Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 3, NWS Birmingham, AL

January 23, 2012Tuscaloosa County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Jan 23, 2012, 2:31 AM CST for Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. It was in force for 44 min. 8 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, 2:31 AM CST (08:31 UTC)
Expired
Jan 23, 2012, 3:15 AM CST
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Tuscaloosa County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 65 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:31 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, 2:40 AM CSTTSTM WND DMG3 N Lake Lurleen State, ALHUGE TREES DOWN ON STATE HIGHWAY 171 NEAR CRAWFORD DRIVE. POSSIBLE TORNADO.
Jan 23, 2:40 AM CSTTORNADO 32 Nne Lake Lurleen Stat, ALDOZENS OF TREES WERE UPROOTED NEAR KOFFMAN RANCH ROAD. ONE WELL CONSTRUCTED SINGLE FAMILY HOME LOST ITS ENTIE ROOF. THE PATH LENGTH WAS ABOUT ONE HALF MILE AND WAS 400 YARDS WIDE.
Jan 23, 2:45 AM CSTTSTM WND DMG3 S Lake Tuscaloosa Bin, ALLARGE TREES DOWN BLOCKING THE ROADWAY ON LARRY LAKE ROAD...AS WELL AS A ROOF RIPPED OFF A HOME IN THE MOUNT OLIVE AREA OF COKER.
Jan 23, 2:45 AM CSTTORNADO3 S Lake Tuscaloosa Bin, ALTORNADO SPOTTED ON THE GROUND ON LAKE TUSCALOOSA TIERCE PATTON ROAD.
Jan 23, 3:00 AM CSTTORNADO 24 Ese Turkey Creek At T, ALF2 TORNADO ON WATERMELON ROAD. DOZENS OF PINES WERE SNAPPED AND SEVERAL CAMPERS WERE ROLLED OVER. 3 H-FRAME TRANSMISSION LINES WERE SNAPPED. THE PATH WAS ABOUT ONE HALF MILE LONG AND 300 YARDS WIDE.
Jan 23, 3:00 AM CSTTORNADO4 Ese Turkey Creek At T, ALF2 TORNADO ON WATERMELON ROAD. DOZENS OF PINES WERE SNAPPED AND SEVERAL CAMPERS WERE ROLLED OVER. 3 H-FRAME TRANSMISSION LINES WERE SNAPPED. THE PATH WAS ABOUT ONE HALF MILE LONG AND 300 YARDS WIDE.
Jan 23, 3:09 AM CSTTSTM WND DMG4 Ne Lake Lurleen State, ALROOF REPORTED OFF A HOME ON GRAY DRIVE IN THE MOUNT OLIVE COMMUNITY. POSSIBLE TORNADO.
Jan 23, 3:09 AM CSTTORNADO 23 Wnw Bull City, AL*** 1 FATAL *** THE TORNADO STARTED IN EXTREME EASTERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY AND MOVED INTO JEFFERSON COUNTY. NUMEROUS TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF AND UPROOTED ALONG THE PATH. ONE FATALITY OCCURRED WHEN A MOBILE HOME WAS DESTROYED. SEVERAL OTHER STRUCTURES RECEIVED VAR

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 22, 10:59 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 8.5 hours before the alert went out and 64 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.

305 
WFUS54 KBMX 230831
TORBMX
ALC125-230915-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0003.120123T0831Z-120123T0915Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 315 AM CST

* AT 230 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM
  WAS LOCATED 6 MILES EAST OF GORDO...AND MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  LAKE LURLEEN STATE PARK...LAKE TUSCALOOSA BINION CREEK LANDING...
  SAMANTHA...BANKHEAD LOCK AND DAM...ECHOLA...BUHL...BROWNVILLE...
  LAKE TUSCALOOSA TIERCE PATTTON BRIDGE...LAKE TUSCALOOSA HWY 69
  BRIDGE AND LAKE TUSCALOOSA SEXTON BEND.

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 3336 8784 3359 8733 3352 8732 3351 8727
      3350 8726 3350 8728 3348 8729 3349 8733
      3346 8734 3344 8729 3339 8723 3337 8723
      3334 8718 3325 8784
TIME...MOT...LOC 0831Z 252DEG 40KT 3330 8779

$$

17
2 follow-up statements
706 
WWUS54 KBMX 230844
SVSBMX

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

ALC125-230915-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-120123T0915Z/
TUSCALOOSA AL-
244 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY
UNTIL 315 AM CST...

AT 243 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR LAKE TUSCALOOSA BINION CREEK LANDING...OR 8
MILES NORTH OF NORTHPORT...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  LAKE TUSCALOOSA BINION CREEK LANDING...SAMANTHA...BANKHEAD LOCK AND
  DAM...LAKE TUSCALOOSA HWY 69 BRIDGE...LAKE TUSCALOOSA SEXTON
  BEND...NICOL...LAKE NICOL PARK AND WINDHAM SPRINGS.

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 3336 8784 3359 8733 3352 8732 3351 8727
      3350 8726 3350 8728 3348 8729 3349 8733
      3346 8734 3344 8729 3339 8723 3337 8723
      3334 8718 3325 8784
TIME...MOT...LOC 0845Z 251DEG 42KT 3336 8761

$$

17/KLAWS
087 
WWUS54 KBMX 230859
SVSBMX

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

ALC125-230915-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-120123T0915Z/
TUSCALOOSA AL-
259 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY
UNTIL 315 AM CST...

AT 253 AM CST...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED DAMAGE!  THIS TORNADO 
WAS LOCATED 5 MILES EAST OF LAKE TUSCALOOSA BINION CREEK 
LANDING...OR 10 MILES NORTH OF HOLT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. 
TAKE COVER NOW!

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BANKHEAD LOCK AND DAM.

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 3359 8734 3352 8732 3350 8726 3350 8729
      3348 8729 3349 8733 3346 8734 3344 8729
      3339 8723 3337 8723 3334 8718 3329 8777
      3338 8779
TIME...MOT...LOC 0858Z 246DEG 41KT 3341 8746

$$

17/KLAWS

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, 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, 5:24 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXClay, Shelby, Talladega26 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.