Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 99, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 27, 20114 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 27, 2011, 5:29 AM CDT for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 31 min. 23 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 27, 2011, 5:29 AM CDT (10:29 UTC)
Expired
Apr 27, 2011, 6:00 AM CDT
In force
31 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

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

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 32 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:31 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 27, 5:31 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG3 N Woodstock Junction, ALTRACTOR TRAILERS OVERTURNED AND TREES UPROOTED NEAR MILE MARKER 93 ON INTERSTATE 20/59.
Apr 27, 5:31 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGWoodstock Junction, ALNUMEROUS TREES DOWN AND ROADS CLOSED IN NORTHERN BIBB. SEVERAL STRUCUTRES ALSO DAMAGED.
Apr 27, 5:35 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGBucksville, ALTREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ON TINLGE SPRINGS CIRCLE NEAR EXIT 100 ON INTERSTATE 20/59.
Apr 27, 5:38 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG3 S Mcadory, ALNUMEROUS TREES DOWN IN THE MCCALLA AREA.
Apr 27, 5:40 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG7 S Bessemer, ALTREES AND POWERLINES DOWN NEAR SHADES CREST ROAD AND BLUFF RIDGE ROAD.
Apr 27, 5:40 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGEnsley, ALTWO LARGE BROADCAST RADIO TOWERS REPORTED DOWN NEAR THE FAIRGROUNDS.
Apr 27, 5:40 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGHueytown, ALTREES DOWN ON HOUSES AND BLOCKING ROADWAYS.
Apr 27, 5:46 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGHelena, ALTREES DOWN ON HIGHWAY 261 IN HELENA.
Apr 27, 5:49 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGVestavia Hills, ALNUMEROUS TREES DOWN IN VESTAVIA.
Apr 27, 5:49 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGVestavia Hills, ALNUMEROUS TREES DOWN IN VESTAVIA. SEVERAL HOMES AND VEHICLES ARE DAMAGED.
Apr 27, 5:50 AM CDTTORNADO 15 E Hoover, ALA TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST WEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF VALLEYDALE ROAD AND CALDWELL MILL ROAD. IT MOVED NORTH-NORTHEAST ACROSS A LARGE RESIDENTIAL AREA AND SNAPPED NUMEROUS TREES. THE TREES FELL ON POWER LINES...HOUSES...APARTMENTS...AND VEHICLES. THE HEAVIES
Apr 27, 5:53 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG5 Se Homewood, ALSIGNIFICANT DAMAGE IN THE ALTADENA LAKE AREA.. ALTADENA LAKE DR AT REDWING DR., CAMP HORNER RD AT CALDWELL MILL RD., AND CAHABA RIVER BRIDGE AT CALDWELL MILL RD.
Apr 27, 5:54 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG5 E Vestavia Hills, ALSEVERAL TREES SNAPPED OFF AND HOME ROOF DAMAGE IN THE BROOKHIGHLAND SUBDIVISION OFF HIGHWAY 280.
Apr 27, 5:54 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG5 E Vestavia Hills, ALSEVERAL TREES SNAPPED OFF AND HOME ROOF DAMAGE IN THE BROOKHIGHLAND SUBDIVISION OFF HIGHWAY 280. AT LEAST 100 HOMES WITH TREES ON THEM IN THE CAHABA HEIGHTS AND VESTAVIA AREA.
Apr 27, 5:54 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGBirmingham, ALMARQUEE SIGN AT THE BJCC BLOWN DOWN.
Apr 27, 5:54 AM CDTTORNADO 23 Se Homewood, ALAN EF-2 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR GRESHAM HIGH SCHOOL IN THE MOUNTAIN BROOK/VESTAVIA HILLS AREA AND MOVED NE ACROSS SE JEFFERSON COUNTY ACROSS CAHABA HEIGHTS. HUNDREDS OF TREES WERE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED AND SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGING SEVERAL HOMES. THE TRACK WAS 7.
Apr 27, 5:55 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG4 S Homewood, ALTREE DOWN ON HOUSE OF A NWS EMPLOYEE.
Apr 27, 5:56 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG1 Ne Cahaba Heights, ALNUMEROUS TREES SNAPPED AND UPROOTED IN CAHABA HEIGHTS
Apr 27, 6:00 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG3 Ne Vestavia Hills, AL*** 1 FATAL *** TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ACROSS CITY. TREE FELL ON HOUSE AND CAUSED ONE FATALITY.
Apr 27, 6:00 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG3 Ne Vestavia Hills, ALTREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ON SHADY WATERS LANE.
Apr 27, 6:00 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGBirmingham, AL2ND AVENUE NORTH IS IMPASSABLE DUE TO DOWNED TREES IN THE ROADWAY.
Apr 27, 6:00 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGBirmingham, ALROOF TORN OFF A LARGE HANGAR AT THE BIRMINGHAM SHUTTLESWORTH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
Apr 27, 6:00 AM CDTTSTM WND GST 56Birmingham, 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 27, 2:26 AM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 10.5 hours before the alert went out and 31 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 2011-04-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1044 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 2011-04-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 111 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
1044 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-10 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1119 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
111 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
181 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.6
Supercell composite
5.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

554 
WFUS54 KBMX 271029
TORBMX
ALC007-073-117-125-271100-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0099.110427T1029Z-110427T1100Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
529 AM CDT WED APR 27 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTH CENTRAL BIBB COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  SOUTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  CENTRAL SHELBY COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  EAST CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 600 AM CDT

* AT 529 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM
  WAS LOCATED NEAR WOODSTOCK JUNCTION...OR 17 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
  BESSEMER...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 70 MPH.

* THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  BESSEMER AND ALABAMA ADVENTURE AROUND 540 AM CDT.
  RIVERCHASE GALLERIA...HOOVER...REGIONS PARK OR HOOVER MET AND
  RIVERCHASE AROUND 545 AM CDT.
  INDIAN SPRINGS VILLAGE...VESTAVIA HILLS...OAK MOUNTAIN STATE PARK
  AND SAMFORD UNIVERSITY AROUND 550 AM CDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS DANGEROUS STORM INCLUDE MCCALLA...
MCADORY...BESSEMER AIRPORT...JOE TUCKER PARK...SHANNON AND GOAT
ISLAND AT LAKE PURDY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT TAKE SHELTER UNDER HIGHWAY OVERPASSES. AS A LAST
RESORT...EITHER PARK YOUR VEHICLE AND STAY PUT...OR ABANDON YOUR
VEHICLE AND LIE DOWN IN A LOW LYING AREA.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR
THE TORNADO. 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 3365 8683 3341 8658 3312 8720 3328 8729
TIME...MOT...LOC 1029Z 245DEG 60KT 3324 8713

$$

75
2 follow-up statements
751 
WWUS54 KBMX 271041
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
541 AM CDT WED APR 27 2011

ALC007-125-271051-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0099.000000T0000Z-110427T1100Z/
BIBB AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-
541 AM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA AND NORTH CENTRAL
BIBB COUNTIES 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 3344 8710 3364 8684 3363 8681 3341 8658
      3323 8696
TIME...MOT...LOC 1041Z 241DEG 57KT 3335 8694

$$

ALC073-117-271100-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0099.000000T0000Z-110427T1100Z/
SHELBY AL-JEFFERSON AL-
541 AM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN JEFFERSON AND
CENTRAL SHELBY COUNTIES UNTIL 600 AM CDT...

AT 540 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR BESSEMER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HELENA...FAIRFIELD...HOOVER...VESTAVIA HILLS...HOMEWOOD...
  BIRMINGHAM...MOUNTAIN BROOK...FULTONDALE...BRIGHTON AND MADISON.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 246 THROUGH 266...
INTERSTATE 459 EXIT NUMBERS 1 THROUGH 23...
US 78 EXIT NUMBER 91...
INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 106 THROUGH 132...
INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBER 130...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT TAKE SHELTER UNDER HIGHWAY OVERPASSES. AS A LAST
RESORT... EITHER PARK YOUR VEHICLE AND STAY PUT...OR ABANDON YOUR
VEHICLE AND LIE DOWN IN A LOW LYING AREA.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR
THE TORNADO. 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 3344 8710 3364 8684 3363 8681 3341 8658
      3323 8696
TIME...MOT...LOC 1041Z 241DEG 57KT 3335 8694

$$

75
024 
WWUS54 KBMX 271054
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
554 AM CDT WED APR 27 2011

ALC073-117-271103-
/O.EXP.KBMX.TO.W.0099.000000T0000Z-110427T1100Z/
SHELBY AL-JEFFERSON AL-
554 AM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHERN JEFFERSON AND CENTRAL SHELBY
COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 600 AM CDT...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED BELOW SEVERE
LIMITS...AND NO LONGER POSES AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO LIFE OR PROPERTY.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR 
JEFFERSON AND SHELBY COUNTY UNTIL 645 AM CDT.

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

LAT...LON 3344 8710 3364 8684 3363 8681 3341 8658
      3323 8696
TIME...MOT...LOC 1053Z 241DEG 57KT 3344 8674

$$

58/02

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 27, 3:37 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXLamar, Pickens38 min
Apr 27, 3:45 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Marion45 min
Apr 27, 3:59 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Lamar, Pickens, Sumter46 min
Apr 27, 4:13 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXPickens32 min
Apr 27, 4:14 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Pickens, Sumter31 min
Apr 27, 4:19 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Marion41 min
Apr 27, 4:26 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarion34 min
Apr 27, 4:28 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Marengo, Sumter47 min
Apr 27, 4:33 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Pickens, Tuscaloosa27 min
Apr 27, 4:40 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Pickens, Tuscaloosa50 min
Apr 27, 4:44 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa31 min
Apr 27, 5:07 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Walker38 min
Apr 27, 5:11 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Blount, Fayette, Hale, Jefferson, Shelby and 2 more49 min
Apr 27, 5:14 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXJefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker31 min
Apr 27, 5:44 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Chilton, Dallas, Perry, Shelby46 min
Apr 27, 5:52 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Chilton, Etowah, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby and 1 more53 min
Apr 27, 6:02 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXAutauga, Chilton, Dallas43 min
Apr 27, 6:21 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa and 3 more39 min
Apr 27, 6:49 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah, Randolph and 1 more56 min
Apr 27, 8:05 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Marion25 min
Apr 27, 8:20 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarion25 min
Apr 27, 10:04 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Marion41 min
Apr 27, 10:42 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXLamar, Marion, Winston48 min
Apr 27, 10:51 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXMarion54 min
Apr 27, 12:08 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXMarion, Winston112 min
Apr 27, 2:09 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXWalker, Winston31 min
Apr 27, 2:17 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXMarion, Winston118 min
Apr 27, 2:51 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter19 hr
Apr 27, 2:51 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter6 hr
Apr 27, 2:59 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLamar, Marion46 min
Apr 27, 3:15 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa60 min
Apr 27, 3:21 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLamar, Marion54 min
Apr 27, 3:38 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXGreene, Hale, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa67 min
Apr 27, 3:56 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarion34 min
Apr 27, 3:57 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXMarion, Winston3 hr
Apr 27, 4:00 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXFayette, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Walker60 min
Apr 27, 4:31 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa20 min
Apr 27, 4:44 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion61 min
Apr 27, 4:47 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXGreene, Pickens, Tuscaloosa58 min
Apr 27, 4:50 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Sumter55 min
Apr 27, 4:55 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXBlount, Jefferson, Walker65 min
Apr 27, 5:22 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Lamar68 min
Apr 27, 5:28 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarion, Winston30 min
Apr 27, 5:31 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXJefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa59 min
Apr 27, 5:38 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXBibb, Greene, Hale, Perry, Tuscaloosa67 min
Apr 27, 5:39 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBlount21 min
Apr 27, 6:06 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Marengo, Sumter16 min
Apr 27, 6:14 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Marion, Walker, Winston61 min
Apr 27, 6:17 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXJefferson118 min
Apr 27, 6:18 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson, St. Clair57 min
Apr 27, 6:20 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBibb, Chilton, Greene, Hale, Perry55 min
Apr 27, 6:33 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningBMXMarion, Winston3 hr
Apr 27, 6:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston40 min
Apr 27, 6:39 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson, St. Clair3 hr
Apr 27, 6:39 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXBibb, Chilton, Shelby, Talladega66 min
Apr 27, 6:49 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXBlount, Calhoun, Etowah, St. Clair56 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.