Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2016

Tornado Warning 15, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 31, 2016Lamar County, Pickens County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Mar 31, 2016, 6:22 PM CDT for Lamar County, Pickens County, Alabama. It was in force for 50 min. 12 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 31, 2016, 6:22 PM CDT (23:22 UTC)
Expired
Mar 31, 2016, 7:12 PM CDT
In force
50 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Lamar County, AL, Pickens County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 48 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:24 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 31, 6:30 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGEthelsville, ALTREES AND POWER LINES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED.
Mar 31, 6:32 PM CDTTORNADO 15 Nw Ethelsville, ALSURVEY START POINT. THE TORNADO STARTED IN MISSISSIPPI AND CROSSED THE STATE LINE INTO PICKENS COUNTY ALABAMA ABOUT 2.3 MILES SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 82. THE TORNADO TRACKED NORTHEAST AND CROSSED EAGLE ROAD AND COUNTY ROAD 30 BEFORE DISSIPATING JUST NORTH OF HIGHWAY
Mar 31, 6:32 PM CDTTORNADO 15 Nw Ethelsville, ALTORNADO START POINT. THE TORNADO STARTED IN MISSISSIPPI AND CROSSED THE STATE LINE INTO PICKENS COUNTY ALABAMA ABOUT 2.3 MILES SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 82. THE TORNADO TRACKED NORTHEAST AND CROSSED EAGLE ROAD AND COUNTY ROAD 30 BEFORE DISSIPATING JUST NORTH OF HIGHWAY
Mar 31, 6:37 PM CDTTORNADO 16 Nnw Ethelsville, ALTORNADO END POINT. ESTIMATED PEAK WIND 100 MPH. PATH LENGTH 2.08 MILES. MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH 500 YARDS.
Mar 31, 6:43 PM CDTTORNADO 14 Nne Ethelsville, ALTORNADO START POINT. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR COUNTY ROAD 75 JUST SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 34. NUMEROUS TREES WERE SNAPPED AND UPROOTED ALONG COUNTY ROAD 75 AND SOME MINOR ROOF AND SIDING DAMAGE TO A SINGLE RESIDENCE. THE TORNADO TRACKED EAST-NORTHEAST IN AN AREA
Mar 31, 6:48 PM CDTTORNADO 13 Sw Shaw, ALTORNADO END POINT. THE TORNADO CONTINUED EASTWARD ALONG HIGHWAY 34 AND PRODUCED LOSS OF SHINGLES TO A HOME AND DESTROYED SEVERAL OUTBUILDINGS. THE TORNADO CROSSED SHOCKLEY ROAD AND PRODUCED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO A METAL ROOF OF A WOOD FRAMED HOME AND DAMAGE T
Mar 31, 6:48 PM CDTTORNADO 14 Sw Shaw, ALTORNADO END POINT. THE TORNADO CONTINUED EASTWARD ALONG HIGHWAY 34 AND PRODUCED LOSS OF SHINGLES TO A HOME AND DESTROYED SEVERAL OUTBUILDINGS. THE TORNADO CROSSED SHOCKLEY ROAD AND PRODUCED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO A METAL ROOF OF A WOOD FRAMED HOME AND DAMAGE T
Mar 31, 6:50 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG1 W Millport, ALTREE DOWN ON HOME JUST OFF OF ALABAMA HIGHWAY 96 WEST OF MILLPORT. LOCATION APPROXIMATE.
Mar 31, 6:50 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGMillport, ALTREES DOWN ACROSS ALABAMA HIGHWAY 96 NEAR MILLPORT.
Mar 31, 6:58 PM CDTHAIL 0.25Kennedy, ALDIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED ON ALABAMA HIGHWAY 96 NEAR KENNEDY.
Mar 31, 6:58 PM CDTHAIL 0.5Kennedy, ALDIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED ON ALABAMA HIGHWAY 96 NEAR KENNEDY. CORRECTED MAGNITUDE.
Mar 31, 7:05 PM CDTHAIL 1.25Kennedy, ALHALF DOLLAR SIZED HAIL REPORTED NEAR KENNEDY.

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Mar 31, 5:58 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 11.4 hours before the alert went out and 125 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 2016-03-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 2016-03-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 441 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1040 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
441 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
538 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

006 
WFUS54 KBMX 312322
TORBMX
ALC075-107-010030-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0015.160331T2322Z-160401T0030Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
622 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN PICKENS COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  SOUTHERN LAMAR COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 730 PM CDT
    
* AT 622 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO
  WAS LOCATED NEAR COLUMBUS...MOVING EAST AT 25 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. 

* THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  ETHELSVILLE AROUND 635 PM CDT. 
  MILLPORT AROUND 700 PM CDT. 
  KENNEDY AROUND 720 PM CDT. 
  ASHCRAFT CORNER AROUND 725 PM CDT. 

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE
FOREST...MELBORNE...SHAW AND CODY.

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 3356 8827 3370 8795 3353 8795 3353 8784
      3345 8784 3338 8829
TIME...MOT...LOC 2322Z 249DEG 22KT 3343 8833 

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

$$

87/GRANTHAM
7 follow-up statements
002 
WWUS54 KBMX 312324
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
624 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

ALC075-107-010030-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-160401T0030Z/
PICKENS AL-LAMAR AL-
624 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN
PICKENS AND SOUTHERN LAMAR COUNTIES...
        
AT 623 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ETHELSVILLE...OR
NEAR COLUMBUS...MOVING EAST AT 25 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. 

THIS TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  ETHELSVILLE AROUND 635 PM CDT. 
  MILLPORT AROUND 700 PM CDT. 
  KENNEDY AROUND 715 PM CDT. 
  ASHCRAFT CORNER AROUND 720 PM CDT. 

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE
FOREST...MELBORNE...SHAW AND CODY.

LAT...LON 3356 8827 3370 8795 3353 8795 3353 8784
      3345 8784 3338 8829
TIME...MOT...LOC 2323Z 249DEG 22KT 3343 8832 

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

$$

87/GRANTHAM
580 
WWUS54 KBMX 312332
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
632 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

ALC075-107-010030-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-160401T0030Z/
PICKENS AL-LAMAR AL-
632 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN
PICKENS AND SOUTHERN LAMAR COUNTIES...
        
AT 631 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ETHELSVILLE...OR 7
MILES SOUTHEAST OF COLUMBUS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 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. 

THIS TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  MILLPORT AROUND 705 PM CDT. 
  KENNEDY AROUND 725 PM CDT. 
  ASHCRAFT CORNER AROUND 730 PM CDT. 

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE
FOREST...MELBORNE...SHAW AND CODY.

LAT...LON 3356 8827 3370 8795 3353 8795 3353 8784
      3348 8784 3341 8829
TIME...MOT...LOC 2331Z 241DEG 20KT 3346 8829 

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

$$

87/GRANTHAM
774 
WWUS54 KBMX 312342
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
642 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

ALC075-107-010030-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-160401T0030Z/
PICKENS AL-LAMAR AL-
642 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN PICKENS AND SOUTHERN LAMAR COUNTIES...
    
AT 642 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO
WAS LOCATED NEAR ETHELSVILLE...OR 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MILLPORT...
MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

HAZARD...TORNADO AND GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL. 

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...
MILLPORT...KENNEDY...ASHCRAFT CORNER...FOREST...MELBORNE...SHAW AND CODY. 

LAT...LON 3370 8795 3353 8795 3353 8784 3348 8784
      3342 8823 3349 8828 3356 8827
TIME...MOT...LOC 2342Z 248DEG 23KT 3348 8818 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

87/GRANTHAM
826 
WWUS54 KBMX 312347
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
647 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

ALC075-107-010030-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-160401T0030Z/
PICKENS AL-LAMAR AL-
647 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN PICKENS AND SOUTHEASTERN LAMAR COUNTIES...
        
AT 647 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MILLPORT...MOVING
EAST AT 25 MPH.

HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO AND GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL. 

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...
MILLPORT...KENNEDY...ASHCRAFT CORNER AND SHAW. 

LAT...LON 3342 8820 3354 8825 3365 8795 3353 8795
      3353 8784 3348 8784
TIME...MOT...LOC 2347Z 252DEG 22KT 3348 8814 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

87/GRANTHAM
556 
WWUS54 KBMX 312356
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
656 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

ALC075-107-010030-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-160401T0030Z/
PICKENS AL-LAMAR AL-
656 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN PICKENS AND SOUTHEASTERN LAMAR COUNTIES...
    
AT 656 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO
WAS LOCATED NEAR MILLPORT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

HAZARD...TORNADO AND GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL. 

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...
MILLPORT...KENNEDY...ASHCRAFT CORNER AND SHAW. 

LAT...LON 3344 8811 3356 8818 3358 8813 3365 8795
      3353 8795 3353 8784 3348 8784
TIME...MOT...LOC 2356Z 246DEG 28KT 3351 8806 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

87/GRANTHAM
970 
WWUS54 KBMX 010004
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
704 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

ALC075-107-010030-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-160401T0030Z/
PICKENS AL-LAMAR AL-
704 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN PICKENS AND SOUTHEASTERN LAMAR COUNTIES...
    
AT 704 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO
WAS LOCATED NEAR KENNEDY...OR NEAR MILLPORT...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

HAZARD...TORNADO AND GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL. 

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...
MILLPORT...KENNEDY AND ASHCRAFT CORNER. 

LAT...LON 3345 8806 3358 8811 3363 8800 3365 8795
      3353 8795 3353 8784 3348 8784
TIME...MOT...LOC 0004Z 249DEG 22KT 3353 8800 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

87/GRANTHAM
760 
WWUS54 KBMX 010012
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
712 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

ALC075-107-010022-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-160401T0030Z/
PICKENS AL-LAMAR AL-
712 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN PICKENS AND SOUTHEASTERN
LAMAR COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
        
THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA.
THEREFORE THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM CDT FOR WEST CENTRAL
ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3345 8806 3358 8811 3363 8800 3365 8795
      3353 8795 3353 8784 3348 8784
TIME...MOT...LOC 0011Z 249DEG 22KT 3355 8794 

$$

87/GRANTHAM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 31, 5:37 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXSumter23 min
Mar 31, 8:47 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXLamar, Marion, Winston118 min
Mar 31, 9:54 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter35 hr
Mar 31, 9:54 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter3 days
Mar 31, 9:59 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo60 hr
Mar 31, 6:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Pickens63 min
Mar 31, 6:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarengo57 min
Mar 31, 6:58 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette46 min

Nearby

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