Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2005

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 161, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 30, 2005Jefferson County, Walker County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 30, 2005, 11:45 PM CST for Jefferson County, Walker 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: Mar 30, 2005, 11:45 PM CST (05:45 UTC)
Expired: Mar 31, 2005, 12:33 AM CST
In force: 48 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Jefferson County, AL, Walker County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 68 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:47 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
Mar 30, 9:15 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	7 hr
Mar 30, 9:50 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 5.8 hours before the alert went out and 67 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: 135 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -297 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1597 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 109 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 268 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WUUS54 KBMX 310545
SVRBMX
ALC073-127-310630-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0161.050331T0545Z-050331T0630Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1145 PM CST WED MAR 30 2005

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA
  SOUTHEASTERN WALKER COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF CORDOVA

* UNTIL 1230 AM CST

* AT 1145 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL.  THIS
  STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GOODSPRINGS...OR ABOUT 13
  MILES SOUTHWEST OF CORDOVA...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  GOODSPRINGS BY 1150 PM CST
  7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CORDOVA BY 1155 PM CST
  DORA AND SUMITON BY MIDNIGHT CST

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

LAT...LON 3365 8738 3349 8721 3378 8681 3388 8704

$$

3 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 310553
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1153 PM CST WED MAR 30 2005

ALC073-127-310630-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0161.000000T0000Z-050331T0630Z/
JEFFERSON AL-WALKER AL-
1153 PM CST WED MAR 30 2005

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 1230 AM CST FOR
SOUTHEASTERN WALKER AND NORTHWESTERN JEFFERSON COUNTIES...

AT 1153 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE 
HAIL OR LARGER.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR TUTWILER...OR ABOUT 11 
MILES SOUTHWEST OF CORDOVA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  GOODSPRINGS BY 1150 PM CST
  WEST JEFFERSON AND 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CORDOVA BY MIDNIGHT CST
  DORA BY 1205 AM CST
  SUMITON AND 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SIPSEY BY 1210 AM CST

LAT...LON 3365 8738 3349 8721 3378 8681 3388 8704

$$

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 310615
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1215 AM CST THU MAR 31 2005

ALC073-127-310630-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0161.000000T0000Z-050331T0630Z/
JEFFERSON AL-WALKER AL-
1215 AM CST THU MAR 31 2005

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 1230 AM CST FOR
SOUTHERN WALKER AND NORTHWESTERN JEFFERSON COUNTIES...

AT 1215 AM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS REPORTED CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR WEST
JEFFERSON...OR ABOUT 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CORDOVA...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 45 MPH.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  GOODSPRINGS AND 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PARRISH BY MIDNIGHT CST
  7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CORDOVA BY 1205 AM CST
  DORA AND WEST JEFFERSON BY 1210 AM CST
  SUMITON BY 1215 AM CST
  7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SIPSEY BY 1220 AM CST

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

LAT...LON 3373 8746 3349 8722 3378 8681 3393 8711

$$

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 310633
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1232 AM CST THU MAR 31 2005

ALC073-127-310642-
/O.EXP.KBMX.SV.W.0161.000000T0000Z-050331T0630Z/
JEFFERSON AL-WALKER AL-
1232 AM CST THU MAR 31 2005

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHERN WALKER AND
NORTHWESTERN JEFFERSON COUNTIES EXPIRED AT 1230 AM CST...

THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED AT THIS TIME. THE STORMS THAT 
PROMPTED THE WARNING HAVE WEAKENED. THERE ARE STILL STORMS IN THE 
AREA AND A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT. STAY TUNED 
FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS.

LAT...LON 3373 8746 3349 8722 3378 8681 3393 8711

$$

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 Mar 30, 3:30 PM CST, 8 hours 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 30, 3:30 PM CST, 8 hours 15 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
330 PM CST WED MAR 30 2005

.DISCUSSION...
SHORT WAVE TROUGH OVER THE MIDWEST STATES WILL LIFT NORTHEAST AND
PUSH A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY INTO NORTHWEST ALABAMA.  SCATTERED
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE FRONT
LATE TONIGHT OVER WEST ALABAMA AND SPREAD EASTWARD.  VORT MAX WILL
PASS OVER ALABAMA ON THURSDAY AND PUSH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
INTO GEORGIA THURSDAY AFTERNOON.  SHOULD BE A BREAK IN THE
PRECIPITATION THURSDAY EVENING AS SURFACE LOW DEEPENS TO THE WEST
OF ALABAMA.  CONVECTION WILL SPREAD BACK INTO ALABAMA LATE
THURSDAY NIGHT AS SURFACE LOW TRACKS NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS THE
AREA.  UPPER TROUGH WILL PASS EAST OF THE AREA FRIDAY NIGHT, AND
COOLER AND DRIER CONDITIONS WILL RETURN IN TIME FOR THE WEEKEND.

.SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY)
LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IS INCREASING RAPIDLY OVER THE AREA WITH
DEWPOINTS CLIMBING INTO THE LOWER 60S IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA.
JACKSON 18Z UPPER AIR SOUNDING SHOWS A STRONG CAP AT 850MB WHICH
IS SUPPRESSING CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY.  STORM PREDICTION CENTER IS
FORECASTING CAP TO ERODE LATER TONIGHT WITH STRONG TO SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND SPREADING
INTO WESTERN ALABAMA AFTER MIDNIGHT.  FORECAST SOUNDINGS FROM THE
ETA SHOW CAPE VALUES APPROACHING 1000 J/KG BY 12Z THURSDAY.  WIND
PROFILES ALSO INDICATE SHEAR WILL BE SUFFICIENT FOR ISOLATED
SUPERCELLS.  SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL PASS EAST OF THE AREA ON
THURSDAY AFTERNOON, AND CONVECTION SHOULD DECREASE AS THE
AFTERNOON PROGRESSES.  PW VALUES WILL DECREASE THURSDAY AFTERNOON
AND EVENING AS DRY AIR ADVECTS INTO THE MID LEVELS.  THE AIRMASS
WILL LIKELY BE CAPPED THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING UNTIL DEEPER
MOISTURE MOVES BACK INTO THE AREA AS MAIN UPPER TROUGH APPROACHES
FROM THE WEST.  DEEPENING SURFACE LOW WILL PROVIDE FAVORABLE
CONDITIONS FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE ENTIRE CWA LATE
THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON FRIDAY.  PW VALUES APPROACH
1.5 INCHES EARLY FRIDAY MORNING, AND THERE WILL BE A THREAT OF
HEAVY RAINFALL AND FLASH FLOODING.  SURFACE LOW AND ASSOCIATED
FRONT WILL EXIT ALABAMA FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND BRING AN END TO THE
CONVECTION.  GIVEN STRENGTH OF UPPER TROUGH, THERE WILL LIKELY BE
SOME WRAP-AROUND MOISTURE ACROSS NORTH ALABAMA FRIDAY EVENING.
CLOUDS WILL BEGIN TO DECREASE ACROSS THE AREA FROM THE SOUTHWEST
STARTING LATE FRIDAY NIGHT WITH CLEARING SKIES ACROSS THE
REMAINDER OF THE AREA SATURDAY MORNING.

.LONG TERM...(SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)
SURFACE HIGH WILL BUILD INTO THE AREA ON SUNDAY WITH SEASONAL
TEMPERATURES EXPECTED.  SURFACE RIDGE WILL MOVE EASTWARD, AND
SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL RETURN MONDAY AND TUESDAY.  THE NEXT SYSTEM IS
EXPECTED TO APPROACH ALABAMA ON WEDNESDAY.  SYSTEM LOOKS STRONG
ENOUGH TO PRODUCE THUNDERSTORMS.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     60  74  61  69 /  60  50  50  70
ANNISTON    60  74  61  70 /  60  60  50  80
BIRMINGHAM  63  74  63  69 /  60  50  70  60
TUSCALOOSA  63  75  64  70 /  60  50  70  60
CALERA      63  75  64  71 /  60  50  70  70
AUBURN      60  77  61  74 /  50  70  50  80
MONTGOMERY  63  77  64  76 /  60  60  50  80
TROY        60  77  64  77 /  40  70  50  80

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE.

&&

58/92

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 30, 10:53 PM CST, 52 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1053 PM CST WED MAR 30 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1044 PM     HAIL             MOODY                   33.60N 86.49W
03/30/2005  0.88 INCH        ST. CLAIR          AL   PUBLIC

1044 PM     HAIL             BLOUNTSVILLE            34.08N 86.59W
03/30/2005  1.75 INCH        BLOUNT             AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

&&

81/JD

Local storm report, Mar 30, 11:11 PM CST, 34 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1111 PM CST WED MAR 30 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1044 PM     HAIL             4 SE MONTGOMERY         32.31N 86.24W
03/30/2005  0.50 INCH        MONTGOMERY         AL   PUBLIC

            HAIL COVERING THE GROUND

1059 PM     HAIL             SNOWDOUN                32.24N 86.29W
03/30/2005  1.75 INCH        MONTGOMERY         AL   AMATEUR RADIO

1059 PM     HAIL             6 E HAYNEVILLE          32.18N 86.48W
03/30/2005  1.00 INCH        LOWNDES            AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL COVERING THE GROUND

&&

81/JD

Local storm report, Mar 30, 11:25 PM CST, 20 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1125 PM CST WED MAR 30 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1115 PM     HAIL             3 E MOUNT MEIGS         32.36N 86.04W
03/30/2005  1.75 INCH        MONTGOMERY         AL   AMATEUR RADIO

&&

81/JD

Local storm report, Mar 30, 11:31 PM CST, 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1131 PM CST WED MAR 30 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1100 PM     HAIL             RAINBOW CITY            33.93N 86.09W
03/30/2005  1.00 INCH        ETOWAH             AL   PUBLIC

            QUARTER SIZE AND LARGER HAIL REPORTED BY PUBLIC

&&

81/JD

Special weather statement, Mar 30, 11:32 PM CST, 13 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1132 PM CST WED MAR 30 2005

ALZ020-310600-
CHEROKEE-
1132 PM CST WED MAR 30 2005

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IN EFFECT FOR CHEROKEE COUNTY UNTIL
MIDNIGHT CST...

...SMALL HAIL IS POSSIBLE FROM AN APPROACHING THUNDERSTORM...

AT 1128 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BLANCHE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45
MPH.

THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR BLANCHE THROUGH
MIDNIGHT CST.

Local storm report, Mar 30, 11:41 PM CST, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1141 PM CST WED MAR 30 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1140 PM     HAIL             SHORTER                 32.40N 85.94W
03/30/2005  1.75 INCH        MACON              AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TROOPER REPORTS GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL AND ZERO VISIBILITY AT
            1-85 IN SHORTER

&&

81/JD

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 30, 9:01 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Hale	44 min
Mar 30, 9:07 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pickens	23 min
Mar 30, 9:09 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	36 min
Mar 30, 9:16 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb	44 min
Mar 30, 9:25 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	35 min
Mar 30, 9:31 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marengo	29 min
Mar 30, 9:35 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Walker	40 min
Mar 30, 9:43 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	47 min
Mar 30, 9:53 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lowndes	52 min
Mar 30, 9:58 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	47 min
Mar 30, 10:06 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Dallas	39 min
Mar 30, 10:09 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	54 min
Mar 30, 10:13 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	47 min
Mar 30, 10:26 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Montgomery	64 min
Mar 30, 10:27 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	St. Clair	48 min
Mar 30, 10:27 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pickens	48 min
Mar 30, 10:45 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lowndes	15 min
Mar 30, 10:46 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Etowah	44 min
Mar 30, 10:53 PM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Montgomery	2 hr
Mar 30, 11:05 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Macon	40 min
Mar 30, 11:09 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Perry	36 min
Mar 30, 11:15 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Elmore, Tallapoosa	30 min
Mar 30, 11:23 PM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Elmore	97 min
Mar 30, 11:38 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lee	52 min
Mar 30, 11:41 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Macon	34 min
Mar 30, 11:50 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Elmore, Tallapoosa	25 min
Mar 31, 12:12 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Montgomery	21 min
Mar 31, 12:20 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Macon	10 min
Mar 31, 12:26 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Elmore	34 min
Mar 31, 12:28 AM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Lee	2 hr
Mar 31, 12:28 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lee	47 min
Mar 31, 12:55 AM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Elmore, Montgomery	2 hr
Mar 31, 1:21 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Macon	24 min
Mar 31, 1:35 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Sumter	41 min
Mar 31, 2:11 AM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Lee	2 hr
Mar 31, 2:29 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Sumter	46 min
Mar 31, 3:01 AM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Elmore	119 min
Mar 31, 3:08 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Tuscaloosa	52 min
Mar 31, 3:11 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marengo	64 min
Mar 31, 4:45 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Dallas, Perry	45 min
Mar 31, 6:00 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chilton	45 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2005 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2005

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.