Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 69, NWS Huntsville, AL

April 27, 2011Colbert County, Franklin County, Lawrence County, Alabama

NWS Huntsville, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 27, 2011, 3:17 PM CDT for Colbert County, Franklin County, Lawrence County, Alabama. It was in force for 43 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 27, 2011, 3:17 PM CDT (20:17 UTC)
Expired
Apr 27, 2011, 4:00 PM CDT
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS Huntsville, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Emergency
Tornado emergency

Counties Colbert County, AL, Franklin County, AL, Lawrence County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 78 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:19 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, 3:30 PM CDTTORNADOPhil Campbell, ALTORNADO ON GROUND ON HIGHWAY 243 IN PHIL CAMPBELL.
Apr 27, 3:44 PM CDTHAIL 1Mt Hope, ALMEASURED BY SPOTTER.
Apr 27, 3:45 PM CDTHAIL 1.75Mt Hope, AL
Apr 27, 3:46 PM CDTTORNADOMt Hope, ALTORNADO ON GROUND WITH DEBRIS AND ROARING SOUND.
Apr 27, 3:48 PM CDTTORNADOMt Hope, ALTORNADO ON GROUND.

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, 1:42 PM CDTTornado Watch PDSSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 8.3 hours before the alert went out and 168 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 12:00Z on 2011-04-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 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 12:00Z on 2011-04-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -359 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
587 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
60 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-359 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-197 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

515 
WFUS54 KHUN 272017
TORHUN
ALC033-059-079-272100-
/O.NEW.KHUN.TO.W.0069.110427T2017Z-110427T2100Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTH CENTRAL COLBERT COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...
  FRANKLIN COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...
  WEST CENTRAL LAWRENCE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 400 PM CDT

* AT 317 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 11 MILES
  SOUTHWEST OF HODGES...OR ABOUT 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF HAMILTON...
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

* LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE...
  HODGES.
  DUKETON.
  ISBELL.
  PLEASANT RIDGE.
  THARPTOWN.
  LA GRANGE.

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 WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE.

&&

LAT...LON 3473 8766 3444 8733 3430 8763 3431 8764
      3432 8811 3432 8816 3433 8816
TIME...MOT...LOC 2017Z 227DEG 48KT 3423 8802

$$

KDW
3 follow-up statements
510 
WWUS54 KHUN 272025
SVSHUN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
325 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

ALC033-059-079-272100-
/O.CON.KHUN.TO.W.0069.000000T0000Z-110427T2100Z/
FRANKLIN AL-COLBERT AL-LAWRENCE AL-
325 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL LAWRENCE...SOUTH CENTRAL COLBERT AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES...

AT 325 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED 7 MILES SOUTH OF HODGES...OR ABOUT 7 MILES NORTH
OF HAMILTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
DUKETON...DEMPSEY...BELGREEN...PHIL CAMPBELL...SPRUCE PINE...
ROCKWOOD...ISBELL...RUSSELLVILLE...CROOKED OAK...PLEASANT RIDGE...
THARPTOWN...NEWBURG...LITTLEVILLE...MT HOPE...COLBERT HEIGHTS...LA
GRANGE...SPRING VALLEY AND LANDERSVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE.

&&

LAT...LON 3473 8766 3444 8733 3430 8763 3431 8764
      3432 8811 3432 8816 3433 8816
TIME...MOT...LOC 2025Z 227DEG 47KT 3428 8789

$$

KDW
975 
WWUS54 KHUN 272029
SVSHUN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
329 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

ALC033-059-079-272100-
/O.CON.KHUN.TO.W.0069.000000T0000Z-110427T2100Z/
FRANKLIN AL-COLBERT AL-LAWRENCE AL-
329 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL LAWRENCE...SOUTH CENTRAL COLBERT AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES...

...THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY...

AT 324 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A LARGE TORNADO ON 
THE GROUND NEAR HACKLEBURG.  THIS TORNADO WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 
MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
BELGREEN...PHIL CAMPBELL...SPRUCE PINE... ROCKWOOD... 
ISBELL...RUSSELLVILLE...CROOKED OAK...PLEASANT RIDGE... 
THARPTOWN...NEWBURG...LITTLEVILLE...COLBERT HEIGHTS...MT HOPE...LA 
GRANGE...SPRING VALLEY AND LANDERSVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A LARGE...DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY TORNADO IS ON 
THE GROUND. TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE...TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO AN 
INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING AND 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 WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE.

&&

LAT...LON 3473 8766 3444 8733 3430 8763 3431 8764
      3432 8811 3432 8816 3433 8816
TIME...MOT...LOC 2029Z 230DEG 48KT 3433 8779

$$

BCC
861 
WWUS54 KHUN 272042
SVSHUN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
342 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

ALC033-059-079-272100-
/O.CON.KHUN.TO.W.0069.000000T0000Z-110427T2100Z/
FRANKLIN AL-COLBERT AL-LAWRENCE AL-
342 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL LAWRENCE...SOUTHEASTERN COLBERT AND EASTERN FRANKLIN
COUNTIES...

...THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY...

AT 338 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS 
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR PHIL CAMPBELL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH. 
THIS TORNADO HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DAMAGE IN HACKLEBURG!

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
PLEASANT RIDGE...THARPTOWN...NEWBURG...MT HOPE...LA GRANGE...SPRING
VALLEY AND LANDERSVILLE.

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 WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE.

&&

LAT...LON 3436 8782 3469 8761 3444 8733 3430 8763
      3431 8764
TIME...MOT...LOC 2042Z 230DEG 48KT 3442 8763

$$

BCC

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, 6:37 AM CDTTornado WarningHUNJackson, Madison, Marshall23 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, 3:25 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.