Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 74, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 4, 2021Cleburne County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at May 4, 2021, 1:25 PM CDT for Cleburne County, Alabama. It was in force for 24 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 4, 2021, 1:25 PM CDT (18:25 UTC)
Expired
May 4, 2021, 1:49 PM CDT
In force
24 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

County Cleburne County, AL

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 92 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:26 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
May 4, 1:31 PM CDTHAIL 1.25Heflin, ALHAIL DOLLAR OR SLIGHTLY LARGER HAIL REPORTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

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
May 4, 9:18 AM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 6.4 hours before the alert went out and 98 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2021-05-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 590 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2021-05-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 207 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
590 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-114 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
753 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
207 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
213 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

630 
WFUS54 KBMX 041825
TORBMX
ALC029-041900-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0074.210504T1825Z-210504T1900Z/

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

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Cleburne County in east central Alabama...

* Until 200 PM CDT.
    
* At 125 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Heflin, moving east 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...
  Heflin, Abernathy, Muscadine, Lake Cleburne and I 20 Welcome
  Center.

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 3356 8562 3363 8564 3375 8536 3359 8533
TIME...MOT...LOC 1825Z 252DEG 26KT 3361 8561 

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

$$

61
2 follow-up statements
606 
WWUS54 KBMX 041838
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
138 PM CDT Tue May 4 2021

ALC029-041900-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0074.000000T0000Z-210504T1900Z/
Cleburne AL-
138 PM CDT Tue May 4 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 PM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL CLEBURNE COUNTY...
    
At 137 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Abernathy, or near Heflin, moving east 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...
Abernathy and I 20 Welcome Center. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3358 8551 3363 8552 3371 8535 3359 8533
      3359 8534
TIME...MOT...LOC 1837Z 259DEG 27KT 3361 8549 

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

$$

61
572 
WWUS54 KBMX 041849
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
149 PM CDT Tue May 4 2021

ALC029-041858-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0074.000000T0000Z-210504T1900Z/
Cleburne AL-
149 PM CDT Tue May 4 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL CLEBURNE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
    
The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been
cancelled. However, large hail and damaging winds remain likely and a
Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 400 PM CDT for east central
Alabama.

Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for
Cleburne County.

LAT...LON 3358 8551 3363 8552 3371 8535 3359 8533
      3359 8534
TIME...MOT...LOC 1846Z 252DEG 26KT 3364 8540 

$$

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, 11:12 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Tuscaloosa21 min
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, 1:39 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.