Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 314, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 3, 1998Pike County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 3, 1998, 9:34 PM CDT for Pike 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
May 3, 1998, 9:34 PM CDT (02:34 UTC)
Expired
May 3, 1998, 10:35 PM CDT
In force
61 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Whole counties

County Pike County, AL

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 3, 9:58 PM CDTHail 2.75Troy, ALBaseball size hail that damaged cars was reported in Goshen.

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
May 3, 7:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 2.6 hours before the alert went out and 172 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 1998-05-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1136 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 1998-05-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 19 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
1136 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-12 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1040 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
19 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
128 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
1.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KBHM 040234 RRA
SVRBHM
ALC109-040335-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
934 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  PIKE COUNTY... IN SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA

* UNTIL 1035 PM CDT

* AT 931 PM CDT... A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS SHOWN...BY WEATHER RADAR
ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LUVERNE.  THIS STORM WAS MOVING EAST
NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL FIRST AFFECT THE TOWN OF GOSHEN.
THE STORM WILL LIKELY AFFECT THE TROY AREA BY ABOUT 10 PM.

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF LARGE HAIL. GO INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING
AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS!

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, May 3, 5:46 PM CDT, 3 hours 48 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
546 PM CDT SUN MAY 03 1998

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

0300 PM    PRATTVILLE                AL   .88 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   AUTAUGA                        NICKLE SIZED HAIL 3 MILES
                                          NORTH OF PRATTVILLE

0315 PM    OXFORD                    AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   CALHOUN                        GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL NEAR
                                          OXFORD.

0320 PM                              AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   ELMORE                         GOLF BALL HAIL NEAR
                                          EMERALD MOUNTAIN.

0320 PM                              AL   .88 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   ELMORE                         EAST OF I65 ON COUNTY ROAD
                                          14.

0400 PM    TALLASSEE                 AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   ELMORE                         QUARTER SIZED HAIL NEAR
                                          HIGHWAY 14 ON THE EAST
                                          SIDE OF TALLASSEE.

0411 PM    GAYLESVILLE               AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   CHEROKEE                       GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL
                                          OUTSIDE OF GAYLESVILLE.

0419 PM    MONTGOMERY                AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   MONTGOMERY                     DIME SIZED HAIL IN THE
                                          CITY OF MONTGOMERY.

0424 PM    MONTGOMERY                AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   MONTGOMERY                     QUARTER SIZED HAIL ON THE
                                          EAST SIDE OF MONTGOMERY.

0425 PM    TUSKEGEE                  AL   2.75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   MACON                          GOLF BALL TO BASEBALL
                                          SIZED HAIL NORTH OF
                                          TUSKEGEE ON INTERSTATE 85.

0425 PM    MONTGOMERY                AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   MONTGOMERY                     GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL EAST
                                          OF MONTGOMERY.

0425 PM    DUNCANVILLE               AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   TUSCALOOSA                     DIME SIZED HAIL OUTSIDE OF
                                          DUNCANVILLE.  REPORTED BY
                                          VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTER.

0430 PM    SELMA                     AL   .88 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   DALLAS                         NICKEL SIZED HAIL TO THE
                                          WEST OF SELMA.

0440 PM    ALEXANDER CITY            AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   TALLAPOOSA                     DIME TO QUARTER SIZED HAIL
                                          IN ALEXANDER CITY.

0446 PM    ALEXANDER CITY            AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   TALLAPOOSA                     GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL IN
                                          ALEXANDER CITY.  REPORTED
                                          BY EMA OFFICIALS.

0447 PM    WETUMPKA                  AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   ELMORE                         DIME SIZED HAIL NEAR
                                          WETUMPKA.

0450 PM    ALEXANDER CITY            AL   .88 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   TALLAPOOSA                     NICKLE SIZED HAIL OUTSIDE
                                          OF ALEXANDER CITY.

0455 PM    PINE LEVEL                AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   MONTGOMERY                     QUARTER SIZED HAIL IN THE
                                          TOWN OF PINE LEVEL.

0510 PM    RANBURNE                  AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   CLEBURNE                       DIME SIZED HAIL IN TEH
                                          TOWN OF RANBURNE.

0510 PM    GRAHAM                    AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   RANDOLPH                       DIME SIZED HAIL OUTSIDE OF
                                          THE TOWN OF GRAHAM

0514 PM    JEMISON                   AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   CHILTON                        DIME SIZED HAIL NEAR THE
                                          TOWN OF JEMISON.

0530 PM    OPELIKA                   AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   LEE                            DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED
                                          NEAR THE CITY OF OPELIKA.

0534 PM    JEMISON                   AL   .88 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   CHILTON                        MARBLE SIZED HAIL 10 MILES
                                          SOUTH OF THE CITY OF
                                          JEMISON.

0537 PM                              AL   .5 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   RANDOLPH                       MARBLE SIZED HAIL COVERING
                                          THE GROUND ONE INCH DEEP
                                          OVER NORTHERN PORTIONS OF
                                          RANDOLPH COUNTY.  FUNNEL
                                          CLOUD ALSO REPORTED WITH
                                          THIS STORM.
Local storm report, May 3, 5:46 PM CDT, 3 hours 48 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
546 PM CDT SUN MAY 03 1998

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

0300 PM    PRATTVILLE                AL   .88 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   AUTAUGA                        NICKLE SIZED HAIL 3 MILES
                                          NORTH OF PRATTVILLE

0315 PM    OXFORD                    AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   CALHOUN                        GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL NEAR
                                          OXFORD.

0320 PM                              AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   ELMORE                         GOLF BALL HAIL NEAR
                                          EMERALD MOUNTAIN.

0320 PM                              AL   .88 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   ELMORE                         EAST OF I65 ON COUNTY ROAD
                                          14.

0400 PM    TALLASSEE                 AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   ELMORE                         QUARTER SIZED HAIL NEAR
                                          HIGHWAY 14 ON THE EAST
                                          SIDE OF TALLASSEE.

0411 PM    GAYLESVILLE               AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   CHEROKEE                       GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL
                                          OUTSIDE OF GAYLESVILLE.

0419 PM    MONTGOMERY                AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   MONTGOMERY                     DIME SIZED HAIL IN THE
                                          CITY OF MONTGOMERY.

0424 PM    MONTGOMERY                AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   MONTGOMERY                     QUARTER SIZED HAIL ON THE
                                          EAST SIDE OF MONTGOMERY.

0425 PM    TUSKEGEE                  AL   2.75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   MACON                          GOLF BALL TO BASEBALL
                                          SIZED HAIL NORTH OF
                                          TUSKEGEE ON INTERSTATE 85.

0425 PM    MONTGOMERY                AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   MONTGOMERY                     GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL EAST
                                          OF MONTGOMERY.

0425 PM    DUNCANVILLE               AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   TUSCALOOSA                     DIME SIZED HAIL OUTSIDE OF
                                          DUNCANVILLE.  REPORTED BY
                                          VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTER.

0430 PM    SELMA                     AL   .88 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   DALLAS                         NICKEL SIZED HAIL TO THE
                                          WEST OF SELMA.

0440 PM    ALEXANDER CITY            AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   TALLAPOOSA                     DIME TO QUARTER SIZED HAIL
                                          IN ALEXANDER CITY.

0446 PM    ALEXANDER CITY            AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   TALLAPOOSA                     GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL IN
                                          ALEXANDER CITY.  REPORTED
                                          BY EMA OFFICIALS.

0447 PM    WETUMPKA                  AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   ELMORE                         DIME SIZED HAIL NEAR
                                          WETUMPKA.

0450 PM    ALEXANDER CITY            AL   .88 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   TALLAPOOSA                     NICKLE SIZED HAIL OUTSIDE
                                          OF ALEXANDER CITY.

0455 PM    PINE LEVEL                AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   MONTGOMERY                     QUARTER SIZED HAIL IN THE
                                          TOWN OF PINE LEVEL.

0510 PM    RANBURNE                  AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   CLEBURNE                       DIME SIZED HAIL IN TEH
                                          TOWN OF RANBURNE.

0510 PM    GRAHAM                    AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   RANDOLPH                       DIME SIZED HAIL OUTSIDE OF
                                          THE TOWN OF GRAHAM

0514 PM    JEMISON                   AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   CHILTON                        DIME SIZED HAIL NEAR THE
                                          TOWN OF JEMISON.

0530 PM    OPELIKA                   AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   LEE                            DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED
                                          NEAR THE CITY OF OPELIKA.

0534 PM    JEMISON                   AL   .88 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   CHILTON                        MARBLE SIZED HAIL 10 MILES
                                          SOUTH OF THE CITY OF
                                          JEMISON.

0537 PM                              AL   .5 INCH HAIL
05/03/98   RANDOLPH                       MARBLE SIZED HAIL COVERING
                                          THE GROUND ONE INCH DEEP
                                          OVER NORTHERN PORTIONS OF
                                          RANDOLPH COUNTY.  FUNNEL
                                          CLOUD ALSO REPORTED WITH
                                          THIS STORM.
Special weather statement, May 3, 6:11 PM CDT, 3 hours 23 minutes before
ALZ022-023-030>034-039-040-032325-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
611 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 1998

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...

IN ALABAMA

   ...PICKENS... TUSCALOOSA... SUMTER... GREENE... HALE... PERRY
   ...BIBB... MARENGO... DALLAS

THE STORMS THAT PRODUCED THE SEVERE WEATHER EARLIER THIS EVENING OVER
THE AREA HAVE NOW MOVED OUT OF THESE COUNTIES.  STABLE AIR IS NOW OVER
THIS AREA AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED FOR THE REMAINDER
OF THE NIGHT.
Special weather statement, May 3, 6:11 PM CDT, 3 hours 23 minutes before
ALZ022-023-030>034-039-040-032325-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
611 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 1998

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...

IN ALABAMA

   ...PICKENS... TUSCALOOSA... SUMTER... GREENE... HALE... PERRY
   ...BIBB... MARENGO... DALLAS

THE STORMS THAT PRODUCED THE SEVERE WEATHER EARLIER THIS EVENING OVER
THE AREA HAVE NOW MOVED OUT OF THESE COUNTIES.  STABLE AIR IS NOW OVER
THIS AREA AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED FOR THE REMAINDER
OF THE NIGHT.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 3, 10:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBarbour49 min
May 3, 11:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPike46 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.