Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 96, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 19, 1998Tuscaloosa County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 19, 1998, 9:56 PM CST for Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. It was in force for 49 min. 5 reports 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, 9:56 PM CST (03:56 UTC)
Expired: Mar 19, 1998, 10:45 PM CST
In force: 49 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Whole counties

County Tuscaloosa County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 71 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where
Mar 19, 10:00 PM CST	Hail 1	Northport, AL
Mar 19, 10:07 PM CST	Hail 1	Tuscaloosa, AL
Mar 19, 10:16 PM CST	Hail 0.75	Tuscaloosa, AL
Mar 19, 10:24 PM CST	Hail 0.75	Fosters, AL
Mar 19, 10:30 PM CST	Hail 0.75	Tuscaloosa, AL

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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Mar 19, 8:30 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 3.9 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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 200356 RRA
SVRBHM
ALC125-200445-

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


THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM AL HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1045 PM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...

IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA

   ...TUSCALOOSA COUNTY...

AT 953 PM CST... WEATHER RADAR SHOWED A CLUSTER OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
ACROSS NORTHWEST TUSCALOOSA COUNTY. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHWEST
AT 40 MPH. THESE STORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF PRODUCTING HAIL.

<<CALL TO ACTION>>
IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE... SEEK REFUGE FROM THE STORM IN A
STRONG BUILDING. BOATERS ON AREA LAKES SHOULD TAK8E SHELTER.
DAMAGING WIND... LARGE HAIL... VERY HEAVY RAIN... AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING ARE ALL LIKELY. DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES OR OTHER
ISOLATED TALL OBJECTS. THESE ATTRACT LIGHTNING. DO NOT 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, Mar 19, 8:18 PM CST, 1 hour 38 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
818 PM CST THU MAR 19 1998

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

0700 PM                              AL   .5 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   MADISON                        1/4 TO 1/2 INCH HAIL
                                          REPORTED IN HAZELGREEN.

0740 PM                              AL   .5 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   MARION                         HIGH WIND AND MARBLE SIZED
                                          HAIL REPORTED IN NORTHERN
                                          MARION COUNTY.

0744 PM    HODGES                    AL   1 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   FRANKLIN                       QUARTER SIZED HAIL NEAR
                                          HODGES...HAM REPORT.
0744 PM                              AL   1 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   MARION                         QUARTER SIZED HAIL
                                          REPORTED IN NORTHERN
                                          MARION COUNTY...HAM
                                          REPORT.

0745 PM    SHADY GROVE               AL   1 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   FRANKLIN                       QUARTER SIZED HAIL IN
                                          SHADY GROVE...HAM REPORT.

0754 PM                              AL   .88 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   FRANKLIN                       NICKLE SIZED HAIL REPORTED
                                          IN PHIL CAMPBELL.

0759 PM    RUSSELLVILLE              AL   1 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   FRANKLIN                       QUARTER SIZED HAIL
                                          REPORTED WITH 65 TO 70
                                          MILE AN HOUR WIND.

0812 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   LAWRENCE                       DIME SIZED HAIL COVERING
                                          THE GROUND NEAR MT. HOPE.
0815 PM    HATTON                    AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   LAWRENCE                       DIME SIZED HAIL NEAR
                                          HATTON.

Local storm report, Mar 19, 9:15 PM CST, 41 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
915 PM CST THU MAR 19 1998

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

0802 PM    HALEYVILLE                AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   WINSTON                        DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED
                                          AROUND HALEYVILLE AND IN
                                          ALL OF NORTHWEST WINSTON
                                          CO...REPORT BY SHERIFF IN
                                          DOUBLE SPRINGS.

0849 PM                              AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   LAMAR                          DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED
                                          COUNTYWIDE..ESPECIALLY
                                          NEAR MILLPORT AND
                                          SULLIGENT FROM VERNON
                                          SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.

0857 PM    ATHENS                    AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   LIMESTONE                      DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED
                                          BY STATE TROOPERS
                                          NORTHEAST OF ATHENS.

Local storm report, Mar 19, 9:27 PM CST, 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
927 PM CST THU MAR 19 1998

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

0912 PM    HARVEST                   AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   MADISON                        DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED
                                          IN HARVEST BY EMA.

0912 PM    TONEY                     AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   MADISON                        DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED
                                          IN TONEY BY EMA.

0920 PM                              AL   1 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   WINSTON                        DIME TO QUARTER SIZED HAIL
                                          REPORTED EAST OF DOUBLE
                                          SPRINGS BY EMA.
0922 PM    CARBON HILL               AL   .5 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   WALKER                         1/2 INCH HAIL REPORTED IN
                                          CARBON HILL BY HAMS.

Local storm report, Mar 19, 9:27 PM CST, 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
927 PM CST THU MAR 19 1998

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

0912 PM    HARVEST                   AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   MADISON                        DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED
                                          IN HARVEST BY EMA.

0912 PM    TONEY                     AL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   MADISON                        DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED
                                          IN TONEY BY EMA.

0920 PM                              AL   1 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   WINSTON                        DIME TO QUARTER SIZED HAIL
                                          REPORTED EAST OF DOUBLE
                                          SPRINGS BY EMA.
0922 PM    CARBON HILL               AL   .5 INCH HAIL
03/19/98   WALKER                         1/2 INCH HAIL REPORTED IN
                                          CARBON HILL BY HAMS.

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 19, 6:21 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Franklin	49 min
Mar 19, 7:06 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion	49 min
Mar 19, 7:18 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Franklin	42 min
Mar 19, 7:48 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lawrence, Winston	47 min
Mar 19, 7:56 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Franklin	19 min
Mar 19, 8:02 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Colbert	33 min
Mar 19, 8:14 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar	51 min
Mar 19, 8:24 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lauderdale, Limestone, Morgan	46 min
Mar 19, 8:32 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pickens	48 min
Mar 19, 8:41 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Marion	59 min
Mar 19, 8:42 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Sumter	48 min
Mar 19, 8:53 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Madison	47 min
Mar 19, 9:04 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cullman, Winston	46 min
Mar 19, 9:08 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker	42 min
Mar 19, 9:17 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pickens	48 min
Mar 19, 9:45 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cullman	45 min
Mar 19, 9:58 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Morgan	47 min
Mar 19, 10:14 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Madison, Marshall	46 min
Mar 19, 10:15 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker	35 min
Mar 19, 10:22 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	48 min
Mar 19, 10:22 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	63 min
Mar 19, 10:30 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Hale	45 min
Mar 19, 10:33 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jackson	62 min
Mar 19, 10:38 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cullman	22 min
Mar 19, 10:42 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	33 min
Mar 19, 10:45 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Perry	65 min
Mar 19, 11:01 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marshall	49 min
Mar 19, 11:12 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Etowah, St. Clair	58 min
Mar 19, 11:12 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Shelby	58 min
Mar 19, 11:25 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	35 min
Mar 19, 11:27 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	DeKalb	63 min
Mar 19, 11:33 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jackson	32 min
Mar 19, 11:39 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chilton, Dallas	61 min
Mar 19, 11:55 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee	60 min
Mar 19, 11:55 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Talladega	60 min
Mar 20, 12:08 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Etowah, St. Clair	32 min
Mar 20, 12:08 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Shelby	32 min
Mar 20, 12:16 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Lowndes	79 min
Mar 20, 12:16 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Coosa	79 min
Mar 20, 12:28 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	DeKalb	47 min
Mar 20, 12:35 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lowndes	60 min
Mar 20, 12:39 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay	61 min
Mar 20, 12:47 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Elmore, Montgomery	63 min
Mar 20, 12:56 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cleburne	64 min
Mar 20, 12:56 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tallapoosa	64 min
Mar 20, 1:22 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Randolph	63 min
Mar 20, 1:38 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Macon	62 min
Mar 20, 1:54 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers, Lee	61 min
Mar 20, 2:55 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lee	50 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 1998 Every 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.