Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1995

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 147, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 21, 1995Calhoun County, Talladega County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 21, 1995, 12:18 AM CDT for Calhoun County, Talladega County, Alabama. It was in force for 57 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 21, 1995, 12:18 AM CDT (05:18 UTC)
Expired
Apr 21, 1995, 1:15 AM CDT
In force
57 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Whole counties

Counties Calhoun County, AL, Talladega County, AL

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 5.3 hours before the alert went out and 85 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, Birmingham, AL at 00:00Z on 1995-04-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1059 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, Birmingham, AL at 00:00Z on 1995-04-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 175 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
1059 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-20 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
943 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
175 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
177 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.1
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 210519
SVRBHM
ALC121-015-210615-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1218 AM CDT FRI APR 21 1995
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  115 AM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN CENTRAL ALABAMA
 
   ...TALLADEGA COUNTY
 
IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA
 
   ...CALHOUN COUNTY
 
AT 12:15AM WEATHER RADAR INDICATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO
CALHOUN AND TALLADEGA COUNTY. THE SEVERE STORMS EXTENDED FROM PELL CITY
SOUTHWEST INTO COLUMBIANA. THESE STORMS WILL MOVE INTO TALLADEGA
COUNTY WITHIN THE NEXT 10 MINUTES AND CALHOUN COUNTY WITH THE NEXT 15 MI
TTHE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.
 
 
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.
 
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 BUSINESSt.  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, Apr 20, 8:00 PM CDT, 4 hours 18 minutes before
ALZALL-210200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
800 PM CDT THU APR 20 1995

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 238 HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR MUCH OF NORTH AND WEST
ALABAMA UNTIL 200 AM CDT.  SINCE THIS WATCH REPLACED TORNADO WATCH
NUMBER 237...A TORNADO WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...CLEBURNE...CLAY...RANDOLPH...COOSA...TALLAPOOSA...CHAMBERS
...AUTAUGA...AND ELMORE.
Local storm report, Apr 20, 10:35 PM CDT, 1 hour 43 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1030 PM CDT THU APR 20 1995

TIME(CDT)      .....CITY LOCATION.....  STATE      ...EVENT/REMARKS...
               ....COUNTY LOCATION....

351 PM         3 W SULLIGENT            AL         QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED
4/20/95        LAMAR

422 PM         BETWEEN GUIN & WINFIELD  AL         FUNNEL CLOUD SPOTTED AT HWY
4/20/95        MARION                              129 & 78 BETWEEN GUIN AND
                                                   WINFIELD.  REPORTED BY
                                                   MARION CTY EMA.
432 PM         GUIN                     AL         DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY
4/20/95        MARION                              MARION CTY EMA.

432 PM         NORTHERN MARION CTY      AL         UNCONFIRMED TORNADO
4/20/95        MARION                              REPORTED BY MARION CTY EMA.
715 PM         BEAR CREEK               AL         POWER LINES DOWN REPORTED
4/20/95        MARION                              BY HAMILTON STATE.

828 PM         VERNON                   AL         TRAILERS OVERTURNED AND
4/20/95        LAMAR                               A TREE REPORTED DOWNED ON
                                                   VEHICLES.

858 PM         VERNON                   AL         4 INJURED PERSONS AND
4/20/95        LAMAR                               POWER OUTAGE REPORTED BY
                                                   RETIRED NWS EMPLOYEE.

903 PM         WHITEHOUSE AREA          AL         POWERLINES AND TREES
4/20/95        MARION                              DOWNED IN WHITEHOUSE AREA
                                                   ON HIGHWAY 129.
900 PM         NEAR HALEYVILLE          AL         TORNADO SPOTTED
4/20/95        WINSTON/MARION                      NEAR HALEYVILLE

911 PM        HALEYVILLE               AL         LARGE HAIL REPORTED.  ALSO
4/20/95       WINSTON                             TREES AND POWER LINES
                                                  DOWNED.

903 PM        WHITEHOUSE AREA          AL         TRAILER OVERTURNED WITH
4/20/95       MARION                              POSSIBLE INJURIES.

825 PM        VERNON                   AL         7 INJURIES IN VERNON
4/20/95       LAMAR

900 PM        WHITEHOUSE/HALEYVILLE    AL         15 INJURIES NEAR WHITEHOUSE
4/20/95       MARION                              AND HALEYVILLE.  REPORTED
                                                  BY MARION CTY EMA
Special weather statement, Apr 20, 11:27 PM CDT, 51 minutes before
ALZ001>004-011>014-022-210500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1125 PM CDT THU APR 20 1995

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 238 IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING
ALABAMA COUNbTIES...LAUDERDALE...COLBERT...LAWRENCE...FRANKLIN...
MARION...WINSTON...LAMAR...FAYETTE...AND PICKENS.
Special weather statement, Apr 20, 11:41 PM CDT, 37 minutes before
ALZ040-041-210645-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
1140 PM CDT THU APR 20 1995

....TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT TILL 2 AM CDT....

AT 1030 PM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT MONTGOMERY INDICATED A
LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EMBEDDED IN AN AREA OF RAINSHOWERS.  THE
THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED JUST NORTH OF DEMOPOLIS...IN MORENGO
COUNTY... TO GREENSBORO...IN HALE COUNTY...TO 15 MILES NORTH OF WEST
BLOCTON...IN BIBB COUNTY.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING TO THE EAST
AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO
DALLAS COUNTY WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR TO HOUR AND A HALF AND WILL MOVE INTO
AUTAUGA WITHIN THE NEXT TWO HOURS.

WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A
STRONG BUILDING.  DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.  DON'T USE TELEPHONES
OR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY UNTIL THE STORM
HAS PASSED.  MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS.

STRONG GUSTY WINDS...DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND
VERY HEAVY RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.  MOTORISTS
SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR SUDDEN REDUCTIONS IN VISIBILITY IN AREAS
OF HEAVY RAIN. YOU SHOULD WATCH FOR PONDING ON AREA ROADWAYS AND
BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE HYDROPLANING.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 20, 7:38 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLamar52 min
Apr 20, 7:38 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXPickens16 min
Apr 20, 7:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFranklin67 min
Apr 20, 8:05 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Marion55 min
Apr 20, 8:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXColbert, Lawrence55 min
Apr 20, 8:26 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXColbert, Lawrence64 min
Apr 20, 8:28 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLamar32 min
Apr 20, 8:39 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLauderdale56 min
Apr 20, 8:51 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXFranklin44 min
Apr 20, 8:53 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXWinston67 min
Apr 20, 8:57 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLamar33 min
Apr 20, 8:58 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarion32 min
Apr 20, 9:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPickens66 min
Apr 20, 9:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette64 min
Apr 20, 9:21 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLawrence69 min
Apr 20, 9:41 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLimestone64 min
Apr 20, 9:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Sumter58 min
Apr 20, 9:52 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMorgan68 min
Apr 20, 9:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCullman, Walker, Winston62 min
Apr 20, 9:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTuscaloosa62 min
Apr 20, 10:14 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette46 min
Apr 20, 10:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPickens42 min
Apr 20, 10:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTuscaloosa, Walker31 min
Apr 20, 10:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCullman63 min
Apr 20, 10:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMorgan17 min
Apr 20, 11:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXHale55 min
Apr 20, 11:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Jefferson63 min
Apr 20, 11:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXShelby58 min
Apr 20, 11:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount56 min
Apr 20, 11:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXSt. Clair55 min
Apr 21, 12:05 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChilton55 min
Apr 21, 12:05 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXEtowah55 min
Apr 21, 12:12 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarengo, Perry63 min
Apr 21, 12:37 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDeKalb, Jackson68 min
Apr 21, 12:39 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCherokee45 min
Apr 21, 1:50 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChilton40 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 1995Every 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.