Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 167, NWS Birmingham, AL

October 30, 2009Fayette County, Marion County, Walker County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Oct 30, 2009, 5:37 PM CDT for Fayette County, Marion County, Walker County, Alabama. It was in force for 23 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: Oct 30, 2009, 5:37 PM CDT (22:37 UTC)
Expired: Oct 30, 2009, 6:00 PM CDT
In force: 23 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Fayette County, AL, Marion County, AL, Walker County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 53 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:38 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
Oct 30, 6:00 PM CDT	FUNNEL CLOUD	6 Nw Carbon Hill, AL	REPORTED NEAR MILE MARKER 40 ALONG HWY 78 JUST NORTH OF ELDRIDGE.

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

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

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
Oct 30, 12:22 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	8 hr
Oct 30, 5:20 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	3 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 10.6 hours before the alert went out and 115 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: 86 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -31 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 498 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 258 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 269 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 KBMX 302237
TORBMX
ALC057-093-127-302300-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0167.091030T2237Z-091030T2300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
537 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WEST CENTRAL WALKER COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF CARBON HILL...
  SOUTHEASTERN MARION COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...
  FAYETTE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF FAYETTE...

* UNTIL 600 PM CDT

* AT 536 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETECTED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR FAYETTE...MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  GLEN ALLEN BY 550 PM CDT...
  ELDRIDGE...KANSAS AND 6 MILES WEST OF CARBON HILL BY 600 PM CDT...

THIS INCLUDES...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 34 THROUGH 39

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...
CALL 1-800-856-0758.

LAT...LON 3401 8771 3386 8742 3359 8787 3367 8795
      3370 8795
TIME...MOT...LOC 2237Z 214DEG 31KT 3374 8776

$$

14

1 follow-up statement

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 302253
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
553 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009

ALC057-093-127-302300-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0167.000000T0000Z-091030T2300Z/
FAYETTE AL-WALKER AL-MARION AL-
553 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN MARION...NORTHWESTERN WALKER AND NORTHERN FAYETTE
COUNTIES...

AT 553 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO DETECT A
TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ELDRIDGE...OR 7 MILES WEST OF
CARBON HILL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  ELDRIDGE...KANSAS AND CARBON HILL BY 600 PM CDT...

THIS INCLUDES...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 34 THROUGH 39

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CALL 1-800-856-0758.

LAT...LON 3401 8771 3390 8750 3369 8782 3372 8787
TIME...MOT...LOC 2254Z 217DEG 32KT 3387 8764

$$

14

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 Oct 30, 3:16 PM CDT, 2 hours 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 30, 3:16 PM CDT, 2 hours 21 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
316 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009

.DISCUSSION...

A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO APPROACH THE AREA FROM THE
WEST LATER TONIGHT. STILL EXPECTING QUITE A BIT OF RAIN BEHIND THE
FRONT. THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTING TO CONTINUE
THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING HOURS MAINLY ALONG THE WEST AND
SOUTHWESTERN ZONES. AT THIS TIME...WE ARE NOT EXPECTING FOR THIS
THREAT TO CONTINUE MUCH LATER THAN THAT...BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO
MONITOR THE SITUATION AND WE WILL REASSESS EVERYTHING SHORTLY
BEFORE THE WATCH EXPIRES.

WEATHER WISE...COLD FRONT WILL BE EXITING THE AREA DURING EARLY
SATURDAY MORNING. BY SATURDAY EVENING...CONDITIONS WILL BE QUICKLY
DRYING OUT AS HIGH PRESSURE BEGINS TO SET IN. EXPECTING DRY
CONDITIONS TO PREVAIL THROUGH THE REST OF THE FORECAST PERIOD WITH
MUCH COOLER TEMPERATURES IN PLACE.

COMPUTER MODELS DO SHOW A RE-ENFORCING COLD FRONT ON TUESDAY. NO
PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED WITH THIS FRONT AS MOISTURE WILL BE VERY
LIMITED.

10/ARM

&&

.AVIATION...18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

AS OF THE 18Z ISSUANCE...THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT HAD MADE ITS WAY
ACROSS THE INTERSTATE 55 CORRIDOR IN CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI.  THIS
WOULD PUT THE FRONT ON OUR DOORSTEP AROUND 21Z...BUT WILL HAVE TO
WATCH AS THERE IS SOME INDIVIDUAL CELL DEVELOPMENT OUT AHEAD OF THE
FRONT...THAT WILL CARRY WITH THEM THE CHANCE OF STRONG GUSTY WINDS.
ONCE THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH A PARTICULAR AREA...THE THREAT OF
STRONG WINDS WILL DIMINISH...BUT RAIN WILL CONTINUE AS POST-FRONTAL
SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED THROUGHOUT THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.

JUST AHEAD OF THE FRONT...SOME CLEARING HAS BEEN SEEN...BUT MVFR
SKIES ARE THE MAIN THING BEING SEEN.  ONCE THE FRONT APPROACHES A
PARTICULAR AREA...SHOULD SEE A QUICK DROP INTO IFR...AND THEN BACK
UP TO MVFR.  TS SHOULD BE LIMITED TO TCL...BUT BHM AND EET COULD SEE
SOME BEFORE THE SUN GOES DOWN TOO.

LOOK FOR SKIES TO REMAIN MVFR THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT...AND THEN
CLEARING IS EXPECTED WEST TO EAST BY MID MORNING SATURDAY.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     55  59  38  66  39 / 100  60  10   0   0
ANNISTON    57  63  41  68  41 / 100  70  10   0   0
BIRMINGHAM  54  59  43  66  44 / 100  40  10   0   0
TUSCALOOSA  51  63  44  68  44 / 100  30   0   0   0
CALERA      54  61  46  67  44 / 100  40  10   0   0
AUBURN      58  59  44  67  45 /  80  70  10   0   0
MONTGOMERY  57  64  43  70  43 /  90  50  10   0   0
TROY        61  65  42  69  43 /  70  50  10   0   0

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE.

&&

07/07/07

Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 30, 12:02 PM CDT, 5 hours 35 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1202 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009

ALZ011>015-017>050-310200-
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-
1202 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH 9
PM THIS EVENING FOR AREAS WEST OF INTERSTATE 65. THE SEVERE THREAT
WILL BE CONFINED MAINLY TO THOSE COUNTIES THAT BORDER THE ALABAMA
MISSISSIPPI STATE LINE.  THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING
STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...BUT AN ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT.

THE THREAT OF STRONG OF TO SEVERE STORMS WILL INCREASE DURING THE
AFTERNOON AS THE AIR MASS CONTINUES WARM AND DESTABILIZE. A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT WILL ENTER WEST ALABAMA
BY 2 PM...AND MOVE SLOWLY EASTWARD. AHEAD OF THIS FRONT...INDIVIDUAL
STORMS WILL DEVELOP AND MOVE RAPIDLY NORTHWARD. THE STORMS OUT AHEAD
OF THE MAIN LINE WILL HAVE THE BEST POTENTIAL FOR A BRIEF TORNADO.

AFTER 8 PM...THE STORMS WILL LIKELY WEAKEN DUE TO THE LOSS OF
DAYTIME HEATING...WITH VERY LITTLE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY EXPECTED
AFTER 9 PM.

IN ADDITION...SUSTAINED WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS HAS
PROMPTED A LAKE WIND ADVISORY TO BE ISSUED FOR TODAY FOR AREAS
ALONG AND WEST OF THE INTERSTATE 65 CORRIDOR.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BE
NECESSARY THIS AFTERNOON AND THROUGH EVENING HOURS ALONG AND WEST OF
INTERSTATE 65.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Oct 30, 1:28 PM CDT, 4 hours 9 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
128 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009

ALZ022-301915-
PICKENS-
128 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR PICKENS COUNTY UNTIL 215 PM CDT...

AT 124 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM ON THE ALABAMA MISSISSIPPI STATE LINE JUST TO THE
NORTHWEST OF MEMPHIS...NEAR PICKENSVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35
MPH.

PEOPLE IN NORTHWESTERN PICKENS COUNTY...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF
PICKENSVILLE AND ETHELSVILLE...SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION
CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE
APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA.

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

61

Local storm report, Oct 30, 4:00 PM CDT, 1 hour 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
400 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009

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

0350 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 N ELDRIDGE            33.95N 87.62W
10/30/2009                   WALKER             AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            MULTIPLE REPORTS OF A FUNNEL CLOUD ALONG HWY 78 NEAR EXIT
            39.

&&

GOLDEN

Special weather statement, Oct 30, 4:00 PM CDT, 1 hour 37 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
400 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009

ALZ011-012-302200-
LAMAR-MARION-
400 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR LAMAR AND MARION COUNTIES UNTIL 500
PM CDT...

AT 359 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF
TREMONT TO 5 MILES NORTH OF BEDFORD...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM
8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF RED BAY TO 6 MILES WEST OF SULLIGENT...MOVING
EAST AT 15 MPH.  THE INDIVIDUAL STORMS CELLS ARE MOVING TO THE
NORTHEAST...BUT THE OVERALL LINE IS MOVING TO THE EAST.

WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

PEOPLE IN MARION AND NORTHERN LAMAR COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE CITIES
OF BEDFORD...DETROIT...SULLIGENT...VERNON...LAMAR COUNTY AIRPORT...
CREWS...WESTON...BEAVERTON...HAMILTON AND BLOOMING GROVE...SHOULD
MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS
AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER
THREATEN.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA.

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

61

Local storm report, Oct 30, 5:06 PM CDT, 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
506 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009

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

0453 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     GUIN                    33.97N 87.91W
10/30/2009                   MARION             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            REPORTED IN THE TOWN OF GUIN.

&&

GOLDEN

Local storm report, Oct 30, 5:11 PM CDT, 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
511 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009

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

0455 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     1 NE GUIN               33.98N 87.90W
10/30/2009                   MARION             AL   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            SEVERAL MORE REPORTS OF A FUNNEL CLOUD NEAR GUIN.

&&

GOLDEN

Special weather statement, Oct 30, 5:30 PM CDT, 7 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
530 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009

ALZ012-022-302315-
LAMAR-PICKENS-
530 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR LAMAR AND PICKENS COUNTIES UNTIL 615
PM CDT...

AT 529 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM ETHELSVILLE TO MEMPHIS...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  PICKENSVILLE.
  FOREST.
  MCMULLEN.
  MCSHAN.
  SHAW.
  MILLPORT.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA.

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

41

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Oct 30, 3:41 AM CDT	Lake Wind Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more	27 hr
Oct 30, 1:44 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Pickens	26 min
Oct 30, 1:46 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Pickens	29 min
Oct 30, 4:02 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lamar, Pickens	28 min
Oct 30, 4:07 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Pickens, Sumter	38 min
Oct 30, 4:24 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar	36 min
Oct 30, 4:25 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Walker	31 min
Oct 30, 4:29 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Pickens	46 min
Oct 30, 4:38 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Pickens	37 min
Oct 30, 4:41 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Pickens	34 min
Oct 30, 4:45 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion	45 min
Oct 30, 4:57 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion	48 min
Oct 30, 5:06 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Pickens	39 min
Oct 30, 5:10 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marion, Winston	35 min
Oct 30, 5:34 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marion, Walker, Winston	41 min
Oct 30, 5:55 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Walker, Winston	50 min
Oct 30, 6:07 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Winston	19 min
Oct 30, 6:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Winston	23 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.