Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 92, NWS Birmingham, AL

January 24, 1997Cherokee County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jan 24, 1997, 8:59 PM CST for Cherokee County, Alabama. It was in force for 31 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: Jan 24, 1997, 8:59 PM CST (02:59 UTC)
Expired: Jan 24, 1997, 9:30 PM CST
In force: 31 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Whole counties

County Cherokee County, AL

The watch it was issued in

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

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Jan 24, 4:45 PM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 3.0 hours before the alert went out and 136 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: 128 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -79 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 517 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 66 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 186 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 173 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KBHM 250259 RRA
SVRBHM
ALC019-250330-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
859 PM CST FRI JAN 24 1997
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  930 PM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN NORTH ALABAMA
 
   ...CHEROKEE COUNTY
 
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER CENTRAL CHEROKEE COUNTY NEAR
CENTRE. THIS STORM WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS EASTERN CHEROKEE COUNTY AT 40
MPH.
 
 
 
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

Local storm report, Jan 24, 3:14 PM CST, 5 hours 45 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
314 PM CST FRI JAN 24 1997

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

0250 PM                              AL   2 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   WINSTON                        2 INCH DIAMETER SIZE HAIL
                                          JUST WEST OF DOUBLE
                                          SPRINGS

0307 PM                              AL   2 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   WINSTON                        2 INCH DIAMETER HAIL
                                          REPORTED NEAR ADDISON

0310 PM                              AL   2 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   WINSTON                        EMA REPORTS 2 INCH
                                          DIAMETER HAIL ALONG THE
                                          ENTIRE STORM PATH IN
                                          EASTERN WINSTON COUNTY

Local storm report, Jan 24, 3:15 PM CST, 5 hours 44 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
314 PM CST FRI JAN 24 1997

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

0250 PM                              AL   2 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   WINSTON                        2 INCH DIAMETER SIZE HAIL
                                          JUST WEST OF DOUBLE
                                          SPRINGS

0307 PM                              AL   2 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   WINSTON                        2 INCH DIAMETER HAIL
                                          REPORTED NEAR ADDISON

0310 PM                              AL   2 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   WINSTON      &                  EMA REPORTS 2 INCH
                                          DIAMETER HAIL ALONG THE
                                          ENTIRE STORM PATH IN
                                          EASTERN WINSTON COUNTY

Local storm report, Jan 24, 4:30 PM CST, 4 hours 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
430 PM CST FRI JAN 24 1997

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

0215 PM    DELMAR                    AL   2 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   WINSTON                        2 INCH DIAMETER HAIL NEAR
                                          DELMAR

0327 PM                              AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   CULLMAN                        GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL
                                          REPORTED NEAR JONES CHAPEL

0327 PM                              AL   TORNADO
01/24/97   CULLMAN                        TORNADO NEAR JONES CHAPEL
                                          NO DAMAGE REPORTS

0335 PM                              AL   TORNADO
01/24/97   WINSTON                        NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER
                                          LINES DOWN NEAR MORELAND
                                          WITH 2 INCH DIAMETER HAIL
                                          COVERING THE GROUND

0417 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   MARION                         DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED SW
                                          OF HALEYVILLE IN MARION
                                          CO.

Local storm report, Jan 24, 5:35 PM CST, 3 hours 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
535 PM CST FRI JAN 24 1997

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

0335 PM                              AL   TORNADO
01/24/97   CULLMAN                        UNCONFIRMED TORNADO IN
                                          WESTERN CULLMAN CO...AT
                                          LEAST 7 HOMES DAMAGED

0423 PM    MIDFIELD                  AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZED HAIL IN
                                          MIDFIELD...REPORTED BY
                                          SHERIFF
0444 PM    VESTAVIA HILLS            AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL IN VESTAVIA
                                          HILLS REPORTED BY NWS
                                          EMPLOYEE

0453 PM                              AL   2 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      50 CENT PIECE SIZED HAIL
                                          REPORTED NEAR LIBERTY PARK
                                          AND HIGHWAY 459

0455 PM                              AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL
                                          REPORTED NEAR HOMEWOOD

0500 PM                              AL   1 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   SHELBY                         QUARTER SIZED HAIL
                                          REPORTED IN MEADOWBROOK

0518 PM                              AL   TORNADO
01/24/97   TUSCALOOSA                     UNCONFIRMED TORNADO NEAR
                                          THE COTTONDALE
                                          AREA...BROOKWOOD AREA AT
                                          LEAST 3 HOMES DAMAGED

0518 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED
                                          NEAR LEEDS

Local storm report, Jan 24, 5:37 PM CST, 3 hours 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
535 PM CST FRI JAN 24 1997

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

0335 PM                              AL   TORNADO
01/24/97   CULLMAN                        UNCONFIRMED TORNADO IN
                                          WESTERN CULLMAN CO...AT
                                          LEAST 7 HOMES DAMAGED

0423 PM    MIDFIELD                  AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZED HAIL IN
                                          MIDFIELD...REPORTED BY
                                          SHERIFF
0444 PM    VESTAVIA HILLS            AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL IN VESTAVIA
                                          HILLS REPORTED BY NWS
                                          EMPLOYEE

0453 PM                              AL   2 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      50 CENT PIECE SIZED HAIL
                                          REPORTED NEAR LIBERTY PARK
                                          AND HIGHWAY 459

0455 PM                              AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL
                                          REPORTED NEAR HOMEWOOD

0500 PM                              AL   1 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   SHELBY                         QUARTER SIZED HAIL
                                          REPORTED IN MEADOWBROOK

0518 PM                              AL   TORNADO
01/24/97   TUSCALOOSA                     UNCONFIRMED TORNADO NEAR
                                          THE COTTONDALE
                                          AREA...BROOKWOOD AREA AT
                                          LEAST 3 HOMES DAMAGED

0518 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED
                                          NEAR LEEDS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jan 24, 6:10 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Franklin	65 min
Jan 24, 6:14 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker	61 min
Jan 24, 6:17 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Winston	43 min
Jan 24, 6:20 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Morgan	55 min
Jan 24, 6:23 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cleburne	52 min
Jan 24, 6:30 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Franklin	60 min
Jan 24, 6:32 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	St. Clair	43 min
Jan 24, 6:35 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jackson	55 min
Jan 24, 6:38 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Talladega	37 min
Jan 24, 6:45 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lawrence	60 min
Jan 24, 6:45 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marshall	60 min
Jan 24, 6:54 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cullman	51 min
Jan 24, 6:54 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	51 min
Jan 24, 6:59 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marshall	61 min
Jan 24, 7:01 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	44 min
Jan 24, 7:09 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Morgan	66 min
Jan 24, 7:09 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	DeKalb	66 min
Jan 24, 7:11 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun	64 min
Jan 24, 7:31 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Limestone, Madison	59 min
Jan 24, 7:31 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount	44 min
Jan 24, 7:37 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cleburne	53 min
Jan 24, 7:41 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker	49 min
Jan 24, 7:46 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pickens, Tuscaloosa	59 min
Jan 24, 7:53 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Etowah	52 min
Jan 24, 7:55 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jackson	65 min
Jan 24, 8:01 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cullman	59 min
Jan 24, 8:01 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	59 min
Jan 24, 8:09 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	St. Clair	36 min
Jan 24, 8:12 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	DeKalb	63 min
Jan 24, 8:24 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	51 min
Jan 24, 8:28 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson	47 min
Jan 24, 8:33 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker	57 min
Jan 24, 8:35 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Sumter	40 min
Jan 24, 8:41 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	49 min
Jan 24, 8:51 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb	69 min
Jan 24, 8:51 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby	69 min
Jan 24, 8:51 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Hale	69 min
Jan 24, 9:03 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount, St. Clair	27 min
Jan 24, 9:12 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Sumter	48 min
Jan 24, 9:45 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Etowah	30 min
Jan 24, 9:56 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Hale, Shelby	64 min
Jan 24, 9:56 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Sumter	64 min
Jan 24, 9:56 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, St. Clair, Talladega	64 min
Jan 24, 10:18 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	42 min
Jan 24, 10:23 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cleburne	67 min
Jan 24, 10:45 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marengo	45 min
Jan 24, 11:01 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chilton	44 min
Jan 24, 11:29 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga	31 min
Jan 24, 11:32 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Perry	28 min
Jan 24, 11:36 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Dallas	54 min
Jan 25, 12:09 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga	51 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.