Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2002

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 22, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 30, 2002Marshall County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 30, 2002, 1:39 AM CST for Marshall County, Alabama. It was in force for 51 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Mar 30, 2002, 1:39 AM CST (07:39 UTC)
Expired: Mar 30, 2002, 2:30 AM CST
In force: 51 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Marshall County, AL

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 58 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:42 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

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 30, 1:00 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	4 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 7.7 hours before the alert went out and 147 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: 1146 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -10 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1460 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 123 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 308 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.6
Supercell composite: 6.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

102 
WUUS54 KBMX 300739
SVRBHM
ALC095-300830-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
138 AM CST SAT MAR 30 2002

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  MARSHALL COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ALABAMA

* UNTIL 230 AM CST

* AT 137 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
A   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM NEAR GUNTERSVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...GRANT.

STRONG DAMAGING WIND...AND LARGE HAIL ARE LIKELY WITH THIS STORM.
TAKE COVER IN A STURDY SHELTER UNTIL THE STORM PASSES.

IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL AFTER THE STORM HAS PASSED...AND THEN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1, 800, 8 5 6, 0 7 5 8.

LAT...LON 3442 8645 3429 8630 3446 8613 3461 8619

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.

NWS Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Mar 29, 8:32 PM CST, 5 hours 7 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 29, 8:32 PM CST, 5 hours 7 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM, AL
832 PM CST FRI MAR 29 2002

SVR TSTM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR PARTS OF NORTH ALABAMA. LATEST
SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS THE COLD FRONT FROM SW TN INTO CENTRAL KY...
SLOWLY MOVING SOUTHEAST. SEVERE CONVECTION ONGOING ALONG THE FRONT
WITH SCATTERED ACTIVITY DEVELOPING IN NW AL ATTM. MANY HAIL REPORTS
HAVE COME IN FROM THIS ACTIVITY....THEREFORE GREATEST THREAT APPEARS
TO BE FROM LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...BUT ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE
STILL POSSIBLE. LINE SHOULD CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL MORE HOURS BUT SOME
DECREASE IN INTENSITY SHOULD OCCUR OVERNIGHT. WITH ISSUE UPDATE
SHORTLY...BUT CURRENT ZONE PACKAGE HAS SITUATION HANDLED QUITE GOOD.

MAIN UPDATE CHANGE WILL BE TO BUMP TEMPS UP A TAD IN SOME
LOCATIONS...MAINLY WEST AND NORTH. DEW POINTS IN THE 60S MOST
SPOTS...SOUTH WINDS TO CONTINUE OVERNIGHT...AND INCREASING CLOUDS.

75

.BHM...NONE.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 29, 9:21 PM CST, 4 hours 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
921 PM CST FRI MAR 29 2002

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

0905 PM    NEWBURG                   AL   0.88 IN HAIL
03/29/02   FRANKLIN                       NICKEL SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN EASTERN
                                          FRANKLIN COUNTY NEAR
                                          NEWBURG.

0905 PM    HATTON                    AL   0.88 IN HAIL
03/29/02   LAWRENCE                       NICKEL SIZE HAIL FELL
                                          ACROSS WESTERN LAWRENCE
                                          NEAR HATTON.

0909 PM    MOULTON                   AL   0.88 IN HAIL
03/29/02   LAWRENCE                       NICKEL SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN MOULTON.

Local storm report, Mar 29, 11:17 PM CST, 2 hours 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1117 PM CST FRI MAR 29 2002

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

0930 PM    7NE MOULTON               AL   0.88 IN HAIL
03/29/02   LAWRENCE                       NICKEL SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED NEAR CADDO.

935  PM    TRINITY                   AL   0.88 IN HAIL
03/29/02   MORGAN                         NICKEL SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED NEAR TRINITY.

0935 PM    4E MOULTON                AL   1.00 IN HAIL
03/29/02   LAWRENCE                       QUARTER SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED EAST OF MOULTON
                                          NEAR THE COUNTY LINE.

0935 PM    7NE MOULTON               AL   1.75 IN HAIL
03/29/02   LAWRENCE                       GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED NEAR CADDO.

1008 PM    4E MOULTON                AL   FUNNEL CLOUD
03/29/02   LAWRENCE                       POSSIBLE TORNADO REPORTED
                                          JUST EAST OF MOULTON BY
                                          FIRE FIGHTER.

1020 PM    NEEL                      AL   2.00 IN HAIL
03/29/02   MORGAN                         TWO INCH DIAMETER SIZE
                                          HAIL WAS REPORTED NEAR
                                          THE CITY OF NEEL.

Local storm report, Mar 30, 12:35 AM CST, 1 hour 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1235 AM CST SAT MAR 30 2002

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

1125 PM    3SE ARAB                  AL   WIND DAMAGE
03/30/02   MARSHALL                       SEVERAL TREES AND POWER
                                          LINES DOWN FROM JUST EAST
                                          OF ARAB TO NEAR
                                          ALBERTVILLE. ONE HOME HAD
                                          STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.
                                          POSSIBLE TORNADO.

Local storm report, Mar 30, 12:49 AM CST, 50 minutes before

LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1249 AM CST SAT MAR 30 2002

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

0905 PM    NEWBURG                   AL   0.88 IN HAIL
03/29/02   FRANKLIN                       NICKEL SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN EASTERN
                                          FRANKLIN COUNTY NEAR
                                          NEWBURG.

0905 PM    HATTON                    AL   0.88 IN HAIL
03/29/02   LAWRENCE                       NICKEL SIZE HAIL FELL
                                          ACROSS WESTERN LAWRENCE
                                          NEAR HATTON.

0909 PM    MOULTON                   AL   0.88 IN HAIL
03/29/02   LAWRENCE                       NICKEL SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED IN MOULTON.

0930 PM    7NE MOULTON               AL   0.88 IN HAIL
03/29/02   LAWRENCE                       NICKEL SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED NEAR CADDO.

935  PM    TRINITY                   AL   0.88 IN HAIL
03/29/02   MORGAN                         NICKEL SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED NEAR TRINITY.

0935 PM    4E MOULTON                AL   1.00 IN HAIL
03/29/02   LAWRENCE                       QUARTER SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED EAST OF MOULTON
                                          NEAR THE COUNTY LINE.

0935 PM    7NE MOULTON               AL   1.75 IN HAIL
03/29/02   LAWRENCE                       GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL WAS
                                          REPORTED NEAR CADDO.

1008 PM    4E MOULTON                AL   FUNNEL CLOUD
03/29/02   LAWRENCE                       POSSIBLE TORNADO REPORTED
                                          JUST EAST OF MOULTON BY
                                          FIRE FIGHTER.

1020 PM    NEEL                      AL   2.00 IN HAIL
03/29/02   MORGAN                         TWO INCH DIAMETER SIZE
                                          HAIL WAS REPORTED NEAR
                                          THE CITY OF NEEL.

1125 PM    3SE ARAB                  AL   WIND DAMAGE
03/29/02   MARSHALL                       SEVERAL TREES AND POWER
                                          LINES DOWN FROM JUST EAST
                                          OF ARAB TO NEAR
                                          ALBERTVILLE. ONE HOME HAD
                                          STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.
                                          POSSIBLE TORNADO.

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 29, 8:41 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Franklin	34 min
Mar 29, 8:56 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lawrence	64 min
Mar 29, 9:18 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Morgan	57 min
Mar 29, 9:30 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Franklin	45 min
Mar 29, 9:38 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Morgan	52 min
Mar 29, 9:39 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Limestone	36 min
Mar 29, 9:59 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lawrence	46 min
Mar 29, 10:00 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Madison	45 min
Mar 29, 10:08 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lawrence	37 min
Mar 29, 10:19 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Madison	41 min
Mar 29, 10:27 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marshall	48 min
Mar 29, 10:28 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Morgan	47 min
Mar 29, 11:10 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Cullman	20 min
Mar 29, 11:11 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marshall	34 min
Mar 29, 11:22 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	DeKalb	38 min
Mar 29, 11:44 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marshall	31 min
Mar 29, 11:55 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	DeKalb	65 min
Mar 30, 12:04 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Etowah	41 min
Mar 30, 12:05 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Cherokee	40 min
Mar 30, 12:45 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee	30 min
Mar 30, 1:40 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion	50 min
Mar 30, 1:45 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cullman	45 min
Mar 30, 2:26 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette	49 min
Mar 30, 2:34 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	26 min
Mar 30, 2:43 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker	47 min
Mar 30, 3:16 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cullman, Winston	44 min
Mar 30, 9:35 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	25 min
Mar 30, 9:58 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	47 min
Mar 30, 10:34 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Shelby	41 min
Mar 30, 10:47 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	38 min
Mar 30, 11:13 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Shelby	17 min
Mar 30, 11:18 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Talladega	42 min
Mar 30, 11:45 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay	45 min
Mar 30, 12:04 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Talladega	41 min
Mar 30, 12:10 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Randolph	35 min
Mar 30, 12:40 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Randolph	20 min
Mar 30, 2:23 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb	37 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2002 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2002

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.