Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2010

Tornado Warning 17, NWS Mobile, AL

May 21, 2010Choctaw County, Clarke County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at May 21, 2010, 4:31 PM CDT for Choctaw County, Clarke County, Alabama. It was in force for 44 min. 3 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
May 21, 2010, 4:31 PM CDT (21:31 UTC)
Expired
May 21, 2010, 5:15 PM CDT
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Choctaw County, AL, Clarke County, AL

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 131 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:34 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
May 21, 4:55 PM CDTHAIL 1.75West Bend, AL
May 21, 5:05 PM CDTHAIL 13 E Coffeeville, AL
May 21, 5:20 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUD7 E Coffeeville, AL

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
May 21, 11:50 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 190 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 2010-05-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 611 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 2010-05-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 111 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
611 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-84 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
515 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
111 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
189 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

460 
WFUS54 KMOB 212131
TORMOB
ALC023-025-212215-
/O.NEW.KMOB.TO.W.0017.100521T2131Z-100521T2215Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
431 PM CDT FRI MAY 21 2010

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEAST CHOCTAW COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...  
  NORTHWEST CLARKE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 515 PM CDT

* AT 429 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR WOMACK HILL...OR
  ABOUT 16 MILES SOUTH OF BUTLER...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

* THE TORNADO MOVE BE NEAR...
  WEST BEND BY 440 PM CDT...

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.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FRIDAY
EVENING FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3189 8791 3172 8795 3181 8822 3190 8824
TIME...MOT...LOC 2130Z 292DEG 17KT 3186 8817

$$
2 follow-up statements
808 
WWUS54 KMOB 212143
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
443 PM CDT FRI MAY 21 2010

ALC023-025-212215-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-100521T2215Z/
CLARKE AL-CHOCTAW AL-
443 PM CDT FRI MAY 21 2010

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM CDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL CHOCTAW AND WEST CENTRAL CLARKE COUNTIES...

AT 442 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS NEAR WEST BEND...OR ABOUT 19 MILES SOUTH OF BUTLER...
MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  RURAL WESTERN CLARKE COUNTY AT 500 PM CDT

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.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FRIDAY
EVENING FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3181 8818 3187 8817 3189 8791 3172 8795
TIME...MOT...LOC 2143Z 292DEG 17KT 3182 8812

$$
692 
WWUS54 KMOB 212159
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
459 PM CDT FRI MAY 21 2010

ALC023-212209-
/O.CAN.KMOB.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-100521T2215Z/
CHOCTAW AL-
459 PM CDT FRI MAY 21 2010

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL CHOCTAW COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FRIDAY
EVENING FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3178 8810 3187 8813 3188 8792 3172 8795
TIME...MOT...LOC 2159Z 300DEG 22KT 3179 8805

$$

ALC025-212215-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-100521T2215Z/
CLARKE AL-
459 PM CDT FRI MAY 21 2010

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM CDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL CLARKE COUNTY...

AT 455 PM CDT.... THIS TORNADO WAS OVER EXTREME WEST CENTRAL CLARKE
COUNTY...OR ABOUT 19 MILES WEST OF GROVE HILL...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT
25 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  RURAL WESTERN CLARKE COUNTY AT 510 PM CDT

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.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY BE OBSCURING THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW! IF YOU
WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE
PLACE.

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.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FRIDAY
EVENING FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3178 8810 3187 8813 3188 8792 3172 8795
TIME...MOT...LOC 2159Z 300DEG 22KT 3179 8805

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 21, 1:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBMobile, Washington23 min
May 21, 3:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBChoctaw30 min
May 21, 4:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBChoctaw, Clarke57 min
May 21, 4:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBClarke36 min
May 21, 5:04 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBClarke41 min
May 21, 5:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBWashington60 min
May 21, 5:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBClarke59 min
May 21, 5:58 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBClarke24 min
May 21, 6:17 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBClarke, Washington43 min
May 21, 6:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBWashington59 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.