Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 14, NWS Huntsville, AL

December 29, 2021DeKalb County, Jackson County, Alabama

NWS Huntsville, AL issued this tornado warning at Dec 29, 2021, 8:18 PM CST for DeKalb County, Jackson County, Alabama. It was in force for 27 min. 4 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
Dec 29, 2021, 8:18 PM CST (02:18 UTC)
Expired
Dec 29, 2021, 8:45 PM CST
In force
27 min
Issued by
NWS Huntsville, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.0 in

Counties DeKalb County, AL, Jackson County, AL

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 59 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:17 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
Dec 29, 8:21 PM CSTTSTM WND DMG1 Sw Powell, ALREPORTED ROOF DAMAGE TO THE SAND MOUNTAIN LARGE ANIMAL CLINIC. REPORT RELAYED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA AND TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR.
Dec 29, 8:21 PM CSTTORNADO3 Wsw Powell, ALSTORM DAMAGE SURVEY CONDUCTED BY NWS METEOROLOGISTS AND DEKALB COUNTY EM/SO CONFIRMED AN EF-1 TORNADO. PLEASE CONSULT PNSHUN FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Dec 29, 8:34 PM CSTTSTM WND DMG1 Se Powell, ALPOWER LINES DOWN AT INTERSECTION OF AL 35 AND KIRK ROAD.
Dec 29, 8:51 PM CSTTSTM WND DMGPowell, ALDEBRIS ON CR 47 BETWEEN POWELL AND SYLVANIA.

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
Dec 29, 3:53 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 2.3 hours before the alert went out and 167 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 00:00Z on 2021-12-30Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 251 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 00:00Z on 2021-12-30The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 228 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
251 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-52 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
790 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
53 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
228 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
240 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.3
Supercell composite
3.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

457 
WFUS54 KHUN 300218
TORHUN
ALC049-071-300245-
/O.NEW.KHUN.TO.W.0014.211230T0218Z-211230T0245Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
818 PM CST Wed Dec 29 2021

The National Weather Service in Huntsville Alabama has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Jackson County in northeastern Alabama...
  Northern DeKalb County in northeastern Alabama...

* Until 845 PM CST.
    
* At 818 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Powell, or near Rainsville, moving east at 55 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.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Sylvania around 830 PM CST.
  Fort Payne and Henagar around 835 PM CST.
  Ider around 840 PM CST.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Dutton, Mentone, Rosalie, Sulpher Springs, Valley Head, Hammondville
and Desoto State Park.

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.

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3451 8553 3450 8555 3450 8556 3449 8556
      3447 8560 3447 8602 3459 8604 3480 8557
      3453 8551
TIME...MOT...LOC 0218Z 252DEG 46KT 3453 8595 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

25
2 follow-up statements
508 
WWUS54 KHUN 300229
SVSHUN

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
829 PM CST Wed Dec 29 2021

ALC071-300238-
/O.CAN.KHUN.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-211230T0245Z/
Jackson AL-
829 PM CST Wed Dec 29 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN JACKSON 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 CST for northeastern
Alabama.

LAT...LON 3447 8560 3447 8589 3455 8590 3463 8578
      3471 8572 3480 8557 3453 8551
TIME...MOT...LOC 0228Z 271DEG 38KT 3451 8582 

$$

ALC049-300245-
/O.CON.KHUN.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-211230T0245Z/
DeKalb AL-
829 PM CST Wed Dec 29 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM CST FOR
NORTHEASTERN DEKALB COUNTY...
        
At 828 PM CST, a confirmed tornado was located over Rainsville,
moving east at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

SOURCE...Radar 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.

This tornado will be near...
  Fort Payne around 840 PM CST.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Sulpher Springs, Valley Head, Hammondville, Mentone and Desoto State
Park.

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.

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3447 8560 3447 8589 3455 8590 3463 8578
      3471 8572 3480 8557 3453 8551
TIME...MOT...LOC 0228Z 271DEG 38KT 3451 8582 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

25
743 
WWUS54 KHUN 300238
SVSHUN

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
838 PM CST Wed Dec 29 2021

ALC049-300247-
/O.EXP.KHUN.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-211230T0245Z/
DeKalb AL-
838 PM CST Wed Dec 29 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN DEKALB COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
845 PM CST...
                
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 1000 PM CST for northeastern
Alabama.

LAT...LON 3447 8560 3447 8589 3455 8590 3463 8578
      3471 8572 3480 8557 3453 8551
TIME...MOT...LOC 0237Z 252DEG 46KT 3451 8584 

$$

25

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 29, 6:28 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLawrence32 min
Dec 29, 6:36 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNMadison39 min
Dec 29, 6:57 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNMorgan48 min
Dec 29, 7:04 PM CSTRiver Flood WarningHUNJackson, Madison, Marshall6 days
Dec 29, 7:10 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNJackson50 min
Dec 29, 7:35 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNCullman40 min
Dec 29, 7:58 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNMarshall32 min
Dec 29, 8:15 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNDeKalb30 min
Dec 29, 9:53 PM CSTAreal Flood WarningHUNMadison112 min
Dec 30, 2:10 AM CSTAreal Flood WarningHUNMadison6 hr
Dec 30, 5:50 AM CSTRiver Flood WarningHUNMadison16 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.