Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 11, NWS Birmingham, AL

January 23, 2012Clay County, Shelby County, Talladega County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Jan 23, 2012, 5:24 AM CST for Clay County, Shelby County, Talladega County, Alabama. It was in force for 26 min. 3 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
Jan 23, 2012, 5:24 AM CST (11:24 UTC)
Expired
Jan 23, 2012, 5:50 AM CST
In force
26 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Clay County, AL, Shelby County, AL, Talladega County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 71 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:28 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
Jan 23, 5:35 AM CSTTORNADO 02 Ssw Winterboro, ALTHE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST WEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF AL-76 AND CR-175 OAKDALE ROAD...AND MOVED ENE FROM THERE...REMAINING VERY CLOSE TO AL-76. A HOUSE AND STORAGE BUILDING NEAR THE TOUCHDOWN POINT SUFFERED LIGHT ROOF DAMAGE. THE MOST CONCENTRATED DAMAGE..
Jan 23, 5:37 AM CSTTSTM WND DMG4 Ene Childersburg, ALONE HOME HAD ONE-FIFTH OF ITS ROOF PEELED OFF. A DOZEN PINE TREES WERE UPROOTED NEAR LEE ROAD AND HIGHWAY 76. POSSIBLE TORNADO.
Jan 23, 5:47 AM CSTTSTM WND DMG5 Ene Childersburg, ALTREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ON ALABAMA HIGHWAY 76 NEAR DESOTO CAVERNS PARK.

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
Jan 23, 2:44 AM CSTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 11.4 hours before the alert went out and 71 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 2012-01-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 223 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 2012-01-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 267 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
223 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-30 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
453 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
267 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
298 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

112 
WFUS54 KBMX 231124
TORBMX
ALC027-117-121-231215-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0011.120123T1124Z-120123T1215Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
524 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN CLAY COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  EAST CENTRAL SHELBY COUNTY IN ALABAMA...
  CENTRAL TALLADEGA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 615 AM CST

* AT 523 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM
  WAS LOCATED NEAR CHILDERSBURG...AND MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CHILDERSBURG...TALLADEGA...LINEVILLE...SYCAMORE...ALPINE...
  WINTERBORO...WALDO...CHANDLER SPRINGS...GUNTHERTOWN AND SPRINGHILL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORNADOES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...
CALL 1-800-856-0758.

LAT...LON 3319 8644 3331 8648 3358 8583 3353 8581
      3347 8589 3347 8578 3332 8573
TIME...MOT...LOC 1124Z 248DEG 42KT 3326 8638

$$
17
3 follow-up statements
995 
WWUS54 KBMX 231132
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
532 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

ALC117-231142-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-120123T1215Z/
SHELBY AL-
532 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL SHELBY COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED 
AREA.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CALL 1-800-856-0758.

LAT...LON 3332 8573 3324 8612 3325 8614 3323 8620
      3320 8639 3328 8639 3329 8636 3332 8636
      3358 8583 3353 8581 3347 8589 3347 8578
TIME...MOT...LOC 1132Z 246DEG 31KT 3327 8632

$$

ALC027-121-231215-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-120123T1215Z/
CLAY AL-TALLADEGA AL-
532 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN TALLADEGA AND
NORTHERN CLAY COUNTIES UNTIL 615 AM CST...

AT 528 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR CHILDERSBURG...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  TALLADEGA...LINEVILLE...SYCAMORE...ALPINE...WINTERBORO...WALDO...
  CHANDLER SPRINGS...SPRINGHILL...GUNTHERTOWN AND IRONATON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORNADOES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CALL 1-800-856-0758.

LAT...LON 3332 8573 3324 8612 3325 8614 3323 8620
      3320 8639 3328 8639 3329 8636 3332 8636
      3358 8583 3353 8581 3347 8589 3347 8578
TIME...MOT...LOC 1132Z 246DEG 31KT 3327 8632

$$

17
410 
WWUS54 KBMX 231143
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
543 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

ALC027-121-231215-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-120123T1215Z/
CLAY AL-TALLADEGA AL-
543 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL TALLADEGA AND
NORTHERN CLAY COUNTIES UNTIL 615 AM CST...

AT 541 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR WINTERBORO...OR 9 MILES EAST OF
CHILDERSBURG...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  TALLADEGA...LINEVILLE...WALDO...CHANDLER SPRINGS...SPRINGHILL...
  GUNTHERTOWN AND IRONATON.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CALL 1-800-856-0758.

LAT...LON 3332 8573 3324 8612 3325 8614 3323 8620
      3334 8627 3358 8583 3353 8581 3347 8589
      3347 8578
TIME...MOT...LOC 1143Z 246DEG 31KT 3330 8619

$$

17
228 
WWUS54 KBMX 231150
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
550 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

ALC027-121-231201-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-120123T1215Z/
CLAY AL-TALLADEGA AL-
550 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL TALLADEGA AND NORTHERN CLAY
COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED BELOW SEVERE
LIMITS...AND NO LONGER POSES AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO LIFE OR PROPERTY.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CALL 1-800-856-0758.

LAT...LON 3332 8573 3324 8612 3325 8614 3323 8620
      3334 8627 3358 8583 3353 8581 3347 8589
      3347 8578
TIME...MOT...LOC 1151Z 246DEG 31KT 3332 8611

$$

17

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 23, 12:22 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarion23 min
Jan 23, 1:19 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarion41 min
Jan 23, 1:56 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa49 min
Jan 23, 2:09 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXPickens36 min
Jan 23, 2:23 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Sumter52 min
Jan 23, 2:31 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXTuscaloosa44 min
Jan 23, 3:02 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXJefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker43 min
Jan 23, 3:04 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Sumter41 min
Jan 23, 3:32 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson, St. Clair58 min
Jan 23, 3:33 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXBibb, Greene, Hale, Perry42 min
Jan 23, 3:50 AM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXJefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker115 min
Jan 23, 4:15 AM CSTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXBlount, Calhoun, Etowah, Jefferson, St. Clair60 min
Jan 23, 4:27 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXBibb, Chilton, Dallas, Hale, Perry48 min
Jan 23, 5:11 AM CSTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXChilton, Coosa34 min
Jan 23, 5:37 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXChilton, Coosa, Talladega38 min
Jan 23, 6:01 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXClay, Coosa, Tallapoosa44 min
Jan 23, 6:22 AM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXChilton, Coosa3 hr
Jan 23, 6:34 AM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXDallas, Perry116 min
Jan 23, 6:36 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton, Coosa, Elmore39 min
Jan 23, 7:12 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCoosa, Elmore, Tallapoosa48 min
Jan 23, 7:15 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXChambers, Randolph, Tallapoosa17 min
Jan 23, 7:24 AM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXTalladega111 min
Jan 23, 7:32 AM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXChambers, Clay, Randolph, Tallapoosa3 hr
Jan 23, 7:42 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXChambers, Tallapoosa33 min
Jan 23, 8:09 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXElmore, Tallapoosa36 min
Jan 23, 8:14 AM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXAutauga, Dallas, Lowndes3 hr
Jan 23, 8:20 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLowndes, Montgomery25 min
Jan 23, 8:34 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXElmore, Lee, Macon, Tallapoosa41 min
Jan 23, 8:38 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXChambers, Randolph4 hr
Jan 23, 8:44 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMontgomery31 min
Jan 23, 8:45 AM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXChambers, Lee, Macon, Tallapoosa3 hr
Jan 23, 9:09 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBullock, Elmore, Macon, Montgomery36 min
Jan 23, 9:12 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLowndes, Montgomery48 min
Jan 23, 9:19 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLee, Macon, Russell41 min
Jan 23, 10:20 AM CSTAreal Flood WarningBMXClay, Tallapoosa4 hr
Jan 23, 10:32 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLee, Russell28 min
Jan 23, 12:12 PM CSTRiver Flood WarningBMXChambers, Elmore, Macon, Randolph, Tallapoosa2 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2012Every tornado warning in 2012Tornadoes in 2012

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.