Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 25, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 17, 2021Dallas County, Perry County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Mar 17, 2021, 3:58 PM CDT for Dallas County, Perry County, Alabama. It was in force for 47 min. 2 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 17, 2021, 3:58 PM CDT (20:58 UTC)
Expired
Mar 17, 2021, 4:45 PM CDT
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Dallas County, AL, Perry County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 112 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:03 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 17, 4:11 PM CDTTORNADO1 E Central Mills, ALNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED DAMAGE JUST EAST OF CENTRAL MILLS AND FOUND IT CONSISTENT WITH A TORNADO. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR AL HIGHWAY 66 W WHERE SEVERAL LARGE BRANCHES WERE SNAPPED. THE TORNADO CONTINUED NORTHEAST THROUGH PASTURE
Mar 17, 4:22 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUD3 Wsw Bogue Chitto, ALPOSSIBLE TORNADO NORTH OF SAFFORD.

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, 9.0 hours before the alert went out and 113 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.

449 
WFUS54 KBMX 172058 RRA
TORBMX
ALC047-105-172145-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0025.210317T2058Z-210317T2145Z/

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

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southwestern Perry County in central Alabama...
  West central Dallas County in south central Alabama...

* Until 445 PM CDT.
    
* At 358 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Consul, or 14 miles south of Uniontown, moving
  northeast at 35 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...
  Marion Junction, Potter Station, Central Mills, Bogue Chitto and
  Safford.

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 3224 8739 3224 8742 3227 8745 3227 8747
      3231 8747 3231 8752 3235 8752 3253 8729
      3243 8709 3223 8739
TIME...MOT...LOC 2058Z 229DEG 30KT 3224 8751 

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

$$

32/Davis
3 follow-up statements
503 
WWUS54 KBMX 172113 RRA
SVSBMX

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

ALC047-105-172145-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-210317T2145Z/
Perry AL-Dallas AL-
413 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN PERRY AND WEST CENTRAL DALLAS COUNTIES...
    
At 413 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Central Mills, or 11 miles southeast of Uniontown,
moving northeast at 30 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...
Marion Junction, Potter Station, Central Mills, Bogue Chitto and
Safford.

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 3234 8752 3253 8729 3243 8709 3223 8739
      3224 8739 3224 8742 3227 8745 3227 8747
      3231 8747 3231 8752
TIME...MOT...LOC 2113Z 231DEG 27KT 3230 8741 

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

$$

87/GRANTHAM
208 
WWUS54 KBMX 172121
SVSBMX

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

ALC105-172131-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-210317T2145Z/
Perry AL-
421 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN PERRY 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 south central
and central Alabama.

LAT...LON 3231 8743 3241 8742 3248 8734 3249 8721
      3243 8709 3225 8737
TIME...MOT...LOC 2121Z 229DEG 30KT 3235 8735 

$$

ALC047-172145-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-210317T2145Z/
Dallas AL-
421 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM CDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL DALLAS COUNTY...
    
At 421 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Bogue Chitto, or 11 miles southeast of Uniontown,
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...
Marion Junction, Potter Station, Bogue Chitto and Safford. 

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 3231 8743 3241 8742 3248 8734 3249 8721
      3243 8709 3225 8737
TIME...MOT...LOC 2121Z 229DEG 30KT 3235 8735 

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

$$

87/GRANTHAM
807 
WWUS54 KBMX 172134
SVSBMX

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

ALC047-172145-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-210317T2145Z/
Dallas AL-
434 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM CDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL DALLAS COUNTY...
    
At 434 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Bogue Chitto, or 13 miles west of Selma, moving
northeast at 30 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...
Marion Junction, Potter Station and Bogue Chitto. 

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 3231 8727 3241 8738 3248 8731 3249 8721
      3243 8709
TIME...MOT...LOC 2134Z 229DEG 25KT 3240 8725 

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

$$

87/GRANTHAM

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, 2:09 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarengo66 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, 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.