Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 206, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 2, 2003Tallapoosa County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 2, 2003, 6:39 PM CDT for Tallapoosa County, Alabama. It was in force for 66 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, 6:39 PM CDT (23:39 UTC)
Expired: May 2, 2003, 7:45 PM CDT
In force: 66 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Tallapoosa County, AL

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, 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, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 96 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.

586 
WUUS54 KBMX 022339
SVRBHM
ALC123-030045-

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 745 PM CDT

* AT 639 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF ALEXANDER CITY...MOVING
  EAST AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM 
INCLUDE...DAVISTON...GOLDVILLE...JACKSONS GAP...ALEXANDER CITY AND 
NEW SITE.

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 3312 8562 3289 8561 3283 8600 3308 8600

$$

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 28 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 2, 2:11 PM CDT, 4 hours 28 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 56 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, 4:57 PM CDT, 1 hour 42 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, 1 hour 21 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, 1 hour 13 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, 1 hour 7 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

Local storm report, May 2, 6:22 PM CDT, 17 minutes before

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

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

0538 PM    GADSDEN                   AL   FUNNEL CLOUD
05/02/03   ETOWAH                         OVR BOAZ MVG 2 GADSDEN.
                                          SPOTTER

0540 PM    CORDOVA                   AL   1.25 IN HAIL
05/02/03   WALKER                         SKYWARN SPOTTER

0544 PM    SAYRE                     AL   FUNNEL CLOUD
05/02/03   JEFFERSON                      OVR HWY 78 NR SAYRE. 0.88
                                          INCH HAIL
                                          SPOTTER

0545 PM    SUMITON                   AL   0.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   WALKER                         EAST OF SUMITON ALONG
                                          COUNTY LINE
                                          SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTER

0550 PM    SAYRE                     AL   1.25 IN HAIL
05/02/03   JEFFERSON                      NEAR SAYRE.  HAM RADIO

0550 PM    ORRVILLE                  AL   1.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   DALLAS                         STORM SPOTTER

0550 PM    UNIONTOWN                 AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   PERRY                          25 TREES DOWN. HAM RADIO

0552 PM    CURRY                     AL   0.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   WALKER                         EMA

0553 PM    ORRVILLE                  AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   DALLAS                         TREES DOWN. HAM RADIO

0556 PM    WEST JEFFERSON            AL   1.00 IN HAIL
05/02/03   JEFFERSON                      HAM RADIO

0604 PM    ALABASTER                 AL   0.88 IN HAIL
05/02/03   SHELBY                         PUBLIC

0607 PM    ALABASTER                 AL   0.88 IN HAIL
05/02/03   SHELBY                         HAM RADIO

0611 PM    PIEDMONT                  AL   1.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   CALHOUN                        STORM SPOTTER

0611 PM    PELHAM                    AL   0.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   SHELBY                         HAM RADIO

0614 PM    ALEXANDRIA                AL   1.00 IN HAIL
05/02/03   CALHOUN                        911 DISPATHER

Local storm report, May 2, 6:35 PM CDT, 4 minutes before

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

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

0450 PM    AKRON                     AL   1.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   HALE

0615 PM    ALEXANDRIA                AL   1.00 IN HAIL
05/02/03   CALHOUN                        PUBLIC

0620 PM    WEAVER                    AL   1.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   CALHOUN                        WEAVER AND ALEXANDRIA.
                                          EMA

0625 PM    ANNISTON                  AL   0.75 IN HAIL
05/02/03   CALHOUN                        PUBLIC

0628 PM    OXFORD                    AL   FUNNEL CLOUD
05/02/03   CALHOUN                        ANNISTON/OXFORD

0630 PM    CENTRE                    AL   50 MPH TSTM GUST
05/02/03   CHEROKEE                       56MPH. HAM RADIO

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, 6:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Hale, Talladega	45 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, 6:42 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.