Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 45, NWS Huntsville, AL

April 27, 2011Jackson County, Madison County, Marshall County, Alabama

NWS Huntsville, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 27, 2011, 6:37 AM CDT for Jackson County, Madison County, Marshall County, Alabama. It was in force for 23 min. 4 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, 6:37 AM CDT (11:37 UTC)
Expired
Apr 27, 2011, 7:00 AM CDT
In force
23 min
Issued by
NWS Huntsville, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Jackson County, AL, Madison County, AL, Marshall County, AL

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 53 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:40 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, 6:41 AM CDTTORNADOGuntersville, ALTRAINED SPOTTERS REPORTED POSSIBLE TORNADO TOUCHDOWN ALONG HIGHWAY 205 AND 431 JUST SOUTH OF GUNTERSVILLE.
Apr 27, 6:45 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG3 Ne Guntersville, ALNUMEROUS TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN. POSSIBLE TORNADO DAMAGE. SPOTTER HEARD LOUD ROARING SOUND AS DAMAGE OCCURRED.
Apr 27, 7:00 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGLangston, ALLARGE TREES DOWN ON VEHICLES. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. POSSIBLE TORNADO.
Apr 27, 7:05 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGSection, ALNUMEROUS TREES DOWN BETWEEN SECTION AND MACEDONIA ALONG HIGHWAY 35. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

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, 11.6 hours before the alert went out and 154 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.

962 
WFUS54 KHUN 271137
TORHUN
ALC071-089-095-271200-
/O.NEW.KHUN.TO.W.0045.110427T1137Z-110427T1200Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN MADISON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  SOUTHWESTERN JACKSON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ALABAMA...
  NORTHERN MARSHALL COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 700 AM CDT

* AT 630 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
  MULTIPLE TORNADIC CIRCULATIONS NEAR GUNTERSVILLE AND UNION         
  GROVE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH. THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF    
  PRODUCING DAMAGE WITH WALL CLOUDS CURRENTLY REPORTED NEAR ARAB.

* LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE...
  COLUMBUS CITY.
  GRANT.
  LANGSTON.
  SECTION.
  SCOTTSBORO.

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.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW! IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 AM CDT WEDNESDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE.

&&

LAT...LON 3448 8603 3448 8606 3444 8611 3442 8611
      3441 8613 3440 8613 3440 8611 3438 8610
      3428 8618 3441 8657 3474 8627 3466 8589
TIME...MOT...LOC 1134Z 219DEG 51KT 3440 8628

$$
SL
1 follow-up statement
523 
WWUS54 KHUN 271142
SVSHUN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
642 AM CDT WED APR 27 2011

ALC071-089-095-271200-
/O.CON.KHUN.TO.W.0045.000000T0000Z-110427T1200Z/
MARSHALL AL-MADISON AL-JACKSON AL-
642 AM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 AM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN JACKSON...SOUTHEASTERN MADISON AND NORTHERN MARSHALL
COUNTIES...

AT 634 AM CDT...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED MULTIPLE 
TORNADO TOUCHDOWNS NEAR GUNTERSVILLE AND ARAB. WIDESPREAD DAMAGE HAS 
BEEN REPORTED IN ARAB. THESE TORNADOES WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 
MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
GRANT...PAINT ROCK...WOODVILLE...LANGSTON...LIM ROCK...SECTION...
LARKINSVILLE AND SCOTTSBORO.

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.

A TORNADO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY! DO NOT RUN
OUTSIDE TO FIND THE TORNADO...THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY
LIFE THREATENING SITUATION!

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 AM CDT WEDNESDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE.

&&

LAT...LON 3448 8603 3448 8606 3444 8611 3442 8611
      3441 8613 3440 8613 3440 8611 3438 8610
      3428 8618 3441 8657 3474 8627 3466 8589
TIME...MOT...LOC 1141Z 219DEG 51KT 3448 8620

$$

SL

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 27, 3:28 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNColbert, Franklin32 min
Apr 27, 3:49 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNColbert, Franklin26 min
Apr 27, 3:53 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNColbert, Lauderdale37 min
Apr 27, 4:02 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNColbert, Franklin, Lawrence28 min
Apr 27, 4:09 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNColbert, Lauderdale36 min
Apr 27, 4:19 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNColbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence26 min
Apr 27, 4:33 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNFranklin, Lawrence27 min
Apr 27, 4:36 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNLauderdale9 min
Apr 27, 4:40 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNColbert, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone35 min
Apr 27, 4:47 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNColbert, Franklin, Lawrence28 min
Apr 27, 4:59 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNLauderdale, Limestone31 min
Apr 27, 5:02 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNLawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan43 min
Apr 27, 5:14 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNLawrence, Madison, Marshall, Morgan46 min
Apr 27, 5:24 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNLawrence, Limestone, Morgan36 min
Apr 27, 5:27 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNCullman48 min
Apr 27, 5:31 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNLawrence, Morgan29 min
Apr 27, 5:40 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNJackson, Madison35 min
Apr 27, 5:58 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNJackson, Madison47 min
Apr 27, 6:02 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNLimestone, Madison, Morgan28 min
Apr 27, 6:09 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNCullman, Marshall, Morgan36 min
Apr 27, 6:19 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNMarshall41 min
Apr 27, 6:20 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNJackson, Madison40 min
Apr 27, 6:44 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNDeKalb46 min
Apr 27, 6:45 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNDeKalb, Jackson45 min
Apr 27, 6:52 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNDeKalb, Jackson, Marshall38 min
Apr 27, 7:08 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNDeKalb37 min
Apr 27, 7:24 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNDeKalb, Jackson21 min
Apr 27, 7:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNDeKalb, Jackson20 min
Apr 27, 7:41 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNJackson10 min
Apr 27, 8:22 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNFranklin, Lawrence38 min
Apr 27, 8:41 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNColbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence34 min
Apr 27, 8:48 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNLawrence, Limestone, Morgan42 min
Apr 27, 9:05 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNLawrence, Limestone, Morgan25 min
Apr 27, 9:14 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLimestone31 min
Apr 27, 9:20 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNLimestone, Madison, Morgan25 min
Apr 27, 9:39 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNLimestone, Madison27 min
Apr 27, 9:40 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNColbert, Franklin, Lauderdale50 min
Apr 27, 9:57 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningHUNMadison46 hr
Apr 27, 10:00 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNColbert, Franklin45 min
Apr 27, 10:03 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningHUNMadison38 hr
Apr 27, 10:05 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningHUNJackson, Madison, Marshall3 days
Apr 27, 10:08 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningHUNColbert, Franklin, Lauderdale9 hr
Apr 27, 10:08 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningHUNLawrence3 days
Apr 27, 10:12 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNColbert, Franklin33 min
Apr 27, 10:37 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNColbert, Lauderdale38 min
Apr 27, 10:43 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNColbert, Franklin, Lawrence47 min
Apr 27, 10:53 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNFranklin, Lawrence, Morgan37 min
Apr 27, 10:58 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNColbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Morgan47 min
Apr 27, 11:18 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNLimestone, Madison27 min
Apr 27, 11:26 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNLawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Morgan49 min
Apr 27, 11:27 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNLimestone, Madison33 min
Apr 27, 11:30 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNLimestone, Madison, Morgan30 min
Apr 27, 11:41 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNJackson, Limestone, Madison34 min
Apr 27, 12:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNJackson, Madison, Marshall45 min
Apr 27, 12:04 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNJackson, Madison26 min
Apr 27, 12:07 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningHUNColbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone8 hr
Apr 27, 12:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNLawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Morgan43 min
Apr 27, 12:25 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNJackson20 min
Apr 27, 12:27 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningHUNLimestone, Madison, Morgan8 hr
Apr 27, 12:31 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNMadison, Marshall, Morgan29 min
Apr 27, 12:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNDeKalb, Jackson, Madison, Marshall65 min
Apr 27, 1:11 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNDeKalb, Jackson34 min
Apr 27, 1:29 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningHUNDeKalb, Jackson, Madison, Marshall3 hr
Apr 27, 1:41 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNLawrence, Morgan34 min
Apr 27, 2:09 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNLawrence, Limestone, Morgan17 min
Apr 27, 2:24 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNCullman36 min
Apr 27, 2:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNColbert, Lauderdale44 min
Apr 27, 2:43 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyHUNCullman, Morgan32 min
Apr 27, 2:51 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNColbert, Franklin, Lauderdale24 min
Apr 27, 3:03 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyHUNCullman, Madison, Marshall, Morgan42 min
Apr 27, 3:08 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNColbert, Lauderdale37 min
Apr 27, 3:17 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyHUNColbert, Franklin, Lawrence43 min
Apr 27, 3:25 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyHUNJackson, Madison, Marshall50 min
Apr 27, 3:51 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNJackson24 min
Apr 27, 3:51 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNLawrence, Limestone, Morgan24 min
Apr 27, 3:56 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNColbert, Franklin, Lawrence34 min
Apr 27, 3:59 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNCullman, Marshall, Morgan31 min
Apr 27, 4:07 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNMadison, Morgan38 min
Apr 27, 4:09 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNFranklin36 min
Apr 27, 4:11 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyHUNLawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan34 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.