Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 113, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 19, 1998Chilton County, Dallas County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 19, 1998, 11:39 PM CST for Chilton County, Dallas County, Alabama. It was in force for 61 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
Mar 19, 1998, 11:39 PM CST (05:39 UTC)
Expired
Mar 20, 1998, 12:40 AM CST
In force
61 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Whole counties

Counties Chilton County, AL, Dallas County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 66 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:39 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 20, 12:10 AM CSTHail 1.75Pleasant Hill, ALGolf ball size hail was reported from Pleasant Hill to Polk.

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Mar 19, 8:30 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 5.7 hours before the alert went out and 67 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 1998-03-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 434 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 1998-03-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 113 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
434 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-35 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
728 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
50 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
113 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
158 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
3.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KBHM 200539 RRA
SVRBHM
ALC021-047-200640-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1139 PM CST THU MAR 19 1998


THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM AL HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1240 AM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...

IN CENTRAL ALABAMA

   ...CHILTON COUNTY...
   ...DALLAS COUNTY...

AT 1137 PM CST... WEATHER RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
PRODUCING LARGE HAIL MOVING INTO WESTERN CHILTON AND WESTERN DALLAS
COUNTIES.  THESE STORMS WAS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH...AND
WILL LIKELY AFFECT THE ENTIRE COUNTIES.



<<CALL TO ACTION>>
THIS THUNDERSTORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCI,NG EXTREMELY LARGE HAIL
WHICH MAY CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND SERIOUS INJURY TO
PEOPLE AND LIVESTOCK. DAMAGING WINDS AND TORRENTIAL RAIN ARE ALSO
LIKELY WITH THIS STORM. MOVE TO A STURDY BUILDING AND STAY AWAY
FROM WINDOWS.

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, Mar 19, 10:12 PM CST, 1 hour 27 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
1012 PM CST THU MAR 19 1998

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

0900 PM    FAYETTE                   AL   WIND DAMAGE
03/19/98   FAYETTE                        A FEW TREES AND POWER
                                          LINES DOWN IN AND AROUND
                                          THE CITY OF FAYETTE...ALSO
                                          HAIL OF UNKNOWN
                                          SIZE..REPORTED BY FAYETTE
                                          PD.

0920 PM                              AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   WALKER                         DIME TO GOLFBALL SIZED
                                          HAIL REPORTED IN AND
                                          AROUND CARBON HILL..BY
                                          CARBON HILL PD.
Local storm report, Mar 19, 10:12 PM CST, 1 hour 27 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
1012 PM CST THU MAR 19 1998

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

0900 PM    FAYETTE                   AL   WIND DAMAGE
03/19/98   FAYETTE                        A FEW TREES AND POWER
                                          LINES DOWN IN AND AROUND
                                          THE CITY OF FAYETTE...ALSO
                                          HAIL OF UNKNOWN
                                          SIZE..REPORTED BY FAYETTE
                                          PD.

0920 PM                              AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   WALKER                         DIME TO GOLFBALL SIZED
                                          HAIL REPORTED IN AND
                                          AROUND CARBON HILL..BY
                                          CARBON HILL PD.
Local storm report, Mar 19, 10:45 PM CST, 54 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
1045 PM CST THU MAR 19 1998

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

0847 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   MARION                         DIME TO PENNY SIZED HAIL
                                          REPORTED IN GUIN AND
                                          WINFIELD BY HAMILTON PD.

0948 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   CULLMAN                        DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED
                                          IN JONES CHAPEL BY CULLMAN
                                          EMA.

1000 PM    NORTHPORT                 AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   TUSCALOOSA                     DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED
                                          JUST EAST OF NORTHPORT BY
                                          EMA.

1002 PM                              AL   .88 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   CULLMAN                        DIME TO NICKLE SIZE HAIL
                                          REPORTED NEAR THE
                                          BATTLEGROUNDS NORTH OF
                                          CULLMAN.

1007 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   CULLMAN                        DIME SIZE HAIL IN THE CITY
                                          OF CULLMAN..REPORTED BY
                                          THE EMA.

1007 PM                              AL   1 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   TUSCALOOSA                     DIME TO QUARTER SIZED HAIL
                                          REPORTED NEAR THE CITY OF
                                          TUSCALOOSA...FOSTERS AND
                                          MANY OTHERS LOCATIONS IN
                                          THE COUNTY.

1008 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   CULLMAN                        AT LEAST 1 INCH OF HAIL
                                          COVERING THE GROUND NEAR
                                          HIGHWAY 57 AND INTERSTATE
                                          65..BY CULLMAN EMA.

1034 PM    HUNTSVILLE                AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   MADISON                        DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTS
                                          COMING IN FROM ALL OVER
                                          THE COUNTY...REPORTED BY
                                          EMA AND HAMS.
Local storm report, Mar 19, 10:45 PM CST, 54 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
1045 PM CST THU MAR 19 1998

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

0847 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   MARION                         DIME TO PENNY SIZED HAIL
                                          REPORTED IN GUIN AND
                                          WINFIELD BY HAMILTON PD.

0948 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   CULLMAN                        DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED
                                          IN JONES CHAPEL BY CULLMAN
                                          EMA.

1000 PM    NORTHPORT                 AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   TUSCALOOSA                     DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED
                                          JUST EAST OF NORTHPORT BY
                                          EMA.

1002 PM                              AL   .88 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   CULLMAN                        DIME TO NICKLE SIZE HAIL
                                          REPORTED NEAR THE
                                          BATTLEGROUNDS NORTH OF
                                          CULLMAN.

1007 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   CULLMAN                        DIME SIZE HAIL IN THE CITY
                                          OF CULLMAN..REPORTED BY
                                          THE EMA.

1007 PM                              AL   1 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   TUSCALOOSA                     DIME TO QUARTER SIZED HAIL
                                          REPORTED NEAR THE CITY OF
                                          TUSCALOOSA...FOSTERS AND
                                          MANY OTHERS LOCATIONS IN
                                          THE COUNTY.

1008 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   CULLMAN                        AT LEAST 1 INCH OF HAIL
                                          COVERING THE GROUND NEAR
                                          HIGHWAY 57 AND INTERSTATE
                                          65..BY CULLMAN EMA.

1034 PM    HUNTSVILLE                AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   MADISON                        DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTS
                                          COMING IN FROM ALL OVER
                                          THE COUNTY...REPORTED BY
                                          EMA AND HAMS.
Local storm report, Mar 19, 11:37 PM CST, 2 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
1137 PM CST THU MAR 19 1998

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

1039 PM    NEW HOPE                  AL   WIND DAMAGE
03/19/98   MADISON                        ROOF BLOWN OFF HOUSE..A
                                          COUPLE OF TRAILERS
                                          DESTROYED..AND HAIL OF
                                          UNKNOWN SIZE REPORTED BY
                                          EMA.

1058 PM    ARAB                      AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   MARSHALL                       DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN
                                          ARAB BY HAMS.

1107 PM    HUEYTOWN                  AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN
                                          HUEYTOWN BY HAMS.

1117 PM                              AL   WIND DAMAGE
03/19/98   JACKSON                        WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES
                                          FROM WOODVILLE TO
                                          SCOTTSBORO..DUE TO
                                          LIGHTNING STRIKES AND
                                          POWER LINES DOWN.

1136 PM    TRIMBLE                   AL   FLOODING
03/19/98   CULLMAN                        COUNTY ROAD 222 CLOSED DUE
                                          TO WATER COVERING THE
                                          ROAD.
Local storm report, Mar 19, 11:37 PM CST, 2 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
1137 PM CST THU MAR 19 1998

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

1039 PM    NEW HOPE                  AL   WIND DAMAGE
03/19/98   MADISON                        ROOF BLOWN OFF HOUSE..A
                                          COUPLE OF TRAILERS
                                          DESTROYED..AND HAIL OF
                                          UNKNOWN SIZE REPORTED BY
                                          EMA.

1058 PM    ARAB                      AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   MARSHALL                       DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN
                                          ARAB BY HAMS.

1107 PM    HUEYTOWN                  AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN
                                          HUEYTOWN BY HAMS.

1117 PM                              AL   WIND DAMAGE
03/19/98   JACKSON                        WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES
                                          FROM WOODVILLE TO
                                          SCOTTSBORO..DUE TO
                                          LIGHTNING STRIKES AND
                                          POWER LINES DOWN.

1136 PM    TRIMBLE                   AL   FLOODING
03/19/98   CULLMAN                        COUNTY ROAD 222 CLOSED DUE
                                          TO WATER COVERING THE
                                          ROAD.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 19, 6:21 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFranklin49 min
Mar 19, 7:06 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Marion49 min
Mar 19, 7:18 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFranklin42 min
Mar 19, 7:48 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLawrence, Winston47 min
Mar 19, 7:56 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFranklin19 min
Mar 19, 8:02 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXColbert33 min
Mar 19, 8:14 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar51 min
Mar 19, 8:24 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLauderdale, Limestone, Morgan46 min
Mar 19, 8:32 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPickens48 min
Mar 19, 8:41 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Marion59 min
Mar 19, 8:42 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXSumter48 min
Mar 19, 8:53 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMadison47 min
Mar 19, 9:04 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCullman, Winston46 min
Mar 19, 9:08 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXWalker42 min
Mar 19, 9:17 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPickens48 min
Mar 19, 9:45 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCullman45 min
Mar 19, 9:56 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTuscaloosa49 min
Mar 19, 9:58 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMorgan47 min
Mar 19, 10:14 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMadison, Marshall46 min
Mar 19, 10:15 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXWalker35 min
Mar 19, 10:22 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount48 min
Mar 19, 10:22 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson63 min
Mar 19, 10:30 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXHale45 min
Mar 19, 10:33 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJackson62 min
Mar 19, 10:38 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCullman22 min
Mar 19, 10:42 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTuscaloosa33 min
Mar 19, 10:45 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Perry65 min
Mar 19, 11:01 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarshall49 min
Mar 19, 11:12 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXEtowah, St. Clair58 min
Mar 19, 11:12 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXShelby58 min
Mar 19, 11:25 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson35 min
Mar 19, 11:27 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDeKalb63 min
Mar 19, 11:33 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJackson32 min
Mar 19, 11:55 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Cherokee60 min
Mar 19, 11:55 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTalladega60 min
Mar 20, 12:08 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXEtowah, St. Clair32 min
Mar 20, 12:08 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXShelby32 min
Mar 20, 12:16 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga, Lowndes79 min
Mar 20, 12:16 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCoosa79 min
Mar 20, 12:28 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDeKalb47 min
Mar 20, 12:35 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXLowndes60 min
Mar 20, 12:39 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXClay61 min
Mar 20, 12:47 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXElmore, Montgomery63 min
Mar 20, 12:56 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCleburne64 min
Mar 20, 12:56 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTallapoosa64 min
Mar 20, 1:22 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXRandolph63 min
Mar 20, 1:38 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMacon62 min
Mar 20, 1:54 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChambers, Lee61 min
Mar 20, 2:55 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLee50 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 1998Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1998

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.