Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 64, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 15, 2011Bibb County, Jefferson County, Shelby County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 15, 2011, 4:28 PM CDT for Bibb County, Jefferson County, Shelby County, Alabama. It was in force for 62 min. 16 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 15, 2011, 4:28 PM CDT (21:28 UTC)
Expired
Apr 15, 2011, 5:30 PM CDT
In force
62 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Bibb County, AL, Jefferson County, AL, Shelby County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 39 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:28 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 15, 4:50 PM CDTHAIL 1Helena, ALQUARTER SIZE HAIL IN ROCKY RIDGE AT JCT HWYS 17 AND 58.
Apr 15, 4:58 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGHoover, ALLARGE MAGNOLIA TREE DOWN ALONG AL HWY 150 NEAR THE HOOVER MET.
Apr 15, 4:59 PM CDTTORNADO 0Alabaster, ALAN EF-0 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN ALABASTER NEAR EVANGEL CHURCH ON THOMPSON RD LIFTING A FEW MINUTES LATER NEAR CITY HALL ON HWY 31. SEVERAL TREES WERE KNOCKED DOWN...SOME ON HOMES. THE PATH LENGTH WAS 1.36 MILES LONG WITH A MAX WIDTH OF 50 YDS. MAX ESTIMATED WI
Apr 15, 5:00 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGAlabaster, ALTREES DOWN ON A COUPLE OF HOMES ALONG HWY 31 NEAR THE FIRE STATION.
Apr 15, 5:00 PM CDTTORNADOAlabaster, ALTREES DOWN ON A COUPLE OF HOMES ALONG NEAR 8TH STREET SW NEAR THE FIRE STATION. LAW ENFORCEMENT WITNESSED THE TORNADO.
Apr 15, 5:06 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUDPelham, ALHAM ALERT TEAM MEMBER REPORTS A FUNNEL OVER HY 11 IN PELHAM.
Apr 15, 5:10 PM CDTHAIL 1Alabaster, ALQUARTER SIZE HAIL AT CITY HALL IN DOWNTOWN ALABASTER,
Apr 15, 5:10 PM CDTHAIL 1Alabaster, ALQUARTER SIZE HAIL IN ALABASTER.
Apr 15, 5:11 PM CDTHAIL 0.5Hoover, AL
Apr 15, 5:17 PM CDTHAIL 1Pelham, AL
Apr 15, 5:20 PM CDTHAIL 1Pelham, ALQUARTER SIZE HAIL OFF CR 52 IN DEERING DOWNS SUBDIVISION.
Apr 15, 5:20 PM CDTHAIL 1Pelham, ALQUARTER SIZE HIAL OFF CR 52 IN DEERING DOWNS SUBDIVISION.
Apr 15, 5:25 PM CDTHAIL 11 S Shelby County Airpo, ALNICKLE TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN THE SCOTTSVILLE SUBDIVISION.
Apr 15, 5:25 PM CDTHAIL 12 S Alabaster, ALNICKLE TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN THE SCOTTSDALE SUBDIVISION.
Apr 15, 5:27 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGChelsea, ALDAMAGE TO SIDING ON FIRE STATION BUILDING.
Apr 15, 5:30 PM CDTHAIL 1Chelsea, 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
Apr 15, 11:21 AM CDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 38 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 2011-04-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 2011-04-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 282 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1553 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
282 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
365 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

677 
WFUS54 KBMX 152128
TORBMX
ALC007-073-117-152230-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0064.110415T2128Z-110415T2230Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
428 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN BIBB COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  SOUTHEASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  SHELBY COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 530 PM CDT

* AT 424 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A
  CONFIRMED TORNADO 5 MILES SOUTH OF WEST BLOCTON...OR 7 MILES NORTH
  OF CENTREVILLE. DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS TORNADO MOVING NORTHEAST
  AT 45 MPH.

  AT 425 PM CDT...TREES WERE REPORTED DOWN IN EOLINE. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MONTEVALLO...ALABASTER...HELENA...PELHAM...HOOVER...VESTAVIA
  HILLS...HOMEWOOD...CHELSEA...MOUNTAIN BROOK AND IRONDALE.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 234 THROUGH 256...
INTERSTATE 459 EXIT NUMBERS 6 THROUGH 33...
INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 132 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 3363 8654 3362 8655 3356 8655 3355 8649
      3351 8649 3351 8638 3340 8638 3338 8636
      3304 8693 3323 8709 3369 8661
TIME...MOT...LOC 2128Z 230DEG 38KT 3310 8711

$$

03/08
2 follow-up statements
250 
WWUS54 KBMX 152159
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
459 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

ALC007-152208-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0064.000000T0000Z-110415T2230Z/
BIBB AL-
459 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN BIBB COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED 
AREA. HOWEVER...A TORNADO WARNING FOR A DIFFERENT CIRCULATION 
REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN BIBB COUNTY. 

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

LAT...LON 3369 8661 3363 8654 3362 8655 3356 8655
      3355 8649 3351 8649 3351 8638 3340 8638
      3338 8636 3312 8683 3325 8696
TIME...MOT...LOC 2158Z 230DEG 44KT 3325 8681

$$

ALC073-117-152230-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0064.000000T0000Z-110415T2230Z/
SHELBY AL-JEFFERSON AL-
459 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEASTERN JEFFERSON AND
SHELBY COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM CDT...

AT 455 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR ALABASTER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  PELHAM...HOOVER...VESTAVIA HILLS...CHELSEA...MOUNTAIN BROOK...
  IRONDALE...LEEDS...TRUSSVILLE...REGIONS PARK OR HOOVER MET AND
  RIVERCHASE.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 234 THROUGH 252...
INTERSTATE 459 EXIT NUMBERS 10 THROUGH 33...
INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 132 THROUGH 140...
INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBERS 137 THROUGH 143...

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 3369 8661 3363 8654 3362 8655 3356 8655
      3355 8649 3351 8649 3351 8638 3340 8638
      3338 8636 3312 8683 3325 8696
TIME...MOT...LOC 2158Z 230DEG 44KT 3325 8681

$$

03/08
186 
WWUS54 KBMX 152222
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
522 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

ALC073-117-152230-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0064.000000T0000Z-110415T2230Z/
SHELBY AL-JEFFERSON AL-
522 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEASTERN JEFFERSON AND
SHELBY COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM CDT...

AT 518 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR MAYLENE...OR NEAR ALABASTER...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HELENA...PELHAM...HOOVER...CHELSEA...VESTAVIA HILLS...MOUNTAIN
  BROOK...IRONDALE...LEEDS...TRUSSVILLE AND REGIONS PARK OR HOOVER
  MET.

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 3369 8661 3363 8654 3362 8655 3356 8655
      3355 8649 3351 8649 3351 8638 3340 8638
      3338 8636 3312 8683 3325 8696
TIME...MOT...LOC 2223Z 225DEG 27KT 3324 8681

$$

03/08

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 15, 3:29 AM CDTWind AdvisoryBMXAutauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more22 hr
Apr 15, 8:49 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXMarion41 min
Apr 15, 8:55 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXLamar50 min
Apr 15, 9:49 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXLamar116 min
Apr 15, 9:53 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXFayette, Marion37 min
Apr 15, 10:11 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXLamar6 hr
Apr 15, 10:37 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXPickens38 min
Apr 15, 10:51 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXSt. Clair39 min
Apr 15, 10:59 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson, St. Clair46 min
Apr 15, 11:12 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXFayette, Walker, Winston2 hr
Apr 15, 11:52 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarengo38 min
Apr 15, 12:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Pickens34 min
Apr 15, 12:24 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarengo51 min
Apr 15, 12:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson, St. Clair27 min
Apr 15, 12:59 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDallas, Marengo, Perry46 min
Apr 15, 1:10 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston3 hr
Apr 15, 1:22 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXBlount3 hr
Apr 15, 1:25 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXGreene, Sumter65 min
Apr 15, 1:43 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXPerry28 min
Apr 15, 2:14 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter4 days
Apr 15, 2:14 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter20 hr
Apr 15, 2:14 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter20 hr
Apr 15, 2:17 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo4 days
Apr 15, 2:24 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXGreene, Hale, Tuscaloosa51 min
Apr 15, 2:31 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarengo, Sumter29 min
Apr 15, 2:39 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXGreene, Pickens, Sumter3 hr
Apr 15, 2:41 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Tuscaloosa64 min
Apr 15, 2:49 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Sumter41 min
Apr 15, 2:56 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Sumter49 min
Apr 15, 3:10 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Tuscaloosa50 min
Apr 15, 3:25 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXTuscaloosa3 hr
Apr 15, 3:27 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Tuscaloosa48 min
Apr 15, 3:32 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXSumter58 min
Apr 15, 3:34 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLowndes, Montgomery56 min
Apr 15, 3:39 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBibb, Hale, Perry, Tuscaloosa66 min
Apr 15, 3:44 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXJefferson, Tuscaloosa37 min
Apr 15, 3:57 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningBMXLamar24 hr
Apr 15, 4:18 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Sumter57 min
Apr 15, 4:21 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLamar39 min
Apr 15, 4:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa42 min
Apr 15, 4:41 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarengo, Sumter64 min
Apr 15, 4:42 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBibb, Tuscaloosa33 min
Apr 15, 4:45 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion26 min
Apr 15, 5:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar52 min
Apr 15, 5:09 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXJefferson, Shelby3 hr
Apr 15, 5:13 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBibb, Hale, Perry35 min
Apr 15, 5:18 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLamar30 min
Apr 15, 5:26 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXSt. Clair, Shelby, Talladega49 min
Apr 15, 5:30 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXHale, Marengo, Perry, Sumter60 min
Apr 15, 5:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar22 min
Apr 15, 5:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChambers, Lee, Macon45 min
Apr 15, 5:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion45 min
Apr 15, 5:55 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLowndes, Montgomery46 min
Apr 15, 6:08 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Talladega52 min
Apr 15, 6:11 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDallas, Perry64 min
Apr 15, 6:12 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLee21 min
Apr 15, 6:15 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDallas, Lowndes60 min
Apr 15, 6:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Walker43 min
Apr 15, 6:19 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarengo56 min
Apr 15, 6:43 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXTalladega3 hr
Apr 15, 6:53 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Talladega31 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.