Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 122, NWS Mobile, AL

December 25, 2012Baldwin County, Mobile County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at Dec 25, 2012, 4:44 PM CST for Baldwin County, Mobile County, Alabama. It was in force for 61 min. 2 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: Dec 25, 2012, 4:44 PM CST (22:44 UTC)
Expired: Dec 25, 2012, 5:45 PM CST
In force: 61 min
Issued by: NWS Mobile, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Emergency: Tornado emergency

Counties Baldwin County, AL, Mobile County, AL

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 19 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:45 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
Dec 25, 4:59 PM CST	TORNADO	1 Wsw Downtown Mobile, AL	APPARENT LARGE TORNADO SEEN ON LOCAL TELEVISION TOWER CAMERAS MOVING INTO DOWNTOWN MOBILE.
Dec 25, 5:00 PM CST	TORNADO	Downtown Mobile, AL	SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO LOCAL HOSPITALS, NUMEROUS HOMES,NUMEROUS BUSINESSES IN MIDTOWN MOBILE AREA. ALABAMA POWER REPORTED 19000 CUSTOMERS WITHOUT POWER. NUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN.

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
Dec 25, 12:58 PM CST	Tornado Watch PDS	SPC	9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Slidell Radar S, LA (KSIL), launched 12:00Z, 10.7 hours before the alert went out and 165 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: 790 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -14 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 576 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 181 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 237 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 1.1
Supercell composite: 10.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

496 
WFUS54 KMOB 252244
TORMOB
ALC003-097-252345-
/O.NEW.KMOB.TO.W.0122.121225T2244Z-121225T2345Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
444 PM CST TUE DEC 25 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WEST CENTRAL BALDWIN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...
  CENTRAL MOBILE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 545 PM CST

* AT 441 PM CST...A TORNADO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. THE TORNADIC STORM
  WAS LOCATED NEAR EXIT 15 ON INTERSTATE 10...OR 5 MILES NORTHWEST
  OF BELLE FONTAINE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MIDTOWN MOBILE...     DOWNTOWN MOBILE...    TILLMANS CORNER...
  THEODORE...           SARALAND...           PRICHARD...
  I65 AND US 45...      I65 AND I165...       I65 AND AL 158...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 10 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 9 AND 34. THIS
INCLUDES INTERSTATE 65 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 1 AND 46.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST TUESDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI. A TORNADO WATCH
ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CST TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

&&

LAT...LON 3055 8830 3116 8782 3100 8760 3065 8793
      3067 8801 3063 8805 3060 8805 3057 8808
      3053 8807 3051 8809 3048 8809 3044 8814
TIME...MOT...LOC 2244Z 217DEG 37KT 3057 8815

$$

5 follow-up statements

620 
WWUS54 KMOB 252254
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
454 PM CST TUE DEC 25 2012

ALC003-097-252345-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0122.000000T0000Z-121225T2345Z/
BALDWIN AL-MOBILE AL-
454 PM CST TUE DEC 25 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CST FOR EAST
CENTRAL MOBILE AND WEST CENTRAL BALDWIN COUNTIES...

AT 451 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION AND LIKELY
PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MIDTOWN 
MOBILE...OR NEAR I10 AND I65...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MIDTOWN MOBILE...     DOWNTOWN MOBILE...    PRICHARD...
  I65 AND I165...       I10 AND I65...        CHICKASAW...
  SPANISH FORT...       I65 AND CR 47...      I65 AND AL 59...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 10 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 18 AND 34. THIS
INCLUDES INTERSTATE 65 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 1 AND 46.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST TUESDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI. A TORNADO WATCH
ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CST TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

&&

LAT...LON 3063 8819 3116 8782 3100 8760 3065 8793
      3068 8801 3063 8805 3060 8805 3057 8808
TIME...MOT...LOC 2254Z 217DEG 37KT 3065 8808

$$

432 
WWUS54 KMOB 252300
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
500 PM CST TUE DEC 25 2012

ALC003-097-252345-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0122.000000T0000Z-121225T2345Z/
BALDWIN AL-MOBILE AL-
500 PM CST TUE DEC 25 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CST FOR EAST
CENTRAL MOBILE AND WEST CENTRAL BALDWIN COUNTIES...

...THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR DOWNTOWN MOBILE...

AT 459 PM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO 
WAS LOCATED NEAR DOWNTOWN MOBILE...OR 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF I65 AND US
45...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MIDTOWN MOBILE...     DOWNTOWN MOBILE...    PRICHARD...
  I65 AND US 45...      I65 AND I165...       I10 AND I65...
  CHICKASAW...          SPANISH FORT...       I65 AND CR 47...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 10 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 18 AND 34. THIS
INCLUDES INTERSTATE 65 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 1 AND 46.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A LARGE...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND.
TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE...TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON
THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING AND AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A
MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL
SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST TUESDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI. A TORNADO WATCH
ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CST TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

&&

LAT...LON 3063 8819 3116 8782 3100 8760 3065 8793
      3068 8801 3063 8805 3060 8805 3057 8808
TIME...MOT...LOC 2301Z 217DEG 37KT 3071 8805

$$

391 
WWUS54 KMOB 252311
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
511 PM CST TUE DEC 25 2012

ALC003-097-252345-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0122.000000T0000Z-121225T2345Z/
BALDWIN AL-MOBILE AL-
511 PM CST TUE DEC 25 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CST FOR EAST
CENTRAL MOBILE AND WEST CENTRAL BALDWIN COUNTIES...

...THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR THE MOBILE DELTA AREA NORTH OF 
THE COCHRANE BRIDGE...

AT 508 PM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO 
WAS LOCATED 2 MILES NORTHEAST OF CHICKASAW...OR 4 MILES NORTHEAST OF
I65 AND I165...MOVING NORTH AT 45 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MIDTOWN MOBILE...     DOWNTOWN MOBILE...    PRICHARD...
  I65 AND US 45...      I65 AND I165...       I10 AND I65...
  CHICKASAW...          SPANISH FORT...       I65 AND CR 47...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 10 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 18 AND 34. THIS
INCLUDES INTERSTATE 65 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 1 AND 46.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A LARGE...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND.
TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE...TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON
THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING AND AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A
MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL
SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST TUESDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI. A TORNADO WATCH
ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CST TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

&&

LAT...LON 3063 8819 3116 8782 3100 8760 3065 8793
      3068 8801 3063 8805 3060 8805 3057 8808
TIME...MOT...LOC 2310Z 201DEG 41KT 3081 8803

$$

820 
WWUS54 KMOB 252320
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
520 PM CST TUE DEC 25 2012

ALC003-097-252345-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0122.000000T0000Z-121225T2345Z/
BALDWIN AL-MOBILE AL-
520 PM CST TUE DEC 25 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CST FOR EAST
CENTRAL MOBILE AND CENTRAL BALDWIN COUNTIES...

AT 517 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION AND LIKELY
PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED 3 MILES EAST OF SATSUMA...OR   3 
MILES SOUTHEAST OF I65 AND US 43...MOVING NORTH AT 50 MPH..

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  I65 AND AL 225...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 65 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 24 AND 32.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST TUESDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI. A TORNADO WATCH
ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CST TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

&&

LAT...LON 3107 8771 3088 8793 3086 8798 3088 8802
      3116 8782
TIME...MOT...LOC 2320Z 201DEG 41KT 3092 8798

$$

499 
WWUS54 KMOB 252339
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
539 PM CST TUE DEC 25 2012

ALC097-252348-
/O.CAN.KMOB.TO.W.0122.000000T0000Z-121225T2345Z/
MOBILE AL-
539 PM CST TUE DEC 25 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR EAST CENTRAL MOBILE
COUNTY...

AT 535 PM CST...THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL 
MOBILE COUNTY HAS MOVED OUT OF THE COUNTY...THUS THE TORNADO WARNING 
HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST TUESDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI. A TORNADO WATCH
ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CST TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

LAT...LON 3114 8780 3109 8784 3110 8786 3116 8782
TIME...MOT...LOC 2338Z 201DEG 41KT 3111 8789

$$

ALC003-252345-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0122.000000T0000Z-121225T2345Z/
BALDWIN AL-
539 PM CST TUE DEC 25 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CST FOR NORTH
CENTRAL BALDWIN COUNTY...

AT 535 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 
WAS LOCATED 17 MILES NORTH OF BAY MINETTE...OR 9 MILES EAST OF CALVERT...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  RURAL NORTH CENTRAL BALDWIN COUNTY

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST TUESDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI. A TORNADO WATCH
ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CST TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

&&

LAT...LON 3114 8780 3109 8784 3110 8786 3116 8782
TIME...MOT...LOC 2338Z 204DEG 36KT 3111 8789

$$

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Dec 24, 9:38 PM CST	Small Craft Advisory	MOB		20 hr
Dec 25, 4:41 AM CST	Gale Warning	MOB		31 hr
Dec 25, 4:41 AM CST	Small Craft Advisory	MOB		13 hr
Dec 25, 4:41 AM CST	Small Craft Advisory	MOB		42 hr
Dec 25, 4:41 AM CST	Small Craft Advisory	MOB		42 hr
Dec 25, 2:01 PM CST	Special Marine Warning	MOB		62 min
Dec 25, 2:43 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Clarke	32 min
Dec 25, 2:55 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Clarke, Monroe	65 min
Dec 25, 3:14 PM CST	Special Marine Warning	MOB		61 min
Dec 25, 3:35 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Covington, Crenshaw	55 min
Dec 25, 4:07 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Clarke, Monroe, Wilcox	68 min
Dec 25, 4:12 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Mobile	33 min
Dec 25, 4:13 PM CST	Special Marine Warning	MOB		17 min
Dec 25, 4:17 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Clarke, Mobile, Washington	10 min
Dec 25, 4:24 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Crenshaw	51 min
Dec 25, 4:24 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Choctaw	66 min
Dec 25, 4:28 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Wilcox	17 min
Dec 25, 4:39 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Conecuh, Escambia, Monroe	51 min
Dec 25, 4:41 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Conecuh, Escambia	49 min
Dec 25, 4:47 PM CST	Special Marine Warning	MOB		43 min
Dec 25, 4:50 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MOB	Clarke, Mobile, Washington	55 min
Dec 25, 4:52 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Choctaw, Clarke, Washington	53 min
Dec 25, 4:52 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Crenshaw	38 min
Dec 25, 5:00 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Mobile, Washington	45 min
Dec 25, 5:08 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Crenshaw	45 min
Dec 25, 5:08 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Wilcox	52 min
Dec 25, 5:13 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Covington	18 min
Dec 25, 5:16 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Baldwin, Clarke, Mobile, Monroe	44 min
Dec 25, 5:17 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Clarke, Washington	58 min
Dec 25, 5:23 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Monroe, Wilcox	23 min
Dec 25, 5:28 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MOB	Choctaw, Clarke, Mobile, Washington	62 min
Dec 25, 5:40 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MOB	Choctaw, Clarke, Wilcox	65 min
Dec 25, 5:44 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Clarke, Wilcox	46 min
Dec 25, 5:56 PM CST	Tornado Warning	MOB	Clarke, Washington	64 min

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.