Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 24, NWS Mobile, AL

February 17, 2008Baldwin County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at Feb 17, 2008, 10:37 AM CST for Baldwin County, Alabama. It was in force for 38 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
Feb 17, 2008, 10:37 AM CST (16:37 UTC)
Expired
Feb 17, 2008, 11:15 AM CST
In force
38 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Baldwin County, AL

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 52 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:40 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
Feb 17, 5:26 AM CSTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Slidell Radar S, LA (KSIL), launched 12:00Z, 4.6 hours before the alert went out and 175 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, Slidell Radar S, LA at 12:00Z on 2008-02-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 412 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, Slidell Radar S, LA at 12:00Z on 2008-02-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 233 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
412 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-29 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
645 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
59 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
233 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
242 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.6
Supercell composite
2.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS54 KMOB 171637
TORMOB
ALC003-171715-
/O.NEW.KMOB.TO.W.0024.080217T1637Z-080217T1715Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1037 AM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN BALDWIN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 1115 AM CST

* AT 1035 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR FORT
  MORGAN...OR ABOUT 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DAUPHIN ISLAND...MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  8 MILES NORTHWEST OF PALMETTO BEACH AND 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF GASQUE
  BY 1055 AM CST...
  TURKEY BRANCH...MOUTH OF WEEKS BAY AND POINT CLEAR BY 1110 AM
  CST...
  MARLOW...MAGNOLIA SPRINGS...HOUSTONVILLE AND 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
  BATTLES WHARF BY 1115 AM CST...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING...PREFERABLY IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR A ROOM SUCH AS
A CLOSET OR BATHROOM. IF POSSIBLE...GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER
PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY
AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS
STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE DAMAGING HAIL OR DAMAGING 
STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 PM CST SUNDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3023 8805 3029 8795 3026 8789 3028 8782
      3036 8785 3042 8795 3048 8796 3054 8793
      3040 8765 3029 8777 3031 8781 3026 8780
      3020 8787
TIME...MOT...LOC 1637Z 214DEG 26KT 3021 8802

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 171649
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1048 AM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

ALC003-171715-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0024.000000T0000Z-080217T1715Z/
BALDWIN AL-
1048 AM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1115 AM CST FOR
SOUTHWESTERN BALDWIN COUNTY...

AT 1044 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF 
THE FORT MORGAN PENINSULA AND WAS MOVING INTO SOUTHEAST MOBILE BAY.  
STORM MOTION WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  6 MILES NORTHWEST OF PALMETTO BEACH BY 1055 AM CST...
  7 MILES NORTHWEST OF GASQUE BY 1100 AM CST...
  MOUTH OF WEEKS BAY BY 1110 AM CST...
  TURKEY BRANCH...MAGNOLIA SPRINGS...MARLOW AND 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
  POINT CLEAR BY 1115 AM CST...

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 OVER THE WATER...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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 PM CST SUNDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3023 8805 3029 8795 3026 8789 3028 8782
      3036 8785 3042 8795 3048 8796 3054 8793
      3040 8765 3029 8777 3031 8781 3026 8780
      3020 8787
TIME...MOT...LOC 1648Z 221DEG 24KT 3027 8796

$$
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 171659
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1058 AM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

ALC003-171715-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0024.000000T0000Z-080217T1715Z/
BALDWIN AL-
1058 AM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1115 AM CST FOR 
SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL BALDWIN COUNTY...

AT 1054 AM CST...DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO 
ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MOUTH OF WEEKS BAY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 
15 TO 20 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  MOUTH OF WEEKS BAY...TURKEY BRANCH...6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MAGNOLIA
  SPRINGS AND 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MARLOW BY 1115 AM CST...

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 PM CST SUNDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3033 8782 3033 8784 3036 8785 3042 8795
      3048 8796 3054 8793 3040 8765 3030 8776
      3030 8780
TIME...MOT...LOC 1658Z 221DEG 13KT 3030 8791

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 17, 7:00 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBWashington45 min
Feb 17, 9:48 AM CSTMarine Weather StatementMOB2 hr
Feb 17, 11:03 AM CSTTornado WarningMOBChoctaw, Washington27 min
Feb 17, 11:11 AM CSTTornado WarningMOBBaldwin49 min
Feb 17, 11:25 AM CSTTornado WarningMOBClarke35 min
Feb 17, 11:30 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBMobile60 min
Feb 17, 11:46 AM CSTSpecial Marine WarningMOB59 min
Feb 17, 11:46 AM CSTTornado WarningMOBBaldwin59 min
Feb 17, 11:58 AM CSTTornado WarningMOBClarke, Wilcox47 min
Feb 17, 12:29 PM CSTTornado WarningMOBEscambia61 min
Feb 17, 12:30 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBBaldwin, Mobile45 min
Feb 17, 12:44 PM CSTSpecial Marine WarningMOB61 min
Feb 17, 12:54 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBMobile36 min
Feb 17, 12:55 PM CSTSpecial Marine WarningMOB65 min
Feb 17, 1:12 PM CSTTornado WarningMOBButler, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Escambia63 min
Feb 17, 1:21 PM CSTTornado WarningMOBButler, Monroe, Wilcox39 min
Feb 17, 1:55 PM CSTSpecial Marine WarningMOB65 min
Feb 17, 2:11 PM CSTTornado WarningMOBCrenshaw19 min
Feb 17, 2:14 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBButler, Conecuh, Covington31 min
Feb 17, 2:31 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBBaldwin, Conecuh, Covington, Escambia59 min
Feb 17, 2:52 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBButler, Crenshaw23 min
Feb 17, 2:54 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBButler, Crenshaw36 min
Feb 17, 3:01 PM CSTTornado WarningMOBButler, Crenshaw44 min
Feb 17, 3:13 PM CSTTornado WarningMOBConecuh, Covington, Escambia47 min
Feb 17, 3:24 PM CSTMarine Weather StatementMOB5 hr
Feb 17, 3:28 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBButler, Covington, Crenshaw, Escambia50 min
Feb 17, 3:51 PM CSTTornado WarningMOBCovington24 min
Feb 17, 3:59 PM CSTSpecial Marine WarningMOB31 min
Feb 17, 4:30 PM CSTSpecial Marine WarningMOB90 min
Feb 17, 5:09 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBCovington36 min
Feb 17, 5:53 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBCovington52 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.