Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2021
Tornado Warning 72, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at May 2, 2021, 4:55 PM CDT for Greene County, Pickens County, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. It was in force for 52 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
- May 2, 2021, 4:55 PM CDT (21:55 UTC)
- Expired
- May 2, 2021, 5:47 PM CDT
- In force
- 52 min
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Observed
- Hail
- 0.75 in
Counties Greene County, AL, Pickens County, AL, Tuscaloosa County, AL
The radar
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 96 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:55 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 5:25 PM CDT | TORNADO | 4 Nw Romulus, AL | CLOSE-RANGE VIDEO FOOTAGE INDICATES A BRIEF AND WEAK TORNADO OCCURRED NEAR THE BUHL COMMUNITY. NWS BMX SURVEY TEAMS WERE UNABLE TO ACCESS OR FIND OBSERVABLE DAMAGE GIVEN THE LOCATION IT IMPACTED NEAR AND ALONG SIPSEY SWAMP. LOCATION, TIME, AND ESTIMATED PATH L |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 4:46 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 5 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 99 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
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2107 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 39 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 101 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 120 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
557
WFUS54 KBMX 022155
TORBMX
ALC063-107-125-022300-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0072.210502T2155Z-210502T2300Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
455 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021
The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
West central Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama...
Southeastern Pickens County in west central Alabama...
North central Greene County in west central Alabama...
* Until 600 PM CDT.
* At 455 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located over Union, or 11
miles north of Eutaw, moving northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Damaging tornado.
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...
Coker, Union, Mantua, Jena, Lake Lurleen State Park, Snoddy, Buhl,
Tierce Pattton Bridge, Pioneer, Echola, Romulus, Elrod and Lake
Tuscaloosa.
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 3295 8792 3301 8801 3341 8779 3335 8758
TIME...MOT...LOC 2155Z 212DEG 28KT 3301 8795
TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...<.75IN
$$
32/Davis4 follow-up statements
963
WWUS54 KBMX 022208
SVSBMX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
508 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021
ALC063-107-125-022300-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0072.000000T0000Z-210502T2300Z/
Tuscaloosa AL-Pickens AL-Greene AL-
508 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA...SOUTHEASTERN PICKENS AND NORTH CENTRAL GREENE
COUNTIES...
At 508 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Benevola, or 13 miles south of Gordo, moving north
at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
Locations impacted include...
Coker, Lake Lurleen State Park, Jena, Tierce Pattton Bridge, Pioneer,
Buhl, Echola, Elrod, Romulus and Lake Tuscaloosa.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3304 8785 3308 8797 3341 8779 3335 8758
TIME...MOT...LOC 2208Z 201DEG 32KT 3312 8791
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN
$$
32/Davis595
WWUS54 KBMX 022221
SVSBMX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
521 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021
ALC063-022230-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0072.000000T0000Z-210502T2300Z/
Greene AL-
521 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL GREENE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the warned
area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for west central
Alabama.
LAT...LON 3317 8792 3341 8779 3335 8758 3312 8778
3314 8784 3315 8784 3315 8785
TIME...MOT...LOC 2220Z 209DEG 26KT 3319 8787 3314 8780
$$
ALC107-125-022300-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0072.000000T0000Z-210502T2300Z/
Tuscaloosa AL-Pickens AL-
521 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA AND EAST CENTRAL PICKENS COUNTIES...
At 520 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes
were located along a line extending from 7 miles northeast of
Benevola to near Jena, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
Locations impacted include...
Coker, Lake Lurleen State Park, Tierce Pattton Bridge, Pioneer, Buhl,
Echola, Romulus, Elrod and Lake Tuscaloosa.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3317 8792 3341 8779 3335 8758 3312 8778
3314 8784 3315 8784 3315 8785
TIME...MOT...LOC 2220Z 209DEG 26KT 3319 8787 3314 8780
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN
$$
32/Davis319
WWUS54 KBMX 022233
SVSBMX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
533 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021
ALC107-022243-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0072.000000T0000Z-210502T2300Z/
Pickens AL-
533 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL PICKENS 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 1000 PM CDT for west central
Alabama.
LAT...LON 3341 8779 3335 8758 3319 8773 3321 8781
3324 8784 3332 8784
TIME...MOT...LOC 2233Z 213DEG 29KT 3324 8773
$$
ALC125-022300-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0072.000000T0000Z-210502T2300Z/
Tuscaloosa AL-
533 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA COUNTY...
At 533 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Coker, or 7 miles west of Northport, moving
northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
Locations impacted include...
Coker, Lake Lurleen State Park, Tierce Pattton Bridge, Buhl, Echola,
Elrod and Lake Tuscaloosa.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3341 8779 3335 8758 3319 8773 3321 8781
3324 8784 3332 8784
TIME...MOT...LOC 2233Z 213DEG 29KT 3324 8773
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN
$$
32/Davis982
WWUS54 KBMX 022247
SVSBMX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
547 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021
ALC125-022257-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0072.000000T0000Z-210502T2300Z/
Tuscaloosa AL-
547 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR WEST CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for west central
Alabama.
LAT...LON 3341 8779 3335 8758 3319 8773 3321 8781
3324 8784 3332 8784
TIME...MOT...LOC 2246Z 212DEG 28KT 3334 8766
$$
32/DavisThe office that day
Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 2:30 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Sumter | 45 min |
| May 2, 3:54 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Greene, Pickens | 18 min |
| May 2, 4:02 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Sumter | 28 min |
| May 2, 4:22 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Greene | 38 min |
| May 2, 6:03 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Pickens | 27 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.