Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1987
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 77, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Dec 15, 1987, 2:12 AM CST for Cullman County, Alabama. It was in force for 63 min. 1 report 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
- Dec 15, 1987, 2:12 AM CST (08:12 UTC)
- Expired
- Dec 15, 1987, 3:15 AM CST
- In force
- 63 min
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
- Area
- Whole counties
County Cullman 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 15, 2:25 AM CST | Thunderstorm Wind 0 | Cullman, 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
Centreville/Bibb, AL (KCKL), launched 00:00Z, 8.2 hours before the alert went out and 140 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 618 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 50 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 115 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 348 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.5
The text
The text of this product is not in the archive. The NWS text archive before 2002 is incomplete.
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, Dec 14, 10:29 PM CST, 3 hours 43 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM, AL 1030 PM CST MON DEC 14 1987 A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED NEAR MEMPHIS TENNESSEE MAY BRING THE POSSIBILITY FOR SEVERE WEATHER TO ALABAMA LATER TONIGHT. AT THIS TIME...NO PART OF ALABAMA WAS UNDER A WATCH OR WARNING. MOST OF MISSISSIPPI AND WESTERN TENNESSEE WERE HOWEVER UNDER A TORNADO WATCH. AT 1030 PM...MOSTLY LIGHT RAIN WAS OCCURRING IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA. HOWEVER THUNDERSTORMS HAVE INTENSIFIED OVER WESTERN MISSISSIPPI. THE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD REACH THE MISSISSIPPI-ALABAMA BORDER AROUND MIDNIGHT. PERSONS IN ALABAMA...PARTICULARLY IN WESTERN AND CENTRAL ALABAMA SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR YOUR LOCAL TV...RADIO OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WATCHES AND WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Dec 14, 11:58 PM CST, 2 hours 14 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM, AL 1200 AM CST TUE DEC 15 1987 A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED OVER THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL MAY BRING THE POSSIBILITY FOR SEVERE WEATHER TO ALABAMA LATER TONIGHT. AT THIS TIME...NO PART OF ALABAMA WAS UNDER A WATCH OR WARNING. MOST OF MISSISSIPPI AND WESTERN TENNESSEE REMAIN UNDER A TORNADO WATCH FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. AT MIDNIGHT...ONLY SOME SCATTERED SHOWERS WERE LOCATED THROUGH CENTRAL ALABAMA. AT THIS TIME...SEVERE WEATHER WAS LOCATED IN EASTERN MISSISSIPPI. THESE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED IN A LINE FROM THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF MISSISSIPPI...SOUTHWEST INTO SOUTH CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI...AND SHOULD MOVE INTO WESTERN ALABAMA WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. PERSONS IN WESTERN AND CENTRAL ALABAMA SHOULD MONITOR YOUR LOCAL TV...RADIO OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WATCHES OR WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Dec 15, 12:33 AM CST, 1 hour 39 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
1235 AM CST TUE DEC 15 1987
...SERIOUS SEVERE WEATHER MOVING RAPIDLY TOWARD CENTRAL ALABAMA...
...TORNADO WATCH NOW IN EFFECT...
AN INTENSE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM NOW CENTERED NEAR MEMPHIS TENNESSEE
HAS BROUGHT SEVERE WEATHER TO MISSISSIPPI AND TENNESSEE. DAMAGE
REPORTS ARE BEGINNING TO COME IN FROM MANY COUNTIES THERE.
MARBLE SIZED HALE WAS REPORTED WEST OF OCEOLA IN MISSISSIPPI AND
MAJOR DAMAGE WAS REPORTED IN A SUBDIVIDION OF NORTH MEMPHIS
WHERE A TORNADO STRUCK AT 955 PM...THIS SAME STORM WAS
RESPONSIBLE FOR MAJOR DAMAGE AND ONE FATALITY IN WEST MEMPHIS...
ARKANSAS...ACCORDING TO MEMPHIS CIVIL DEFENSE.
THE SYSTEM WITH SEVERE WEATHER IS NOW ONLY ABOUT 128 MILES WEST OF
MONTGOMERY ALABAMA AND SEVERE WEATHER MAY BE EXPECTED TO ENTER THE
STATE WITHIN THE HOUR AND IN MONTGOMERY WITHIN 4 HOURS. IT IS
MOVING EAST AT ABOUT 35 MPH. WINDS IN HUNTSVILLE HAVE GUSTED AS HIGH
AS 44 MPH AND WINDS IN MONTGOMERY ARE BEGINNING TO REACH THE 20S.
ARE YOU PREPARED FOR THIS SEVERE WEATHER? DO YOU REMEMBER THE
SAFETY RULES FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OR TORNADOES IF A WATCH SHOULD
BE POSTED? NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO REVIEW SO THEY WILL BE
FRESH IN YOUR MIND.
MOST IMPORTANTLY REMEMBER THAT ALL LIGHTNING IS DANGEROUS...AVOID THE
USE OF APPLIANCES AND THE TELEPHONE DURING ELECTICAL STORMS. AVOID
WINDOWS AND METAL PIPES AND DOORS. IF YOU HEAR A TORNADO APPROACHING
GO IMMEDIATELY TO THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME... PREFERABLY A
BASEMENT. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. NEVER REMAIN IN A MOBILE HOME.
OTHER SAFETY TIPS WILL BE HEARD ON NOAA WEATHER RADIO. STAY TUNED
FOR CONTINUOUS UPDATES ON THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION.
SNELLSpecial weather statement, Dec 15, 12:36 AM CST, 1 hour 36 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM, AL 1235 AM CST TUE DEC 15 1987 ...TORNADO WATCH FOR MUCH OF ALABAMA... TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 566 CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF ALABAMA UNTIL 6 AM CST TODAY. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS WERE SCATTERED ACROSS ALABAMA EARLY THIS MORNING...BUT AT 1235 AM...THE MOST POWERFUL THUNDERSTORMS WERE STILL IN EAST MISSISSIPPI. IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO ISSUE ACTUAL WARNINGS FOR PART OF WEST CENTTAL ALABAMA SOON...ESPECIALLY PICKENS...LAMAR...MARION... AND FAYETTE COUNTIES. PERSONS SHOULD CONTINUE TO KEEP IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, Dec 15, 12:38 AM CST, 1 hour 34 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
1235 AM CST TUE DEC 15 1987
...SERIOUS SEVERE WEATHER MOVING RAPIDLY TOWARD CENTRAL ALABAMA...
...TORNADO WATCH NOW IN EFFECT...
AN INTENSE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM NOW CENTERED NEAR MEMPHIS TENNESSEE
HAS BROUGHT SEVERE WEATHER TO MISSISSIPPI AND TENNESSEE. DAMAGE
REPORTS ARE BEGINNING TO COME IN FROM MANY COUNTIES THERE.
MARBLE SIZED HAIL WAS REPORTED WEST OF OCEOLA IN MISSISSIPPI AND
MAJOR DAMAGE WAS REPORTED IN A SUBDIVIDION OF NORTH MEMPHIS
WHERE A TORNADO STRUCK AT 955 PM...THIS SAME STORM WAS
RESPONSIBLE FOR MAJOR DAMAGE AND ONE FATALITY IN WEST MEMPHIS...
ARKANSAS...ACCORDING TO MEMPHIS CIVIL DEFENSE.
THE SYSTEM WITH SEVERE WEATHER IS NOW ONLY ABOUT 128 MILES WEST OF
MONTGOMERY ALABAMA AND SEVERE WEATHER MAY BE EXPECTED TO ENTER THE
STATE WITHIN THE HOUR AND IN MONTGOMERY WITHIN 4 HOURS. IT IS
MOVING EAST AT ABOUT 35 MPH. WINDS IN HUNTSVILLE HAVE GUSTED AS HIGH
AS 44 MPH AND WINDS IN MONTGOMERY ARE BEGINNING TO REACH THE 20S.
ARE YOU PREPARED FOR THIS SEVERE WEATHER? DO YOU REMEMBER THE
SAFETY RULES FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OR TORNADOES IF A WARNING SHOULD
BE POSTED? NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO REVIEW SO THEY WILL BE
FRESH IN YOUR MIND.
MOST IMPORTANTLY REMEMBER THAT ALL LIGHTNING IS DANGEROUS...AVOID THE
USE OF APPLIANCES AND THE TELEPHONE DURING ELECTICAL STORMS. AVOID
WINDOWS AND METAL PIPES AND DOORS. IF YOU HEAR A TORNADO APPROACHING
GO IMMEDIATELY TO THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME... PREFERABLY A
BASEMENT. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. NEVER REMAIN IN A MOBILE HOME.
OTHER SAFETY TIPS WILL BE HEARD ON NOAA WEATHER RADIO. STAY TUNED
FOR CONTINUOUS UPDATES ON THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION.
SNELLSpecial weather statement, Dec 15, 1:50 AM CST, 22 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL 145 AM CST TUE DEC 15 1987 .....TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF ALABAMA..... A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF ALABAMA UNTIL 600 AM CST THIS TUESDAY MORNING. AT 140 AM CST...MONTGOMERY RADAR INDICATED SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS OVER MUCH OF ALABAMA. THE HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER WEST ALABAMA MOVING INTO THE CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE STATE. HIGH WINDS...DANGEROUbS LIGHTNING...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND POSSIBLE LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES WILL ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS AS THEY MOVE INTO CENTRAL ALABAMA WITHIN THE NEXT FEW HOURS.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 15, 12:46 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Pickens | 59 min |
| Dec 15, 1:39 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Greene, Tuscaloosa | 66 min |
| Dec 15, 2:04 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Bibb, Jefferson, Shelby | 56 min |
| Dec 15, 3:00 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega | 60 min |
| Dec 15, 3:00 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Blount, Etowah | 60 min |
| Dec 15, 3:00 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Jefferson | 60 min |
| Dec 15, 3:29 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Chilton | 61 min |
| Dec 15, 3:32 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne | 58 min |
| Dec 15, 3:32 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Clay | 58 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 1987Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1987
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.