Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 73, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 4, 2021Fayette County, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at May 4, 2021, 11:12 AM CDT for Fayette County, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. It was in force for 21 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
May 4, 2021, 11:12 AM CDT (16:12 UTC)
Expired
May 4, 2021, 11:33 AM CDT
In force
21 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.0 in

Counties Fayette County, AL, Tuscaloosa County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 82 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:14 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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 4, 9:18 AM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 4.2 hours before the alert went out and 83 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 2021-05-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2158 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 2021-05-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 145 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
2158 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-5 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
569 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
145 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
195 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.4
Supercell composite
7.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

150 
WFUS54 KBMX 041612
TORBMX
ALC057-125-041700-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0073.210504T1612Z-210504T1700Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1112 AM CDT Tue May 4 2021

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northwestern Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama...
  Southeastern Fayette County in west central Alabama...

* Until noon CDT.
    
* At 1112 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a
  tornado was located 8 miles east of Ashcraft Corner, or 13 miles
  south of Fayette, moving east 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...
  Berry, Boley Springs, Whitson, Wiley and New Lexington. 

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.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3369 8752 3369 8743 3366 8742 3360 8742
      3360 8740 3352 8738 3347 8778 3352 8779
TIME...MOT...LOC 1612Z 248DEG 26KT 3350 8775 

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

$$

61
2 follow-up statements
152 
WWUS54 KBMX 041622
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1122 AM CDT Tue May 4 2021

ALC057-125-041700-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0073.000000T0000Z-210504T1700Z/
Tuscaloosa AL-Fayette AL-
1122 AM CDT Tue May 4 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA AND SOUTHEASTERN FAYETTE COUNTIES...
    
At 1121 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 8 miles northwest of Samantha, or 14 miles southeast of
Fayette, moving northeast at 40 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...
Berry, Boley Springs, Whitson and New Lexington. 

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.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3369 8752 3369 8743 3366 8742 3360 8742
      3360 8740 3355 8739 3351 8770 3354 8771
      3363 8761
TIME...MOT...LOC 1621Z 244DEG 35KT 3354 8767 

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

$$

61
282 
WWUS54 KBMX 041633
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1133 AM CDT Tue May 4 2021

ALC057-125-041643-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0073.000000T0000Z-210504T1700Z/
Tuscaloosa AL-Fayette AL-
1133 AM CDT Tue May 4 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA AND SOUTHEASTERN
FAYETTE COUNTIES 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 400 PM CDT for central and
west central Alabama.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
Birmingham.

LAT...LON 3369 8752 3369 8743 3366 8742 3360 8742
      3360 8740 3355 8739 3351 8770 3354 8771
      3363 8761
TIME...MOT...LOC 1633Z 248DEG 26KT 3357 8757 

$$

61

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 3, 7:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXElmore, Montgomery43 min
May 3, 7:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Chilton, Perry32 min
May 3, 7:25 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXAutauga, Elmore, Macon, Montgomery5 hr
May 3, 7:29 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXChambers, Lee, Macon, Tallapoosa2 hr
May 3, 7:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXElmore, Macon, Montgomery47 min
May 3, 7:46 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXChilton44 min
May 3, 8:30 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXLee, Macon45 min
May 3, 8:36 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXChilton39 min
May 3, 8:51 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXBibb, Chilton, Perry3 hr
May 3, 8:59 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXRussell46 min
May 3, 9:31 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXShelby59 min
May 4, 7:27 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXMarion48 min
May 4, 7:57 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXLamar, Marion48 min
May 4, 9:07 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXWinston38 min
May 4, 10:26 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount23 min
May 4, 10:59 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXWalker31 min
May 4, 11:00 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXFayette, Lamar, Walker3 hr
May 4, 11:06 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXBlount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Etowah, St. Clair3 hr
May 4, 11:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson, Walker50 min
May 4, 11:45 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXJefferson2 hr
May 4, 11:49 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson, St. Clair26 min
May 4, 12:03 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXBlount, Etowah, St. Clair117 min
May 4, 12:10 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXJefferson7 hr
May 4, 12:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, St. Clair, Talladega46 min
May 4, 12:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson, St. Clair, Shelby28 min
May 4, 12:35 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXCalhoun, Etowah, St. Clair, Talladega3 hr
May 4, 12:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Talladega64 min
May 4, 1:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson, Shelby30 min
May 4, 1:25 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCleburne24 min
May 4, 1:39 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXJefferson, St. Clair, Shelby5 hr
May 4, 2:07 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningBMXBlount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Etowah, St. Clair6 hr
May 4, 2:54 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXClay, Cleburne, Randolph, Shelby, Talladega3 hr
May 4, 3:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXSumter55 min
May 4, 4:01 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXShelby, Talladega3 hr
May 4, 4:05 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXBibb, Tuscaloosa3 hr
May 4, 4:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTuscaloosa29 min
May 4, 4:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene55 min
May 4, 4:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXHale, Marengo63 min
May 4, 4:45 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXWalker, Winston30 min
May 4, 5:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Chilton, Dallas, Perry75 min
May 4, 5:17 PM CDTFlash Flood Warning EmergencyCatastrophic damage threatBMXJefferson, Shelby3 hr
May 4, 5:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton, Lowndes76 min
May 4, 5:30 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXChilton, Perry30 min
May 4, 5:38 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXShelby12 min
May 4, 5:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCoosa50 min
May 4, 5:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXElmore61 min
May 4, 6:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMontgomery68 min
May 4, 6:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTallapoosa56 min
May 4, 6:24 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXElmore, Montgomery13 min
May 4, 6:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBullock, Macon, Pike83 min
May 4, 6:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChambers, Lee61 min
May 4, 6:48 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXBibb, Jefferson, Shelby22 hr

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.