Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 9, NWS Birmingham, AL

January 23, 20125 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Jan 23, 2012, 4:27 AM CST for 5 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 48 min. 6 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, 4:27 AM CST (10:27 UTC)
Expired: Jan 23, 2012, 5:15 AM CST
In force: 48 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Bibb County, AL, Chilton County, AL, Dallas County, AL, Hale County, AL, Perry County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 43 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:31 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Jan 23, 4:33 AM CST	TORNADO 1	5 N Marion, AL	AN EF1 TORNADO WITH WINDS OF 110 MPH BRIEFLY TOUCHED DOWN NORTH OF MARION ALONG COUNTY ROAD 7, TRACKED NORTHEAST ACROSS COUNTY ROAD 16 AND LIFTED AFTER CROSSING ALABAMA ROAD 175. ALONG ITS 2.1 MILE PATH, SCORES OF TREES WERE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. MAX PATH WIDTH
Jan 23, 4:36 AM CST	TSTM WND DMG	Sprott, AL	POSSIBLE TORNADO - CR HWY 183- MANY TREES BLOCKING HWY SPROTT TO SR 82 - OAKMULGEE DAMAGE AS WELL
Jan 23, 4:37 AM CST	TSTM WND DMG	5 Nw Sprott, AL	MULTIPLE TREES DOWN BLOCKING THE ROADWAY ON THE INTERSECTION OF ALABAMA HIGHWAY 5 AND COUNTY ROAD 16. POSSIBLE TORNADO.
Jan 23, 4:37 AM CST	TORNADO 2	4 Nw Sprott, AL	* 1 INJ * AN EF2 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN PERRY COUNTY AND MOVED NORTHEAST ACROSS THE TALLADEGA NATIONAL FOREST, DESTROYING A CHURCH BEFORE MOVING INTO CHILTON COUNTY. AS THE TORNADO TRACKED NEAR MAPLESVILLE, SEVERAL DOZEN HOMES AND BUSINESSES WERE DAMAGED.
Jan 23, 5:05 AM CST	TORNADO	Maplesville, AL	MAJOR STRUCTUAL DAMAGE REPORTED IN MAPLESVILLE WITH PEOPLE TRAPPED IN HOMES.
Jan 23, 5:20 AM CST	TORNADO 2	4 W Clanton, AL	WKLF RADIO STUDIO DESTROYED...AND 302 FOOT TRANSMISSION TOWER WAS TOPPLED AT THE INTERSECTION OF ALABAMA HIGHWAY 22 AND COUNTY ROAD 37. THE STRENGTH OF THE TORNADO WAS EF1 AT THIS LOCATION...BUT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH A EF2 PATH THAT MOVED THROUGH MAPLESVILLE

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, 10.5 hours before the alert went out and 43 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.

996 
WFUS54 KBMX 231027
TORBMX
ALC007-021-047-065-105-231115-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0009.120123T1027Z-120123T1115Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
427 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN BIBB COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA
  CHILTON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA
  NORTHERN PERRY COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA
  EXTREME NORTH CENTRAL DALLAS COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA
  EAST CENTRAL HALE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA

* UNTIL 515 AM CST

* AT 426 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 28 MILES WEST OF
  MAPLESVILLE OR 7 MILES NORTH OF MARION...MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  JEMISON...THORSBY AND CLANTON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! TORNADOES AT NIGHT ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT
WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE.

IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL AFTER THE STORM HAS PASSED...AND THEN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6.

&&

LAT...LON 3300 8667 3274 8656 3261 8746 3277 8747
TIME...MOT...LOC 1027Z 254DEG 51KT 3271 8734

$$

5 follow-up statements

440 
WWUS54 KBMX 231034
SVSBMX

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

ALC065-231044-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120123T1115Z/
HALE AL-
434 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR HALE 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 3263 8737 3277 8739 3300 8667 3274 8656
      3263 8733
TIME...MOT...LOC 1034Z 254DEG 51KT 3272 8722

$$

ALC007-021-047-105-231115-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120123T1115Z/
BIBB AL-CHILTON AL-DALLAS AL-PERRY AL-
434 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN PERRY...
EXTREME NORTHEASTERN DALLAS...CHILTON AND SOUTHEASTERN BIBB COUNTIES
UNTIL 515 AM CST...

AT 431 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF MARION...MOVING EAST AT 60
MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  JEMISON...CLANTON...TALLADEGA NATIONAL FOREST...PARNELL...LAWLEY...
  MAPLESVILLE...CHILTON COUNTY MOTOR SPORTS PARK...POOLES
  CROSSROADS...THORSBY AND UNION GROVE.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBER 219...

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 3263 8737 3277 8739 3300 8667 3274 8656
      3263 8733
TIME...MOT...LOC 1034Z 254DEG 51KT 3272 8722

$$

17

119 
WWUS54 KBMX 231039
SVSBMX

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

ALC047-231049-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120123T1115Z/
DALLAS AL-
439 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME NORTH CENTRAL DALLAS 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 3277 8739 3300 8667 3274 8656 3267 8699
      3267 8701 3272 8702 3270 8703 3266 8703
      3262 8732 3263 8737
TIME...MOT...LOC 1039Z 254DEG 51KT 3277 8717

$$

ALC007-021-105-231115-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120123T1115Z/
BIBB AL-CHILTON AL-PERRY AL-
439 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN PERRY...
CHILTON AND SOUTHEASTERN BIBB COUNTIES UNTIL 515 AM CST...

AT 437 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 8 MILES SOUTH OF HARRISBURG...OR 11 MILES NORTHEAST
OF MARION...MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  JEMISON...CLANTON...TALLADEGA NATIONAL FOREST...PARNELL...LAWLEY...
  MAPLESVILLE...PLECHER...CHILTON COUNTY MOTOR SPORTS PARK...POOLES
  CROSSROADS AND THORSBY.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 212 THROUGH 219...

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

LAT...LON 3277 8739 3300 8667 3274 8656 3267 8699
      3267 8701 3272 8702 3270 8703 3266 8703
      3262 8732 3263 8737
TIME...MOT...LOC 1039Z 254DEG 51KT 3277 8717

$$

JD/02

119 
WWUS54 KBMX 231045
SVSBMX

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

ALC007-021-105-231115-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120123T1115Z/
BIBB AL-CHILTON AL-PERRY AL-
445 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN PERRY...
CHILTON AND SOUTHEASTERN BIBB COUNTIES UNTIL 515 AM CST...

AT 442 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF MARION...MOVING EAST AT 45
MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CLANTON...JEMISON...TALLADEGA NATIONAL FOREST...PARNELL...LAWLEY...
  MAPLESVILLE...PLECHER...CHILTON COUNTY MOTOR SPORTS PARK...POOLES
  CROSSROADS AND THORSBY.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 212 THROUGH 219...

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

LAT...LON 3277 8739 3300 8667 3274 8656 3267 8699
      3267 8701 3272 8702 3270 8703 3266 8703
      3262 8732 3263 8737
TIME...MOT...LOC 1045Z 259DEG 41KT 3274 8716

$$

JD/02

607 
WWUS54 KBMX 231052
SVSBMX

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

ALC007-021-105-231115-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120123T1115Z/
BIBB AL-CHILTON AL-PERRY AL-
452 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN PERRY...
CHILTON AND SOUTHEASTERN BIBB COUNTIES UNTIL 515 AM CST...

AT 452 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS 
STORM WAS LOCATED 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF HARRISBURG...OR 13 MILES 
NORTHEAST OF MARION...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CLANTON...JEMISON...TALLADEGA NATIONAL FOREST...PARNELL...LAWLEY...
  MAPLESVILLE...PLECHER...CHILTON COUNTY MOTOR SPORTS PARK...POOLES
  CROSSROADS AND THORSBY.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 212 THROUGH 219...

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 3300 8667 3274 8656 3267 8699 3267 8701
      3271 8702 3272 8702 3270 8703 3266 8703
      3264 8721 3280 8731
TIME...MOT...LOC 1052Z 257DEG 40KT 3276 8708

$$

JT

547 
WWUS54 KBMX 231103
SVSBMX

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

ALC105-231113-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120123T1115Z/
PERRY AL-
503 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN PERRY 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 3272 8697 3273 8700 3283 8701 3300 8667
      3274 8656
TIME...MOT...LOC 1103Z 257DEG 40KT 3278 8694

$$

ALC007-021-231115-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120123T1115Z/
BIBB AL-CHILTON AL-
503 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL CHILTON AND
SOUTHEASTERN BIBB COUNTIES UNTIL 515 AM CST...

AT 500 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES WEST OF MAPLESVILLE...OR 16 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF BRENT...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CLANTON...JEMISON...MAPLESVILLE...CHILTON COUNTY MOTOR SPORTS
  PARK...POOLES CROSSROADS...THORSBY...UNION GROVE...STANTON...
  CAMPBELL AND ISABELLA.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 212 THROUGH 219...

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

LAT...LON 3272 8697 3273 8700 3283 8701 3300 8667
      3274 8656
TIME...MOT...LOC 1103Z 257DEG 40KT 3278 8694

$$

JD/02

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, 3:32 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount, Jefferson, St. Clair	58 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, 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.