Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 13, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 17, 2021Chilton County, Coosa County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Mar 17, 2021, 2:02 PM CDT for Chilton County, Coosa County, Alabama. It was in force for 58 min. 1 report 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 17, 2021, 2:02 PM CDT (19:02 UTC)
Expired: Mar 17, 2021, 3:00 PM CDT
In force: 58 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Observed
Hail: 0.75 in

Counties Chilton County, AL, Coosa County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 43 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:03 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
Mar 17, 2:29 PM CDT	TORNADO	Unity, AL	NWS METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED DAMAGE AROUND COOSA COUNTY 56 AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY A BRIEF EF0 TORNADO. DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO AN UPROOTED PINE TREE AND SEVERAL TREES HAD BROKEN BRANCHES. A BRIEF TDS WAS ALSO NOTED ON BMX 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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Mar 17, 11:36 AM CDT	Tornado Watch PDS	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 7.0 hours before the alert went out and 45 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: 658 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -112 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 759 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 59 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 169 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 301 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 2.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

393 
WFUS54 KBMX 171902
TORBMX
ALC021-037-172000-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0013.210317T1902Z-210317T2000Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
202 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  East central Chilton County in central Alabama...
  Northwestern Coosa County in east central Alabama...

* Until 300 PM CDT.
    
* At 202 PM CDT, a tornado producing storm was located near Mitchell
  Lake, or 7 miles east of Clanton, moving northeast at 25 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...
  Weogufka, Lyle, Mitchell Lake, Dollar, Unity, Moriah, Higgins Ferry
  Park, Strickland Crossroads and Bentleyville.

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 3280 8652 3285 8659 3309 8639 3305 8628
      3296 8617
TIME...MOT...LOC 1902Z 219DEG 23KT 3285 8651 

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

$$

40/Sizemore

2 follow-up statements

227 
WWUS54 KBMX 171916
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
216 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

ALC021-171926-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-210317T2000Z/
Chilton AL-
216 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL CHILTON 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 700 PM CDT for east central
Alabama.

LAT...LON 3287 8642 3295 8651 3309 8639 3305 8628
      3296 8617
TIME...MOT...LOC 1916Z 219DEG 23KT 3292 8644 

$$

ALC037-172000-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-210317T2000Z/
Coosa AL-
216 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN COOSA COUNTY...
    
At 216 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Dollar, or 9 miles southwest of Weogufka, moving
northeast at 25 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...
Weogufka, Dollar, Unity, Strickland Crossroads, Bentleyville and
Moriah.

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 3287 8642 3295 8651 3309 8639 3305 8628
      3296 8617
TIME...MOT...LOC 1916Z 219DEG 23KT 3292 8644 

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

$$

40/Sizemore

115 
WWUS54 KBMX 171934
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
234 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

ALC037-172000-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-210317T2000Z/
Coosa AL-
234 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL COOSA COUNTY...
        
At 234 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located over Weogufka, 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...
Weogufka.

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 3297 8631 3304 8640 3308 8636 3305 8628
      3301 8623
TIME...MOT...LOC 1934Z 221DEG 26KT 3302 8633 

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

$$

40/Sizemore

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 16, 9:59 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Sumter	46 min
Mar 16, 10:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Sumter	24 min
Mar 16, 10:38 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Hale	37 min
Mar 17, 1:27 AM CDT	Dense Fog Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Barbour, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers and 22 more	6 hr
Mar 17, 11:18 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Jefferson	27 min
Mar 17, 12:13 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Dallas	47 min
Mar 17, 12:19 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa	2 hr
Mar 17, 12:21 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion	25 min
Mar 17, 12:41 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Autauga	64 min
Mar 17, 12:59 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Greene, Sumter	61 min
Mar 17, 1:18 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chilton, Elmore	57 min
Mar 17, 1:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pickens, Tuscaloosa	28 min
Mar 17, 1:52 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter	41 min
Mar 17, 1:58 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marengo	62 min
Mar 17, 1:59 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale	46 min
Mar 17, 2:09 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marengo	66 min
Mar 17, 2:14 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Walker	61 min
Mar 17, 2:20 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	BMX	Tuscaloosa	40 min
Mar 17, 2:33 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	BMX	Clay, Coosa, Talladega	42 min
Mar 17, 2:44 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Hale, Marengo, Perry	2 hr
Mar 17, 2:47 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Greene, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa	2 hr
Mar 17, 2:48 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Blount, Jefferson, Walker	2 hr
Mar 17, 2:48 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston	2 hr
Mar 17, 2:51 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson	2 hr
Mar 17, 2:53 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	BMX	Tuscaloosa	52 min
Mar 17, 2:54 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Dallas, Marengo, Perry	66 min
Mar 17, 2:58 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount, Jefferson	34 min
Mar 17, 3:21 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	54 min
Mar 17, 3:25 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	2 hr
Mar 17, 3:28 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Dallas, Perry	2 hr
Mar 17, 3:34 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	BMX	Jefferson, Walker	56 min
Mar 17, 3:37 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marengo	38 min
Mar 17, 3:58 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	BMX	Jefferson	47 min
Mar 17, 3:58 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Dallas, Perry	47 min
Mar 17, 4:12 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Dallas	48 min
Mar 17, 4:28 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	BMX	Marengo	62 min
Mar 17, 4:36 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	BMX	Jefferson	54 min
Mar 17, 4:40 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Autauga	50 min
Mar 17, 4:43 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Dallas, Perry	47 min
Mar 17, 5:00 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chilton	60 min
Mar 17, 5:09 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Jefferson	111 min
Mar 17, 5:15 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chilton	60 min
Mar 17, 5:16 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	BMX	Blount	44 min
Mar 17, 5:23 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Dallas, Marengo, Perry	67 min
Mar 17, 5:26 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Chilton, Dallas, Hale, Marengo, Perry and 1 more	3 hr
Mar 17, 5:41 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marengo	23 min
Mar 17, 5:42 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chilton, Coosa, Shelby, Talladega	48 min
Mar 17, 5:48 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount	42 min
Mar 17, 5:56 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Walker, Winston	44 min
Mar 17, 6:09 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chilton, Coosa, Shelby, Talladega	13 min
Mar 17, 6:40 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Walker, Winston	3 hr
Mar 17, 6:48 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Dallas	42 min

Nearby

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