Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 50, NWS Mobile, AL

December 14, 2009Covington County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at Dec 14, 2009, 9:10 PM CST for Covington County, Alabama. It was in force for 24 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
Dec 14, 2009, 9:10 PM CST (03:10 UTC)
Expired
Dec 14, 2009, 9:34 PM CST
In force
24 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Covington County, AL

The radar

The Eglin Afb radar (KEVX), 75 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:11 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Tallahassee Rgnl, FL (KTLH), launched 00:00Z, 3.2 hours before the alert went out and 211 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, Tallahassee Rgnl, FL at 00:00Z on 2009-12-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 232 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, Tallahassee Rgnl, FL at 00:00Z on 2009-12-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 93 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
232 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-18 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
440 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
50 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
93 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
120 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
0.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS54 KMOB 150310
TORMOB
ALC039-150400-
/O.NEW.KMOB.TO.W.0050.091215T0310Z-091215T0400Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
910 PM CST MON DEC 14 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN COVINGTON COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 1000 PM CST

* AT 908 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
  WATKINS BRIDGE...OR ABOUT 18 MILES SOUTH OF ANDALUSIA...MOVING EAST
  AT 30 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  WATKINS BRIDGE BY 925 PM CST...
  STEDMAN BY 940 PM CST...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING...PREFERABLY IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR A ROOM SUCH AS
A CLOSET OR BATHROOM. IF POSSIBLE...GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER
PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY
AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

TO REPORT ANY TORNADOES...FUNNEL CLOUDS...OR OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER
OBSERVATIONS TO YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...CALL TOLL FREE AT 1 8
7 7 6 3 3 6 7 7 2.

LAT...LON 3129 8619 3102 8619 3102 8655 3107 8655
TIME...MOT...LOC 0310Z 257DEG 24KT 3105 8653

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 150323
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
923 PM CST MON DEC 14 2009

ALC039-150400-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0050.000000T0000Z-091215T0400Z/
COVINGTON AL-
923 PM CST MON DEC 14 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CST FOR
SOUTHEASTERN COVINGTON COUNTY...

AT 922 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS 
TORNADO WAS JUST SOUTH OF WATKINS BRIDGE...OR ABOUT 17 MILES SOUTH 
OF ANDALUSIA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  STEDMAN BY 940 PM CST...
  GREEN BAY BY 945 PM CST...
  ONYCHA AND 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF HOWELLS BY 950 PM CST...
  ESTOTHEL BY 1000 PM CST...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING...PREFERABLY IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR A ROOM SUCH AS
A CLOSET OR BATHROOM. IF POSSIBLE...GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER
PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY
AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

TO REPORT ANY TORNADOES...FUNNEL CLOUDS...OR OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER 
OBSERVATIONS TO YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...CALL TOLL FREE AT 1 
8 7 7 6 3 3 6 7 7 2.

REPORT ANY TORNADOES OR FUNNEL CLOUDS TO YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN MOBILE AT AREA CODE 2 5 1...AND THEN 6 3 3 6 4 4 3. OR...
YOU MAY CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...AND THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT.

LAT...LON 3102 8644 3110 8645 3129 8619 3102 8619
TIME...MOT...LOC 0323Z 246DEG 23KT 3107 8643

$$
000 
WWUS54 KMOB 150334
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
934 PM CST MON DEC 14 2009

ALC039-150343-
/O.CAN.KMOB.TO.W.0050.000000T0000Z-091215T0400Z/
COVINGTON AL-
934 PM CST MON DEC 14 2009

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

A ONCE LONG-LIVED AND PERSISTENT THUNDERSTORM CIRCULATION DIMINISHED 
OVER RURAL SOUTHEAST COVINGTON COUNTY SINCE 920 PM CST. 

TO REPORT ANY TORNADOES...FUNNEL CLOUDS...OR OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER 
OBSERVATIONS TO YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...CALL TOLL FREE AT 1 
8 7 7 6 3 3 6 7 7 2.

LAT...LON 3102 8644 3110 8645 3129 8619 3102 8619
TIME...MOT...LOC 0333Z 180DEG 0KT 3107 8644

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 14, 6:42 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBBaldwin3 hr
Dec 14, 6:49 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBChoctaw, Clarke, Escambia, Monroe, Washington, Wilcox101 min
Dec 14, 6:59 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBChoctaw, Clarke, Escambia, Monroe, Washington, Wilcox91 min
Dec 14, 7:04 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBChoctaw, Clarke, Escambia, Monroe, Washington, Wilcox86 min
Dec 14, 7:09 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBMobile3 hr
Dec 14, 7:16 PM CSTRiver Flood WarningMOBCovington, Escambia68 hr
Dec 14, 7:16 PM CSTRiver Flood WarningMOBBaldwin5 days
Dec 14, 7:16 PM CSTRiver Flood WarningMOBCovington, Crenshaw, Escambia22 hr
Dec 14, 7:29 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBConecuh, Escambia3 hr
Dec 14, 7:43 PM CSTRiver Flood WarningMOBDallas, Monroe, Wilcox3 days
Dec 14, 7:51 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBMobile3 hr
Dec 14, 7:58 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBButler, Covington, Crenshaw3 hr
Dec 14, 8:22 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBCovington, Escambia53 min
Dec 14, 8:36 PM CSTTornado WarningMOBCovington, Escambia39 min
Dec 14, 8:47 PM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryMOBChoctaw, Clarke, Monroe, Washington, Wilcox118 min
Dec 14, 8:47 PM CSTRiver Flood WarningMOBMobile25 hr
Dec 14, 9:03 PM CSTSpecial Marine WarningMOB87 min
Dec 14, 9:03 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBBaldwin27 min
Dec 14, 9:11 PM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryMOBBaldwin3 hr
Dec 14, 9:14 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBCovington31 min
Dec 14, 9:44 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBBaldwin4 hr
Dec 14, 9:51 PM CSTSpecial Marine WarningMOB39 min
Dec 14, 9:57 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBMobile4 hr
Dec 14, 10:12 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBConecuh, Escambia3 hr
Dec 14, 11:01 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBCovington3 hr
Dec 15, 1:18 AM CSTAreal Flood WarningMOBBaldwin, Butler, Clarke, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw and 4 more8 hr
Dec 15, 3:17 AM CSTRiver Flood WarningMOBEscambia31 hr
Dec 15, 3:20 AM CSTSmall Craft AdvisoryMOB5 days
Dec 15, 8:42 AM CSTRiver Flood WarningMOBBaldwin14 hr
Dec 15, 8:58 AM CSTRiver Flood WarningMOBCovington4 days
Dec 15, 9:22 AM CSTAreal Flood WarningMOBBaldwin, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Covington and 6 more8 hr
Dec 15, 9:54 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBChoctaw, Washington50 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.