Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 17, NWS Mobile, AL

March 2, 20124 counties in Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at Mar 2, 2012, 5:03 PM CST for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 42 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Mar 2, 2012, 5:03 PM CST (23:03 UTC)
Expired
Mar 2, 2012, 5:45 PM CST
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Baldwin County, AL, Conecuh County, AL, Escambia County, AL, Monroe County, AL

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 93 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:02 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Mar 2, 4:37 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 11.1 hours before the alert went out and 229 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 2012-03-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 544 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 2012-03-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 180 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
544 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-15 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
530 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
59 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
180 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
204 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.6
Supercell composite
2.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

834 
WFUS54 KMOB 022303
TORMOB
ALC003-035-053-099-022345-
/O.NEW.KMOB.TO.W.0017.120302T2303Z-120302T2345Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
503 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN CONECUH COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  NORTHWESTERN ESCAMBIA COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  SOUTH CENTRAL MONROE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  NORTH CENTRAL BALDWIN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 545 PM CST

* AT 500 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 15 MILES WEST OF
  ATMORE...OR 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF I65 AND CR 47...MOVING NORTHEAST
  AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  POARCH CREEK RESERVATION...                 PERDIDO...
  I65 AND CR 47...      MCCULLOUGH...         I65 AND CR 1...
  I65 AND AL 21...      I65 AND AL 113...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 65 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 43 AND 73.

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.

IF IN MANUFACTURED HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL 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 MIDNIGHT CST SATURDAY MORNING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

&&

LAT...LON 3139 8733 3112 8718 3098 8773 3114 8783
TIME...MOT...LOC 2303Z 241DEG 25KT 3111 8769

$$
4 follow-up statements
973 
WWUS54 KMOB 022315
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
515 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

ALC003-035-053-099-022345-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-120302T2345Z/
CONECUH AL-ESCAMBIA AL-MONROE AL-BALDWIN AL-
515 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CST FOR NORTH
CENTRAL BALDWIN...SOUTH CENTRAL MONROE...NORTHWESTERN ESCAMBIA AND
SOUTHWESTERN CONECUH COUNTIES...

AT 512 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR REDTOWN...OR 12
MILES NORTHWEST OF ATMORE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO POARCH
CREEK RESERVATION...BOONEVILLE...POARCH...JACK SPRINGS...
MCCULLOUGH...HUXFORD...I65 AND AL 113 AND BARNETT CROSSROADS

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 MIDNIGHT CST SATURDAY MORNING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

&&

LAT...LON 3108 8764 3118 8767 3139 8733 3117 8721
TIME...MOT...LOC 2315Z 241DEG 25KT 3115 8760

$$
336 
WWUS54 KMOB 022321
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
521 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

ALC003-022329-
/O.CAN.KMOB.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-120302T2345Z/
BALDWIN AL-
521 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL BALDWIN COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

AT 516 PM CST...THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED 
NORTHEAST OUT OF NORTH CENTRAL BALDWIN COUNTY...THUS THE TORNADO 
WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR NORTH CENTRAL BALDWIN COUNTY.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST SATURDAY MORNING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3113 8759 3120 8761 3139 8733 3122 8724
TIME...MOT...LOC 2319Z 236DEG 31KT 3120 8754

$$

ALC035-053-099-022345-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-120302T2345Z/
CONECUH AL-ESCAMBIA AL-MONROE AL-
521 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CST FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL MONROE...NORTHWESTERN ESCAMBIA AND SOUTHWESTERN CONECUH
COUNTIES...

AT 516 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS 
TORNADIC STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR JACK SPRINGS...OR 11 MILES NORTHWEST OF 
ATMORE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
HUXFORD...I65 AND AL 113 AND BARNETT CROSSROADS

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 MIDNIGHT CST SATURDAY MORNING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

&&

LAT...LON 3113 8759 3120 8761 3139 8733 3122 8724
TIME...MOT...LOC 2319Z 236DEG 31KT 3120 8754

$$
153 
WWUS54 KMOB 022333
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
533 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

ALC099-022342-
/O.CAN.KMOB.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-120302T2345Z/
MONROE AL-
533 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL MONROE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

AT 530 PM CST...THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING WILL PASS JUST 
EAST OF SOUTH CENTRAL MONROE COUNTY...THUS THE TORNADO WARNING HAS 
BEEN CANCELLED FOR SOUTH CENTRAL MONROE COUNTY.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST SATURDAY MORNING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3123 8742 3126 8744 3129 8741 3135 8731
      3128 8726 3125 8726
TIME...MOT...LOC 2332Z 241DEG 38KT 3126 8739

$$

ALC035-053-022345-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-120302T2345Z/
CONECUH AL-ESCAMBIA AL-
533 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CST FOR NORTH
CENTRAL ESCAMBIA AND SOUTHWESTERN CONECUH COUNTIES...

AT 530 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS 
TORNADIC STORM WAS LOCATED OVER EXTREME NORTHWESTERN ESCAMBIA COUNTY...OR 
11 MILES SOUTH OF FRISCO CITY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

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 MIDNIGHT CST SATURDAY MORNING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

&&

LAT...LON 3123 8742 3126 8744 3129 8741 3135 8731
      3128 8726 3125 8726
TIME...MOT...LOC 2332Z 241DEG 38KT 3126 8739

$$
478 
WWUS54 KMOB 022339
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
539 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

ALC035-053-022347-
/O.EXP.KMOB.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-120302T2345Z/
CONECUH AL-ESCAMBIA AL-
539 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL ESCAMBIA AND SOUTHWESTERN 
CONECUH COUNTIES WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 545 PM CST...

AT 537 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THAT THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS CONTINUED TO WEAKEN AND 
THUS THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL ESCAMBIA AND SOUTHWESTERN 
CONECUH COUNTIES WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 545 PM CST.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST SATURDAY MORNING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3123 8742 3126 8744 3129 8741 3135 8731
      3128 8726 3125 8726
TIME...MOT...LOC 2337Z 241DEG 38KT 3129 8734

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 2, 3:40 PM CSTSmall Craft AdvisoryMOB26 hr
Mar 2, 3:55 PM CSTTornado WarningMOBClarke, Wilcox50 min
Mar 2, 4:26 PM CSTTornado WarningMOBMonroe, Wilcox49 min
Mar 2, 4:27 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBChoctaw, Clarke48 min
Mar 2, 4:43 PM CSTTornado WarningMOBCovington17 min
Mar 2, 4:57 PM CSTTornado WarningMOBClarke33 min
Mar 2, 5:16 PM CSTTornado WarningMOBCovington29 min
Mar 2, 5:17 PM CSTTornado WarningMOBClarke, Wilcox58 min
Mar 2, 5:35 PM CSTTornado WarningMOBChoctaw, Clarke19 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.