Mike Wilhelm's Alabama Weather Blog

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Bamawx.com

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.

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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.....



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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.

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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

$$

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

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National Weather Service Huntsville Storm Reports Map/Summary

National Weather Service Birmingham Storm Reports Map/Summary

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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

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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

$$

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

$$

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.

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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.

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

$$

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.

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.

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.

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

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



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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

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. 

   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

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...

   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

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.

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.

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.

....

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.

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

   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

   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

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:

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.

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.

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

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.
....

   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

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