Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1995

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 1, NWS Birmingham, AL

January 6, 1995Fayette County, Walker County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jan 6, 1995, 9:01 AM CST for Fayette County, Walker County, Alabama. It was in force for 28 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: Jan 6, 1995, 9:01 AM CST (15:01 UTC)
Expired: Jan 6, 1995, 9:29 AM CST
In force: 28 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Whole counties

Counties Fayette County, AL, Walker County, AL

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 3.0 hours before the alert went out and 94 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 1946 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 62 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 515 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 652 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 
TTAA00 KBHM 061503 RRA
SVRBHM
ALC127-057-061545-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
901 AM CST FRI JAN 6 1995
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  945 AM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN CENTRAL ALABAMA
 
   ...WESTERN WALKER COUNTY
 
IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA
 
   ...FAYETTE COUNTY
 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS SHOWED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER
FAYETTE COUNTY JUST NORTH OF FAYETTE. THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT
70 MILES AN HOUR. WITH THIS SPEED AND DIRECTION THE STORM WILL MOVE OVER
WEST WALKER COUNTY IN THE NEXT 10 TO 15 MINUTES.
 
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 IN>TO 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, Jan 6, 7:33 AM CST, 1 hour 28 minutes before

ALZ011>029-031>035-039-061435-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
733 AM CST FRI JAN 6 1995

...FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE TENNESSEE VALLEY...
               ...AND MUCH OF NORTHEAST ALABAMA...

     AT 730 AM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED PATCHES OF RAIN
AND FREEZING RAIN MOVING ACROSS NORTHERN ALABAMA.  FREEZING RAIN WAS
OCCURRING ACROSS MUCH OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA
FROM HUNTSVILLE WESTWARD TO THE MISSSISSIPPI LINE.

     PATCHY FREEZING RAIN AND RAIN MIXED WAS ALSO OCCURRING ACROSS
PARTS OF WINSTON AND WALKER COUNTIES AND ACROSS BLOUNT AND ETOWAH
COUNTIES.  RAIN WAS OCCURRING IN A LARGE AREA IN CENTRAL ALABAMA THAT
INCLUDED PARTS OF JEFFERSON, SHELBY BIBB, CHILTON, COOSA, TALLADEGA,
AND ST. CLAIR.  A SMALL AREA OF RAIN WAS ALSO OCCURRING IN TALLAPOOSA
AND CHAMBERS COUNTIES.

     THE RAIN AREAS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST RAPIDLY WITH SPEEDS OF
INDIVIDUAL RAIN AREAS OVER 50 MILES AN HOUR.  LIGHTNING WAS ALSO
WITH THUNDERSTORMS IN BIBB, CHILTON, AND SOUTHWESTERN SHELBY COUNTIES.

     RAINFALL SO FAR HAS BEEN FAIRLY LIGHT ALTHOUGH RAINFALL IN CENTRAL
ALABAMA HAS EXCEEDED A HALF INCH DURING THE LAST HOUR OR SO.

     ICING STILL REMAINS A SERIOUS THREAT PRIMARILY IN THE AREA NORTH
AND EAST OF BIRMINGHAM.  ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURES HAVE WARMED ABOVE
FREEZING BUT MANY EXPOSED SURFACES ESPECIALLY BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES
MAY STILL FREEZE.

     INFORMATION RECEIVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INCLUDES:

     MARION COUNTY - ICING ON BRIDGES NORTH AND EAST OF HAMILTON.

     WINSTON COUNTY - ICING ON ROADWAYS IN THE NORTH HALF  OF THE
COUNTY.

     CULLMAN COUNTY - NUMEROUS ICING PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

     WALKER COUNTY - ICING IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY.

     BLOUNT COUNTY - ICING ON RIDGE TOPS.

     ST. CLAIR COUNTY - SOME BRIDGE ICING REPORTED ON INTERSTATE 20.

     ETOWAH AND CALHOUN COUNTIES - NO REPORTS OF ICING.

     ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS INFORMATION BECOMES
AVAILABLE.

Special weather statement, Jan 6, 7:52 AM CST, 1 hour 9 minutes before

ALZ011>029-031>035-039-061455-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
752 AM CST FRI JAN 6 1995

     ADDITIONAL REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE:

     ETOWAH COUNTY - ICING ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES THROUGHOUT THE
                     COUNTY.

     CULLMAN COUNTY - ICING ON BRIDGES IN THE EASTERN HALF OF THE
                      COUNTY.

     JACKSON COUNTY - HIGHWAYS 35 AND 40 ARE CLOSED DUE TO ICING.
                      HIGHWAY 74 ON THE MOUNTAIN IS ICY.

     MADISON COUNTY - INTERSTATE 565 GOING WEST FROM HUNTSVILLE HAS ICY
                      SPOTS ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES.

     PATCHY RAIN AND FREEZING RAIN CONTINUED ACROSS NORTHERN ALABAMA.
FREEZING RAIN WAS CONFINED MAINLY TO THE SECTIONS OF ALABAMA NORTH,
NORTHEAST, AND DUE EAST OF BIRMINGHAM.  WEST, SOUTHWEST, SOUTH, AND
SOUTHEAST OF BIRMINGHAM, THE PRECIPITATION WAS FALLING AS RAIN.
HOWEVER, THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE NORTHERN HALF OF ALABAMA, ICING REMAINED
A THREAT ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES DUE TO THE COLDNESS OF THOSE
STRUCTURES.  MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION.

Special weather statement, Jan 6, 8:03 AM CST, 58 minutes before

ALZ011>029-031>035-039-061455-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED HIGHWAY IN JACKSON COUNTY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
803 AM CST FRI JAN 6 1995

     ADDITIONAL REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE:

     ETOWAH COUNTY - ICING ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES THROUGHOUT THE
                     COUNTY.

     CULLMAN COUNTY - ICING ON BRIDGES IN THE EASTERN HALF OF THE
                      COUNTY.

     JACKSON COUNTY - HIGHWAYS 35 AND 40 ARE CLOSED DUE TO ICING.
                      HIGHWAY 71 ON THE MOUNTAIN IS ICY.

     MADISON COUNTY - INTERSTATE 565 GOING WEST FROM HUNTSVILLE HAS ICY
                      SPOTS ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES.

     PATCHY RAIN AND FREEZING RAIN CONTINUED ACROSS NORTHERN ALABAMA.
FREEZING RAIN WAS CONFINED MAINLY TO THE SECTIONS OF ALABAMA NORTH,
NORTHEAST, AND DUE EAST OF BIRMINGHAM.  WEST, SOUTHWEST, SOUTH, AND
SOUTHEAST OF BIRMINGHAM, THE PRECIPITATION WAS FALLING AS RAIN.
HOWEVER, THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE NORTHERN HALF OF ALABAMA, ICING REMAINED
A THREAT ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES DUE TO THE COLDNESS OF THOSE
STRUCTURES.  MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION.

Special weather statement, Jan 6, 8:10 AM CST, 51 minutes before

ALZ011>029-031>035-039-061455-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED HIGHWAY IN JACKSON COUNTY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
803 AM CST FRI JAN 6 1995

     ADDITIONAL REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE:

     ETOWAH COUNTY - ICING ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES THROUGHOUT THE
                     COUNTY.

     CULLMAN COUNTY - ICING ON BRIDGES IN THE EASTERN HALF OF THE
                      COUNTY.

     JACKSON COUNTY - HIGHWAYS 35 AND 40 ARE CLOSED DUE TO ICING.
                      HIGHWAY 71 ON THE MOUNTAIN IS ICY.

     MADISON COUNTY - INTERSTATE 565 GOING WEST FROM HUNTSVILLE HAS ICY
                      SPOTS ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES.

     PATCHY RAIN AND FREEZING RAIN CONTINUED ACROSS NORTHERN ALABAMA.
FREEZING RAIN WAS CONFINED MAINLY TO THE SECTIONS OF ALABAMA NORTH,
NORTHEAST, AND DUE EAST OF BIRMINGHAM.  WEST, SOUTHWEST, SOUTH, AND
SOUTHEAST OF BIRMINGHAM, THE PRECIPITATION WAS FALLING A>S RAIN.
HOWEVER, THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE NORTHERN HALF OF ALABAMA, ICING REMAINED
A THREAT ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES DUE TO THE COLDNESS OF THOSE
STRUCTURES.  MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION.

Special weather statement, Jan 6, 8:47 AM CST, 14 minutes before

ALZ013-022-061550-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
847 AM CST FRI JAN 6 1995

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A REASONABLY STRONG THUNDERSTORM
MOVING AT OVER 70 MILES AN HOUR.  WITH THIS KIND OF FORWARD MOTION,
STRONG AND GUSTY WIND IS POSSIBLE WITH THE THUNDERSTORM.  PEOPLE
ESPECIALLY IN FAYETTE COUNTY SHOULD BE ALERT TO RAPIDLY CHANGING
CONDITIONS DURING THE NEXT 30 MINUTES.

ADDTIONAL PATCHY RAIN AND SHOWER ACTIVITY WAS OCCURRING ACROSS CENTRAL
AND NORTHERN ALABAMA.

TEMPERATURES HAVE WARMED CONSIDERABLY HOWEVER SOME ICY CONDITIONS MAY
STILL EXIST ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND ON BRIDGES AND OVER
PASSES IN THE AREA MAINLY NORTH OF THE BIRMINGHAM AND ANNISTON AREAS.

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jan 6, 1:04 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marengo	26 min
Jan 6, 1:10 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale	50 min
Jan 6, 2:07 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Tuscaloosa	38 min
Jan 6, 2:18 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	42 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 1995 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1995

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.