Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 11, NWS Mobile, AL

February 24, 2012Wilcox County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at Feb 24, 2012, 9:35 AM CST for Wilcox County, Alabama. It was in force for 25 min. 1 report 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
Feb 24, 2012, 9:35 AM CST (15:35 UTC)
Expired
Feb 24, 2012, 10:00 AM CST
In force
25 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Wilcox County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 130 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:38 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
Feb 24, 9:42 AM CSTHAIL 0.88Millers Ferry, ALNICKEL HAIL WAS REPORTED NEAR SAND ISLAND DRIVE JUST SOUTH OF THE ALABAMA RIVER.

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
Feb 24, 7:48 AM CSTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 3.6 hours before the alert went out and 131 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, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2012-02-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1167 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, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2012-02-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 49 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
1167 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-2 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
575 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
80 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
49 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
195 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
1.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

316 
WFUS54 KMOB 241535
TORMOB
ALC131-241600-
/O.NEW.KMOB.TO.W.0011.120224T1535Z-120224T1600Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
935 AM CST FRI FEB 24 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN WILCOX COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 1000 AM CST

* AT 935 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 8 MILES
  NORTHEAST OF THOMASVILLE...OR 2 MILES SOUTH OF VINELAND...MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 70 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  CATHERINE AROUND 945 AM CST...
  ALBERTA AROUND 950 AM CST...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF IN MANUFACTURED 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CST FRIDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.

&&

LAT...LON 3225 8742 3224 8739 3221 8737 3220 8733
      3205 8717 3205 8707 3191 8767 3200 8767
      3201 8763 3213 8763 3214 8753 3226 8753
      3228 8750 3228 8745
TIME...MOT...LOC 1535Z 234DEG 59KT 3204 8759

$$

JP/JC
3 follow-up statements
533 
WWUS54 KMOB 241540
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
940 AM CST FRI FEB 24 2012

ALC131-241600-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-120224T1600Z/
WILCOX AL-
940 AM CST FRI FEB 24 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM CST FOR NORTHERN
WILCOX COUNTY...

AT 940 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ANNE MANIE...OR 13
MILES NORTHEAST OF THOMASVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  PRAIRIE BLUFF...BOILING SPRINGS...PRAIRIE AND BETHEL BY 945 AM
  CST...
  REHOBOTH...GASTONBURG...6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ALBERTA AND 7 MILES
  NORTHWEST OF BOYKIN BY 950 AM CST...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CST FRIDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.

&&

LAT...LON 3225 8742 3224 8739 3221 8737 3220 8733
      3205 8717 3205 8707 3191 8767 3200 8767
      3201 8763 3213 8763 3214 8753 3226 8753
      3228 8750 3228 8745
TIME...MOT...LOC 1539Z 237DEG 58KT 3207 8753

$$

JP/JC
159 
WWUS54 KMOB 241549
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
949 AM CST FRI FEB 24 2012

ALC131-241600-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-120224T1600Z/
WILCOX AL-
949 AM CST FRI FEB 24 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM CST FOR NORTH
CENTRAL WILCOX COUNTY...

AT 949 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR PRAIRIE BLUFF...OR
11 MILES NORTHWEST OF CAMDEN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CST FRIDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.

&&

LAT...LON 3225 8742 3225 8741 3221 8737 3220 8733
      3214 8726 3205 8743 3214 8753 3226 8753
      3228 8750 3228 8745
TIME...MOT...LOC 1549Z 237DEG 58KT 3216 8737

$$

JP/JC
077 
WWUS54 KMOB 241601
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1001 AM CST FRI FEB 24 2012

ALC131-241610-
/O.EXP.KMOB.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-120224T1600Z/
WILCOX AL-
1001 AM CST FRI FEB 24 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL WILCOX COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING A POSSIBLE TORNADO HAS MOVED OUT 
OF THE WARNED AREA. THEREFORE...THE TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED 
TO EXPIRE.

REPORT ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OR EMERGENCY 
MANAGEMENT AGENCY.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CST FRIDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3225 8742 3225 8741 3221 8737 3220 8733
      3214 8726 3205 8743 3214 8753 3226 8753
      3228 8750 3228 8745
TIME...MOT...LOC 1549Z 237DEG 58KT 3216 8737

$$

JP/JC

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 24, 8:06 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBWashington39 min
Feb 24, 8:51 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBClarke, Monroe, Washington39 min
Feb 24, 9:20 AM CSTTornado WarningMOBClarke, Conecuh, Monroe40 min
Feb 24, 9:30 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBClarke, Wilcox30 min
Feb 24, 9:52 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBButler, Conecuh, Crenshaw, Monroe, Wilcox38 min
Feb 24, 10:13 AM CSTTornado WarningMOBButler, Crenshaw32 min
Feb 24, 10:35 AM CSTSpecial Marine WarningMOB40 min
Feb 24, 11:15 AM CSTSpecial Marine WarningMOB60 min
Feb 24, 11:26 AM CSTSpecial Marine WarningMOB19 min
Feb 24, 12:17 PM CSTSpecial Marine WarningMOB58 min
Feb 24, 2:08 PM CSTRed Flag WarningMOBButler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw and 4 more26 hr

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.