Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2020

Tornado Warning 26, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 12, 2020Blount County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 12, 2020, 5:31 PM CDT for Blount County, Alabama. It was in force for 44 min. 14 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: Apr 12, 2020, 5:31 PM CDT (22:31 UTC)
Expired: Apr 12, 2020, 6:15 PM CDT
In force: 44 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

County Blount County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 85 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:36 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
Apr 12, 5:40 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 Wsw Locust Fork, AL	SEVERAL TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN ALONG HIGHWAY 79 NEAR FRANKLIN DRIVE AND TAWBUSH ROAD . POSSIBLE TORNADO.
Apr 12, 5:44 PM CDT	TORNADO	3 Se Mount Olive, AL	NUMEROUS TREES WERE SNAPPED AND UPROOTED BEFORE THE TORNADO MOVED EAST AND OVER A RESIDENCE CAUSING MINOR ROOF DAMAGE TO AT LEAST TWO HOMES, UPROOTING TREES, AND DESTROYING A STORAGE SHED.
Apr 12, 5:47 PM CDT	TORNADO	1 Wsw Locust Fork, AL	THE TORNADO THEN TRACKED GENERALLY NEAR HIGHWAY 79 BRIEFLY, SNAPPING AND UPROOTING TREES WHERE SOME FELL ON AT LEAST TWO HOMES AND ONE VEHICLE. TRACKING EAST, ADDITIONAL SOFTWOOD TREES WERE SNAPPED ALONG MASSEY ROAD WITH OTHERS UPROOTED. ESTIMATED 95 MPH (F1).
Apr 12, 5:50 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 S Easley, AL	TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN AND ADDITIONAL DAMAGE ALONG COUNTY ROAD 1 NEAR DOGWOOD LANE. POSSIBLE TORNADO.
Apr 12, 5:50 PM CDT	HAIL 0.88	Oneonta, AL	.
Apr 12, 5:50 PM CDT	HAIL 0.88	Oneonta, AL
Apr 12, 5:50 PM CDT	HAIL 1.25	Oneonta, AL	HALF DOLLAR SIZE REPORTED IN A FEW PLACES AROUND ONEONTA.
Apr 12, 5:50 PM CDT	TORNADO	1 Ssw Fairview, AL	THE TORNADO DAMAGE PATH WAS 5.56 MILES LONG AND WAS 500 YARDS WIDE AT ITS WIDEST POINT. THE MAXIMUM WINDS WERE ESTIMATED AROUND 115 MPH.
Apr 12, 5:53 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	4 Nne Highland Lake, AL	NUMEROUS TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN BETWEEN CR 20 AND ROBIN HILL ROAD ALONG HIGHWAY 231. ROAD IS COMPLETELY BLOCKED.
Apr 12, 5:58 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 N Oneonta, AL	AFTER THE ENDING OF THE COUNTY ROAD 33 TORNADO IN BLOUNT COUNTY, THE STORM PRODUCED A LARGE SWATH OF DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. THIS SWATH WAS TO THE RIGHT OF THE PREVIOUS TORNADO TRACK WHICH INDICATED SOME DOWNDRAFT WINDS AND A SLIGHT DIVERGENT AND WIDE DA
Apr 12, 5:58 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	4 Se Hendrix, AL	TIME ESTIMATED. TREES DOWN ON SANDERS LANE BETWEEN CR 39 AND HALE CREEK ROAD.
Apr 12, 6:04 PM CDT	TORNADO	4 Ese Hendrix, AL	AN ADDITIONAL BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE 3600 BLOCK OF COUNTY RD 42 IN NORTHEASTERN BLOUNT COUNTY. NUMEROUS TREES WERE SNAPPED AND UPROOTED BEFORE THE TORNADO IMPACTED A FARM PROPERTY WHERE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE OCCURRED TO AT LEAST THREE FARM BUILDINGS,
Apr 12, 6:10 PM CDT	TORNADO	2 Wnw Walnut Grove, AL	* 3 INJ * THE TORNADO FIRST TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE WALNUT GROVE COMMUNITY ALONG THE BLOUNT-ETOWAH COUNTY LINE. AT LEAST ONE HOME NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 179 AND GLOVER ROAD SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. A LARGE INDUSTRIAL BUILDING IN THI
Apr 12, 6:10 PM CDT	TORNADO	2 Wnw Walnut Grove, AL	THE TORNADO FIRST TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE WALNUT GROVE COMMUNITY ALONG THE BLOUNT-ETOWAH COUNTY LINE. AT LEAST ONE HOME NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 179 AND GLOVER ROAD SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. A LARGE INDUSTRIAL BUILDING IN THIS AREA ALSO SU

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
Apr 12, 3:20 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 10.5 hours before the alert went out and 84 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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 1885 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 61 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 336 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 578 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

527 
WFUS54 KBMX 122231
TORBMX
ALC009-122315-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0026.200412T2231Z-200412T2315Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
531 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Blount County in central Alabama...

* Until 615 PM CDT.
    
* At 531 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Warrior, or 10 miles north of Gardendale, moving
  northeast at 65 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...
  Oneonta, Cleveland, Dallas, Locust Fork, Altoona, Snead, Susan
  Moore, Walnut Grove, Trafford, Allgood, Fairview, Hayden, Nectar,
  Rosa, County Line, Inland Lake, Highland Lake, Easley, Smoke Rise
  and Remlap.

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 3410 8630 3405 8633 3399 8633 3394 8637
      3393 8632 3391 8635 3389 8634 3382 8643
      3382 8647 3380 8652 3380 8657 3377 8658
      3377 8665 3384 8676 3384 8688 3383 8692
      3385 8694 3416 8636
TIME...MOT...LOC 2231Z 244DEG 54KT 3381 8681 

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

$$

87/GRANTHAM

3 follow-up statements

511 
WWUS54 KBMX 122255
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
555 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020

ALC009-122315-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0026.000000T0000Z-200412T2315Z/
Blount AL-
555 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN BLOUNT COUNTY...
        
At 554 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located over Oneonta, moving
northeast at 55 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...
Oneonta, Cleveland, Altoona, Snead, Susan Moore, Walnut Grove,
Allgood, Fairview, Nectar, Rosa, Inland Lake, Highland Lake, Easley,
Holly Springs, Fowler Spring and Hendrix.

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 3380 8651 3401 8664 3416 8636 3410 8630
      3405 8633 3399 8633 3394 8637 3393 8632
      3391 8635 3389 8634 3382 8643 3382 8647
TIME...MOT...LOC 2254Z 240DEG 48KT 3396 8651 

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

$$

87/GRANTHAM

789 
WWUS54 KBMX 122306
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
606 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020

ALC009-122315-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0026.000000T0000Z-200412T2315Z/
Blount AL-
606 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL BLOUNT COUNTY...
    
At 606 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Altoona, or 11 miles northeast of Oneonta, moving
northeast at 60 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...
Oneonta, Altoona, Snead, Susan Moore, Walnut Grove and Hendrix. 

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 3391 8643 3409 8649 3416 8636 3410 8630
      3405 8633 3399 8633 3394 8637 3393 8634
TIME...MOT...LOC 2306Z 244DEG 54KT 3404 8630 

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

$$

87/GRANTHAM

837 
WWUS54 KBMX 122314
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
614 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020

ALC009-122324-
/O.EXP.KBMX.TO.W.0026.000000T0000Z-200412T2315Z/
Blount AL-
614 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL BLOUNT COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
615 PM CDT...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for central and
northeastern Alabama.

LAT...LON 3391 8643 3409 8649 3416 8636 3410 8630
      3405 8633 3399 8633 3394 8637 3393 8634
TIME...MOT...LOC 2314Z 244DEG 54KT 3408 8619 

$$

87/GRANTHAM

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 12, 3:07 AM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	BMX	Blount, Cherokee, Etowah, Fayette, Lamar, Marion and 2 more	21 hr
Apr 12, 8:12 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter	16 days
Apr 12, 12:23 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	37 min
Apr 12, 3:26 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Pickens	64 min
Apr 12, 3:33 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion	40 min
Apr 12, 4:10 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Tuscaloosa	50 min
Apr 12, 4:40 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Walker	49 min
Apr 12, 4:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	55 min
Apr 12, 5:07 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson	53 min
Apr 12, 5:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, St. Clair	46 min
Apr 12, 5:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Etowah	55 min
Apr 12, 5:59 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Etowah	35 min
Apr 12, 6:13 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Blount, Jefferson, Walker	6 hr
Apr 12, 6:19 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Cherokee	56 min
Apr 12, 6:20 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Pickens, Tuscaloosa	6 hr
Apr 12, 6:41 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Blount	6 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2020 Every tornado warning in 2020 Tornadoes in 2020

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.