Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 79, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 15, 20114 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 15, 2011, 7:03 PM CDT for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 57 min. 3 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, 7:03 PM CDT (00:03 UTC)
Expired
Apr 15, 2011, 8:00 PM CDT
In force
57 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Autauga County, AL, Chilton County, AL, Dallas County, AL, Perry County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 53 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:03 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, 7:05 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG4 Sw Plantersville, ALTREES DOWN AND BLOCKING SR 22.
Apr 15, 7:05 PM CDTTORNADO 16 Nnw Valley Grande, ALAN EF-1 TORNADO BRIEFLY TOUCHED DOWN ALONG COUNTY ROAD 272 UPROOTING SEVERAL SOFT AND HARDWOOD TREES. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED TO A MOBILE HOME FROM UPROOTED TREES. THE DAMAGE PATH LENGTH WAS 0.1 MILES AND THE MAX WIDTH WAS 100 YARDS WIDE. THE MAX ESTI
Apr 15, 7:05 PM CDTTORNADO 16 Nnw Valley Grande, ALAN EF-1 TORNADO BRIEFLY TOUCHED DOWN ALONG COUNTY ROAD 272 UPROOTING SEVERAL SOFT AND HARDWOOD TREES. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED TO A MOBILE HOME FROM UPROOTED TREES. THE DAMAGE PATH LENGTH WAS 0.1 MILES AND THE MAX WIDTH WAS 75 YARDS WIDE. THE MAX ESTIM

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

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 0.1 hours before the alert went out and 223 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 00:00Z on 2011-04-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 406 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 00:00Z on 2011-04-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 373 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
406 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-24 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1138 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
68 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
373 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
566 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.3
Supercell composite
11.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

667 
WFUS54 KBMX 160003
TORBMX
ALC001-021-047-105-160100-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0079.110416T0003Z-110416T0100Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN AUTAUGA COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  SOUTHERN CHILTON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  NORTHEASTERN DALLAS COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  EAST CENTRAL PERRY COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 800 PM CDT

* AT 659 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A
  CONFIRMED TORNADO 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PAUL M GRIST STATE PARK...OR
  6 MILES NORTHWEST OF VALLEY GRANDE. DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS   
TORNADO MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  VALLEY GRANDE...CLANTON...PAUL M GRIST STATE PARK...PARNELL...
  PLECHER...VIDA JUNCTION...BILLINGSLEY...POOLES CROSSROADS...VERBENA
  AND BARRETT CREEK.

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 3288 8657 3259 8642 3249 8708 3262 8713
TIME...MOT...LOC 0003Z 248DEG 28KT 3257 8703

$$

03/08
3 follow-up statements
633 
WWUS54 KBMX 160015
SVSBMX

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

ALC105-160022-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0079.000000T0000Z-110416T0100Z/
PERRY AL-
715 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL PERRY COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED 
AREA.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF THE 
COUNTY WITH ANOTHER SEVERE THUNDERSTORM TO THE SOUTHWEST.

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

LAT...LON 3254 8697 3266 8704 3288 8657 3259 8642
TIME...MOT...LOC 0012Z 242DEG 45KT 3266 8691

$$

ALC001-021-047-160100-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0079.000000T0000Z-110416T0100Z/
DALLAS AL-AUTAUGA AL-CHILTON AL-
715 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN CHILTON...
NORTHERN AUTAUGA AND NORTHEASTERN DALLAS COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM CDT...

AT 708 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS CONTINUING TO FOLLOW A 
CONFIRMED TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR PAUL M GRIST STATE 
PARK...OR 8 MILES NORTH OF VALLEY GRANDE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 
MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CLANTON...PARNELL...PLECHER...VIDA JUNCTION...BILLINGSLEY...POOLES
  CROSSROADS...VERBENA...DAWSON MILL...ENTERPRISE AND NEW PROSPECT.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 193 THROUGH 208...

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

LAT...LON 3254 8697 3266 8704 3288 8657 3259 8642
TIME...MOT...LOC 0012Z 242DEG 45KT 3266 8691

$$

03/08
504 
WWUS54 KBMX 160028
SVSBMX

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

ALC047-160037-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0079.000000T0000Z-110416T0100Z/
DALLAS AL-
728 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

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

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED 
AREA.  THE TORNADO WARNING FOR OTHER PARTS OF DALLAS COUNTY REMAIN 
IN EFFECT.

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

LAT...LON 3264 8685 3274 8687 3288 8657 3259 8642
TIME...MOT...LOC 0027Z 243DEG 40KT 3271 8675

$$

ALC001-021-160100-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0079.000000T0000Z-110416T0100Z/
AUTAUGA AL-CHILTON AL-
728 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL CHILTON AND
NORTHERN AUTAUGA COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM CDT...

AT 722 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR PLECHER...OR 14 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CLANTON...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

THIS STORM PRODUCED DAMAGE SOUTH OF PLANTERSVILLE AS IT MOVED 
THROUGH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CLANTON...POOLES CROSSROADS...VERBENA...ENTERPRISE...NEW PROSPECT
  AND COOPER.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 193 THROUGH 208...

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 3264 8685 3274 8687 3288 8657 3259 8642
TIME...MOT...LOC 0027Z 243DEG 40KT 3271 8675

$$

61
784 
WWUS54 KBMX 160037
SVSBMX

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

ALC001-021-160100-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0079.000000T0000Z-110416T0100Z/
AUTAUGA AL-CHILTON AL-
737 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL CHILTON AND NORTH
CENTRAL AUTAUGA COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM CDT...

AT 736 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR POOLES CROSSROADS...OR 7 MILES SOUTH OF
CLANTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CLANTON...VERBENA...ENTERPRISE AND COOPER.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 193 THROUGH 208...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR
THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3268 8673 3279 8675 3288 8657 3266 8646
TIME...MOT...LOC 0037Z 245DEG 36KT 3274 8664

$$

61

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 15, 7:06 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLowndes, Montgomery39 min
Apr 15, 7:09 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDallas, Marengo, Perry66 min
Apr 15, 7:33 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXMarengo3 hr
Apr 15, 7:41 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXChilton, Coosa28 min
Apr 15, 8:10 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton, Dallas, Perry50 min
Apr 15, 8:52 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Elmore38 min
Apr 15, 9:15 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton, Coosa, Elmore30 min
Apr 15, 9:19 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Dallas, Lowndes41 min
Apr 15, 9:37 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCoosa, Elmore, Tallapoosa38 min
Apr 15, 10:32 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Lowndes and 2 more28 min
Apr 15, 10:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Randolph, Talladega and 1 more32 min
Apr 15, 10:44 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Coosa, Elmore46 min
Apr 15, 11:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLowndes, Montgomery, Pike40 min
Apr 15, 11:21 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXChambers, Coosa, Elmore, Tallapoosa54 min
Apr 15, 11:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChambers, Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, Tallapoosa47 min
Apr 15, 11:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBullock, Macon, Montgomery, Pike38 min
Apr 15, 11:53 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXChambers, Randolph, Tallapoosa52 min
Apr 16, 12:14 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBullock, Montgomery, Pike46 min
Apr 16, 12:36 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXChambers, Randolph, Tallapoosa3 hr
Apr 16, 12:41 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBullock, Lee, Macon, Russell34 min
Apr 16, 12:55 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBullock, Macon, Montgomery, Pike50 min
Apr 16, 1:26 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBullock, Lee, Macon, Russell49 min
Apr 16, 2:11 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLee, Russell19 min
Apr 16, 2:58 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXRussell47 min
Apr 16, 4:13 AM CDTWind AdvisoryBMXAutauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more15 hr

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.