Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 14, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 17, 2021Marengo County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Mar 17, 2021, 2:09 PM CDT for Marengo County, Alabama. It was in force for 66 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, 2:09 PM CDT (19:09 UTC)
Expired
Mar 17, 2021, 3:15 PM CDT
In force
66 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.0 in

County Marengo County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 148 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:09 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 17, 2:22 PM CDTTORNADO3 Sw Sweet Water, ALNWS METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED DAMAGE SOUTH OF SWEET WATER AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS CONSISTENT WITH AN EF1 TORNADO. THE TORNADO BEGAN ALONG MARENGO COUNTY 6. IT CONTINUED NORTHEASTWARD AND REACHED ITS MAXIMUM INTENSITY ALONG MARENGO COUNTY 7. THE TORNADO DISSIP

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 17, 11:36 AM CDTTornado Watch PDSSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 7.2 hours before the alert went out and 148 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 2021-03-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 658 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 2021-03-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 169 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
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.

350 
WFUS54 KBMX 171909
TORBMX
ALC091-172015-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0014.210317T1909Z-210317T2015Z/

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

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Marengo County in southwestern Alabama...

* Until 315 PM CDT.
    
* At 209 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Putnam, or 15 miles west of Thomasville, moving
  northeast at 35 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and quarter 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...
  Linden, Thomaston, Sweet Water, Dayton, Putnam, Freddie Jones
  Field, Consul, Magnolia, Wayne, Miller, Dixons Mill, Octagon,
  Clayhill, Nicholsville and Calvary.

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 3238 8768 3226 8752 3199 8779 3199 8807
      3200 8808
TIME...MOT...LOC 1909Z 219DEG 31KT 3194 8800 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

32/Davis
2 follow-up statements
142 
WWUS54 KBMX 171923
SVSBMX

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

ALC091-172015-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-210317T2015Z/
Marengo AL-
223 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN MARENGO COUNTY...
    
At 223 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Sweet Water, or 12 miles northwest of Thomasville,
moving northeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter 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...
Linden, Thomaston, Sweet Water, Dayton, Putnam, Freddie Jones Field,
Consul, Magnolia, Wayne, Miller, Dixons Mill, Octagon, Clayhill,
Nicholsville and Calvary.

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 3238 8768 3226 8752 3199 8779 3202 8806
TIME...MOT...LOC 1923Z 224DEG 32KT 3204 8789 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

32/Davis
808 
WWUS54 KBMX 171935 RRA
SVSBMX

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

ALC091-172015-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-210317T2015Z/
Marengo AL-
235 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN MARENGO COUNTY...
    
At 235 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located over Wayne, or 12
miles south of Linden, moving northeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Weather spotters 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...
Linden, Thomaston, Sweet Water, Dayton, Wayne, Freddie Jones Field,
Miller, Dixons Mill, Consul, Magnolia, Calvary and Octagon.

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 3238 8768 3226 8752 3205 8775 3209 8799
TIME...MOT...LOC 1935Z 218DEG 32KT 3213 8781 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

32/Davis

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 16, 9:59 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXSumter46 min
Mar 16, 10:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXSumter24 min
Mar 16, 10:38 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXHale37 min
Mar 17, 1:27 AM CDTDense Fog AdvisoryBMXAutauga, Barbour, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers and 22 more6 hr
Mar 17, 11:18 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXJefferson27 min
Mar 17, 12:13 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDallas47 min
Mar 17, 12:19 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXJefferson, Tuscaloosa2 hr
Mar 17, 12:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion25 min
Mar 17, 12:41 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXAutauga64 min
Mar 17, 12:59 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Sumter61 min
Mar 17, 1:18 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton, Elmore57 min
Mar 17, 1:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa28 min
Mar 17, 1:52 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter41 min
Mar 17, 1:58 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarengo62 min
Mar 17, 1:59 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Hale46 min
Mar 17, 2:02 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedBMXChilton, Coosa58 min
Mar 17, 2:14 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXJefferson, Walker61 min
Mar 17, 2:20 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedBMXTuscaloosa40 min
Mar 17, 2:33 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedBMXClay, Coosa, Talladega42 min
Mar 17, 2:44 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXHale, Marengo, Perry2 hr
Mar 17, 2:47 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXGreene, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa2 hr
Mar 17, 2:48 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXBlount, Jefferson, Walker2 hr
Mar 17, 2:48 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston2 hr
Mar 17, 2:51 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXJefferson2 hr
Mar 17, 2:53 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedBMXTuscaloosa52 min
Mar 17, 2:54 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDallas, Marengo, Perry66 min
Mar 17, 2:58 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson34 min
Mar 17, 3:21 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXTuscaloosa54 min
Mar 17, 3:25 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXTuscaloosa2 hr
Mar 17, 3:28 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXDallas, Perry2 hr
Mar 17, 3:34 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedBMXJefferson, Walker56 min
Mar 17, 3:37 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarengo38 min
Mar 17, 3:58 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedBMXJefferson47 min
Mar 17, 3:58 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDallas, Perry47 min
Mar 17, 4:12 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDallas48 min
Mar 17, 4:28 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedBMXMarengo62 min
Mar 17, 4:36 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedBMXJefferson54 min
Mar 17, 4:40 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXAutauga50 min
Mar 17, 4:43 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDallas, Perry47 min
Mar 17, 5:00 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXChilton60 min
Mar 17, 5:09 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXJefferson111 min
Mar 17, 5:15 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXChilton60 min
Mar 17, 5:16 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedBMXBlount44 min
Mar 17, 5:23 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDallas, Marengo, Perry67 min
Mar 17, 5:26 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXAutauga, Chilton, Dallas, Hale, Marengo, Perry and 1 more3 hr
Mar 17, 5:41 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarengo23 min
Mar 17, 5:42 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXChilton, Coosa, Shelby, Talladega48 min
Mar 17, 5:48 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBlount42 min
Mar 17, 5:56 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXWalker, Winston44 min
Mar 17, 6:09 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXChilton, Coosa, Shelby, Talladega13 min
Mar 17, 6:40 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXWalker, Winston3 hr
Mar 17, 6:48 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDallas42 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.