Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 128, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 27, 2011St. Clair County, Shelby County, Talladega County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 27, 2011, 7:54 PM CDT for St. Clair County, Shelby County, Talladega County, Alabama. It was in force for 51 min. 2 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, 7:54 PM CDT (00:54 UTC)
Expired
Apr 27, 2011, 8:45 PM CDT
In force
51 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Shelby County, AL, St. Clair County, AL, Talladega County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 32 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:54 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, 8:08 PM CDTTORNADON Wilsonville, ALSPOTTER REPORTED TORNADO STRUCK POWERLINES AND/OR TRANSFORMER. POWER IS OUT.
Apr 27, 8:17 PM CDTTORNADO 12 Ese Vincent, ALAN EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 2 MILES ESE OF VINCENT IN EASTERN SHELBY COUNTY AND MOVED NORTHEAST INTO WESTERN TALLADEGA COUNTY SNAPPING OFF AND/OR UPROOTING DOZENS OF HARD AND SOFT WOOD TREES ALONG THE PATH. THE ONLY HOME DAMAGE FOUND ALONG THE PATH WAS

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 00:00Z, 0.9 hours before the alert went out and 33 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 00:00Z on 2011-04-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3065 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 00:00Z on 2011-04-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 448 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
3065 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-4 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
711 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
73 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
448 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
480 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
9.6
Supercell composite
33.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

520 
WFUS54 KBMX 280054
TORBMX
ALC115-117-121-280145-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0128.110428T0054Z-110428T0145Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
754 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SHELBY COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA
  SOUTH CENTRAL ST. CLAIR COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA
  WEST CENTRAL TALLADEGA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA

* UNTIL 845 PM CDT

* AT 750 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR
  ALABASTER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY
  OF PRODUCING LARGE DAMAGING TORNADOES. TAKE COVER NOW!

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  COLUMBIANA...CHELSEA...WILSONVILLE...HARPERSVILLE...CHILDERSBURG
  AND VINCENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THIS
STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG TO VIOLENT TORNADOES. IF YOU ARE
IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY!

TAKE COVER NOW! TORNADOES AT NIGHT ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT
WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE.

IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL AFTER THE STORM HAS PASSED...AND THEN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6.

&&

LAT...LON 3325 8612 3308 8680 3327 8689 3357 8632
TIME...MOT...LOC 0054Z 244DEG 39KT 3321 8673

$$
3 follow-up statements
177 
WWUS54 KBMX 280100
SVSBMX

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

ALC115-117-121-280145-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0128.000000T0000Z-110428T0145Z/
SHELBY AL-TALLADEGA AL-ST. CLAIR AL-
800 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL ST. CLAIR...
CENTRAL TALLADEGA AND EASTERN SHELBY COUNTIES UNTIL 845 PM CDT...

AT 754 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS 
STORM WAS LOCATED JUST NORTHEAST SHELBY COUNTY AIRPORT...OR 6 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF ALABASTER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  COLUMBIANA...CHELSEA...WILSONVILLE...CHILDERSBURG...HIGHLAND
  LAKES...WESTOVER...HARPERSVILLE...VINCENT...LOGAN MARTIN DAM AND
  COOSA ISLAND.

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 3315 8672 3331 8681 3357 8632 3325 8612
TIME...MOT...LOC 0100Z 244DEG 39KT 3324 8666

$$

61
420 
WWUS54 KBMX 280108
SVSBMX

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

ALC115-117-121-280145-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0128.000000T0000Z-110428T0145Z/
SHELBY AL-TALLADEGA AL-ST. CLAIR AL-
808 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL ST. CLAIR...
CENTRAL TALLADEGA AND NORTHEASTERN SHELBY COUNTIES UNTIL 845 PM
CDT...

AT 803 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR WESTOVER...OR 5 MILES EAST OF CHELSEA...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CHILDERSBURG...HARPERSVILLE...VINCENT...LOGAN MARTIN DAM...
  SYCAMORE...COOSA ISLAND...ALPINE BAY RESORT...ALPINE...WINTERBORO
  AND STERRETT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORNADOES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3320 8658 3337 8668 3357 8632 3325 8612
TIME...MOT...LOC 0108Z 240DEG 46KT 3333 8648

$$

03
538 
WWUS54 KBMX 280124
SVSBMX

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

ALC117-280134-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0128.000000T0000Z-110428T0145Z/
SHELBY AL-
824 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN SHELBY 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 3357 8632 3325 8612 3329 8630 3347 8639
      3350 8638
TIME...MOT...LOC 0124Z 236DEG 40KT 3343 8631

$$

ALC115-121-280145-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0128.000000T0000Z-110428T0145Z/
TALLADEGA AL-ST. CLAIR AL-
824 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL ST. CLAIR
AND CENTRAL TALLADEGA COUNTIES UNTIL 845 PM CDT...

AT 822 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR LOGAN MARTIN DAM...OR 10 MILES NORTH OF
CHILDERSBURG...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  ALPINE BAY RESORT...WINTERBORO...ALPINE AND COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORNADOES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3357 8632 3325 8612 3329 8630 3347 8639
      3350 8638
TIME...MOT...LOC 0124Z 236DEG 40KT 3343 8631

$$

03

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 27, 7:07 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXBibb, Chilton, Shelby53 min
Apr 27, 7:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Marion, Walker, Winston43 min
Apr 27, 7:17 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXCalhoun, Cherokee, Etowah43 min
Apr 27, 7:28 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXHale, Marengo, Sumter62 min
Apr 27, 7:31 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, Cleburne, Etowah, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega59 min
Apr 27, 7:33 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Coosa, Elmore, Tallapoosa57 min
Apr 27, 8:02 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXClay, Cleburne, Coosa, Randolph, Tallapoosa58 min
Apr 27, 8:03 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBlount15 min
Apr 27, 8:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Sumter64 min
Apr 27, 8:17 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDallas, Hale, Marengo, Perry58 min
Apr 27, 8:18 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne42 min
Apr 27, 8:20 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXChambers, Elmore, Lee, Tallapoosa55 min
Apr 27, 8:21 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, St. Clair, Talladega21 min
Apr 27, 9:00 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXChambers60 min
Apr 27, 9:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCherokee42 min
Apr 27, 9:03 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton, Dallas, Perry57 min
Apr 27, 9:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDallas, Hale, Marengo, Perry54 min
Apr 27, 9:37 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXChambers, Lee, Tallapoosa38 min
Apr 27, 9:46 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXChilton, Coosa, Tallapoosa37 min
Apr 27, 9:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Cherokee, Etowah39 min
Apr 27, 9:55 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXDallas, Marengo, Perry3 hr
Apr 27, 10:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLee27 min
Apr 27, 10:31 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLee12 min
Apr 27, 10:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChambers, Clay, Coosa, Elmore, Randolph, Tallapoosa49 min
Apr 27, 11:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDallas, Lowndes45 min
Apr 27, 11:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery44 min
Apr 28, 12:01 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga, Bullock, Elmore, Lee, Lowndes, Macon and 3 more49 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.