Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1986

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 84, NWS Mobile, AL

August 2, 1986Covington County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 2, 1986, 4:53 PM CDT for Covington County, Alabama. It was in force for 67 min. 3 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Aug 2, 1986, 4:53 PM CDT (21:53 UTC)
Expired
Aug 2, 1986, 6:00 PM CDT
In force
67 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Whole counties

County Covington County, AL

The radar

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

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 2, 5:05 PM CDTThunderstorm Wind 0Covington, AL
Aug 2, 5:05 PM CDTThunderstorm Wind 0Covington, AL
Aug 2, 5:20 PM CDTThunderstorm Wind 52Covington, AL

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.

The nearest sounding before it

Eglin AFB/Valpar, FL (KVPS), launched 12:00Z, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 86 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, Eglin AFB/Valpar, FL at 12:00Z on 1986-08-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2020 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Eglin AFB/Valpar, FL at 12:00Z on 1986-08-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -13 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
2020 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-62 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1425 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
5 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-13 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
14 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAAOO KMGM 022153
SVRMGM
ALC039-022300-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
453 PM CDT SAT AUG  2 1986
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL  600 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:
 
IN SOUTH ALABAMA
          ..COVINGTON

AT 4 52PM CDT WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF ANDALUSIA MOVING TOWARD THE EAST SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH,
DESTRUCTIVE HAIL, DEADLY LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.  FOR YOUR
PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR
HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DON'T DRIVE
INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

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, Aug 2, 12:52 PM CDT, 4 hours 1 minute before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL
1234 PM CDT SAT AUG 2 1986

..A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 452 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT
FOR ESCAMBIA..SANTA ROSA..OKALOOSA COUNTIES IN FLORIDA..AND FOR THE
ADJOINING COASTAL WATERS.

AT 1230 PM CDT...A VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORM WAS CENTERED 15 MILES WEST
OF THE PENSACOLA NAVAL AIR STATION..AND A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM WAS 10
MILES NORTHEAST OF APALACHICOLA.
VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED OVER SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND
WERE MOVING INTO CHOCTAW COUNTY ALABAMA.
THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE NEAR LAUREL AND NEAR HATTIESBURG IN
MISSISSIPPI.
THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

THE HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN..FREQUENT
LIGHTNING STRIKES..STRONG GUSTY WIND..AND POSSIBLE HAIL.
PERSONS SHOULD WATCH FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND BE PREPARED
TO TAKE ANY NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS.
Local storm report, Aug 2, 2:10 PM CDT, 2 hours 43 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL
 210 PM CDT SAT AUG 2 1986

115PM-130PM..TIME APPROX..GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED EAST 9-MILE
ROAD (NORTH PENSACOLA) AND 1/2 INCH HAIL HIWAY 90..FOX-RUN AREA JUST
NORTHWEST OF PENSACOLA.
150 PM CDT..SKYWARN SPOTTERS REPORT MINOR FIRES STARTED BY LIGHTNING...
            (GRASS FIRE AT FERRY PASS...AND A PRIVACY FENCE IN NE PNS).
             ALSO MARBLE SIZE HAIL AT PNS AIRPORT.

J

                                                                            ]
Local storm report, Aug 2, 2:21 PM CDT, 2 hours 32 minutes before
ATTN SELS
STORM REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
220 PM CDT SAT AUG 2 1986

THE MOBILE STATE TROOPERS OFFICE REPORTED HAIL MARBLE SIZE..VERY
STRONG WINDS AND RAIN SO HARD THAT THEY COULD NUOT SEE THE GROUND.
..OCCURRED AROUND 200 PM ON DAUPHIN ISLAND PARKWAY..ABOUT 10 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF THE MOBILE AIRPORT.
Special weather statement, Aug 2, 3:49 PM CDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL
334 PM CDT SAT AUG 2 1986

..A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FOR
ALL THE COUNTIES OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA..THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS..
AND FOR SOUTHERN ALABAMA.

AT 330 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS IN A LINE FROM
NORTHERN ESCAMBIA COUNTY OF FLORIDA..SOUTHWEST TO THE COAST OF BALDWIN
COUNTY OF ALABAMA..THEN WEST ALONG THE COAST TO PASCAGOULA MISSISSIPPI.

OTHER HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN CENTRAL OKALOOSA AND WALTON
COUNTIES IN FLORIDA.

THESE HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS ARE PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN..FREQUENT LIGHTNING
..STRONG GUSTY WINDS..AND HAIL. THUNDERSTORM MOVEMENT WAS SOUTHEAST AT
15 MPH.

PERSONS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR RAPIDLY DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE QUICKLY.
Local storm report, Aug 2, 4:47 PM CDT, 6 minutes before
ATTN SELS
STORM REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
445 PM CDT SAT AUG 2 1986

200 PM CDT...MARBLE SIZE HAIL IN WASHINGTON COUNTY ALABAMA.
220 PM CDT...PINE TREE TEN INCHES IN DIAMETER FELL ON ROOF
             ON AZALEA ROAD...ALSO THE TOP OF A TREE BLEW OFF
             AND FLATTENED A FENCE OFF OF HALLS MILL ROAD...BOTH
             OF THESE REPORTS IN MOBILE CITY LIMITS.
230 PM CDT...BUSINESS UNROOFED NEAR PLEASANT VALLEY ROAD AND HIWAY 90
             IN MOBILE...CARPETS AND DRAPERIES DAMAGED.
235 PM CDT...A TREE LIMB WENT THROUGH THE ROOF OF A SHOP NEAR THE DOG
             RIVER IN MOBILE.
240 PM CDT...CARPORT AWNING BLOWN ACROSS ROAD IN BILOXI..ALSO SMALL HAIL.
251 PM CDT...LARGE TREE FELL ONTO A FENCE IN NAVCO RD AREA OF MOBILE
255 PM CDT...ROOF DAMAGED AT A TRUCK STOP ON I-65 JUST NORTH OF BAY
             MINETTE IN BALDWIN COUNTY ALABAMA.

             ...MORE REPORTS WILL FOLLOW IN ANOTHER MESSAGE...

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 2, 1:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBMobile60 min
Aug 2, 1:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBWashington60 min
Aug 2, 2:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBBaldwin, Mobile67 min
Aug 2, 2:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBEscambia60 min
Aug 2, 3:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBBaldwin, Escambia60 min
Aug 2, 3:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBMobile60 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.