Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 38, NWS Mobile, AL

April 15, 2011Choctaw County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 15, 2011, 11:41 AM CDT for Choctaw County, Alabama. It was in force for 64 min. 2 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, 11:41 AM CDT (16:41 UTC)
Expired
Apr 15, 2011, 12:45 PM CDT
In force
64 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Choctaw County, AL

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 158 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:42 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, 11:50 AM CDTTORNADO5 Sw Butler, ALTORNADO REPORTED IN RED SPRINGS.
Apr 15, 11:56 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG4 Nnw Ararat, ALLARGE TREE DOWN ATOP A MANUFACTURED HOME. 3 PEOPLE TRAPPED INSIDE BUT NO REPORTS OF INJURIES AT THIS TIME.

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, 7:32 AM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr
Apr 15, 11:21 AM CDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 4.7 hours before the alert went out and 172 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 2011-04-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2011-04-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 282 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1553 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
282 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
365 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

101 
WFUS54 KMOB 151641
TORMOB
ALC023-151745-
/O.NEW.KMOB.TO.W.0038.110415T1641Z-110415T1745Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1141 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN CHOCTAW COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF BUTLER...

* UNTIL 1245 PM CDT

* AT 1138 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS CONTINUE
  TO INDICATE A TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM 14 MILES SOUTHWEST OF 
  BUTLER...OR NEAR NEEDHAM...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  NEEDHAM AND TOXEY AROUND 1145 AM CDT...
  WIMBLY AROUND 1150 AM CDT...
  BUTLER AROUND 1210 PM CDT...
  MT STERLING AND MOUNT STERLING AROUND 1215 PM CDT...
  DEAS AROUND 1235 PM CDT...
  PENNINGTON AROUND 1240 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL 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 900 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.

&&

LAT...LON 3230 8797 3228 8801 3221 8800 3208 8805
      3206 8811 3201 8811 3201 8808 3197 8809
      3195 8812 3194 8810 3192 8811 3186 8843
      3203 8843 3232 8800 3232 8797
TIME...MOT...LOC 1639Z 242DEG 22KT 3196 8839

$$
3 follow-up statements
820 
WWUS54 KMOB 151709
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1209 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

ALC023-151745-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0038.000000T0000Z-110415T1745Z/
CHOCTAW AL-
1209 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1245 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN
CHOCTAW COUNTY...

AT 1205 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS CONTINUED TO
DETECT ON RADAR A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.
 THIS TORNADO WAS NEAR MOUNT STERLING...OR ABOUT NEAR BUTLER...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  LAVACA...CHOCTAW CITY AND ROBJOHN AROUND 1220 PM CDT...
  PENNINGTON AROUND 1225 PM CDT...
  TOMPKINSVILLE AND NAHEOLA AROUND 1230 PM CDT...

THE EMA OFFICE IN CHOCTAW COUNTY HAS ALREADY CONFIRMED DAMAGE NEAR 
RED SPRINGS JUST SOUTH OF BUTLER.  THIS STORM IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS 
AND ANYONE IN ITS PATH SHOULD TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING...PREFERABLY IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR A ROOM SUCH AS
A CLOSET OR BATHROOM. IF POSSIBLE...GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER
PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY
AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3230 8797 3228 8801 3221 8800 3208 8805
      3206 8811 3201 8811 3201 8808 3197 8809
      3195 8812 3194 8810 3192 8811 3186 8843
      3203 8843 3232 8800 3232 8797
TIME...MOT...LOC 1707Z 244DEG 26KT 3206 8814

$$
661 
WWUS54 KMOB 151735
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1235 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

ALC023-151745-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0038.000000T0000Z-110415T1745Z/
CHOCTAW AL-
1235 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1245 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN
CHOCTAW COUNTY...

AT 1228 PM CDT....THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE ORIGINAL WARNING HAS 
EXITED THE COUNTY...HOWEVER NEW STORM DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES TO 
GENERATE ACROSS WEST CENTRAL CHOCTAW COUNTY.  ONE STORM IS 
DEVELOPING NEAR RIDERWOOD AND ANOTHER CONTINUES TO DEVELOP NEAR 
NEEDHAM.  PEOPLE IN THE AREA MUST REMAIN VIGILANT FOR THIS NEW 
DEVELOPMENT.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3230 8797 3228 8801 3221 8800 3208 8805
      3206 8811 3201 8811 3201 8808 3197 8809
      3195 8812 3194 8810 3192 8811 3186 8843
      3203 8843 3232 8800 3232 8797
TIME...MOT...LOC 1732Z 232DEG 32KT 3207 8831

$$
490 
WWUS54 KMOB 151748
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1248 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

ALC023-151756-
/O.EXP.KMOB.TO.W.0038.000000T0000Z-110415T1745Z/
CHOCTAW AL-
1248 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN CHOCTAW COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...

THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS EXITED THE AREA AND NEW 
DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE COUNTY HAS REMAINED BELOW SEVERE LIMITS AT 
THIS TIME.  HOWEVER...STORMS MAY GO SEVERE AT ANY TIME AS THE 
ENVIRONMENT REMAINS RIPE FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT. A TORNADO WATCH 
REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHWESTERN 
ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3230 8797 3228 8801 3221 8800 3208 8805
      3206 8811 3201 8811 3201 8808 3197 8809
      3195 8812 3194 8810 3192 8811 3186 8843
      3203 8843 3232 8800 3232 8797
TIME...MOT...LOC 1735Z 232DEG 32KT 3209 8828

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 14, 10:41 PM CDTSmall Craft AdvisoryMOB44 hr
Apr 15, 10:20 AM CDTTornado WarningMOBWashington40 min
Apr 15, 10:50 AM CDTTornado WarningMOBClarke, Washington40 min
Apr 15, 10:56 AM CDTTornado WarningMOBChoctaw49 min
Apr 15, 11:09 AM CDTTornado WarningMOBWashington51 min
Apr 15, 11:26 AM CDTTornado WarningMOBClarke, Monroe49 min
Apr 15, 11:52 AM CDTTornado WarningMOBChoctaw, Clarke, Washington38 min
Apr 15, 12:07 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBMonroe38 min
Apr 15, 12:20 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBChoctaw, Clarke, Washington40 min
Apr 15, 12:35 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBMonroe, Wilcox24 min
Apr 15, 12:44 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBWashington46 min
Apr 15, 12:51 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBClarke, Wilcox33 min
Apr 15, 1:09 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBWashington51 min
Apr 15, 1:22 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBClarke, Washington21 min
Apr 15, 1:46 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBClarke, Washington44 min
Apr 15, 2:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBChoctaw27 min
Apr 15, 2:22 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBClarke, Monroe, Wilcox38 min
Apr 15, 2:55 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBMonroe, Wilcox50 min
Apr 15, 3:18 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBButler, Conecuh, Monroe, Wilcox57 min
Apr 15, 3:41 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBClarke, Washington32 min
Apr 15, 4:02 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBChoctaw58 min
Apr 15, 4:27 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBClarke, Monroe48 min
Apr 15, 4:57 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBChoctaw42 min
Apr 15, 5:09 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBButler, Conecuh, Monroe, Wilcox51 min
Apr 15, 5:44 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBMonroe, Wilcox31 min
Apr 15, 5:47 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyMOBChoctaw58 min
Apr 15, 5:54 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBWilcox51 min
Apr 15, 5:59 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBButler26 min
Apr 15, 6:23 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBWilcox32 min
Apr 15, 6:34 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBChoctaw41 min
Apr 15, 6:44 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBChoctaw, Clarke, Washington61 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.