Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 245, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 6, 2003, 5:59 PM CDT for Pickens County, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. It was in force for 61 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 6, 2003, 5:59 PM CDT (22:59 UTC)
- Expired
- May 6, 2003, 7:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 61 min
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
- Area
- Counties, with a storm outline in the text
Counties Pickens County, AL, Tuscaloosa County, AL
The radar
The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 86 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:01 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 6, 12:30 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 85 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1558 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -8 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 599 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 68 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 287 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 375 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 3.3
- Supercell composite
- 12.2
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
238 WUUS54 KBMX 062259 SVRBHM ALC107-125-070000- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 559 PM CDT TUE MAY 6 2003 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... SOUTHERN PICKENS COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA * UNTIL 700 PM CDT * AT 555 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ELROD...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...BROOKWOOD... HOLT...KELLERMAN...NORTHPORT AND TUSCALOOSA. LARGE HAIL IS LIKELY WITH THIS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...MOVE INSIDE...AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. CALL 1-800-856-0758 TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER. LAT...LON 3323 8802 3310 8798 3324 8708 3348 8734 $$
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 6, 2:01 PM CDT, 3 hours 58 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 6, 2:01 PM CDT, 3 hours 58 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM, AL 201 PM CDT TUE MAY 06 2003 ANOTHER BUSY DAY ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW MOIST SOUTHWEST FLOW REMAINING ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY. MOST SIGNIFICANT FEATURES ARE AN IMPULSE MOVING ACROSS NORTH-CENTRAL SECTIONS TONIGHT...FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER IMPULSE ACROSS THE SAME AREA MID DAY ON WEDNESDAY. BEST VERTICAL MOTION/MOISTURE CONVERGENCE ALSO ACROSS THE AREA WHEN IMPULSES MOVE THROUGH. WILL KEEP THE HIGHEST POPS FROM BIRMINGHAM NORTH TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. AS A SPECIAL NOTE..WE DID AN 18Z SOUNDING AND IT SHOWED A MID LEVEL CAP ONCE AGAIN IN PLACE. NOT SURE IF IMPULSE OVERNIGHT WILL OVERCOME THIS CAP OR NOT AND IT MAY TURN OUT THAT MAIN FOCUS IS NORTH OF THE INTERSTATE 20/59 CORRIDOR. ON THURSDAY...MODELS HINT AT SOME WEAK RIDGING AROUND 700 MILLIBARS AND THIS IS FORECAST TO CONTINUE FRIDAY AND THEN INTO SATURDAY. WILL LOWER POPS INTO THE CHANCE/SLIGHT CHANCE CATEGORY FOR MAINLY ISOLATED TO SCATTERED TYPE ACTIVITY. AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE WEEKEND...FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST ON SUNDAY AND THEN MOVE ACROSS ON MONDAY. WILL GO WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS FOR NOW. FRONT WILL CLEAR THE AREA BY TUESDAY AND FOR NOW...WILL LEAVE POPS OUT OF THE FORECAST. BHM 69/85/68/87/68 56232 MGM 71/88/68/90/68 25222 .BHM...NONE.
Hazardous weather outlook, May 6, 12:42 PM CDT, 5 hours 17 minutes before
ALZ011>015-017>050-061945- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1242 PM CDT TUE MAY 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)... NORTHERN HALF OF ALABAMA UNDER A TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 7 PM ALABAMA REMAINS IN A VERY WARM AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS...AND STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE. ALTHOUGH THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL... THERE IS ALSO A CONTINUED POSSIBILITY OF ISOLATED TORNADOES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN (WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY)... AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL GRADUALLY BUILD IN FROM THE SOUTH OVER THE REST OF THE WEEK. THIS WILL MOVE THE AREA OF POTENTIAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS A LITTLE FARTHER NORTH EACH DAY. THE SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL WILL BE IN AREAS GENERALLY NORTH OF INTERSTATE 20 ON WEDNESDAY...AND THEN BE COMPLETELY NORTH OF ALABAMA BY THURSDAY. ALTHOUGH THERE WILL BE A SMALL CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY...NO WIDESPREAD OR ORGANIZED AREAS OF SEVERE STORMS AREA EXPECTED ON THOSE DAYS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL AND STORM SPOTTERS HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED.
In the hours before
Local storm report, May 6, 3:42 PM CDT, 2 hours 17 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
342 PM CDT TUE MAY 06 2003
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0338 PM WOODLAND AL 0.75 IN HAIL
05/06/03 RANDOLPH PENNY SIZE HAIL.
REPORTED BY RANDOLPH
COUNTY EMA.
0338 PM WOODLAND AL WIND DAMAGE
05/06/03 RANDOLPH A FEW TREES DOWN.
REPORTED BY RANDOLPH
COUNTY EMA.Special weather statement, May 6, 4:23 PM CDT, 1 hour 36 minutes before
ALZ011>015-017>038-070000- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA 423 PM CDT TUE MAY 06 2003 THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 270... BIBB...BLOUNT...CALHOUN...CHAMBERS...CHEROKEE... CHILTON...CLAY...CLEBURNE...COOSA...ETOWAH... FAYETTE...GREENE...HALE...JEFFERSON...LAMAR... MARION...PERRY...PICKENS...RANDOLPH...SHELBY... ST CLAIR...SUMTER...TALLADEGA...TALLAPOOSA...TUSCALOOSA... WALKER...WINSTON...
Special weather statement, May 6, 4:41 PM CDT, 1 hour 18 minutes before
ALZ028-062215- THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 441 PM CDT TUE MAY 6 2003 .A THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR CLAY COUNTY UNTIL 515 PM CDT... .SMALL HAIL IS POSSIBLE FROM AN APPROACHING THUNDERSTORM. AT 438 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A THUNDERSTORM OVER ASHLAND...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR PYRITON...ASHLAND... LINEVILLE AND DELTA THROUGH 515 PM CDT. THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS IS SMALL HAIL. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...IS POSSIBLE. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS IN THE VICINITY OF THESE STORMS...TAKE SHELTER NOW. LAT...LON 3330 8594 3314 8584 3314 8565 3348 8565
Special weather statement, May 6, 5:20 PM CDT, 39 minutes before
ALZ029-062300- THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 520 PM CDT TUE MAY 6 2003 .A THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR RANDOLPH COUNTY UNTIL 600 PM CDT... .FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS POSSIBLE FROM AN APPROACHING THUNDERSTORM. AT 517 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WEDOWEE...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR WEDOWEE THROUGH 600 PM CDT. THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS IS FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS IN THE VICINITY OF THESE STORMS...TAKE SHELTER NOW. IF LIGHTNING IS OBSERVED... WAIT AT LEAST 30 MINUTES AFTER THE LAST LIGHTNING STRIKE BEFORE RESUMING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. ANOTHER THREAT FROM THESE STORMS IS SMALL HAIL. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...IS POSSIBLE. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS IN THE VICINITY OF THESE STORMS...TAKE SHELTER NOW. LAT...LON 3336 8560 3333 8528 3312 8526 3318 8565
Special weather statement, May 6, 5:23 PM CDT, 36 minutes before
ALZ022-062300- THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 523 PM CDT TUE MAY 6 2003 .A THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR PICKENS COUNTY UNTIL 600 PM CDT... .SMALL HAIL IS POSSIBLE FROM AN APPROACHING THUNDERSTORM. AT 517 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A THUNDERSTORM OVER MEMPHIS...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR PICKENSVILLE... MEMPHIS...COCHRANE...ALICEVILLE...CARROLLTON AND GORDO THROUGH 600 PM CDT. THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS IS SMALL HAIL. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...IS POSSIBLE. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS IN THE VICINITY OF THESE STORMS...TAKE SHELTER NOW. LAT...LON 3323 8831 3300 8835 3315 8785 3337 8785
Special weather statement, May 6, 5:48 PM CDT, 11 minutes before
ALZ023-070015-
THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
548 PM CDT TUE MAY 6 2003
.A THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR TUSCALOOSA COUNTY UNTIL 715 PM
CDT...
.FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS POSSIBLE FROM AN APPROACHING
CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS.
AT 545 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM BETWEEN FOSTERS AND TUSCALOOSA...AND A CLUSTER OF
THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHERN PICKENS COUNTY.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR ELROD...FOSTERS...
NORTHPORT...TUSCALOOSA...SAMANTHA...HOLT...VANCE AND KELLERMAN
THROUGH 715 PM CDT.
THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS IS FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING STRIKES. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS IN THE VICINITY OF THESE
STORMS...TAKE SHELTER NOW. IF LIGHTNING IS OBSERVED... WAIT AT LEAST
30 MINUTES AFTER THE LAST LIGHTNING STRIKE BEFORE RESUMING OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES.
LAT...LON 3340 8783 3304 8783 3304 8733 3329 8714
3353 8737The office that day
Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 7:09 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Walker | 36 min |
| May 5, 7:24 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Calhoun, St. Clair | 36 min |
| May 5, 7:24 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Jefferson | 51 min |
| May 5, 7:25 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Jefferson | 50 min |
| May 5, 8:03 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Calhoun | 27 min |
| May 5, 8:06 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Marion | 39 min |
| May 5, 8:06 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Cleburne | 24 min |
| May 5, 8:16 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Jefferson | 29 min |
| May 5, 8:25 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Cleburne | 35 min |
| May 5, 8:27 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | St. Clair | 63 min |
| May 5, 8:53 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Jefferson | 4 hr |
| May 5, 10:03 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Lamar | 27 min |
| May 5, 10:39 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Blount, Calhoun, St. Clair | 4 hr |
| May 5, 11:32 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Lamar, Marion | 58 min |
| May 6, 12:25 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Marion, Winston | 65 min |
| May 6, 1:40 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Marion | 3 hr |
| May 6, 9:54 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Cherokee | 66 min |
| May 6, 11:00 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Blount | 30 min |
| May 6, 11:11 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Cherokee | 3 hr |
| May 6, 11:12 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Blount | 18 min |
| May 6, 11:38 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Etowah | 37 min |
| May 6, 12:05 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Cherokee | 40 min |
| May 6, 1:42 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Talladega | 48 min |
| May 6, 3:22 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Randolph | 23 min |
| May 6, 6:56 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Tuscaloosa | 34 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2003Every 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.