Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 300, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 17, 2003, 8:11 PM CDT for Calhoun County, Cherokee County, Alabama. It was in force for 34 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 17, 2003, 8:11 PM CDT (01:11 UTC)
- Expired
- May 17, 2003, 8:45 PM CDT
- In force
- 34 min
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
- Area
- Counties, with a storm outline in the text
Counties Calhoun County, AL, Cherokee County, AL
The radar
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 113 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:14 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 17, 2:25 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 1.2 hours before the alert went out and 125 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
- 2590 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -2 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 819 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 48 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 78 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 95 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.2
- Supercell composite
- 6.2
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
WUUS54 KBMX 180111
SVRBHM
ALC015-019-180145-
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
811 PM CDT SAT MAY 17 2003
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
CALHOUN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA
CHEROKEE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ALABAMA
* UNTIL 845 PM CDT
* AT 806 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER PIEDMONT...MOVING NORTH AT 15 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...FORNEY...
PLEASANT GAP AND POPE.
A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT. REMEMBER...TORNADOES CAN DEVELOP
SUDDENLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.
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 3394 8575 3388 8564 3392 8555 3409 8543
3416 8562
$$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 17, 2:45 PM CDT, 5 hours 26 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 17, 2:45 PM CDT, 5 hours 26 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM, AL 245 PM CDT SAT MAY 17 2003 SQUALL LINE THAT WAS PUSHING FROM MS INTO AL DURING THE DAY PRODUCED HEAVY RAIN IN WESTERN AL. PRIMARY THREAT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WILL BE INSTABILITY IN THE WARM SECTOR AHEAD OF THE GUST FRONT CAUSING LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES. A TORNADO WATCH WILL CONTINUE UNTIL 10PM. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT. MIDDAY SOUNDING HAS H5 TEMPERATURE 2 DEGREES COOLER. SLOW MOVING CUT OFF UPPER LOW OVER EASTERN AR STILL FORECAST TO MOVE SOUTHWARD INTO MS AND EVENTUALLY SE LA AND INTO THE GULF BY MONDAY MORNING. FLOW AROUND THE LOW WILL CONTINUE TO BRING GULF MOISTURE INTO THE STATE. EVEN THROUGH THE LOW FILLS WITH TIME... STILL ENOUGH ASSOCIATED INSTABILITY TO PRODUCE ANOTHER ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY AFTERNOON ALTHOUGH HELICITY...CAPE... AND LI NOT AS IMPRESSIVE AS TODAY. SPC HAS SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOKED FOR THE AREA. WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WATCH FOR SEVERE WEATHER AND FLOODING RAIN. BEYOND THE WEEKEND... MOISTURE AND AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO NEXT WEEK. A FRONT MOVES INTO THE STATE AND STALLS OUT WED NIGHT INTO THU MORNING. MAY SEE SOME DRIER AIR BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK. PRELIMINARY NUMBERS FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES ONLY. BHM 070/083 068/085 066 45343 MGM 071/085 070/085 068 45333 .BHM...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT ALZ011>015-017>028-030>036 KEG 87
Hazardous weather outlook, May 17, 1:00 PM CDT, 7 hours 11 minutes before
ALZ011>015-017>050-172000- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 100 PM CDT SAT MAY 17 2003 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE (THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT)... THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL SLOWLY MOVE EASTWARD TOWARD THE AREA. WITH WARM AND UNSTABLE AIR IN PLACE...STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THE PRIMARY HAZARDS FROM THE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL...ALTHOUGH AN ISOLATED TORNADO IS POSSIBLE. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE LIKELY ACROSS THE AREA...MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...WHICH MAY LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN (SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY)... SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY RAINFALL ARE POSSIBLE ON SUNDAY AS THE UPPER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS THE AREA. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED FOR THIS AFTERNOON...AND WILL LIKELY BE REQUIRED FOR TONIGHT.
In the hours before
Local storm report, May 17, 2:26 PM CDT, 5 hours 45 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
226 PM CDT SAT MAY 17 2003
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0222 PM NORTHPORT AL 1.75 IN HAIL
05/17/03 TUSCALOOSA REPORTED BY TUSCALOOSA
COUNTY EMA.Local storm report, May 17, 3:03 PM CDT, 5 hours 8 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
303 PM CDT SAT MAY 17 2003
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0222 PM FOSTERS AL WIND DAMAGE
05/17/03 TUSCALOOSA NUMEROUS TREES DOWN.
REPORTED BY TUSCALOOSA
COUNTY EMA.
0234 PM TUSCALOOSA AL 0.75 IN HAIL
05/17/03 TUSCALOOSA PENNY SIZE HAIL ON
INTERSTATE 20/59 AND
MCFARLAND AVE. REPORTED
BY THE MEDIA.
0236 PM HOLT AL 1.00 IN HAIL
05/17/03 TUSCALOOSA QUARTER SIZE HAIL.
REPORTED BY THE MEDIA.
0240 PM NORTHPORT AL WIND DAMAGE
05/17/03 TUSCALOOSA NUMEROUS TREES AND
POWERLINES DOWN. REPORTED
BY THE PUBLIC AND RELAYED
BY THE MEDIA.Local storm report, May 17, 4:30 PM CDT, 3 hours 41 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
430 PM CDT SAT MAY 17 2003
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0335 PM BROOKWOOD AL 1.00 IN HAIL
05/17/03 TUSCALOOSA REPORTED BY STORM
SPOTTERS.Local storm report, May 17, 4:54 PM CDT, 3 hours 17 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
454 PM CDT SAT MAY 17 2003
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0445 PM TARRANT CITY AL 0.75 IN HAIL
05/17/03 JEFFERSON PUBLIC REPORT.Local storm report, May 17, 7:23 PM CDT, 48 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
723 PM CDT SAT MAY 17 2003
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0635 PM CUBA AL FUNNEL CLOUD
05/17/03 SUMTER REPORTED BY THE LOCAL
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
0710 PM FAYETTEVILLE AL 1.00 IN HAIL
05/17/03 TALLADEGA REPORTED BY TALLADEGA
COUNTY EMA.
0600 PM VERNON AL FLASH FLOOD
05/17/03 LAMAR WATER FLOWING OVER
HIGHWAY 18. REPORTED BY
LAMAR SHERIFFS OFFICE.
0713 PM TUSCALOOSA AL 0.75 IN HAIL
05/17/03 TUSCALOOSA REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
OPERATOR.Special weather statement, May 17, 7:51 PM CDT, 20 minutes before
ALZ024-180145- THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 751 PM CDT SAT MAY 17 2003 .A THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY UNTIL 845 PM CDT... .FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS POSSIBLE FROM APPROACHING THUNDERSTORMS. AT 746 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM 21 MILES WEST OF WEST JEFFERSON TO 18 MILES SOUTHWEST OF NORTH JOHNS...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR NORTH JOHNS...SYLVAN SPRINGS...HUEYTOWN...BESSEMER...WEST JEFFERSON... PLEASANT GROVE...BRIGHTON AND MULGA THROUGH 845 PM CDT. ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED JUST NORTHEAST OF THE BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT. IT WAS MOVING TO THE NORTH AT 25 MH. 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 3348 8728 3324 8702 3355 8660 3381 8685
The office that day
Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 7:08 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Lamar, Marion | 6 hr |
| May 17, 7:12 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Greene | 48 min |
| May 17, 7:58 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Marengo | 47 min |
| May 17, 8:57 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Marengo | 28 min |
| May 17, 9:17 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Marengo | 6 hr |
| May 17, 9:28 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Etowah | 62 min |
| May 17, 10:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Cherokee | 35 min |
| May 17, 10:43 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Cherokee, Etowah | 4 hr |
| May 17, 11:42 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Dallas | 48 min |
| May 17, 11:55 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Jefferson | 3 hr |
| May 18, 8:52 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Jefferson | 6 hr |
| May 18, 11:24 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Calhoun | 4 hr |
| May 18, 11:51 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Chambers, Lee | 54 min |
| May 18, 11:59 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Chambers, Lee | 46 min |
| May 18, 12:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Barbour | 50 min |
| May 18, 12:57 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Russell | 33 min |
| May 18, 1:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Barbour, Russell | 35 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.