Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 261, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 18, 1998Tuscaloosa County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 18, 1998, 5:24 PM CDT for Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. It was in force for 46 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
Apr 18, 1998, 5:24 PM CDT (22:24 UTC)
Expired
Apr 18, 1998, 6:10 PM CDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Whole counties

County Tuscaloosa County, AL

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 18, 5:40 PM CDTHail 0.75Northport, ALDime size hail was reported near the Tuscaloosa airport.

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 nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 10.4 hours before the alert went out and 70 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 12:00Z on 1998-04-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 12:00Z on 1998-04-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 98 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1180 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
76 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
98 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
114 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

447 
WUUS1 KBHM 182223 RRA
SVRBHM
ALC125-182310-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
524 PM CDT SAT APR 18 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  TUSCALOOSA COUNTY... IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA

* UNTIL 610 PM CDT

* AT 522 PM CDT... A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS SHOWN BY WEATHER RADAR
JUST NORTHWEST OF FOSTERS.  THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS WESTERN TUSCALOOSA AND
NORTHPORT BETWEEN 530 AND 550 PM.


SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH...
DESTRUCTIVE HAIL... DEADLY LIGHTNING... 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 DONT
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

Local storm report, Apr 18, 11:31 AM CDT, 5 hours 53 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
1131 AM CDT SAT APR 18 1998

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

0928 AM    EMELLE                    AL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   SUMTER                         DIME SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN EMELLE.

0930 AM    SUMTERVILLE               AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   SUMTER                         GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN SUMTERVILLE.

0950 AM    BOLIGEE                   AL   1 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   GREENE                         HAIL THE SIZE OF QUARTERS
                                          WAS REPORTED NEAR BOLIGEE.

1038 AM    NORTHPORT                 AL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   TUSCALOOSA                     DIME SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN NORTHPORT.

1117 AM                              AL   1 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   JEFFERSON                      HAIL THE SIZE OF QUARTERS
                                          WAS REPORTED IN THE
                                          MACADORY AREA.

1122 AM    LIPSCOMB                  AL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN LIPSCOME BY A
                                          SPOTTER.

1123 AM    BESSEMER                  AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   JEFFERSON                      GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN BESSEMER.

1124 AM    MIDFIELD                  AL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          KNOCKING LEAVES OFF TREES
                                          IN MIDFIELD.

1128 AM    PRATT CITY                AL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN PRATT CITY.
Local storm report, Apr 18, 11:31 AM CDT, 5 hours 53 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
1131 AM CDT SAT APR 18 1998

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

0928 AM    EMELLE                    AL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   SUMTER                         DIME SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN EMELLE.

0930 AM    SUMTERVILLE               AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   SUMTER                         GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN SUMTERVILLE.

0950 AM    BOLIGEE                   AL   1 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   GREENE                         HAIL THE SIZE OF QUARTERS
                                          WAS REPORTED NEAR BOLIGEE.

1038 AM    NORTHPORT                 AL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   TUSCALOOSA                     DIME SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN NORTHPORT.

1117 AM                              AL   1 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   JEFFERSON                      HAIL THE SIZE OF QUARTERS
                                          WAS REPORTED IN THE
                                          MACADORY AREA.

1122 AM    LIPSCOMB                  AL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN LIPSCOME BY A
                                          SPOTTER.

1123 AM    BESSEMER                  AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   JEFFERSON                      GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN BESSEMER.

1124 AM    MIDFIELD                  AL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          KNOCKING LEAVES OFF TREES
                                          IN MIDFIELD.

1128 AM    PRATT CITY                AL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN PRATT CITY.
Local storm report, Apr 18, 12:54 PM CDT, 4 hours 30 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
1254 PM CDT SAT APR 18 1998

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

1131 AM    BIRMINGHAM                AL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   JEFFERSON                      REPORTED BY HAM RADIO,
                                          DIME SIZE HAIL IN THE
                                          BIRMINGHAM JEFFERSON CIVIC
                                          CENTER AREA.

1140 AM    BIRMINGHAM                AL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   JEFFERSON                      REPORTED BY HAM RADIO, IN
                                          THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
                                          AREA OF DOWNTOWN
                                          BIRMINGHAM, DIME SIZE
                                          HAIL.
1140 AM    ROEBUCK PLAZA             AL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   JEFFERSON                      REPORTED BY HAM RADIO,
                                          DIME SIZE HAIL PARTIALLY
                                          COVERING THE GROUND IN
                                          ROEBUCK AREA

1142 AM    BIRMINGHAM ARPT           AL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL, REPORTED
                                          NEAR THE BIRMINGHAM
                                          AIRPORT, REPORTED BY HAM
                                          RADIO OPERATORS.
Local storm report, Apr 18, 12:54 PM CDT, 4 hours 30 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
1254 PM CDT SAT APR 18 1998

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

1131 AM    BIRMINGHAM                AL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   JEFFERSON                      REPORTED BY HAM RADIO,
                                          DIME SIZE HAIL IN THE
                                          BIRMINGHAM JEFFERSON CIVIC
                                          CENTER AREA.

1140 AM    BIRMINGHAM                AL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   JEFFERSON                      REPORTED BY HAM RADIO, IN
                                          THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
                                          AREA OF DOWNTOWN
                                          BIRMINGHAM, DIME SIZE
                                          HAIL.
1140 AM    ROEBUCK PLAZA             AL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   JEFFERSON                      REPORTED BY HAM RADIO,
                                          DIME SIZE HAIL PARTIALLY
                                          COVERING THE GROUND IN
                                          ROEBUCK AREA

1142 AM    BIRMINGHAM ARPT           AL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/98   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL, REPORTED
                                          NEAR THE BIRMINGHAM
                                          AIRPORT, REPORTED BY HAM
                                          RADIO OPERATORS.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 17, 9:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPike34 min
Apr 17, 9:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBarbour47 min
Apr 17, 11:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLowndes, Montgomery50 min
Apr 18, 1:38 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXSumter62 min
Apr 18, 9:05 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Sumter45 min
Apr 18, 9:47 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene33 min
Apr 18, 10:38 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTuscaloosa32 min
Apr 18, 10:58 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson62 min
Apr 18, 12:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTuscaloosa45 min
Apr 18, 12:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson45 min
Apr 18, 5:13 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun32 min
Apr 18, 5:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDallas18 min
Apr 18, 5:42 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCherokee48 min
Apr 18, 5:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChilton46 min
Apr 18, 6:03 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXChilton47 min
Apr 18, 6:15 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXJackson4 hr
Apr 18, 6:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson49 min
Apr 18, 6:20 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXJackson50 min
Apr 18, 6:20 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDallas50 min
Apr 18, 6:26 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCherokee19 min
Apr 18, 6:35 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXBlount, Marshall4 hr
Apr 18, 6:48 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXPerry62 min
Apr 18, 6:52 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXShelby63 min
Apr 18, 6:53 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDeKalb47 min
Apr 18, 6:56 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXEtowah49 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.