Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 43, NWS Mobile, AL

April 15, 2011Washington County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 15, 2011, 12:44 PM CDT for Washington County, Alabama. It was in force for 46 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Apr 15, 2011, 12:44 PM CDT (17:44 UTC)
Expired
Apr 15, 2011, 1:30 PM CDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Washington County, AL

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 83 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:47 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.

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

Slidell Radar S, LA (KSIL), launched 12:00Z, 5.7 hours before the alert went out and 192 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, Slidell Radar S, LA at 12:00Z on 2011-04-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2339 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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, Slidell Radar S, LA at 12:00Z on 2011-04-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 325 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
2339 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-1 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
499 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
50 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
325 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
504 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
4.8
Supercell composite
21.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

498 
WFUS54 KMOB 151744
TORMOB
ALC129-151830-
/O.NEW.KMOB.TO.W.0043.110415T1744Z-110415T1830Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1244 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WASHINGTON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF CHATOM...

* UNTIL 130 PM CDT

* AT 1242 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 13 MILES
  NORTHEAST OF LEAKESVILLE...OR 10 MILES SOUTH OF STATE LINE...MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  CHATOM AROUND 105 PM CDT...
  SAINT STEPHENS AND SAINT STEPHRNS AROUND 125 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

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 3144 8792 3124 8840 3130 8845 3143 8845
      3170 8822
TIME...MOT...LOC 1745Z 227DEG 33KT 3133 8840

$$
2 follow-up statements
772 
WWUS54 KMOB 151758
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1258 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

ALC129-151830-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0043.000000T0000Z-110415T1830Z/
WASHINGTON AL-
1258 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 130 PM CDT FOR
WASHINGTON COUNTY...

AT 1252 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS NEAR FRUITDALE...OR ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF 
CHATOM...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. ANOTHER STORM WITH STRONG SIGNS 
OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR FOUR POINT AND MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

IF YOU ARE IN MOBILE HOME...EVACUATE IT AND GET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR 
OF A NEARBY STURDY BUILDING OR IN AN UNDERGROUND STORM SHELTER. IF NO
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER IS AVAILABLE AND A TORNADO IS FAST APPROACHING...
SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...OR LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER
LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

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

LAT...LON 3144 8792 3144 8793 3124 8840 3130 8845
      3143 8845 3170 8822
TIME...MOT...LOC 1756Z 227DEG 33KT 3140 8831

$$
445 
WWUS54 KMOB 151809
SVSMOB

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

ALC129-151830-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0043.000000T0000Z-110415T1830Z/
WASHINGTON AL-
109 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 130 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN
WASHINGTON COUNTY...

AT 105 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS NEAR RUTAN...OR ABOUT NEAR CHATOM...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 
40 MPH. ANOTHER STORM WITH STRONG SIGNS OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS 
LOCATED NEAR TIBBIE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
LOPER...CARPENTER...HOBSON...ELLISVILLE...KOENTON...WAGARVILLE...
CORTELYOU...CORTELUOU...WAGAR...BIGBEE...PRESTWICK...SAINT STEPHRNS
AND SAINT STEPHENS

IF YOU ARE IN MOBILE HOME...EVACUATE IT AND GET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF A NEARBY STURDY BUILDING OR IN AN UNDERGROUND STORM SHELTER. IF NO
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER IS AVAILABLE AND A TORNADO IS FAST APPROACHING...
SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...OR LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER
LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GOLF 
BALL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

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

LAT...LON 3144 8792 3130 8827 3133 8834 3143 8843
      3170 8822
TIME...MOT...LOC 1808Z 227DEG 33KT 3146 8820

$$

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, 11:41 AM CDTTornado WarningMOBChoctaw64 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, 12:51 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.