Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2010

Tornado Warning 47, NWS Birmingham, AL

October 26, 2010Pickens County, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Oct 26, 2010, 6:01 PM CDT for Pickens County, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. It was in force for 44 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: Oct 26, 2010, 6:01 PM CDT (23:01 UTC)
Expired: Oct 26, 2010, 6:45 PM CDT
In force: 44 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Pickens County, AL, Tuscaloosa County, AL

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
Oct 26, 2:59 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 99 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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.

303 
WFUS54 KBMX 262301
TORBMX
ALC107-125-262345-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0047.101026T2301Z-101026T2345Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL PICKENS COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  WEST CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 645 PM CDT

* AT 601 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A          
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS 
STORM  WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTH OF CARROLLTON...AND MOVING EAST AT 
45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  GORDO...BENEVOLA...COKER...LAKE LURLEEN STATE PARK...PIONEER...
  ELROD...ROMULUS...SIPSEY RIVER...ECHOLA AND BUHL.

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 3341 8762 3312 8757 3311 8784 3315 8784
      3313 8793 3311 8794 3310 8812 3328 8815
TIME...MOT...LOC 2301Z 256DEG 30KT 3319 8804

$$

19

2 follow-up statements

933 
WWUS54 KBMX 262312
SVSBMX

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

ALC107-125-262345-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0047.000000T0000Z-101026T2345Z/
PICKENS AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-
612 PM CDT TUE OCT 26 2010

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA
AND EAST CENTRAL PICKENS COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM CDT...

AT 612 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTH OF GORDO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45
MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  GORDO...COKER...LAKE LURLEEN STATE PARK...ELROD...SIPSEY RIVER...
  BUHL...ECHOLA...FLATWOODS...TUSCALOOSA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AND
  TUSCALOOSA ACFD.

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

LAT...LON 3341 8762 3320 8759 3316 8798 3331 8802
TIME...MOT...LOC 2312Z 244DEG 38KT 3325 8790

$$

19

887 
WWUS54 KBMX 262323
SVSBMX

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

ALC107-125-262345-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0047.000000T0000Z-101026T2345Z/
PICKENS AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-
623 PM CDT TUE OCT 26 2010

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA
AND EAST CENTRAL PICKENS COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM CDT...

AT 622 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS 
STORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GORDO...MOVING EAST NORTHEAST 
AT 40 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  COKER...LAKE LURLEEN STATE PARK...SIPSEY RIVER...ECHOLA...BUHL...
  FLATWOODS...TUSCALOOSA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AND TUSCALOOSA ACFD.

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

LAT...LON 3320 8788 3334 8791 3341 8762 3320 8759
TIME...MOT...LOC 2323Z 250DEG 33KT 3329 8781

$$

19

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 Oct 26, 3:17 PM CDT, 2 hours 44 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 26, 3:17 PM CDT, 2 hours 44 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
317 PM CDT TUE OCT 26 2010

.DISCUSSION...

TAKING A LOOK AT THE OVERALL SCHEME OF THE STORM SYSTEM. UPPER LOW
CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS. THIS IN TURN
IN HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT INCREASE INSTABILITY ACROSS THE NORTH.
AS OF 230 PM...HERE ARE SOME MORE SPECIFIC NUMBERS IN THIS
AREA...GENERALLY NORTH OF THE I-20 CORRIDOR. THE STORM RELATIVE
HELICITY FROM 0-1KM IS BETWEEN 250 AND 300. THE STORM RELATIVE
HELICITY FOR THE 0-3KM IS BETWEEN 300 AND 350. BULK SHEAR NUMBERS
FOR THE 0-1KM ARE BETWEEN 30-35. LAPSE RATES ARE ALSO AROUND 7 TO
7.5 BETWEEN THE 0-3KM RANGE. STORMS ARE ROTATING AND WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING. LOOK FOR THE OVERALL DYNAMICS TO BEGIN
TO WEAKEN AS THE NIGHT PROGRESSES...ALTHOUGH SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE NIGHT. A NEW TORNADO
WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED AS WELL. FOR SPECIFICS ON THE THREAT OF THE
MOMENT CONTINUE TO CHECK OUT THE HOMEPAGE AS WELL AS THE HWO.

THE SYSTEM WILL CLEAR OUT BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS THE MAIN COLD
FRONT CLEARS THE AREA. THE COLD EST AIR WILL COME IN DURING THE
DAY THURSDAY WITH COLD MORNINGS IN STORE FOR FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
MORNINGS. AT THIS POINT IT APPEARS THAT THE COLDEST MORNING WILL
BE SATURDAY MORNING. MAY EVEN SEE A FAIRLY WIDESPREAD FREEZE/FROST
AREAWIDE.

&&

.AVIATION...18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

THE MORNING STRATUS HAS LIFTED INTO A VFR SUPPORTIVE STRATO-CUMULUS
DECK ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA...AND I THINK THE PREDOMINANT CLOUD
CONDITION WILL REMAIN LIKE THIS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.  TIMING OF
SHOWERS AND STORMS INTO INDIVIDUAL TAF SITES IS A BIT MORE
PROBLEMATIC THAN TYPICAL FOR THIS TYPE OF SYSTEM...DUE TO
UNCERTAINTIES INVOLVED WITH THE SPEED OF THE ONGOING ADVANCING
CONVECTION. I AM MORE CERTAIN THAT TCL...BHM...AND EET WILL SEE SOME
SIGNIFICANT STORMINESS BEFORE 27/0000Z...BUT LESS CERTAIN ABOUT
ANB.  WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF IT TOOK 18-24 HOURS BEFORE THE RAIN
ACTUALLY GETS TO MGM AND TOI.

/61/

NOTICE...KEET TAF WILL HAVE (AMD LTD TO VIS WIND AND WX) AMENDED TO
THE END OF THE FORECAST THROUGH THE END OF 2010. THE CEILOMETER DATA
WILL BE GOING THROUGH NUMEROUS TESTS AND MONITORED FOR ACCURACY.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     64  79  49  74  38 /  80  50  20  10   0
ANNISTON    66  82  52  72  38 /  70  50  30  10   0
BIRMINGHAM  63  80  49  74  39 /  80  50  20  10   0
TUSCALOOSA  64  82  51  73  38 /  70  40  20  10   0
CALERA      65  83  53  73  40 /  70  50  30  10   0
AUBURN      71  84  63  75  43 /  30  50  40  20   0
MONTGOMERY  71  86  62  78  42 /  30  50  40  10   0
TROY        72  86  65  78  39 /  30  40  40  20   0

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CDT FOR ENTIRE AREA.

&&

16/61

Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 26, 1:55 PM CDT, 4 hours 6 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
155 PM CDT TUE OCT 26 2010

ALZ011>015-017>050-271830-
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-
155 PM CDT TUE OCT 26 2010

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...INCLUDING THE THREAT OF DAMAGING WINDS
AND ISOLATED TORNADOES...ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA
THROUGH TONIGHT.  SEVERE STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THIS
AFTERNOON AND LAST AS LATE AS MIDNIGHT.  THE GREATEST RISK FOR
SEVERE STORMS AND TORNADOES APPEARS TO BE ALONG AND NORTH OF A
CARROLLTON...TUSCALOOSA...COLUMBIANA...TALLADEGA...AND HEFLIN. A
STRONG TORNADO MAY BE POSSIBLE.

A FEW SEVERE STORMS...WITH WIND AND HAIL THREATS...WILL BE POSSIBLE
FARTHER SOUTH THROUGH THE EVENING AND INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...BUT
SHEAR VALUES WILL LIMIT POTENTIAL TORNADO FORMATION FOR NOW.

WINDS WILL BE QUITE STRONG THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON...EVEN OUTSIDE OF
THUNDERSTORM AREAS. SUSTAINED WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE FROM 15 TO 25
MPH...WITH GUSTS 40 TO 45 MPH...ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHER RIDGES.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

A FEW STRONG STORMS ARE POSSIBLE ON WEDNESDAY AS A COLD FRONT SLOWLY
MOVES SOUTHWARD ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. WIND GUSTS WILL BE THE
PRIMARY THREAT.

TEMPERATURES WILL BE COLD ON FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY
MORNING...BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. WITH CALM WINDS AND CLEAR
SKIES...THE POTENTIAL FOR FROST WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE NORTH ON
FRIDAY AND SUNDAY MORNING...WITH ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA SEEING A
FROST ON SATURDAY MORNING. A FEW LOCATIONS ACROSS THE NORTH...MAY
EVEN SEE A BRIEF FREEZE ON SATURDAY MORNING. THERE STILL COULD BE
SOME CHANGES SO STAY TUNED OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL BE NEEDED
DUE TO A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND TORNADO THREAT THIS THROUGH THIS
EVENING.

16

In the hours before

Local storm report, Oct 26, 3:49 PM CDT, 2 hours 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
349 PM CDT TUE OCT 26 2010

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0320 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WNW WESTOVER            33.35N 86.54W
10/26/2010                   SHELBY             AL   PUBLIC

            TREE DOWN BLOCKING THE ROAD AT WESTOVER RD AND HWY 280.

&&

GOLDEN

Local storm report, Oct 26, 3:55 PM CDT, 2 hours 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
355 PM CDT TUE OCT 26 2010

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0225 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CALERA                  33.10N 86.75W
10/26/2010                   SHELBY             AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES DOWN 13199 SR25

&&

MBAER

Local storm report, Oct 26, 4:34 PM CDT, 1 hour 27 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
434 PM CDT TUE OCT 26 2010

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0325 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NAUVOO                  33.99N 87.49W
10/26/2010                   WALKER             AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES DOWN SLICK LIZARD ROD

&&

MBAER

Local storm report, Oct 26, 4:39 PM CDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
439 PM CDT TUE OCT 26 2010

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0415 PM     HAIL             IRONATON                33.43N 85.97W
10/26/2010  E1.00 INCH       TALLADEGA          AL   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

&&

MBAER

Special weather statement, Oct 26, 4:57 PM CDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
457 PM CDT TUE OCT 26 2010

ALZ014-262245-
WINSTON AL-
457 PM CDT TUE OCT 26 2010

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL WINSTON COUNTY UNTIL 545
PM CDT...

AT 453 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES WEST OF WINSTON FREE STATE BARN...OR 7 MILES
NORTH OF LYNN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH
HEAVY RAIN.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  ARLEY...
  ASHRIDGE...
  WINSTON FREE STATE BARN...
  DOUBLE SPRINGS...
  HOUSTON RECREATIONAL AREA...

TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY.

GOGGINS

Local storm report, Oct 26, 4:59 PM CDT, 1 hour 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
459 PM CDT TUE OCT 26 2010

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0315 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 NW JASPER             33.88N 87.31W
10/26/2010                   WALKER             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SARAGOSSA AND HOLLY GROVE ROAD, ROOF BLOWN OFF HOUSE,
            HORSES TRAPPED.

&&

MBAER

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Oct 25, 8:01 PM CDT	Wind Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more	22 hr
Oct 26, 12:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion, Winston	25 min
Oct 26, 12:30 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marion	15 min
Oct 26, 2:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	23 min
Oct 26, 2:28 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Walker, Winston	32 min
Oct 26, 2:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Walker	51 min
Oct 26, 2:46 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Walker	29 min
Oct 26, 2:48 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Etowah, St. Clair	42 min
Oct 26, 3:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Shelby	49 min
Oct 26, 3:14 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Walker, Winston	38 min
Oct 26, 3:19 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Etowah, St. Clair	41 min
Oct 26, 3:22 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount	38 min
Oct 26, 3:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pickens, Tuscaloosa	51 min
Oct 26, 4:00 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	26 min
Oct 26, 4:08 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Clay, Cleburne, Talladega	52 min
Oct 26, 5:05 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, Talladega	40 min
Oct 26, 5:15 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount	30 min
Oct 26, 5:20 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Winston	11 min
Oct 26, 5:37 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount	20 min
Oct 26, 5:54 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Walker, Winston	13 min
Oct 26, 6:36 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	39 min
Oct 26, 6:49 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount, Jefferson	41 min
Oct 26, 6:50 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Walker	26 min
Oct 26, 6:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Etowah	50 min
Oct 26, 6:57 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Cherokee	17 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2010 Every tornado warning in 2010 Tornadoes 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.