Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Tallahassee, FL

February 17, 2008Coffee County, Alabama

NWS Tallahassee, FL issued this tornado warning at Feb 17, 2008, 1:36 PM CST for Coffee County, Alabama. It was in force for 54 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
Feb 17, 2008, 1:36 PM CST (19:36 UTC)
Expired
Feb 17, 2008, 2:30 PM CST
In force
54 min
Issued by
NWS Tallahassee, FL
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Coffee County, AL

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Feb 17, 2:17 PM CSTTORNADO5 Wnw Jack, ALTORNADO TRACKED ACROSS FAR NORTHWESTERN COFFEE COUNTY. ROOFS REMOVED FROM TWO BARNS WITH A ROOF ON A SINGLE FAMILY HOME PARTIALLY REMOVED. DAMAGE RATED BY STORM SURVEY AS AN EF-1 TORNADO WITH MAXIMUM WINDS OF 95 MPH. PATH WIDTH WAS 100 YARDS. DAMAGE REPORTED B

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
Feb 17, 12:32 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 7.6 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 2008-02-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 5 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 2008-02-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 277 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
5 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-13 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
560 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
56 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
277 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
350 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 
WFUS52 KTAE 171937
TORTAE
ALC031-172030-
/O.NEW.KTAE.TO.W.0007.080217T1936Z-080217T2030Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
136 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TALLAHASSEE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN COFFEE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF ELBA...

* UNTIL 230 PM CST

* AT 135 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  DEVELOPING TORNADO 27 MILES WEST OF ELBA...OR NEAR ANDALUSIA...
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  9 MILES NORTHWEST OF ELBA BY 210 PM CST...

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.

THIS STORM MAY ALSO PRODUCE HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS. 

RELAY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
TALLAHASSEE AT (8 5 0) 9 4 2 8 8 3 3. OR...YOU MAY CONTACT THE
NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST SUNDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHEAST ALABAMA...NORTH FLORIDA AND SOUTHWEST GEORGIA.

LAT...LON 3163 8579 3156 8579 3146 8599 3134 8619
      3154 8619 3154 8614 3163 8613
TIME...MOT...LOC 1936Z 234DEG 36KT 3130 8650

$$

38-GODSEY
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KTAE 171956
SVSTAE

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
253 PM EST SUN FEB 17 2008

ALC031-172030-
/O.CON.KTAE.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-080217T2030Z/
COFFEE AL-
153 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 230 PM CST FOR NORTHERN
COFFEE COUNTY...

AT 150 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 11 MILES NORTHEAST OF 
ANDALUSIA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  DANLEYS CROSSROADS AND 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF CURTIS BY 200 PM CST...
  NEWBY BY 210 PM CST...
  SHADY GROVE BY 215 PM CST...
  JACK AND VICTORIA BY 220 PM CST...
  NEW HOPE BY 225 PM CST...
  ROETON BY 225 PM CST...

THIS STORM HAS HAD A HISTORY OF PRODUCING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE ALONG ITS 
PATH. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM. SEEK A STURDY SHELTER 
IMMEDIATELY

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PING 
PONG BALL SIZE HAIL. 

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.

RELAY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
TALLAHASSEE AT (8 5 0) 9 4 2 8 8 3 3. OR...YOU MAY CONTACT THE
NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST SUNDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHEAST ALABAMA NORTH FLORIDA AND SOUTHWEST GEORGIA.

LAT...LON 3163 8579 3156 8579 3146 8599 3134 8619
      3154 8619 3154 8614 3163 8613
TIME...MOT...LOC 1953Z 240DEG 42KT 3143 8630

$$

38-GODSEY
000 
WWUS52 KTAE 172008
SVSTAE

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
305 PM EST SUN FEB 17 2008

ALC031-172030-
/O.CON.KTAE.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-080217T2030Z/
COFFEE AL-
205 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 230 PM CST FOR NORTHERN
COFFEE COUNTY...

AT 203 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING 
A LARGE AND DANGEROUS TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES 
SOUTHWEST OF NEWBY...OR 11 MILES NORTHWEST OF ELBA...MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  NEWBY BY 210 PM CST...
  SHADY GROVE BY 215 PM CST...
  JACK BY 220 PM CST...
  6 MILES NORTHWEST OF VICTORIA BY 225 PM CST...
  ROETON BY 225 PM CST...

THIS TORNADO HAS HAD A HISTORY OF PRODUCING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE ALONG 
ITS PATH. IF YOU ARE IN NORTHERN COFFEE COUNTY...SEEK A STURDY 
STRUCTURE IMMEDIATELY 

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
BASEBALL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THIS 
STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG TORNADOES. IF YOU ARE IN THE 
PATH OF THIS TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY

RELAY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
TALLAHASSEE AT (8 5 0) 9 4 2 8 8 3 3. OR...YOU MAY CONTACT THE
NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST SUNDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHEAST ALABAMA AND CENTRAL FLORIDA AND SOUTHWEST GEORGIA.

LAT...LON 3156 8586 3149 8599 3142 8619 3144 8618
      3154 8619 3154 8614 3163 8613 3163 8580
TIME...MOT...LOC 2005Z 244DEG 41KT 3152 8619

$$

38-GODSEY
000 
WWUS52 KTAE 172030
SVSTAE

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
330 PM EST SUN FEB 17 2008

ALC031-172038-
/O.EXP.KTAE.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-080217T2030Z/
COFFEE AL-
230 PM CST SUN FEB 17 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN COFFEE COUNTY WILL BE ALLOWED
TO EXPIRE AT 230 PM CST...

THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE TORNADO WARNING HAS NOW MOVED INTO 
SOUTHERN PIKE COUNTY. ADDITIONAL STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS ARE 
EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO SOUTHEAST ALABAMA LATER THIS AFTERNOON. 
THEREFORE...CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE WEATHER THROUGH THE AFTERNOON 
AND EVENING HOURS. 

RELAY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
TALLAHASSEE AT (8 5 0) 9 4 2 8 8 3 3. OR...YOU MAY CONTACT THE
NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST SUNDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHEAST ALABAMA AND NORTH FLORIDA AND SOUTHWEST GEORGIA.

LAT...LON 3156 8586 3149 8599 3142 8619 3144 8618
      3154 8619 3154 8614 3163 8613 3163 8580
TIME...MOT...LOC 2028Z 244DEG 41KT 3163 8591

$$

38-GODSEY

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tallahassee, FL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 17, 9:23 AM CSTLake Wind AdvisoryTAECoffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston9 hr
Feb 17, 1:56 PM CSTFire Weather WatchTAECoffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston25 hr
Feb 17, 3:19 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAECoffee, Geneva56 min
Feb 17, 3:45 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEDale45 min
Feb 17, 3:52 PM CSTTornado WarningTAECoffee, Dale23 min
Feb 17, 4:04 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEHenry56 min
Feb 17, 4:11 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAECoffee, Dale, Geneva, Houston64 min
Feb 17, 4:22 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAECoffee, Dale53 min
Feb 17, 5:57 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEDale, Henry48 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.