Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 56, NWS Mobile, AL

May 15, 20084 counties in Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at May 15, 2008, 11:01 AM CDT for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 59 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
May 15, 2008, 11:01 AM CDT (16:01 UTC)
Expired
May 15, 2008, 12:00 PM CDT
In force
59 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Conecuh County, AL, Covington County, AL, Crenshaw County, AL, Escambia County, AL

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 15, 11:54 AM CDTTORNADOAndalusia, ALTORNADO REPORTED ON THE GROUND JUST WEST OF ANDALUSIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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
May 15, 8:58 AM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 4.0 hours before the alert went out and 196 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 2008-05-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 203 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 2008-05-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 64 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
203 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-17 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
571 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
64 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
44 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 151600
TORMOB
ALC035-039-041-053-151700-
/O.NEW.KMOB.TO.W.0056.080515T1601Z-080515T1700Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1101 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN CONECUH COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  NORTHERN COVINGTON COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF ANDALUSIA...
  SOUTHERN CRENSHAW COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  NORTHEASTERN ESCAMBIA COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL NOON CDT

* AT 1058 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR US 29 AND
  CR 43...OR ABOUT 17 MILES EAST OF BREWTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 46
  MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  BECK BY 1115 AM CDT...
  LOANGO BY 1120 AM CDT...
  RIVER FALLS AND ANDALUSIA BY 1125 AM CDT...
  GANTT AND HEATH BY 1130 AM CDT...
  CLEARVIEW BY 1135 AM CDT...
  ROSE HILL BY 1140 AM 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 TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT THURSDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3165 8615 3159 8612 3154 8613 3152 8617
      3144 8617 3138 8619 3102 8676 3115 8691
      3172 8631
TIME...MOT...LOC 1601Z 224DEG 40KT 3116 8675

$$
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 151616
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1116 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

ALC035-053-151626-
/O.CAN.KMOB.TO.W.0056.000000T0000Z-080515T1700Z/
ESCAMBIA AL-CONECUH AL-
1116 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN CONECUH AND
NORTHEASTERN ESCAMBIA COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT THURSDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3165 8615 3159 8612 3154 8613 3152 8617
      3144 8617 3138 8619 3116 8669 3128 8671
      3172 8631
TIME...MOT...LOC 1616Z 224DEG 40KT 3128 8661

$$

ALC039-041-151700-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0056.000000T0000Z-080515T1700Z/
COVINGTON AL-CRENSHAW AL-
1116 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CDT FOR SOUTHERN
CRENSHAW AND NORTHERN COVINGTON COUNTIES...

AT 1113 AM CDT.... THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BECK...OR ABOUT 10
MILES WEST OF ANDALUSIA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 46 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  RIVER FALLS AND ANDALUSIA BY 1125 AM CDT...
  GANTT...HEATH AND 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF SANFORD BY 1130 AM CDT...
  CLEARVIEW BY 1135 AM CDT...
  ROSE HILL AND 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF EODA BY 1140 AM CDT...
  DOZIER BY 1145 AM CDT...
  BRANTLEY BY 1155 AM 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 TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT THURSDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3165 8615 3159 8612 3154 8613 3152 8617
      3144 8617 3138 8619 3116 8669 3128 8671
      3172 8631
TIME...MOT...LOC 1616Z 224DEG 40KT 3128 8661

$$
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 151625
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1125 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

ALC039-041-151700-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0056.000000T0000Z-080515T1700Z/
COVINGTON AL-CRENSHAW AL-
1125 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CDT FOR SOUTHERN
CRENSHAW AND NORTHERN COVINGTON COUNTIES...

AT 1121 AM CDT.... THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BECK...OR ABOUT 9
MILES WEST OF ANDALUSIA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  ANDALUSIA BY 1130 AM CDT...
  RIVER FALLS BY 1135 AM CDT...
  GANTT AND HEATH BY 1140 AM CDT...
  CLEARVIEW BY 1145 AM CDT...
  ROSE HILL BY 1150 AM CDT...
  DOZIER BY 1155 AM 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 TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT THURSDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3165 8615 3159 8612 3154 8613 3152 8617
      3144 8617 3138 8619 3123 8663 3130 8666
      3172 8631
TIME...MOT...LOC 1625Z 224DEG 35KT 3129 8659

$$
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 151639
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1139 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

ALC039-041-151700-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0056.000000T0000Z-080515T1700Z/
COVINGTON AL-CRENSHAW AL-
1139 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CDT FOR SOUTHERN
CRENSHAW AND NORTHEASTERN COVINGTON COUNTIES...

AT 1135 AM CDT.... THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR RIVER FALLS...OR
ABOUT NEAR ANDALUSIA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  CLEARVIEW BY 1145 AM CDT...
  ROSE HILL AND 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF EODA BY 1150 AM CDT...
  DOZIER BY 1155 AM CDT...
  BRANTLEY BY NOON CDT...

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW
SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT THURSDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3165 8615 3159 8612 3154 8613 3152 8617
      3138 8619 3130 8650 3131 8655 3134 8655
      3172 8631
TIME...MOT...LOC 1639Z 224DEG 35KT 3137 8647

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 15, 10:24 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningMOB96 min
May 15, 10:38 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBBaldwin, Mobile67 min
May 15, 11:06 AM CDTTornado WarningMOBBaldwin, Escambia24 min
May 15, 11:10 AM CDTTornado WarningMOBCovington, Escambia52 min
May 15, 11:10 AM CDTTornado WarningMOBMonroe23 min
May 15, 11:19 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBChoctaw, Clarke, Washington41 min
May 15, 11:36 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBBaldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Monroe39 min
May 15, 11:42 AM CDTTornado WarningMOBCovington, Crenshaw48 min
May 15, 11:43 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningMOB92 min
May 15, 11:49 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBBaldwin41 min
May 15, 11:51 AM CDTTornado WarningMOBConecuh, Covington, Escambia39 min
May 15, 12:00 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBCovington, Crenshaw45 min
May 15, 12:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBMonroe, Wilcox31 min
May 15, 12:15 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBEscambia45 min
May 15, 12:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBButler, Conecuh, Escambia, Monroe43 min
May 15, 12:30 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBButler, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw45 min
May 15, 12:48 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBButler, Crenshaw28 min
May 15, 12:50 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBCovington, Escambia40 min
May 15, 1:15 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBCrenshaw19 min
May 15, 1:16 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningMOB89 min
May 15, 1:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBCovington38 min
May 15, 2:45 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningMOB45 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.