Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 71, NWS Mobile, AL

August 12, 2008Washington County, Alabama; Greene County, Mississippi

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at Aug 12, 2008, 5:13 PM CDT for Washington County, Alabama; Greene County, Mississippi. It was in force for 37 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
Aug 12, 2008, 5:13 PM CDT (22:13 UTC)
Expired
Aug 12, 2008, 5:50 PM CDT
In force
37 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Washington County, AL, Greene County, MS

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 75 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:13 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
Aug 12, 5:17 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGFruitdale, ALTREES AND POWERLINES DOWN

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
Aug 12, 2:21 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Slidell Radar S, LA (KSIL), launched 12:00Z, 10.2 hours before the alert went out and 182 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, Slidell Radar S, LA at 12:00Z on 2008-08-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3027 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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, Slidell Radar S, LA at 12:00Z on 2008-08-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 86 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
3027 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-1 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
499 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
86 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
91 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 122213
TORMOB
ALC129-MSC041-122300-
/O.NEW.KMOB.TO.W.0071.080812T2213Z-080812T2300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
513 PM CDT TUE AUG 12 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN GREENE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...
  CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 600 PM CDT

* AT 508 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 5 MILES WEST OF
  FRUITDALE...OR ABOUT 15 MILES NORTH OF LEAKESVILLE...MOVING EAST AT
  33 MPH.

* THE  TORNADO WILL MOVER OVER RURAL WESTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY       
  ALABAMA AND RURAL NORTHEAST GREENE COUNTY MISSISSIPPI...

  WILL PASS NEAR SEABOARD BY 540 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT TUESDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3139 8814 3127 8816 3133 8851 3139 8850
TIME...MOT...LOC 2212Z 279DEG 28KT 3136 8845

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 122226
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
526 PM CDT TUE AUG 12 2008

MSC041-122235-
/O.CAN.KMOB.TO.W.0071.000000T0000Z-080812T2300Z/
GREENE MS-
525 PM CDT TUE AUG 12 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN GREENE COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT TUESDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3137 8837 3139 8829 3139 8815 3138 8814
      3133 8815 3127 8816 3130 8830 3133 8838
TIME...MOT...LOC 2225Z 279DEG 28KT 3135 8833

$$

ALC129-122300-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0071.000000T0000Z-080812T2300Z/
WASHINGTON AL-
525 PM CDT TUE AUG 12 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
WASHINGTON COUNTY...

AT 522 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS 7 MILES WEST OF TIBBIE...OR ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
CHATOM...MOVING EAST AT 32 MPH.

THE RADAR INDICATED TORNADO WILL PASS NEAR BETWEEN FRUITDALE AND 
TIBBIE...BUT SOUTH OF TIBBIE. AND WILL APPROACH SEABOARD THEREAFTER.

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT TUESDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3137 8837 3139 8829 3139 8815 3138 8814
      3133 8815 3127 8816 3130 8830 3133 8838
TIME...MOT...LOC 2225Z 279DEG 28KT 3135 8833

$$
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 122250
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
550 PM CDT TUE AUG 12 2008

ALC129-122258-
/O.CAN.KMOB.TO.W.0071.000000T0000Z-080812T2300Z/
WASHINGTON AL-
548 PM CDT TUE AUG 12 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

THE CIRCULATION HAS BECOME BROAD AND WEAKENED DRAMATICALLY IN THE 
PAST 15 MINUTES.  THIS IS THE TYPE OF STORM THAT COULD QUICKLY SPIN 
UP ADDITIONAL CIRCULATIONS.

STAY TUNED FOR POSSIBLE LATER WARNINGS AS THIS STORM MOVES EAST 
ACROSS EASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY.


A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT TUESDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3137 8837 3139 8829 3139 8815 3138 8814
      3133 8815 3127 8816 3130 8830 3133 8838
TIME...MOT...LOC 2248Z 279DEG 28KT 3132 8812

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 12, 4:39 AM CDTSmall Craft AdvisoryMOB41 hr
Aug 12, 4:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBWashington47 min
Aug 12, 5:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBClarke, Mobile, Washington57 min
Aug 12, 6:02 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBBaldwin, Clarke, Monroe, Washington43 min
Aug 12, 6:32 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBBaldwin, Clarke, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, Washington28 min
Aug 12, 6:37 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningMOB83 min
Aug 12, 6:44 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBBaldwin, Escambia, Monroe17 min
Aug 12, 6:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBBaldwin, Conecuh, Escambia, Monroe46 min
Aug 12, 4:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBGreene, Perry, Wayne52 min
Aug 12, 4:20 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBGreene, Perry, Wayne40 min
Aug 12, 5:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBGeorge, Stone54 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2008Tornado Warnings in Mississippi, 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.