SO BE READY TO ACT IF A
WARNING IS ISSUED.

KULA

Special weather statement, Apr 4, 11:35 AM CDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1135 AM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

ALZ009-041715-
JACKSON-
1135 AM CDT FRI APR 4 2008

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR JACKSON COUNTY UNTIL 1215 PM CDT...

AT 1135 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR SCOTTSBORO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED
WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  MARTINTOWN.
  FACKLER.
  STEVENSON.
  FABIUS.
  FLAT ROCK.
  HIGDON.

THIS THUNDERSTORM COULD INTENSIFY QUICKLY...SO BE READY TO ACT IF A
WARNING IS ISSUED.

KULA

Local storm report, Apr 4, 12:38 PM CDT, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1238 PM CDT FRI APR 04 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0920 AM     TSTM WND DMG     3 NE ATHENS             34.83N 86.93W
04/04/2008                   LIMESTONE          AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            ROOF DAMAGE TO BARN NEAR COPELAND

1120 AM     TSTM WND DMG     CULLMAN                 34.17N 86.84W
04/04/2008                   CULLMAN            AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            POWER OUT AND DAMAGE IN DOWNTOWN AREA.

1145 AM     TSTM WND DMG     CULLMAN                 34.17N 86.84W
04/04/2008                   CULLMAN            AL   PUBLIC

            TREES, POWER LINES AND POWER POLES DOWN. HOMES DAMAGED.
            HWY 31 IN CULLMAN

1141 AM     TSTM WND DMG     LIM ROCK                34.67N 86.19W
04/04/2008                   JACKSON            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN. DAMAGE TO MOBILE HOMES.

1141 AM     TSTM WND DMG     CULLMAN                 34.17N 86.84W
04/04/2008                   CULLMAN            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FOOD WORLD SHOPPING CENTER AT BRUNNER ST. AND SURROUNDING
            AREA. AMBULANCES IN ROUTE.

&&

Local storm report, Apr 4, 12:45 PM CDT, 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1245 PM CDT FRI APR 04 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0920 AM     TSTM WND DMG     3 NE ATHENS             34.83N 86.93W
04/04/2008                   LIMESTONE          AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            ROOF DAMAGE TO BARN NEAR COPELAND

0924 AM     FLASH FLOOD      ROGERSVILLE             34.83N 87.29W
04/04/2008                   LAUDERDALE         AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FLOODING REPORTED IN MANY LOCATIONS ACROSS THE
            ROGERSVILLE COMMUNITY.

1120 AM     TSTM WND DMG     CULLMAN                 34.17N 86.84W
04/04/2008                   CULLMAN            AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            POWER OUT AND DAMAGE IN DOWNTOWN AREA.

1141 AM     TSTM WND DMG     LIM ROCK                34.67N 86.19W
04/04/2008                   JACKSON            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN. DAMAGE TO MOBILE HOMES.

1141 AM     TSTM WND DMG     CULLMAN                 34.17N 86.84W
04/04/2008                   CULLMAN            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FOOD WORLD SHOPPING CENTER AT BRUNNER ST. AND SURROUNDING
            AREA. AMBULANCES IN ROUTE.

1145 AM     TSTM WND DMG     CULLMAN                 34.17N 86.84W
04/04/2008                   CULLMAN            AL   PUBLIC

            TREES, POWER LINES AND POWER POLES DOWN. HOMES DAMAGED.
            HWY 31 IN CULLMAN

&&

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 4, 6:53 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Colbert, Lauderdale	37 min
Apr 4, 8:09 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Colbert, Lawrence	36 min
Apr 4, 8:20 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	HUN	Lauderdale	3 hr
Apr 4, 8:27 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Lauderdale, Limestone	33 min
Apr 4, 8:29 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	HUN	Lauderdale, Limestone	31 min
Apr 4, 8:52 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Limestone, Madison	38 min
Apr 4, 9:50 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Madison	25 min
Apr 4, 10:35 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Cullman, Morgan	40 min
Apr 4, 11:16 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Cullman	29 min
Apr 4, 11:28 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Marshall	47 min
Apr 4, 12:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	DeKalb, Jackson	51 min
Apr 4, 12:19 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	HUN	DeKalb	26 min
Apr 4, 1:04 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	DeKalb	26 min
Apr 4, 2:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Cullman, Morgan	41 min
Apr 4, 3:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Cullman	18 min
Apr 4, 3:22 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Marshall	38 min
Apr 4, 4:16 PM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	HUN	Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Morgan	5 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2008 Every tornado warning in 2008 Tornadoes 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.