Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2018

Tornado Warning 8, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 19, 2018Calhoun County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Mar 19, 2018, 9:05 PM CDT for Calhoun County, Alabama. It was in force for 21 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
Mar 19, 2018, 9:05 PM CDT (02:05 UTC)
Expired
Mar 19, 2018, 9:26 PM CDT
In force
21 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

County Calhoun County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 111 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:05 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
Mar 19, 9:32 PM CDTHAIL 1Choccolocco, AL
Mar 19, 9:35 PM CDTHAIL 1.25Choccolocco, AL

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
Mar 19, 3:28 PM CDTTornado Watch PDSSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 2.1 hours before the alert went out and 112 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 2018-03-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1154 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 2018-03-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 334 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
1154 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-50 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1046 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
61 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
334 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
409 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
2.6
Supercell composite
17.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

695 
WFUS54 KBMX 200205
TORBMX
ALC015-200245-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0008.180320T0205Z-180320T0245Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
905 PM CDT MON MAR 19 2018

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Central Calhoun County in east central Alabama...

* Until 945 PM CDT
    
* At 905 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Saks, moving east at 50 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...
  Anniston, Jacksonville, Saks, Fort McClellan, West End-Cobb Town,
  Weaver, Blue Mountain, Alexandria and Choccolocco.

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 3365 8565 3363 8566 3369 8601 3380 8595
      3377 8564 3365 8564
TIME...MOT...LOC 0205Z 280DEG 44KT 3374 8588 

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

$$

87/GRANTHAM
3 follow-up statements
513 
WWUS54 KBMX 200215
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
915 PM CDT MON MAR 19 2018

ALC015-200245-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-180320T0245Z/
Calhoun AL-
915 PM CDT MON MAR 19 2018

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
CALHOUN COUNTY...
    
At 915 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Fort McClellan, moving east 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...
Anniston, Jacksonville, Saks, Fort McClellan, West End-Cobb Town,
Weaver, Blue Mountain, Alexandria and Choccolocco.

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 3367 8588 3379 8586 3377 8564 3365 8564
      3365 8565 3363 8566
TIME...MOT...LOC 0215Z 278DEG 39KT 3373 8578 

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

$$

87/GRANTHAM
229 
WWUS54 KBMX 200222
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
922 PM CDT MON MAR 19 2018

ALC015-200245-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-180320T0245Z/
Calhoun AL-
922 PM CDT MON MAR 19 2018

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN CALHOUN COUNTY...
    
At 922 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Heflin, moving east at 50 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...
Anniston and Choccolocco. 

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 3365 8578 3378 8575 3377 8564 3365 8564
      3365 8565 3363 8566
TIME...MOT...LOC 0222Z 280DEG 44KT 3371 8567 

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

$$

87/GRANTHAM
837 
WWUS54 KBMX 200226
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
926 PM CDT MON MAR 19 2018

ALC015-200236-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-180320T0245Z/
Calhoun AL-
926 PM CDT MON MAR 19 2018

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN CALHOUN COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
                
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore the warning has been cancelled.

A tornado watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for east central
Alabama.

LAT...LON 3365 8578 3378 8575 3377 8564 3365 8564
      3365 8565 3363 8566
TIME...MOT...LOC 0224Z 280DEG 44KT 3370 8562 

$$

87/GRANTHAM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 19, 7:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount42 min
Mar 19, 7:18 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBlount31 min
Mar 19, 7:29 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXEtowah61 min
Mar 19, 7:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, St. Clair34 min
Mar 19, 7:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXEtowah62 min
Mar 19, 7:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount56 min
Mar 19, 8:02 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCherokee58 min
Mar 19, 8:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun66 min
Mar 19, 8:15 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, Etowah45 min
Mar 19, 8:33 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXSt. Clair42 min
Mar 19, 8:38 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCleburne46 min
Mar 19, 8:48 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun42 min
Mar 19, 9:24 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXBlount, Calhoun, Etowah, St. Clair6 hr
Mar 19, 9:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Cleburne34 min
Mar 19, 9:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, St. Clair, Talladega59 min
Mar 19, 10:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCleburne40 min
Mar 19, 11:01 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXCalhoun, Cleburne, Talladega3 hr
Mar 20, 3:06 AM CDTWind AdvisoryBMXAutauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more19 hr
Mar 20, 5:33 AM CDTDense Fog AdvisoryBMXBlount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah and 3 more3 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2018Every tornado warning in 2018Tornadoes in 2018

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.