Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 1, NWS Birmingham, AL

January 25, 2021Jefferson County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Jan 25, 2021, 10:34 PM CST for Jefferson County, Alabama. It was in force for 26 min. 5 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
Jan 25, 2021, 10:34 PM CST (04:34 UTC)
Expired
Jan 25, 2021, 11:00 PM CST
In force
26 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

County Jefferson County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 56 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:36 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jan 25, 10:40 PM CSTTORNADO2 Sw Fultondale, AL*** 1 FATAL, 30 INJ *** A TORNADO AFFECTED FULTONDALE, PRODUCING EF-3 DAMAGE ACROSS A FEW NEIGHBORHOODS. HOMES WERE HEAVILY DAMAGED OR DESTROYED, WITH THOUSANDS OF TREES UPROOTED OR SNAPPED. THERE WAS 1 FATALITY AND 30 PLUS INJURIES.
Jan 25, 10:43 PM CSTTORNADOFultondale, AL*** 1 FATAL, 28 INJ *** UPDATE...AT LEAST ONE FATALITY HAS BEEN CONFIRMED ALONG WITH MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IN FULTONDALE. AT LEAST 28 INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED THUS FAR. TDS WAS OBSERVED ON KBMX RADAR AT THE TIME OF THE TORNADO.
Jan 25, 10:43 PM CSTTORNADOFultondale, AL*** 1 FATAL, 30 INJ *** INJURY UPDATE...AT LEAST ONE FATALITY HAS BEEN CONFIRMED ALONG WITH MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IN FULTONDALE. DAMAGE HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED FARTHER NORTHEAST INTO CENTER POINT. AT LEAST 30 INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED THUS FAR. TDS WAS OBSE
Jan 25, 10:43 PM CSTTORNADOFultondale, AL*** 1 FATAL *** UPDATE...AT LEAST ONE FATALITY HAS BEEN CONFIRMED ALONG WITH MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IN FULTONDALE. MULTIPLE INJURIES ARE ALSO BEING REPORTED, BUT A SPECIFIC NUMBER IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. TDS WAS OBSERVED ON KBMX RADAR AT THE TIME OF THE TORN
Jan 25, 10:43 PM CSTTORNADOFultondale, ALSEVERAL REPORTS OF DOWNED POWER LINES AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE THROUGHOUT FULTONDALE. TDS ON KBMX RADAR.

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
Jan 25, 5:52 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 4.6 hours before the alert went out and 56 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 2021-01-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 232 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 2021-01-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 371 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
232 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-87 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
913 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
66 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
371 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
501 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
1.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

818 
WFUS54 KBMX 260434
TORBMX
ALC073-260500-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0001.210126T0434Z-210126T0500Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1034 PM CST Mon Jan 25 2021

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northeastern Jefferson County in central Alabama...

* Until 1100 PM CST.
    
* At 1033 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a
  tornado was located over Brookside, or near Fultondale, 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...
  Northern Birmingham, Trussville, Gardendale, Fultondale, Center
  Point, Clay, Pinson, Tarrant, Adamsville, Argo, Graysville,
  Brookside, Cardiff, Ketona Lakes, Chalkville, Grayson Valley,
  Forestdale, Minor, New Castle and Danville.

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 3374 8654 3373 8653 3363 8653 3363 8654
      3362 8655 3361 8658 3354 8696 3365 8696
      3376 8654
TIME...MOT...LOC 0433Z 252DEG 43KT 3361 8688 

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

$$

32/Davis
2 follow-up statements
874 
WWUS54 KBMX 260444
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1044 PM CST Mon Jan 25 2021

ALC073-260500-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-210126T0500Z/
Jefferson AL-
1044 PM CST Mon Jan 25 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CST FOR EAST
CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY...
        
At 1044 PM CST, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located over Fultondale, moving east at 45 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...
Northern Birmingham, Trussville, Gardendale, Fultondale, Center
Point, Clay, Pinson, Tarrant, Argo, Ketona Lakes, Chalkville, Grayson
Valley, New Castle and Danville.

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 3374 8654 3373 8653 3363 8653 3363 8654
      3362 8655 3362 8658 3357 8685 3366 8685
      3376 8654
TIME...MOT...LOC 0444Z 248DEG 37KT 3362 8678 

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

$$

32/Davis
364 
WWUS54 KBMX 260454
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1054 PM CST Mon Jan 25 2021

ALC073-260500-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-210126T0500Z/
Jefferson AL-
1054 PM CST Mon Jan 25 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CST FOR EAST
CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY...
        
At 1054 PM CST, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located over Chalkville, or near Trussville, moving east at 50 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...
Northeastern Birmingham, Trussville, Center Point, Clay, Pinson,
Argo, Grayson Valley and Chalkville.

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 3374 8654 3373 8653 3363 8653 3363 8654
      3362 8655 3362 8658 3360 8671 3369 8674
      3376 8654
TIME...MOT...LOC 0454Z 252DEG 43KT 3366 8664 

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

$$

32/Davis

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 25, 6:16 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementBMXWinston29 min
Jan 25, 6:48 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementBMXWalker27 min
Jan 25, 8:03 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementBMXPickens27 min
Jan 25, 9:02 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementBMXEtowah43 min
Jan 25, 9:26 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementBMXJefferson34 min
Jan 25, 9:35 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementBMXTuscaloosa25 min
Jan 25, 10:24 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementBMXJefferson51 min
Jan 25, 10:31 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementBMXPickens44 min
Jan 25, 10:49 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedBMXSt. Clair41 min
Jan 25, 10:52 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementBMXTuscaloosa53 min
Jan 25, 10:52 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatBMXJefferson23 min
Jan 25, 11:04 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPickens23 min
Jan 25, 11:19 PM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXBlount, Fayette, Jefferson, Lamar, Pickens, St. Clair and 2 more3 hr
Jan 25, 11:46 PM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXEtowah, St. Clair3 hr
Jan 25, 11:54 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementBMXJefferson51 min
Jan 25, 11:59 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementBMXCherokee46 min
Jan 26, 12:08 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne24 min
Jan 26, 12:29 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementBMXSt. Clair46 min
Jan 26, 1:44 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementBMXBibb46 min
Jan 26, 3:17 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementBMXMarengo43 min
Jan 26, 4:13 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementBMXChambers, Tallapoosa47 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2021Every tornado warning in 2021Tornadoes in 2021

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.