Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 113, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 3, 20094 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at May 3, 2009, 12:50 PM CDT for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 55 min. 7 reports 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 3, 2009, 12:50 PM CDT (17:50 UTC)
Expired: May 3, 2009, 1:45 PM CDT
In force: 55 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Greene County, AL, Hale County, AL, Marengo County, AL, Sumter County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 128 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:52 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 3, 12:51 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 Ne Kinterbish, AL	SEVERAL TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN IN SOUTHERN SUMTER COUNTY NEAR KINTERBISH.
May 3, 1:20 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 N Demopolis, AL	A FEW TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN ALONG THE RIVER SOUTH OF FORKLAND AND NORTH OF DEMOPOLIS.
May 3, 1:30 PM CDT	TSTM WND GST 0	3 S Newbern, AL	BARN ROOF DAMAGE, NUMEROUS TREES DOWN ALONG HWY61 BTWN CR10 AND CR58.
May 3, 1:32 PM CDT	TORNADO 1	2 Ssw Newbern, AL	A BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN ALONG CR 10 WEST OF STATE HWY 61 IN THE SUNSHINE COMMUNITY. THE ROOF WAS TAKEN OFF ONE BARN AND ANOTHER STRUCTURE HAD PARTIAL ROOF DAMAGE. A FEW TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN ALONG THE SHORT PATH. THE TORNADO DAMAGE PATH WAS LESS THAN ONE
May 3, 1:36 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 S Newbern, AL	TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN
May 3, 1:36 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Greensboro, AL	NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES WERE BLOWN DOWN ACROSS THE COUNTY. AT LEAST 5 HOMES IN THE FAUNSDALE AREA RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE. ONE MOBILE HOME HAD ITS ROOF TORN OFF.
May 3, 1:52 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Greensboro, AL	SEVERAL TREES WERE BLWON DOWN IN EASTERN HALE COUNTY.

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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 3, 7:44 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 5.8 hours before the alert went out and 127 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 365 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -26 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 527 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 193 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 180 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.4
Supercell composite: 2.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WFUS54 KBMX 031750
TORBMX
ALC063-065-091-119-031845-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0113.090503T1750Z-090503T1845Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1250 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN MARENGO COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF DEMOPOLIS...
  SOUTHEASTERN GREENE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  SOUTHERN HALE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF GREENSBORO...
  SOUTHEASTERN SUMTER COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 145 PM CDT

* AT 1248 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETECTED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
  KINTERBISH...OR 17 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CUBA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45
  MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  DUG HILL BY 115 PM CDT...
  DEMOPOLIS BY 125 PM CDT...
  ARCOLA BY 130 PM CDT...
  ARCOLA AND FORKLAND BY 135 PM CDT...
  DUFFYS BEND BY 140 PM CDT...
  GREENSBORO MUNICIPAL AIRPORT BY 145 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT SUNDAY
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO
REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CDT SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHEASTERN
ALABAMA.

&&

LAT...LON 3291 8783 3264 8751 3248 8752 3220 8801
      3228 8803 3231 8800 3231 8833
TIME...MOT...LOC 1749Z 225DEG 40KT 3225 8821

$$

27

3 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 031809
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
109 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

ALC063-065-091-119-031845-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0113.000000T0000Z-090503T1845Z/
MARENGO AL-SUMTER AL-HALE AL-GREENE AL-
109 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN GREENE...SOUTHERN HALE...SOUTHEASTERN SUMTER AND
NORTHERN MARENGO COUNTIES...

AT 109 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUES TO DETECT A
TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR US 80 AND AL 28...OR 13 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF DEMOPOLIS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  US 80 AND AL 28...DEMOPOLIS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AND DUG HILL BY 115
  PM CDT...
  MCDOWELL BY 120 PM CDT...
  DEMOPOLIS LOCK AND DAM...DEMOPOLIS AND BELMONT BY 125 PM CDT...
  BIRDINE...ARCOLA AND FORKLAND BY 130 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT SUNDAY
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO
REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CDT SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHEASTERN
ALABAMA.

&&

LAT...LON 3291 8783 3264 8752 3248 8752 3224 8798
      3228 8803 3231 8800 3231 8807 3242 8822
TIME...MOT...LOC 1809Z 225DEG 40KT 3241 8802

$$

27

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 031820
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
120 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

ALC063-065-091-119-031845-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0113.000000T0000Z-090503T1845Z/
MARENGO AL-SUMTER AL-HALE AL-GREENE AL-
120 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN GREENE...SOUTHERN HALE...EAST CENTRAL SUMTER AND
NORTHERN MARENGO COUNTIES...

AT 119 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUES TO DETECT A
TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MCDOWELL...OR NEAR
DEMOPOLIS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  DEMOPOLIS LOCK AND DAM...DEMOPOLIS AND BELMONT BY 125 PM CDT...
  BIRDINE...ARCOLA AND FORKLAND BY 130 PM CDT...
  DUFFYS BEND AND CEDARVILLE BY 140 PM CDT...
  GREENSBORO MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AND SAWYERVILLE BY 145 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT SUNDAY
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO
REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CDT SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHEASTERN
ALABAMA.

&&

LAT...LON 3291 8783 3264 8753 3248 8752 3232 8788
      3251 8814
TIME...MOT...LOC 1820Z 225DEG 40KT 3250 8792

$$

27

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 031828 RRA
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
128 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

ALC063-065-091-119-031845-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0113.000000T0000Z-090503T1845Z/
MARENGO AL-SUMTER AL-HALE AL-GREENE AL-
128 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN GREENE...SOUTHERN HALE...EAST CENTRAL SUMTER AND
NORTHEASTERN MARENGO COUNTIES...

AT 127 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUES TO DETECT A
TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR DEMOPOLIS...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 45 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  DUFFYS BEND AND CEDARVILLE BY 140 PM CDT...
  GREENSBORO MUNICIPAL AIRPORT...SAWYERVILLE AND 9 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
  WEDGEWORTH BY 145 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT SUNDAY
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO
REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CDT SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOR EASTERN
ALABAMA.

&&

LAT...LON 3291 8783 3264 8753 3249 8752 3248 8753
      3238 8777 3259 8803
TIME...MOT...LOC 1829Z 225DEG 40KT 3257 8783

$$

27

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 2, 7:02 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Walker	43 min
May 2, 7:21 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	24 min
May 2, 7:34 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount, Jefferson, Walker	56 min
May 2, 7:56 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Lamar, Marion	4 hr
May 2, 7:56 PM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Walker and 1 more	9 hr
May 2, 8:19 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount, Jefferson, St. Clair, Walker	41 min
May 3, 5:08 AM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	BMX	Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marion and 6 more	16 hr
May 3, 8:37 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Pickens, Sumter	53 min
May 3, 11:28 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Greene, Hale, Tuscaloosa	15 min
May 3, 12:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marengo, Sumter	61 min
May 3, 12:54 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Bibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa	51 min
May 3, 12:58 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Sumter	62 min
May 3, 1:18 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry and 2 more	57 min
May 3, 1:23 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Shelby	67 min
May 3, 1:33 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Bibb, Chilton, Dallas, Hale, Perry	42 min
May 3, 1:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa	50 min
May 3, 1:40 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Bibb, Greene, Hale, Perry, Tuscaloosa	50 min
May 3, 1:42 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Bibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa	2 hr
May 3, 1:46 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Shelby	44 min
May 3, 1:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Bibb, Chilton, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore and 6 more	65 min
May 3, 2:02 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega	58 min
May 3, 2:32 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Bibb, Bullock, Chilton, Clay, Coosa and 7 more	58 min
May 3, 2:48 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, St. Clair, Talladega	57 min
May 3, 3:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Barbour, Bullock, Chambers, Coosa, Elmore, Lee and 5 more	73 min
May 3, 3:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Chambers, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Randolph and 3 more	55 min
May 3, 3:21 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne	54 min
May 3, 3:25 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Talladega	18 min
May 3, 4:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers, Cleburne, Randolph	34 min
May 3, 4:26 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers, Lee, Russell	34 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2009 Every tornado warning in 2009 Tornadoes in 2009

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.