Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 83, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 15, 20114 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 15, 2011, 8:10 PM CDT for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 50 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
Apr 15, 2011, 8:10 PM CDT (01:10 UTC)
Expired
Apr 15, 2011, 9:00 PM CDT
In force
50 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), 82 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:12 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, 8:12 PM CDTHAIL 1Selma, ALDOWNTOWN SELMA
Apr 15, 8:13 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG5 Wsw Selma, ALSEVERAL TREES DOWN INCLUDING ONE ON A HOUSE. DAMAGE TO AWNING OF OLD GAS STATION.
Apr 15, 8:13 PM CDTTORNADO 15 Wsw Selma, ALAN EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN WEST OF SELMA AND JUST SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 22 TRAVELING NORTHEAST TO WILDWOOD DR. THE BRIEF DAMAGE INCLUDED SOFT AND HARDWOOD TREES SNAPPED AND DAMAGE TO ONE HOME NEAR WILDWOOD DR DUE TO THE TREES. THE DAMAGE PATH LENGTH WAS 0.8 MILES
Apr 15, 8:17 PM CDTHAIL 0.88Valley Grande, AL
Apr 15, 8:50 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG5 Ssw Vida Junction, ALTREES DOWN AT HWY 82 AND CR 40 IN INDEPENDENCE. POSSIBLE TORNADO.

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, 7:48 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 1.2 hours before the alert went out and 242 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°0°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.

478 
WFUS54 KBMX 160110
TORBMX
ALC001-021-047-105-160200-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0083.110416T0110Z-110416T0200Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 900 PM CDT

* AT 808 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM
  WAS LOCATED NEAR POTTER STATION...OR NEAR SELMA...AND MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  SELMONT-WEST SELMONT...SELMA...VALLEY GRANDE...PRATTVILLE...PAUL M
  GRIST STATE PARK...BURNSVILLE...GARDNER ISLAND...MULBERRY...PARNELL
  AND AUTAUGAVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

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

&&

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

LAT...LON 3229 8713 3250 8724 3290 8674 3246 8644
      3239 8672 3241 8672 3240 8674 3240 8678
      3237 8679
TIME...MOT...LOC 0110Z 241DEG 36KT 3243 8707

$$
3 follow-up statements
021 
WWUS54 KBMX 160129
SVSBMX

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

ALC001-021-047-105-160200-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0083.000000T0000Z-110416T0200Z/
DALLAS AL-AUTAUGA AL-PERRY AL-CHILTON AL-
829 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN CHILTON...
EAST CENTRAL PERRY...AUTAUGA AND NORTHEASTERN DALLAS COUNTIES UNTIL
900 PM CDT...

AT 826 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
SEVERAL AREAS OF STRONG ROTATION OVER NORTH CENTRAL DALLAS 
COUNTY...OF WHICH ANY COULD PRODUCE A TORNADO.  THESE STORMS WERE 
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  PRATTVILLE...MULBERRY...PARNELL...AUTAUGAVILLE...MAPLESVILLE...
  PLECHER...VIDA JUNCTION...BILLINGSLEY...BOOTH AND POOLES
  CROSSROADS.

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 3229 8713 3250 8724 3290 8674 3246 8644
      3239 8672 3241 8672 3240 8674 3240 8678
      3237 8679
TIME...MOT...LOC 0127Z 241DEG 36KT 3251 8690

$$
424 
WWUS54 KBMX 160136
SVSBMX

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

ALC105-160146-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0083.000000T0000Z-110416T0200Z/
PERRY AL-
836 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 PERRY COUNTY.

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

LAT...LON 3239 8707 3252 8710 3255 8707 3256 8708
      3277 8667 3246 8644 3239 8672 3241 8672
      3240 8674 3240 8678 3237 8679
TIME...MOT...LOC 0136Z 251DEG 35KT 3251 8679

$$

ALC001-021-047-160200-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0083.000000T0000Z-110416T0200Z/
DALLAS AL-AUTAUGA AL-CHILTON AL-
836 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL CHILTON...
AUTAUGA AND NORTHEASTERN DALLAS COUNTIES UNTIL 900 PM CDT...

AT 831 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR BURNSVILLE...OR 8 MILES EAST OF VALLEY
GRANDE...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  PRATTVILLE...PLECHER...AUTAUGAVILLE...VIDA JUNCTION...
  BILLINGSLEY...POOLES CROSSROADS...BOOTH AND DAWSON MILL.

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 3239 8707 3252 8710 3255 8707 3256 8708
      3277 8667 3246 8644 3239 8672 3241 8672
      3240 8674 3240 8678 3237 8679
TIME...MOT...LOC 0136Z 251DEG 35KT 3251 8679

$$
908 
WWUS54 KBMX 160144
SVSBMX

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

ALC021-160154-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0083.000000T0000Z-110416T0200Z/
CHILTON AL-
844 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL CHILTON COUNTY IS 
CANCELLED...

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

LAT...LON 3243 8694 3255 8707 3267 8677 3267 8671
      3269 8671 3271 8667 3246 8644 3239 8672
      3241 8672 3240 8678 3237 8679
TIME...MOT...LOC 0144Z 251DEG 35KT 3250 8671

$$

ALC001-047-160200-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0083.000000T0000Z-110416T0200Z/
DALLAS AL-AUTAUGA AL-
844 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR AUTAUGA AND NORTHEASTERN
DALLAS COUNTIES UNTIL 900 PM CDT...

AT 840 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR MULBERRY...OR 14 MILES EAST OF VALLEY
GRANDE...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  PRATTVILLE...AUTAUGAVILLE...VIDA JUNCTION...BILLINGSLEY AND BOOTH.

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 3243 8694 3255 8707 3267 8677 3267 8671
      3269 8671 3271 8667 3246 8644 3239 8672
      3241 8672 3240 8678 3237 8679
TIME...MOT...LOC 0144Z 251DEG 35KT 3250 8671

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 15, 7:03 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton, Dallas, Perry57 min
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, 8:52 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.