Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2017

Tornado Warning 53, NWS Birmingham, AL

August 31, 2017Jefferson County, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Aug 31, 2017, 7:37 PM CDT for Jefferson County, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. It was in force for 38 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Aug 31, 2017, 7:37 PM CDT (00:37 UTC)
Expired
Aug 31, 2017, 8:15 PM CDT
In force
38 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Jefferson County, AL, Tuscaloosa County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 29 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:38 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Aug 31, 11:13 AM CDTTornado WatchSPC11 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 0.6 hours before the alert went out and 27 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 00:00Z on 2017-09-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 545 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 00:00Z on 2017-09-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 258 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
545 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-7 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1112 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
258 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
347 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.6
Supercell composite
11.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

669 
WFUS54 KBMX 010037
TORBMX
ALC073-125-010115-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0053.170901T0037Z-170901T0115Z/

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

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  East central Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama...
  South central Jefferson County in central Alabama...

* Until 815 PM CDT
    
* At 736 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over West Blocton, or 12 miles north of Centreville, 
  moving northeast at 30 mph. This storm has a history of producing 
  tornadoes.

  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...
  Bessemer, Hueytown, Lake View, Vance, North Johns, Splash
  Adventure, Tannehill Ironworks State Park, Concord, North Bibb,
  McCalla, Promenade Tannehill, Bucksville, Weller, Bent Brook Golf
  Club, McAdory, Caffee Junction, Bessemer Airport and Lake Cyrus.

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 3320 8725 3348 8706 3334 8686 3333 8689
      3331 8690 3330 8692 3327 8695 3327 8697
      3325 8698 3325 8708 3322 8710 3322 8712
      3324 8712 3324 8714 3319 8720 3317 8720
TIME...MOT...LOC 0036Z 214DEG 26KT 3316 8714 

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

$$

32/Davis
2 follow-up statements
940 
WWUS54 KBMX 010046
SVSBMX

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

ALC073-125-010115-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0053.000000T0000Z-170901T0115Z/
Tuscaloosa AL-Jefferson AL-
746 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2017

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA AND SOUTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTIES...
        
At 746 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located over Woodstock, or 14
miles southwest of Bessemer, moving northeast at 30 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...
Bessemer, Hueytown, Lake View, North Johns, Splash Adventure,
Tannehill Ironworks State Park, Concord, North Bibb, McCalla,
Promenade Tannehill, Bucksville, Weller, Bent Brook Golf Club,
McAdory, Caffee Junction, Bessemer Airport and Lake Cyrus.

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 3348 8706 3334 8686 3333 8689 3331 8690
      3330 8692 3327 8695 3327 8697 3325 8704
      3325 8708 3322 8710 3322 8712 3324 8712
      3324 8714 3319 8720 3322 8724
TIME...MOT...LOC 0046Z 208DEG 24KT 3322 8712 

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

$$

32/Davis
580 
WWUS54 KBMX 010059
SVSBMX

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

ALC125-010109-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0053.000000T0000Z-170901T0115Z/
Tuscaloosa AL-
759 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2017

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A tornado watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for central and
west central Alabama.

LAT...LON 3336 8689 3330 8695 3327 8697 3325 8704
      3326 8707 3328 8707 3328 8709 3329 8709
      3331 8711 3336 8708 3347 8704
TIME...MOT...LOC 0059Z 210DEG 26KT 3331 8705 

$$

ALC073-010115-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0053.000000T0000Z-170901T0115Z/
Jefferson AL-
759 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2017

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM CDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY...
    
At 759 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Tannehill Ironworks State Park, or 7 miles 
southwest of Bessemer, moving northeast at 30 mph. This storm has a 
history of producing tornadoes.

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...
Bessemer, Hueytown, Splash Adventure, Concord, McCalla, Promenade
Tannehill, Bent Brook Golf Club and McAdory.

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 3336 8689 3330 8695 3327 8697 3325 8704
      3326 8707 3328 8707 3328 8709 3329 8709
      3331 8711 3336 8708 3347 8704
TIME...MOT...LOC 0059Z 210DEG 26KT 3331 8705 

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

$$

32/Davis

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 31, 7:12 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBibb, Perry21 min
Aug 31, 8:31 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXBibb, Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa119 min
Aug 31, 8:33 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXBibb, Chilton, Jefferson, Perry, St. Clair, Shelby72 min
Aug 31, 8:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Chilton, Shelby49 min
Aug 31, 9:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega46 min
Aug 31, 9:55 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXChilton, Talladega35 min
Aug 31, 9:59 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXCalhoun, St. Clair, Talladega46 min
Aug 31, 10:15 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXEtowah45 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.