Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2017
Tornado Warning 43, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Aug 31, 2017, 3:12 PM CDT for Pickens County, Alabama. It was in force for 48 min. 2 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
- Aug 31, 2017, 3:12 PM CDT (20:12 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 31, 2017, 4:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 48 min
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
County Pickens County, AL
The radar
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 75 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31, 3:40 PM CDT | TORNADO | 1 W Reform, AL | *** 6 INJ *** NWS METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED DAMAGE IN NORTHERN PICKENS COUNTY AND FOUND THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH AN EF2 TORNADO, WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR 115 MPH. |
| Aug 31, 3:42 PM CDT | TORNADO | 1 Nw Reform, AL | TORNADO REPORTED NEAR DOLLAR GENERAL STORE IN REFORM RELAYED VIA 911 CALL CENTER. TDS ALSO VISIBLE ON KBMX RADAR AT 20:42Z. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31, 11:13 AM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 11 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 8.2 hours before the alert went out and 126 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 724 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -9 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 569 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 33 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 198 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 229 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.5
- Supercell composite
- 4.5
The text
As transmitted.
578
WFUS54 KBMX 312012
TORBMX
ALC107-312100-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0043.170831T2012Z-170831T2100Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
312 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2017
The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Central Pickens County in west central Alabama...
* Until 400 PM CDT
* At 312 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Garden, or over Aliceville, moving northeast at 35
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...
Aliceville, Reform, Carrollton, Pickensville, McMullen, Garden,
Owens, Dillburg, North Pickens Airport, McShan and George Downer
Airport.
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 3307 8816 3311 8828 3351 8816 3345 8788
TIME...MOT...LOC 2012Z 204DEG 31KT 3314 8821
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN
$$
32/Davis3 follow-up statements
128
WWUS54 KBMX 312023
SVSBMX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
323 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2017
ALC107-312100-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0043.000000T0000Z-170831T2100Z/
Pickens AL-
323 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2017
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN PICKENS COUNTY...
At 323 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Carrollton, moving northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
Locations impacted include...
Reform, Carrollton, Owens, Dillburg, North Pickens Airport and
McShan.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3315 8810 3320 8822 3351 8816 3345 8788
TIME...MOT...LOC 2023Z 204DEG 31KT 3323 8816
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN
$$
32/Davis032
WWUS54 KBMX 312033
SVSBMX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
333 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2017
ALC107-312100-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0043.000000T0000Z-170831T2100Z/
Pickens AL-
333 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2017
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN PICKENS COUNTY...
At 333 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Reform, moving northeast at 45 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...
Reform, Carrollton, Owens, North Pickens Airport and McShan.
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 3326 8803 3328 8817 3350 8813 3345 8788
TIME...MOT...LOC 2033Z 210DEG 38KT 3334 8806
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN
$$
32/Davis470
WWUS54 KBMX 312046
SVSBMX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
346 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2017
ALC107-312100-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0043.000000T0000Z-170831T2100Z/
Pickens AL-
346 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2017
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN PICKENS COUNTY...
At 346 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Reform, moving
northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Damaging tornado.
SOURCE...Radar confirmed tornado.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
Locations impacted include...
Reform and North Pickens Airport.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a
basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3336 8795 3339 8813 3349 8808 3345 8788
TIME...MOT...LOC 2046Z 204DEG 31KT 3344 8800
TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...<.75IN
$$
32/DavisThe office that day
Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 7:17 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Bullock | 58 min |
| Aug 30, 7:19 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Pike | 26 min |
| Aug 30, 7:50 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Barbour | 70 min |
| Aug 31, 12:01 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Marengo | 29 min |
| Aug 31, 2:49 PM CDT | Wind Advisory | BMX | Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee and 29 more | 27 hr |
| Aug 31, 3:38 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Fayette, Lamar, Pickens | 52 min |
| Aug 31, 3:42 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Hale, Perry | 10 min |
| Aug 31, 4:12 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Fayette | 30 min |
| Aug 31, 4:23 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Fayette, Pickens, Tuscaloosa | 52 min |
| Aug 31, 4:26 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Marion, Winston | 35 min |
| Aug 31, 5:30 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Winston | 23 min |
| Aug 31, 5:41 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Marengo | 34 min |
| Aug 31, 6:07 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Hale | 38 min |
| Aug 31, 6:55 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Bibb | 65 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.