Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 57, NWS Mobile, AL

April 15, 2011Choctaw County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 15, 2011, 5:47 PM CDT for Choctaw County, Alabama. It was in force for 58 min. 1 report 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, 5:47 PM CDT (22:47 UTC)
Expired
Apr 15, 2011, 6:45 PM CDT
In force
58 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Emergency
Tornado emergency

County Choctaw County, AL

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 156 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:47 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 15, 6:16 PM CDTTORNADO4 Ssw Butler, ALTORNADO DAMAGE REPORTS NOW COMING IN FROM RED SPRINGS AREA AND ARARAT ROAD AREA SOUTH OF BUTLER. DETAILS SKETCHY AT THIS TIME...BUT DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS INDICATED.

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, 11:21 AM CDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 175 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.

390 
WFUS54 KMOB 152247
TORMOB
ALC023-152345-
/O.NEW.KMOB.TO.W.0057.110415T2247Z-110415T2345Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 645 PM CDT

* AT 543 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 13 MILES WEST OF
  BUTLER...OR 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF NEEDHAM...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  NEEDHAM AROUND 555 PM CDT...
  LISMAN AROUND 610 PM CDT...
  BUTLER AROUND 615 PM CDT...
  MT STERLING AND MOUNT STERLING AROUND 625 PM CDT...
  DEAS AROUND 640 PM CDT...
  PENNINGTON AROUND 645 PM CDT...

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STORM. RESIDENTS...MOTORISTS...AND 
EMERGENCY PERSONNEL WHO ARE ASSISTING IN THE CLEANUP EFFORTS ACROSS 
THE COUNTY FROM PREVIOUSLY TORNADIC STORMS ARE URGED TO TAKE COVER 
NOW.  

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 3228 8801 3217 8800 3214 8804 3209 8804
      3206 8811 3201 8811 3202 8808 3199 8807
      3197 8808 3195 8812 3193 8809 3185 8817
      3185 8847 3231 8842 3232 8794
TIME...MOT...LOC 2245Z 259DEG 20KT 3206 8842

$$
3 follow-up statements
058 
WWUS54 KMOB 152303
SVSMOB

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

ALC023-152345-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0057.000000T0000Z-110415T2345Z/
CHOCTAW AL-
603 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR CHOCTAW
COUNTY...

AT 557 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS CONTINUED TO 
DETECT ON RADAR...CONFIRMED WITH REPORTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER 
SERVICE OFFICE IN JACKSON MS...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF 
PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS NEAR HINTON...OR ABOUT 13 
MILES WEST OF BUTLER...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  WEST BUTLER...ROCK SPRINGS...NEEDHAM AND BOGUELOOSA AROUND 610 PM
  CDT...
  LAND AND RIDERWOOD AROUND 615 PM CDT...
  RED SPRINGS AROUND 620 PM CDT...
  BUTLER AND GREEN ACRES AROUND 630 PM CDT...
  MT STERLING AROUND 640 PM CDT...

THIS STORM HAS HAD A HISTORY OF SOFTBALL SIZED HAIL ALONG WITH A 
TORNADO ACROSS CLARKE COUNTY IN MISSISSIPPI.  THIS STORM IS MOVING 
INTO CHOCTAW COUNTY NOW.  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 3228 8801 3217 8800 3214 8804 3209 8804
      3206 8811 3201 8811 3202 8808 3199 8807
      3197 8808 3195 8812 3193 8809 3185 8817
      3185 8847 3231 8842 3232 8794
TIME...MOT...LOC 2301Z 259DEG 20KT 3206 8841

$$
259 
WWUS54 KMOB 152314 RRA
SVSMOB

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

ALC023-152345-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0057.000000T0000Z-110415T2345Z/
CHOCTAW AL-
614 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR CHOCTAW
COUNTY...

AT 612 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS CONTINUED TO 
DETECT ON RADAR A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 
THIS TORNADO WAS NEAR LAND...OR ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF 
BUTLER...MOVING EAST AT 40 TO 45 MPH. THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION. 
IF YOU HAVE NOT TAKEN COVER YET...TAKE COVER NOW!

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  BUTLER...GREEN ACRES...LOU AND THORNTON SPRINGS AROUND 620 PM
  CDT...
  ARARAT...MT STERLING...MOUNT STERLING AND LITTLE WALKER AROUND 625
  PM CDT...
  SLATER AROUND 630 PM CDT...
  LAVACA AROUND 635 PM CDT...

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 3228 8801 3217 8800 3214 8804 3209 8804
      3206 8811 3201 8811 3202 8808 3199 8807
      3197 8808 3195 8812 3193 8809 3185 8817
      3185 8847 3231 8842 3232 8794
TIME...MOT...LOC 2314Z 267DEG 36KT 3202 8831

$$
994 
WWUS54 KMOB 152323
SVSMOB

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

ALC023-152345-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0057.000000T0000Z-110415T2345Z/
CHOCTAW AL-
623 PM CDT FRI APR 15 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR CHOCTAW 
COUNTY AND THIS IS NOW A TORNADO EMERGENCY!...

AT 616 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS CONTINUED TO 
DETECT ON RADAR A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM LIKELY PRODUCING A TORNADO. 
THIS TORNADO WAS NEAR RED SPRINGS...OR ABOUT NEAR BUTLER...MOVING 
EAST NOW AT 50 MPH. IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO...TAKE COVER NOW!

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  LAVACA AND TOMPKINSVILLE AROUND 630 PM CDT...

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 3228 8801 3217 8800 3214 8804 3209 8804
      3206 8811 3201 8811 3202 8808 3199 8807
      3197 8808 3195 8812 3193 8809 3185 8817
      3185 8847 3231 8842 3232 8794
TIME...MOT...LOC 2322Z 260DEG 52KT 3205 8816

$$

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, 12:44 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, 5:54 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.