Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 15, NWS Mobile, AL

January 31, 20084 counties in Alabama; George County, Greene County, Mississippi

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at Jan 31, 2008, 5:24 PM CST for 4 counties in Alabama; George County, Greene County, Mississippi. It was in force for 37 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: Jan 31, 2008, 5:24 PM CST (23:24 UTC)
Expired: Jan 31, 2008, 6:01 PM CST
In force: 37 min
Issued by: NWS Mobile, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Baldwin County, AL, Clarke County, AL, Mobile County, AL, Washington County, AL, George County, MS, Greene County, MS

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 46 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:25 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
Jan 31, 5:31 PM CST	TSTM WND DMG	6 Ne Lucedale, MS	TREES DOWN IN ROCKY CREEK.

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
Jan 31, 4:34 PM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	8 hr
Jan 31, 12:35 PM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Slidell Radar S, LA (KSIL), launched 12:00Z, 11.4 hours before the alert went out and 179 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: 794 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 54 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 296 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 357 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 KMOB 312324
TORMOB
ALC003-025-097-129-MSC039-041-010015-
/O.NEW.KMOB.TO.W.0015.080131T2324Z-080201T0015Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
524 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN GEORGE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...
  SOUTHEASTERN GREENE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...
  NORTHWESTERN BALDWIN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF BAY MINETTE...
  EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL CLARKE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...
  NORTHERN MOBILE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...
  SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 615 PM CST

* AT 521 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR
  EARLVILLE...OR ABOUT 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF LUCEDALE...MOVING EAST AT
  55 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  SIDNEY AND GULFCREST BY 535 PM CST...
  CITRONELLE BY 540 PM CST...
  PINEOLA BY 545 PM CST...
  MOUNT VERNON...CHASTANG AND BUCKS BY 550 PM CST...
  FORT STODDARD BY 555 PM CST...
  TENSAW AND LATHAM BY 605 PM CST...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

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.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

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 SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 1100 PM CST THURSDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND
NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

LAT...LON 3130 8782 3083 8773 3089 8851 3106 8857
TIME...MOT...LOC 2324Z 256DEG 47KT 3100 8842

$$

2 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS54 KMOB 312343
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
542 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

MSC039-041-312352-
/O.CAN.KMOB.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-080201T0015Z/
GEORGE MS-GREENE MS-
542 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN GREENE AND NORTHEASTERN
GEORGE COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CST THURSDAY EVENING 
FOR SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI. 

LAT...LON 3130 8782 3112 8778 3111 8779 3110 8778
      3087 8775 3083 8773 3088 8835 3110 8832
TIME...MOT...LOC 2342Z 249DEG 51KT 3104 8816

$$

ALC003-025-097-129-010015-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-080201T0015Z/
WASHINGTON AL-CLARKE AL-BALDWIN AL-MOBILE AL-
542 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CST FOR NORTHERN
MOBILE...NORTHWESTERN BALDWIN...EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL CLARKE AND
SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTIES...

AT 536 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR GULFCREST...OR
ABOUT 20 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LEAKESVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  MOUNT VERNON...CHASTANG AND BUCKS BY 550 PM CST...
  FORT STODDARD AND CALVERT BY 555 PM CST...
  LATHAM BY 600 PM CST...
  TENSAW BY 605 PM CST...

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...LEAVE THEM AND GET INSIDE A STURDY 
SHELTER. 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 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 1100 PM CST THURSDAY EVENING 
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

LAT...LON 3130 8782 3112 8778 3111 8779 3110 8778
      3087 8775 3083 8773 3088 8835 3110 8832
TIME...MOT...LOC 2342Z 249DEG 51KT 3104 8816

$$

000 
WWUS54 KMOB 010001
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
601 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

ALC003-025-097-129-010011-
/O.CAN.KMOB.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-080201T0015Z/
WASHINGTON AL-CLARKE AL-BALDWIN AL-MOBILE AL-
601 PM CST THU JAN 31 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN MOBILE...NORTHWESTERN BALDWIN...
EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL CLARKE AND SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTIES IS
CANCELLED...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CST THURSDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

LAT...LON 3130 8782 3112 8778 3111 8779 3110 8778
      3087 8775 3083 8773 3088 8835 3110 8832
TIME...MOT...LOC 0001Z 249DEG 51KT 3114 8787

$$

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jan 31, 4:44 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MOB	Mobile, Washington	61 min
Jan 31, 4:58 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Washington	47 min
Jan 31, 5:16 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MOB	Choctaw, Clarke, Washington	45 min
Jan 31, 5:44 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MOB	Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and 1 more	61 min
Jan 31, 5:55 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MOB	Clarke, Monroe, Washington, Wilcox	65 min
Jan 31, 4:17 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MOB	Perry	43 min
Jan 31, 4:32 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Greene, Perry, Wayne	43 min
Jan 31, 5:03 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	George, Greene, Perry	32 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2008 Tornado Warnings in Mississippi, 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.