Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2016

Tornado Warning 17, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 31, 2016Fayette County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Mar 31, 2016, 7:02 PM CDT for Fayette County, Alabama. It was in force for 43 min. 17 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, 7:02 PM CDT (00:02 UTC)
Expired: Mar 31, 2016, 7:45 PM CDT
In force: 43 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

County Fayette County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 56 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:06 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 31, 7:03 PM CDT	TORNADO 1	4 Sse Bluff, AL	A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF CR 51 AND TURNER ROAD. IT TRACKED NE ALONG CR 51 SNAPPING AND UPROTTING NUMEROUS TREES AND ALSO DAMAGING SEVERAL WOOD FRAME BARNS AND OUTBUILDINGS. IT DISSIPATED ALONG CR 21. MAX WINDS 105 MPH. MAX WIDTH 630 YARD
Mar 31, 7:03 PM CDT	TORNADO 1	4 Sse Bluff, AL	TORNADO START POINT. A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF CR 51 AND TURNER ROAD. IT TRACKED NE ALONG CR 51 SNAPPING AND UPROTTING NUMEROUS TREES AND ALSO DAMAGING SEVERAL WOOD FRAME BARNS AND OUTBUILDINGS. IT DISSIPATED ALONG CR 21. MAX WINDS 105 MP
Mar 31, 7:03 PM CDT	TORNADO 1	4 Sse Bluff, AL	TORNADO START POINT. A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF CR 51 AND TURNER ROAD. THE TORNADO TRAVELED NORTHWARD ALONG COUNTY ROAD 51 FOR ABOUT ONE MILE UPROOTING AND SNAPPING TREES AND THEN DAMAGED SEVERAL WOOD FRAME BARNS AND OUTBUILDINGS. THE TORN
Mar 31, 7:03 PM CDT	TORNADO 1	4 Sse Bluff, AL	TORNADO START POINT. A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF CR 51 AND TURNER ROAD. THE TORNADO TRAVELED NORTHWARD ALONG COUNTY ROAD 51 FOR ABOUT ONE MILE UPROOTING AND SNAPPING TREES AND THEN DAMAGED SEVERAL WOOD FRAME BARNS AND OUTBUILDINGS. THE TORN
Mar 31, 7:08 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 Se Bluff, AL	DAMAGE TO HOME REPORTED ALONG COUNTY ROAD 51 WITH TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
Mar 31, 7:08 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	4 Sw Eldridge, AL	TREES DOWN ALONG COUNTY ROAD 24 IN FAYETTE COUNTY.
Mar 31, 7:08 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	5 Sse Glen Allen, AL	TREES DOWN ALONG COUNTY ROAD 52 IN FAYETTE COUNTY. LOCATION APPROXIMATE.
Mar 31, 7:13 PM CDT	TORNADO 1	4 E Bluff, AL	TORNADO END POINT. ESTIMATED PEAK WIND 105 MPH. PATH LENGTH 3.72 MILES. MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH 650 YARDS.
Mar 31, 7:13 PM CDT	TORNADO 1	4 Ene Bluff, AL	TORNADO END POINT. ESTIMATED PEAK WIND 105 MPH. PATH LENGTH 3.75 MILES. MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH 630 YARDS.
Mar 31, 7:27 PM CDT	TORNADO 1	5 Sse Glen Allen, AL	TORNADO START POINT. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 52 AND COUNTY ROAD 18. THE TORNADO TRACKED NORTHEAST AND UPROOTED AND SNAPPED NUMEROUS TREES AS IT CROSSED COUNTY ROAD 24. FROM THERE IT CONTINUED NORTHEAST ALONG AND JUST NORTH
Mar 31, 7:27 PM CDT	TORNADO 1	5 Sse Glen Allen, AL	TORNADO START POINT. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 52 AND COUNTY ROAD 18. THE TORNADO TRACKED NORTHEAST AND UPROOTEDAND SNAPPED NUMEROUS TREES AS IT CROSSED COUNTY ROAD 24. FROM THERE IT CONTINUED NORTHEAST ALONG AND JUST NORTH
Mar 31, 7:28 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	4 Sse Glen Allen, AL	SHERIFF DEPARTMENT REPORTS LARGE TREES DOWN ON COUNTY ROAD 53. LOCATION APPROXIMATE.
Mar 31, 7:28 PM CDT	TORNADO 1	5 Sse Glen Allen, AL	A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF CR 52 AND CR 18. IT TRACKED NORTHEAST AND UPROOTED AND SNAPPED NUMEROUS TREES. IT DISSIPATED NEAR CASTLEBERRY ROAD. MAX. WINDS 88 MPH. PATH LENGTH 3.70 MILES. MAX. WIDTH 425 YARDS.
Mar 31, 7:28 PM CDT	TORNADO 1	5 Sse Glen Allen, AL	TORNADO START POINT. A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF CR 52 AND CR 18. IT TRACKED NORTHEAST AND UPROOTED AND SNAPPED NUMEROUS TREES. IT DISSIPATED NEAR CASTLEBERRY ROAD. MAX. WINDS 88 MPH. PATH LENGTH 3.70 MILES. MAX. WIDTH 425 YARDS.
Mar 31, 7:35 PM CDT	TORNADO 1	3 Sw Eldridge, AL	TORNADO END POINT. ESTIMATED PEAK WIND 88 MPH. PATH LENGTH 3.7 MILES. MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH 425 YARDS.
Mar 31, 7:35 PM CDT	TORNADO 1	3 Sw Eldridge, AL	TORNADO END POINT. ESTIMATED PEAK WIND 90 MPH. PATH LENGTH 3.7 MILES. MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH 500 YARDS.
Mar 31, 7:35 PM CDT	TORNADO	3 Sw Eldridge, AL	TORNADO END POINT. ESTIMATED PEAK WIND 88 MPH. PATH LENGTH 3.7 MILES. MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH 425 YARDS.

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 31, 5:58 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 0.0 hours before the alert went out and 116 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: 693 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -22 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 764 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 294 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 366 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 1.2
Supercell composite: 6.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

860 
WFUS54 KBMX 010002
TORBMX
ALC057-010045-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0017.160401T0002Z-160401T0045Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN FAYETTE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 745 PM CDT
    
* AT 702 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO
  WAS LOCATED NEAR BLUFF...OR NEAR FAYETTE...MOVING NORTHEAST 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. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WINFIELD...GLEN ALLEN...BLUFF...HUBBERTVILLE AND BAZEMORE. 

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 3392 8780 3391 8764 3387 8764 3387 8755
      3386 8754 3372 8789 3380 8795
TIME...MOT...LOC 0002Z 233DEG 21KT 3377 8788 

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

$$

87/GRANTHAM

4 follow-up statements

393 
WWUS54 KBMX 010009
SVSBMX

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

ALC057-010045-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-160401T0045Z/
FAYETTE AL-
709 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN FAYETTE COUNTY...
        
AT 709 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BLUFF...OR 7 MILES
NORTH OF FAYETTE...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. 

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WINFIELD...GLEN ALLEN...BLUFF...HUBBERTVILLE AND BAZEMORE. 

LAT...LON 3373 8785 3380 8793 3385 8789 3392 8780
      3391 8764 3387 8764 3387 8755 3386 8754
      3380 8768
TIME...MOT...LOC 0009Z 228DEG 20KT 3380 8785 

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

$$

87/GRANTHAM

632 
WWUS54 KBMX 010011
SVSBMX

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

ALC057-010045-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-160401T0045Z/
FAYETTE AL-
711 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN FAYETTE COUNTY...
        
AT 710 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS
LOCATED NEAR BLUFF...OR 7 MILES NORTH OF FAYETTE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
25 MPH.

THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!

HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO. 

SOURCE...RADAR CONFIRMED TORNADO. 

IMPACT...YOU ARE IN A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION. FLYING DEBRIS MAY 
         BE DEADLY TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES 
         WILL BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO HOMES...
         BUSINESSES...AND VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE DESTRUCTION 
         IS POSSIBLE. 

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WINFIELD...GLEN ALLEN...BLUFF...HUBBERTVILLE AND BAZEMORE. 

LAT...LON 3375 8785 3381 8792 3387 8786 3392 8780
      3391 8764 3387 8764 3387 8755 3386 8754
      3383 8761
TIME...MOT...LOC 0010Z 232DEG 20KT 3381 8785 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

87/GRANTHAM

145 
WWUS54 KBMX 010017
SVSBMX

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

ALC057-010045-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-160401T0045Z/
FAYETTE AL-
717 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN FAYETTE COUNTY...
    
AT 717 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO
WAS LOCATED NEAR GLEN ALLEN...OR 7 MILES SOUTH OF WINFIELD...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 30 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...
WINFIELD...GLEN ALLEN...HUBBERTVILLE AND BAZEMORE. 

LAT...LON 3381 8785 3385 8788 3387 8786 3392 8780
      3391 8764 3387 8764 3387 8755 3386 8754
      3383 8761 3377 8780
TIME...MOT...LOC 0017Z 241DEG 26KT 3383 8777 

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

$$

87/GRANTHAM

587 
WWUS54 KBMX 010036
SVSBMX

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

ALC057-010045-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-160401T0045Z/
FAYETTE AL-
736 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL FAYETTE COUNTY...
        
AT 736 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED OVER ELDRIDGE...OR 7
MILES WEST OF CARBON HILL...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. 

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WINFIELD...GLEN ALLEN AND BAZEMORE. 

LAT...LON 3381 8768 3392 8779 3391 8764 3387 8764
      3387 8755 3386 8754 3383 8761
TIME...MOT...LOC 0036Z 233DEG 21KT 3390 8766 

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

$$

87/GRANTHAM

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 31, 7:22 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Winston	9 min
Mar 31, 7:29 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marion, Walker	46 min
Mar 31, 7:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Sumter	41 min
Mar 31, 7:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Pickens	49 min
Mar 31, 7:59 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Walker	46 min
Mar 31, 8:05 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	55 min
Mar 31, 8:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Hale	51 min
Mar 31, 9:17 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount, Jefferson	32 min
Mar 31, 9:30 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Dallas, Lowndes	3 hr
Mar 31, 10:42 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Autauga, Dallas, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery	3 hr
Mar 31, 11:07 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Montgomery	69 hr
Mar 31, 11:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Elmore, Macon, Montgomery, Tallapoosa	43 min
Mar 31, 11:55 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lee, Macon	65 min
Apr 1, 12:14 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	46 min
Apr 1, 1:03 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Perry	42 min
Apr 1, 1:53 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Shelby	37 min
Apr 1, 2:33 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lowndes	27 min
Apr 1, 2:36 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Autauga, Dallas, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery	3 hr
Apr 1, 3:06 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Jefferson	39 min
Apr 1, 3:29 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lee, Macon, Tallapoosa	46 min
Apr 1, 4:38 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Lee	3 hr
Apr 1, 5:16 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Sumter	45 hr
Apr 1, 6:07 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Barbour	38 min
Apr 1, 6:22 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Barbour	38 min
Apr 1, 10:23 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Montgomery	52 min
Apr 1, 10:24 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lowndes	51 min
Apr 1, 10:52 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Dallas, Elmore, Lee and 7 more	113 min
Apr 1, 10:57 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Autauga	48 min
Apr 1, 11:03 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Macon	27 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.