Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2009
Tornado Warning 55, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Mar 26, 2009, 3:42 AM CDT for Fayette County, Pickens County, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. It was in force for 33 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
- Mar 26, 2009, 3:42 AM CDT (08:42 UTC)
- Expired
- Mar 26, 2009, 4:15 AM CDT
- In force
- 33 min
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
Counties Fayette County, AL, Pickens County, AL, Tuscaloosa County, AL
The radar
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 73 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:43 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 26, 1:36 AM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 9 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 8.7 hours before the alert went out and 93 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
- 1 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 599 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 54 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 151 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 98 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 260842
TORBMX
ALC057-107-125-260915-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0055.090326T0842Z-090326T0915Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
342 AM CDT THU MAR 26 2009
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
SOUTHEASTERN FAYETTE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
NORTHEASTERN PICKENS COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
NORTHWESTERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
* UNTIL 415 AM CDT
* AT 342 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR ASHCRAFT
CORNER...OR 11 MILES NORTH OF GORDO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.
* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
BERRY AND BANKSTON BY 405 AM CDT...
BOLEY SPRINGS BY 410 AM CDT...
THIS INCLUDES
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 57 THROUGH 70.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3385 8754 3383 8753 3369 8753 3369 8744
3369 8742 3365 8742 3339 8785 3352 8794
TIME...MOT...LOC 0842Z 229DEG 38KT 3348 8784
$$2 follow-up statements
000
WWUS54 KBMX 260901
SVSBMX
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
401 AM CDT THU MAR 26 2009
ALC107-125-260911-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0055.000000T0000Z-090326T0915Z/
PICKENS AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-
401 AM CDT THU MAR 26 2009
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN TUSCALOOSA AND NORTHEASTERN
PICKENS COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CST TUESDAY EVENING
FOR ALABAMA.
LAT...LON 3362 8757 3370 8768 3379 8753 3369 8753
3369 8743 3368 8742 3365 8742
TIME...MOT...LOC 0901Z 239DEG 26KT 3367 8753
$$
ALC057-260915-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0055.000000T0000Z-090326T0915Z/
FAYETTE AL-
401 AM CDT THU MAR 26 2009
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 AM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL FAYETTE COUNTY...
AT 401 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BOLEY SPRINGS...OR
16 MILES SOUTH OF CARBON HILL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
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 700 PM CST TUESDAY EVENING
FOR ALABAMA.
&&
LAT...LON 3362 8757 3370 8768 3379 8753 3369 8753
3369 8743 3368 8742 3365 8742
TIME...MOT...LOC 0901Z 239DEG 26KT 3367 8753
$$000
WWUS54 KBMX 260912
SVSBMX
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
412 AM CDT THU MAR 26 2009
ALC057-260922-
/O.EXP.KBMX.TO.W.0055.000000T0000Z-090326T0915Z/
FAYETTE AL-
412 AM CDT THU MAR 26 2009
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL FAYETTE COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
415 AM CDT...
THE STORM HAS MOVED OUT OF THE COUNTY.
LAT...LON 3362 8757 3370 8768 3379 8753 3369 8753
3369 8743 3368 8742 3365 8742
TIME...MOT...LOC 0912Z 239DEG 26KT 3371 8745
$$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 Mar 26, 1:05 AM CDT, 2 hours 37 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 26, 1:05 AM CDT, 2 hours 37 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 105 AM CDT THU MAR 26 2009 .UPDATE... MESOSCALE DISCUSSION. && .DISCUSSION... THE LATEST WATER VAPOR IMAGERY HAS CENTRAL ALABAMA IN A QUITE DIFFLUENT ZONE. A JET MAXIMUM WAS APPROACHING FROM ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. ANOTHER JET MAXIMUM WAS PUSHING TOWARD THE THE GREAT LAKES FROM THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. SHORT RANGE MODELS STILL HAVE RATHER ENERGETIC 500MB VORT MAX MOVING OVER NORTHERN ALABAMA INTO EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. THEREFORE...THE SURFACE LOW PRESSURE NEAR JACKSON MISSISSIPPI WILL MOVE MOVE NORTHEASTWARD OVERNIGHT AND ENTER THE TENNESSEE VALLEY EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. A WARM FRONT WAS LOCATED JUST NORTH OF A LINE FROM DEMOPOLIS TO MONTGOMERY TO EUFAULA. THE HIGHEST INSTABILITY AND MOISTURE WAS LOCATED NEAR THE SURFACE LOW...WHERE LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE WAS MAXIMIZED. LOW LEVEL JET WILL STRENGTHEN OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS...TRANSPORTING HIGHER THETA E AIR...MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY NORTH AND EAST. ALTHOUGH SURFACE BASED INSTABILITY IS SOMEWHAT LIMITED...SHEAR PROFILES REMAIN FAVORABLE FOR ISOLATED TORNADOES FOR AREAS GENERALLY WEST OF INTERSTATE 65 AND NEAR AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20 AND 59. DAMAGING WINDS WILL ALSO BE FAVORABLE ALONG WITH SOME HAIL. THEREFORE...THE SQUALL LINE SHOULD HOLD TOGETHER WITH A SEVERE THREAT INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. IT SHOULD ENTER WESTERN ALABAMA AROUND 3 AM. ADDITIONALLY...RAINFALL OF ONE TO TWO INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED NORTH AND WEST THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. MANY LOCATIONS HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED ONE TO TWO INCHES FROM RAINFALL EARLIER TODAY...SO THERE REMAINS A FLASH FLOOD THREAT. 75/LINHARES && .AVIATION... 06Z TAF DISCUSSION. MOST OF THE IMPACT WEATHER WILL AFFECT AREA FROM 08Z UNTIL 14Z. A SQUALL LINE WILL ENTER WEST ALABAMA ARND 08Z AND PUSH EASTWARD ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. A TIGHTENING PRESSURE GRADIENT AHEAD OF SQUALL LINE WILL PRODUCE GUSTY SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 14 TO 22 KNOTS. MVFR CIGS AND VSBYS WILL PREVAIL AT NORTHERN TAF SITES SINCE THIS AREA WILL REMAIN IN SHOWERS AND BE LOCATED NORTH OF WARM FRONT. VFR CONDS WILL PREVAIL AT MGM AND TOI THRU 09Z...BUT MVFR CIGS WILL LIKELY DEVELOP AFTER 09Z AS AIR MASS MOISTENS. SQUALL LINE WILL PRODUCE LCL WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 KNOTS. EXPECT IMPROVING CONDS FOR AREAS WEST OF I-65 BY 15Z AS SHORT WAVE TROF AND ASSOCIATED RAIN MOVES EAST OF I-65. VFR CONDS OVER MOST AREAS BY 18Z AS WEAK LOW LEVEL TROF PUSHES THRU AREA AND BRINGS IN SLIGHTLY DRIER AIR. 58/ROSE && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA THROUGH 10 AM THURSDAY. &&
Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 26, 1:35 AM CDT, 2 hours 7 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 135 AM CDT THU MAR 26 2009 ALZ011>015-017>050-261130- 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- 135 AM CDT THU MAR 26 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY AFTER 3 AM...AS AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE MOVES INTO ALABAMA. ISOLATED TORNADOES AND DAMAGING WINDS STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS ARE POSSIBLE FOR AREAS GENERALLY NEAR AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20. THE BEST INSTABILITY WILL BE FOR AREAS WEST OF I-65. THE THREAT OF LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN ALSO OVERNIGHT. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL TOTALS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE...RESULTING IN FLASH FLOODING. HAVE YOUR NOAA WEATHER RADIO ON ALERT OR MONITOR TELEVISION AND RADIO REPORTS IN CASE SEVERE OR FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS ARE ISSUED DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL ALABAMA... FROM THURSDAY THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY. ALL SEVERE WEATHER THREATS ARE POSSIBLE INCLUDING TORNADOES...DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN. AT THIS TIME...IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST THREE WINDOWS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR SEVERE WEATHER. THE FIRST WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY WILL BE WINDING DOWN THURSDAY MORNING. THESE STORMS ARE A CARRYOVER FROM WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THE STORMS SHOULD BE WEAKENING WITH TIME...BUT THERE WILL BE A SMALL THREAT WINDOW THROUGH 10 OR 11 AM. THE PRIMARY THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND HEAVY RAINFALL. THE STORMS WILL PUSH SOUTH AND EAST OF THE AREA BY NOON. THE SECOND SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THREAT WINDOW OF APPEARS TO BE FROM MIDNIGHT THROUGH 10 AM FRIDAY MORNING. THE PRIMARY THREATS ARE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. THE THIRD...AND MOST SIGNIFICANT THREAT...WILL BE FROM ROUGHLY 4 PM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH NOON SATURDAY. ALL FACETS OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE POSSIBLE...INCLUDING TORNADOES...DAMAGING WINDS... LARGE HAIL...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. DUE TO THE MULTIPLE WAVES OF LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN OVER A PROLONGED PERIOD...WITH STORM TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES... FLASH FLOODING IS A SIGNIFICANT THREAT BEFORE THE RAIN MOVES OUT ON SATURDAY. FINALLY...DEPENDING ON WHERE THE HEAVIEST RAIN ENDS UP FALLING...RIVER FLOODING MAY DEVELOP AND CONTINUE BEYOND SATURDAY FOR SEVERAL MORE DAYS. MAKE SURE THAT YOUR SEVERE WEATHER PLANS ARE IN PLACE AND BE READY TO TAKE ACTION IF WARNINGS ARE ISSUED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL BE NEEDED SEVERAL TIMES...FROM TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY. 75
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Mar 26, 2:44 AM CDT, 58 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 244 AM CDT THU MAR 26 2009 ALZ012-022-260830- LAMAR-PICKENS- 244 AM CDT THU MAR 26 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR LAMAR AND PICKENS COUNTIES UNTIL 330 AM CDT... AT 243 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES NORTH OF CALEDONIA TO 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF NEW HOPE...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 11 MILES EAST OF ABERDEEN TO 12 MILES NORTHWEST OF PICKENSVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. WINDS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... FOREST. STAR. LAMAR COUNTY AIRPORT. CREWS. BLOOMING GROVE. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PICKENS COUNTY UNTIL 900 AM CDT THURSDAY MORNING FOR 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, Mar 26, 3:31 AM CDT, 11 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 331 AM CDT THU MAR 26 2009 ALZ023-030>032-039-260915- GREENE-HALE-MARENGO-SUMTER-TUSCALOOSA- 331 AM CDT THU MAR 26 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR GREENE...HALE...MARENGO...SUMTER AND TUSCALOOSA COUNTIES UNTIL 415 AM CDT... AT 331 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM ALICEVILLE TO 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CUBA...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. WINDS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... EMELLE. PLEASANT RIDGE. SUMTERVILLE. WEST GREENE. YORK. UNION. 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.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 26, 2:59 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Lamar, Pickens | 46 min |
| Mar 26, 3:12 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Lamar, Marion, Pickens | 4 hr |
| Mar 26, 4:03 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Walker | 27 min |
| Mar 26, 5:12 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Shelby, Talladega | 33 min |
| Mar 26, 5:34 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Autauga, Dallas, Lowndes | 26 min |
| Mar 26, 5:40 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Calhoun, St. Clair, Talladega | 35 min |
| Mar 26, 5:49 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Autauga, Chilton, Coosa, Elmore | 41 min |
| Mar 26, 6:09 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, Talladega | 36 min |
| Mar 26, 6:23 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Autauga, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery | 52 min |
| Mar 26, 6:44 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Clay, Coosa, Tallapoosa | 32 min |
| Mar 26, 10:08 AM CDT | River Flood Warning | BMX | Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter | 5 days |
| Mar 26, 10:14 AM CDT | River Flood Warning | BMX | Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter, Tuscaloosa | 24 hr |
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.