Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2017

Tornado Warning 30, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 30, 2017Lamar County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 30, 2017, 11:46 AM CDT for Lamar County, Alabama. It was in force for 44 min. 6 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
Apr 30, 2017, 11:46 AM CDT (16:46 UTC)
Expired
Apr 30, 2017, 12:30 PM CDT
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

County Lamar County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 22 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:47 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
Apr 30, 12:03 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG1 Sw Vernon, ALSEVERAL TREES BLOWN DOWN IN AND AROUND VERNON.
Apr 30, 12:03 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG2 Sw Vernon, ALSEVERAL TREES BLOWN DOWN IN AND AROUND VERNON.
Apr 30, 12:10 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG1 E Vernon, ALSEVERAL TREES DOWN ALONG YELLOW CREEK ROAD JUST EAST OF VERNON.
Apr 30, 12:15 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG1 Sse Vernon, ALTREE DOWN ON A HOUSE ON 1ST STREET IN VERNON. SEVERAL OTHER TREES BLOWN DOWN IN AND AROUND TOWN.
Apr 30, 12:15 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGVernon, ALTREE DOWN ON A HOUSE ON 1ST STREET IN VERNON.
Apr 30, 12:15 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGVernon, ALTREE DOWN ON A HOUSE ON 1ST STREET IN VERNON. SEVERAL OTHER TREES BLOWN DOWN IN AND AROUND TOWN.

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
Apr 30, 10:36 AM CDTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 4.8 hours before the alert went out and 143 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 2017-04-30Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 53 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, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2017-04-30The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 32 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
53 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-333 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
867 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
22 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
32 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
224 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

220 
WFUS54 KBMX 301646
TORBMX
ALC075-301730-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0030.170430T1646Z-170430T1730Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1146 AM CDT SUN APR 30 2017

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Central Lamar County in west central Alabama...

* Until 1230 PM CDT
    
* At 1145 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a
  tornado was located over Steens, or 8 miles northeast of Columbus,
  moving northeast at 40 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...
  Vernon, Sulligent, Blooming Grove, Lamar County Airport, Bedford,
  Star, Hightogy and Lamar County Public Lake.

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.

This cluster of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and
widespread significant wind damage. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest
floor of a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3396 8822 3382 8795 3375 8795 3354 8827
TIME...MOT...LOC 1645Z 216DEG 34KT 3357 8829 

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

$$

61
2 follow-up statements
940 
WWUS54 KBMX 301659
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1159 AM CDT SUN APR 30 2017

ALC075-301730-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0030.000000T0000Z-170430T1730Z/
Lamar AL-
1159 AM CDT SUN APR 30 2017

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1230 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
LAMAR COUNTY...
    
At 1158 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Vernon, moving northeast 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...
Vernon, Blooming Grove, Hightogy and Star. 

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.

This cluster of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and
widespread significant wind damage. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest
floor of a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3370 8822 3389 8808 3382 8795 3375 8795
      3362 8815
TIME...MOT...LOC 1658Z 221DEG 47KT 3369 8814 

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

$$

61
247 
WWUS54 KBMX 301708
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1208 PM CDT SUN APR 30 2017

ALC075-301730-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0030.000000T0000Z-170430T1730Z/
Lamar AL-
1208 PM CDT SUN APR 30 2017

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1230 PM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL LAMAR COUNTY...
    
At 1208 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Vernon, moving northeast at 40 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...
Vernon and Blooming Grove. 

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.

This cluster of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and
widespread significant wind damage. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest
floor of a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3376 8812 3387 8805 3382 8795 3379 8795
      3373 8808
TIME...MOT...LOC 1708Z 216DEG 34KT 3377 8807 

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

$$

61

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 30, 11:11 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Pickens, Sumter64 min
Apr 30, 11:28 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXPickens, Sumter47 min
Apr 30, 11:53 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Marion52 min
Apr 30, 12:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Greene, Pickens, Tuscaloosa63 min
Apr 30, 12:18 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo57 min
Apr 30, 12:19 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion14 min
Apr 30, 12:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarion23 min
Apr 30, 12:39 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette22 min
Apr 30, 12:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarion, Walker, Winston66 min
Apr 30, 1:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker63 min
Apr 30, 1:14 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXBibb, Hale, Marengo, Perry46 min
Apr 30, 1:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson60 min
Apr 30, 2:01 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXShelby74 min
Apr 30, 2:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXSt. Clair48 min
Apr 30, 2:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Etowah64 min
Apr 30, 3:12 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXDallas63 min
Apr 30, 3:35 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXEtowah40 min
Apr 30, 3:47 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXAutauga43 min
Apr 30, 4:16 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXCoosa29 min
Apr 30, 4:48 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXClay, Coosa, Elmore, Tallapoosa42 min
Apr 30, 5:19 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXClay, Randolph41 min
Apr 30, 5:59 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXCleburne31 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2017Every tornado warning in 2017Tornadoes in 2017

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.