Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2018

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Huntsville, AL

March 19, 2018Colbert County, Franklin County, Alabama

NWS Huntsville, AL issued this tornado warning at Mar 19, 2018, 4:58 PM CDT for Colbert County, Franklin County, Alabama. It was in force for 32 min. 11 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, 4:58 PM CDT (21:58 UTC)
Expired
Mar 19, 2018, 5:30 PM CDT
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Huntsville, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.75 in

Counties Colbert County, AL, Franklin County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 94 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:59 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, 5:05 PM CDTHAIL 19 N Red Bay, ALFRANKLIN EMA REPORTS QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN NW FRANKLIN CO.
Mar 19, 5:05 PM CDTTORNADO9 S Cherokee, ALA WEAK TORNADO WAS SURVEYED IN SW COLBERT CO.
Mar 19, 5:15 PM CDTHAIL 1.752 Nne Red Bay, ALREPORTS OF GOLFBALL SIZED HAIL NEAR RED BAY.
Mar 19, 5:20 PM CDTHAIL 2.7510 Ne Vina, ALBASEBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED NEAR BURNTOUT.
Mar 19, 5:34 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG1 E Russellville, ALTREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ALONG HIGHWAY 43. POSSIBLE TORNADO. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Mar 19, 5:34 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG1 Sse Russellville, ALVISIBLE DAMAGE TO A METAL BUILDING AND WAFFLE HOUSE SIGN IN RUSSELLVILLE ALONG AL 33. POSSIBLE TORNADO. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Mar 19, 5:34 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG1 Sse Russellville, ALDAMAGE TO THE WALMART AND CREDIT UNION ON THE WEST SIDE OF 43 AND THEN THE EAST SIDE OF 43 OVER SCOTT EQUIPMENT COMPANY.
Mar 19, 5:34 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGRussellville, ALTREE DOWN ACROSS EAST LAWRENCE STREET IN RUSSELLVILLE. PATH OF DAMAGE FROM A WAREHOUSE ON JACKSON AVE EASTWARD TO THE WALMART, CENTRAL CREDIT UNION, CROSSING 43 AND DAMAGE ON THE EAST SIDE TO THE SCOTTS TRACTOR COMPANY AND ROAD GEAR.
Mar 19, 5:34 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGRussellville, ALTREE DOWN ACROSS EAST LAWRENCE STREET IN RUSSELLVILLE. POSSIBLE TORNADO. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Mar 19, 5:34 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGRussellville, ALDAMAGE TO A WAREHOUSE ALONG JACKSON AVE. SOUTH. JUST TO THE WEST OF THE WALMART ON 43.
Mar 19, 5:34 PM CDTTORNADORussellville, ALTORNADO OF UNKNOWN INTENSITY. TREE DOWN ACROSS EAST LAWRENCE STREET IN RUSSELLVILLE. PATH OF DAMAGE FROM A WAREHOUSE ON JACKSON AVE EASTWARD TO THE WALMART, CENTRAL CREDIT UNION, CROSSING 43 AND DAMAGE ON THE EAST SIDE TO THE SCOTTS TRACTOR COMPANY AND ROAD GE

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 12:00Z, 10.0 hours before the alert went out and 178 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 2018-03-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 563 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 2018-03-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 84 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
563 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-65 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
505 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
58 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
84 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
98 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

463 
WFUS54 KHUN 192158
TORHUN
ALC033-059-192230-
/O.NEW.KHUN.TO.W.0002.180319T2158Z-180319T2230Z/

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

The National Weather Service in Huntsville Alabama has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southern Colbert County in northwestern Alabama...
  Northern Franklin County in northwestern Alabama...

* Until 530 PM CDT
    
* At 458 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Belmont, or near Red Bay, moving east at 65 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and golf ball size hail. 

  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...
  Russellville, Red Bay, Littleville, Leighton, Belgreen, Pogo, Cedar
  Creek Reservoir, Srygley Church, New Bethel and La Grange.

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 3462 8814 3473 8748 3463 8749 3460 8751
      3458 8751 3457 8753 3442 8753 3443 8816
TIME...MOT...LOC 2158Z 260DEG 56KT 3451 8814 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

AMP
1 follow-up statement
071 
WWUS54 KHUN 192208
SVSHUN

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
508 PM CDT MON MAR 19 2018

ALC033-059-192230-
/O.CON.KHUN.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-180319T2230Z/
Colbert AL-Franklin AL-
508 PM CDT MON MAR 19 2018

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR SOUTHERN
COLBERT AND NORTHERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES...
    
At 508 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Red Bay, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and tennis ball size hail. 

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...
Russellville, Red Bay, Littleville, Leighton, Belgreen, Pogo, Cedar
Creek Reservoir, Srygley Church, New Bethel and La Grange.

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 storm has a 
history of producing golfball to tennis ball size hail near Belmont, 
MS!

&&

LAT...LON 3462 8814 3473 8748 3463 8749 3460 8751
      3458 8751 3457 8753 3442 8753 3443 8816
TIME...MOT...LOC 2208Z 268DEG 36KT 3452 8806 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...2.50IN

$$

AMP

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 19, 4:00 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLawrence30 min
Mar 19, 8:59 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNJackson31 min
Mar 19, 11:55 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLauderdale35 min
Mar 19, 12:23 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNColbert37 min
Mar 19, 12:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNColbert, Lauderdale29 min
Mar 19, 12:58 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNColbert47 min
Mar 19, 1:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNColbert, Lauderdale, Lawrence40 min
Mar 19, 1:38 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNColbert23 min
Mar 19, 2:13 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNJackson32 min
Mar 19, 2:21 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLimestone39 min
Mar 19, 2:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNLimestone, Madison34 min
Mar 19, 3:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNJackson, Madison47 min
Mar 19, 3:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNJackson35 min
Mar 19, 4:01 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNCullman44 min
Mar 19, 4:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNColbert, Franklin42 min
Mar 19, 5:13 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNColbert15 min
Mar 19, 5:20 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedHUNFranklin, Lawrence40 min
Mar 19, 5:21 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNDeKalb39 min
Mar 19, 5:27 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNColbert, Franklin, Lawrence33 min
Mar 19, 5:38 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLauderdale52 min
Mar 19, 5:54 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNFranklin, Lawrence40 min
Mar 19, 5:57 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNFranklin, Lawrence48 min
Mar 19, 6:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNLauderdale, Limestone28 min
Mar 19, 6:04 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNLauderdale, Limestone26 min
Mar 19, 6:25 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNLimestone, Madison35 min
Mar 19, 6:25 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNCullman, Lawrence, Morgan35 min
Mar 19, 6:48 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNCullman, Marshall, Morgan27 min
Mar 19, 6:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNCullman25 min
Mar 19, 6:55 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNMadison35 min
Mar 19, 6:57 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNCullman33 min

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.