Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 322, NWS Birmingham, AL

June 2, 2003Pickens County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 2, 2003, 8:57 PM CDT for Pickens County, Alabama. It was in force for 48 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: Jun 2, 2003, 8:57 PM CDT (01:57 UTC)
Expired: Jun 2, 2003, 9:45 PM CDT
In force: 48 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Pickens 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
Jun 2, 4:55 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Jackson, MS (KJAN), launched 00:00Z, 2.0 hours before the alert went out and 223 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: 90 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -186 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1459 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 22 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 89 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 82 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.

810 
WUUS54 KBMX 030157
SVRBHM
ALC107-030245-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
857 PM CDT MON JUN 2 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 945 PM CDT

* AT 854 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM 15 MILES WEST OF PALMETTO TO 13
  MILES SOUTH OF CARROLLTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...GORDO...
HARPERS MILL AND REFORM.

HAIL TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS AND WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH CAN BE 
EXPECTED IN THE WARNED AREA. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS 
STORM...MOVE TO A SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER.

A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT. REMEMBER...TORNADOES CAN DEVELOP
SUDDENLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

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

LAT...LON 3354 8822 3333 8816 3304 8815 3316 8786
          3346 8787 3353 8787

$$

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 Jun 2, 2:23 PM CDT, 6 hours 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 2, 2:23 PM CDT, 6 hours 34 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM, AL
223 PM CDT MON JUN 02 2003

THE SFC LOW OVER THE LOWER MS RIVER VALLEY CONTINUES TO DEEPEN AND
MOVE TO THE E-NE.  EXPECT THE SHOWERS AND STORMS TO INCREASE INTO THE
NIGHT TIME HOURS FOR US.  A COUPLE OF STORMS MAY REACH SEVERE LIMITS
TONIGHT AND TOMORROW.

WARM FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH SFC LOW WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTHWARD
ACROSS THE CWA.  THIS WILL PUT US IN THE WARM SECTOR OVERNIGHT
KEEPING LOWS NEAR 70 FOR EVERYONE.

TRAILING COOL FRONT SHOULD PUSH ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CWA BY
MID-DAY ON WEDNESDAY.  EVERYONE SHOULD SEE RAIN BETWEEN NOW AND
THEN.  SOME MORE THAN OTHERS OF COURSE.  MID TO HIGH CLOUDS RETURN ON
THURSDAY FROM THE ACTIVITY THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE BACK TO OUR
WEST.  RAIN CHANCES LOOKING PRETTY GOOD FOR THE WEEKEND AS WX
PARAMETERS LINE-UP OVER US IN THE SWRLY FLOW.

BHM 070/079 064/080 060/ 7+30
MGM 072/083 067/084 064/ 4+42

.BHM...NONE.

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 2, 1:30 PM CDT, 7 hours 27 minutes before

ALZ011>015-017>050-022030-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
130 PM CDT MON JUN 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)...

A WARM FRONT WILL MOVE NORTHWARD ACROSS THE STATE THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING WHICH WILL BRING MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR BACK
INTO THE AREA. AN APPROACHING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM ALONG WITH AN UPPER
LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL COMBINE TO BRING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS WEST ALABAMA THIS AFTERNOON AND TO THE REST OF THE STATE
THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SOME STORMS WILL BE STRONG WITH AN
ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM POSSIBLE.  THE MAIN THREAT FROM THESE
THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE STRONG GUSTY WINDS, HAIL, AND HEAVY RAINFALL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN (TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY)...

A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH THE STATE ON TUESDAY.
SOME STRONG STORMS ARE POSSIBLE TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.  ON
WEDNESDAY...THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY HANGS AROUND SOUTHEAST ALABAMA AS
MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR WILL STILL BE IN PLACE AND MAKE CONDITIONS
FAVORABLE FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS.  FOR THE WEEKEND...ANOTHER
COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH ALABAMA...WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF SEVERE STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
PERSONNEL IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.  HOWEVER THEY ARE ADVISED
TO KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 2, 5:38 PM CDT, 3 hours 19 minutes before

ALZ013-023-022330-

THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
538 PM CDT MON JUN 2 2003

.A THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR TUSCALOOSA AND FAYETTE
COUNTIES UNTIL 630 PM CDT...

.FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS POSSIBLE FROM AN APPROACHING
THUNDERSTORM.

AT 529 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF ELROD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25
MPH.

THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR FAYETTE AND BERRY
THROUGH 630 PM CDT.

THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS IS STRONG WINDS. WINDS 35 TO 45
MPH ARE LIKELY WITH THESE STORMS. OUTDOOR OBJECTS SUCH AS LAWN
FURNITURE...TRASH CANS....OR OTHER HOUSEHOLD ITEMS COULD BE BLOWN
AROUND.

LAT...LON 3354 8780 3315 8782 3349 8744 3365 8749
          3389 8769 3384 8792 3355 8791

Local storm report, Jun 2, 7:06 PM CDT, 1 hour 51 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
706 PM CDT MON JUN 02 2003

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

0544 PM    STAR                      AL   0.88 IN HAIL
06/02/03   LAMAR                          STAR-SUNNYSIDE FIRE
                                          DEPARTMENT REPORTED
                                          NICKEL SIZE HAIL NEAR
                                          STAR

Special weather statement, Jun 2, 7:57 PM CDT, 1 hour before

ALZ034-030130-

THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
757 PM CDT MON JUN 2 2003

.A THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR BIBB COUNTY UNTIL 830 PM
CDT...

.FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS POSSIBLE FROM AN APPROACHING
THUNDERSTORM.

AT 748 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF CENTREVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
30 MPH.

THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR CENTREVILLE...BRENT
AND WEST BLOCTON THROUGH 830 PM CDT.

LAT...LON 3293 8738 3290 8715 3291 8694 3307 8695
          3318 8714

Local storm report, Jun 2, 7:59 PM CDT, 58 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
759 PM CDT MON JUN 02 2003

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

0719 PM    NORTHPORT                 AL   1.00 IN HAIL
06/02/03   TUSCALOOSA                     NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZE
                                          HAIL REPORTED BETWEEN
                                          LOCK 15 ROAD AND LAKE
                                          NICOL IN BIG BEND AREA OF
                                          BLACK WARRIOR RIVER.

Local storm report, Jun 2, 8:39 PM CDT, 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
839 PM CDT MON JUN 02 2003

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

0800 PM    SUTTLE                    AL   1.75 IN HAIL
06/02/03   PERRY                          PUBLIC REPORT OF GOLF
                                          BALL SIZE HAIL ON STATE
                                          HIGHWAY 14 NEAR SUTTLE

Local storm report, Jun 2, 8:56 PM CDT, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
856 PM CDT MON JUN 02 2003

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

0810 PM    BILLINGSLEY               AL   0.75 IN HAIL
06/02/03   AUTAUGA                        MONTGOMERY TELEVISION
                                          STATION REPORTED PENNY
                                          SIZE HAIL NEAR
                                          BILLINGSLEY

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jun 2, 7:24 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	36 min
Jun 2, 7:38 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson	37 min
Jun 2, 7:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga	34 min
Jun 2, 7:48 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Perry	42 min
Jun 2, 7:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Dallas	62 min
Jun 2, 8:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Pickens	53 min
Jun 2, 8:15 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson	30 min
Jun 2, 8:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga	44 min
Jun 2, 8:41 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Shelby	49 min
Jun 2, 8:45 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Marion	45 min
Jun 2, 8:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chilton	55 min
Jun 2, 8:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar	20 min
Jun 2, 9:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pickens, Tuscaloosa	62 min
Jun 2, 9:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	56 min
Jun 2, 9:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Sumter	47 min
Jun 2, 9:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chilton	49 min
Jun 2, 9:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene	48 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.