Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 32, NWS Mobile, AL

February 17, 2008Butler County, Monroe County, Wilcox County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at Feb 17, 2008, 1:21 PM CST for Butler County, Monroe County, Wilcox County, Alabama. It was in force for 39 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, 1:21 PM CST (19:21 UTC)
Expired
Feb 17, 2008, 2:00 PM CST
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Butler County, AL, Monroe County, AL, Wilcox County, AL

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Feb 17, 12:32 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 7.4 hours before the alert went out and 138 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 2008-02-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 5 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 2008-02-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 277 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
5 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-13 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
560 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
56 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
277 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
350 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 171922
TORMOB
ALC013-099-131-172000-
/O.NEW.KMOB.TO.W.0032.080217T1921Z-080217T2000Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN BUTLER COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  NORTHERN MONROE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  SOUTHEASTERN WILCOX COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 200 PM CST

* AT 121 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR PACKARDS
  BEND...OR ABOUT 17 MILES EAST OF GROVE HILL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
  45 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  VREDENBURGH...BUENA VISTA AND BELLVIEW BY 130 PM CST...
  CHESTNUT...FATAMA AND CORDUROY STATION BY 135 PM CST...
  WATSONVILLE AND NADAWAH BY 140 PM CST...
  CALEDONIA AND MCWILLIAMS BY 145 PM 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.

IF YOU ARE IN MOBILE HOME...EVACUATE IT AND GET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF A NEARBY STURDY BUILDING OR IN AN UNDERGROUND STORM SHELTER. IF NO
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER IS AVAILABLE AND A TORNADO IS FAST APPROACHING...
SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW DEPRESSION AND COVER YOUR
HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST SUNDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

LAT...LON 3205 8685 3198 8684 3198 8678 3186 8675
      3166 8751 3180 8751 3208 8694 3207 8687
TIME...MOT...LOC 1921Z 245DEG 40KT 3177 8741

$$

PURDY
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 171937
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
137 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

ALC013-099-131-172000-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0032.000000T0000Z-080217T2000Z/
MONROE AL-BUTLER AL-WILCOX AL-
137 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 PM CST FOR
SOUTHEASTERN WILCOX...NORTHWESTERN BUTLER AND EXTREME NORTHEASTERN
MONROE COUNTIES...

AT 137 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BELLVIEW...OR
ABOUT 12 MILES SOUTH OF CAMDEN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  FATAMA...WATSONVILLE AND 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF NADAWAH BY 145 PM
  CST...
  OAK HILL AND 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF CALEDONIA BY 155 PM CST...
  MCBRYDES...6 MILES WEST OF SNOW HILL...8 MILES NORTHWEST OF
  ALLENTON AND 8 MILES WEST OF FURMAN BY 200 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 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.

DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO. CARS ARE EASILY
TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADO WINDS. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF A
TORNADO...LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING. IF NO SAFE
STRUCTURE IS NEARBY...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER
YOUR HEAD.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST SUNDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

LAT...LON 3205 8685 3198 8684 3198 8678 3186 8675
      3179 8736 3184 8739 3208 8694 3207 8687
TIME...MOT...LOC 1937Z 228DEG 39KT 3185 8732

$$

PURDY
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 171942
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
142 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

ALC013-099-171952-
/O.CAN.KMOB.TO.W.0032.000000T0000Z-080217T2000Z/
MONROE AL-BUTLER AL-
142 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN BUTLER AND NORTHERN MONROE 
COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST SUNDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

LAT...LON 3205 8685 3197 8689 3196 8691 3192 8690
      3185 8693 3184 8739 3208 8694 3207 8687
TIME...MOT...LOC 1942Z 228DEG 35KT 3189 8726

$$

ALC131-172000-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0032.000000T0000Z-080217T2000Z/
WILCOX AL-
142 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 PM CST FOR
SOUTHEASTERN WILCOX COUNTY...

AT 142 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BELLVIEW...OR
ABOUT 9 MILES SOUTH OF CAMDEN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  OAK HILL AND 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF CALEDONIA BY 155 PM CST...
  MCBRYDES...6 MILES WEST OF SNOW HILL...7 MILES NORTHWEST OF
  ALLENTON AND 8 MILES WEST OF FURMAN BY 200 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 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.

DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO. CARS ARE EASILY
TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADO WINDS. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF A
TORNADO...LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING. IF NO SAFE
STRUCTURE IS NEARBY...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER
YOUR HEAD.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST SUNDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

LAT...LON 3205 8685 3197 8689 3196 8691 3192 8690
      3185 8693 3184 8739 3208 8694 3207 8687
TIME...MOT...LOC 1942Z 228DEG 35KT 3189 8726

$$

PURDY

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, 10:37 AM CSTTornado WarningMOBBaldwin38 min
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, 1:55 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.