Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 5, NWS Birmingham, AL

February 24, 2011Fayette County, Walker County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Feb 24, 2011, 10:30 PM CST for Fayette County, Walker County, Alabama. It was in force for 45 min. 10 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
Feb 24, 2011, 10:30 PM CST (04:30 UTC)
Expired
Feb 24, 2011, 11:15 PM CST
In force
45 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Fayette County, AL, Walker County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 70 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:30 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
Feb 24, 10:34 PM CSTTSTM WND DMG5 Nw Fayette, ALBARN BLOWN ONTO HIGHWAY 107.
Feb 24, 10:36 PM CSTTSTM WND DMGGlen Allen, ALTREES DOWN.
Feb 24, 10:37 PM CSTTSTM WND DMG3 N Fayette, ALROOF BLOWN OFF BUILDING.
Feb 24, 11:02 PM CSTTSTM WND DMG5 S Mcdowell Camp Groun, ALBARN DAMAGED ON DUNCAN ROAD BETWEEN AL 5 AND AL 195.
Feb 24, 11:04 PM CSTTSTM WND DMG4 Nw Jasper, ALTREES WERE BLOWN DOWN ON SCOTT CEMETARY ROAD.
Feb 24, 11:09 PM CSTTSTM WND DMG1 Se Jasper, ALDAMAGE TO EASTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH ON HIGHWAY 118 NEXT TO THE JASPER MALL.
Feb 24, 11:09 PM CSTTSTM WND DMG4 N Jasper, ALTREES WERE BLOWN DOWN NEAR CHRISTY LANE AND GAINES ROAD NEAR HIGHWAY 257 CURRY HIGHWAY.
Feb 24, 11:10 PM CSTTSTM WND DMGJasper, ALTREES DOWN.
Feb 24, 11:12 PM CSTTSTM WND DMGSipsey, ALTREES DOWN.
Feb 24, 11:18 PM CSTTSTM WND DMG1 Sse Smith Dam, ALTREES DOWN ON SMITH LAKE DAM ROAD NEAR AL 69.

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
Feb 24, 8:30 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 4.5 hours before the alert went out and 108 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 2011-02-25Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 52 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 2011-02-25The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 162 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
52 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-7 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1096 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
55 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
162 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
199 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

175 
WFUS54 KBMX 250430
TORBMX
ALC057-127-250515-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0005.110225T0430Z-110225T0515Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1030 PM CST THU FEB 24 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN FAYETTE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  NORTHERN WALKER COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 1115 PM CST

* AT 1030 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM
  WAS LOCATED NEAR BLOOMING GROVE...OR 8 MILES EAST OF VERNON...AND
  MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CARBON HILL...JASPER...CORDOVA...GLEN ALLEN...ELDRIDGE...KANSAS...
  CURRY...LAKE SHORE...LYNNS PARK AND ROCKY HOLLOW.

THIS INCLUDES...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 46 THROUGH 65...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE
LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING.

THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORNADOES AND
WIDESPREAD SIGNIFICANT WIND DAMAGE. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE
TORNADO. FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3392 8775 3391 8764 3394 8764 3400 8726
      3399 8710 3377 8708 3369 8795 3388 8795
TIME...MOT...LOC 0430Z 260DEG 53KT 3380 8789

$$

27
2 follow-up statements
548 
WWUS54 KBMX 250447
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1047 PM CST THU FEB 24 2011

ALC057-127-250515-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-110225T0515Z/
FAYETTE AL-WALKER AL-
1047 PM CST THU FEB 24 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN WALKER AND
CENTRAL FAYETTE COUNTIES UNTIL 1115 PM CST...

AT 1043 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GLEN ALLEN...OR 9 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF CARBON HILL...MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CARBON HILL...JASPER...KANSAS...CURRY...LYNNS PARK...ROCKY
  HOLLOW...SIPSEY...CEDRUM AREA...TOWNLEY AND HOLLY GROVE.

THIS INCLUDES...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 46 THROUGH 65...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORNADOES AND
WIDESPREAD SIGNIFICANT WIND DAMAGE. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE
TORNADO. FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3370 8780 3392 8773 3391 8764 3394 8764
      3400 8726 3399 8710 3377 8708
TIME...MOT...LOC 0447Z 260DEG 53KT 3384 8759

$$

27
229 
WWUS54 KBMX 250503
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1103 PM CST THU FEB 24 2011

ALC057-250513-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-110225T0515Z/
FAYETTE AL-
1103 PM CST THU FEB 24 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL FAYETTE 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 3399 8710 3394 8710 3377 8708 3373 8753
      3392 8752 3400 8726
TIME...MOT...LOC 0503Z 260DEG 53KT 3388 8731

$$

ALC127-250515-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-110225T0515Z/
WALKER AL-
1103 PM CST THU FEB 24 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL WALKER COUNTY
UNTIL 1115 PM CST...

AT 1057 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 7 MILES EAST OF CARBON HILL...MOVING EAST AT 60
MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  JASPER...CURRY...LYNNS PARK...ROCKY HOLLOW...SIPSEY AND MANCHESTER.

THIS INCLUDES...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 46 THROUGH 65...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORNADOES AND
WIDESPREAD SIGNIFICANT WIND DAMAGE. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE
TORNADO. FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3399 8710 3394 8710 3377 8708 3373 8753
      3392 8752 3400 8726
TIME...MOT...LOC 0503Z 260DEG 53KT 3388 8731

$$

27

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 24, 9:35 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion40 min
Feb 24, 9:57 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXMarion33 min
Feb 24, 10:04 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Pickens41 min
Feb 24, 10:10 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston50 min
Feb 24, 10:41 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Greene, Jefferson, Lamar, Pickens, Tuscaloosa and 1 more49 min
Feb 24, 10:44 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Walker, Winston46 min
Feb 24, 11:16 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXBlount, Walker44 min
Feb 24, 11:21 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson, Walker39 min
Feb 24, 11:24 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby and 3 more66 min
Feb 24, 11:25 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Etowah, Jefferson, St. Clair, Walker50 min
Feb 24, 11:26 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Etowah, Jefferson, St. Clair49 min
Feb 24, 11:38 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDallas, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Sumter67 min
Feb 25, 12:09 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah, St. Clair57 min
Feb 25, 12:12 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Chilton, Clay, Coosa, Shelby, Talladega63 min
Feb 25, 12:29 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXCherokee, Etowah46 min
Feb 25, 1:17 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, Talladega43 min
Feb 25, 2:06 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementBMXBullock, Chambers, Elmore, Lee, Lowndes, Macon and 3 more39 min
Feb 25, 2:45 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementBMXBarbour, Bullock, Lee, Macon, Russell45 min
Feb 25, 3:35 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementBMXBarbour, Pike, Russell40 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.