Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 22, NWS Birmingham, AL

February 18, 20094 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Feb 18, 2009, 10:17 PM CST for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 43 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 18, 2009, 10:17 PM CST (04:17 UTC)
Expired: Feb 18, 2009, 11:00 PM CST
In force: 43 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Autauga County, AL, Elmore County, AL, Lowndes County, AL, Montgomery County, AL

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Feb 18, 10:50 PM CST	TSTM WND DMG	9 Ese Montgomery, AL	POWER LINES DOWN AT INTERSECTION OF TAYLOR AND VAUGHN ROADS

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
Feb 18, 7:42 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 4.3 hours before the alert went out and 104 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: 357 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -46 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1137 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 62 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 181 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 168 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.4
Supercell composite: 3.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS54 KBMX 190417
TORBMX
ALC001-051-085-101-190500-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0022.090219T0417Z-090219T0500Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1017 PM CST WED FEB 18 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN AUTAUGA COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF PRATTVILLE...
  SOUTHERN ELMORE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF MILLBROOK...
  NORTHEASTERN LOWNDES COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  NORTHERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY...

* UNTIL 1100 PM CST

* AT 1013 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
  AUTAUGA COUNTY AIRPORT...OR 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PRATTVILLE...
  MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  PRATTVILLE AND CANTELOUS BY 1025 PM CST...
  HUNTER BY 1030 PM CST...
  MONTGOMERY ZOO...BOYLSTON...MONTGOMERY AND BOB WOODRUFF LAKE BY
  1035 PM CST...
  AUBURN UNIVERSITY IN MONTGOMERY BY 1040 PM CST...
  MOUNT MEIGS AND EMERALD MOUNTAIN BY 1045 PM CST...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 164 THROUGH 181...
AND INTERSTATE 85 EXIT NUMBERS 1 THROUGH 16.

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 100 AM CST
THURSDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHERN ALABAMA.

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

LAT...LON 3222 8669 3250 8664 3254 8598 3244 8599
      3242 8601 3238 8600 3217 8602
TIME...MOT...LOC 0417Z 268DEG 48KT 3239 8658

$$

2 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 190439
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1039 PM CST WED FEB 18 2009

ALC001-190449-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0022.000000T0000Z-090219T0500Z/
AUTAUGA AL-
1039 PM CST WED FEB 18 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN AUTAUGA COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM CST
THURSDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3221 8654 3251 8636 3254 8598 3246 8599
      3242 8601 3238 8600 3217 8602
TIME...MOT...LOC 0439Z 268DEG 48KT 3240 8623

$$

ALC051-085-101-190500-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0022.000000T0000Z-090219T0500Z/
LOWNDES AL-MONTGOMERY AL-ELMORE AL-
1039 PM CST WED FEB 18 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CST FOR SOUTHERN
ELMORE...NORTHERN MONTGOMERY AND EAST CENTRAL LOWNDES COUNTIES...

AT 1034 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MONTGOMERY ZOO...OR ABOUT
NEAR MONTGOMERY...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  MITYLENE...AUBURN UNIVERSITY IN MONTGOMERY...MOUNT MEIGS AND
  EMERALD MOUNTAIN BY 1045 PM CST...
  BRASSELL...WAUGH AND WARE BY 1050 PM CST...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 164 THROUGH 179...
AND INTERSTATE 85 EXIT NUMBERS 1 THROUGH 16.

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 100 AM CST
THURSDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3221 8654 3251 8636 3254 8598 3246 8599
      3242 8601 3238 8600 3217 8602
TIME...MOT...LOC 0439Z 268DEG 48KT 3240 8623

$$

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 190447
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1047 PM CST WED FEB 18 2009

ALC085-190457-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0022.000000T0000Z-090219T0500Z/
LOWNDES AL-
1047 PM CST WED FEB 18 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL LOWNDES COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM CST
THURSDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3221 8639 3251 8636 3254 8598 3244 8600
      3242 8601 3238 8600 3221 8602
TIME...MOT...LOC 0447Z 268DEG 48KT 3240 8611

$$

ALC051-101-190500-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0022.000000T0000Z-090219T0500Z/
MONTGOMERY AL-ELMORE AL-
1047 PM CST WED FEB 18 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CST FOR SOUTHERN
ELMORE AND NORTHERN MONTGOMERY COUNTIES...

AT 1043 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MITYLENE...OR ABOUT 7 MILES
NORTHEAST OF MONTGOMERY...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  7 MILES NORTH OF CECIL BY 1055 PM CST...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 164 THROUGH 176...
AND INTERSTATE 85 EXIT NUMBERS 1 THROUGH 16.

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 100 AM CST
THURSDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3221 8639 3251 8636 3254 8598 3244 8600
      3242 8601 3238 8600 3221 8602
TIME...MOT...LOC 0447Z 268DEG 48KT 3240 8611

$$

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Feb 18, 6:03 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Pickens, Tuscaloosa	28 min
Feb 18, 6:05 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cleburne	25 min
Feb 18, 6:12 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Clay, Randolph	33 min
Feb 18, 6:13 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa	47 min
Feb 18, 6:14 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Bullock, Macon, Montgomery	46 min
Feb 18, 6:24 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Sumter	36 min
Feb 18, 6:29 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, Talladega, Tuscaloosa	46 min
Feb 18, 6:30 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cleburne	15 min
Feb 18, 6:38 PM CST	Tornado Warning Emergency	BMX	Clay, Randolph	37 min
Feb 18, 6:41 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Randolph	19 min
Feb 18, 6:45 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Chilton, Shelby, Tuscaloosa	45 min
Feb 18, 6:54 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Shelby, Talladega	51 min
Feb 18, 7:14 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Randolph	31 min
Feb 18, 7:31 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Greene, Hale, Tuscaloosa	44 min
Feb 18, 7:33 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Chilton, Clay, Coosa, Shelby, Talladega	42 min
Feb 18, 7:49 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers, Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, Talladega, Tallapoosa	41 min
Feb 18, 8:10 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers, Coosa, Lee, Tallapoosa	65 min
Feb 18, 8:43 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Dallas, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Sumter	47 min
Feb 18, 9:44 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chilton, Coosa, Elmore, Tallapoosa	31 min
Feb 18, 10:53 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bullock, Elmore, Macon, Montgomery	37 min
Feb 19, 4:10 AM CST	Lake Wind Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more	12 hr
Feb 19, 2:54 PM CST	Red Flag Warning	BMX	Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more	27 hr

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.