Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 1998

Tornado Warning 98, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 6, 1998Autauga County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at May 6, 1998, 9:05 PM CDT for Autauga County, Alabama. It was in force for 45 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 6, 1998, 9:05 PM CDT (02:05 UTC)
Expired
May 6, 1998, 9:50 PM CDT
In force
45 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Whole counties

County Autauga County, AL

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 2.1 hours before the alert went out and 73 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 1998-05-07Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 82 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Birmingham, AL at 00:00Z on 1998-05-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 253 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
82 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-160 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1288 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
53 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
253 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
560 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KBHM 070205 RRA
TORBHM
ALC001-070250-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
905 PM CDT WED MAY 6 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN AUTAUGA COUNTY... IN CENTRAL ALABAMA

* UNTIL 950 PM CDT

* AT 902 PM CDT... A TORNADO WAS DETECTED...BY NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR OVER CENTRAL AUTAUGA COUNTY NEAR THE TOWN OF
INDEPENDENCE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.   THIS STORM WILL
AFFECT MAINLY SOUTHERN AUTAUGA COUNTY ESPECIALLY AREAS NEAR
AUTAUGAVILLE.

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 6, 6:15 PM CDT, 2 hours 50 minutes before
ALZ005>010-016-070015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
615 PM CDT WED MAY 6 1998

THE TORNADO WATCH FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN ALABAMA HAS BEEN
CANCELLED...

IN ALABAMA

LIMESTONE...MADISON...MORGAN...MARSHALL...JACKSON...DEKALB AND
CULLMAN.

OTHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS WILL BE POSSIBLE AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT
ACROSS THESE COUNTIES.
Special weather statement, May 6, 6:15 PM CDT, 2 hours 50 minutes before
ALZ005>010-016-070015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
615 PM CDT WED MAY 6 1998

THE TORNADO WATCH FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN ALABAMA HAS BEEN
CANCELLED...

IN ALABAMA

LIMESTONE...MADISON...MORGAN...MARSHALL...JACKSON...DEKALB AND
CULLMAN.

OTHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS WILL BE POSSIBLE AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT
ACROSS THESE COUNTIES.
Special weather statement, May 6, 7:15 PM CDT, 1 hour 50 minutes before
ALZ017>018-020-070045-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
715 PM CDT WED MAY 6 1998

THE TORNADO WATCH FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN ALABAMA HAS BEEN
CANCELLED...

IN ALABAMA

BLOUNT...ETOWAH...AND CHEROKEE.

OTHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS WILL BE POSSIBLE AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT
ACROSS THESE COUNTIES.
Special weather statement, May 6, 7:15 PM CDT, 1 hour 50 minutes before
ALZ017>018-020-070045-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
715 PM CDT WED MAY 6 1998

THE TORNADO WATCH FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN ALABAMA HAS BEEN
CANCELLED...

IN ALABAMA

BLOUNT...ETOWAH...AND CHEROKEE.

OTHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS WILL BE POSSIBLE AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT
ACROSS THESE COUNTIES.
Local storm report, May 6, 8:01 PM CDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
801 PM CDT WED MAY 06 1998

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

0455 PM    ADDISON                   AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   WINSTON                        HAIL THE SIZE OF QUARTERS
                                          WAS REPORTED NEAR ADDISON.

0515 PM                              AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/06/98   CULLMAN                        TREES WERE REPORTED DOWN
                                          NEAR WEST POINT.

0540 PM                              AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/06/98   CULLMAN                        TREES AND POWER LINES WERE
                                          REPORTED DOWN ACROSS THE
                                          COUNTY.
0605 PM    NORTHPORT                 AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   TUSCALOOSA                     DIME SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN NORTHPORT.

0610 PM    NORTHPORT                 AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   TUSCALOOSA                     HAIL THE SIZE OF QUAARTERS
                                          WAS REPORTED IN NORTHPORT.

0619 PM                              AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   TUSCALOOSA                     QUARTER SIZED HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN MCFARLAND.

0625 PM    COTTONDALE                AL   1.25 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   TUSCALOOSA                     HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN COTTONDALE.

0635 PM    TRUSSVILLE                AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN TRUSSVILLE.

0645 PM    TUSCALOOSA                AL   1.25 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   TUSCALOOSA                     HALF DOLLAR SIZED HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN TUSCALOOSA.

0645 PM                              AL   .88 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   JEFFERSON                      HAIL THE SIZE OF NICKELS
                                          WAS REPORTED AT HWY 280
                                          AND I459.

0655 PM                              AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   SHELBY                         HAIL THE SIZE OF QUARTERS
                                          WAS REPORTED NEAR VANDIBER
                                          IN THE NORTHERN PART OF
                                          THE COUNTY.

0700 PM    DUNCANVILLE               AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   TUSCALOOSA                     DIME SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED NEAR DUNCANVILLE.

0725 PM    BRENT                     AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   BIBB                           GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN BRENT.
Local storm report, May 6, 8:01 PM CDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM
801 PM CDT WED MAY 06 1998

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

0455 PM    ADDISON                   AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   WINSTON                        HAIL THE SIZE OF QUARTERS
                                          WAS REPORTED NEAR ADDISON.

0515 PM                              AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/06/98   CULLMAN                        TREES WERE REPORTED DOWN
                                          NEAR WEST POINT.

0540 PM                              AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/06/98   CULLMAN                        TREES AND POWER LINES WERE
                                          REPORTED DOWN ACROSS THE
                                          COUNTY.
0605 PM    NORTHPORT                 AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   TUSCALOOSA                     DIME SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN NORTHPORT.

0610 PM    NORTHPORT                 AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   TUSCALOOSA                     HAIL THE SIZE OF QUAARTERS
                                          WAS REPORTED IN NORTHPORT.

0619 PM                              AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   TUSCALOOSA                     QUARTER SIZED HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN MCFARLAND.

0625 PM    COTTONDALE                AL   1.25 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   TUSCALOOSA                     HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN COTTONDALE.

0635 PM    TRUSSVILLE                AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   JEFFERSON                      DIME SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN TRUSSVILLE.

0645 PM    TUSCALOOSA                AL   1.25 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   TUSCALOOSA                     HALF DOLLAR SIZED HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN TUSCALOOSA.

0645 PM                              AL   .88 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   JEFFERSON                      HAIL THE SIZE OF NICKELS
                                          WAS REPORTED AT HWY 280
                                          AND I459.

0655 PM                              AL   1 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   SHELBY                         HAIL THE SIZE OF QUARTERS
                                          WAS REPORTED NEAR VANDIBER
                                          IN THE NORTHERN PART OF
                                          THE COUNTY.

0700 PM    DUNCANVILLE               AL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   TUSCALOOSA                     DIME SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED NEAR DUNCANVILLE.

0725 PM    BRENT                     AL   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/06/98   BIBB                           GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN BRENT.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 6, 7:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTuscaloosa64 min
May 6, 7:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTalladega60 min
May 6, 7:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb47 min
May 6, 7:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPerry60 min
May 6, 7:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXClay47 min
May 6, 7:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXShelby47 min
May 6, 7:42 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBibb18 min
May 6, 7:44 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXPerry46 min
May 6, 7:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChilton48 min
May 6, 8:14 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Dallas66 min
May 6, 9:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTallapoosa47 min
May 6, 9:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLowndes, Montgomery42 min
May 6, 10:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMontgomery47 min
May 6, 10:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLowndes50 min
May 6, 11:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMontgomery31 min
May 6, 11:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPike65 min
May 7, 12:03 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBarbour62 min
May 7, 4:29 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXLauderdale36 min
May 7, 5:03 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXLawrence32 min
May 7, 5:06 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXLauderdale19 min
May 7, 5:10 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXLimestone30 min
May 7, 5:41 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXLimestone34 min
May 7, 5:50 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXMadison45 min
May 7, 6:20 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXJackson25 min
May 7, 6:34 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXMadison31 min
May 7, 6:45 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXJackson35 min
May 7, 4:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJackson47 min
May 7, 4:19 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLimestone51 min
May 7, 4:25 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXJackson50 min
May 7, 4:27 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMadison63 min
May 7, 4:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLauderdale51 min
May 7, 5:03 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXJackson67 min
May 7, 5:45 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDeKalb50 min
May 7, 6:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFranklin48 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 1998Every tornado warning in 1998Tornadoes 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.