Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2016

Tornado Warning 12, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 1, 2016Jefferson County, Shelby County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Mar 1, 2016, 5:44 PM CST for Jefferson County, Shelby County, Alabama. It was in force for 16 min. 11 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: Mar 1, 2016, 5:44 PM CST (23:44 UTC)
Expired: Mar 1, 2016, 6:00 PM CST
In force: 16 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

Counties Jefferson County, AL, Shelby County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 17 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:46 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
Mar 1, 5:44 PM CST	TORNADO	4 Ssw Bessemer, AL	SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE REPORTED AT BENT BROOK GOLF COURSE. POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO VEHICLES. SEVERAL TREES DOWN. COUNTY ROAD 52 BLOCKED BY DOWNED TREES. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. UPDATED EVENT TYPE. CORRECTED TIME.
Mar 1, 5:45 PM CST	TSTM WND DMG	4 Ssw Bessemer, AL	TREE REPORTED DOWN.
Mar 1, 5:45 PM CST	TORNADO	4 Ssw Bessemer, AL	TREE REPORTED DOWN. UPDATED EVENT TYPE.
Mar 1, 5:46 PM CST	TORNADO	5 Se Bessemer, AL	REPORT OF TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN. ROAD IMPASSABLE. CORRECTED TIME.
Mar 1, 5:48 PM CST	TORNADO	5 Se Bessemer, AL	CEDAR TREE DOWN, ESTIMATED 20 TO 30 FOOT DIAMETER. TIME ESTIMATED.
Mar 1, 5:48 PM CST	TORNADO	5 Se Bessemer, AL	CEDAR TREE DOWN, ESTIMATED 20 TO 30 INCH DIAMETER. TIME ESTIMATED. CORRECTED DIAMETER.
Mar 1, 5:49 PM CST	TSTM WND DMG	5 Se Bessemer, AL	TREE REPORTED DOWN. TIN OFF OF ROOF AND TREE LIMBS REPORTED IN THE VICINITY. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
Mar 1, 5:49 PM CST	TORNADO	3 Se Bessemer, AL	TREES DOWN BLOCKING ROADWAY. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
Mar 1, 5:49 PM CST	TORNADO	5 Se Bessemer, AL	TREE REPORTED DOWN. TIN OFF OF ROOF AND TREE LIMBS REPORTED IN THE VICINITY. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. UPDATED EVENT TYPE.
Mar 1, 5:50 PM CST	TORNADO 2	5 Se Bessemer, AL	TREE DOWN BLOCKING ROAD. CORRECTED TIME. END POINT OF NWS STORM SURVEY.
Mar 1, 5:52 PM CST	TSTM WND DMG	3 Nnw Alabaster, AL	TREES DOWN NEAR HELENA CITY HALL. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

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
Mar 1, 5:25 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 16 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: 23 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -70 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 896 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 72 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 91 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

392 
WFUS54 KBMX 012344
TORBMX
ALC073-117-020015-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0012.160301T2344Z-160302T0015Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
544 PM CST TUE MAR 1 2016

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL SHELBY COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  SOUTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 615 PM CST
    
* AT 544 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
  TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BESSEMER...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

  HAZARD...TORNADO. 

  SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION. 

  IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT 
           SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. 
           DAMAGE TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR.  TREE 
           DAMAGE IS LIKELY. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HOOVER...ALABASTER...BESSEMER...PELHAM...HELENA...CHELSEA...
  COLUMBIANA...INDIAN SPRINGS VILLAGE...OAK MOUNTAIN AMPHITHEATER...
  OAK MOUNTAIN STATE PARK...HOOVER METROPOLITAN STADIUM...
  RIVERCHASE...SADDLE LAKE FARMS...BENT BROOK GOLF CLUB...
  BALLANTRAE...JOE TUCKER PARK...PROMENADE TANNEHILL...BOUNDS LAKE...
  BESSEMER AIRPORT AND MCADORY.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
 INTERSTATE 65 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 242 AND 247.
 INTERSTATE 459 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 6 AND 10.
 INTERSTATE 20 NEAR MILE MARKER 108.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...IN A
MOBILE HOME...OR IN A VEHICLE...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL
SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 3329 8707 3337 8700 3335 8660 3319 8661
TIME...MOT...LOC 2344Z 280DEG 50KT 3332 8697 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

87/GRANTHAM

3 follow-up statements

188 
WWUS54 KBMX 012347
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
547 PM CST TUE MAR 1 2016

ALC073-117-020015-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-160302T0015Z/
SHELBY AL-JEFFERSON AL-
547 PM CST TUE MAR 1 2016

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CST FOR CENTRAL
SHELBY AND SOUTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTIES...
        
AT 547 PM CST...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BESSEMER...
MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO. 

SOURCE...RADAR CONFIRMED TORNADO. 

IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT 
         SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. DAMAGE 
         TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR.  TREE DAMAGE IS 
         LIKELY. 

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HOOVER...ALABASTER...BESSEMER...PELHAM...HELENA...CHELSEA...
COLUMBIANA...INDIAN SPRINGS VILLAGE...OAK MOUNTAIN AMPHITHEATER...OAK
MOUNTAIN STATE PARK...HOOVER METROPOLITAN STADIUM...RIVERCHASE...
SADDLE LAKE FARMS...BENT BROOK GOLF CLUB...BALLANTRAE...JOE TUCKER
PARK...PROMENADE TANNEHILL...BOUNDS LAKE...BESSEMER AIRPORT AND
MCADORY.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
 INTERSTATE 65 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 242 AND 247.
 INTERSTATE 459 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 6 AND 10.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3328 8701 3337 8700 3336 8690 3335 8660
      3319 8661
TIME...MOT...LOC 2347Z 273DEG 43KT 3333 8693 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

87/GRANTHAM

286 
WWUS54 KBMX 012356
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
556 PM CST TUE MAR 1 2016

ALC073-020006-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-160302T0015Z/
JEFFERSON AL-
556 PM CST TUE MAR 1 2016

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
    
THE TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT
OF THE WARNED AREA. THEREFORE THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM CST FOR
CENTRAL ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3335 8660 3319 8661 3326 8693 3330 8691
      3331 8690 3332 8690 3333 8688 3333 8683
      3336 8683
TIME...MOT...LOC 2356Z 286DEG 36KT 3330 8683 

$$

ALC117-020015-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-160302T0015Z/
SHELBY AL-
556 PM CST TUE MAR 1 2016

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CST FOR CENTRAL
SHELBY COUNTY...
        
AT 556 PM CST...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED OVER HELENA...MOVING
EAST AT 40 MPH.

HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO. 

SOURCE...RADAR CONFIRMED TORNADO. 

IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT 
         SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. DAMAGE 
         TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR.  TREE DAMAGE IS 
         LIKELY. 

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HOOVER...ALABASTER...PELHAM...HELENA...CHELSEA...COLUMBIANA...INDIAN
SPRINGS VILLAGE...OAK MOUNTAIN AMPHITHEATER...OAK MOUNTAIN STATE
PARK...RIVERCHASE...SADDLE LAKE FARMS...BALLANTRAE...JOE TUCKER PARK
AND BOUNDS LAKE.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 65 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 242 AND 247.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3335 8660 3319 8661 3326 8693 3330 8691
      3331 8690 3332 8690 3333 8688 3333 8683
      3336 8683
TIME...MOT...LOC 2356Z 286DEG 36KT 3330 8683 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

87/GRANTHAM

472 
WWUS54 KBMX 020000
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
600 PM CST TUE MAR 1 2016

ALC117-020009-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-160302T0015Z/
SHELBY AL-
600 PM CST TUE MAR 1 2016

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL SHELBY COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
                
THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED BELOW SEVERE
LIMITS...AND NO LONGER APPEARS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.
THEREFORE THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM CST FOR
CENTRAL ALABAMA.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING STILL REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR
SHELBY COUNTY.

LAT...LON 3335 8660 3319 8661 3326 8693 3330 8691
      3331 8690 3332 8690 3333 8688 3333 8683
      3336 8683
TIME...MOT...LOC 2357Z 280DEG 50KT 3329 8677 

$$

87/GRANTHAM

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 1, 7:33 AM CST	Dense Fog Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Dallas, Elmore, Lee and 7 more	2 hr
Mar 1, 2:24 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Winston	51 min
Mar 1, 4:02 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion, Winston	43 min
Mar 1, 4:23 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	37 min
Mar 1, 4:34 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens, Tuscaloosa	41 min
Mar 1, 4:55 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Jefferson	50 min
Mar 1, 5:04 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	56 min
Mar 1, 5:17 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tuscaloosa	43 min
Mar 1, 5:27 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa	63 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2016 Every tornado warning in 2016 Tornadoes in 2016

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.