Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 294, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 2, 1997Cullman County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 2, 1997, 7:05 PM CDT for Cullman County, Alabama. It was in force for 50 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: May 2, 1997, 7:05 PM CDT (00:05 UTC)
Expired: May 2, 1997, 7:55 PM CDT
In force: 50 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Whole counties

County Cullman County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 107 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:07 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 2, 7:30 PM CDT	Hail 1.75	Baileyton, AL	Golf ball size hail was reported in Baileyton, in the northeast part of the county.

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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 2, 3:00 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 0.1 hours before the alert went out and 106 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: 1924 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -2 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 894 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 55 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 170 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 279 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 3.0
Supercell composite: 11.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

807 
WUUS1 KBHM 030005 RRA
SVRBHM
ALC043-030055-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
705 PM CDT FRI MAY 2 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM AL HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 755 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...

IN NORTHERN ALABAMA

   ...CULLMAN
 
AT 703 PM CDT...WEATHER RADAR SHOWED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES
SOUTH OF WEST POINT MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM ARE...
WEST POINT                  AROUND 707 PM CDT
GOOD HOPE                   AROUND 710 PM CDT
VINEMONT                    AROUND 714 PM CDT
CULLMAN                     AROUND 714 PM CDT
FAIRVIEW                    AROUND 726 PM CDT
 
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 FOR
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

Local storm report, May 2, 5:32 PM CDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
532 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 1997

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

0437 PM                              AL   .5 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   WINSTON                        PEA-SIZED HAIL REPORTED IN
                                          THE HALEYVILLE AND BEAR
                                          CREEK AREAS. TIME ESTIMATED
0445 PM                              AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/97   LAMAR                          TREES DOWN AND A FEW POWER
                                          LINES DOWN BETWEEN
                                          SULLIGENT AND VERNON TIME
                                          ESTIMATED

0453 PM    HAMILTON                  AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/97   MARION                         TREES DOWN IN
                                          HAMILTON...ALSO PEA-SIZED
                                          HAIL REPORTED IN VARIOUS
                                          LOCATIONS AROUND THE CO.

0505 PM                              AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/97   WINSTON                        TREES DOWN IN DOUBLE
                                          SPRINGS AREA...ALSO DIME
                                          SIZED HAIL REPORTED IN
                                          VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE
                                          WESTERN PARTS OF THE CO.

Local storm report, May 2, 5:33 PM CDT, 1 hour 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
532 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 1997

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

0437 PM                              AL   .5 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   WINSTON                        PEA-SIZED HAIL REPORTED IN
                                          THE HALEYVILLE AND BEAR
                                          CREEK AREAS. TIME ESTIMATED
0445 PM                              AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/97   LAMAR                          TREES DOWN AND A FEW POWER
                                          LINES DOWN BETWEEN
                                          SULLIGENT AND VERNON TIME
                                          ESTIMATED

0453 PM    HAMILTON                  AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/97   MARION                         TREES DOWN IN
                                          HAMILTON...ALSO PEA-SIZED
                                          HAIL REPORTED IN VARIOUS
                                          LOCATIONS AROUND THE CO.

0505 PM                              AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/97   WINSTON                        TREES DOWN IN DOUBLE
                                          SPRINGS AREA...ALSO DIME
                                          SIZED HAIL REPORTED IN
                                          VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE
                                          WESTTERN PARTS OF THE CO.

Local storm report, May 2, 6:31 PM CDT, 34 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
631 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 1997

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

0540 PM                              AL   .5 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   CULLMAN                        PEA-SIZED HAIL IN
                                          NORTHWEST PART OF THE CO.

0545 PM    HALEYVILLE                AL   .5 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   WINSTON                        MARBLE SIZED HAIL REPORTED
                                          IN HALEYVILLE.

0552 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   CULLMAN                        DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED
                                          IN NORTHWEST CULLMAN CO.

0605 PM    GUIN                      AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/97   MARION                         TREES DOWN AROUND GUIN
                                          REPORTED BY EMA

0615 PM    HALEYVILLE                AL   .5 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   WINSTON                        PEA-SIZED HAIL REPORTED IN
                                          HALEYVILLE

Local storm report, May 2, 6:33 PM CDT, 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
631 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 1997

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

0540 PM                              AL   .5 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   CULLMAN                        PEA-SIZED HAIL IN
                                          NORTHWEST PART OF THE CO.

0545 PM    HALEYVILLE                AL   .5 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   WINSTON                        MARBLE SIZED HAIL REPORTED
                                          IN HALEYVILLE.

0552 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   CULLMAN                        DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED
                                          IN NORTHWEST CULLMAN CO.

0605 PM    GUIN                      AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/97   MARION                         TREES DOWN AROUND GUIN
                                          REPORTED BY EMA

0615 PM    HALEYVILLE                AL   .5 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   WINSTON                        PEA-SIZED HAIL REPORTED IN
                                          HALEYVILLE

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 2, 7:13 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Cullman	47 min
May 2, 7:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Madison, Morgan	55 min
May 2, 7:29 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marshall	61 min
May 2, 7:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jackson	63 min
May 2, 8:03 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	DeKalb	57 min
May 2, 8:11 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	DeKalb	49 min
May 2, 8:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marshall	60 min
May 2, 8:42 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Cherokee	33 min
May 2, 8:54 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lamar	61 min
May 2, 9:22 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette	78 min
May 2, 9:37 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marion	48 min
May 2, 9:56 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Walker	64 min
May 2, 10:20 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lamar	65 min
May 2, 10:23 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Winston	32 min
May 2, 10:28 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Cullman	62 min
May 2, 10:41 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	DeKalb, Jackson, Marshall	4 hr
May 2, 10:47 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette	63 min
May 2, 11:06 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount	49 min
May 2, 11:10 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Walker	50 min
May 2, 11:12 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Cullman, Marion, Walker, Winston	3 hr
May 2, 11:12 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar	3 hr
May 2, 11:32 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marshall	43 min
May 2, 11:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar	49 min
May 2, 11:51 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cullman	49 min
May 2, 11:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Etowah	64 min
May 3, 12:01 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	DeKalb, Jackson	59 min
May 3, 12:01 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker	34 min
May 3, 12:05 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette	65 min
May 3, 12:15 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Etowah	45 min
May 3, 12:22 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Cherokee	48 min
May 3, 12:24 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	66 min
May 3, 1:42 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cullman	33 min
May 3, 1:45 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	50 min
May 3, 1:57 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker	4 hr
May 3, 1:57 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Cullman, Winston	4 hr
May 3, 1:57 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Blount	4 hr
May 3, 2:32 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	DeKalb, Jackson, Marshall	3 hr
May 3, 3:27 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	48 min
May 3, 3:54 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene	36 min
May 3, 3:59 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Hale	31 min
May 3, 5:06 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Talladega	49 min
May 3, 5:37 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chilton	63 min
May 3, 6:11 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Coosa	49 min
May 3, 6:33 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Elmore, Montgomery	47 min
May 3, 6:33 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tallapoosa	47 min
May 3, 7:40 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lee	35 min
May 3, 7:58 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Russell	47 min
May 3, 8:04 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Macon	31 min
May 3, 8:25 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lee	30 min
May 3, 8:39 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Russell	46 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 1997 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1997

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.