Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 60, NWS Mobile, AL

May 15, 2008Covington County, Crenshaw County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at May 15, 2008, 11:42 AM CDT for Covington County, Crenshaw County, Alabama. It was in force for 48 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, 11:42 AM CDT (16:42 UTC)
Expired
May 15, 2008, 12:30 PM CDT
In force
48 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Covington County, AL, Crenshaw 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, 4.7 hours before the alert went out and 197 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 151642
TORMOB
ALC039-041-151730-
/O.NEW.KMOB.TO.W.0060.080515T1642Z-080515T1730Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1142 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 1230 PM CDT

* AT 1139 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR BECK...OR
  ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ANDALUSIA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 32 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  LIBERTYVILLE BY 1150 AM CDT...
  ANDALUSIA BY 1155 AM CDT...
  HEATH AND SANFORD BY NOON CDT...
  ROSE HILL AND EODA BY 1215 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.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY BE OBSCURING 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.

DO NOT USE YOUR VEHICLE TO TRY TO OUTRUN AN APPROACHING TORNADO. ANY
SIZE OF VEHICLE CAN BE EASILY BE TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADIC WINDS. IF
YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...LEAVE THE VEHICLE AND SEEK
SHELTER IN A STRONG BUILDING. IF NO SAFE STRUCTURE IS AVAILABLE...
SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW DEPRESSION AND COVER YOUR
HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS. DO NOT USE HIGHWAY OVERPASSES FOR SHELTER.
OVERPASSES DO NOT PROVIDE PROTECTION FROM TORNADIC WINDS.

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

LAT...LON 3161 8612 3155 8612 3152 8617 3135 8619
      3118 8659 3123 8664 3164 8615
TIME...MOT...LOC 1642Z 222DEG 27KT 3125 8657

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 151654
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1154 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

ALC039-041-151730-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0060.000000T0000Z-080515T1730Z/
COVINGTON AL-CRENSHAW AL-
1154 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1230 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN CRENSHAW AND NORTHEASTERN COVINGTON COUNTIES...

AT 1152 AM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO JUST WEST 
OF ANDALUSIA ELEMENTARY.  IT WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 31 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  HEATH AND 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF SANFORD BY NOON CDT...
  EODA BY 1215 PM CDT...
  ROSE HILL BY 1220 PM 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 3161 8612 3155 8612 3152 8617 3135 8619
      3126 8650 3132 8655 3147 8634 3148 8634
      3164 8615
TIME...MOT...LOC 1654Z 222DEG 27KT 3132 8650

$$
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 151711
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1211 PM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

ALC039-041-151730-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0060.000000T0000Z-080515T1730Z/
COVINGTON AL-CRENSHAW AL-
1211 PM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1230 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN CRENSHAW AND NORTHEASTERN COVINGTON COUNTIES...

AT 1205 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD. THIS 
STORM PREVIOUSLY PRODUCED A TORANDO WEST OF ANADALUSIA. THIS TORNADO 
WAS LOCATED NEAR EODA...OR ABOUT 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF 
ANDALUSIA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 37 MPH.

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

LAT...LON 3161 8612 3155 8612 3152 8617 3138 8620
      3135 8641 3139 8644 3164 8615
TIME...MOT...LOC 1711Z 239DEG 33KT 3141 8635

$$

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, 11:01 AM CDTTornado WarningMOBConecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Escambia59 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, 11:43 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.