Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1995

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 20, NWS Birmingham, AL

February 15, 1995Marion County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Feb 15, 1995, 9:35 PM CST for Marion County, Alabama. It was in force for 40 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Feb 15, 1995, 9:35 PM CST (03:35 UTC)
Expired
Feb 15, 1995, 10:15 PM CST
In force
40 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Whole counties

County Marion County, AL

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 3.6 hours before the alert went out and 148 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 1995-02-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 660 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 1995-02-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 313 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
660 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-24 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
532 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
60 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
313 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
346 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
5.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KBHM 160337 RRA
SVRBHM
ALC093-160415-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
935 PM CST WED FEB 15 1995
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1015 PM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN NORTH ALABAMA
 
   ...MARION COUNTY
 
AT 934 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS INDICATED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM OVER EXTREME EASTERN ITAWAMBA COUNTY MISSISSIPPI MOVING TO
THE EAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR. THE COMMUNITIES OF BEXAR...SHOTTSVILLE...
AND HAMILTON ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM.
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LtIGHTNING...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, Feb 15, 7:27 PM CST, 2 hours 8 minutes before
ALZ011>029-031>035-039-160225-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...COR TO THIRD PARAGRAPH...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
722 PM CST WED FEB 15 1995

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR MOST OF WEST AND
CENTRAL ALABAMA...

AT 715 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR
CONTINUED TO INDICATE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER SHELBY...BIBB...
PERRY...HALE...AND GREEN COUNTIES.  THE STRONGEST STORM WAS LOCATED
OVER THE BIBB AND CHILTON COUNTY LINE JUST NORTH OF MAPLESVILLE.
ALL OF THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 45 MILES AN
HOUR.

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL...STRONG GUSTY WIND...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND
SMALL HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THIS AREA.

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.
Special weather statement, Feb 15, 7:52 PM CST, 1 hour 43 minutes before
ALZ036>038-040>047-049-050-054-057-058-060-065>069-160355-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
752 PM CST WED FEB 15 1995

...TORNADO WATCH IN AFFECT FOR MUCH OF SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN
ALABAMA UNTIL MIDNIGHT...

AT 745 PM CST THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT MONTGOMERY
INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EMBEDDED WITHIN AN AREA OF
RAINSHOWERS EXTENDING FROM DEMOPOLIS TO CENTERVILLE TO TALLADEGA
ALABAMA. THE STONGEST OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WAS 5 MILES WEST OF
MAPLESVILLE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 30 MPH.  ALSO INDICATED ON RADAR A
LINE OF RAINSHOWERS EXTENDING FROM WEST OF COLUMBUS GEORGIA TO
NEAR ANDALUSIA ALABAMA MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY CONTAIN SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS...DEADLY
LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.
Special weather statement, Feb 15, 7:54 PM CST, 1 hour 41 minutes before
ALZ036>038-040>047-049-050-054-057-058-060-065>069-160355-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
752 PM CST WED FEB 15 1995

...TORNADO WATCH IN AFFECT FOR MUCH OF SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN
ALABAMA UNTIL MIDNIGHT...

AT 745 PM CST THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT MONTGOMERY
INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EMBEDDED WITHIN AN AREA OF
RAINSHOWERS EXTENDING FROM DEMOPOLIS TO CENTERVILLE TO TALLADEGA
ALABAMA. THE STONGEST OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WAS 5 MILES WEST OF
MAPLESVILLE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 30 MPH.  ALSO INDICATED ON RADAR A
LINE OF RAINSHOWERS EXTENDING FROM WEST OF COLUMBUS GEORGIA TO
NEAR ANDALUSIA ALABAMA MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY CONTAIN SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS...DEADLY
LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.
Special weather statement, Feb 15, 7:59 PM CST, 1 hour 36 minutes before
ALZ011>029-031>035-039-160300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
759 PM CST WED FEB 15 1995

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR MOST OF WEST AND
CENTRAL ALABAMA...

AT 755 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHERN CALHOUN...SHELBY...BIBB...CHILTON...AND
PERRY COUNTIES.  THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE LOCATED OVER CHILTON COUNTY
EAST OF UNION GROVE...AND OVER SOUTHERN CALHOUN COUNTY JUST SOUTHWEST OF
ANNISTON NEAR BYNUM.  ALL OF THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE
NORTHEAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR.

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL...STRONG GUSTY WIND...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND
SMALL HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL BROADCAST MEDIA FOR
FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Feb 15, 8:48 PM CST, 47 minutes before
ALZ011>029-031>035-039-160350-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
848 PM CST WED FEB 15 1995

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR MOST OF WEST AND
CENTRAL ALABAMA...

AT 845 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUTED TO
INDICATE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER SHELBY...TALLADEGA...CLAY...
CALHOUN...AND CLEBURNE COUNTIES.  THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE LOCATED
OVER SOUTHEASTERN SHELBY COUNTY JUST NORTH OF WILSONVILLE...AND WESTERN
TALLADEGA COUTNY NEAR CHILDERSBURG.  ALL OF THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE
MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL...STRONG GUSTY WIND...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND
SMALL HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

HEAVY RAIN COULD CAUSE SMALLER STREAMS TO RISE RAPIDLY AND FLOOD.
FLOODING OF DRAINAGE DITCHES...LOW SPOTS...PARKING LOTS...
UNDERPASSES AND OTHER POORLY DRAINED AREAS IS ALSO POSSIBLE.
Special weather statement, Feb 15, 9:35 PM CST, 0 minutes before
ALZALL-160400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
935 PM CST WED FEB 15 1995

THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES HAVE BEEN CLEARED FROM TORNADO WATCH
NUMBER 66:  CHOCTAW...CLARKE...MONROE...WASHINGTON...CONECUH...
ESCAMBIA...COVINGTON...COFFEE...GENEVA.  THE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT
UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR ALL OTHER PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED COUNTIES.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 15, 10:48 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXLawrence, Madison, Morgan4 hr
Feb 15, 10:48 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXFranklin4 hr
Feb 15, 11:28 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXJackson3 hr
Feb 16, 2:11 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarion49 min
Feb 16, 2:22 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXFranklin68 min
Feb 16, 2:22 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFranklin68 min
Feb 16, 2:49 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXColbert, Lauderdale56 min
Feb 16, 2:49 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXColbert, Lauderdale56 min
Feb 16, 3:12 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXLawrence63 min
Feb 16, 3:12 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLawrence63 min
Feb 16, 3:27 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarion63 min
Feb 16, 3:45 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXWinston60 min
Feb 16, 3:54 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXLimestone, Morgan66 min
Feb 16, 3:54 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLimestone, Morgan66 min
Feb 16, 4:01 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXWinston29 min
Feb 16, 4:22 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMadison68 min
Feb 16, 4:25 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCullman50 min
Feb 16, 5:00 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXMarshall45 min
Feb 16, 5:03 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJackson42 min
Feb 16, 5:22 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMorgan53 min
Feb 16, 5:32 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXDeKalb43 min
Feb 16, 5:44 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMadison31 min
Feb 16, 6:07 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJackson, Marshall53 min
Feb 16, 6:21 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa48 min
Feb 16, 6:46 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDeKalb29 min
Feb 16, 7:25 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson35 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.