Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 72, NWS Mobile, AL

August 12, 20084 counties in Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at Aug 12, 2008, 6:02 PM CDT for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 43 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Aug 12, 2008, 6:02 PM CDT (23:02 UTC)
Expired
Aug 12, 2008, 6:45 PM CDT
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Baldwin County, AL, Clarke County, AL, Monroe County, AL, Washington County, AL

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 77 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:04 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.

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, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 211 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 122302
TORMOB
ALC003-025-099-129-122345-
/O.NEW.KMOB.TO.W.0072.080812T2302Z-080812T2345Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN MONROE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  NORTH CENTRAL BALDWIN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...
  SOUTH CENTRAL CLARKE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...
  EAST CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 645 PM CDT

* AT 559 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF
  MCINTOSH...OR ABOUT 16 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CHATOM...MOVING EAST AT
  27 MPH.

* THE  TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  RURAL SOUTHERN CLARKE COUNTY AT 620 PM CDT
  RURAL SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY AT 620 PM CDT
  RURAL NORTHERN BALDWIN COUNTY AT 630 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 1000 PM CDT TUESDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3133 8768 3117 8771 3127 8809 3133 8808
TIME...MOT...LOC 2302Z 280DEG 24KT 3130 8805

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 122321
SVSMOB

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

ALC003-025-099-129-122345-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0072.000000T0000Z-080812T2345Z/
WASHINGTON AL-MONROE AL-CLARKE AL-BALDWIN AL-
620 PM CDT TUE AUG 12 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL BALDWIN...SOUTH CENTRAL CLARKE...EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN MONROE
AND SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTIES...

AT 618 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS
13 MILES WEST OF BLACKSHER...AND WAS MOVING EAST AT 26 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  LITTLE RIVER...BLACKSHER AND CHRYSLER BY 645 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 3124 8798 3130 8800 3133 8795 3133 8768
      3117 8771
TIME...MOT...LOC 2320Z 279DEG 22KT 3128 8793

$$
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 122336
SVSMOB

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

ALC099-129-122346-
/O.CAN.KMOB.TO.W.0072.000000T0000Z-080812T2345Z/
WASHINGTON AL-MONROE AL-
636 PM CDT TUE AUG 12 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN MONROE AND
SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTIES 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 3122 8787 3126 8789 3129 8784 3129 8769
      3122 8770 3117 8771 3117 8772
TIME...MOT...LOC 2336Z 296DEG 23KT 3124 8783

$$

ALC003-025-122345-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0072.000000T0000Z-080812T2345Z/
CLARKE AL-BALDWIN AL-
636 PM CDT TUE AUG 12 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL BALDWIN AND EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL CLARKE COUNTIES...

AT 632 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 BLACKSHER...AND WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 
26 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  BLACKSHER AND LITTLE RIVER BY 645 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.

REPORT ANY TORNADOES OR FUNNEL CLOUDS TO YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN MOBILE AT (2 5 1) 6 3 3 6 4 4 3. OR...YOU MAY CONTACT YOUR
NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...AND
THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT.

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

LAT...LON 3122 8787 3126 8789 3129 8784 3129 8769
      3122 8770 3117 8771 3117 8772
TIME...MOT...LOC 2336Z 296DEG 23KT 3124 8783

$$

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, 5:13 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBWashington37 min
Aug 12, 5:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBClarke, Mobile, Washington57 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

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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.