Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2012
Tornado Warning 17, NWS Huntsville, AL
NWS Huntsville, AL issued this tornado warning at Mar 2, 2012, 3:26 PM CST for Limestone County, Madison County, Alabama. It was in force for 34 min. 13 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
- Mar 2, 2012, 3:26 PM CST (21:26 UTC)
- Expired
- Mar 2, 2012, 4:00 PM CST
- In force
- 34 min
- Issued by
- NWS Huntsville, AL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
Counties Limestone County, AL, Madison County, AL
The radar
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 64 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2, 3:26 PM CST | TORNADO 0 | 4 Nnw Athens, AL | AN EF-0 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN ON THE WEST SIDE OF EDGEWOOD ROAD/CR 65 A LITTLE SOUTH OF THE INTERSECTION WITH COFFMAN ROAD. SEVERAL TREES WERE UPROOTED IN THIS AREA WITH LARGE BRANCHES FROM HARDWOOD TREES ALSO SNAPPED. THE TORNADO MOVED IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION |
| Mar 2, 3:26 PM CST | TORNADO | 4 Ne Athens, AL | AN EF-0 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN ON THE WEST SIDE OF EDGEWOOD ROAD/CR 65 A LITTLE SOUTH OF THE INTERSECTION WITH COFFMAN ROAD. SEVERAL TREES WERE UPROOTED IN THIS AREA WITH LARGE BRANCHES FROM HARDWOOD TREES ALSO SNAPPED. THE TORNADO MOVED IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION |
| Mar 2, 3:34 PM CST | FUNNEL CLOUD | 5 N Athens, AL | ROTATING WALL CLOUD WITH FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED 5 MILES N OF ATHENS |
| Mar 2, 3:39 PM CST | TORNADO 1 | 5 S Ardmore, AL | AN EF1 TORNADO WITH PATH LENGTH OF 2.6 MILES AND MAX PATH WIDTH OF 150 YARDS TOUCHED DOWN JUST WEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF THACH ROAD AND OAK GROVE ROAD. IT PARALLELED THACH ROAD BEFORE LIFTING EAST OF HIGHWAY 251. NUMEROUS TREES WERE SNAPPED AND UPROOTED...SE |
| Mar 2, 3:39 PM CST | TORNADO | 5 S Ardmore, AL | AN EF1 TORNADO WITH PATH LENGTH OF 2.6 MILES AND MAX PATH WIDTH OF 150 YARDS TOUCHED DOWN JUST WEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF THACH ROAD AND OAK GROVE ROAD. IT PARALLELED THACH ROAD BEFORE LIFTING EAST OF HIGHWAY 251. NUMEROUS TREES WERE SNAPPED AND UPROOTED...SE |
| Mar 2, 3:45 PM CST | HAIL 1.25 | 4 Nnw Hazel Green, AL | HALF DOLLAR SIZED HAIL FALLING 4 MILES NNW OF HAZEL GREEN |
| Mar 2, 3:48 PM CST | HAIL 1.75 | 5 N Harvest, AL | GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL REPORTED AT READY SECTION RD AND WALL TRIANA HWY |
| Mar 2, 3:52 PM CST | TSTM WND DMG | 5 Nw Harvest, AL | TREE DAMAGE WAS REPORTED. |
| Mar 2, 3:57 PM CST | HAIL 0.5 | N Hazel Green, AL | DIME SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED. |
| Mar 2, 3:59 PM CST | HAIL 1.75 | 4 N Meridianville, AL | GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED. |
| Mar 2, 4:00 PM CST | HAIL 1.75 | Hazel Green, AL | GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED. |
| Mar 2, 4:03 PM CST | HAIL 0.75 | Hazel Green, AL | PENNY SIZE HAIL REPORTED. |
| Mar 2, 4:09 PM CST | HAIL 1 | 4 Nw Hazel Green, AL | MEASURED IN THE 1500 BLOCK OF ELKWOOD SECTION ROAD. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2, 1:20 PM CST | Tornado Watch | SPC | 9 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 9.4 hours before the alert went out and 135 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1667 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -25 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 523 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 68 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 175 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 169 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 6.1
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
641
WFUS54 KHUN 022126
TORHUN
ALC083-089-022200-
/O.NEW.KHUN.TO.W.0017.120302T2126Z-120302T2200Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
326 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTHERN LIMESTONE COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
NORTHWESTERN MADISON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
* UNTIL 400 PM CST
* AT 321 PM CST...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO 8 MILES
WEST OF ATHENS NORTH OF HIGHWAY 72...OR ABOUT 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF
ATHENS...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. THIS IS A CONFIRMED TORNADO!
* LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE...
ELKMONT.
HOLLAND GIN.
BETHEL.
HARVEST.
TONEY.
HAZEL GREEN.
INTERSTATE 65 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 361 AND 354.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A TORNADO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY! DO NOT RUN
OUTSIDE TO FIND THE TORNADO...THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY
LIFE THREATENING SITUATION!
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CST FRIDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHERN ALABAMA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE.
&&
LAT...LON 3499 8656 3486 8652 3479 8709 3490 8712
3500 8684
TIME...MOT...LOC 2125Z 258DEG 38KT 3486 8702
$$
BCC2 follow-up statements
410
WWUS54 KHUN 022139
SVSHUN
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
339 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012
ALC083-089-022200-
/O.CON.KHUN.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-120302T2200Z/
LIMESTONE AL-MADISON AL-
339 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CST FOR
NORTHWESTERN MADISON AND EAST CENTRAL LIMESTONE COUNTIES...
AT 339 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BETHEL...OR ABOUT
7 MILES NORTHEAST OF ATHENS...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. THIS STORM HAS
A HISTORY OF PRODUCING CONFIRMED TORNADO TOUCHDOWNS WEST OF ATHENS!
OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
HARVEST...TONEY...HAZEL GREEN AND FISK.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CST FRIDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHERN ALABAMA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE.
&&
LAT...LON 3482 8692 3490 8695 3496 8683 3499 8656
3486 8652
TIME...MOT...LOC 2139Z 261DEG 41KT 3489 8682
$$
BCC550 WWUS54 KHUN 022153 SVSHUN SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 353 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012 ALC083-022201- /O.CAN.KHUN.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-120302T2200Z/ LIMESTONE AL- 353 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL LIMESTONE COUNTY IS CANCELED... A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL LIMESTONE COUNTY UNTIL 415 PM CST. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CST FRIDAY EVENING FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE. LAT...LON 3485 8678 3496 8679 3499 8656 3486 8652 TIME...MOT...LOC 2151Z 261DEG 41KT 3492 8668 $$ ALC089-022200- /O.CON.KHUN.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-120302T2200Z/ MADISON AL- 353 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012 ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CST FOR NORTHWESTERN MADISON COUNTY... AT 351 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR TONEY...OR ABOUT 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF MERIDIANVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING CONFIRMED TORNADO TOUCHDOWNS IN WESTERN LIMESTONE COUNTY...AND THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE REPORTS OF WALL CLOUDS ACROSS EASTERN LIMESTONE COUNTY. OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO HAZEL GREEN AND FISK. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY LARGE SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CST FRIDAY EVENING FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE. && LAT...LON 3485 8678 3496 8679 3499 8656 3486 8652 TIME...MOT...LOC 2151Z 261DEG 41KT 3492 8668 $$ BCC
The office that day
Everything else NWS Huntsville, AL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2, 4:44 AM CST | Wind Advisory | HUN | Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale and 5 more | 11 hr |
| Mar 2, 7:21 AM CST | Special Weather Statement | HUN | Lawrence | 39 min |
| Mar 2, 8:09 AM CST | Special Weather Statement | HUN | Lawrence, Limestone | 51 min |
| Mar 2, 8:51 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison | 24 min |
| Mar 2, 9:12 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Limestone, Madison | 33 min |
| Mar 2, 9:15 AM CST | Special Weather Statement | HUN | Lawrence | 30 min |
| Mar 2, 9:18 AM CST | Tornado Warning | HUN | Limestone, Madison | 27 min |
| Mar 2, 9:35 AM CST | Tornado Warning | HUN | Limestone, Madison | 25 min |
| Mar 2, 9:41 AM CST | Tornado Warning | HUN | Jackson, Madison | 34 min |
| Mar 2, 9:59 AM CST | Tornado Warning | HUN | Jackson, Madison | 31 min |
| Mar 2, 10:10 AM CST | Tornado Warning | HUN | Jackson | 35 min |
| Mar 2, 10:24 AM CST | Tornado Warning | HUN | Jackson, Madison | 36 min |
| Mar 2, 1:01 PM CST | Special Weather Statement | HUN | Lawrence, Limestone | 44 min |
| Mar 2, 1:26 PM CST | Special Weather Statement | HUN | Franklin | 34 min |
| Mar 2, 1:30 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone | 30 min |
| Mar 2, 1:31 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Franklin, Lawrence | 29 min |
| Mar 2, 1:55 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Limestone, Madison | 50 min |
| Mar 2, 2:00 PM CST | Tornado Warning | HUN | Limestone | 30 min |
| Mar 2, 2:06 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Colbert, Lauderdale | 24 min |
| Mar 2, 2:29 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Colbert, Lauderdale | 31 min |
| Mar 2, 2:41 PM CST | Tornado Warning | HUN | Colbert, Lauderdale, Lawrence | 34 min |
| Mar 2, 3:07 PM CST | Tornado Warning | HUN | Limestone | 23 min |
| Mar 2, 3:16 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Colbert, Lawrence | 29 min |
| Mar 2, 3:27 PM CST | Tornado Warning | HUN | Lawrence | 33 min |
| Mar 2, 3:44 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Limestone | 31 min |
| Mar 2, 3:58 PM CST | Tornado Warning | HUN | Jackson, Madison | 14 min |
| Mar 2, 4:00 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Lawrence, Morgan | 30 min |
| Mar 2, 4:10 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Jackson, Madison | 50 min |
| Mar 2, 4:15 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Cullman, Morgan | 30 min |
| Mar 2, 4:21 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Madison | 24 min |
| Mar 2, 4:33 PM CST | Tornado Warning | HUN | Cullman, Morgan | 27 min |
| Mar 2, 4:51 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Jackson, Madison | 24 min |
| Mar 2, 4:55 PM CST | Tornado Warning | HUN | Morgan | 15 min |
| Mar 2, 5:14 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Jackson | 46 min |
| Mar 2, 5:49 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Cullman | 26 min |
| Mar 2, 5:57 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Jackson | 18 min |
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.