Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 5, NWS Huntsville, AL

March 2, 2012Limestone County, Madison County, Alabama

NWS Huntsville, AL issued this tornado warning at Mar 2, 2012, 9:35 AM CST for Limestone County, Madison County, Alabama. It was in force for 25 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
Mar 2, 2012, 9:35 AM CST (15:35 UTC)
Expired
Mar 2, 2012, 10:00 AM CST
In force
25 min
Issued by
NWS Huntsville, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Limestone County, AL, Madison County, AL

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 67 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:39 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, 9:40 AM CSTFUNNEL CLOUD2 S Athens, AL
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
Mar 2, 9:56 AM CSTTORNADO4 Sse Harvest, ALRAIN WRAPPED TORNADO REPORTED ON THE GROUND AT NICK DAVID AND JEFF RD.
Mar 2, 10:01 AM CSTTORNADO5 Wsw Meridianville, ALRAIN WRAP TORNADO
Mar 2, 10:03 AM CSTFUNNEL CLOUD4 Sse Harvest, ALFUNNEL CLOUD WAS REPORTED AT THE INTERSECTION OF NICK DAVIS AND JEFF ROAD.
Mar 2, 10:05 AM CSTHAIL 1.75Meridianville, AL
Mar 2, 10:06 AM CSTTORNADO 21 E Meridianville, ALAN EF-2 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST SOUTH OF THE MADISON COUNTY EXECUTIVE AIRPORT IN MERIDIANVILLE AND TRACKED EAST-NORTHEAST FOR 7.3 MILES BEFORE LIFTING JUST EAST OF BUCKHORN HIGH SCHOOL. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OCCURRED ALONG DARWIN ROAD AND MOORES MILL R
Mar 2, 10:07 AM CSTTORNADO1 E Meridianville, ALRAIN WRAP TORNADO

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
Mar 2, 9:25 AM CSTTornado WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 3.6 hours before the alert went out and 153 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.

751 
WFUS54 KHUN 021535
TORHUN
ALC083-089-021600-
/O.NEW.KHUN.TO.W.0005.120302T1535Z-120302T1600Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 1000 AM CST

* AT 935 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR TANNER...OR
  ABOUT NEAR ATHENS...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

* LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE...
  FRENCH MILL.
  CAPSHAW.
  HARVEST.
  HARVEST.
  MERIDIANVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT OR STORM
SHELTER. 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 3476 8646 3464 8701 3465 8705 3479 8714
      3499 8661
TIME...MOT...LOC 1535Z 249DEG 44KT 3475 8698

$$

KDW
2 follow-up statements
213 
WWUS54 KHUN 021544
SVSHUN

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

ALC083-089-021600-
/O.CON.KHUN.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120302T1600Z/
LIMESTONE AL-MADISON AL-
944 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM CST FOR
NORTHWESTERN MADISON AND EAST CENTRAL LIMESTONE COUNTIES...

AT 943 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR FRENCH MILL JUST 
EAST OF INTERSTATE 65...OR ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF 
ATHENS...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
CAPSHAW...HARVEST...TONEY...RYLAND...ALABAMA A AND M UNIVERSITY...
MOORES MILL AND MERIDIANVILLE.

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 3469 8693 3473 8700 3483 8700 3499 8661
      3476 8646
TIME...MOT...LOC 1543Z 249DEG 44KT 3478 8687

$$

KDW
842 
WWUS54 KHUN 021552
SVSHUN

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

ALC083-089-021600-
/O.CON.KHUN.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120302T1600Z/
LIMESTONE AL-MADISON AL-
952 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM CST FOR
NORTHWESTERN MADISON AND EAST CENTRAL LIMESTONE COUNTIES...

AT 951 AM CST...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR CAPSHAW...OR ABOUT 7 MILES NORTH OF
MADISON...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

AT 951...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR HIGHWAY 72 AT 
FRENCH MILL.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
HARVEST...TONEY...RYLAND...ALABAMA A AND M UNIVERSITY...MOORES MILL
AND MERIDIANVILLE.

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 3473 8681 3476 8688 3486 8685 3499 8661
      3476 8646
TIME...MOT...LOC 1551Z 249DEG 44KT 3481 8675

$$

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, 9:18 AM CSTTornado WarningHUNLimestone, Madison27 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.