Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 64, NWS Mobile, AL

May 15, 20084 counties in Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at May 15, 2008, 12:30 PM CDT for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 45 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, 12:30 PM CDT (17:30 UTC)
Expired
May 15, 2008, 1:15 PM CDT
In force
45 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Butler County, AL, Conecuh County, AL, Covington County, AL, Crenshaw County, AL

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 15, 12:45 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGSouth, ALTREES DOWN AND ROOF DAMAGE TO A STORE.

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, 5.5 hours before the alert went out and 176 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 151730
TORMOB
ALC013-035-039-041-151815-
/O.NEW.KMOB.TO.W.0064.080515T1730Z-080515T1815Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1230 PM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN BUTLER COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  EXTREME EAST CENTRAL CONECUH COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  NORTHERN COVINGTON COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  SOUTHERN CRENSHAW COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF LUVERNE...

* UNTIL 115 PM CDT

* AT 1227 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR
  COHASSETT...OR ABOUT 14 MILES NORTHWEST OF ANDALUSIA...MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 37 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  9 MILES NORTHWEST OF CLEARVIEW BY 1240 PM CDT...
  RUTLEDGE...6 MILES NORTHWEST OF LUVERNE AND 7 MILES WEST OF
  PATSBURG BY 115 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 TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT THURSDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3180 8617 3180 8616 3178 8614 3176 8613
      3138 8619 3131 8670 3144 8673 3183 8620
TIME...MOT...LOC 1730Z 218DEG 33KT 3145 8665

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 151740
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1239 PM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

ALC035-151749-
/O.CAN.KMOB.TO.W.0064.000000T0000Z-080515T1815Z/
CONECUH AL-
1239 PM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME EAST CENTRAL CONECUH COUNTY 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 3183 8620 3180 8616 3176 8613 3140 8619
      3143 8664 3150 8665
TIME...MOT...LOC 1739Z 218DEG 33KT 3151 8659

$$

ALC013-039-041-151815-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0064.000000T0000Z-080515T1815Z/
COVINGTON AL-BUTLER AL-CRENSHAW AL-
1239 PM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 115 PM CDT FOR SOUTHERN
CRENSHAW...SOUTHEASTERN BUTLER AND NORTHERN COVINGTON COUNTIES...

AT 1236 PM CDT.... THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR THE COMMUNITY OF 
SOUTH...OR ABOUT 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF ANDALUSIA...MOVING TO THE 
NORTHEAST AT 38 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  RUTLEDGE...7 MILES NORTHWEST OF LUVERNE AND 7 MILES WEST OF
  PATSBURG BY 115 PM CDT...

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

LAT...LON 3183 8620 3180 8616 3176 8613 3140 8619
      3143 8664 3150 8665
TIME...MOT...LOC 1739Z 218DEG 33KT 3151 8659

$$
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 151754
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1252 PM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

ALC013-039-041-151815-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0064.000000T0000Z-080515T1815Z/
COVINGTON AL-BUTLER AL-CRENSHAW AL-
1252 PM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 115 PM CDT FOR SOUTHERN
CRENSHAW...EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN BUTLER AND EXTREME NORTH CENTRAL
COVINGTON COUNTIES...

AT 1248 PM CDT...THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 14 MILES WEST OF 
BRANTLEY...OR ABOUT 17 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LUVERNE...MOVING NORTHEAST 
AT 36 MPH.

REPORTS OF TREES DOWN AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE DAMAGE CONTINUE TO FLOW 
INTO THE NWS IN MOBILE IN ASSOCIATION WIT THIS STORM. 

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  RUTLEDGE BY 110 PM CDT...
  7 MILES NORTHWEST OF LUVERNE AND 8 MILES WEST OF PATSBURG BY 115 PM
  CDT...

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

LAT...LON 3183 8620 3180 8616 3176 8613 3165 8613
      3164 8615 3155 8615 3151 8618 3149 8650
      3156 8655
TIME...MOT...LOC 1752Z 208DEG 31KT 3160 8648

$$

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, 11:42 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, 12:48 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.