Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2017

Tornado Warning 46, NWS Birmingham, AL

August 31, 2017Fayette County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Aug 31, 2017, 4:12 PM CDT for Fayette County, Alabama. It was in force for 30 min. 1 report 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, 4:12 PM CDT (21:12 UTC)
Expired: Aug 31, 2017, 4:42 PM CDT
In force: 30 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Observed
Hail: 0.75 in

County Fayette County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 54 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:15 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, 4:24 PM CDT	TORNADO	4 Nnw Bevill State Coll, AL	STORM SPOTTER REPORTS POSSIBLE TORNADO WITH FLYING DEBRIS ALONG EL BETHEL ROAD. TIME APPROXIMATE.

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, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 117 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: 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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

518 
WFUS54 KBMX 312112
TORBMX
ALC057-312200-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0046.170831T2112Z-170831T2200Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
412 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2017

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northwestern Fayette County in west central Alabama...

* Until 500 PM CDT
    
* At 412 PM CDT, a tornado producing storm was located near Belk, or
  near Fayette, 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...
  Winfield, Glen Allen, Hubbertville and Bazemore. 

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 3392 8784 3391 8764 3387 8764 3387 8763
      3373 8775 3379 8792
TIME...MOT...LOC 2112Z 205DEG 32KT 3367 8788 

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

$$

32/Davis

3 follow-up statements

051 
WWUS54 KBMX 312119
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
419 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2017

ALC057-312200-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0046.000000T0000Z-170831T2200Z/
Fayette AL-
419 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2017

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN FAYETTE COUNTY...
        
At 418 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located over Fayette, moving northeast at 35 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, Hubbertville and Bazemore. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly
tornado is on the ground. To protect your life, 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 8784 3391 8764 3387 8764 3387 8763
      3373 8775 3379 8792
TIME...MOT...LOC 2118Z 205DEG 32KT 3373 8785 

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

$$

32/Davis

448 
WWUS54 KBMX 312132
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
432 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2017

ALC057-312200-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0046.000000T0000Z-170831T2200Z/
Fayette AL-
432 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2017

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN FAYETTE COUNTY...
        
At 432 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located near Glen Allen, or near Winfield, moving northeast at 35
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, Hubbertville and Bazemore. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly
tornado is on the ground. To protect your life, 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 8784 3391 8764 3387 8768 3381 8773
      3384 8789
TIME...MOT...LOC 2132Z 205DEG 32KT 3385 8778 

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

$$

32/Davis

964 
WWUS54 KBMX 312142
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
442 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2017

ALC057-312151-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0046.000000T0000Z-170831T2200Z/
Fayette AL-
442 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2017

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN FAYETTE COUNTY 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 800 PM CDT for northwestern
and west central Alabama.

Remember, a Tornado Warning still remains in effect for central and 
eastern portions of Fayette County until 515 PM CDT.

LAT...LON 3392 8784 3391 8764 3387 8768 3381 8773
      3384 8789
TIME...MOT...LOC 2139Z 205DEG 32KT 3392 8774 

$$

32/Davis

The 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, 3:12 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Pickens	48 min
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, 4:23 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Pickens, Tuscaloosa	52 min
Aug 31, 4:26 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threat	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, 2017 Every tornado warning in 2017 Tornadoes 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.