See the opening of ABC World News Tonight last night….

NO WARNING? Get a clue. This event was forecast days in advance, and the average lead times for the entire event were 20 to 30 minutes. That is plenty of time to get to a safe place.

We were on the air non-stop from about midnight until almost 8 a.m. It has been our policy at ABC 33/40 to provide long form, uninterrupted severe weather coverage if ANY county in our market goes under a tornado warning.

No warning?

Here is the NWS warning for the tornado as it was approaching Jefferson County, issued at 3:02 a.m.. There was a warning for this storm for the entire duration across Alabama.

BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED

TORNADO WARNING

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL

302 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR…

NORTHWESTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN ALABAMA…

NORTHEASTERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA…

SOUTHEASTERN WALKER COUNTY IN ALABAMA…

* UNTIL 345 AM CST

* AT 257 AM CST…THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A

CONFIRMED TORNADO 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BANKHEAD LOCK AND DAM…OR

11 MILES NORTH OF HOLT. DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS TORNADO MOVING

EAST AT 45 MPH. SEVERAL REPORTS OF DAMAGE HAVE BEEN

REPORTED…THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION!

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…

FAIRFIELD…BIRMINGHAM…BANKHEAD LOCK AND DAM…BULL CITY…OAK

GROVE…SYLVAN SPRINGS…WEST JEFFERSON…QUINTON…MAYTOWN AND

MULGA.

THIS INCLUDES…

INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 261 THROUGH 275…

US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 78 THROUGH 91…

INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 118 THROUGH 128…

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

TORNADOES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. TAKE COVER NOW.

And, the next warning as the tornado approached Center Point/Trussville/Clay…

BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED

TORNADO WARNING

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL

332 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR…

SOUTHEASTERN BLOUNT COUNTY IN ALABAMA…

NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN ALABAMA…

WESTERN ST. CLAIR COUNTY IN ALABAMA…

* UNTIL 430 AM CST

* AT 326 AM CST…LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE PUBLIC HAVE REPORTED

DAMAGE FROM A POSSIBLE TORNADO. THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR

OAK GROVE…OR 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF HUEYTOWN…MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…

BIRMINGHAM…FULTONDALE…GARDENDALE…IRONDALE…

PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE…LEEDS…TRUSSVILLE…MOODY…SPRINGVILLE

AND ODENVILLE.

THIS INCLUDES…

INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 260 THROUGH 275…

INTERSTATE 459 EXIT NUMBERS 27 THROUGH 33…

US 78 EXIT NUMBER 91…

INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 120 THROUGH 156…

INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBERS 130 THROUGH 156…

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

So… Diane… the challenge I made to you last night on WeatherBrains stands. Let’s debate. My email is jspann@abc3340.com

I am not holding my breath.

Category: Hodgepodge