Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 367, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 7, 1998Calhoun County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 7, 1998, 11:03 PM CDT for Calhoun County, Alabama. It was in force for 62 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 7, 1998, 11:03 PM CDT (04:03 UTC)
Expired
May 8, 1998, 12:05 AM CDT
In force
62 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Whole counties

County Calhoun County, AL

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 7, 11:30 PM CDTHail 1.75Anniston, ALGolf ball size hail was reported in White Plains.

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 7, 8:00 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 4.1 hours before the alert went out and 110 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 1998-05-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2677 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 1998-05-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 132 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
2677 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-3 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
985 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
74 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
132 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
224 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
3.5
Supercell composite
12.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KBHM 080401 RRA
SVRBHM
ALC015-080505-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1103 PM CDT THU MAY 7 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  CALHOUN COUNTY... IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA

* UNTIL 1205 AM CDT

* AT 1102 PM CDT... A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS SHOWN...BY WEATHER RADAR
 ENTERING NORTHWEST CALHOU COUNTY.  THIS STORM WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST
 AT 30 TO 35 MPH.


GO INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS! A TORNADO
WATCH IS IN EFFECT. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO
PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.

WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING... hPEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A
STRONG BUILDING. DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS. DO NOT USE TELEPHONES OR
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY UNTIL THE STORM HAS
PASSED. MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS.

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 7, 9:57 PM CDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
957 PM CDT THU MAY 07 1998

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

0820 PM    ROSALIE                   AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   JACKSON                        GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL IN
                                          ROSALIE

0827 PM    HENAGAR                   AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   DEKALB                         GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL IN
                                          HENAGAR

0829 PM    CULLMAN                   AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   CULLMAN                        QUARTER TO GOLF BALL SIZED
                                          HAIL ALL OVER CULLMAN

0853 PM    HALEYVILLE                AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   WINSTON                        QUARTER SIZED HAIL 5 MILES
                                          NORTHEAST OF HALEYVILLE
Local storm report, May 7, 9:57 PM CDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
957 PM CDT THU MAY 07 1998

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

0820 PM    ROSALIE                   AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   JACKSON                        GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL IN
                                          ROSALIE

0827 PM    HENAGAR                   AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   DEKALB                         GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL IN
                                          HENAGAR

0829 PM    CULLMAN                   AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   CULLMAN                        QUARTER TO GOLF BALL SIZED
                                          HAIL ALL OVER CULLMAN

0853 PM    HALEYVILLE                AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   WINSTON                        QUARTER SIZED HAIL 5 MILES
                                          NORTHEAST OF HALEYVILLE
Local storm report, May 7, 10:17 PM CDT, 46 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
1017 PM CDT THU MAY 7 1998

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

0855 PM    HARTSELLE                 AL   .88 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   MORGAN                         NICKEL SIZED HAIL IN
                                          HARTSELLE

0905 PM    CLEVELAND                 AL   .88 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   BLOUNT                         NICKEL SIZED HAIL NEAR
                                          CLEVELAND

0907 PM                              AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   BLOUNT                         QUARTER SIZED HAIL IN
                                          NECTAR

0909 PM    LOCUST FORK               AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   BLOUNT                         QUARTER SIZED HAIL IN
                                          LOCUST FORK

0922 PM    RAINSVILLE                AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   DEKALB                         ONE INCH HAIL IN
                                          RAINSVILLE

0934 PM    FT PAYNE                  AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   DEKALB                         QUARTER SIZED HAIL IN
                                          NORTHERN FORT PAYNE

0935 PM    TRIMBLE                   AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   CULLMAN                        DIME SIZED HAIL IN TRIMBLE

1005 PM    RABBIT TOWN               AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   WINSTON                        QUARTER SIZED HAIL BETWEEN
                                          HALEYVILLE AND DOUBLE
                                          SPRINGS

1010 PM                              AL   .88 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   FRANKLIN                       NICKEL SIZED HAIL TWO
                                          MILES SOUTHWEST OF PHIL
                                          CAMPBELL
Local storm report, May 7, 10:17 PM CDT, 46 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
1017 PM CDT THU MAY 7 1998

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

0855 PM    HARTSELLE                 AL   .88 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   MORGAN                         NICKEL SIZED HAIL IN
                                          HARTSELLE

0905 PM    CLEVELAND                 AL   .88 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   BLOUNT                         NICKEL SIZED HAIL NEAR
                                          CLEVELAND

0907 PM                              AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   BLOUNT                         QUARTER SIZED HAIL IN
                                          NECTAR

0909 PM    LOCUST FORK               AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   BLOUNT                         QUARTER SIZED HAIL IN
                                          LOCUST FORK

0922 PM    RAINSVILLE                AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   DEKALB                         ONE INCH HAIL IN
                                          RAINSVILLE

0934 PM    FT PAYNE                  AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   DEKALB                         QUARTER SIZED HAIL IN
                                          NORTHERN FORT PAYNE

0935 PM    TRIMBLE                   AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   CULLMAN                        DIME SIZED HAIL IN TRIMBLE

1005 PM    RABBIT TOWN               AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   WINSTON                        QUARTER SIZED HAIL BETWEEN
                                          HALEYVILLE AND DOUBLE
                                          SPRINGS

1010 PM                              AL   .88 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   FRANKLIN                       NICKEL SIZED HAIL TWO
                                          MILES SOUTHWEST OF PHIL
                                          CAMPBELL
Special weather statement, May 7, 10:45 PM CDT, 18 minutes before
ALZ001-002-005-080400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1045 PM CDT THU MAY 7 1998

TORNADO WATCH 306 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR ALL THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES IN ALABAMA: LAUDERDALE...LIMESTONE...AND COLBERT.
Special weather statement, May 7, 10:45 PM CDT, 18 minutes before
ALZ001-002-005-080400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1045 PM CDT THU MAY 7 1998

TORNADO WATCH 306 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR ALL THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES IN ALABAMA: LAUDERDALE...LIMESTONE...AND COLBERT.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 7, 7:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMadison31 min
May 7, 7:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLimestone50 min
May 7, 7:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJackson65 min
May 7, 7:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLawrence, Winston64 min
May 7, 7:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMadison50 min
May 7, 8:00 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCullman, Winston65 min
May 7, 8:06 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMadison49 min
May 7, 8:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMorgan62 min
May 7, 8:11 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDeKalb, Jackson64 min
May 7, 8:38 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarshall52 min
May 7, 8:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLawrence65 min
May 7, 8:43 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBlount62 min
May 7, 8:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFranklin35 min
May 7, 8:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXWinston62 min
May 7, 8:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCherokee35 min
May 7, 9:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDeKalb51 min
May 7, 9:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCullman66 min
May 7, 9:25 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXEtowah, St. Clair65 min
May 7, 9:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFranklin65 min
May 7, 9:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCherokee49 min
May 7, 9:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXWinston64 min
May 7, 9:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun61 min
May 7, 10:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarion65 min
May 7, 10:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCleburne47 min
May 7, 10:58 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCleburne32 min
May 7, 11:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCullman49 min
May 7, 11:24 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun36 min
May 7, 11:30 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCleburne50 min
May 7, 11:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXSt. Clair50 min
May 8, 12:00 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun50 min
May 8, 12:18 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXCleburne62 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.