Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 28, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 26, 2011Jefferson County, Walker County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Mar 26, 2011, 8:05 PM CDT for Jefferson County, Walker County, Alabama. It was in force for 55 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: Mar 26, 2011, 8:05 PM CDT (01:05 UTC)
Expired: Mar 26, 2011, 9:00 PM CDT
In force: 55 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Jefferson County, AL, Walker County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 53 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:07 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Mar 26, 8:34 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 S Empire, AL	TREES DOWN AND OUT BUILDINGS DAMAGED ALONG EMPIRE ROAD AT DRUMMOND SWITCH.

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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Mar 26, 7:47 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 1.1 hours before the alert went out and 52 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: 1774 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -17 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1230 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 50 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 274 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 373 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 2.7
Supercell composite: 16.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

974 
WFUS54 KBMX 270105
TORBMX
ALC073-127-270200-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0028.110327T0105Z-110327T0200Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
805 PM CDT SAT MAR 26 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  JEFFERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  EASTERN WALKER COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 900 PM CDT

* AT 802 PM CDT...NUMEROUS SPOTTERS REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD   NEAR
  JASPER...WITH NUMEROUS REPORTS OF EXTREMELY LARGE HAIL. A TORNADO 
  MAY DEVELOP AT ANY TIME! DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS DANGEROUS STORM 
  MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CORDOVA...DORA...SUMITON...FAIRFIELD...GARDENDALE...FULTONDALE...
  BIRMINGHAM...HOMEWOOD...PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE AND VESTAVIA HILLS.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 250 THROUGH 282...
INTERSTATE 459 EXIT NUMBERS 13 THROUGH 33...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 65 THROUGH 91...
INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 115 THROUGH 140...
INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBERS 130 THROUGH 143...

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 3391 8708 3389 8708 3388 8699 3382 8695
      3384 8688 3372 8653 3356 8655 3355 8652
      3353 8652 3353 8655 3347 8662 3347 8668
      3345 8668 3342 8675 3338 8678 3336 8683
      3369 8733 3394 8717
TIME...MOT...LOC 0104Z 294DEG 42KT 3380 8729

$$

17/KLAWS

3 follow-up statements

858 
WWUS54 KBMX 270126
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
826 PM CDT SAT MAR 26 2011

ALC073-127-270200-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0028.000000T0000Z-110327T0200Z/
JEFFERSON AL-WALKER AL-
826 PM CDT SAT MAR 26 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EAST CENTRAL WALKER AND
JEFFERSON COUNTIES UNTIL 900 PM CDT...

AT 820 PM CDT...THE PUBLIC HAS REPORTED DAMAGE IN AND AROUND 
JASPER!  THIS POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BELOIT...OR NEAR 
CORDOVA...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

IN ADDITION...AT 815 PM LARGE HAIL WAS REPORTED IN CENTRAL WALKER 
COUNTY WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  DORA...SUMITON...FAIRFIELD...GARDENDALE...FULTONDALE...
  BIRMINGHAM...PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE...IRONDALE...TRUSSVILLE AND
  MOUNTAIN BROOK.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 250 THROUGH 282...
INTERSTATE 459 EXIT NUMBERS 13 THROUGH 33...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 70 THROUGH 91...
INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 118 THROUGH 140...
INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBERS 130 THROUGH 143...

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 3389 8708 3388 8699 3382 8695 3384 8688
      3372 8653 3356 8655 3355 8652 3353 8652
      3353 8655 3347 8662 3347 8668 3345 8668
      3343 8675 3338 8678 3336 8683 3375 8728
      3391 8716 3391 8709
TIME...MOT...LOC 0125Z 291DEG 33KT 3375 8709

$$

17/KLAWS

562 
WWUS54 KBMX 270141
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
841 PM CDT SAT MAR 26 2011

ALC073-127-270200-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0028.000000T0000Z-110327T0200Z/
JEFFERSON AL-WALKER AL-
841 PM CDT SAT MAR 26 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EXTREME EAST CENTRAL
WALKER AND NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTIES UNTIL 900 PM CDT...

AT 834 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A LARGE TORNADO!  
THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR SUMITON...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  GARDENDALE...FULTONDALE...PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE...TRUSSVILLE...
  IRONDALE...LEEDS...CARDIFF...BROOKSIDE...KIMBERLY AND MORRIS.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 266 THROUGH 281...
INTERSTATE 459 EXIT NUMBERS 23 THROUGH 33...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 85 THROUGH 91...
INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 128 THROUGH 140...
INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBERS 130 THROUGH 143...

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

LAT...LON 3379 8672 3373 8654 3367 8653 3362 8655
      3356 8655 3355 8652 3353 8652 3353 8655
      3347 8662 3347 8668 3346 8668 3371 8709
      3382 8706
TIME...MOT...LOC 0140Z 284DEG 34KT 3374 8695

$$

17/KLAWS

858 
WWUS54 KBMX 270150
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
850 PM CDT SAT MAR 26 2011

ALC127-270200-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0028.000000T0000Z-110327T0200Z/
WALKER AL-
850 PM CDT SAT MAR 26 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL WALKER 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 3376 8672 3373 8654 3367 8653 3362 8655
      3356 8655 3355 8652 3353 8652 3353 8655
      3352 8657 3369 8699 3377 8696
TIME...MOT...LOC 0150Z 286DEG 31KT 3371 8686

$$

ALC073-270200-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0028.000000T0000Z-110327T0200Z/
JEFFERSON AL-
850 PM CDT SAT MAR 26 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EAST CENTRAL JEFFERSON
COUNTY UNTIL 900 PM CDT...

AT 848 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND STORM
SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF CARDIFF...OR 6 MILES
NORTHWEST OF GARDENDALE...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  GARDENDALE...FULTONDALE...PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE...TRUSSVILLE...
  LEEDS...KIMBERLY...MORRIS...PINSON...CENTER POINT AND CLAY.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 271 THROUGH 275...
INTERSTATE 459 EXIT NUMBERS 31 THROUGH 33...
INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBER 140...
INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBERS 134 THROUGH 143...

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 3376 8672 3373 8654 3367 8653 3362 8655
      3356 8655 3355 8652 3353 8652 3353 8655
      3352 8657 3369 8699 3377 8696
TIME...MOT...LOC 0150Z 286DEG 31KT 3371 8686

$$

17/KLAWS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 26, 7:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cleburne	37 min
Mar 26, 7:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Walker	41 min
Mar 26, 7:32 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker, Winston	28 min
Mar 26, 7:39 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Walker	36 min
Mar 26, 8:21 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee	24 min
Mar 26, 8:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion, Winston	62 min
Mar 26, 8:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee, Etowah	60 min
Mar 26, 8:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Calhoun, Jefferson, St. Clair, Talladega	25 min
Mar 26, 9:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah	47 min
Mar 26, 9:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion, Winston	59 min
Mar 26, 9:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Marion, Walker, Winston	46 min
Mar 26, 10:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, Talladega	48 min
Mar 26, 10:16 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Calhoun, Cleburne, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega	3 hr
Mar 26, 10:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Jefferson, Walker	63 min
Mar 26, 10:27 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Clay, St. Clair, Talladega	15 min
Mar 26, 10:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega	45 min
Mar 26, 10:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Tuscaloosa	56 min
Mar 26, 10:45 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, St. Clair, Talladega	45 min
Mar 26, 11:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Talladega	36 min
Mar 26, 11:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Randolph	41 min
Mar 26, 11:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker	16 min
Mar 27, 12:32 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Randolph	15 min
Mar 27, 12:46 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Clay	44 min
Mar 27, 12:53 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chambers, Randolph	67 min
Mar 27, 1:06 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chambers	17 min
Mar 27, 1:08 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chambers, Clay, Randolph, Tallapoosa	52 min
Mar 27, 1:12 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chambers, Tallapoosa	48 min
Mar 27, 1:52 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chambers	22 min
Mar 27, 1:53 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chambers, Tallapoosa	13 min
Mar 27, 2:24 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Winston	51 min
Mar 27, 4:00 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee	45 min
Mar 27, 4:41 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee, Etowah	49 min
Mar 27, 6:16 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene	44 min
Mar 27, 6:26 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Tuscaloosa	49 min
Mar 27, 7:01 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Hale, Tuscaloosa	44 min
Mar 27, 7:11 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Sumter	49 min
Mar 27, 7:42 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Chilton, Coosa	48 min
Mar 27, 7:55 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene, Hale	50 min
Mar 27, 7:58 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Shelby	47 min
Mar 27, 8:32 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Coosa	43 min
Mar 27, 9:45 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chilton	45 min
Mar 27, 10:02 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chilton, Coosa, Elmore	28 min
Mar 27, 10:27 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Coosa	33 min
Mar 27, 10:40 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chilton	50 min
Mar 27, 11:02 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tallapoosa	43 min
Mar 27, 11:37 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chambers	23 min
Mar 27, 11:41 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Elmore	49 min
Mar 27, 12:05 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Russell	40 min
Mar 27, 12:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Russell	48 min
Mar 27, 1:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Barbour	31 min
Mar 27, 6:13 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Barbour	47 min

Nearby

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