Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1986

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 101, NWS Mobile, AL

November 26, 1986Elmore County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Nov 26, 1986, 12:24 AM CST for Elmore County, Alabama. It was in force for 66 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Nov 26, 1986, 12:24 AM CST (06:24 UTC)
Expired
Nov 26, 1986, 1:30 AM CST
In force
66 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Whole counties

County Elmore County, AL

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Centreville/Bibb, AL (KCKL), launched 00:00Z, 6.4 hours before the alert went out and 104 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Centreville/Bibb, AL at 00:00Z on 1986-11-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1199 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Centreville/Bibb, AL at 00:00Z on 1986-11-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 187 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1199 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-2 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
545 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
187 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
277 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.7
Supercell composite
4.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAAOO KMGM 260624
SVRMGM
ALC051-260730-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
1224 AM CST WED NOV 26 1986
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL  130 AM CST FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:
 
IN SOUTH ALABAMA
          ..ELMORE

AT 1220 AM CST RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM...WAS LOCATED
5 MILES NORTHWEST OF ELMORE ALABAMA MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST ABOUT
40 MPH.
A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.  REMEMBER,
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.  REMAIN CALM BUT BE ALERT TO
RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIO

What forecasters said that day

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

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Nov 25, 6:25 PM CST, 5 hours 59 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
615 PM CST TUE NOV 25 1986

...TORNADO WATCH CANCELLED FOR SOUTHWEST ALABAMA COUNTIES...BUT THE
WATCH CONTINUES FOR MUCH OF THE REMAINDER OF THE STATE...

AT 615 PM CST RADAR SHOWED NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND A FEW HEAVY
THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING ACROSS SOUTHWEST ALABAMA AND PORTIONS OF
SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.  THE HEAVIEST STORMS WERE LOCATED...OVER EXTREME
SOUTHEAST BALDWIN COUNTY...AND FROM JUST NORTHWEST OF BREWTON TO
10 MILES WEST OF EVERGREEN.  THESE HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE
GUSTY WINDS...AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL.  THE STORMS ARE MOVING TO THE
NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

FURTHER STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED IF CONDITIONS ]WARRANT.
Special weather statement, Nov 25, 6:26 PM CST, 5 hours 58 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
625 PM CST TUE NOV 25 1986

...TORNADO WATCH CANCELLED FOR SOUTHWEST ALABAMA COUNTIES...BUT THE
WATCH CONTINUES FOR MUCH OF THE REMAINDER OF THE STATE...

AT 625 PM CST RADAR SHOWED NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND A FEW HEAVY
THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING ACROSS SOUTHWEST ALABAMA AND PORTIONS OF
SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.  THE HEAVIEST STORMS WERE LOCATED...OVER EXTREME
SOUTHEAST BALDWIN COUNTY...AND FROM JUST NORTHWEST OF BREWTON TO
10 MILES WEST OF EVERGREEN.  THESE HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE
GUSTY WINDS...AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL.  THE STORMS ARE MOVING TO THE
NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

FURTHER STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED IF CONDITIONS `WARRANT.
Special weather statement, Nov 25, 6:35 PM CST, 5 hours 49 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL
640 PM CST TUE NOV 25 1986

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CST FOR ALL OF NORTHWEST
FLORIDA.

AT 630 PM CST...SCATTERED HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS AND WIDESPREAD LIGHT RAIN
WERE OVER ALL OF SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...PART OF SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...
THE EXTREME WESTERN END OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE...AND INTO THE GULF TO
MORE THAN 225 MILES SOUTH OF THE ALABAMA COASTLINnE.

MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT NEAR 40 MPH.
Special weather statement, Nov 25, 7:37 PM CST, 4 hours 47 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL
740 PM CST TUE NOV 25 1986

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CST FOR ALL OF NORTHWEST
FLORIDA.

AT 730 PM CST...SCATTERED HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS AND WIDESPREAD LIGHT RAIN
WERE OVER ALL OF SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...PART OF SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...
THE EXTREME WESTERN END OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE...AND INTO THE GULF TO
MORE THAN 225 MILES SOUTH OF PENSACOLA.

MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT NEAR 40 MPH.
Special weather statement, Nov 25, 8:43 PM CST, 3 hours 41 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL
840 PM CST TUE NOV 25 1986

THE TORNADO WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWEST FLORIDA...IT
HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

AT 830 PM CST...SCATTERED HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS AND WIDESPREAD LIGHT RAIN
WERE OVER ALL OF SOUTH ALABAMA...PART OF SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...
THE WESTERN END OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE...AND INTO THE GULF TO
MORE THAN 225 MILES SOUTH OF PENSACOLA.

MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT NEAR 40 MPH.
Special weather statement, Nov 25, 11:35 PM CST, 49 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL
1140 PM CST TUE NOV 25 1986

AT 1130 PM CST...A LINE-LIKE BAND OF HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS STRETCHED
FROM CENTRAL ALABAMA SOUTHWARD TO PENSACOLA AND INTO THE GULF FOR 50
MILES. THE BAND OF STORMS WAS MOVING EASTWARD THROUGH THE WESTERN
FLORIDA PANHANDLE AT NEAR 20 MPH. FREQUENT LIGHTNING...STRONG GUSTY
WINDS...AND BRIEFLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS OF RAIN ACCOMPANY THIS SYSTEM.

SCATTERED PATCHES OF LIGHT RAIN SURROUNDED THE BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS
AND STRETCHED FROM MONTGOMERY ALABAMA SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE EXTREME
WESTERN END OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND INTO THE GULF...WHERE COVERAGE
WAS HIGHER...TO 200 MILES SOUTH OF PENSACOLA.

INDIVIDUAL MOVEMENT OF THE THUNDERSTORMS AND LIGHT RAIN WAS TO THE
NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 25, 10:05 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBBarbour, Dale60 min
Nov 25, 11:15 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBBarbour60 min
Nov 26, 12:31 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBMontgomery59 min
Nov 26, 12:48 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBCovington57 min
Nov 26, 1:02 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBPike58 min
Nov 26, 1:40 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBCoffee65 min
Nov 26, 2:08 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBDale67 min
Nov 26, 2:20 AM CSTTornado WarningMOBDale55 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 1986Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1986

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.