Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2009
Tornado Warning 169, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Oct 30, 2009, 6:07 PM CDT for Winston County, Alabama. It was in force for 19 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
- Oct 30, 2009, 6:07 PM CDT (23:07 UTC)
- Expired
- Oct 30, 2009, 6:26 PM CDT
- In force
- 19 min
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
County Winston County, AL
The radar
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 92 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:10 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.
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, 11.1 hours before the alert went out and 136 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.
- 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
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
WFUS54 KBMX 302307
TORBMX
ALC133-302345-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0169.091030T2307Z-091030T2345Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
607 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTH CENTRAL WINSTON COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...
* UNTIL 645 PM CDT
* AT 607 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETECTED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR ASHRIDGE...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
ASHRIDGE BY 615 PM CDT...
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.
&&
TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...
CALL 1-800-856-0758.
LAT...LON 3431 8733 3430 8733 3418 8750 3420 8758
3432 8756
TIME...MOT...LOC 2308Z 207DEG 26KT 3421 8752
$$
142 follow-up statements
000 WWUS54 KBMX 302313 SVSBMX SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 613 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009 ALC133-302345- /O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0169.000000T0000Z-091030T2345Z/ WINSTON AL- 613 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009 ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR NORTH CENTRAL WINSTON COUNTY... AT 612 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO DETECT A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ASHRIDGE...OR 7 MILES EAST OF HALEYVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR... SIPSEY RIVER REC AREA BY 625 PM CDT... PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS. && TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CALL 1-800-856-0758. LAT...LON 3431 8735 3422 8746 3424 8755 3432 8756 TIME...MOT...LOC 2313Z 207DEG 26KT 3424 8750 $$ 14
000 WWUS54 KBMX 302326 SVSBMX SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 626 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009 ALC133-302336- /O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0169.000000T0000Z-091030T2345Z/ WINSTON AL- 626 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL WINSTON COUNTY IS CANCELLED... TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CALL 1-800-856-0758. LAT...LON 3431 8735 3422 8746 3424 8755 3432 8756 TIME...MOT...LOC 2326Z 207DEG 26KT 3433 8745 $$ 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 51 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Oct 30, 3:16 PM CDT, 2 hours 51 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, 5:47 PM CDT, 20 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 547 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009 ALZ011>015-017>050-311130- 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- 547 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 EVENING AND TONIGHT. ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH 10 OR 11 PM THIS EVENING...MAINLY FOR AREAS WEST OF A LINE FROM GADSDEN TO MONTGOMERY. THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...BUT AN ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT. AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING 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 11 PM...THE STORMS WILL LIKELY WEAKEN DUE TO THE LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING. IN ADDITION...SUSTAINED WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS HAS PROMPTED A LAKE WIND ADVISORY TO BE EXTENDED AREAWIDE THROUGH 1 AM. .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 WILL BE NECESSARY THIS EVENING HOURS FOR THE WESTERN TWO THIRDS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. 75
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Oct 30, 1:28 PM CDT, 4 hours 39 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, 2 hours 7 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.
&&
GOLDENSpecial weather statement, Oct 30, 4:00 PM CDT, 2 hours 7 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, 1 hour 1 minute 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.
&&
GOLDENLocal storm report, Oct 30, 5:11 PM CDT, 56 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.
&&
GOLDENSpecial weather statement, Oct 30, 5:30 PM CDT, 37 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, 5:37 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Fayette, Marion, Walker | 23 min |
| Oct 30, 5:55 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Fayette, Walker, Winston | 50 min |
| Oct 30, 6:52 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Winston | 23 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2009Every tornado warning in 2009Tornadoes 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.