Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Mobile, AL

January 10, 2008Choctaw County, Clarke County, Washington County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at Jan 10, 2008, 11:54 AM CST for Choctaw County, Clarke County, Washington County, Alabama. It was in force for 66 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 10, 2008, 11:54 AM CST (17:54 UTC)
Expired
Jan 10, 2008, 1:00 PM CST
In force
66 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Choctaw County, AL, Clarke County, AL, Washington County, AL

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 122 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:57 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, 12:30 PM CSTFUNNEL CLOUDCoffeeville, ALBETWEEN 1230 PM AND 1250 PM NUMEROUS REPORTS OF A LARGE FUNNEL CLOUD TRACKING FROM COFFEEVILLE TO THOMASVILLE.

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

Jackson, MS (KJAN), launched 12:00Z, 5.9 hours before the alert went out and 195 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, Jackson, MS at 12:00Z on 2008-01-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 315 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, Jackson, MS at 12:00Z on 2008-01-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 193 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
315 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-8 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
592 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
193 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
189 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
1.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WFUS54 KMOB 101757
TORMOB
ALC023-025-129-101900-
/O.NEW.KMOB.TO.W.0002.080110T1754Z-080110T1900Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1154 AM CST THU JAN 10 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN CHOCTAW COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...
  NORTHWESTERN CLARKE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF GROVE HILL...
  NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 100 PM CST

* AT 1153 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THAT WAS LIKELY PRODUCING A TORNADO JUST       
  SOUTHWEST OF HEALING SPRINGS...OR ABOUT 13 MILES NORTHWEST OF      
  CHATOM...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.  THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF  
  DAMAGE.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  HEALING SPRINGS...MILLRY AND LOPER BY NOON CST...
  MILLRY AND KOENTON BY 1205 PM CST...
  CULLOMBURG BY 1210 PM CST...
  BLADON SPRINGS...SILVER CROSS AND FRANKVILLE BY 1215 PM CST...
  SERVICE BY 1220 PM CST...

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS 
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO 
EITHER HAS DEVELOPED 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 700 PM CST THURSDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3198 8795 3169 8774 3149 8845 3171 8846
TIME...MOT...LOC 1754Z 239DEG 32KT 3160 8839

$$
4 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 101815
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1214 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

ALC023-025-129-101900-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-080110T1900Z/
WASHINGTON AL-CLARKE AL-CHOCTAW AL-
1214 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 PM CST FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL CHOCTAW...NORTHWESTERN CLARKE AND NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON
COUNTIES...

AT 1206 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A STRONG LIKELIHOOD OF THERE BEING A TORNADO ON THE GROUND. 
THE POTENTIAL TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MILLRY...OR ABOUT 13 MILES 
NORTH OF CHATOM...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. DELAYED REPORTS ARE 
COMING IN OF DAMAGE...LOUD ROARING SOUNDS AND THE SPOTTING OF A 
FUNNEL CLOUD.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  FRANKVILLE BY 1220 PM CST...
  SERVICE BY 1225 PM CST...
  COFFEEVILLE AND WEST BEND BY 1230 PM CST...
  OPINE AND 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF CHILTON BY 1250 PM CST...

THE ROTATION IN THIS STORM CONTINUES TO BE STRONG AND PERSISTENT.  
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM AND THE TORNADO POTENTIAL WILL REMAIN AS 
IT MOVES TO THE NORTHEAST OVER THE NEXT HOUR. IT IS MOVING ALONG THE 
GREATEST AXIS OF VERTICAL WIND SHEAR WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY RAISES THE 
RISK FOR TORNADO DEVELOPMENT.

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 SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3195 8793 3169 8774 3152 8833 3171 8835
      3197 8796
TIME...MOT...LOC 1811Z 240DEG 33KT 3168 8825

$$
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 101823
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1223 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

ALC129-101831-
/O.CAN.KMOB.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-080110T1900Z/
WASHINGTON AL-
1223 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

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

LAT...LON 3195 8793 3169 8774 3170 8809 3172 8827
      3179 8823 3181 8820 3183 8818 3197 8796
TIME...MOT...LOC 1821Z 231DEG 35KT 3175 8816

$$

ALC023-025-101900-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-080110T1900Z/
CLARKE AL-CHOCTAW AL-
1223 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 PM CST FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL CHOCTAW AND NORTHWESTERN CLARKE COUNTIES...

AT 1219 PM CST...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO NEAR 
BLADON SPRINGS...OR ABOUT 19 MILES NORTH OF CHATOM...MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. DELAYED REPORTS ARE COMING IN OF DAMAGE...LOUD 
ROARING SOUNDS AND THE SPOTTING OF A FUNNEL CLOUD.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  WEST BEND BY 1230 PM CST...
  OPINE BY 1245 PM CST...

THE ROTATION IN THIS STORM CONTINUES TO BE STRONG AND PERSISTENT.  
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM AND THE TORNADO POTENTIAL WILL REMAIN AS 
IT MOVES TO THE NORTHEAST OVER THE NEXT HOUR. IT IS MOVING ALONG THE 
GREATEST AXIS OF VERTICAL WIND SHEAR WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY RAISES THE 
RISK FOR TORNADO DEVELOPMENT.

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 SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3195 8793 3169 8774 3170 8809 3172 8827
      3179 8823 3181 8820 3183 8818 3197 8796
TIME...MOT...LOC 1821Z 231DEG 35KT 3175 8816

$$
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 101834
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1231 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

ALC023-101841-
/O.CAN.KMOB.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-080110T1900Z/
CHOCTAW AL-
1231 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL CHOCTAW COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

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

THE STORM HAS CROSSED THE RIVER AND MOVED INTO NORTHWESTERN CLARKE 
COUNTY.

LAT...LON 3195 8793 3169 8774 3170 8809 3175 8809
      3177 8814 3183 8818 3197 8796
TIME...MOT...LOC 1831Z 235DEG 32KT 3180 8811

$$

ALC025-101900-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-080110T1900Z/
CLARKE AL-
1231 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 PM CST FOR
NORTHWESTERN CLARKE COUNTY...

AT 1229 PM CST...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD NEAR 
THE RIVER ALONG THE CHOCTAW AND CLARKE COUNTY LINE...OR 2 MILES N OF 
HIGHWAY 84. A TORNADO MAY ONCE AGAIN DEVELOP AND WILL MOVE TO THE 
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  OPINE BY 1250 PM CST...

THE ROTATION IN THIS STORM CONTINUES TO BE STRONG AND PERSISTENT.  
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM AND THE TORNADO POTENTIAL WILL REMAIN 
RELATIVELY HIGH AS IT MOVES TO THE NORTHEAST OVER THE NEXT HOUR. IT 
IS MOVING ALONG THE GREATEST AXIS OF VERTICAL WIND SHEAR WHICH 
SIGNIFICANTLY RAISES THE RISK FOR TORNADO DEVELOPMENT.

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 SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3195 8793 3169 8774 3170 8809 3175 8809
      3177 8814 3183 8818 3197 8796
TIME...MOT...LOC 1831Z 235DEG 32KT 3180 8811

$$
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 101842
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1240 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

ALC025-101900-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-080110T1900Z/
CLARKE AL-
1240 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 PM CST FOR
NORTHWESTERN CLARKE COUNTY...

AT 1236 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND STORM 
SPOTTERS ARE TRACKING A CONFIRMED TORNADO...NORTH OF COFFEVILLE 
ALABAMA AS OF 1238 PM CST.  THE TORNADO IS NOW LOCATED 10 MILES 
SOUTHWEST OF OPINE...OR ABOUT 19 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BUTLER...MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  OPINE BY 1250 PM CST...

A TORANDO WARNING WILL LIKELY BE RE-ISSUED FOR THIS STORM.

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 SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3195 8793 3169 8774 3175 8809 3186 8813
      3197 8796
TIME...MOT...LOC 1840Z 219DEG 31KT 3187 8806

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 9, 9:53 PM CSTDense Fog AdvisoryMOBButler, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Escambia9 hr
Jan 10, 11:16 AM CSTTornado WarningMOBWashington44 min
Jan 10, 12:46 PM CSTTornado WarningMOBClarke19 min
Jan 10, 2:08 PM CSTTornado WarningMOBClarke22 min
Jan 10, 3:24 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBChoctaw21 min
Jan 10, 3:49 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBChoctaw, Washington56 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.