Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Birmingham, AL

February 24, 2011Blount County, Jefferson County, Walker County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Feb 24, 2011, 11:21 PM CST for Blount County, Jefferson County, Walker County, Alabama. It was in force for 39 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
Feb 24, 2011, 11:21 PM CST (05:21 UTC)
Expired
Feb 25, 2011, 12:00 AM CST
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Blount County, AL, Jefferson County, AL, Walker County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 67 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:22 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, 11:22 PM CSTTSTM WND DMG2 Ne Gorgas, ALPOWER LINES BLOWN DOWN IN COPELAND FERRY.
Feb 24, 11:31 PM CSTTSTM WND DMG6 W Five Mile Creek Gra, ALTREES DOWN AT FLATTOP ROAD AND MOUNT OLIVE.
Feb 24, 11:41 PM CSTTSTM WND DMG4 Wsw Turkey Creek Morr, ALTREES DOWN ON THOMAS LOOP RD.
Feb 24, 11:50 PM CSTTSTM WND DMGGardendale, ALSEVERAL POWER POLES KNOCKED DOWN.
Feb 24, 11:57 PM CSTTSTM WND DMGPinson, ALPOWER POLE KNOCKED DOWN

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, 5.4 hours before the alert went out and 66 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°0°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.

515 
WFUS54 KBMX 250521
TORBMX
ALC009-073-127-250600-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0007.110225T0521Z-110225T0600Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1121 PM CST THU FEB 24 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN BLOUNT COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  NORTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  EAST CENTRAL WALKER COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST

* AT 1116 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM
  WAS LOCATED NEAR PARRISH...OR NEAR CORDOVA...AND MOVING EAST AT 55
  MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  DORA...SUMITON...GARDENDALE...PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE...LYNNS
  PARK...BELOIT...BURNWELL...ROCKY HOLLOW...WEST JEFFERSON AND
  QUINTON.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 272 THROUGH 282...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 70 THROUGH 81...

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 3381 8652 3379 8654 3379 8658 3377 8658
      3376 8655 3374 8655 3372 8653 3367 8653
      3363 8727 3379 8727 3389 8653
TIME...MOT...LOC 0521Z 265DEG 47KT 3373 8716

$$

27
2 follow-up statements
449 
WWUS54 KBMX 250535
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1135 PM CST THU FEB 24 2011

ALC009-073-127-250600-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-110225T0600Z/
JEFFERSON AL-WALKER AL-BLOUNT AL-
1135 PM CST THU FEB 24 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN BLOUNT...EAST
CENTRAL WALKER AND NORTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTIES UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST...

AT 1130 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR SUMITON...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  GARDENDALE...PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE...MORRIS...KIMBERLY...
  WARRIOR...TRAFFORD...COUNTY LINE...PINSON...DALLAS AND CLAY.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 272 THROUGH 282...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 78 THROUGH 81...

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 3389 8653 3381 8652 3379 8654 3379 8658
      3376 8658 3376 8655 3374 8655 3372 8653
      3367 8653 3364 8719 3379 8711
TIME...MOT...LOC 0535Z 265DEG 47KT 3374 8694

$$

27
676 
WWUS54 KBMX 250542
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1142 PM CST THU FEB 24 2011

ALC127-250553-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-110225T0600Z/
WALKER AL-
1142 PM CST THU FEB 24 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 3389 8653 3381 8652 3379 8654 3379 8658
      3376 8658 3376 8655 3372 8653 3367 8653
      3365 8708 3369 8705 3369 8703 3371 8703
      3380 8697
TIME...MOT...LOC 0543Z 265DEG 47KT 3374 8681

$$

ALC009-073-250600-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-110225T0600Z/
JEFFERSON AL-BLOUNT AL-
1142 PM CST THU FEB 24 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL BLOUNT AND
NORTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTIES UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST...

AT 1139 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR MORRIS...OR 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF GARDENDALE...
MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE...TRAFFORD...COUNTY LINE...PINSON...
  DALLAS...CLAY...PALMERDALE...VILLAGE SPRINGS...REMLAP AND CLEAR
  SPRINGS.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 272 THROUGH 282...
US 78 EXIT NUMBER 81...

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 3389 8653 3381 8652 3379 8654 3379 8658
      3376 8658 3376 8655 3372 8653 3367 8653
      3365 8708 3369 8705 3369 8703 3371 8703
      3380 8697
TIME...MOT...LOC 0543Z 265DEG 47KT 3374 8681

$$

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, 10:30 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Walker45 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, 11:24 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.