Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 23, NWS Birmingham, AL

February 16, 1990Randolph County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Feb 16, 1990, 8:13 AM CST for Randolph County, Alabama. It was in force for 47 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
Feb 16, 1990, 8:13 AM CST (14:13 UTC)
Expired
Feb 16, 1990, 9:00 AM CST
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Whole counties

County Randolph 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
Feb 16, 8:30 AM CSTHail 0.75Randolph, 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 12:00Z, 2.2 hours before the alert went out and 168 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 12:00Z on 1990-02-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 837 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Centreville/Bibb, AL at 12:00Z on 1990-02-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 233 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
837 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-25 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
556 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
64 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
233 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
276 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
4.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KBHM 161413
SVRBHM
ALC111-161500-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
813 AM CST FRI FEB 16 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  900 AM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN NORTH ALABAMA
 
   ...RANDOLPH COUNTY
 
AT 812 AM CST CENTREVILLE RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM NEAR
ALEXANDER CITY MOVING NORTHEAST. THIS STORM WILL MOVE INTO RANDOLPH
COUTNY AND WAS HEADING TOWARDS WADLEY AND ROANOKE. THIS STORM HAS A
HISTORY OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS.
 
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 CONDITIONS.

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, Feb 16, 3:47 AM CST, 4 hours 26 minutes before
ALZ010-011-012-014-017-018-160910-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
345 AM CST FRI FEB 16 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 44 IN EFFECT FOR  A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA UNTIL 10 AM CST...

AT 335 AM CST MONTGOMERY RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW THUNDERSTORMS WITH
VERY HEAVY RAIN MOVING NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR.
THE MOST ACTIVE THUNDERSTORMS WERE OBSERVED TO BE IN SOUTHERN CHILTON
...AND COOSA COUNTIES. OTHER THUNDERSTOEMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WAS MOVING
INTO SOUTHWEST LOWNDES COUNTY.

NO DAMAGE HAS BEEN REPORTED SO FAR THIS EVENING IN SOUTH ALABAMA...
NEVERTHELESS THIS SITUATION MAY DETERIORATE RAPIDLY. LISTENERS
ARE ADVISED TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO.
Special weather statement, Feb 16, 5:19 AM CST, 2 hours 54 minutes before
ALZ010-011-012-014-017-018-160910-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
515 AM CST FRI FEB 16 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 44 IN EFFECT FOR  A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA UNTIL 10 AM CST...

AT 510 AM CST MONTGOMERY WEATHER RADAR SHOWED LARGE AREAS OF RAIN WITH
THUNDERSTORMS...MANY WITH HEAVY RAIN. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR. THE MOST ACTIVE THUNDERSTORMS WERE
SOUTH OF LAKE MARTIN...JUST SOUTH OF PINE APPLE AND NEAR CHAPMAN AND
IN A BAND THAT WAS MOVING ACROSS WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA TOWARDS DALLAS
AND WILCOX COUNTIES. THIS LATTER LINE SHOULD ARRIVE BEFORE 6AM.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE HAD DAMAGING WINDS. RESIDENTS NEAR THESE AREAS
SHOULD PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST STRONG GUSTY WINDS...LETHAL LIGHTNING
AND TORRENTIAL RAINS.

SNELL
Special weather statement, Feb 16, 6:24 AM CST, 1 hour 49 minutes before
ALZ010-011-012-014-017-018-160910-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
623 AM CST FRI FEB 16 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 44 IN EFFECT FOR  A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA UNTIL 10 AM CST...

AT 620 AM CST MONTGOMERY WEATHER RADAR SHOWED LARGE AREAS OF RAIN WITH
THUNDERSTORMS...MANY WITH HEAVY RAIN. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR. THE MOST ACTIVE THUNDERSTORM WAS
WEST OF MARION JUNCTION MOVING ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR TOWARD THE WEST.

THIS THUNDERSTORM IS PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS..TORRENTIAL RAIN AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. PERSONS IN MARION JUNCTION AND SELMA SHOULD
EXERCIZE CAUTION. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DO NOT USE ELECTICAL
APPLIANCES DURING A THUNDERSTORM.

SNELL
Special weather statement, Feb 16, 6:27 AM CST, 1 hour 46 minutes before
ALZ010-011-012-014-017-018-160910-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT--CORRECTED FOR STORM MOVEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
623 AM CST FRI FEB 16 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 44 IN EFFECT FOR  A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA UNTIL 10 AM CST...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF SOUTH ALABAMA...

AT 620 AM CST MONTGOMERY WEATHER RADAR SHOWED LARGE AREAS OF RAIN WITH
THUNDERSTORMS...MANY WITH HEAVY RAIN. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR. THE MOST ACTIVE THUNDERSTORM WAS
WEST OF MARION JUNCTION MOVING ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR TOWARD THE WEST.

THIS THUNDERSTORM IS PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS..TORRENTIAL RAIN AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. PERSONS IN MARION JUNCTION AND SELMA SHOULD
EXERCIZE CAUTION. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DO NOT USE ELECTICAL
APPLIANCES DURING A THUNDERSTORM.

SNELL
Special weather statement, Feb 16, 6:29 AM CST, 1 hour 44 minutes before
ALZ010-011-012-014-017-018-160910-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT--CORRECTED FOR STORM MOVEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
623 AM CST FRI FEB 16 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 44 IN EFFECT FOR  A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA UNTIL 10 AM CST...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF SOUTH ALABAMA...

AT 620 AM CST MONTGOMERY WEATHER RADAR SHOWED LARGE AREAS OF RAIN WITH
THUNDERSTORMS...MANY WITH HEAVY RAIN. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR. THE MOST ACTIVE THUNDERSTORM WAS
WEST OF MARION JUNCTION MOVING ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR TOWARD THE EAST.

THIS THUNDERSTORM IS PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS..TORRENTIAL RAIN AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. PERSONS IN MARION JUNCTION AND SELMA SHOULD
EXERCIZE CAUTION. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DO NOT USE ELECTICAL
APPLIANCES DURING A THUNDERSTORM.

SNELL
Local storm report, Feb 16, 8:07 AM CST, 6 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
805 AM CST FRI FEB 16 1990

7:05 AM ... APPARENT TORNADO TOUCHDOWN IN SE CORNER OF CHILTON COUNTY
            IN THE SMALL COMMUNITIES OF ENTERPRISE AND COOPER.  SEVERAL
            MOBILE HOMES DESTROYED IN THE COOPER COMMUNITY AND FIRE
            DEPT. BUILDING IN ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY WAS DESTROYED.  THIS
            LOCATION IS ABOUT 10S OF CLANTON.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 15, 6:14 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXTuscaloosa3 hr
Feb 15, 6:14 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXShelby3 hr
Feb 15, 6:21 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXDeKalb, Jackson, Marshall6 hr
Feb 15, 6:22 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Perry58 min
Feb 15, 7:03 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTalladega42 min
Feb 15, 7:15 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXWinston30 min
Feb 15, 7:50 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXCalhoun, St. Clair3 hr
Feb 15, 8:25 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXLauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan4 hr
Feb 15, 8:25 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXMarshall4 hr
Feb 15, 8:42 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXColbert, Lauderdale63 min
Feb 15, 8:55 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXTalladega5 hr
Feb 15, 8:55 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXHale5 hr
Feb 15, 9:02 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXGreene, Tuscaloosa3 hr
Feb 15, 9:02 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXWalker3 hr
Feb 15, 9:34 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTuscaloosa41 min
Feb 15, 9:40 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXJefferson3 hr
Feb 15, 10:43 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXBibb, St. Clair, Shelby3 hr
Feb 15, 11:46 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Etowah29 min
Feb 16, 12:04 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXEtowah3 hr
Feb 16, 12:04 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXWalker3 hr
Feb 16, 12:32 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXDeKalb, Jackson, Marshall4 hr
Feb 16, 12:35 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXBlount, Cullman4 hr
Feb 16, 1:50 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXBibb, Perry, Shelby4 hr
Feb 16, 1:50 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXSt. Clair4 hr
Feb 16, 2:48 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXClay, Cleburne, Randolph4 hr
Feb 16, 2:48 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXChilton4 hr
Feb 16, 2:48 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXCalhoun, Etowah, Talladega4 hr
Feb 16, 2:48 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXWalker4 hr
Feb 16, 3:07 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXCherokee4 hr
Feb 16, 4:22 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Tuscaloosa4 hr
Feb 16, 5:06 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXDeKalb, Jackson, Marshall4 hr
Feb 16, 5:29 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXBibb, Jefferson, Perry, Shelby3 hr
Feb 16, 5:29 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXSt. Clair3 hr
Feb 16, 6:36 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXCalhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah, Talladega3 hr
Feb 16, 6:36 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXClay, Randolph3 hr
Feb 16, 7:03 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXHale42 min
Feb 16, 8:54 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXDeKalb, Jackson, Marshall4 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 1990Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1990

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.