Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 101, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 27, 2011Lamar County, Marion County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 27, 2011, 2:59 PM CDT for Lamar County, Marion County, Alabama. It was in force for 46 min. 5 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 27, 2011, 2:59 PM CDT (19:59 UTC)
Expired
Apr 27, 2011, 3:45 PM CDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Lamar County, AL, Marion County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 49 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:01 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
Apr 27, 3:05 PM CDTTORNADO 55 Nne Detroit, AL*** 18 FATAL *** AN EF-5 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN SW OF HAMILTON AND MOVED NE ACROSS MARION COUNTY AND CONTINUED INTO FRANKLIN COUNTY...SEE LSR/S FROM WFO HUN. THE TORNADO WIDENED JUST SW OF HACKLEBURG. THOUSANDS OF TREES WERE DOWNED...SEVERAL HUNDRED STRUCTURES W
Apr 27, 3:05 PM CDTTORNADO 55 Nne Detroit, AL*** 25 FATAL *** AN EF-5 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN SW OF HAMILTON AND MOVED NE ACROSS MARION COUNTY AND CONTINUED INTO FRANKLIN COUNTY...SEE LSR/S FROM WFO HUN. THE TORNADO WIDENED JUST SW OF HACKLEBURG. THOUSANDS OF TREES WERE DOWNED...SEVERAL HUNDRED STRUCTURES W
Apr 27, 3:14 PM CDTTORNADOHamilton, ALTORNADO REPORTED ON THE GROUD JUST WEST OF THE MARION COUNTY AIRPORT IN HAMILTON.
Apr 27, 3:28 PM CDTTORNADOHackleburg, ALTORNADO ON GROUND JUST MOVED THROUGH DOWNTOWN HACKLEBURG. IN NOW NORTH OF 345.
Apr 27, 3:28 PM CDTTORNADOHackleburg, ALTORNADO ON GROUND JUST MOVED THROUGH DOWNTOWN HACLEBURG. IN NOW NORTH OF 345.

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 27, 1:42 PM CDTTornado Watch PDSSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 8.0 hours before the alert went out and 158 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 2011-04-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 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 2011-04-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -359 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
587 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
60 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-359 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-197 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

071 
WFUS54 KBMX 271959
TORBMX
ALC075-093-272045-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0101.110427T1959Z-110427T2045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
259 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTH CENTRAL LAMAR COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  NORTHERN MARION COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 345 PM CDT

* AT 256 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM
  WAS LOCATED NEAR DETROIT...OR 12 MILES NORTHWEST OF SULLIGENT...AND
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HAMILTON...WESTON...HACKLEBURG...BYRD...RANKIN FITE AIRPORT...
  SHOTSVILLE...TESSNER AND BEAR CREEK.

THIS INCLUDES...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 3 THROUGH 14...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT TAKE SHELTER UNDER HIGHWAY OVERPASSES. AS A LAST
RESORT...EITHER PARK YOUR VEHICLE AND STAY PUT...OR ABANDON YOUR
VEHICLE AND LIE DOWN IN A LOW LYING AREA.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3431 8764 3430 8764 3397 8821 3398 8822
      3431 8818 3433 8816
TIME...MOT...LOC 1959Z 227DEG 47KT 3407 8822

$$

61
4 follow-up statements
369 
WWUS54 KBMX 272008
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
308 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

ALC075-272018-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0101.000000T0000Z-110427T2045Z/
LAMAR AL-
308 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL LAMAR COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED 
AREA.

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

LAT...LON 3431 8764 3430 8764 3406 8805 3406 8821
      3422 8819 3423 8818 3431 8818 3433 8816
TIME...MOT...LOC 2008Z 232DEG 55KT 3415 8808

$$

ALC093-272045-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0101.000000T0000Z-110427T2045Z/
MARION AL-
308 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN MARION COUNTY
UNTIL 345 PM CDT...

AT 305 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WESTON...OR 8 MILES WEST OF
HAMILTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HAMILTON...WESTON...HACKLEBURG...RANKIN FITE AIRPORT...
  SHOTSVILLE...TESSNER AND BEAR CREEK.

THIS INCLUDES...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 3 THROUGH 14...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT TAKE SHELTER UNDER HIGHWAY OVERPASSES. AS A LAST
RESORT... EITHER PARK YOUR VEHICLE AND STAY PUT...OR ABANDON YOUR
VEHICLE AND LIE DOWN IN A LOW LYING AREA.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3431 8764 3430 8764 3406 8805 3406 8821
      3422 8819 3423 8818 3431 8818 3433 8816
TIME...MOT...LOC 2008Z 232DEG 55KT 3415 8808

$$

61
560 
WWUS54 KBMX 272018
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
318 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

ALC093-272045-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0101.000000T0000Z-110427T2045Z/
MARION AL-
318 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN MARION COUNTY
UNTIL 345 PM CDT...

AT 314 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS 
TORNADO WAS LOCATED ON I-22 NEAR WESTON...OR NEAR HAMILTON...MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HACKLEBURG AND TESSNER.

THIS INCLUDES...
US 78 EXIT NUMBER 7...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT TAKE SHELTER UNDER HIGHWAY OVERPASSES. AS A LAST
RESORT... EITHER PARK YOUR VEHICLE AND STAY PUT...OR ABANDON YOUR
VEHICLE AND LIE DOWN IN A LOW LYING AREA.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3412 8805 3416 8811 3433 8807 3431 8764
      3430 8764
TIME...MOT...LOC 2018Z 236DEG 48KT 3422 8795

$$

61
398 
WWUS54 KBMX 272023
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
323 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

ALC093-272045-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0101.000000T0000Z-110427T2045Z/
MARION AL-
323 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN MARION COUNTY
UNTIL 345 PM CDT...

AT 319 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
CONFIRMED TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
HACKLEBURG...OR 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF HAMILTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
65 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HACKLEBURG AND TESSNER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3418 8792 3422 8801 3432 8799 3431 8764
      3430 8764
TIME...MOT...LOC 2023Z 238DEG 57KT 3427 8786

$$

61
824 
WWUS54 KBMX 272027 RRA
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
327 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

ALC093-272045-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0101.000000T0000Z-110427T2045Z/
MARION AL-
327 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN MARION COUNTY
UNTIL 345 PM CDT...

AT 324 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND STORM
SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HACKLEBURG...OR 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF
HAMILTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  TESSNER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT TAKE SHELTER UNDER HIGHWAY OVERPASSES. AS A LAST
RESORT... EITHER PARK YOUR VEHICLE AND STAY PUT...OR ABANDON YOUR
VEHICLE AND LIE DOWN IN A LOW LYING AREA.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3418 8792 3422 8801 3432 8799 3431 8764
      3430 8764
TIME...MOT...LOC 2027Z 238DEG 57KT 3427 8783

$$

61

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 27, 3:37 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXLamar, Pickens38 min
Apr 27, 3:45 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Marion45 min
Apr 27, 3:59 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Lamar, Pickens, Sumter46 min
Apr 27, 4:13 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXPickens32 min
Apr 27, 4:14 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Pickens, Sumter31 min
Apr 27, 4:19 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Marion41 min
Apr 27, 4:26 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarion34 min
Apr 27, 4:28 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Marengo, Sumter47 min
Apr 27, 4:33 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Pickens, Tuscaloosa27 min
Apr 27, 4:40 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Pickens, Tuscaloosa50 min
Apr 27, 4:44 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa31 min
Apr 27, 5:07 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Walker38 min
Apr 27, 5:11 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Blount, Fayette, Hale, Jefferson, Shelby and 2 more49 min
Apr 27, 5:14 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXJefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker31 min
Apr 27, 5:29 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXBibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa31 min
Apr 27, 5:44 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Chilton, Dallas, Perry, Shelby46 min
Apr 27, 5:52 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Chilton, Etowah, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby and 1 more53 min
Apr 27, 6:02 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXAutauga, Chilton, Dallas43 min
Apr 27, 6:21 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa and 3 more39 min
Apr 27, 6:49 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah, Randolph and 1 more56 min
Apr 27, 8:05 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Marion25 min
Apr 27, 8:20 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarion25 min
Apr 27, 10:04 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Marion41 min
Apr 27, 10:42 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXLamar, Marion, Winston48 min
Apr 27, 10:51 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXMarion54 min
Apr 27, 12:08 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXMarion, Winston112 min
Apr 27, 2:09 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXWalker, Winston31 min
Apr 27, 2:17 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXMarion, Winston118 min
Apr 27, 2:51 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter19 hr
Apr 27, 2:51 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter6 hr
Apr 27, 3:15 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa60 min
Apr 27, 3:21 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLamar, Marion54 min
Apr 27, 3:38 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXGreene, Hale, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa67 min
Apr 27, 3:56 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarion34 min
Apr 27, 3:57 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXMarion, Winston3 hr
Apr 27, 4:00 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXFayette, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Walker60 min
Apr 27, 4:31 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa20 min
Apr 27, 4:44 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion61 min
Apr 27, 4:47 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXGreene, Pickens, Tuscaloosa58 min
Apr 27, 4:50 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Sumter55 min
Apr 27, 4:55 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXBlount, Jefferson, Walker65 min
Apr 27, 5:22 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Lamar68 min
Apr 27, 5:28 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarion, Winston30 min
Apr 27, 5:31 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXJefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa59 min
Apr 27, 5:38 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXBibb, Greene, Hale, Perry, Tuscaloosa67 min
Apr 27, 5:39 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBlount21 min
Apr 27, 6:06 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Marengo, Sumter16 min
Apr 27, 6:14 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Marion, Walker, Winston61 min
Apr 27, 6:17 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXJefferson118 min
Apr 27, 6:18 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson, St. Clair57 min
Apr 27, 6:20 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBibb, Chilton, Greene, Hale, Perry55 min
Apr 27, 6:33 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningBMXMarion, Winston3 hr
Apr 27, 6:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston40 min
Apr 27, 6:39 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson, St. Clair3 hr
Apr 27, 6:39 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXBibb, Chilton, Shelby, Talladega66 min
Apr 27, 6:49 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXBlount, Calhoun, Etowah, St. Clair56 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2011Every tornado warning in 2011Tornadoes in 2011

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.