Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Huntsville, AL

March 2, 2012Limestone County, Madison County, Alabama

NWS Huntsville, AL issued this tornado warning at Mar 2, 2012, 9:18 AM CST for Limestone County, Madison County, Alabama. It was in force for 27 min. 5 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, 9:18 AM CST (15:18 UTC)
Expired
Mar 2, 2012, 9:45 AM CST
In force
27 min
Issued by
NWS Huntsville, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Limestone County, AL, Madison County, AL

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 50 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:20 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
Mar 2, 9:20 AM CSTTSTM WND DMG5 Ese Athens, ALWIND PICKING UP DEBRIS WITH ESTIMATED WIND GUST OF 50MPH. ROTATION SEEN IN STORM. NO INJURIES.
Mar 2, 9:20 AM CSTTSTM WND DMG6 Ese Athens, ALPOWER LINES AND TREES DOWN AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE SEEN AT CRAFT ROAD AND MOORESVILLE ROAD.
Mar 2, 9:43 AM CSTTORNADO5 S Hazel Green, AL50 MPH WINDS WITH POWER LINES SPARKING...ROTATION REPORTED. TORNADO REPORTED ON GROUND
Mar 2, 9:47 AM CSTTORNADO3 N Meridianville, ALPOWER LINES DOWN ON CAR
Mar 2, 9:49 AM CSTTORNADO6 Nw Huntsville, ALRESEARCH PARK BLVD AND DAN TIBBS...FUNNEL CLOUD

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 3.3 hours before the alert went out and 141 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 2012-03-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1667 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 2012-03-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 175 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

297 
WFUS54 KHUN 021518
TORHUN
ALC083-089-021545-
/O.NEW.KHUN.TO.W.0004.120302T1518Z-120302T1545Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
918 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EAST CENTRAL LIMESTONE COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  NORTHERN MADISON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 945 AM CST

* AT 918 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR FRENCH
  MILL...OR ABOUT NEAR ATHENS...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE...
  CAPSHAW.
  HARVEST.
  MERIDIANVILLE.
  HAZEL GREEN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

&&

LAT...LON 3481 8642 3473 8693 3482 8697 3500 8652
      3499 8648
TIME...MOT...LOC 1518Z 249DEG 39KT 3479 8687

$$

KDW
2 follow-up statements
488 
WWUS54 KHUN 021525
SVSHUN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
925 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

ALC083-089-021545-
/O.CON.KHUN.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120302T1545Z/
LIMESTONE AL-MADISON AL-
925 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 AM CST FOR NORTHERN
MADISON AND EAST CENTRAL LIMESTONE COUNTIES...

AT 925 AM CST...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR FRENCH MILL...OR ABOUT 7 MILES EAST OF ATHENS...MOVING EAST AT
45 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
HARVEST...TONEY...MERIDIANVILLE...HAZEL GREEN...FISK AND MOORES MILL.

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 300 PM CST FRIDAY AFTERNOON
FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE.

&&

LAT...LON 3499 8648 3481 8642 3474 8689 3483 8693
      3500 8653
TIME...MOT...LOC 1525Z 249DEG 39KT 3482 8678

$$

KDW
041 
WWUS54 KHUN 021531
SVSHUN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
931 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

ALC083-089-021545-
/O.CON.KHUN.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120302T1545Z/
LIMESTONE AL-MADISON AL-
931 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 AM CST FOR NORTHERN
MADISON AND EAST CENTRAL LIMESTONE COUNTIES...

AT 925 AM CST...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS 
TORNADO WAS LOCATED ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF HARVEST...OR ABOUT 9 
MILES NORTH OF MADISON...MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

AT 925 AM...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OF LIMESTONE COUNTY REPORTED 
TORNADO DAMAGE TO HOUSES BETWEEN ATHENS AND EASTERN LIMESTONE COUNTY 
HIGH SCHOOL.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
TONEY...MERIDIANVILLE...HAZEL GREEN...MOORES MILL 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 300 PM CST FRIDAY AFTERNOON
FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE.

&&

LAT...LON 3499 8648 3481 8642 3477 8684 3485 8689
      3500 8654 3499 8650
TIME...MOT...LOC 1529Z 248DEG 38KT 3484 8674

$$

KDW

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 2, 4:44 AM CSTWind AdvisoryHUNColbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale and 5 more11 hr
Mar 2, 7:21 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLawrence39 min
Mar 2, 8:09 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLawrence, Limestone51 min
Mar 2, 8:51 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNLauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison24 min
Mar 2, 9:12 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNLimestone, Madison33 min
Mar 2, 9:15 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLawrence30 min
Mar 2, 9:35 AM CSTTornado WarningHUNLimestone, Madison25 min
Mar 2, 9:41 AM CSTTornado WarningHUNJackson, Madison34 min
Mar 2, 9:59 AM CSTTornado Warning EmergencyHUNJackson, Madison31 min
Mar 2, 10:10 AM CSTTornado WarningHUNJackson35 min
Mar 2, 10:24 AM CSTTornado WarningHUNJackson, Madison36 min
Mar 2, 1:01 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLawrence, Limestone44 min
Mar 2, 1:26 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNFranklin34 min
Mar 2, 1:30 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNLauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone30 min
Mar 2, 1:31 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNFranklin, Lawrence29 min
Mar 2, 1:55 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNLimestone, Madison50 min
Mar 2, 2:00 PM CSTTornado WarningHUNLimestone30 min
Mar 2, 2:06 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNColbert, Lauderdale24 min
Mar 2, 2:29 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNColbert, Lauderdale31 min
Mar 2, 2:41 PM CSTTornado WarningHUNColbert, Lauderdale, Lawrence34 min
Mar 2, 3:07 PM CSTTornado WarningHUNLimestone23 min
Mar 2, 3:16 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNColbert, Lawrence29 min
Mar 2, 3:26 PM CSTTornado WarningHUNLimestone, Madison34 min
Mar 2, 3:27 PM CSTTornado WarningHUNLawrence33 min
Mar 2, 3:44 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNLimestone31 min
Mar 2, 3:58 PM CSTTornado WarningHUNJackson, Madison14 min
Mar 2, 4:00 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNLawrence, Morgan30 min
Mar 2, 4:10 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNJackson, Madison50 min
Mar 2, 4:15 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNCullman, Morgan30 min
Mar 2, 4:21 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNMadison24 min
Mar 2, 4:33 PM CSTTornado WarningHUNCullman, Morgan27 min
Mar 2, 4:51 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNJackson, Madison24 min
Mar 2, 4:55 PM CSTTornado WarningHUNMorgan15 min
Mar 2, 5:14 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNJackson46 min
Mar 2, 5:49 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNCullman26 min
Mar 2, 5:57 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNJackson18 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.