Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 201, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 2, 2003Hale County, Talladega County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 2, 2003, 6:15 PM CDT for Hale County, Talladega 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 outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: May 2, 2003, 6:15 PM CDT (23:15 UTC)
Expired: May 2, 2003, 7:00 PM CDT
In force: 45 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Hale County, AL, Talladega County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 107 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:17 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
May 2, 1:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	5 hr
May 2, 3:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	4 hr
May 2, 5:05 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 11.3 hours before the alert went out and 107 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: 134 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -350 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1399 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 43 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 42 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 248 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.

000 
WUUS54 KBMX 022315 RRA
SVRBHM
ALC065-030000-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
614 PM CDT FRI MAY 2 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  HALE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA

* UNTIL 700 PM CDT

* AT 612 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES WEST OF NEWBERN...MOVING EAST AT 35
  MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM 
INCLUDE...CEDARVILLE...SLEDGE...AND LANEVILLE.

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

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

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

LAT...LON 3254 8778 3269 8770 3265 8753 3250 8753
          3249 8769

$$

1 follow-up statement

000 
WUUS54 KBMX 022315
SVRBHM
ALC121-030000-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
615 PM CDT FRI MAY 2 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  TALLADEGA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA

* UNTIL 700 PM CDT

* AT 615 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM 12 MILES NORTH OF MUNFORD TO 14
  MILES NORTHWEST OF LINCOLN...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS 
INCLUDE...TALLADEGA...WALDO...LINCOLN AND WINTERBORO.

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

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

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

LAT...LON 3369 8617 3368 8606 3359 8599 3359 8580
          3351 8590 3333 8598 3332 8622 3344 8630
          3351 8627 3356 8617

$$

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 May 2, 2:11 PM CDT, 4 hours 4 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 2, 2:11 PM CDT, 4 hours 4 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM, AL
211 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 2003

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND
INTO THE EVENING HOURS. THE AIRMASS WAS BECOMING INCREASINGLY
UNSTABLE WITH EARLY AFTERNOON LIS FROM -8 TO -10 OVER MUCH OF THE
AREA.  A SERIES OF WEAK SHORT WAVES LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS
EVENING, ALONG WITH OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES, SHOULD HELP TO ENHANCE
CONVECTION. A FEW STORMS COULD BE SEVERE, PRODUCING STRONG
MICROBURSTS AND LARGE HAIL. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH SHOULD
CONTINUE FOR PARTS OF THE FORECAST AREA INTO THE EVENING.

A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE STATE SATURDAY AND
PROVIDE SOME BRIEF DRYING. IT SHOULD STALL, THEN MOVE BACK NORTH
SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY. I THINK THE CHANCE FOR SHOWERS OR
THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY WILL BE LESS BECAUSE OF THE DRYING, BUT I WILL
KEEP AT LEAST A SMALL POP BECAUSE OF THE BOUNDARY.  AVN MOS
TEMPERATURE GUIDANCE LOOKS PRETTY GOOD AND IS EXCEPTED WITH ONLY
MINOR CHANGES.

BHM 062/082 058/083 065 32-234
MGM 063/086 060/086 065 33-122

.BHM...NONE.

Hazardous weather outlook, May 2, 12:43 PM CDT, 5 hours 32 minutes before

ALZ011>015-017>050-022100-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1243 PM CDT FRI MAY 2 2003

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

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

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ONCE
AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT.  SOME OF
THESE WILL LIKELY BECOME SEVERE...WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL
BEING THE PRIMARY THREATS.

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

ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED OVER THE WEEKEND
DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS AS THE FRONT BECOMES
STATIONARY ACROSS ALABAMA.

THE BEGINNING OF THE WORK WEEK DOES NOT SHOW MUCH PROMISE EITHER AS A
SERIES OF UPPER-LEVEL DISTURBANCES MOVES OVER US ON MONDAY AND
TUESDAY.  THESE DISTURBANCES WILL BRING BETTER SHOWER AND
THUNDERSTORM CHANCES...WITH THE BEST CHANCE FOR ANY STRONG
STORMS BEING ON TUESDAY.

NO OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

EVEN THOUGH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL SHOULD BE ALERT TO RAPIDLY
CHANGING AFTERNOON AND EVENING CONDITIONS...ACTIVATION OF STORM
SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL WILL LIKELY NOT BE
REQUIRED THROUGH TONIGHT.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 2, 3:27 PM CDT, 2 hours 48 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
327 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 2003

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

0228 PM    DETROIT                   AL   1.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   LAMAR                          AUTOS DAMAGED.
                                          STORM
                                          SPOTTER AND PUBLIC

0252 PM    FAYETTE                   AL   0.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   FAYETTE                        N OF FAYETTE ON SR
                                          171.
                                          STATE TROOPERS

0258 PM    2 N SUMMIT                AL   1.00 IN HAIL
05/02/03   BLOUNT                         NEAR BLOUNT/MARSHALL CNTY
                                          LINE NEAR US 231    EMA

0310 PM    STUDDARDS CROSSING        AL   0.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   FAYETTE                        PUBLIC

Local storm report, May 2, 4:44 PM CDT, 1 hour 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
444 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 2003

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

0405 PM    GADSDEN                   AL   2.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   ETOWAH                         PIREP 1.75 TO 2.75

0420 PM    SPRING GARDEN             AL   1.00 IN HAIL
05/02/03   CHEROKEE                       CNTY RD 29

0427 PM    EUTAW                     AL   0.88 IN HAIL
05/02/03   GREENE                         EMA

0430 PM    EUTAW                     AL   1.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   GREENE                         EMA

Local storm report, May 2, 4:57 PM CDT, 1 hour 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
457 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 2003

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

0230 PM    2 N WINFIELD              AL   0.88 IN HAIL
05/02/03   MARION                         SHERIFF

0322 PM    CORONA                    AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   WALKER                         TREES DOWN. PUBLIC

0348 PM    CENTRE                    AL   1.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   CHEROKEE                       HAIL COVERING GRND

0414 PM    PIEDMONT                  AL   1.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   CALHOUN                        TV REPORTER

0416 PM    EUTAW                     AL   0.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   GREENE                         EMA

Local storm report, May 2, 5:18 PM CDT, 57 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
518 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 2003

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

0315 PM    CORONA                    AL   1.25 IN HAIL
05/02/03   WALKER                         PUBLIC

0330 PM    CARROLLTON                AL   0.88 IN HAIL
05/02/03   PICKENS                        911 DISPATCHER

0345 PM    CENTRE                    AL   0.50 IN HAIL
05/02/03   CHEROKEE                       WEIS RADIO

0352 PM    WOODS BEND                AL   1.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   CHEROKEE                       WEIS RADIO

0400 PM    TUSCALOOSA                AL   0.25 IN HAIL
05/02/03   TUSCALOOSA                     EMA

0430 PM    EUTAW                     AL   0.88 IN HAIL
05/02/03   GREENE                         EMA

0443 PM    BORDEN SPRINGS            AL   0.88 IN HAIL
05/02/03   CLEBURNE                       CLEBURN 911

0445 PM    FAUNSDALE                 AL   0.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   MARENGO                        911 DISPATCHER

0446 PM    UNIONTOWN                 AL   1.00 IN HAIL
05/02/03   PERRY                          STORM SPOTTER

0450 PM    5 S AKRON                 AL   2.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   HALE                           EMA

0450 PM    UNIONTOWN                 AL   1.50 IN HAIL
05/02/03   PERRY                          EMA

0453 PM    SWEET WATER               AL   0.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   MARENGO                        911 DISPATCHER

0500 PM    HALEYVILLE                AL   1.00 IN HAIL
05/02/03   WINSTON                        EMA

0505 PM    8 NW SELMA                AL   FUNNEL CLOUD
05/02/03   DALLAS                         HAM RADIO

0506 PM    BUHL                      AL   1.00 IN HAIL
05/02/03   TUSCALOOSA                     EMA

Local storm report, May 2, 5:26 PM CDT, 49 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
526 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 2003

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

0151 PM    5 N GREENSBORO            AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   HALE                           TREES/POWER LINES DOWN.
                                          EMA

0512 PM    ABERNANT                  AL   1.00 IN HAIL
05/02/03   TUSCALOOSA                     NORTHPORT/ABERNANT. EMA

0515 PM    GREENSBORO                AL   1.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   HALE                           EMA

0516 PM    NORTHPORT                 AL   1.00 IN HAIL
05/02/03   TUSCALOOSA                     EMA

Local storm report, May 2, 5:32 PM CDT, 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
532 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 2003

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

0506 PM    JASPER                    AL   0.88 IN HAIL
05/02/03   WALKER                         EMA

0515 PM    NORTHPORT                 AL   0.88 IN HAIL
05/02/03   TUSCALOOSA                     EMA

0520 PM    TUSCALOOSA                AL   1.00 IN HAIL
05/02/03   TUSCALOOSA                     TCL APT. HAM RADIO

0524 PM    1 S JASPER                AL   FUNNEL CLOUD
05/02/03   WALKER                         EMA. JUST SOUTH

0528 PM    CLEVELAND                 AL   0.88 IN HAIL
05/02/03   BLOUNT                         EMA

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 1, 7:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun	35 min
May 1, 7:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Talladega	24 min
May 1, 8:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay	43 min
May 1, 8:04 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Talladega	16 min
May 1, 8:32 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Barbour	28 min
May 1, 8:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tallapoosa	39 min
May 2, 2:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion	45 min
May 2, 2:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	32 min
May 2, 2:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee, Etowah	49 min
May 2, 2:51 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette	39 min
May 2, 3:01 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	29 min
May 2, 3:03 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pickens	42 min
May 2, 3:04 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	26 min
May 2, 3:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker	47 min
May 2, 3:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marengo	58 min
May 2, 3:17 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Pickens	43 min
May 2, 3:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee, Etowah	46 min
May 2, 3:32 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Greene	43 min
May 2, 3:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Hale	39 min
May 2, 4:01 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	29 min
May 2, 4:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pickens	51 min
May 2, 4:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cleburne	35 min
May 2, 4:12 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Greene	48 min
May 2, 4:13 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Greene	47 min
May 2, 4:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee	30 min
May 2, 4:17 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Hale	43 min
May 2, 4:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marengo	36 min
May 2, 4:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Perry	60 min
May 2, 4:34 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marengo	26 min
May 2, 4:44 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Perry	46 min
May 2, 4:52 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Dallas	38 min
May 2, 4:55 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Hale	35 min
May 2, 4:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cleburne	49 min
May 2, 4:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Walker	46 min
May 2, 5:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Winston	28 min
May 2, 5:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	51 min
May 2, 5:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	St. Clair	26 min
May 2, 5:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Etowah	41 min
May 2, 5:26 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Walker	24 min
May 2, 5:27 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Perry	48 min
May 2, 5:28 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Dallas	47 min
May 2, 5:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	44 min
May 2, 5:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Talladega	26 min
May 2, 5:35 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb	25 min
May 2, 5:35 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Hale	40 min
May 2, 5:35 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Etowah	40 min
May 2, 5:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene	36 min
May 2, 5:39 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson	66 min
May 2, 5:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	33 min
May 2, 5:45 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee	60 min
May 2, 6:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	St. Clair	43 min
May 2, 6:04 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Coosa	56 min
May 2, 6:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cleburne	54 min
May 2, 6:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Shelby	23 min
May 2, 6:14 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Dallas	46 min
May 2, 6:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Perry	30 min
May 2, 6:22 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette	23 min
May 2, 6:25 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Shelby	65 min
May 2, 6:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marengo	59 min
May 2, 6:32 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lowndes	58 min
May 2, 6:37 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Calhoun	23 min
May 2, 6:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tallapoosa	66 min
May 2, 6:42 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson	18 min
May 2, 6:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Randolph	62 min
May 2, 6:51 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers	54 min
May 2, 6:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	23 min
May 2, 6:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cleburne	16 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.