Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 96, NWS Birmingham, AL

January 24, 1997Greene County, Sumter County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jan 24, 1997, 9:56 PM CST for Greene County, Sumter County, Alabama. It was in force for 64 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, 9:56 PM CST (03:56 UTC)
Expired
Jan 24, 1997, 11:00 PM CST
In force
64 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Whole counties

Counties Greene County, AL, Sumter County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 132 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:58 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.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jan 24, 3:30 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC7 hr
Jan 24, 9:00 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 3.9 hours before the alert went out and 131 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 1997-01-25Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 966 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 1997-01-25The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 494 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
966 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-6 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
568 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
53 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
494 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
542 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
2.9
Supercell composite
11.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KBHM 250357 RRA
SVRBHM
ALC007-117-115-121-015-063-065-119-250500-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
956 PM CST FRI JAN 24 1997
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1100 PM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN CENTRAL ALABAMA
 
   ...BIBB COUNTY...SHELBY COUNTY...EASTERN ST. CLAIR COUNTY
   ...TALLADEGA COUNTY
 
IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA
 
   ...CALHOUN COUNTY
 
IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA
 
   ...SOUTHERN GREENE COUNTY...HALE COUNTY
   ...SOUTHERN SUMTER COUNTY
 
A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE PERIODS OF AT
LEAST DIME SIZE HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAINS...AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS AS IT
MOVES EAST AT 35 MPH. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL REPORTS OF DIME SIZE HAIL
UP AND DOWN THIS LINE OVER THE PAST 30 MINUTES.
 
THE LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE NEAR A JACKSONVILLE TO
COLUMBIANA TO SOUTH OF GREENSBORO LINE AROUND 1030 PM.
 
 
 
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, 9:12 PM CST, 44 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
915 PM CST FRI JAN 24 1997

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

0545 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED
                                          IN BESSEMER..HUEYTOWN..AND
                                          TRUSSVILLE

0600 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   CALHOUN                        DIME SIZE HAIL NEAR
                                          HIGHWAY 78 NEAR TALLEDEGA
                                          BORDER

0605 PM    FAYETTE                   AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   FAYETTE                        DIME SIZE HAIL COVERING
                                          THE GROUND IN FAYETTE

0610 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      LARGER THAN DIME SIZE HAIL
                                          REPORTED NEAR HIGHWAY 65
                                          AND VALLEYDALE RD

0627 PM    VESTAVIA HILLS            AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY
                                          NWS EMPLOYEE

0652 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   WALKER                         DIME SIZED HAIL NEAR
                                          HIGHWAY 78 AND THE WARRIOR
                                          RIVER

0653 PM                              AL   .88 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   WALKER                         NICKEL SIZE HAIL NEAR THE
                                          BOLDO COMMUNITY

0700 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   ST CLAIR                       DIME SIZE HAIL NEAR LOGAN
                                          MARTIN DAM
Local storm report, Jan 24, 9:15 PM CST, 41 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
915 PM CST FRI JAN 24 1997

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

0545 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED
                                          IN BESSEMER..HUEYTOWN..AND
                                          TRUSSVILLE

0600 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   CALHOUN                        DIME SIZE HAIL NEAR
                                          HIGHWAY 78 NEAR TALLEDEGA
                                          BORDER

0605 PM    FAYETTE                   AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   FAYETTE                        DIME SIZE HAIL COVERING
                                          THE GROUND IN FAYETTE

0610 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      LARGER THAN DIME SIZE HAIL
                                          REPORTED NEAR HIGHWAY 65
                                          AND VALLEYDALE RD

0627 PM    VESTAVIA HILLS            AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY
                                          NWS EMPLOYEE

0652 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   WALKER                         DIME SIZED HAIL NEAR
                                          HIGHWAY 78 AND THE WARRIOR
                                          RIVER

0653 PM                              AL   .88 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   WALKER                         NICKEL SIZE HAIL NEAR THE
                                          BOLDO COMMUNITY

0700 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   ST CLAIR                       DIME SIZE HAIL NEAR LOGAN
                                          MARTIN DAM
Special weather statement, Jan 24, 9:18 PM CST, 38 minutes before
ALZ011>014-250400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
918 PM CST FRI JAN 24 1997

THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 29:
MARION...WINSTON...LAMAR AND FAYETTE.
Special weather statement, Jan 24, 9:19 PM CST, 37 minutes before
ALZ011>014-250400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
918 PM CST FRI JAN 24 1997

THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 29:
MARION...WINSTON...LAMAR AND FAYETTE.
Local storm report, Jan 24, 9:29 PM CST, 27 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
930 PM CST FRI JAN 24 1997

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

0330 PM    TUSCALOOSA                AL   1.25 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   TUSCALOOSA                     HAIL LARGER THAN HALF
                                          DOLLAR SIZE REPORTED IN
                                          TUSCALOOSA BY PD

0410 PM                              AL   TORNADO
01/24/97   BLOUNT                         UNCONFIRMED TORNADO NEAR
                                          BROOKSVILLE..HOMES..TRAIL
                                          ERS DAMAGED AND MANY POWER
                                          LINES DOWN

0720 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   BLOUNT                         DIME SIZE HAIL AT EXIT 284
                                          ON I-65

0740 PM    ANNISTON                  AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   CALHOUN                        GOLFBALL SIZED HAIL
                                          REPORTED NEAR ANNISTON BY
                                          SHERIFF

0755 PM    ANNISTON                  AL   WIND DAMAGE
01/24/97   CALHOUN                        FEW TREES DOWN NEAR
                                          ANNISTON REPORTED BY EMA

0850 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED
                                          NEAR BIRMINGPORT

0904 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   TUSCALOOSA                     DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED
                                          NEAR NORTHPORT

0907 PM                              AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL
                                          REPORTED NEAR HUEYTOWN

0923 PM                       >       AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED
                                          NEAR CENTERPOINT
Local storm report, Jan 24, 9:30 PM CST, 26 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
930 PM CST FRI JAN 24 1997

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

0330 PM    TUSCALOOSA                AL   1.25 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   TUSCALOOSA                     HAIL LARGER THAN HALF
                                          DOLLAR SIZE REPORTED IN
                                          TUSCALOOSA BY PD

0410 PM                              AL   TORNADO
01/24/97   BLOUNT                         UNCONFIRMED TORNADO NEAR
                                          BROOKSVILLE..HOMES..TRAIL
                                          ERS DAMAGED AND MANY POWER
                                          LINES DOWN

0720 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   BLOUNT                         DIME SIZE HAIL AT EXIT 284
                                          ON I-65

0740 PM    ANNISTON                  AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   CALHOUN                        GOLFBALL SIZED HAIL
                                          REPORTED NEAR ANNISTON BY
                                          SHERIFF

0755 PM    ANNISTON                  AL   WIND DAMAGE
01/24/97   CALHOUN                        FEW TREES DOWN NEAR
                                          ANNISTON REPORTED BY EMA

0850 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED
                                          NEAR BIRMINGPORT

0904 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   TUSCALOOSA                     DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED
                                          NEAR NORTHPORT

0907 PM                              AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL
                                          REPORTED NEAR HUEYTOWN

0923 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
01/24/97   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED
                                          NEAR CENTERPOINT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 24, 6:10 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFranklin65 min
Jan 24, 6:14 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXWalker61 min
Jan 24, 6:17 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXWinston43 min
Jan 24, 6:20 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMorgan55 min
Jan 24, 6:23 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCleburne52 min
Jan 24, 6:30 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXFranklin60 min
Jan 24, 6:32 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXSt. Clair43 min
Jan 24, 6:35 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJackson55 min
Jan 24, 6:38 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXTalladega37 min
Jan 24, 6:45 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLawrence60 min
Jan 24, 6:45 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarshall60 min
Jan 24, 6:54 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCullman51 min
Jan 24, 6:54 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson51 min
Jan 24, 6:59 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXMarshall61 min
Jan 24, 7:01 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount44 min
Jan 24, 7:09 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMorgan66 min
Jan 24, 7:09 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDeKalb66 min
Jan 24, 7:11 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun64 min
Jan 24, 7:31 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLimestone, Madison59 min
Jan 24, 7:31 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXBlount44 min
Jan 24, 7:37 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, Cleburne53 min
Jan 24, 7:41 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXWalker49 min
Jan 24, 7:46 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa59 min
Jan 24, 7:53 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXEtowah52 min
Jan 24, 7:55 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJackson65 min
Jan 24, 8:01 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCullman59 min
Jan 24, 8:01 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson59 min
Jan 24, 8:09 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXSt. Clair36 min
Jan 24, 8:12 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDeKalb63 min
Jan 24, 8:24 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount51 min
Jan 24, 8:28 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXJefferson47 min
Jan 24, 8:33 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXWalker57 min
Jan 24, 8:35 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Sumter40 min
Jan 24, 8:41 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTuscaloosa49 min
Jan 24, 8:51 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb69 min
Jan 24, 8:51 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson, St. Clair, Shelby69 min
Jan 24, 8:51 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXHale69 min
Jan 24, 8:59 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCherokee31 min
Jan 24, 9:03 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXBlount, St. Clair27 min
Jan 24, 9:12 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Sumter48 min
Jan 24, 9:45 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXEtowah30 min
Jan 24, 9:56 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Hale, Shelby64 min
Jan 24, 9:56 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, St. Clair, Talladega64 min
Jan 24, 10:18 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson42 min
Jan 24, 10:23 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCleburne67 min
Jan 24, 10:45 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarengo45 min
Jan 24, 11:01 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChilton44 min
Jan 24, 11:29 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga31 min
Jan 24, 11:32 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPerry28 min
Jan 24, 11:36 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDallas54 min
Jan 25, 12:09 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga51 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 1997Every 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.