Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2022

Tornado Warning 50, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 5, 2022Lee County, Macon County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Apr 5, 2022, 11:26 AM CDT for Lee County, Macon County, Alabama. It was in force for 19 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: Apr 5, 2022, 11:26 AM CDT (16:26 UTC)
Expired: Apr 5, 2022, 11:45 AM CDT
In force: 19 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Observed
Hail: 0.75 in

Counties Lee County, AL, Macon County, AL

The radar

The Maxwell AFB radar (KMXX), 41 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:26 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 5, 6:51 AM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 4.4 hours before the alert went out and 113 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 1643 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 146 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 259 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

693 
WFUS54 KBMX 051626
TORBMX
ALC081-087-051715-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0050.220405T1626Z-220405T1715Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1126 AM CDT Tue Apr 5 2022

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northern Lee County in east central Alabama...
  Northeastern Macon County in southeastern Alabama...

* Until 1215 PM CDT.
    
* At 1126 AM CDT, a tornado producing storm was located near
  Notasulga, moving northeast 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.

* Locations impacted include...
  Auburn, Opelika, Tuskegee, Notasulga, Beulah, Beans Mill, Auburn
  University, Loachapoka, Robert G. Pitts Airport, I 85 Rest Area,
  Uphapee Creek, Chewacla State Park and Mount Jefferson.

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 3245 8576 3251 8580 3254 8580 3273 8547
      3273 8543 3274 8543 3274 8541 3273 8540
      3273 8529 3275 8528 3275 8514 3274 8511
      3272 8512 3270 8512 3267 8509 3266 8509
TIME...MOT...LOC 1626Z 241DEG 41KT 3252 8572 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

17/KLAWS

2 follow-up statements

652 
WWUS54 KBMX 051642
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1142 AM CDT Tue Apr 5 2022

ALC087-051652-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0050.000000T0000Z-220405T1715Z/
Macon AL-
1142 AM CDT Tue Apr 5 2022

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN MACON 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 200 PM CDT for east central
Alabama.

LAT...LON 3252 8554 3266 8549 3273 8547 3273 8543
      3274 8543 3274 8541 3273 8540 3273 8529
      3275 8528 3275 8514 3274 8511 3272 8512
      3269 8512 3266 8509
TIME...MOT...LOC 1642Z 251DEG 46KT 3256 8544 

$$

ALC081-051715-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0050.000000T0000Z-220405T1715Z/
Lee AL-
1142 AM CDT Tue Apr 5 2022

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1215 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN LEE COUNTY...
    
At 1142 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Auburn, 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.

Locations impacted include...
Auburn, Opelika, Beulah, Beans Mill, Auburn University, Robert G.
Pitts Airport, Chewacla State Park and Mount Jefferson.

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 3252 8554 3266 8549 3273 8547 3273 8543
      3274 8543 3274 8541 3273 8540 3273 8529
      3275 8528 3275 8514 3274 8511 3272 8512
      3269 8512 3266 8509
TIME...MOT...LOC 1642Z 251DEG 46KT 3256 8544 

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

$$

17/KLAWS

625 
WWUS54 KBMX 051645
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1145 AM CDT Tue Apr 5 2022

ALC081-051655-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0050.000000T0000Z-220405T1715Z/
Lee AL-
1145 AM CDT Tue Apr 5 2022

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN LEE 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 200 PM CDT for east central
Alabama.

LAT...LON 3252 8554 3266 8549 3273 8547 3273 8543
      3274 8543 3274 8541 3273 8540 3273 8529
      3275 8528 3275 8514 3274 8511 3272 8512
      3269 8512 3266 8509
TIME...MOT...LOC 1644Z 241DEG 41KT 3258 8540 

$$

17/KLAWS

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Apr 5, 6:49 AM CDT, 4 hours 37 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 5, 6:49 AM CDT, 4 hours 37 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
649 AM CDT Tue Apr 5 2022

.UPDATE...
For 12Z Aviation.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
/Updated at 0347 AM CDT Tue Apr 05 2022/

Today.

Widespread rain and thunderstorms are expected to spread across
Central AL this morning as a warm front lifts through the region. A
fast-moving complex of thunderstorms will then move eastward through
the area. Damaging winds will be the main concern with these
thunderstorms given the ample forcing and shear. There will likely
be a sharp northward gradient in the severe threat as surface based
instability struggles to lift northward into our area behind the
warm front. Based on current guidance the area with the best chance
for damaging winds and maybe a tornado or two will be generally
along and south of the Hwy 80/I-85 corridor, which is where the high
resolution guidance suggests the surface based instability build in.
A few storms this morning in MS have produced large hail along the
warm front, so I've added mentioned for hail in the hazardous
weather outlook with any storms that lift northward this morning
with the warm front into Central AL.

The complex of storms should push east of our area by the mid-
afternoon, ending the threat for severe weather across Central AL.

Wednesday.

As we go into Wednesday, a strong cold front will approach from the
northwest. Model guidance has been very consistent in showing an
unstable airmass across all of Central AL ahead of the frontal
passage. The main low pressure system itself, along with most of the
upper level dynamics are displaced well to the north, which limits
our mid and upper level forcing along the front. Guidance has also
continued to show a good amount of dry air aloft with this system,
which could limit the amount of deep convection along the front as
it moves in. Additionally, recent high resolution guidance has
trended with more convective development just to our south
associated with a pre-frontal shortwave that moves across the Gulf
Coast, which could limit the low level moisture return for Central
AL. These potential limitations cast a good amount of uncertainty in
the severe threat on Wednesday. If thunderstorms are able to develop
along the front, or ahead of the front in the unstable airmass, they
could become strong to severe with damaging winds and hail as the
main threats. I can't completely rule out the tornado potential, but
the likelihood remains on the lower end. The question will be
what wins out - the shallow moist layer with the cold front or the
dry air aloft.

The front is expected to move out of the area by Wednesday night
around midnight with much cooler and drier air advecting from the
northwest.

25/Owen

.LONG TERM...
/Updated at 0347 AM CDT Tue Apr 05 2022/

Thursday through Monday.

The main system will be exiting the region Thursday morning and
giving way to overall dry weather through the weekend. With that
said an upper low will begin to swing into the region Friday
afternoon and into Saturday. There some hints that some light
rain/drizzle may be around in the northeast Friday and Saturday
afternoon as several shortwaves slide around the upper low. For now
will just go with some increased clouds during the afternoon.
Another concern on Saturday and Sunday mornings will be the
potential frost and possible freeze in the northern third of the
area. The potential frost is looking pretty good, with a low
confidence of a freeze for a few location. Given the April timeframe
now will go ahead and add cold into the HWO for Saturday morning and
may need to add Sunday morning as well in the update tomorrow night.
Moisture returns to the west on Monday and remains in the area
through Tuesday before finally pushing east some by the middle of
next week.

16

&&

.AVIATION...
12Z TAF Discussion.

Widespread rainfall and storms quickly took over the area this
morning. MVFR/IFR conditions will continue for the next 12
hours, with low vis in the heavier storms. Some improvement after
00z, but ceilings remain low.

16

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

A strong storm system will bring widespread showers and storms to
the area today, with locally heavy rainfall. All areas can expect
gusty winds today as a squall line will move rapidly from west to
east, which could produce wind gusts above 50 mph. The threat of
higher winds will be mainly along and south of the Highway 80/I-85
corridor. There will be a lull in the rain Tuesday night. A cold
front will push into north Alabama Wednesday afternoon and trigger
scattered to numerous showers and storms.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Gadsden     72  59  80  45  66 / 100  20  70  60   0
Anniston    72  63  80  48  66 / 100  20  60  70   0
Birmingham  74  63  80  48  67 / 100  20  70  60   0
Tuscaloosa  77  64  82  47  67 / 100  10  70  40   0
Calera      75  65  81  50  67 / 100  20  70  60   0
Auburn      71  65  78  53  68 / 100  40  70  70   0
Montgomery  76  67  82  53  70 / 100  30  60  70   0
Troy        77  66  83  54  71 / 100  40  70  70   0

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES/...
None.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 5, 4:01 AM CDT, 7 hours 25 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
401 AM CDT Tue Apr 5 2022

ALZ011>015-017>050-061215-
Marion-Lamar-Fayette-Winston-Walker-Blount-Etowah-Calhoun-Cherokee-
Cleburne-Pickens-Tuscaloosa-Jefferson-Shelby-St. Clair-Talladega-
Clay-Randolph-Sumter-Greene-Hale-Perry-Bibb-Chilton-Coosa-Tallapoosa-
Chambers-Marengo-Dallas-Autauga-Lowndes-Elmore-Montgomery-Macon-
Bullock-Lee-Russell-Pike-Barbour-
401 AM CDT Tue Apr 5 2022

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the
National Weather Service office in Birmingham.

.DAY ONE...Outlook through Tonight.

Strong to severe storms will be possible today. Damaging winds up to
60 mph and large hail will be the main threat with tornadoes
possible. Localized flash flooding is also possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Strong to severe storms are possible on Wednesday. Damaging winds
and
hail are the main threats, though a tornado or two cannot be ruled
out.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Activation of storm spotters and emergency management may be needed
Today and Wednesday.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 5, 6:04 AM CDT, 5 hours 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
604 AM CDT TUE APR 5 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0512 AM     HAIL             UNIONTOWN               32.45N 87.51W
04/05/2022  E0.75 INCH       PERRY              AL   PUBLIC

            PENNY SIZED HAIL ESTIMATED IN UNIONTOWN.
            TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

&&

Local storm report, Apr 5, 7:31 AM CDT, 3 hours 55 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
731 AM CDT TUE APR 5 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0727 AM     HAIL             1 N TALLAPOOSA WATER PL 32.46N 86.20W
04/05/2022  E1.00 INCH       ELMORE             AL   PUBLIC

&&

JD

Local storm report, Apr 5, 7:40 AM CDT, 3 hours 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
740 AM CDT TUE APR 5 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0732 AM     HAIL             2 S BLUE RIDGE          32.47N 86.19W
04/05/2022  E0.70 INCH       ELMORE             AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

&&

JD

Local storm report, Apr 5, 7:57 AM CDT, 3 hours 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
757 AM CDT TUE APR 5 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0751 AM     HAIL             3 WNW PINTLALA          32.20N 86.42W
04/05/2022  E1.00 INCH       LOWNDES            AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

JD

Local storm report, Apr 5, 8:29 AM CDT, 2 hours 57 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
829 AM CDT TUE APR 5 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0809 AM     HAIL             TROY UNIVERSITY         31.80N 85.96W
04/05/2022  E0.70 INCH       PIKE               AL   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

&&

JD

Local storm report, Apr 5, 8:57 AM CDT, 2 hours 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
857 AM CDT TUE APR 5 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0815 AM     HAIL             1 NW TROY COUNTRY CLUB  31.79N 85.98W
04/05/2022  E1.00 INCH       PIKE               AL   PUBLIC

&&

JD

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 5, 4:35 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marengo	40 min
Apr 5, 4:39 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Dallas	36 min
Apr 5, 4:40 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Dallas	35 min
Apr 5, 4:41 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lowndes	34 min
Apr 5, 5:01 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Hale, Perry	44 min
Apr 5, 5:02 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marengo	58 min
Apr 5, 5:17 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marengo	43 min
Apr 5, 5:58 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	BMX	Dallas	39 min
Apr 5, 7:25 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Elmore, Montgomery, Tallapoosa	40 min
Apr 5, 7:51 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lowndes, Montgomery	39 min
Apr 5, 7:56 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pike	27 min
Apr 5, 9:29 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Bibb, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby	2 hr
Apr 5, 10:10 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Bullock, Lowndes, Montgomery	50 min
Apr 5, 10:50 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Montgomery, Pike	40 min
Apr 5, 10:54 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Elmore	28 min
Apr 5, 10:56 AM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	BMX	Elmore	27 min
Apr 5, 11:12 AM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	BMX	Lee, Tallapoosa	28 min
Apr 5, 11:13 AM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	BMX	Bullock, Montgomery	47 min
Apr 5, 11:21 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Barbour, Bullock, Elmore, Macon, Montgomery, Pike and 1 more	84 min
Apr 5, 11:32 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Chilton, Coosa	3 hr
Apr 5, 11:37 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Bullock, Montgomery, Pike	20 min
Apr 5, 12:37 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Barbour	23 min
Apr 5, 2:21 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Montgomery	7 hr
Apr 5, 2:26 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Elmore, Montgomery	4 days
Apr 5, 5:56 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Barbour	34 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2022 Every tornado warning in 2022 Tornadoes in 2022

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.