Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 51, NWS Mobile, AL

April 11, 2008Clarke County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 11, 2008, 5:34 PM CDT for Clarke County, Alabama. It was in force for 41 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
Apr 11, 2008, 5:34 PM CDT (22:34 UTC)
Expired
Apr 11, 2008, 6:15 PM CDT
In force
41 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Clarke County, AL

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 115 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:35 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
Apr 11, 5:45 PM CDTHAIL 0.88Coffeeville, ALLOTS OF NICKEL SIZE HAIL REPORTED.

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
Apr 11, 3:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 10.6 hours before the alert went out and 199 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 2008-04-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 33 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 2008-04-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 217 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
33 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-160 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
566 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
217 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
271 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS54 KMOB 112235
TORMOB
ALC025-112315-
/O.NEW.KMOB.TO.W.0051.080411T2234Z-080411T2315Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
534 PM CDT FRI APR 11 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL CLARKE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF GROVE HILL...

* UNTIL 615 PM CDT

* AT 531 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGIST CONTINUED   
  TO DETECTE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 15 
  MILES WEST OF WINN...OR ABOUT 17 MILES NORTH OF CHATOM...MOVING    
  EAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  WINN BY 555 PM CDT...
  CHILTON BY 605 PM CDT...
  GROVE HILL AND PEACOCK BY 610 PM CDT...
  DICKINSON...WHATELY AND FULTON BY 615 PM CDT...

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 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FRIDAY
EVENING FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3162 8764 3159 8797 3161 8807 3164 8809
      3168 8807 3169 8809 3175 8809 3177 8813
      3184 8766
TIME...MOT...LOC 2234Z 268DEG 30KT 3170 8814

$$
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 112253
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
551 PM CDT FRI APR 11 2008

ALC025-112315-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0051.000000T0000Z-080411T2315Z/
CLARKE AL-
551 PM CDT FRI APR 11 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
CLARKE COUNTY...

AT 548 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH DEEP AND STRONG ROTATION.  THIS TORNADO WAS 
LOCATED 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF WINN...OR ABOUT 14 MILES WEST OF GROVE 
HILL...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.  DELAYED DAMAGE REPORTS ARE NOW 
BEGINNING TO FLOW INTO THE NWS OFFICE IN MOBILE ALABAMA CONFIRMING 
DAMAGE FROM WHEN THE STORM MOVED ALONG THE WASHINGTON AND CHOCTAW 
COUNTY BORDER.

THIS ROTATING STORM IS LONG-LIVED AND IS CURRENTLY INT HE PROCESS OF 
STRENGTHENING ONCE AGAIN.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  WINN BY 600 PM CDT...
  7 MILES SOUTH OF CHILTON BY 605 PM CDT...
  GROVE HILL BY 610 PM CDT...
  WHATELY...6 MILES SOUTH OF PEACOCK...7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DICKINSON
  AND 8 MILES SOUTH OF FULTON BY 615 PM CDT...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FRIDAY
EVENING FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3162 8764 3160 8797 3163 8806 3168 8807
      3177 8802 3184 8766
TIME...MOT...LOC 2251Z 275DEG 28KT 3169 8799

$$
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 112303
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
601 PM CDT FRI APR 11 2008

ALC025-112315-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0051.000000T0000Z-080411T2315Z/
CLARKE AL-
601 PM CDT FRI APR 11 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
CLARKE COUNTY...

AT 557 PM CDT.... THE RADAR INDICATED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR 
WINN...OR ABOUT 8 MILES WEST OF GROVE HILL...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  GROVE HILL AND PEACOCK BY 610 PM CDT...
  WHATELY AND DICKINSON BY 615 PM CDT...

THIS STORM HAS EXHIBITED PERIODIC FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY...AND IS 
FORECAST TO CONTINUE TO POSSESS DEEP ROTATION THROUGH 615 PM CDT.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

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 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FRIDAY
EVENING FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3162 8764 3161 8779 3163 8795 3169 8796
      3174 8793 3180 8766
TIME...MOT...LOC 2301Z 261DEG 32KT 3168 8787

$$
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 112315
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
613 PM CDT FRI APR 11 2008

ALC025-112323-
/O.EXP.KMOB.TO.W.0051.000000T0000Z-080411T2315Z/
CLARKE AL-
613 PM CDT FRI APR 11 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL CLARKE COUNTY WILL BE ALLOWED TO 
EXPIRE AT 615 PM CDT...

THE STORM HAS GREATLY DECREASED IN INTENSITY SINCE 605 PM CST.  ALSO 
...ROTATION HAS CONSIDERABLY WEAKENED.  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING WILL NOT BE ISSUED UNLESS THE STORM SOON INTENSIFIES.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FRIDAY
EVENING FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3162 8764 3161 8779 3163 8795 3169 8796
      3174 8793 3180 8766
TIME...MOT...LOC 2313Z 261DEG 32KT 3170 8775

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 11, 11:45 AM CDTFlash Flood WatchMOBCovington, Escambia11 hr
Apr 11, 2:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBChoctaw, Clarke38 min
Apr 11, 4:22 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBChoctaw, Washington53 min
Apr 11, 4:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBChoctaw, Clarke, Washington52 min
Apr 11, 5:15 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBChoctaw, Washington30 min
Apr 11, 5:52 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMOBChoctaw, Clarke, Washington113 min
Apr 11, 6:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBChoctaw27 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.