Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 1998

Tornado Warning 131, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 9, 1998Hale County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at May 9, 1998, 8:24 PM CDT for Hale County, Alabama. It was in force for 61 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: May 9, 1998, 8:24 PM CDT (01:24 UTC)
Expired: May 9, 1998, 9:25 PM CDT
In force: 61 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Whole counties

County Hale County, AL

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 9, 7:00 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 1.4 hours before the alert went out and 92 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: 213 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -309 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1398 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 70 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 241 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 355 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

015 
WFUS1 KBHM 100125 RRA
TORBHM
ALC065-100225-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
824 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  HALE COUNTY... IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA

* UNTIL 925 PM CDT

* AT 822 PM CDT... A TORNADO WAS DETECTED...BY NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR OVER NORTHERN GREENE COUNTYNEAR UNION MOVING
EAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR.  THIS STORM WILL MOVE INTO THE GENERAL AREAS
OF MOUNDVILLE...HAVANA...STEWART AREAS AROUND BY 8:35 PM.  IN ADDITION
THIS STORM WILL LIKELY PRODUCE LARGER THAN GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL.

GO TO THE BASEMENT OR A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 9, 3:45 PM CDT, 4 hours 39 minutes before

ALZ001>050-GAZ089-090-102-120-100100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
345 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 1998

...A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER FOR THE NORTHERN HALF OF
ALABAMA THROUGH TONIGHT...

THE INGREDIENTS ARE STILL COMING TOGETHER FOR A SIGNIFICANT OUTBREAK
OF SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS THE REGION TONIGHT.  A STRONG UPPER LOW
WILL APPROACH ALABAMA FROM THE WEST LATER TONIGHT AND MOVE ACROSS
THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE BEFORE SUNRISE.  VERY HUMID AIR FROM
THE GULF OF MEXICO HAS BEEN MOVING NORTHWARD DURING THE DAY...AND
WILL PROVIDE FUEL FOR THE UPPER LOW TO WORK WITH OVERNIGHT.

THE GREATEST RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE OVER THE NORTHERN ONE
HALF OF ALABAMA...ROUGHLY NORTH OF A LINDEN...SELMA...AUBURN LINE.
THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS PLACED A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS IN THESE AREAS.  THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE
WEATHER JUST TO THE SOUTH OF THE MENTIONED AREA.  INCLUDED IN THE
SLIGHT RISK AREA ARE THE CITIES OF MONTGOMERY...TUSKEGEE...PHENIX
CITY...AND COLUMBUS GEORGIA.

AT THIS TIME...IT APPEARS THAT THE BRUNT OF THE SEVERE WEATHER WILL
BE BETWEEN 700 PM AND MIDNIGHT FOR AREAS ALONG AND WEST OF INTERSTATE
65...AND AFTER 1000 PM FOR AREAS EAST OF INTERSTATE 65.  WINDS IN THE
ATMOSPHERE ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADIC THUNDERSTORMS...SO TORNADO
WATCHES WILL LIKELY BE ISSUED FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA DURING THE NIGHT.

STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL SHOULD PREPARE FOR
ACTIVATION...ESPECIALLY THOSE OVER THE NORTHERN HALF OF ALABAMA.

Special weather statement, May 9, 3:45 PM CDT, 4 hours 39 minutes before

ALZ001>050-GAZ089-090-102-120-100100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
345 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 1998

...A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER FOR THE NORTHERN HALF OF
ALABAMA THROUGH TONIGHT...

THE INGREDIENTS ARE STILL COMING TOGETHER FOR A SIGNIFICANT OUTBREAK
OF SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS THE REGION TONIGHT.  A STRONG UPPER LOW
WILL APPROACH ALABAMA FROM THE WEST LATER TONIGHT AND MOVE ACROSS
THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE BEFORE SUNRISE.  VERY HUMID AIR FROM
THE GULF OF MEXICO HAS BEEN MOVING NORTHWARD DURING THE DAY...AND
WILL PROVIDE FUEL FOR THE UPPER LOW TO WORK WITH OVERNIGHT.

THE GREATEST RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE OVER THE NORTHERN ONE
HALF OF ALABAMA...ROUGHLY NORTH OF A LINDEN...SELMA...AUBURN LINE.
THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS PLACED A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS IN THESE AREAS.  THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE
WEATHER JUST TO THE SOUTH OF THE MENTIONED AREA.  INCLUDED IN THE
SLIGHT RISK AREA ARE THE CITIES OF MONTGOMERY...TUSKEGEE...PHENIX
CITY...AND COLUMBUS GEORGIA.

AT THIS TIME...IT APPEARS THAT THE BRUNT OF THE SEVERE WEATHER WILL
BE BETWEEN 700 PM AND MIDNIGHT FOR AREAS ALONG AND WEST OF INTERSTATE
65...AND AFTER 1000 PM FOR AREAS EAST OF INTERSTATE 65.  WINDS IN THE
ATMOSPHERE ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADIC THUNDERSTORMS...SO TORNADO
WATCHES WILL LIKELY BE ISSUED FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA DURING THE NIGHT.

STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL SHOULD PREPARE FOR
ACTIVATION...ESPECIALLY THOSE OVER THE NORTHERN HALF OF ALABAMA.

Local storm report, May 9, 8:06 PM CDT, 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
806 PM CDT SAT MAY 09 1998

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

0720 PM                              AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/09/98   TUSCALOOSA                     GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL
                                          REPORTED NEAR HIGHWAY 82
                                          AND 86. TREES DOWN ALONG
                                          HIGHWAY 82..REPORTED BY
                                          HAM RADIO.

0720 PM                              AL   TORNADO
05/09/98   TUSCALOOSA                     POSSIBLE TORNADO REPORTED
                                          15 MILES WEST OF
                                          NORTHPORT..REPORTED BY HAM
                                          RADIO.
0740 PM                              AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/09/98   TUSCALOOSA                     QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED
                                          NORTH OF
                                          TUSCALOOSA..REPORTED BY
                                          HAM RADIO.

0749 PM                              AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/09/98   TUSCALOOSA                     GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL
                                          REPORTED AT HIGHWAY 43 AND
                                          62..REPORTED BY HAMS.

Local storm report, May 9, 8:06 PM CDT, 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
806 PM CDT SAT MAY 09 1998

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

0720 PM                              AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/09/98   TUSCALOOSA                     GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL
                                          REPORTED NEAR HIGHWAY 82
                                          AND 86. TREES DOWN ALONG
                                          HIGHWAY 82..REPORTED BY
                                          HAM RADIO.

0720 PM                              AL   TORNADO
05/09/98   TUSCALOOSA                     POSSIBLE TORNADO REPORTED
                                          15 MILES WEST OF
                                          NORTHPORT..REPORTED BY HAM
                                          RADIO.
0740 PM                              AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/09/98   TUSCALOOSA                     QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED
                                          NORTH OF
                                          TUSCALOOSA..REPORTED BY
                                          HAM RADIO.

0749 PM                              AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/09/98   TUSCALOOSA                     GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL
                                          REPORTED AT HIGHWAY 43 AND
                                          62..REPORTED BY HAMS.

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 9, 7:06 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	69 min
May 9, 7:33 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Greene	62 min
May 9, 7:39 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson	76 min
May 9, 7:41 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Pickens	34 min
May 9, 7:48 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Sumter	77 min
May 9, 7:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker	48 min
May 9, 8:09 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	51 min
May 9, 8:29 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Greene	36 min
May 9, 8:35 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Bibb	65 min
May 9, 8:48 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Shelby	77 min
May 9, 8:53 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson	47 min
May 9, 9:22 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chilton	63 min
May 9, 9:50 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Coosa	65 min
May 9, 9:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pickens	50 min
May 9, 9:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Talladega	47 min
May 9, 10:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	63 min
May 9, 11:22 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	63 min
May 9, 11:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay	36 min
May 9, 11:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Randolph	50 min
May 9, 11:39 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson	51 min
May 9, 11:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	47 min
May 9, 11:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	St. Clair	50 min
May 10, 12:23 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Shelby	62 min
May 10, 12:34 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Talladega	66 min
May 10, 1:25 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cleburne	45 min
May 10, 6:49 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chambers	31 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 1998 Every tornado warning in 1998 Tornadoes 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.