Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2013

Tornado Warning 6, NWS Birmingham, AL

January 30, 2013Cleburne County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Jan 30, 2013, 9:20 AM CST for Cleburne County, Alabama. It was in force for 40 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 30, 2013, 9:20 AM CST (15:20 UTC)
Expired: Jan 30, 2013, 10:00 AM CST
In force: 40 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

County Cleburne County, AL

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 106 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:23 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

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

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Jan 30, 5:15 AM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 3.3 hours before the alert went out and 111 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: 220 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -1 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 487 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 50 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 343 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 420 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.4
Supercell composite: 1.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

793 
WFUS54 KBMX 301520
TORBMX
ALC029-301600-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0006.130130T1520Z-130130T1600Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
920 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTH CENTRAL CLEBURNE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 1000 AM CST

* AT 920 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE   
THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM   
WAS LOCATED 6 MILES EAST OF FORT MCCLELLAN...AND MOVING NORTHEAST   
AT 50 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MARS HILLS...SWEETWATER LAKE...COLEMAN LAKE AND CAMPGROUND...
  LIBERTY HILL...OAK LEVEL AND BORDEN SPRINGS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE
LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING.

&&

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...
CALL 1-800-856-0758 OR TWEET YOUR REPORT USING HASHTAG ALWX

LAT...LON 3382 8537 3368 8564 3377 8564 3381 8559
      3384 8559 3385 8564 3387 8564 3388 8560
      3389 8560 3389 8553 3394 8553 3396 8549
      3395 8543 3397 8540
TIME...MOT...LOC 1520Z 227DEG 45KT 3377 8565

$$

73

1 follow-up statement

261 
WWUS54 KBMX 301545
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
945 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

ALC029-301555-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-130130T1600Z/
CLEBURNE AL-
945 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

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

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED
AREA.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CALL 1-800-856-0758.

LAT...LON 3382 8537 3368 8564 3377 8564 3381 8559
      3384 8559 3385 8564 3387 8564 3388 8560
      3389 8560 3389 8553 3394 8553 3396 8549
      3395 8543 3397 8540
TIME...MOT...LOC 1545Z 227DEG 45KT 3398 8537

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Jan 30, 6:46 AM CST, 2 hours 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 30, 6:46 AM CST, 2 hours 34 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
646 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

.UPDATE...
MESOSCALE UPDATE.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE SQUALL LINE/QLCS HAS NOW BECOME VERY BROKEN
IN APPEARANCE...AND CELLS ARE FORMING OUT AHEAD OF THE LINE. LIGHTNING
HAS REALLY INCREASED WITH AN INTENSIFYING LINE OF STORMS ACROSS
SOUTHEASTERN MISSISSIPPI...AND SURFACE MESOANLYSIS HAS REVEALED
THAT A WEAK AREA OF LOW PRESSURE HAS NOW BEGUN TO FORM NEAR
HATTIESBURG MISSISSIPPI. THIS WILL BECOME VERY PROBLEMATIC
THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS FOR OUR SOUTHERN SECTIONS OF THE
CWA...WHERE 68+ DEWPOINTS ARE BEGINNING TO GET ADVECTED NORTHWARD.
DEWPOINTS OF 66 HAVE BEEN ADVECTED AS FAR NORTH AS WINSTON AND
CULLMAN COUNTY. FRESH OFF THE PRESS...THE 12Z KBMX SOUNDING
MODIFIED FOR THE CURRENT SURFACE CONDITIONS REVEALS OVER 1000 J/KG
OF CAPE WITH A VERY WEAK CAP ABOUT TO BE BROKEN...WHICH WILL MEAN
THE LIKELIHOOD FOR TORNADIC DEVELOPMENT WILL CONTINUE OUT AHEAD OF
THE BROKEN LINE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS. THE ADDITION OF THE WEAK
AREA OF LOW PRESSURE ACROSS SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI WILL NO DOUBT
CONTINUE TO INCREASE SHEAR ACROSS THE AREA AS WELL. SO THE FIRST
THREAT THAT WE WILL SEE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS...WILL BE THE
ROTATING CELLS OUT AHEAD OF THE LINE AND WITHIN THE OLD QLCS
STRETCHING NORTHEASTWARD FROM SUMTER COUNTY NORTHEAST TO CULLMAN
COUNTY. BASED ON RADAR TRENDS...THE BEST DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE
WIND THREAT LOOKS TO BE MATERIALIZING ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN
MISSISSIPPI...AND THAT LINE OF STORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE
SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF OUR CWA THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS. ALSO...THE
DAMAGING WIND THREAT WILL STILL BE POSSIBLE IN ANY STORM THAT IS
CAPABLE OF MIXING DOWN THE EXTREMELY STRONG WINDS ALOFT.

56/GDG

&&

.AVIATION...
12Z TAF DISCUSSION.

MVFR CIGS ARE PREVAILING FOR MOST LOCATIONS...AND HAVE DECIDED TO GO
WITH PREVAILING MVFR FOR ALL TERMINALS THROUGH THE PERIOD IN THE
NEAR TERM. AS HEAVIER RAINFALL PASSES OVER ANY TERMINAL
LOCATION...CIGS AND VIS COULD SUDDENLY DROP AT ANY TIME. WITH CELLS
DEVELOPING OUT AHEAD OF THE SQUALL LINE...HAVE ADDED IN VCTS FOR
KBHM AND KEET THROUGH THE NEAR TERM. WINDS WILL REMAIN VERY GUSTY
THROUGH THE MORNING WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 KNOTS POSSIBLE FROM THE
SOUTH.

AS FAR AS THE TIMING OF THE SQUALL LINE...THE LINE ITSELF IS
BECOMING MORE BROKEN THAN IT WAS EARLIER THIS MORNING...BUT HAVE
STILL TRIED TO TIME THE ARRIVAL OF STRONGER WINDS AND SQUALLS AT
KTCL...KBHM...AND KEET. IF THE LINE BECOMES MORE BROKEN...WILL AMEND
BASED ON A WESTERLY WIND SHIFT THROUGH THE MORNING INSTEAD OF A
SQUALL...WITH TSRA CONTINUED TO BE MENTIONED.

DUE TO SO MANY FORECAST CHALLENGES WITHIN THE FIRST 12 HOURS OF THE
PERIOD...DID NOT SPEND MUCH TIME ON THE SECOND HALF OF THE PERIOD.
AS A HEADS UP...WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE W/SW BEHIND THE LINE OF
STORMS BUT WILL REMAIN GUSTY.

56/GDG

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES: AUTAUGA...BARBOUR...BIBB...BLOUNT...BULLOCK...
CALHOUN...CHAMBERS...CHEROKEE...CHILTON...CLAY...CLEBURNE...
COOSA...DALLAS...ELMORE...ETOWAH...FAYETTE...GREENE...HALE...
JEFFERSON...LAMAR...LEE...LOWNDES...MACON...MARENGO...MARION...
MONTGOMERY...PERRY...PICKENS...PIKE...RANDOLPH...RUSSELL...
SHELBY...ST. CLAIR...SUMTER...TALLADEGA...TALLAPOOSA...
TUSCALOOSA...WALKER...WINSTON.

&&

56

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 30, 8:55 AM CST, 25 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
855 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

ALZ011>015-017>050-311445-
AUTAUGA-BARBOUR-BIBB-BLOUNT-BULLOCK-CALHOUN-CHAMBERS-CHEROKEE-
CHILTON-CLAY-CLEBURNE-COOSA-DALLAS-ELMORE-ETOWAH-FAYETTE-GREENE-HALE-
JEFFERSON-LAMAR-LEE-LOWNDES-MACON-MARENGO-MARION-MONTGOMERY-PERRY-
PICKENS-PIKE-RANDOLPH-RUSSELL-SHELBY-ST CLAIR-SUMTER-TALLADEGA-
TALLAPOOSA-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER-WINSTON-
855 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES REMAIN POSSIBLE TODAY
EAST OF A LINE FROM ONEONTA...TO BIRMINGHAM...MYRTLEWOOD. ISOLATED
SUPERCELL STORMS AHEAD OF THE LINE WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSSIBLE
AHEAD OF THE SQUALL LINE AND WILL LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH INTO THE
AFTERNOON. THESE CELLS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO PRODUCE TORNADOES
BEFORE THE SQUALL LINE WORKS INTO THE AREA.

WINDY CONDITIONS WILL ALSO CONTINUE FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA
THROUGH 6 PM THIS EVENING. SUSTAINED WINDS OF 25 MPH...WITH GUSTS OF
UP TO 35 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. HIGHER ELEVATION LOCATIONS OF EASTERN
AND NORTHEASTERN ALABAMA COULD SEE WIND GUSTS OF UP TO 50 MPH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL BE
NEEDED THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.

08/MK

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 30, 8:11 AM CST, 1 hour 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
811 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0614 AM     TSTM WND DMG     SARDIS                  34.23N 87.12W
01/30/2013                   WINSTON            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            HANGER DAMAGE AT SARDIS AIPORT AND DAMAGE TO A CHURCH IN
            SARDIS

&&

GGOGGINS

Local storm report, Jan 30, 8:18 AM CST, 1 hour 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
818 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0605 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SW NESMITH            34.15N 87.14W
01/30/2013                   WINSTON            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ON COUNTY ROAD 40 JUST WEST OF
            COUNTY ROAD 77.

&&

GGOGGINS

Local storm report, Jan 30, 8:37 AM CST, 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
837 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0618 AM     TSTM WND DMG     PRATTVILLE              32.46N 86.45W
01/30/2013                   AUTAUGA            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TWO TREES AND COUPLE OF POWER LINES DOWN ON HWY 31

&&

GGOGGINS

Local storm report, Jan 30, 8:38 AM CST, 42 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
838 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0835 AM     HAIL             BIRMINGHAM              33.53N 86.80W
01/30/2013  E0.25 INCH       JEFFERSON          AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PEA HAIL REPORTED NEAR BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT

&&

GGOGGINS

Local storm report, Jan 30, 8:53 AM CST, 27 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
853 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0840 AM     HAIL             MOUNTAIN BROOK          33.49N 86.74W
01/30/2013  M0.25 INCH       JEFFERSON          AL   AMATEUR RADIO

&&

MROSE

Local storm report, Jan 30, 9:01 AM CST, 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
901 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0456 AM     HAIL             HAMILTON                34.14N 87.98W
01/30/2013  E0.75 INCH       MARION             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN HAMILTON.

0532 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NW FAYETTE            33.71N 87.86W
01/30/2013                   FAYETTE            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN ON HWY 18 NORTHWEST OF FAYETTE

0605 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SW NESMITH            34.15N 87.14W
01/30/2013                   WINSTON            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ON COUNTY ROAD 40 JUST WEST OF
            COUNTY ROAD 77.

0614 AM     TSTM WND DMG     SARDIS                  34.23N 87.12W
01/30/2013                   WINSTON            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            HANGER DAMAGE AT SARDIS AIPORT AND DAMAGE TO A CHURCH IN
            SARDIS

0618 AM     TSTM WND DMG     PRATTVILLE              32.46N 86.45W
01/30/2013                   AUTAUGA            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TWO TREES AND COUPLE OF POWER LINES DOWN ON HWY 31

0835 AM     HAIL             BIRMINGHAM              33.53N 86.80W
01/30/2013  E0.25 INCH       JEFFERSON          AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PEA HAIL REPORTED NEAR BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT

0840 AM     HAIL             MOUNTAIN BROOK          33.49N 86.74W
01/30/2013  M0.25 INCH       JEFFERSON          AL   AMATEUR RADIO

&&

GGOGGINS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jan 30, 3:54 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	66 min
Jan 30, 4:34 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion	41 min
Jan 30, 5:05 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chilton	40 min
Jan 30, 5:23 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston	52 min
Jan 30, 5:44 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Winston	31 min
Jan 30, 5:49 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa, Walker	41 min
Jan 30, 6:49 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	56 min
Jan 30, 7:28 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Sumter	47 min
Jan 30, 7:53 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chilton, Coosa	52 min
Jan 30, 8:00 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Hale, Marengo	45 min
Jan 30, 8:15 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Coosa, Talladega	45 min
Jan 30, 8:19 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Hale	116 min
Jan 30, 8:46 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Talladega	29 min
Jan 30, 8:48 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Bibb, Hale, Jefferson, Shelby	117 min
Jan 30, 9:02 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun	28 min
Jan 30, 9:08 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Calhoun	52 min
Jan 30, 9:43 AM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson	3 hr
Jan 30, 10:09 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Coosa, Elmore	51 min
Jan 30, 10:12 AM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Talladega	3 hr
Jan 30, 10:20 AM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Calhoun, St. Clair	3 hr
Jan 30, 10:24 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Elmore, Montgomery	51 min
Jan 30, 10:31 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Randolph	44 min
Jan 30, 10:42 AM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Clay, Cleburne	3 hr
Jan 30, 10:53 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Tallapoosa	37 min
Jan 30, 10:57 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tallapoosa	33 min
Jan 30, 11:08 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cleburne, Randolph	37 min
Jan 30, 11:19 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Elmore, Tallapoosa	26 min
Jan 30, 11:26 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers, Randolph	49 min
Jan 30, 12:10 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Bullock, Montgomery, Pike	35 min
Jan 30, 12:26 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Barbour, Bullock, Russell	34 min
Jan 30, 12:28 PM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Chambers, Randolph, Tallapoosa	3 hr
Jan 30, 12:55 PM CST	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Talladega	3 hr
Jan 30, 2:03 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Barbour, Lee, Pike, Russell	57 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2013 Every tornado warning in 2013 Tornadoes in 2013

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.