Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 5, NWS Mobile, AL

January 26, 2012Baldwin County, Mobile County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at Jan 26, 2012, 11:11 AM CST for Baldwin County, Mobile County, Alabama. It was in force for 21 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
Jan 26, 2012, 11:11 AM CST (17:11 UTC)
Expired
Jan 26, 2012, 11:32 AM CST
In force
21 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Baldwin County, AL, Mobile County, AL

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 34 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:10 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
Jan 26, 9:55 AM CSTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Slidell Radar S, LA (KSIL), launched 12:00Z, 5.2 hours before the alert went out and 181 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, Slidell Radar S, LA at 12:00Z on 2012-01-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1176 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, Slidell Radar S, LA at 12:00Z on 2012-01-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 354 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1176 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-2 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
461 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
55 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
354 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
359 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
2.6
Supercell composite
10.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

937 
WFUS54 KMOB 261711
TORMOB
ALC003-097-261800-
/O.NEW.KMOB.TO.W.0005.120126T1711Z-120126T1800Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1111 AM CST THU JAN 26 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL NOON CST

* AT 1106 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 5 MILES SOUTH OF
  MOBILE...OR NEAR I10 AND I65...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  I65 AND US 45...      I65 AND I165...       I10 AND I65...
  MOBILE...             CREOLA...             CHICKASAW...
  STOCKTON...           SPANISH FORT...       I65 AND AL 59...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 10 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 17 AND 37.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 65 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 1 AND 42.

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 500 PM CST THURSDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

&&

LAT...LON 3061 8819 3115 8789 3115 8787 3116 8788
      3117 8786 3119 8787 3121 8785 3093 8765
      3070 8784 3063 8793 3066 8795 3068 8801
      3063 8805 3058 8806 3056 8809
TIME...MOT...LOC 1711Z 210DEG 41KT 3068 8807

$$
2 follow-up statements
138 
WWUS54 KMOB 261721
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1121 AM CST THU JAN 26 2012

ALC003-097-261800-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120126T1800Z/
BALDWIN AL-MOBILE AL-
1121 AM CST THU JAN 26 2012

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

AT 1115 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A POSSIBLE TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR DOWNTOWN 
MOBILE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO NORTH
MOBILE...SPANISH FORT...NORWOOD...CHICKASAW...AKKA...BLAKELEY...
BROMLEY...NENEMOOSHA...COX BEACH...CREOLA...HURRICANE...HOLLY
HILLS...WHITEHOUSE FORKS...CROSSROADS...VANGORDON...CARPENTER...PINE
GROVE...D'OLIVE...DOUGLASVILLE...EASTWOOD...I65 AND AL 225...I65 AND
AL 59...PINCHONA...CARNEY...STOCKTON...I65 AND AL 287...VAUGHN...
DYAS...RABUN AND LATHAM

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 MOBILE 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 500 PM CST THURSDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

&&

LAT...LON 3061 8819 3115 8789 3115 8787 3116 8788
      3117 8786 3119 8787 3121 8785 3093 8765
      3070 8784 3063 8793 3066 8795 3068 8801
      3063 8805 3058 8806 3056 8809
TIME...MOT...LOC 1720Z 210DEG 41KT 3072 8803

$$
975 
WWUS54 KMOB 261732
SVSMOB

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1132 AM CST THU JAN 26 2012

ALC003-097-261741-
/O.CAN.KMOB.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-120126T1800Z/
BALDWIN AL-MOBILE AL-
1132 AM CST THU JAN 26 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL MOBILE AND NORTHWESTERN
BALDWIN COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

RADAR AND VISUAL CONFIRMATION HAS SHOWN THAT THE DEVELOPING LOW 
LEVEL CIRCULATION HAS GREATLY WEAKENED SINCE 1120 PM.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM CST THURSDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

LAT...LON 3061 8819 3115 8789 3115 8787 3116 8788
      3117 8786 3119 8787 3121 8785 3093 8765
      3070 8784 3063 8793 3066 8795 3068 8801
      3063 8805 3058 8806 3056 8809
TIME...MOT...LOC 1731Z 210DEG 41KT 3083 8796

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 26, 8:56 AM CSTTornado WarningMOBChoctaw, Washington49 min
Jan 26, 9:15 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBWashington38 min
Jan 26, 9:20 AM CSTTornado WarningMOBWashington40 min
Jan 26, 9:33 AM CSTTornado WarningMOBChoctaw57 min
Jan 26, 9:41 AM CSTSpecial Marine WarningMOB2 hr
Jan 26, 9:49 AM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryMOBBaldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and 2 more116 min
Jan 26, 9:50 AM CSTSmall Craft AdvisoryMOB23 hr
Jan 26, 11:03 AM CSTSpecial Marine WarningMOB117 min
Jan 26, 11:57 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBMonroe, Wilcox27 min
Jan 26, 12:05 PM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryMOBBaldwin, Butler, Clarke, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw and 3 more4 hr
Jan 26, 12:49 PM CSTSpecial Marine WarningMOB56 min
Jan 26, 1:36 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBCovington39 min
Jan 26, 1:38 PM CSTRiver Flood WarningMOBChoctaw, Clarke, Washington6 days
Jan 26, 1:38 PM CSTRiver Flood WarningMOBChoctaw, Clarke, Washington6 days
Jan 26, 1:44 PM CSTSpecial Marine WarningMOB46 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.