Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Special Weather Statement - NWS Huntsville


SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
HUNTSVILLE AL
100 PM CDT WED APR 29 2009
COLBERT-FRANKLIN-
100 PM CDT WED APR 29 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR COLBERT AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL145 PM CDT...AT 100 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKINGA STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR BELGREEN...OR 8 MILES WEST OFRUSSELLVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.ONE HALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL...WINDS UP TO 30 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TOGROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... RUSSELLVILLE. CROOKED OAK. POSEY LOOP. NEW BETHEL.STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCALTELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGSCONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.
...

Scattered Showers


UAH Armor Doppler Radar
North Alabama is seeing some scattered light showers this morning. These will continue on and off today, tonight, and tomorrow. Our high will be in the low 80's today.
...

Monday, April 27, 2009

Quiet

The weather has been quiet lately in Alabama and so have I also been quiet on this blog. I think I speak for most weather geeks in Alabama when I say that the dry and warm weather that we have experienced in recent days has been most welcome. It seemed like we had some kind of severe weather threat every three days between mid February and mid April. I exaggerate slightly, but it has been an active spring and I am certainly enjoying a break.

Even though this spring has been active in Alabama, I can only think of one tornado rated higher than EF2, which was the Marshall-Dekalb EF3. Perhaps the best tornado photo ever made in Alabama was made of this one as it was actually a waterspout, crossing the Tennessee River at Lake Guntersville. Most of the events this spring have caused few, if any injuries. Sadly, there were two tornado related fatalities associated with the April 19 outbreak. There were 17 tornadoes in Alabama that day which were confirmed byNWS surveys. One of my best friends, who lives in Wren, south of Moulton, was in the path of the EF1 that went through Lawrence County.

Even as recently as April 23, there were some powerful storms that developed over extreme NE Alabama that produced large hail in Georgia. Andy Kula, meteorologist with the NWS Huntsville, took this picture of the top one of those storms from the roof of the Huntsville NWS Office, looking east.

Severe weather season is certainly not over and I anticipate that we will have more to talk about in the coming weeks. Yesterday was a "High Risk" day in parts Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. There were tornadoes out there each of the past two days and there were some really good videos made by chasers, but at first glance it doesn't appear that the high risk was warranted.

Stay tuned. In the mean time, I am getting away from the computer and riding to Atlanta tonight to take in the Braves/Cardinals games with two of my best friends since school days. I won't divulge how many years I have known them.

...

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Closer Look at Lawrence County Tornadoes 4/19/09

My map showing approximate paths of April 19, 2009 Lawrence County, Alabama tornadoes.


Screen capture from WAAY 31 TV's coverage at 6:02 PM CDT on 4/19/09. This shows the approximate location of the first tornado (EF0). At approximately 6:12, meteorologist Gary Dobbs of WAAY called the station from his home in Mount Hope, reporting a wall cloud to his south. He also relayed scanner reports of power lines down on CR 22 and a tree on a car on CR 25.


Screen capture from WAAY 31 TV's coverage at 6:17 PM CDT on 4/19/09. This shows the approximate location of the second tornado (EF1).


Screen capture from WAAY 31 TV's coverage at 6:18 PM CDT on 4/19/09. This shows the approximate location of the second tornado (EF1) on the velocity display.


Screen capture from WAAY 31 TV's coverage at 6:23 PM CDT on 4/19/09. This shows the approximate location of the second tornado (EF1).


Screen capture from WAAY 31 TV's coverage at 6:24 PM CDT on 4/19/09. This shows the approximate location of the second tornado (EF1) on the velocity display near the end of it's path.

Around 6:33 WAAY reported that the Lawrence Countnd EMA reported large trees being down, power out, and a tree on a home near Wren. Later I relayed a report from my friend who lives on Highway 33 of numerous trees snapped and uprooted. He also mentioned a tree down on his mother's home and a neighbor's home.

WAAY Live Coverage of this event.....




...

More from April 10 Storms

Very good summary of the last few events by Daniel Lamb on the NSSTC Blog.

Tornado photo

Tornado photo

Tornado video

Photos - Dale Bader, WAAY 31 Huntsville

Penny's Purse blog with numerous photos.

...

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

2 Tornadoes in Lawrence (EF0 & EF1), 2 in Morgan (Both EF0)

Storm came in a hurry Franklin, Lawrence counties assess damage in aftermath
Storms down power lines, trees
* SUMMARY: A TORNADIC SUPERCELL TRACKED ACROSS CENTRAL LAWRENCE
AND WEST CENTRAL MORGAN COUNTIES IN NORTHERN ALABAMA BETWEEN THE
HOURS OF 6 AND 7 PM CDT...SUNDAY APRIL 19TH 2009. BASED ON
DAMAGE THAT WAS SURVEYED...MUCH OF THE DAMAGE RESULTED FROM
STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS. HOWEVER...THERE WERE FOUR AREAS BETWEEN
MOUNT HOPE /IN LAWRENCE COUNTY/ AND PRICEVILLE /IN MORGAN
COUNTY/ THAT SUPPORTED BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWNS. THE FOLLOWING
IS A BREAKDOWN OF EACH SPECIFIC TORNADO TOUCHDOWN:

TOUCHDOWN #1 (LAWRENCE COUNTY): SOUTH OF MOUNT HOPE...BETWEEN
COUNTY ROADS 25 AND 23. SEVERAL TREES WERE EITHER SNAPPED OR
UPROOTED AND TWO HOMES SUSTAINED MINOR ROOF DAMAGE TO AROUND
20 PERCENT OF THE ROOF.

PRELIMINARY RATING: EF-0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 80 MPH
PATH LENGTH: 3/4 MILE
MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH: 75 FEET

TOUCHDOWN #2 (LAWRENCE COUNTY): COUNTY ROADS 99 AND 100...JUST
WEST OF WREN TO HIGHWAY 157...JUST SOUTHEAST OF MOULTON. A CONCRETE
INDUSTRIAL FACILITY SUSTAINED COMPLETE ROOF LOSS AND SIGNIFICANT
DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURE...INCLUDING TWO LARGE WOOD POLES SECURELY
FASTENED TO THE GROUND WERE SNAPPED.

PRELIMINARY RATING: EF-1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 100 MPH
PATH LENGTH: 4.5 MILES
MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH: 200 FEET

TOUCHDOWN #3 (MORGAN COUNTY): DAMAGE OCCURRED NORTH OF IRON MAN
ROAD BETWEEN PUNKIN CENTER AND NEEL. SEVERAL TREES WERE UPROOTED
WITH ONE FALLING ON A MOBILE HOME AT THE PLEASANT VALLEY TRAILER
PARK OFF OF BLANKENSHIP ROAD. SEVERAL PINES WERE SNAPPED ALONG
ROBERTS ROAD...JUST EAST OF BLANKENSHIP ROAD. NUMEROUS TREES WERE
UPROOTED ALONG HAZEL STREET.

PRELIMINARY RATING: EF-0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 85 MPH
PATH LENGTH: 2.2 MILES
MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH: 150 FEET

TOUCHDOWN #4 (MORGAN COUNTY): DAMAGE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES
SOUTH OF PRICEVILLE...BETWEEN SHOAL CREEK ROAD AND NATURAL BRIDGE ROAD.
NUMEROUS LARGE PINES WERE UPROOTED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF SHOAL CREEK
ROAD AND SPRING VALLEY ROAD. SPORADIC TREE AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO A
SHED OCCURRED ALONG NATURAL BRIDGE ROAD...JUST NORTH OF TALL PINE ROAD.

PRELIMINARY RATING: EF-0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 85 MPH
PATH LENGTH: 3/4 MILE
MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH: 150 FEET

THESE FINDINGS ARE PRELIMINARY AND ARE SUBJECT TO ADJUSTMENT. PICTURES
AND SUMMARY MATERIALS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB PAGE AT
WEATHER.GOV/HUNTSVILLE /ALL LOWER CASE/.

SURVEYED BY: COYNE/NADLER

$$

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

April 19, 2009 Alabama Tornado Outbreak

17 tornadoes have been confirmed by the National Weather Service.

EF-0 Tornado near Gibson in Montgomery County

EF-1 Tornado near Pine Level in Montgomery County

EF-0 Tornado near Shopton in Bullock County

EF-1 Tornado near Ashville in St. Clair County

EF-1 Tornado near Marion in Perry County

EF-2 Tornado in Phenix City in Russell County

EF-2 Tornado near Highland Lake in Blount/St. Clair Counties

EF-0 Tornado near Whitsitt in Hale County

EF-1 Tornado along the Big Prairie Creek in Perry County

EF-0 Tornado in Alabaster in Shelby County

EF-0 Tornado near Mount Hope in Lawrence County

EF-0 Tornado in Wren in Lawrence County

EF-0 Tornado in Punkin Center/Neel in Morgan County

EF-1 Tornado in Priceville in Morgan County

EF-0 Tornado in Guest in Dekalb County

EF-1 Tornado in Asbury in Marshall County

EF-1 Tornado in Hammondville in Dekalb County

...

National Weather Service Huntsville Storm Reports Map/Summary

National Weather Service Birmingham Storm Reports Map/Summary

...

EF0 Tornado Confirmed in Alabaster in Shelby County


This picture shows a storm near the Shelby Baptist Medical Center in Alabaster. Photo used with written permission of the Shelby County Reporter.
Weather service confirms tornado - Shelby County Reporter - With photo
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1120 AM CDT MON APR 20 2009

...SHORT TORNADO TRACK FOUND IN SHELBY COUNTY...

...ALABASTER TORNADO...

EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-0 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 60-70 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 33.239/86.816
EVENT END LOCATION: 33.259/86.795
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 1.82 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 50 YARDS

$$

SUMRALL




...

Dekalb EF0 Confirmed

Sunday storm does sporadic damage in DeKalb
One dead in storm
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
736 PM CDT MON APR 20 2009

...PRELIMINARY STORM SURVEY INFORMATION FROM DEKALB COUNTY...

A PRELIMINARY STORM SURVEY OF THE DAMAGE INCURRED ACROSS DEKALB
COUNTY HAS BEEN COMPLETED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PERSONNEL.
INITIAL FINDINGS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

* EVENT TYPE: TORNADO
* EVENT DATE: 04/19/09

* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 85.0 MPH
* PRELIMINARY RATING: EF-0

* PATH LENGTH: 1.1 MILES
* MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH: 50.0 YARDS

* SUMMARY: A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN BRIEFLY IN THE GUEST COMMUNITY
ALONG COUNTY ROAD 50. SEVERAL SOFTWOOD TREES WERE UPROOTED AND A
SMALL BARN WAS DESTROYED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE
TORNADO CONTINUED TO MOVE NORTHEAST ALONG COUNTY ROAD 44 WITH
SPORADIC TREE DAMAGE BEFORE LIFTING.

THESE FINDINGS ARE PRELIMINARY AND ARE SUBJECT TO ADJUSTMENT.
PICTURES AND SUMMARY MATERIALS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB
PAGE AT WEATHER.GOV/HUNTSVILLE /ALL LOWER CASE/.

SURVEYED BY: DARDEN/LAMB

$$

Marshall County EF1 Confirmed

2 killed as strong storms wreak damage across Tennessee Valley
2 in North Alabama die in Sunday night storms
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
834 PM CDT MON APR 20 2009

...PRELIMINARY STORM SURVEY INFORMATION FROM MARSHALL COUNTY...

A PRELIMINARY STORM SURVEY OF THE DAMAGE INCURRED ACROSS MARSHALL
COUNTY HAS BEEN COMPLETED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND LOCAL
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL. INITIAL FINDINGS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

* EVENT TYPE: TORNADO
* EVENT DATE: 04/19/09

* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 110.0 MPH
* PRELIMINARY RATING: EF-1

* PATH LENGTH: 3 MILES
* MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH: 75 YARDS

* FATALITIES: 1
* INJURIES: 1
* SUMMARY: A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST SOUTH OF GIN ROAD IN THE
ASBURY COMMUNITY. A MOBILE HOME WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED WITH
THE CONTENTS BLOWN 40 YARDS AND THE FRAME BLOWN 60 YARDS. ONE
OCCUPANT SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES WITH ANOTHER SUFFERING LIFE
THREATENING INJURIES. THE TORNADO TRACKED NORTHEAST DESTROYING
ONE LARGE CHICKEN HOUSE AND DAMAGING SEVERAL OTHERS. MANY
CHICKENS WERE KILLED AND TWO COWS WERE KILLED BY FLYING DEBRIS.
SEVERAL BARNS AND OUTBUILDINGS SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
THE TORNADO WEAKENED AS IT CONTINUED TO MOVE NORTHEAST TOWARD
ASBURY ROAD WITH MINOR TREE DAMAGE BEFORE IT FINALLY LIFTED NEAR
OLD BETHEL ROAD.

THESE FINDINGS ARE PRELIMINARY AND ARE SUBJECT TO ADJUSTMENT.
PICTURES AND SUMMARY MATERIALS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB
PAGE AT WEATHER.GOV/HUNTSVILLE /ALL LOWER CASE/.

SURVEYED BY: DARDEN/LAMB

$$

EF2 Confirmed in Russell County, AL

Tornado pummels area
Stories from the storm: Tornado spotted near Lakebottom
Tornado winds estimated at 120-130 mph in Phenix City, 105 mph in Columbus
Bi-City Tornado - Kurt's Weather Blog WTVM

EF-2 Tornado confirmed in Phenix City/Columbus

EF-2 tornado damages bowling alley, downs trees, blows out windows


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
330 PM CDT MON APR 20 2009

...TORNADO DAMAGE IN RUSSELL COUNTY CROSSING INTO GEORGIA...

...COLUMBUS TORNADO...

EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-2 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 115 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 32.4594N/85.0231W (RUSSELL COUNTY EXTENDING
INTO GEORGIA)
EVENT END LOCATION: 32.47445N/85.9564W
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 4 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 250 YARDS

FIVE BUSINESSES SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. SEVEN HOMES WITH MINOR TO
MAJOR DAMAGE MOSTLY TO ROOFS. BETWEEN ONE HUNDRED AND TWO HUNDRED
TREES SNAPPED AND UPROOTED.

...

Montgomery EF0 and EF1, Bullock EF0 Confirmed

Scattered Sunday storms prompt several warnings
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...CORRECTED FOR ASHVILLE END POINT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
655 PM CDT MON APR 20 2009

...SECOND TORNADO TRACK FOUND IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY...

...GIBSON TORNADO...

EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-0 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 70-80 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 32.0881N/86.1864W (MONTGOMERY COUNTY)
EVENT END LOCATION: 32.0883N/86.1838W
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 0.15 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 150 YARDS

EIGHT TO TEN TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. METAL ROOFING BLOWN OFF OF
A BARN AND MINOR SHINGLE DAMAGED SUSTAINED TO A HOME.

...TROY HIGHWAY TORNADO...

EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-1 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 100 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 32.11364N/86.06927W (MONTGOMERY COUNTY)
EVENT END LOCATION: 32.11467N/86.06593W
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 0.20 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 50 YARDS

THREE HORSE TRAILERS TOSSED BETWEEN 50 AND 100 FEET DESTROYING ONE.
ONE TRAILER WAS REPORTED TO WEIGH 10,000 POUNDS AND WAS BLOWN 50
FEET.

...SHOPTON TORNADO...

EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-0 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 60-70 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 32.1617N/85.93519W (BULLOCK COUNTY)
EVENT END LOCATION: 32.16213N/85.93346W
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 0.10 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 50 YARDS

NUMEROUS TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED.

Second Dekalb County EF1 Confirmed

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
746 PM CDT MON APR 20 2009

...PRELIMINARY STORM SURVEY INFORMATION FROM DEKALB COUNTY...

A PRELIMINARY STORM SURVEY OF THE DAMAGE INCURRED ACROSS DEKALB
COUNTY HAS BEEN COMPLETED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PERSONNEL.
INITIAL FINDINGS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

* EVENT TYPE: TORNADO
* EVENT DATE: 04/19/09

* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 100.0 MPH
* PRELIMINARY RATING: EF-1

* PATH LENGTH: 5.3 MILES
* MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH: 150.0 YARDS

* SUMMARY: A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN ALONG COUNTY ROAD 121 IN
HAMMONDVILLE. LARGE TREES WERE UPROOTED AND A FEW SMALL TREES
WERE SNAPPED. MINOR ROOF AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WAS NOTED TO A
FEW BUILDINGS. THE TORNADO TRACKED NORTHEAST WITH ADDITIONAL
TREE DAMAGE ALONG ROUTE 885. AN INTERESTING NOTE IS THAT A TREE
FELL ON A HOME ALONG ROUTE 885 THAT WAS ALSO IMPACTED BY A
TORNADO ON MARCH 28TH OF THIS YEAR. THE SURVEY TEAM FOUND THAT
THE TORNADO LIFTED AND TOUCHED BACK DOWN PERIODICALLY ACROSS
NORTHEAST DEKALB COUNTY WITH SPORADIC PATCHES OF TREE DAMAGE
BEFORE FINALLY LIFTING NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 117 AND
LOWERY ROAD.

THESE FINDINGS ARE PRELIMINARY AND ARE SUBJECT TO ADJUSTMENT.
PICTURES AND SUMMARY MATERIALS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB
PAGE AT WEATHER.GOV/HUNTSVILLE /ALL LOWER CASE/.

SURVEYED BY: DARDEN/LAMB

$$

Second St. Clair Tornado Rated EF1

Severe weather strikes again

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
440 PM CDT MON APR 20 2009

...TORNADO DAMAGE FOUND IN ST CLAIR COUNTY...

...ASHVILLE TORNADO...

EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-1 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 100 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 33.8643N/86.21.99W (ST CLAIR COUNTY)
EVENT END LOCATION: 33.8805N/87.1728W
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 2.92 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 75 YARDS

AROUND 50 TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED.

Second Perry County Tornado Confirmed EF1

Sunday Tornadoes Confirmed
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
410 PM CDT MON APR 20 2009

...SECOND TORNADO FOUND IN PERRY COUNTY...

...MARION TORNADO...

EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-1 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 90-100 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 32.6740N/87.3138W (PERRY COUNTY)
EVENT END LOCATION: 32.6767N/87.2931W
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 1.25 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 100 YARDS

AROUND 100 TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED AND ONE HOME SUSTAINED MINOR
SHINGLE DAMAGE.

EF2 Confirmed: Blount/St. Clair Counties

Update: Power expected to be restored to all Alabama Power customers tonight
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
215 PM CDT MON APR 20 2009

...TORNADO DAMAGE FOUND IN BLOUNT AND ST CLAIR COUNTIES...

...HIGHLAND LAKE TORNADO...

EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-2 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 122 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 33.8605N/86.442W (BLOUNT/ST CLAIR COUNTIES)
EVENT END LOCATION: 33.8977N/86.3376W
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 6.53 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 300 YARDS

EIGHTEEN STRUCTURES DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. FOUR STRUCTURES COMPLETELY
DESTROYED. SEVEN CHICKEN HOUSES DESTROYED DISPLACING 95,000
CHICKENS.


Tornadoes Confirmed: Hale (EF0) & Perry Co. (EF1), AL

Tornado touches down in Hale County; no injuries

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
145 PM CDT MON APR 20 2009

...TORNADO DAMAGE FOUND IN HALE AND PERRY COUNTIES...

...WHITSITT TORNADO...

EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-0 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 60-70 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 32.6261N/87.5949W
EVENT END LOCATION: 33.6486N/87.5401W
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 3.55 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 25 YARDS

DAMAGE WAS PRIMARILY TO SOFTWOOD TREES. BETWEEN 40 AND 50 SNAPPED.
AN OUTBUILDING AND A BARN ALSO SUSTAINED DAMAGE.

...BIG PRAIRIE CREEK TORNADO...

EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
EVENT TYPE: EF-1 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 90 MPH
EVENT START LOCATION: 32.6442N/87.4923W
EVENT END LOCATION: 32.6492N/87.4278W
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 3.77 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 50 YARDS

DAMAGE WAS PRIMARILY TO SOFTWOOD TREES. BETWEEN 50 AND 100 AND
UPROOTED. ONE HOME SUSTAINED SHINGLE DAMAGE.

12/SIRMON

Monday, April 20, 2009

Morgan County, AL Storm


Tennessee River

Preliminary storm reports from NWS Huntsville

Preliminary storm reports from NWS Birmingham

On 4/19/09 a tornado-warned thunderstorm moved across Morgan County, Alabama. I was located at Lacey's Spring at the intersection of highways 231 and 36. This storm produced hail and damage all the way across northern Mississippi, northern Alabama, and into Georgia. There were reports of hail as large as baseballs in downtown Red Bay in Franklin County and tree and structural damage south of Moulton in Lawrence County. There were two fatalities: One was just to my west in Priceville in Morgan County and one was just to my east in Asbury in Marshall County.

Part 1



Part 2



...

Marshall County Tornado Rated EF1.....More to come

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
356 PM CDT MON APR 20 2009

...INITIAL SURVEY INFORMATION FROM MARSHALL COUNTY...
...SURVEY INFORMATION FOR MORGAN AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES NOT YET
AVAILABLE...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM SURVEY TEAMS ARE STILL OUT IN THE
FIELD INVESTIGATING THE STORM DAMAGE THAT OCCURRED ON SUNDAY
NIGHT...APRIL 19.

AS OF 4 PM...THE ONLY INFORMATION AVAILABLE IS SOME PRELIMINARY
DATA FOR THE STORM THAT HIT EASTERN MARSHALL COUNTY NEAR THE
MARTLING AND ASBURY COMMUNITIES. THIS STORM IS INITIALLY RATED AS
AN EF-1 WITH WINDS OF 110 MPH AND A PEAK PATH WIDTH OF 75 YARDS. A
PATH LENGTH IS NOT YET AVAILABLE.

SURVEY INFORMATION IS NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR THE STORMS THAT
IMPACTED THE MOUNT HOPE COMMUNITY IN WESTERN LAWRENCE COUNTY...AND
THE PRICEVILLE AREA IN MORGAN COUNTY.

SURVEY TEAMS ARE EXPECTED TO RETURN THIS EVENING...AND FURTHER
DETAILED PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED WHEN THEY
RETURN. THESE STATEMENTS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE AT
WEATHER.GOV/HUNTSVILLE...WITH ADDITIONAL MAPS AND PHOTOGRAPHS TO
FOLLOW.

$$


BCC

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Tornado Warning - Birmingham Metro Area

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED 
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
504 PM CDT SUN APR 19 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTH CENTRAL BIBB COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
SOUTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
WEST CENTRAL SHELBY COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
EAST CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 545 PM CDT

* AT 503 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR COALING...
OR 12 MILES SOUTHEAST OF HOLT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BROOKWOOD BY 510 PM CDT...
BEVILLE LOCK AND DAM BY 515 PM CDT...
VANCE BY 520 PM CDT...
WOODSTOCK JUNCTION...WEST BLOCTON AND 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ABERNANT
BY 530 PM CDT...
LAKE VIEW BY 540 PM CDT...
TANNEHILL IRONWORKS STATE PARK BY 545 PM CDT...

THIS INCLUDES
AND INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 158 THROUGH 191.

Thunderstorm Watch - North Alabama


   URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 174
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
430 PM CDT SUN APR 19 2009

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

PARTS OF NORTHERN ALABAMA
SOUTHERN PORTION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE

EFFECTIVE THIS SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 430 PM UNTIL
1000 PM CDT.

HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70
MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 50
STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 35 MILES NORTHWEST
OF MUSCLE SHOALS ALABAMA TO 70 MILES EAST NORTHEAST OF HUNTSVILLE
ALABAMA. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE
ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU4).

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR 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. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY
DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 171...WW 172...WW 173...

DISCUSSION...STRONG/SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED NRN MS AHEAD
OF UPPER TROUGH. WITH 50KT OF DEEP LAYER SHEAR AND 7C/KM LAPSE
RATES...SUFFICIENT INSTABILITY TO SUPPORT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
CONTINUING E/NE ACROSS THE WATCH AREA THIS EVENING. PRIMARY THREAT
WILL BE LOCAL DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.

AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT
TO 2 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60
KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 450. MEAN STORM
MOTION VECTOR 24035.


...HALES

Tornado Watch Extended Northward

Tornado Warning - Fayette County



BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
241 PM CDT SUN APR 19 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
SOUTHERN FAYETTE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF FAYETTE...

* UNTIL 330 PM CDT

* AT 241 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR BELK...OR 6
MILES SOUTHWEST OF FAYETTE...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
FAYETTE BY 250 PM CDT...
BANKSTON BY 315 PM CDT...
BERRY BY 320 PM CDT...

Tornado Watch - Mississippi-Alabama


   URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 173
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
220 PM CDT SUN APR 19 2009

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

WESTERN ALABAMA
SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI

EFFECTIVE THIS SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 220 PM UNTIL 900
PM CDT.

TORNADOES...HAIL TO 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND
GUSTS TO 70 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.

THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 55 STATUTE
MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 25 MILES NORTHEAST OF
TUSCALOOSA ALABAMA TO 15 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF GULFPORT
MISSISSIPPI. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE
ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU3).

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 171...WW 172...

DISCUSSION...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN SLOWLY INCREASING
OVER SOUTHEAST MS...AHEAD OF PRE-FRONTAL CONVERGENCE AXIS. VERTICAL
SHEAR REMAINS VERY STRONG IN THIS REGION WITH LOCAL VAD PROFILES
SUGGESTING 300-400 M2/S2 EFFECTIVE HELICITY. A NARROW AXIS OF
INSTABILITY ALONG AND EAST OF TROUGH MAY ALLOW ISOLATED CELLS TO
INTENSIFY AND BECOME SUPERCELLULAR THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.
ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE...ALONG WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND
HAIL.

AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL
SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 1.5 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE
WIND GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO
450. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 24035.


...HART

Stormy Sunday Afternoon/Evening


1:50 p.m. Columbus Nexrad

A wet and stormy afternoon is beginning across North Alabama. Watches have been issued to the west. A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for northern Mississippi and western Tennessee. Storms are lining up. A watch may soon be issued for westeren Alabama. I will be watching things closely on radar. There is a chance I will get out and do some storm spotting, but it is unlikely I will drive far from home.

A tornado warning is in effect for Washington County in southwestern Alabama.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Mini chase with the boys.....

Monday 4/13/09 was a weird weather day. A gravity wave/wake low moved through Alabama during the overnight hours on Sunday night/Monday morning, blowing down countless thousands of trees. In Central Alabama, Alabama Power indicated that 150,000 customers were without power. I hope to post more about that event soon. Then a "freak" tornado warning was issued during the after noon hours (see previous post), and finally another batch of storms moved through during the evening.

Before sunset, I took the boys on a "mini-chase" of one of those storms that was marginally severe and relatively close to home. I was hoping we would get to see a little hail, but it fell apart as it approached. My son David uploaded the following video. I may later post some radar captures he made showing how the storm literally fell apart as it approached.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

The Best Alabama Tornado Photo!

This one, posted by Dan Satterfield, and taken by one of his viewers, is certainly the best capture of all time. At least in Alabama where tornado photos are still quite rare.

....

Monday, April 13, 2009

Today's tornado warning......

We were under a tornado watch but conditions were not really very favorable for tornadoes. The boys and I were playing ball at the park close to home. Here is a time lapse of the storm responsible for the warning. I did see a wall cloud photo so the storm was dangerous in NW Madison and NE Limestone.

EF3 Tornado - Marshall, Jackson, Dekalb

An EF-3 Tornado was confirmed by the National Weather Service in Huntsville for Marshall, Jackson and Dekalb counties on Good Friday April 10, 2009, from 3:05 until 3:40 p.m. The tornado was on the ground for 28 miles and it was one-half mile wide at its widest point.

The National Weather Service Huntsville storm survey can be found here.

I traveled though the Grant and Waterfront communities yesterday and took some pictures of the damage. I will post those later. It is amazing how the tornado traveled down the side of the mountain and really seemed to intensify when it approached the Lake Guntersville.

Following are three videos with the excellent real time coverage provided by WHNT Chief Meteorologist Dan Satterfield, Spencer Denton, and news staff. These videos concenttrate on this particular storm, before the warnings were issued, before the tornado touched down, while the tornado was on the ground, and eyewitness reports as it was ending, including an impressive viewer photo of the tornado. Dan did an excellent job on this storm (as did the NWS Huntsville) and anyone who wanted to be warned certainly had access to excellent weather coverage. Fortunately no deaths were reported.

4/10/09 Marshall-Jackson-Dekalb AL Tornado WHNT Part 1



4/10/09 Marshall-Jackson-Dekalb AL Tornado WHNT Part 2



4/10/09 Marshall-Jackson-Dekalb AL Tornado WHNT Part 3

Tornado strikes down at South Sauty Campground








Tornado Watch, North Alabama


   SEL1

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 151
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
100 PM CDT MON APR 13 2009

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

NORTHERN ALABAMA
SOUTHERN INDIANA
CENTRAL KENTUCKY
MIDDLE TENNESSEE

EFFECTIVE THIS MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 100 PM UNTIL 800
PM CDT.

TORNADOES...HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND
GUSTS TO 70 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.

THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 70 STATUTE
MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
HUNTSVILLE ALABAMA TO 20 MILES NORTHWEST OF LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY.
FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH
OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU1).

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 149...WW 150...

DISCUSSION...BROKEN LINES OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE
DEVELOPING/INTENSIFYING ACROSS WW THIS AFTERNOON AHEAD OF SURFACE
COLD FRONT AND STRONG UPPER LOW. SHEAR REMAINS SUFFICIENT FOR
SUPERCELLS...AND ISOLATED TORNADO THREAT WITH MORE DISCRETE STORMS.
OTHERWISE...LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED DAMAGING WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY
MORE INTENSE CORES THROUGH THE EVENING.

AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL
SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 2 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE
WIND GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO
400. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 20025.


...EVANS

Tornado Watch Soon


   MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0466
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1209 PM CDT MON APR 13 2009

AREAS AFFECTED...FAR NERN MS/NWRN AL...MIDDLE TN...CNTRL KY

CONCERNING...SEVERE POTENTIAL...WATCH POSSIBLE

VALID 131709Z - 131815Z

FORCED CONVECTION WILL LIKELY DEVELOP OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS...WITH
A SUBSEQUENT INCREASE IN SEVERE POTENTIAL AS WELL. LARGE HAIL/DMGG
WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE THE PRIMARY THREATS...ALTHOUGH ISOLD
TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE AS WELL. AREA IS BEING MONITORED FOR A
POSSIBLE WW.

A DRY SLOT AHEAD OF AN UPPER LOW...LOCATED ROUGHLY OVER THE KS/MO
BORDERS...HAS AIDED IN AMPLE SURFACE HEATING...WITH GENERALLY 60S
NOTED ACROSS A BROAD AREA...AND TEMPERATURES IN THE LOWER 70S IN
WRN/MIDDLE TN AND CNTRL KY. THIS IS MUCH WARMER THAN MOST MODEL
FORECASTS...GIVING A DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE THAT INSTABILITY WILL BE
GREATER THAN FORECAST AS WELL. ALTHOUGH A CU FIELD HAS
DEVELOPED...THERE IS STILL A WEAK AMOUNT OF CIN TO BE OVERCOME. AS
MOISTENING OCCURS IN DEEP SLY/SSWLY FLOW AND HEATING
CONTINUES...EXPECT THE CAP TO WEAKEN OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS. A WEAK
SHORT WAVE AHEAD OF THE MAIN UPPER LOW...NOTED IN NERN AR...WILL AID
IN ASCENT...WITH FORCED CONVECTION MOST LIKELY INITIATING ALONG A
COLD FRONT NOW MOVING INTO WRN KY/TN. MAINLY UNIDIRECTIONAL PROFILES
AND STRONG DEEP LAYER SPEED SHEAR WILL SUPPORT DMGG WINDS AND LARGE
HAIL...ALTHOUGH ISOLD TORNADOES MAY BE POSSIBLE.

..HURLBUT.. 04/13/2009

Sunday, April 12, 2009

4/10/09 - Lawrence County Alabama Wall Cloud Videos

4/10/09 WHNT Coverage - Lawrence County Severe Storm



4/10/09 - Wall Cloud Time Lapse - Lawrence Co., AL



4/10/09 Lawrence County Wall Cloud Hail Chase - Part 1



4/10/09 Lawrence County Wall Cloud Hail Chase - Part 2



Lawrence County Wall Cloud April 10, 2009, by John Brown:

Colbert County Wall Cloud Coverage

On 4/10/09 between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. I spotted a wall cloud in Colbert County, Alabama.



WHNT 19 severe weather coverage by Dan Satterfield and Spencer Denton of a supercell in Colbert County, Alabama on Good Friday, 4/10/09.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Cullman County Storm Video

On April 10, 2009 around 3 p.m., a severe-warned storm moved across northern Cullman County. It did not actually develop into a rotating storm while it was in Cullman County but you can see the beginnings of a potential future wall cloud developing in this video. This storm did produce large hail north of Vinemont and became much stronger as it moved to the east of Cullman County.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Preliminary story on today's chase....



I did a lot of of storm chasing in Alabama today. I aw two wall clouds, hail, and severe thunderstorm. I was with John Brown who was streaming from Blount County.

Here is an intial summary in reverse chronological order.

pine tree uprooted on highway 160 in Hayden from the storm that came through at 4:55

Tree also blew down at the Hayden Post Office at 4:55 as the severe thunderstorm rolled through.

pea sized hail and high winds just blew through the hayden po also down spout from gutter blew off post office building #alwx at 455pm

John Brown and I are going to the Hwy 160 exit to follow the storm that is moving out of Walker County 4:45

3:45 John are at the guy hunt rest stop in good hope --- no sign of any wall cloud but a big ct g strike east of good hope...

John is streaming a possible wall cloud nw of cullman from 157/65

john brown and i are at 157 in cullman on 165 at 3 pm

Trees down on lines on hw 67, east of wheeler wildlife refuge, tree down at dairy queen in e decatur on 67

Trees down on lines on hw 67, east of wheeler wildlife refuge, tree down at dairy queen in e decatur on 67

hail as lg as as golfballs w of trinity on hwy 24 bn 2 and 215

2:05 hail on hwy 24 e of moulton

at town creek on hwy 157 at 125pm 73, light rain, gusty south winds

large wall cloud---classic--- moving w and nw of leighton in the past few mins at 1:13

12:31 in Town Creek in Lawrence Co on AL HWY 20, at intersection of Hwy 101, south of TVA Wheeler Dam. 75, mostly cloudy.

Mostly Cloudy (dark skies) and 75F ne of Moulton at 12:16. #alwx

Made a quick stop at Whiits BBQ in Decatur....Now headed to Moulton.....77 on the car thermometer and mostly sunny at 11:50.

If you live in N AL your wx radio should have alerted you at 11:22 of a TORNADO WATCH until 7pm. Stay close to a source of wx info.

Moderate risk for severe wx expanded. http://tinyurl.com/bar6

60F at West Point in Cullman Co Alabama at 7:38 am. Sun beginning to peek out.


PDS Tornado Watch, North Alabama


URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 132
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1125 AM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

NORTHERN ALABAMA
NORTHWEST GEORGIA
MIDDLE AND PARTS OF EASTERN TENNESSEE

EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY MORNING AND EVENING FROM 1125 AM UNTIL 700
PM CDT.

...THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION...

DESTRUCTIVE TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL TO 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER...
THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 80 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE
POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 70 STATUTE
MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 40 MILES NORTH OF CROSSVILLE
TENNESSEE TO 55 MILES EAST OF COLUMBUS MISSISSIPPI. FOR A
COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE
UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU2).

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 131...

DISCUSSION...LINE OF INTENSE SUPERCELLS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO
DEVELOP EWD ACROSS TN VLY AREA AND INTO NRN MIDDLE AND PARTS OF ERN
TN THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. AIRMASS AHEAD OF THIS LINE IS MODESTLY
UNSTABLE WITH MLCAPE VALUES INCREASING TO OVER 1500 J/KG ACROSS THE
TN VLY ATTM. GIVEN LITTLE CONVECTIVE INHIBITION AND MODEST TO STRONG
ASCENT WITHIN/BENEATH LEFT EXIST REGION OF 80KT MID LEVEL JET
STREAK...EXPECT STORMS TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN SEVERE INTENSITY
THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN IS MAGNITUDE OF
VERTICAL SHEAR...ESPECIALLY ACROSS NRN AL/SRN MIDDLE TN THIS
AFTERNOON. FCST HODOGRAPHS IN THIS CORRIDOR SUGGEST HIGH POSSIBILITY
OF A STRONG TORNADO IF DISCRETE CELLS CAN MOVE INTO THIS AREA AS
ANTICIPATED. FARTHER NORTH...ACROSS MIDDLE TN...TORNADO THREAT WILL
ALSO BE ENHANCED NEAR LINE/RETREATING WARM FRONTAL BOUNDARY NEXT FEW
HOURS.

AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL
SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 3 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE
WIND GUSTS TO 70 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO
500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 26045.


...CARBIN

Hazard
Tornadoes
EF2+ Tornadoes
Likelihood
High
Moderate
Severe Wind
65 kt+ Wind
High
Moderate
Severe Hail
2"+ Hail
Moderate
Moderate
Note: Click for
Watch Status Reports.
WOUS64 KWNS 101621
WOU2

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE FOR WT 132
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1125 AM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

TORNADO WATCH 132 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FOR THE
FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

ALC009-033-043-049-057-059-071-075-077-079-083-089-093-095-103-
127-133-110000-
/O.NEW.KWNS.TO.A.0132.090410T1625Z-090411T0000Z/

AL
. ALABAMA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

BLOUNT COLBERT CULLMAN
DEKALB FAYETTE FRANKLIN
JACKSON LAMAR LAUDERDALE
LAWRENCE LIMESTONE MADISON
MARION MARSHALL MORGAN
WALKER WINSTON


GAC047-055-083-295-313-110000-
/O.NEW.KWNS.TO.A.0132.090410T1625Z-090411T0000Z/

GA
. GEORGIA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

CATOOSA CHATTOOGA DADE
WALKER WHITFIELD


TNC001-003-007-011-013-015-027-031-035-037-041-049-051-055-061-
065-087-093-099-103-105-107-111-115-117-119-121-127-129-133-137-
141-143-145-149-151-153-159-165-169-175-177-185-187-189-
110000-
/O.NEW.KWNS.TO.A.0132.090410T1625Z-090411T0000Z/

TN
. TENNESSEE COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

ANDERSON BEDFORD BLEDSOE
BRADLEY CAMPBELL CANNON
CLAY COFFEE CUMBERLAND
DAVIDSON DEKALB FENTRESS
FRANKLIN GILES GRUNDY
HAMILTON JACKSON KNOX
LAWRENCE LINCOLN LOUDON
MACON MARION MARSHALL
MAURY MCMINN MEIGS
MOORE MORGAN OVERTON
PICKETT PUTNAM RHEA
ROANE RUTHERFORD SCOTT
SEQUATCHIE SMITH SUMNER
TROUSDALE VAN BUREN WARREN
WHITE WILLIAMSON WILSON


ATTN...WFO...BMX...OHX...MRX...HUN...FFC...




Hazard
Tornadoes
EF2+ Tornadoes
Likelihood
High
Moderate
Severe Wind
65 kt+ Wind
High
Moderate
Severe Hail
2"+ Hail
Moderate
Moderate
Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
SAW2
WW 132 TORNADO AL GA TN 101625Z - 110000Z
AXIS..70 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..
40N CSV/CROSSVILLE TN/ - 55E CBM/COLUMBUS MS/
..AVIATION COORDS.. 60NM E/W /55WSW LOZ - 30W VUZ/
HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..3 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..70 KNOTS.
MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 26045.

LAT...LON 36528381 33618627 33618870 36528633

THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
FOR WOU2.

Watch 132 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

Mesoscale Discussion, SPC


MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0429

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

1114 AM CDT FRI APR 10 2009


AREAS AFFECTED...WRN THROUGH MIDDLE TN...WRN THROUGH S CNTRL KY...NRN MS AND NRN AL CONCERNING...TORNADO WATCH 131...

VALID 101614Z - 101730Z


CORRECTED FOR TEXT IN SECOND PARAGRAPH


THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT FOR TORNADO WATCH 131 CONTINUES. THE THREAT FOR TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND CONTINUES ACROSS A PORTION OF WRN TN...WRN KY AND NRN MS. THE THREAT WILL GRADUALLY SHIFT EWD INTO MIDDLE TN...S CNTRL KY DURING THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS. ACTIVITY WILL ALSO BEGIN TO AFFECT PARTS OF NRN AL WHERE A NEW WW WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED SOON. STORMS THAT ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED ALONG THE COLD FRONT HAVE MOSTLY DISSIPATED. HOWEVER...NEW STORMS HAVE DEVELOPED IN OVER WRN TN AND NRN MS ALONG CLOUD STREETS WITHIN WARM SECTOR JUST EAST OF THIS BOUNDARY. DESPITE MORE LIMITED MOISTURE WITH NWD EXTENT INTO KY...COLD TEMPERATURE ALOFT WILL MAINTAIN ADEQUATE INSTABILITY IN THIS REGION. LATEST OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS INDICATES AN AXIS OF MODERATE INSTABILITY FROM MS NEWD THROUGH WRN AL INTO WRN AND MIDDLE TN WHERE HIGHER DEWPOINTS EXIST. FORCING FOR ASCENT ASSOCIATED WITH EWD ADVANCING VORT MAX...NWD ADVECTION OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND BOUNDARY LAYER WARMING WILL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IN THESE AREAS NEXT FEW HOURS. BULK SHEAR AND LOW LEVEL HODOGRAPHS WILL REMAIN MORE THAN SUFFICIENT FOR SUPERCELLS AND BOWING SEGMENTS WITH A THREAT OF TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND. ..DIAL.. 04/10/2009

Watch Likely Soon in NW Alabama


MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0427

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

0822 AM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

AREAS AFFECTED...NRN MS...WRN TN AND SW KY

CONCERNING...SEVERE POTENTIAL...WATCH LIKELY

VALID 101322Z - 101445Z


STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP FROM NRN MS THROUGH WRN TN AND SW KY AND INTENSIFY THROUGH THE MORNING. THREAT WILL EXIST FOR SUPERCELLS AND BOWING SEGMENTS CAPABLE OF DAMAGING WIND...LARGE HAIL AND A FEW TORNADOES. WATCH WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED SOON.


THIS MORNING A COLD FRONT EXTENDS FROM A SURFACE LOW IN SE MO SWWD THROUGH ERN AR. A WARM FROM EXTENDS EWD FROM THE LOW THROUGH SRN KY. THE WRM SECTOR IS ALREADY MODERATELY UNSTABLE FROM CNTRL MS NWD THROUGH WRN TN...AND OBSERVED SOUNDING AND OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS DATA INDICATE ONLY A MODEST CAP IN PLACE. AS THE BOUNDARY LAYER CONTINUES TO WARM...STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INCREASING ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT WITHIN ZONE OF FAVORABLE AGEOSTROPHIC FORCING FOR ASCENT NORTH OF UPPER JET MAX FROM EXTREME ERN AR THROUGH WRN TN AND NRN MS. STRONG BULK SHEAR AND LARGE LOW LEVEL HODOGRAPHS WILL SUPPORT SUPERCELLS AND BOWING SEGMENTS WITH LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WIND AND A FEW TORNADOES PROBABLE.


..DIAL.. 04/10/2009

Moderate Risk Expanded




DAY 1 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0746 AM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

VALID 101300Z - 111200Z

...THERE IS A MDT RISK OF SVR TSTMS OVER PARTS OF THE TN VLY/GULF
CST STATES/SRN APPALACHIANS...

...THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS SURROUNDING THE MDT RISK AREA
FROM MS AND THE LWR OH VLYS TO THE S ATLANTIC CST...

...SYNOPSIS...
AMPLIFIED BUT PROGRESSIVE PATTERN WILL PERSIST ACROSS THE LWR 48
THIS PERIOD. MAIN FEATURE OF NOTE...POTENT UPR LOW NOW OVER SRN MO
...WILL CONTINUE E ACROSS SRN KY TODAY AND GRADUALLY DEVOLVE INTO AN
OPEN WAVE. THE SYSTEM SHOULD REACH SE VA BY 12Z SAT AS 80 KT MID
LVL SPEED MAX NOW ON ITS SW PERIPHERY /OVER THE ARKLATEX/ MOVES OFF
THE S ATLANTIC CST.

AT LWR LEVELS...SFC LOW NOW OVER SE MO SHOULD TRACK E ACROSS KY
TODAY/EARLY TONIGHT AS TRAILING COLD FRONT PROGRESSES STEADILY SE
ACROSS THE TN/LWR MS VLYS. AHEAD OF THE FRONT...SFC AND VWP DATA
SUGGEST PRESENCE OF A PRE-FRONTAL LOW LVL CONFLUENCE AXIS...POSSIBLY
RELATED TO SQLN OVER E TN/N GA...EXTENDING NE/SW FROM NRN AL INTO
SRN MS. FARTHER E...CURRENT OBSERVATIONS SUGGEST THAT WARM FRONT
OVER THE SRN APPALACHIANS/CAROLINAS WILL REMAIN DIFFUSE THROUGH MUCH
OF THE PERIOD. BUT SIGNIFICANT LOW LVL WARMING/MOISTENING SHOULD
SPREAD NE ALONG THE CAROLINA PIEDMONT/CSTL PLN WITH TIME AS SFC LOW
REACHES SRN VA EARLY SATURDAY.

...TN VLY INTO CNTRL GULF STATES...SRN APLCNS/CAROLINAS/SRN VA...
LATEST SFC OBSERVATIONS AND SATELLITE/GPS PW DATA SHOW FAIRLY
SUBSTANTIAL MOISTURE /WITH PW AOA 1 INCH/ IN PLACE FROM THE
WRN/CNTRL GULF CST NE INTO THE TN VLY AND SRN KY. A TONGUE OF DRIER
AIR REMAINS PRESENT FROM FL NWD INTO THE WRN CAROLINAS...BUT A
SECONDARY AREA OF ENHANCED MOISTURE LIES OFF THE NC CST. MOISTURE
SHOULD CONTINUE TO SPREAD NE ACROSS THE CNTRL/ERN GULF CST STATES
AND GA TODAY AS 40+ KT SWLY LLJ PERSISTS IN WARM SECTOR OF
PROGRESSIVE SFC LOW. SFC DEWPOINTS IN THE LOW/MID 60S F SHOULD
EXTEND FROM SRN LA INTO MUCH OF AL AND GA BY LATE TODAY.

COMBINATION OF INCREASING LOW LVL MOISTURE WITH COOL MID LVL
TEMPERATURES AND ASCENT ON SRN FRINGE OF UPR LOW SHOULD SUPPORT
INTENSE TSTM DEVELOPMENT LATER THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS AFTN
IN WEAKLY CAPPED ENVIRONMENT ALONG/AHEAD OF COLD FRONT FROM WRN
KY/TN SSW INTO MS. OTHER INTENSE STORMS SHOULD FORM NEARLY
SIMULTANEOUSLY...OR PERHAPS SLIGHTLY LATER...INVOF AFOREMENTIONED
CONFLUENCE ZONE OVER ERN MS/AL/GA.

ALONG THE COLD FRONT...STRONG...LARGELY UNIDIRECTIONAL DEEP FLOW
EXPECTED TO SUPPORT BROKEN BANDS OF SUSTAINED STORMS/SUPERCELLS WITH
HIGH WIND/LARGE HAIL AND ISOLD TORNADOES. FARTHER ESE...
WEAKLY CONFLUENT LOW LVL FLOW AND LONG...CLOCKWISE-TURNING
HODOGRAPHS WITH 60-70 KT WLY MID LVL FLOW COULD FOSTER NUMEROUS
DISCRETE OR SEMI-DISCRETE SUPERCELLS...ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WHERE
HEATING BOOSTS SFC TEMPERATURES TO NEAR 80 F. THESE STORMS COULD
YIELD A FEW STRONG TORNADOES...IN ADDITION TO VERY LARGE HAIL AND
HIGH WIND. THIS THREAT APPEARS GREATEST FROM CNTRL/NRN AL INTO
CNTRL/NRN GA...PERHAPS AS FAR E AS WARM FRONTAL SEGMENT INVOF THE
SAVANNAH RVR VLY THIS EVE.

LARGE SCALE UVV AHEAD OF UPR VORT SHOULD STRENGTHEN E OF THE SRN
APPALACHIANS AND THE REMAINDER OF THE CAROLINAS/SRN VA BY LATER
TONIGHT. BUT...WEAKER DESTABILIZATION...ASSOCIATED WITH A MORE
LIMITED LOW-LVL MOISTURE RETURN AND ONSET OF DIURNAL COOLING...MAY
MITIGATE SVR POTENTIAL. A LIMITED SVR THREAT
COULD...HOWEVER...LINGER THROUGH EARLY SAT...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE NC
CST.

..CORFIDI/JEWELL.. 04/10/2009

At 3:55 in Huntsville, AL...


3:55 am UAH Armor Radar



Heavy rain, pea sized hail, and frequent lightning in NE Huntsville at 3:55 a.m.

Reported tornado Thursday evening killed 2 and injured over 20 in Mena, AR. Over 20 reports of tornadoes have been made since Thursday afternoon.

Friday will be an active weather day in Alabama.
....

Tornado Watch, NW Alabama, Until 9 a.m.


   URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 130
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
145 AM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA
CENTRAL AND EASTERN MISSISSIPPI

EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY MORNING FROM 145 AM UNTIL 900 AM CDT.

TORNADOES...HAIL TO 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND
GUSTS TO 70 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.

THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 70 STATUTE
MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 35 MILES NORTHWEST OF MUSCLE
SHOALS ALABAMA TO 30 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF JACKSON MISSISSIPPI.
FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH
OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU0).

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 127...WW 128...WW 129...

DISCUSSION...WIND PROFILES SUPPORTIVE OF SUPERCELLS WITH LOW-LVL
ROTATION WILL PERSIST/OVERSPREAD WW LATER THIS MORNING ON SERN
FRINGE OF STRONG VORT MAX EJECTING ENE ACROSS NRN AR. RECOVERING
BOUNDARY LAYER /REF MCD 423/ AND EXISTING SEMI-DISCRETE STORMS W OF
WW FURTHER SUGGEST POTENTIAL FOR ISOLD TORNADOES IN ADDITION TO SVR
WIND/HAIL.

AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL
SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 1.5 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE
WIND GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO
450. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 27050.


...CORFIDI

Watch on the way...



MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0423
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0124 AM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

AREAS AFFECTED...FAR NORTHEAST LA AND NORTHERN/CENTRAL MS INTO
AL/MIDDLE TN

CONCERNING...TORNADO WATCH 127...

VALID 100624Z - 100800Z

THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT FOR TORNADO WATCH 127 CONTINUES.

TORNADO WATCH 127 CONTINUES UNTIL 10Z...WITH A RISK FOR ISOLATED
TORNADOES AND DAMAGING WINDS...ALONG WITH SEVERE HAIL. AN ADDITIONAL
WATCH MAY BE NEEDED WITHIN THE HOUR FOR THE REMAINDER OF NORTHERN MS
INTO THE ADJACENT PORTIONS OF AL.

A STRONG/SEVERE 100 MILE LONG MODESTLY BROKEN MCS WITH EMBEDDED
SUPERCELLS CONTINUES TO QUICKLY RACE EAST-NORTHEASTWARD TOWARD THE
I-55 CORRIDOR IN NORTHERN MS...WHILE A MORE ISOLATED SUPERCELL WITH
PRIOR TORNADIC HISTORY CONTINUES TO PROGRESS EASTWARD NEAR I-20 IN
NORTHEAST LA AS OF 0615Z. EVEN WITH A MARGINAL DOWNSTREAM
AIRMASS...EVOLVING BOW/LINEAR SYSTEM SHOULD CONTINUE TO
ORGANIZE/RACE NORTHEASTWARD WITH A DAMAGING WIND/SOME HAIL RISK
ACROSS NORTHEAST MS/NORTHWEST AL AND PERHAPS THE SOUTHERN PORTIONS
OF MIDDLE TN...ALTHOUGH THIS MCS MAY BECOME INCREASINGLY BASED ATOP
A COOL/MODESTLY MOIST BOUNDARY LAYER. THE PRIMARY TORNADO POTENTIAL
WILL LIKELY REMAIN WITH THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE EVOLVING LINE
AND/OR ANY QUASI-DISCRETE SUPERCELLS ACROSS FAR NORTHEAST LA INTO
NORTH CENTRAL MS...IN CLOSER PROXIMITY TO A SOMEWHAT RICHER LOW
LEVEL MOISTURE INFLUX /60S F SFC DEWPOINTS/ AMIDST STRENGTHENING
FLOW AROUND 1 KM/0-1 KM SRH.


..GUYER.. 04/10/2009


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