Alert archive / Tennessee / Tornado Watches in 2021
Tornado Watch 562
The Storm Prediction Center issued this tornado watch at Dec 11, 2021, 3:41 AM CST for 16 counties in Alabama; 17 counties in Mississippi; 32 counties in Tennessee. It was in force for 6 hr.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Dec 11, 2021, 3:41 AM CST (09:41 UTC)
- Expired
- Dec 11, 2021, 10:08 AM CST
- In force
- 6 hr
- Issued by
- the Storm Prediction Center
- Largest hail expected
- 1.5 in
- Strongest gust expected
- 65 kt
All 65 counties
Colbert County, AL, Cullman County, AL, DeKalb County, AL, Fayette County, AL, Franklin County, AL, Jackson County, AL, Lamar County, AL, Lauderdale County, AL, Lawrence County, AL, Limestone County, AL, Madison County, AL, Marion County, AL, Marshall County, AL, Morgan County, AL, Walker County, AL, Winston County, AL, Calhoun County, MS, Carroll County, MS, Chickasaw County, MS, Choctaw County, MS, Clay County, MS, Grenada County, MS, Itawamba County, MS, Lee County, MS, Leflore County, MS, Lowndes County, MS, Monroe County, MS, Montgomery County, MS, Oktibbeha County, MS, Pontotoc County, MS, Prentiss County, MS, Tishomingo County, MS, Webster County, MS, Bedford County, TN, Bledsoe County, TN, Cannon County, TN, Clay County, TN, Coffee County, TN, Cumberland County, TN, DeKalb County, TN, Fentress County, TN, Franklin County, TN, Giles County, TN, Grundy County, TN, Hamilton County, TN, Jackson County, TN, Lawrence County, TN, Lincoln County, TN, Marion County, TN, Marshall County, TN, Maury County, TN, Moore County, TN, Morgan County, TN, Overton County, TN, Pickett County, TN, Putnam County, TN, Rhea County, TN, Rutherford County, TN, Scott County, TN, Sequatchie County, TN, Smith County, TN, Van Buren County, TN, Warren County, TN, Wayne County, TN, White County, TN
The radar
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 99 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:44 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 SPC expected
The probabilities SPC published with the watch, for the watch area over its life.
- Two or more tornadoes
- 50%
- One or more EF2 to EF5 tornadoes
- 30%
- Ten or more severe wind reports
- 40%
- One or more gusts of 65 knots or more
- 30%
- Ten or more severe hail reports
- 10%
- One or more hailstones of 2 inches or more
- 5%
- Six or more combined severe hail and wind reports
- 70%
Warnings issued inside it
41 tornado, severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings for its counties while it was in force.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 11, 3:46 AM CST | Tornado Warning | OHX | Clay, Macon, Sumner, Trousdale | 44 min |
| Dec 11, 3:48 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Lewis, Perry, Wayne | 42 min |
| Dec 11, 3:50 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Clay, DeKalb, Jackson, Macon, Putnam, Smith and 3 more | 17 min |
| Dec 11, 3:56 AM CST | Tornado Warning | OHX | Lewis, Perry, Wayne | 13 min |
| Dec 11, 3:59 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Lafayette, Lee, Pontotoc, Union | 31 min |
| Dec 11, 4:03 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | MEG | Calhoun, Lafayette, Lee, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tallahatchie and 3 more | 2 hr |
| Dec 11, 4:07 AM CST | Tornado Warning | OHX | Clay, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Smith, Trousdale | 38 min |
| Dec 11, 4:11 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Clay, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett and 4 more | 34 min |
| Dec 11, 4:21 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Itawamba, Lee, Prentiss, Tishomingo | 39 min |
| Dec 11, 4:25 AM CST | Tornado Warning | MEG | Itawamba, Prentiss, Tishomingo | 35 min |
| Dec 11, 4:29 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Colbert, Franklin | 31 min |
| Dec 11, 4:33 AM CST | Tornado Warning | OHX | Clay, Fentress, Overton, Pickett | 42 min |
| Dec 11, 4:40 AM CST | Tornado Warning | HUN | Colbert, Franklin | 22 min |
| Dec 11, 4:57 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MRX | Campbell, Scott | 48 min |
| Dec 11, 4:58 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Itawamba, Lee, Prentiss, Tishomingo | 47 min |
| Dec 11, 4:59 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale | 31 min |
| Dec 11, 5:01 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Giles, Lawrence, Lewis, Marshall, Maury | 29 min |
| Dec 11, 5:12 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Itawamba, Lee, Prentiss, Tishomingo | 33 min |
| Dec 11, 5:21 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Overton, Putnam | 27 min |
| Dec 11, 5:27 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale | 33 min |
| Dec 11, 5:39 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MRX | Campbell, Scott | 51 min |
| Dec 11, 5:39 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Giles, Lawrence, Wayne | 36 min |
| Dec 11, 5:50 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Morgan | 40 min |
| Dec 11, 5:56 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Giles, Lawrence, Marshall, Maury | 34 min |
| Dec 11, 6:12 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Lincoln, Moore | 33 min |
| Dec 11, 6:13 AM CST | Tornado Warning | OHX | Giles | 15 min |
| Dec 11, 6:29 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MRX | Campbell, Scott | 46 min |
| Dec 11, 6:41 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Madison | 34 min |
| Dec 11, 6:43 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | MRX | Scott | 4 hr |
| Dec 11, 6:58 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Bedford, Coffee, Grundy, Warren | 32 min |
| Dec 11, 7:06 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Cullman, Jackson, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan | 24 min |
| Dec 11, 7:15 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Franklin | 30 min |
| Dec 11, 7:22 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Coffee, Grundy | 38 min |
| Dec 11, 7:23 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MRX | Marion, Sequatchie | 52 min |
| Dec 11, 7:23 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MRX | Campbell, Claiborne, Scott | 37 min |
| Dec 11, 7:31 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Cullman, Jackson, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Morgan | 29 min |
| Dec 11, 7:35 AM CST | Tornado Warning | OHX | Grundy | 25 min |
| Dec 11, 7:43 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN | Franklin | 17 min |
| Dec 11, 8:02 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MRX | Bledsoe, Bradley, Hamilton, McMinn, Meigs, Rhea and 1 more | 43 min |
| Dec 11, 8:18 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MRX | Bledsoe, Meigs, Rhea, Roane | 42 min |
| Dec 11, 8:34 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MRX | Bradley, Hamilton, Marion | 41 min |
Discussions around it
SPC mesoscale discussions over the same counties from four hours before the watch to its end.
The nearest sounding before it
Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 168 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
- 906 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -23 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 579 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 48 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 381 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 413 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.9
- Supercell composite
- 10.0
The text
As transmitted.
046
WWUS20 KWNS 110939
SEL2
SPC WW 110939
ALZ000-MSZ000-TNZ000-111700-
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 562
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
340 AM CST Sat Dec 11 2021
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Tornado Watch for portions of
Northern Alabama
North-central and northeastern Mississippi
Middle and eastern Tennessee
* Effective this Saturday morning from 340 AM until 1100 AM CST.
* Primary threats include...
A few tornadoes and a couple intense tornadoes possible
Scattered damaging winds and isolated significant gusts to 75
mph possible
SUMMARY...A belt of strong-severe thunderstorms, with embedded QLCS
mesovortices and bows, as well as isolated supercells in and ahead
of the line, should move through the watch area through the
remainder of the morning. This activity poses a threat for severe
gusts, a few tornadoes, and isolated large hail.
The tornado watch area is approximately along and 45 statute miles
east and west of a line from 50 miles west southwest of Columbus MS
to 165 miles northeast of Huntsville AL. For a complete depiction of
the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS
WOU2).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
REMEMBER...A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
and possible warnings.
&&
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 558...WW 559...WW
560...WW 561...
AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 65 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
storm motion vector 24040.
...EdwardsSPC that day
Everything else SPC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 11, 2:00 AM CST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison and 2 more | 90 min |
| Dec 11, 3:15 AM CST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Marion | 90 min |
| Dec 11, 6:15 AM CST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Cullman, Fayette, Franklin, Jackson, Lamar, Lawrence and 6 more | 90 min |
| Dec 11, 7:34 AM CST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne and 8 more | 86 min |
| Dec 11, 10:47 AM CST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Autauga, Bullock, Butler, Chambers, Clarke, Clay and 15 more | 118 min |
| Dec 10, 6:21 PM CST | Tornado Watch | SPC | Alcorn, Benton, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Pontotoc and 4 more | 10 hr |
| Dec 10, 9:40 PM CST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Alcorn, Benton, Coahoma, DeSoto, Lafayette, Marshall and 8 more | 2 hr |
| Dec 10, 10:00 PM CST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Bolivar, Carroll, Claiborne, Hinds, Holmes, Humphreys and 8 more | 90 min |
| Dec 10, 10:09 PM CST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Benton, Bolivar, Calhoun, Carroll, Coahoma, DeSoto and 14 more | 96 min |
| Dec 10, 10:44 PM CST | Tornado Watch | SPC | Alcorn, Benton, Bolivar, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Coahoma and 21 more | 6 hr |
| Dec 10, 6:22 PM CST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Haywood, Lake, Lauderdale and 3 more | 53 min |
| Dec 10, 7:41 PM CST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Dyer, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Obion, Weakley | 64 min |
| Dec 10, 8:35 PM CST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Montgomery | 85 min |
| Dec 10, 11:36 PM CST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Cheatham, Dickson, Henry, Houston, Montgomery, Robertson and 2 more | 54 min |
| Dec 11, 2:51 AM CST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Cheatham, Davidson, Rutherford, Williamson, Wilson | 84 min |
| Dec 11, 5:32 AM CST | Mesoscale Discussion | SPC | Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Fentress, Morgan, Pickett and 2 more | 88 min |
Nearby
Tornado Watches in Tennessee, 2021Tornado Watches in Mississippi, 2021Tornado Watches in Alabama, 2021Every tornado watch 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.