Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 73, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 10, 2009Lee County, Macon County, Russell County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 10, 2009, 7:41 PM CDT for Lee County, Macon County, Russell County, Alabama. It was in force for 49 min. 8 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
Apr 10, 2009, 7:41 PM CDT (00:41 UTC)
Expired
Apr 10, 2009, 8:30 PM CDT
In force
49 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Lee County, AL, Macon County, AL, Russell County, AL

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 10, 7:51 PM CDTTORNADO5 Se Auburn Water Board, ALEF-1 TORNADO. DAMAGE PATH 2.25 MILES AND 100 YARDS WIDE. SEVERAL TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF OR UPROOTED ALONG THE PATH. A MOBILE HOME AND A FEW OTHER STRUCTURES WERE DAMAGED IN BEAUREGARD.
Apr 10, 8:04 PM CDTTORNADO 14 S Griffen Mill, ALNUMEROUS TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN ACROSS FAR NORTHERN RUSSELL COUNTY. THE DAMAGE WAS DETERMINED TO BE FROM A TORNADO. THE TORNADO AFFECTED AREAS IN AND AROUND CRAWFORD. THE PATH LENGTH WAS 6 MILES LONG AND WAS 150 YARDS WIDE AT ITS WIDEST POINT.
Apr 10, 8:12 PM CDTHAIL 1.25Smiths Station, ALHALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN SMITHS FERRY.
Apr 10, 8:18 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGCrawford, ALTREES REPORTED DOWN THROUGHOUT THE TOWN OF CRAWFORD. POSSIBLE TORNADO.
Apr 10, 8:18 PM CDTTORNADO 14 S Griffen Mill, ALNUMEROUS TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN ACROSS FAR NORTHERN RUSSELL COUNTY. THE DAMAGE WAS DETERMINED TO BE FROM A TORNADO. THE TORNADO AFFECTED AREAS IN AND AROUND CRAWFORD. THE PATH LENGTH WAS 6 MILES LONG AND WAS 150 YARDS WIDE AT ITS WIDEST POINT.
Apr 10, 8:19 PM CDTTORNADO6 Sw Phenix City, AL*** 2 INJ *** AN EF1 TORNADO BRIEFLY TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE PHENIX CITY DRAG STRIP. THE TORNADO DAMAGED AT LEAST 20 COTTAGES AND MOBILE HOMES AT THE COUNTRY COTTAGES MOBILE HOME PARK. IT ALSO SNAPPED OFF AND UPROOTED ABOUT TWO DOZEN TREES. PATH LENGTH WAS 1 MIL
Apr 10, 8:25 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG5 W Ladonia, ALTREES DOWN ON A HOUSE AT US HIGHWAY 80 AND BROOKS ROAD.
Apr 10, 8:30 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGPhenix City, ALNUMEROUS TREES DOWN AND FOUR TO FIVE HOMES DAMAGED IN PHENIX CITY ON SAMFORD ROAD.

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
Apr 10, 2:39 PM CDTTornado Watch PDSSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 0.7 hours before the alert went out and 181 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 00:00Z on 2009-04-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1068 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Birmingham, AL at 00:00Z on 2009-04-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 348 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
1068 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-44 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1433 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
67 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
348 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
390 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.5
Supercell composite
9.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS54 KBMX 110041
TORBMX
ALC081-087-113-110130-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0073.090411T0041Z-090411T0130Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
741 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  LEE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...OPELIKA...AUBURN...
  NORTHEASTERN MACON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST ALABAMA...
  NORTHERN RUSSELL COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF PHENIX CITY...

* UNTIL 830 PM CDT

* AT 739 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR AUBURN
  UNIVERSITY...OR NEAR AUBURN...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  BEAUREGARD BY 755 PM CDT...
  GRIFFEN MILL BY 805 PM CDT...
  BLEECKER BY 810 PM CDT...
  SMITHS STATION BY 820 PM CDT...
  LADONIA BY 825 PM CDT...
  PHENIX CITY AND BIBB CITY BY 830 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 1 
INCH 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.

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 900 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA.

&&

LAT...LON 3224 8492 3218 8500 3248 8560 3269 8551
      3264 8507 3259 8506 3253 8499 3245 8498
      3243 8496 3238 8496 3234 8500 3231 8492
TIME...MOT...LOC 0041Z 286DEG 30KT 3258 8549

$$

27
4 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 110055
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
755 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

ALC081-087-113-110130-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0073.000000T0000Z-090411T0130Z/
RUSSELL AL-MACON AL-LEE AL-
755 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN LEE...EAST CENTRAL MACON AND NORTHERN RUSSELL
COUNTIES...

AT 753 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR BEAUREGARD...OR 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF AUBURN...MOVING EAST AT 35
MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  GRIFFEN MILL BY 805 PM CDT...
  BLEECKER BY 810 PM CDT...
  CRAWFORD BY 815 PM CDT...
  MONTEREY HEIGHTS AND SMITHS STATION BY 820 PM CDT...
  LADONIA SPORTS COMPLEX...LADONIA AND PHENIX DRAG STRIP BY 825 PM
  CDT...
  PHENIX CITY AND BIBB CITY BY 830 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA.

&&

LAT...LON 3224 8492 3218 8500 3247 8557 3267 8533
      3264 8507 3259 8506 3253 8499 3245 8498
      3243 8496 3238 8496 3234 8500 3231 8492
TIME...MOT...LOC 0055Z 286DEG 30KT 3255 8535

$$

JD/02
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 110112
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
812 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

ALC081-113-110130-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0073.000000T0000Z-090411T0130Z/
RUSSELL AL-LEE AL-
812 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN LEE AND NORTHERN RUSSELL COUNTIES...

AT 810 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR GRIFFEN MILL...OR 12 MILES WEST OF PHENIX CITY...MOVING EAST AT
35 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  8 MILES NORTH OF PARKMANVILLE BY 815 PM CDT...
  MONTEREY HEIGHTS AND SMITHS STATION BY 820 PM CDT...
  LADONIA SPORTS COMPLEX...LADONIA AND PHENIX DRAG STRIP BY 825 PM
  CDT...
  PHENIX CITY...BIBB CITY AND 9 MILES NORTH OF FORT MITCHELL BY 830
  PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA.

&&

LAT...LON 3224 8492 3218 8500 3237 8536 3256 8534
      3265 8522 3264 8507 3259 8506 3253 8499
      3245 8498 3243 8496 3238 8496 3234 8500
      3231 8492
TIME...MOT...LOC 0112Z 286DEG 30KT 3251 8519

$$

JD/02
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 110120
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
820 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

ALC081-113-110130-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0073.000000T0000Z-090411T0130Z/
RUSSELL AL-LEE AL-
820 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN LEE AND NORTHEASTERN RUSSELL COUNTIES...

AT 820 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR MONTEREY HEIGHTS...OR 6 MILES WEST OF PHENIX CITY...MOVING EAST
AT 35 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  PHENIX CITY AND BIBB CITY BY 830 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA.

&&

LAT...LON 3238 8496 3239 8516 3251 8530 3265 8516
      3264 8507 3259 8506 3253 8499 3245 8498
      3243 8496
TIME...MOT...LOC 0121Z 286DEG 30KT 3249 8510

$$

JD/02
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 110121
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
821 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

ALC081-113-110130-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0073.000000T0000Z-090411T0130Z/
RUSSELL AL-LEE AL-
821 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN LEE AND NORTHEASTERN RUSSELL COUNTIES...

AT 821 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR LADONIA...OR NEAR PHENIX CITY...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA.

&&

LAT...LON 3238 8496 3239 8516 3251 8530 3265 8516
      3264 8507 3259 8506 3253 8499 3245 8498
      3243 8496
TIME...MOT...LOC 0122Z 295DEG 33KT 3244 8508

$$

JD/02

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 10, 7:05 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXChambers, Elmore, Lee, Macon, Tallapoosa55 min
Apr 10, 7:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChambers, Lee, Tallapoosa38 min
Apr 10, 7:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga, Dallas, Lowndes, Montgomery, Perry57 min
Apr 10, 7:45 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXElmore, Lee, Macon, Tallapoosa60 min
Apr 10, 7:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga, Bullock, Elmore, Macon, Montgomery62 min
Apr 10, 8:24 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLee, Russell21 min
Apr 10, 8:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga, Dallas, Lowndes, Montgomery64 min
Apr 10, 8:37 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLee, Macon, Russell68 min
Apr 10, 8:47 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBullock, Macon, Montgomery58 min
Apr 10, 9:33 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBarbour, Bullock, Macon, Russell57 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.