Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 114, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 7, 2003Marengo County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 7, 2003, 7:18 AM CDT for Marengo County, Alabama. It was in force for 42 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: Apr 7, 2003, 7:18 AM CDT (12:18 UTC)
Expired: Apr 7, 2003, 8:00 AM CDT
In force: 42 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Marengo County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 130 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 12:20 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 nearest sounding before it

Jackson, MS (KJAN), launched 12:00Z, 0.3 hours before the alert went out and 218 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: 230 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -77 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 645 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -111 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 21 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: -0.0
Supercell composite: -0.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

443 
WUUS54 KBMX 071218
SVRBHM
ALC091-071300-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
717 AM CDT MON APR 7 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  MARENGO COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA

* UNTIL 800 AM CDT

* AT 715 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES WEST OF JEFFERSON...MOVING EAST AT 35
  MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...DAYTON...
FAUNSDALE...LINDEN...PROVIDENCE AND THOMASTON.

TORNADOES CAN DEVELOP SUDDENLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. BE ALERT
FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING CONDITIONS...STAY INDOORS...AWAY FROM WINDOWS
UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH YOU SHOULD EXPECT
DAMAGING WIND...IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH...AND LARGE HAIL. PEOPLE OUTSIDE
SHOULD MOVE TO SHELTER. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

CALL 1-800-856-0758 TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER.

LAT...LON 3242 8804 3244 8801 3249 8753 3231 8753
          3231 8747 3228 8747 3228 8752 3225 8753
          3226 8801 3232 8793 3239 8804

$$

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 Apr 7, 6:47 AM CDT, 31 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 7, 6:47 AM CDT, 31 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM, AL
647 AM CDT MON APR 07 2003

FLOOD WATCH OUT UNTIL 4 PM.

THE TORNADO WATCH WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

STILL SEEING TRAINING/BACK BUILDING. EXPECT THINGS TO CONTINUE TO
FIRE AND MARCH TO THE EAST.  ALSO HAVE WARNINGS OUT NOW.

UPDATES ZONES WILL BE OUT SHORTLY.

.BHM...NONE.

JONES/90

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 6, 1:02 PM CDT, 18 hours 16 minutes before

ALZ011>015-017>050-062100-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
102 PM CDT SUN APR 06 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM.

.DAY ONE (THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT)...

FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS EXISTS WEST OF INTERSTATE 65.  A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS EXIST FOR THE REST OF THE FORECAST AREA.

A WARM AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS...ALONG WITH A WARM FRONT...WILL
PROVIDE THE INSTABILITY NEEDED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA.  A FEW THUNDERSTORMS MAY
BECOME SEVERE EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...BUT THE GREATEST
THREAT OF ORGANIZED SEVERE WEATHER WILL BEGIN AROUND 4 PM OVER
WESTERN ALABAMA AND SPREAD EASTWARD THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS...
AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE NIGHTTIME.  THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOES.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN (MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY)...

THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT.  THE AIR MASS WILL REMAIN SUFFICIENTLY
UNSTABLE FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT UNTIL A COLD FRONT EXITS THE
FORECAST AREA EARLY TUESDAY.  SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND LOCALIZED
FLOODING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL
WILL MOST LIKELY BECOME NECESSARY THIS AFTERNOON.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 7, 3:24 AM CDT, 3 hours 54 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
324 AM CDT MON APR 07 2003

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

0115 AM    MINTER                    AL   WIND DAMAGE
04/07/03   DALLAS                         A FEW TREES DOWN.
                                          REPORTED BY DALLAS COUNTY
                                          EMA.

0115 AM    SELMA                     AL   WIND DAMAGE
04/07/03   DALLAS                         POWERLINES DOWN.
                                          REPORTED BY DALLAS COUNTY
                                          EMA.

Local storm report, Apr 7, 3:45 AM CDT, 3 hours 33 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
345 AM CDT MON APR 07 2003

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

0330 AM    LIVINGSTON                AL   FLASH FLOOD
04/07/03   SUMTER                         SEVERAL ROADS CLOSED DUE
                                          TO FLASH FLOODING.  FEW
                                          HOUSES FLOODED.  REPORTED
                                          BY SUMTER COUNTY EMA.

Local storm report, Apr 7, 6:12 AM CDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
612 AM CDT MON APR 07 2003

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

0500 AM    LIVINGSTON                AL   FLASH FLOOD
04/07/03   SUMTER                         RESCUE SQUAD CALLED FOR A
                                          STRANDED VEHICLE.  WATER
                                          OVER HWY 11.

0500 AM    YORK                      AL   FLASH FLOOD
04/07/03   SUMTER                         WATER OVER SEVERAL
                                          BRIDGES ON YELLOW CREEK.

0500 AM    LIVINGSTON                AL   50 MPH TSTM GUST
04/07/03   SUMTER

0500 AM    CUBA                      AL   WIND DAMAGE
04/07/03   SUMTER                         NUMEROUS TREES DOWN
                                          BETWEEN THE STATE LINE
                                          AND CUBA.  REPORTED BY
                                          THE CUBA FIRE DEPARTMENT.

0540 AM    COUNTY WIDE               AL   FLASH FLOOD
04/07/03   GREENE                         NUMEROUS COUNTY ROADS
                                          IMPASSABLE.

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 6, 7:01 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	29 min
Apr 6, 7:24 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson	51 min
Apr 6, 11:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marengo	44 min
Apr 7, 12:47 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Dallas	58 min
Apr 7, 1:28 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lowndes	62 min
Apr 7, 2:26 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lowndes, Montgomery	64 min
Apr 7, 2:56 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Sumter	34 min
Apr 7, 3:05 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Sumter	25 min
Apr 7, 3:15 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marengo	30 min
Apr 7, 3:30 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Macon, Montgomery	60 min
Apr 7, 3:42 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Sumter	4 hr
Apr 7, 3:46 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marengo	19 min
Apr 7, 3:51 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Bullock	29 min
Apr 7, 4:02 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Dallas, Perry	43 min
Apr 7, 4:24 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Macon	51 min
Apr 7, 4:42 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Sumter	48 min
Apr 7, 4:54 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lee	36 min
Apr 7, 5:26 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lee	29 min
Apr 7, 5:32 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marengo, Sumter	28 min
Apr 7, 5:43 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale	4 hr
Apr 7, 5:58 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marengo	47 min
Apr 7, 6:11 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Hale, Perry	49 min
Apr 7, 6:24 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chambers	51 min
Apr 7, 6:35 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Dallas	25 min
Apr 7, 6:56 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Sumter	49 min
Apr 7, 6:56 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Dallas	49 min
Apr 7, 7:34 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Autauga, Lowndes	41 min
Apr 7, 7:35 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Sumter	3 hr
Apr 7, 7:50 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Marengo	3 hr
Apr 7, 7:54 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Elmore, Macon, Montgomery	36 min
Apr 7, 8:06 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chambers, Chilton, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore and 6 more	3 hr
Apr 7, 8:08 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Dallas	37 min
Apr 7, 8:14 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Autauga, Lowndes	46 min
Apr 7, 8:24 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Montgomery	51 min
Apr 7, 8:59 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lowndes	46 min
Apr 7, 9:22 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Montgomery	38 min
Apr 7, 9:24 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Macon	51 min
Apr 7, 10:49 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chambers, Elmore, Lee, Lowndes, Macon and 2 more	3 hr
Apr 7, 2:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Barbour, Pike	56 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2003 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2003

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.