WWUS84 KBMX 221637
SPSBMX
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1137 AM CDT THU APR 22 2010
ALZ011>015-017>050-230400-
AUTAUGA-BARBOUR-BIBB-BLOUNT-BULLOCK-CALHOUN-CHAMBERS-CHEROKEE-
CHILTON-CLAY-CLEBURNE-COOSA-DALLAS-ELMORE-ETOWAH-FAYETTE-GREENE-HALE-
JEFFERSON-LAMAR-LEE-LOWNDES-MACON-MARENGO-MARION-MONTGOMERY-PERRY-
PICKENS-PIKE-RANDOLPH-RUSSELL-SHELBY-ST CLAIR-SUMTER-TALLADEGA-
TALLAPOOSA-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER-WINSTON-
1137 AM CDT THU APR 22 2010
…TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA ON SATURDAY AND
SATURDAY NIGHT…
A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES TO CENTRAL ALABAMA SATURDAY AND SATURDAY
NIGHT. NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE
WEATHER. REVIEW THE SAFETY RULES AND PUT YOUR PRE-DETERMINED SAFETY
PLAN INTO ACTION!
THE FOLLOWING ARE DEFINITIONS OF SEVERE WEATHER SITUATIONS:
A TORNADO WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADO
DEVELOPMENT. PEOPLE LOCATED IN AND AROUND THE WATCH AREA SHOULD KEEP
AN EYE TO THE SKY AND LISTEN TO THEIR NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS
OR TUNE TO LOCAL BROADCAST MEDIA FOR FURTHER WEATHER INFORMATION. THE
WATCH IS INTENDED INFORMATION. THE WATCH IS INTENDED TO REVIEW SAFETY
RULES.
A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN A DEVELOPING TORNADO HAS BEEN
DETECTED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR OR A RELIABLE
REPORT OF A TORNADO HAS BEEN REPORTED. A TORNADO WARNING IS USUALLY
ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF ONE OR TWO COUNTIES…FOR AN HOUR OR LESS. THE
STORM COULD ALSO PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE
WINDS. IF THE TORNADO WARNING INCLUDES YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR WORK
PLACE…YOU SHOULD SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
IN THE EVENT OF A TORNADO, HERE ARE SOME TORNADO SAFETY RULES TO KEEP
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE:
IN GENERAL…GET AS LOW AS YOU CAN. A BASEMENT BELOW GROUND LEVEL OR
THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING OFFERS THE GREATEST SAFETY. PUT AS
MANY WALLS BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE OUTSIDE AS POSSIBLE. AVOID
WINDOWS AT ALL COST! TORNADOES COULD BE OBSCURED BY RAINFALL OR COME
AT NIGHTTIME. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO…IT MAY
BE TOO LATE.
DO NOT WASTE TIME OPENING OR CLOSING WINDOWS AND DOORS. IT WILL NOT
PROTECT THE STRUCTURE. YOU WILL ONLY WASTE TIME AND PUT YOURSELF AND
OTHERS IN GREATER RISK. USE THOSE VALUABLE SECONDS TO FIND A PLACE OF
SAFETY.
IN HOMES OR PUBLIC BUILDINGS: GO TO THE BASEMENT OR A SMALL INTERIOR
ROOM…SUCH AS A CLOSET…BATHROOM OR AN INTERIOR HALL ON THE LOWEST
LEVEL. CLOSE ALL DOORS TO THE HALLWAY FOR GREATER PROTECTION. IF
POSSIBLE…GET UNDER SOMETHING STURDY LIKE A HEAVY TABLE. PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS WITH PILLOWS…HEAVY COATS…BLANKETS…
OR QUILTS. USE BICYCLE OR MOTORCYCLE HELMETS TO PROTECT YOUR HEAD.
IN MOBILE HOMES: LEAVE WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE APPROACHING SEVERE
WEATHER AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING. IF THERE IS NO SHELTER NEARBY…
GET INTO THE NEAREST DITCH…LOW SPOT…OR UNDERGROUND CULVERT. LIE
FLAT…COVERING YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS FOR PROTECTION.
IN VEHICLES OR OUTDOORS: WHEN TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE…LIMIT YOUR
OUTDOOR PLANS OR FINISH THEM EARLY. STAY CLOSE TO A STURDY SHELTER.
IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE…FIND SHELTER IN A DITCH OR REMAIN IN YOUR VEHICLE
AND COVER YOUR HEAD FOR PROTECTION. DO NOT TAKE SHELTER UNDER A
HIGHWAY OVERPASS…WHERE WIND SPEEDS CAN INCREASE DUE TO A TUNNELING
EFFECT. IT IS BEST TO NOT PUT YOURSELF OR OTHERS IN A SITUATION WHERE
NO STURDY SHELTER IS AVAILABLE.
REMEMBER…STAY AWAY FROM DOORS, WINDOWS, OUTSIDE WALLS AND PROTECT
YOUR HEAD!
$$
