Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 40, NWS Birmingham, AL

February 27, 20094 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Feb 27, 2009, 5:03 PM CST for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 42 min. 2 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
Feb 27, 2009, 5:03 PM CST (23:03 UTC)
Expired
Feb 27, 2009, 5:45 PM CST
In force
42 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 Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 127 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:04 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Feb 27, 5:30 PM CSTHAIL 14 N Livingston, ALEXIT 20 ON INTERSTATE 20. CORRECTED FOR TIME.
Feb 27, 5:43 PM CSTHAIL 14 N Livingston, ALEXIT 20 ON INTERSTATE 20

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Feb 27, 12:38 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 11.1 hours before the alert went out and 132 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2009-02-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2009-02-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 398 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
622 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
59 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
398 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
400 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 272303
TORBMX
ALC063-065-091-119-272345-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0040.090227T2303Z-090227T2345Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
503 PM CST FRI FEB 27 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 545 PM CST

* AT 500 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR WEST UNION...OR 19
  MILES NORTHWEST OF LIVINGSTON...MOVING EAST AT 70 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  GAINESVILLE BY 510 PM CST...
  ALLISON AND BOLIGEE BY 520 PM CST...
  WALDEN QUARTERS...EUTAW AND 6 MILES NORTH OF THORNHILL BY 525 PM
  CST...
  WEDGEWORTH AND 6 MILES SOUTH OF EVANSVILLE BY 530 PM CST...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 17 THROUGH 40.

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 TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST FRIDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHERN ALABAMA.

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

LAT...LON 3295 8834 3286 8773 3245 8775 3265 8838
TIME...MOT...LOC 2303Z 279DEG 59KT 3283 8831

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 272315
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
515 PM CST FRI FEB 27 2009

ALC063-065-091-119-272345-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0040.000000T0000Z-090227T2345Z/
MARENGO AL-SUMTER AL-HALE AL-GREENE AL-
515 PM CST FRI FEB 27 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CST FOR SOUTHERN
GREENE...WEST CENTRAL HALE...NORTHERN SUMTER AND NORTH CENTRAL
MARENGO COUNTIES...

AT 513 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WEST UNION...OR ABOUT 16
MILES NORTHWEST OF LIVINGSTON...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  SUMTERVILLE AND GAINESVILLE BY 520 PM CST...
  EPES AND BOLIGEE BY 530 PM CST...
  TISHABEE BY 535 PM CST...
  THORNHILL BY 540 PM CST...
  FORKLAND...BIRDINE AND BELMONT BY 545 PM CST...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 17 THROUGH 40.

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
QUARTER SIZE HAIL.

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.


A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST FRIDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3295 8834 3286 8773 3245 8775 3265 8838
TIME...MOT...LOC 2315Z 296DEG 47KT 3278 8829

$$
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 272330
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
530 PM CST FRI FEB 27 2009

ALC063-065-091-119-272345-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0040.000000T0000Z-090227T2345Z/
MARENGO AL-SUMTER AL-HALE AL-GREENE AL-
530 PM CST FRI FEB 27 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CST FOR SOUTHERN
GREENE...SOUTHWESTERN HALE...NORTHERN SUMTER AND NORTH CENTRAL
MARENGO COUNTIES...

AT 526 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR SUMTERVILLE...OR ABOUT 7
MILES NORTH OF LIVINGSTON...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  BLUFFPORT BY 535 PM CST...
  TISHABEE AND 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THORNHILL BY 540 PM CST...
  BELMONT...MCDOWELL...6 MILES NORTHWEST OF DEMOPOLIS LOCK AND DAM
  AND 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FORKLAND BY 545 PM CST...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 17 THROUGH 23.

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
PENNY 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.

LAT...LON 3263 8831 3285 8827 3268 8774 3245 8775
      3261 8824
TIME...MOT...LOC 2330Z 296DEG 47KT 3267 8815

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 27, 4:56 AM CSTFlash Flood WatchBMXAutauga, Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee and 25 more25 hr
Feb 27, 8:21 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Pickens54 min
Feb 27, 8:39 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Walker51 min
Feb 27, 8:39 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXPickens38 min
Feb 27, 9:11 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa49 min
Feb 27, 10:17 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXSt. Clair, Shelby, Talladega28 min
Feb 27, 10:25 AM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXBibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chilton, Clay, Coosa and 10 more3 hr
Feb 27, 11:26 AM CSTLake Wind AdvisoryBMXAutauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more7 hr
Feb 27, 12:21 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDallas, Marengo, Perry39 min
Feb 27, 12:22 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa3 hr
Feb 27, 12:50 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXDallas40 min
Feb 27, 1:00 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton, Dallas45 min
Feb 27, 1:16 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton29 min
Feb 27, 1:28 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Dallas, Lowndes62 min
Feb 27, 1:38 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Elmore, Montgomery67 min
Feb 27, 2:16 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXBibb, Jefferson, Shelby3 hr
Feb 27, 2:24 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXPickens66 min
Feb 27, 2:28 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXLowndes, Montgomery28 min
Feb 27, 2:32 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXBullock, Elmore, Macon, Montgomery, Tallapoosa58 min
Feb 27, 2:42 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Pickens63 min
Feb 27, 3:03 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTuscaloosa42 min
Feb 27, 3:14 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa3 hr
Feb 27, 3:17 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXTuscaloosa28 min
Feb 27, 3:25 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Pickens, Tuscaloosa65 min
Feb 27, 3:42 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXHale, Perry18 min
Feb 27, 3:48 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa57 min
Feb 27, 3:57 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXBibb, Chilton, Hale, Perry63 min
Feb 27, 4:20 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Bibb, Chilton, Dallas, Hale, Perry40 min
Feb 27, 4:36 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa39 min
Feb 27, 4:51 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Pickens, Tuscaloosa20 min
Feb 27, 4:52 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXBibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne and 14 more6 hr
Feb 27, 4:57 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Bibb, Chilton, Dallas, Perry53 min
Feb 27, 5:19 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXDallas, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Sumter41 min
Feb 27, 5:29 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Marengo, Sumter46 min
Feb 27, 5:38 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton, Elmore, Montgomery37 min
Feb 27, 5:45 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter45 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.