Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2010

Tornado Warning 39, NWS Birmingham, AL

October 26, 20104 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Oct 26, 2010, 3:19 PM CDT for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 41 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
Oct 26, 2010, 3:19 PM CDT (20:19 UTC)
Expired
Oct 26, 2010, 4:00 PM CDT
In force
41 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Calhoun County, AL, Cherokee County, AL, Etowah County, AL, St. Clair County, AL

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 106 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:21 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
Oct 26, 3:19 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUDAshville, ALA FUNNEL CLOUD WAS OBSERVED NEAR ASHLAND.

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
Oct 26, 2:59 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 8.3 hours before the alert went out and 120 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 2010-10-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 695 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 2010-10-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 271 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
695 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-27 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
625 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
271 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
330 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.3
Supercell composite
6.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

472 
WFUS54 KBMX 262019
TORBMX
ALC015-019-055-115-262100-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0039.101026T2019Z-101026T2100Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
319 PM CDT TUE OCT 26 2010

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN CALHOUN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  SOUTHWESTERN CHEROKEE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ALABAMA...
  EASTERN ETOWAH COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ALABAMA...
  NORTHEASTERN ST. CLAIR COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 400 PM CDT

* AT 319 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD
  NEAR ASHVILLE...OR 11 MILES NORTHEAST OF ODENVILLE. A TORNADO MAY
  DEVELOP AT ANY TIME. DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS DANGEROUS STORM
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MARKTON...RAINBOW CITY...GADSDEN...HOKES BLUFF...RAGLAND...
  OHATCHEE...GADSDEN MALL...GLENCOE...ANDERSON AND SLACKLAND.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE
LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3422 8574 3397 8554 3369 8621 3383 8633
TIME...MOT...LOC 2019Z 236DEG 35KT 3381 8620

$$

27
2 follow-up statements
532 
WWUS54 KBMX 262032
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
332 PM CDT TUE OCT 26 2010

ALC015-019-055-115-262100-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0039.000000T0000Z-101026T2100Z/
CALHOUN AL-ST. CLAIR AL-ETOWAH AL-CHEROKEE AL-
332 PM CDT TUE OCT 26 2010

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN CHEROKEE...
SOUTHEASTERN ETOWAH...NORTHEASTERN ST. CLAIR AND NORTHERN CALHOUN
COUNTIES UNTIL 400 PM CDT...

AT 332 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD.  A
TORNADO MAY DEVELOP AT ANY TIME. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED 6
MILES WEST OF MARKTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  RAINBOW CITY AROUND 340 PM CDT.
  GLENCOE...GADSDEN MALL AND GADSDEN AROUND 345 PM CDT.
  HOKES BLUFF AND ANDERSON AROUND 355 PM CDT.
  SLACKLAND...9 MILES SOUTH OF CHEROKEE ROCK VILLAGE AND 9 MILES
  SOUTHWEST OF TENNALA AROUND 400 PM CDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS DANGEROUS STORM INCLUDE SOUTHSIDE...
BIG WILLS CREEK...COOSA RIVER AT GADSDEN...COBB CITY...GADSDEN STEAM
PLANT...GADSDEN WATER WORKS...NORTHSIDE AND REAVES.

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

LAT...LON 3375 8608 3392 8620 3422 8574 3397 8554
TIME...MOT...LOC 2032Z 236DEG 35KT 3388 8607

$$

27
326 
WWUS54 KBMX 262044
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
344 PM CDT TUE OCT 26 2010

ALC115-262054-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0039.000000T0000Z-101026T2100Z/
ST. CLAIR AL-
344 PM CDT TUE OCT 26 2010

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN ST. CLAIR COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE COUNTY.

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

LAT...LON 3381 8594 3398 8608 3422 8574 3397 8554
TIME...MOT...LOC 2044Z 236DEG 35KT 3394 8595

$$

ALC015-019-055-262100-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0039.000000T0000Z-101026T2100Z/
CALHOUN AL-ETOWAH AL-CHEROKEE AL-
344 PM CDT TUE OCT 26 2010

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN CHEROKEE...
SOUTHEASTERN ETOWAH AND NORTHERN CALHOUN COUNTIES UNTIL 400 PM CDT...

AT 344 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD.  A
TORNADO MAY DEVELOP AT ANY TIME. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED
NEAR MARKTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  HOKES BLUFF AND ANDERSON AROUND 355 PM CDT.
  7 MILES SOUTH OF SLACKLAND...8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF TENNALA AND 9
  MILES SOUTH OF CHEROKEE ROCK VILLAGE AROUND 400 PM CDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS DANGEROUS STORM INCLUDE REAVES.

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

LAT...LON 3381 8594 3398 8608 3422 8574 3397 8554
TIME...MOT...LOC 2044Z 236DEG 35KT 3394 8595

$$

27

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 25, 8:01 PM CDTWind AdvisoryBMXAutauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more22 hr
Oct 26, 12:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarion, Winston25 min
Oct 26, 12:30 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarion15 min
Oct 26, 2:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarion23 min
Oct 26, 2:28 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXWalker, Winston32 min
Oct 26, 2:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Lamar, Walker51 min
Oct 26, 2:46 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Walker29 min
Oct 26, 2:48 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, Etowah, St. Clair42 min
Oct 26, 3:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXShelby49 min
Oct 26, 3:14 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXWalker, Winston38 min
Oct 26, 3:22 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBlount38 min
Oct 26, 3:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa51 min
Oct 26, 4:00 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXTuscaloosa26 min
Oct 26, 4:08 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXClay, Cleburne, Talladega52 min
Oct 26, 5:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXClay, Cleburne, Randolph, Talladega40 min
Oct 26, 5:15 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBlount30 min
Oct 26, 5:20 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXWinston11 min
Oct 26, 5:37 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBlount20 min
Oct 26, 5:54 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXWalker, Winston13 min
Oct 26, 6:01 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa44 min
Oct 26, 6:36 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXTuscaloosa39 min
Oct 26, 6:49 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson41 min
Oct 26, 6:50 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Walker26 min
Oct 26, 6:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Etowah50 min
Oct 26, 6:57 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCherokee17 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2010Every tornado warning in 2010Tornadoes in 2010

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.