Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2021
Tornado Warning 36, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Mar 17, 2021, 5:42 PM CDT for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 48 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Mar 17, 2021, 5:42 PM CDT (22:42 UTC)
- Expired
- Mar 17, 2021, 6:30 PM CDT
- In force
- 48 min
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
Counties Chilton County, AL, Coosa County, AL, Shelby County, AL, Talladega County, AL
The radar
The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 44 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:42 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.
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 | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 10.7 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.
- 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
The text
As transmitted.
459
WFUS54 KBMX 172242
TORBMX
ALC021-037-117-121-172330-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0036.210317T2242Z-210317T2330Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
542 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021
The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southwestern Talladega County in east central Alabama...
Northeastern Chilton County in central Alabama...
Southeastern Shelby County in central Alabama...
Northwestern Coosa County in east central Alabama...
* Until 630 PM CDT.
* At 542 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Gap Of The Mountain, or near Clanton, moving
northeast at 40 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...
Sylacauga, Clanton, Childersburg, Wilsonville, Talladega Springs,
Harpersville, Gap Of The Mountain, Strickland Crossroads, Marble
Valley, Fayetteville, Lay Lake Dam, Lay Lake, Mitchell Lake,
Alabama 4H Center, Shelby Shores, Waxahatchee Creek, Gantts Quarry,
Highway 145 and CR 46, Paint Creek and I 65 Rest Area.
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 3320 8612 3319 8613 3320 8617 3316 8617
3285 8656 3291 8669 3331 8642
TIME...MOT...LOC 2242Z 214DEG 33KT 3292 8659
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN
$$
87/GRANTHAM2 follow-up statements
025
WWUS54 KBMX 172257
SVSBMX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
557 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021
ALC021-037-117-121-172330-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0036.000000T0000Z-210317T2330Z/
Talladega AL-Chilton AL-Shelby AL-Coosa AL-
557 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN TALLADEGA...NORTHEASTERN CHILTON...SOUTHEASTERN SHELBY
AND NORTHWESTERN COOSA COUNTIES...
At 557 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Lay Lake, or near Talladega Springs, moving
northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
Locations impacted include...
Sylacauga, Childersburg, Wilsonville, Talladega Springs,
Harpersville, Strickland Crossroads, Marble Valley, Fayetteville, Lay
Lake Dam, Lay Lake, Mitchell Lake, Alabama 4H Center, Shelby Shores,
Waxahatchee Creek, Gantts Quarry, Highway 145 and CR 46, Paint Creek,
Kelley Branch, Varnons and Gaston Steam Plant.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3320 8612 3319 8613 3320 8617 3316 8617
3292 8651 3301 8663 3331 8642
TIME...MOT...LOC 2257Z 214DEG 33KT 3304 8650
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN
$$
87/GRANTHAM485
WWUS54 KBMX 172321 RRA
SVSBMX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
621 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021
ALC021-037-117-121-172331-
/O.EXP.KBMX.TO.W.0036.000000T0000Z-210317T2330Z/
Talladega AL-Chilton AL-Shelby AL-Coosa AL-
621 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN TALLADEGA...NORTHEASTERN
CHILTON...SOUTHEASTERN SHELBY AND NORTHWESTERN COOSA COUNTIES WILL
EXPIRE AT 630 PM CDT...
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT for central and
east central Alabama.
LAT...LON 3320 8612 3319 8613 3320 8617 3316 8617
3292 8651 3301 8663 3331 8642
TIME...MOT...LOC 2321Z 214DEG 33KT 3322 8636
$$
87/GRANTHAMThe 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, 2:02 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Chilton, Coosa | 58 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 | BMX | Tuscaloosa | 40 min |
| Mar 17, 2:33 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | BMX | Marengo | 62 min |
| Mar 17, 4:36 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | 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 | 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, 5:48 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, 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.