Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 6, NWS Birmingham, AL

January 23, 2012Blount County, Jefferson County, St. Clair County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Jan 23, 2012, 3:32 AM CST for Blount County, Jefferson County, St. Clair County, Alabama. It was in force for 58 min. 10 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, 3:32 AM CST (09:32 UTC)
Expired: Jan 23, 2012, 4:30 AM CST
In force: 58 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Blount County, AL, Jefferson County, AL, St. Clair County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 52 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:35 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Jan 23, 3:54 AM CST	TORNADO	Fultondale, AL	MAJOR STUCTURAL DAMAGE REPORTED NEAR THE 500 BLOCK OF U.S. HIGHWAY 31 IN FULTONDALE.
Jan 23, 3:58 AM CST	TORNADO 3	3 E Fultondale, AL	* 2 FATAL, 100 INJ * EF3 TORNADO WITH WINDS OF 150 MPH TOUCHED DOWN ALONG PAWNEE VILLAGE ROAD AND MOVED NORTHEAST THROUGH DOWNTOWN CENTER POINT, DAMAGING OR DESTROYING NUMEROUS HOMES AND BUSINESSES. IT CONTINUED ALONG OLD SPRINGVILLE ROAD TOWARD CLAY REACH
Jan 23, 4:00 AM CST	TORNADO	3 E Fultondale, AL	PAWNEE VILLAGE ROAD COMPLETELY IMPASSIBLE IN TARRANT.
Jan 23, 4:05 AM CST	HAIL 1	Center Point, AL	QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN CENTER POINT.
Jan 23, 4:10 AM CST	TORNADO	Clay, AL	SEVERAL HOMES DESTROYED IN THE PARADISE VALLEY AREA IN CLAY. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Jan 23, 4:11 AM CST	TSTM WND DMG	Center Point, AL	EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WITH MULTIPLE TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN IN CENTER POINT. POSSIBLE TORNADO.
Jan 23, 4:15 AM CST	TORNADO	3 Nw Trussville, AL	TREES DOWN AND DAMAGE TO HOMES NEAR BALBOA COURT.
Jan 23, 4:17 AM CST	TORNADO	Margaret, AL	PUBLIC REPORTED A TORNADO ON ROULAIN ROAD IN THE MARGARET COMMUNITY.
Jan 23, 4:27 AM CST	TORNADO	4 Ne Trussville, AL	MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE REPORTED IN TRUSSVILLE WITH MULTIPLE TREES DOWNED.
Jan 23, 4:29 AM CST	TORNADO	5 Ssw Springville, AL	MAJOR STRUCTUAL DAMAGE REPORTED ON OLD SPRINGVILLE ROAD. INJURIES UNKNOWN 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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Jan 22, 10:59 PM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr
Jan 23, 2:44 AM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 52 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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.

891 
WFUS54 KBMX 230932
TORBMX
ALC009-073-115-231030-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0006.120123T0932Z-120123T1030Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN BLOUNT COUNTY IN ALABAMA...
  NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN ALABAMA...
  WESTERN ST. CLAIR COUNTY IN ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 430 AM CST

* AT 326 AM CST...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE PUBLIC HAVE REPORTED 
DAMAGE FROM A POSSIBLE TORNADO. THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR 
OAK GROVE...OR 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF HUEYTOWN...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BIRMINGHAM...FULTONDALE...GARDENDALE...IRONDALE...
  PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE...LEEDS...TRUSSVILLE...MOODY...SPRINGVILLE
  AND ODENVILLE.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 260 THROUGH 275...
INTERSTATE 459 EXIT NUMBERS 27 THROUGH 33...
US 78 EXIT NUMBER 91...
INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 120 THROUGH 156...
INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBERS 130 THROUGH 156...

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 3355 8629 3353 8648 3354 8649 3354 8651
      3352 8652 3349 8691 3370 8694 3396 8636
TIME...MOT...LOC 0931Z 248DEG 40KT 3354 8706

$$

14

3 follow-up statements

615 
WWUS54 KBMX 230948
SVSBMX

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

ALC009-073-115-231030-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120123T1030Z/
BLOUNT AL-JEFFERSON AL-ST. CLAIR AL-
348 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN ST. CLAIR...
NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON AND SOUTHEASTERN BLOUNT COUNTIES UNTIL 430 AM
CST...

AT 345 AM CST...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED DAMAGE WITH THIS 
STORM.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR FORESTDALE...OR 6 MILES WEST 
OF BIRMINGHAM...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BIRMINGHAM...FULTONDALE...GARDENDALE...IRONDALE...
  PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE...LEEDS...TRUSSVILLE...MOODY...SPRINGVILLE
  AND ODENVILLE.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 260 THROUGH 272...
INTERSTATE 459 EXIT NUMBERS 27 THROUGH 33...
US 78 EXIT NUMBER 91...
INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 120 THROUGH 156...
INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBERS 130 THROUGH 156...

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 3396 8637 3355 8629 3353 8648 3354 8649
      3354 8651 3352 8652 3352 8654 3350 8691
      3364 8693
TIME...MOT...LOC 0948Z 253DEG 38KT 3357 8686

$$

17

079 
WWUS54 KBMX 231003
SVSBMX

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

ALC009-073-115-231030-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120123T1030Z/
BLOUNT AL-JEFFERSON AL-ST. CLAIR AL-
403 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL ST. CLAIR...
EAST CENTRAL JEFFERSON AND SOUTHEASTERN BLOUNT COUNTIES UNTIL 430 AM
CST...

AT 358 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR KETONA LAKES...OR NEAR FULTONDALE...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE...TRUSSVILLE...SPRINGVILLE...ODENVILLE...
  PINSON...CLAY...ARGO...MARGARET...BRANCHVILLE AND PALMERDALE.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBERS 141 THROUGH 156...

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 3358 8677 3368 8679 3387 8652 3396 8637
      3366 8631
TIME...MOT...LOC 1003Z 246DEG 38KT 3364 8668

$$

17

028 
WWUS54 KBMX 231011
SVSBMX

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

ALC009-073-115-231030-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120123T1030Z/
BLOUNT AL-JEFFERSON AL-ST. CLAIR AL-
411 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL ST. CLAIR...
NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON AND SOUTHEASTERN BLOUNT COUNTIES UNTIL 430 AM
CST...

AT 407 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING 
A LARGE RADAR DEBRIS SIGNATURE WITH AN INTENSE CIRCULATION. THIS 
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST 
AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  SPRINGVILLE...ODENVILLE...ARGO...MARGARET...BRANCHVILLE...HOLLY
  SPRINGS...ST. CLAIR SPRINGS...HIGHLAND LAKE AND CALDWELL.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBERS 141 THROUGH 156...

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 3363 8664 3372 8671 3387 8652 3396 8637
      3366 8631
TIME...MOT...LOC 1010Z 245DEG 50KT 3369 8658

$$

17

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jan 23, 12:22 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	23 min
Jan 23, 1:19 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	41 min
Jan 23, 1:56 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pickens, Tuscaloosa	49 min
Jan 23, 2:09 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Pickens	36 min
Jan 23, 2:23 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Greene, Sumter	52 min
Jan 23, 2:31 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	44 min
Jan 23, 3:02 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker	43 min
Jan 23, 3:04 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Greene, Sumter	41 min
Jan 23, 3:33 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Bibb, Greene, Hale, Perry	42 min
Jan 23, 3:50 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker	115 min
Jan 23, 4:15 AM CST	Tornado Warning Emergency	BMX	Blount, Calhoun, Etowah, Jefferson, St. Clair	60 min
Jan 23, 4:27 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Bibb, Chilton, Dallas, Hale, Perry	48 min
Jan 23, 5:11 AM CST	Tornado Warning Emergency	BMX	Chilton, Coosa	34 min
Jan 23, 5:24 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Clay, Shelby, Talladega	26 min
Jan 23, 5:37 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chilton, Coosa, Talladega	38 min
Jan 23, 6:01 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Clay, Coosa, Tallapoosa	44 min
Jan 23, 6:22 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Chilton, Coosa	3 hr
Jan 23, 6:34 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Dallas, Perry	116 min
Jan 23, 6:36 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chilton, Coosa, Elmore	39 min
Jan 23, 7:12 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Coosa, Elmore, Tallapoosa	48 min
Jan 23, 7:15 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chambers, Randolph, Tallapoosa	17 min
Jan 23, 7:24 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Talladega	111 min
Jan 23, 7:32 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Chambers, Clay, Randolph, Tallapoosa	3 hr
Jan 23, 7:42 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chambers, Tallapoosa	33 min
Jan 23, 8:09 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Elmore, Tallapoosa	36 min
Jan 23, 8:14 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Dallas, Lowndes	3 hr
Jan 23, 8:20 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lowndes, Montgomery	25 min
Jan 23, 8:34 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Elmore, Lee, Macon, Tallapoosa	41 min
Jan 23, 8:38 AM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Chambers, Randolph	4 hr
Jan 23, 8:44 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Montgomery	31 min
Jan 23, 8:45 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Chambers, Lee, Macon, Tallapoosa	3 hr
Jan 23, 9:09 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bullock, Elmore, Macon, Montgomery	36 min
Jan 23, 9:12 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lowndes, Montgomery	48 min
Jan 23, 9:19 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lee, Macon, Russell	41 min
Jan 23, 10:20 AM CST	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Clay, Tallapoosa	4 hr
Jan 23, 10:32 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lee, Russell	28 min
Jan 23, 12:12 PM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Chambers, Elmore, Macon, Randolph, Tallapoosa	2 hr

Nearby

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