Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 119, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 3, 2009Jefferson County, Shelby County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at May 3, 2009, 1:46 PM CDT for Jefferson County, Shelby County, Alabama. It was in force for 44 min. 11 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, 1:46 PM CDT (18:46 UTC)
Expired: May 3, 2009, 2:30 PM CDT
In force: 44 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Jefferson County, AL, Shelby County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 37 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:47 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, 1:53 PM CDT	TORNADO 0	4 Ne Inverness, AL	NUMEROUS TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF. TWO BIG OAK TREES WERE UPROOTED. MANY HOMES SUFFERED SHINGLE DAMAGE. TWO HOMES HAD THE PLYWOOD ROOF EXPOSED. A FENCE WAS BLOWN DOWN AND A FEW GUTTERS WERE BLOWN AWAY. THIS ALL HAPPENED ALONG KESTEVEN ROAD, ASHINGTON LANE, ASHIN
May 3, 1:54 PM CDT	TORNADO 0	4 Ne Inverness, AL	NUMEROUS TREES WERE UPROOTED ALONG THE PATH. AT LEAST 20 HOMES SUFFERED MINOR ROOF DAMAGE MAINLY LOSS OF SHINGLES. DAMAGE WAS REPORTED IN THE BROOK HIGHLAND AREA. THE TORNADO CROSSED HIGHWAY 119 AND ENTERED INTO THE GREYSTONE LEGACY COMMUNITY. DAMAGE WAS LIMIT
May 3, 1:55 PM CDT	TORNADO 0	4 Ne Inverness, AL	NUMEROUS TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF. TWO BIG OAK TREES WERE UPROOTED. MANY HOMES SUFFERED SHINGLE DAMAGE. TWO HOMES HAD THE PLYWOOD ROOF EXPOSED. A FENCE WAS BLOWN DOWN AND A FEW GUTTERS WERE BLOWN AWAY. THIS ALL HAPPENED ALONG KESTEVEN ROAD, ASHINGTON LANE, ASHIN
May 3, 1:56 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 E Hoover, AL	A FEW TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN ON STEVENS HILL CIRCLE, RIVERCHASE TRACE AT RIVERCHASE PARKWAY, AND OLD ROCKY RIDGE ROAD AT LORNA ROAD. LARGE TENTS AND PORTABLE RESTROOMS WERE BLOWN DOWN IN SPAIN PARK.
May 3, 2:00 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 E Inverness, AL	NUMEROUS TREES SNAPPED...TWO BIG OAK TREES UPROOTED. MANY HOMES WITH SHINGLES BLOWN AWAY...WITH TWO HOMES THE ROOF BEING EXPOSED TO THE PLYWOOD. A FENCE WAS BLOWN DOWN AND A FEW GUTTERS WERE BLOWN AWAY. THIS ALL HAPPENED ALONG KESTEVEN ROAD...ASHINGTON LANE-DR
May 3, 2:01 PM CDT	HAIL 0.75	Chelsea, AL	DOUBLE OAK MOUNTAIN
May 3, 2:02 PM CDT	HAIL 0.25	3 Se Vestavia Hills, AL	DIME SIZE HAIL NEAR ACTON AT CAHABA RIVER ROAD AND ACTON ROAD.
May 3, 2:03 PM CDT	TORNADO 1	4 Ssw Leeds, AL	A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN ALONG CR 470 AND TRACKED NORTHEASTWARD. THE TORNADO LIFTED BEFORE IT CROSSED STATE HWY 25 JUST NORTH OF DUNAVANT. DOZENS OF TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF OR UPROOTED ALONG THE PATH. THE DAMAGE PATH WAS 1.64 MILES LONG AND WAS 300 YARDS WIDE AT
May 3, 2:05 PM CDT	HAIL 0.88	Greystone, AL	NICKEL SIZE HAIL FELL AT THE GREYSTONE LEGACY GOLF COURSE. THE HAIL COVERED THE GROUND.
May 3, 2:19 PM CDT	HAIL 1	Vandiver, AL	QUARTER SIZE HAIL FELL IN VANDIVER. THE HAIL COVERED THE GROUND.
May 3, 2:23 PM CDT	HAIL 0.88	Sterrett, AL	NICKEL SIZED HAIL COVERED THE GROUND NEAR COUNTY ROAD 43 AND COUNTY ROAD 55.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 4 storm reports to this tornado warning; the first came 7 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

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, 6.8 hours before the alert went out and 37 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 031846
TORBMX
ALC073-117-031930-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0119.090503T1846Z-090503T1930Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...LEEDS...HOOVER...
  NORTHERN SHELBY COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...PELHAM...HELENA...CHELSEA...
  ALABASTER...

* UNTIL 230 PM CDT

* AT 144 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD
  NEAR HELENA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  INDIAN SPRINGS VILLAGE...RIVERCHASE GALLERIA AND VERIZON MUSIC
  CENTER AT OAK MOUNTAIN BY 155 PM CDT...
  OAK MOUNTAIN STATE PARK BY 200 PM CDT...
  HIGHLAND LAKES...MEADOWBROOK...LAKE PURDY AND CHELSEA BY 205 PM
  CDT...
  MOUNT LAUREL AND FOWLER LAKE BY 210 PM CDT...

THIS INCLUDES
AND INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 199 THROUGH 210.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 3354 8649 3351 8649 3351 8642 3345 8638
      3340 8638 3337 8635 3336 8635 3335 8637
      3330 8637 3324 8692 3334 8694 3356 8654
TIME...MOT...LOC 1846Z 241DEG 32KT 3330 8685

$$

17/KLAWS

2 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 031906
SVSBMX

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

ALC073-117-031930-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0119.000000T0000Z-090503T1930Z/
SHELBY AL-JEFFERSON AL-
206 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 230 PM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL JEFFERSON AND NORTHEASTERN SHELBY COUNTIES...

AT 205 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD. 
THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HIGHLAND LAKES...OR NEAR CHELSEA...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  6 MILES NORTHWEST OF WESTOVER BY 215 PM CDT...
  9 MILES NORTHWEST OF HARPERSVILLE BY 220 PM CDT...
  VANDIVER...STERRETT...7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LEEDS AND 7 MILES
  NORTHWEST OF VINCENT BY 225 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT USE HIGHWAY OVERPASSES FOR SHELTER. OVERPASSES DO NOT PROVIDE
PROTECTION FROM TORNADIC WINDS. VEHICLES STOPPED UNDER BRIDGES BLOCK
TRAFFIC AND PREVENT PEOPLE FROM GETTING OUT OF THE STORMS PATH AND
TO SHELTER. IF YOU CANNOT DRIVE AWAY FROM THE TORNADO...GET OUT OF
YOUR VEHICLE AND LIE FLAT IN A DITCH AS A LAST RESORT.

DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO. CARS ARE EASILY
TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADO WINDS. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF A
TORNADO...LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING. IF NO SAFE
STRUCTURE IS NEARBY...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER
YOUR HEAD.

&&

LAT...LON 3354 8649 3351 8649 3350 8643 3346 8638
      3340 8638 3336 8635 3335 8637 3330 8673
      3344 8676 3355 8656 3356 8654
TIME...MOT...LOC 1906Z 241DEG 32KT 3339 8666

$$

17/KLAWS

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 031915
SVSBMX

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

ALC073-117-031930-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0119.000000T0000Z-090503T1930Z/
SHELBY AL-JEFFERSON AL-
215 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 230 PM CDT FOR EXTREME
EAST CENTRAL JEFFERSON AND NORTHEASTERN SHELBY COUNTIES...

AT 214 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD. 
THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MOUNT LAUREL...OR 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF
CHELSEA...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  VANDIVER AND 8 MILES SOUTH OF LEEDS BY 220 PM CDT...
  STERRETT BY 225 PM CDT...
  VINCENT BY 230 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT USE HIGHWAY OVERPASSES FOR SHELTER. OVERPASSES DO NOT PROVIDE
PROTECTION FROM TORNADIC WINDS. VEHICLES STOPPED UNDER BRIDGES BLOCK
TRAFFIC AND PREVENT PEOPLE FROM GETTING OUT OF THE STORMS PATH AND
TO SHELTER. IF YOU CANNOT DRIVE AWAY FROM THE TORNADO...GET OUT OF
YOUR VEHICLE AND LIE FLAT IN A DITCH AS A LAST RESORT.

DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO. CARS ARE EASILY
TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADO WINDS. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF A
TORNADO...LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING. IF NO SAFE
STRUCTURE IS NEARBY...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER
YOUR HEAD.

&&

LAT...LON 3354 8649 3351 8649 3350 8643 3346 8638
      3340 8638 3336 8635 3335 8637 3335 8663
      3350 8665 3356 8654
TIME...MOT...LOC 1915Z 248DEG 27KT 3342 8656

$$

17/KLAWS

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 3, 1:23 PM CDT, 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 3, 1:23 PM CDT, 23 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
123 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

.UPDATE...AVIATION DISCUSSION.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

ONGOING CONVECTION ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL SECTIONS OF THE
AREA. MAIN CONCERN WILL BE IF THE MAIN BOWING SEGMENT ACROSS THE
SOUTHWEST WILL TRACK EAST NORTHEAST OR MOVE MORE NORTHEASTWARD OVER
THE NEXT FEW HOURS. THIS DERECHO WILL BE MOVING INTO A MORE
FAVORABLE CONDITIONS AND WILL NEED TO BE WATCHED EXCLUSIVELY.

&&

.AVIATION...18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

TWO LINES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OUT THERE THIS AFTERNOON. ONE
IMPACTING TCL AND WILL MOVE INTO BHM AND EET WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR.
THE SECOND LINE IS MOVING INTO SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA IN THE FORM OF A
DERECHO. MAIN CONCERN FOR TAFS WILL BE THE ONGOING POSSIBILITY FOR
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. GUSTY WINDS
WILL BE POSSIBLE...WITH MVFR CONDITIONS DURING STRONGER STORMS...AND
BRIEF PERIODS OF IFR VIS POSSIBLE. AFTER 3 TO 4Z MVFR CIGS ACROSS
ALL AREAS. ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MAY MOVE AFTER
9Z TOMORROW.

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...FLASH FLOOD WATCH WEST COUNTIES
THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, May 3, 1:30 PM CDT, 16 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
130 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

ALZ011>015-017>050-041645-
AUTAUGA-BARBOUR-BIBB-BLOUNT-BULLOCK-CALHOUN-CHAMBERS-CHEROKEE-
CHILTON-CLAY-CLEBURNE-COOSA-DALLAS-ELMORE-ETOWAH-FAYETTE-GREENE-HALE-
JEFFERSON-LAMAR-LEE-LOWNDES-MACON-MARENGO-MARION-MONTGOMERY-PERRY-
PICKENS-PIKE-RANDOLPH-RUSSELL-SHELBY-ST CLAIR-SUMTER-TALLADEGA-
TALLAPOOSA-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER-WINSTON-
130 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

SEVERE STORMS ARE LIKELY ACROSS AREAS GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF A
LINE FROM CARROLTON TO ONEONTA.  THE MAIN THREATS WITH THESE STORMS
WILL BE STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES.  THE
FIRST AND PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE FROM UNTIL 5 PM.  HOWEVER...A
SECONDARY LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS ALSO POSSIBLE LATER THIS
EVENING AND THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.

THERE IS ALSO THE THREAT OF FLASH FLOODING ACROSS WESTERN ALABAMA.
DUE RECENT HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS WEST ALABAMA...THIS AREA HAS
BETTER CHANCES FOR FLASH FLOODING THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...BUT
AREAS OUTSIDE THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH COULD EXPERIENCE FLOODING IF
STORMS TRAIN OVER THE SAME AREA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA
MONDAY AFTERNOON. THE MAIN THREAT IS WIND GUSTS OF 35 TO 45 MPH
AND SMALL HAIL.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS NEEDED THIS
AFTERNOON AND WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED TONIGHT.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 3, 9:30 AM CDT, 4 hours 16 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
930 AM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

ALZ022-030-031-031530-
GREENE-PICKENS-SUMTER-
930 AM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR GREENE...PICKENS AND SUMTER COUNTIES
UNTIL 1030 AM CDT...

AT 930 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM PANOLA TO 18 MILES WEST OF
CUBA...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
ALICEVILLE TO 18 MILES WEST OF CUBA...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

WINDS UP TO 50 MPH AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  MEMPHIS.
  PANOLA.
  GEORGE DOWNER AIRPORT.
  ALICEVILLE.
  EMELLE.
  PLEASANT RIDGE.

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

Special weather statement, May 3, 10:55 AM CDT, 2 hours 51 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1055 AM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

ALZ030>032-031645-
GREENE-HALE-SUMTER-
1055 AM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR GREENE...HALE AND SUMTER COUNTIES
UNTIL 1145 AM CDT...

AT 1052 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR BLUFFPORT...OR 6 MILES EAST OF LIVINGSTON...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  BLUFFPORT.
  TISHABEE.
  BOLIGEE.
  THORNHILL.
  FORKLAND.
  WALDEN QUARTERS.

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

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

Special weather statement, May 3, 12:46 PM CDT, 1 hour before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1246 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

ALZ023>025-034-031830-
BIBB-JEFFERSON-SHELBY-TUSCALOOSA-
1246 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR BIBB...JEFFERSON...SHELBY AND
TUSCALOOSA COUNTIES UNTIL 130 PM CDT...

AT 1245 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM WOODSTOCK JUNCTION TO LOW
GAP...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 17 MILES NORTH OF CENTREVILLE TO
15 MILES WEST OF BRENT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

MARBLE SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  LOW GAP.
  ABERNANT.
  CAFFEE JUNCTION.
  TANNEHILL IRONWORKS STATE PARK.
  MCCALLA.
  RAIMUND.

SEEK SHELTER AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

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.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

Local storm report, May 3, 1:24 PM CDT, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
124 PM CDT SUN MAY 03 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0123 PM     TORNADO          MCCALLA                 33.35N 87.01W
05/03/2009                   JEFFERSON          AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            ON THE GROUND RIGHT NOW

&&

10.5

Local storm report, May 3, 1:43 PM CDT, 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
143 PM CDT SUN MAY 03 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0136 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 S NEWBERN             32.56N 87.54W
05/03/2009                   HALE               AL   PUBLIC

            TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN

&&

10.5

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, 12:50 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter	55 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, 1:55 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.