Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2005

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 171, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 31, 2005Marengo County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 31, 2005, 3:11 AM CST for Marengo County, Alabama. It was in force for 64 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 31, 2005, 3:11 AM CST (09:11 UTC)
Expired: Mar 31, 2005, 4:15 AM CST
In force: 64 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Marengo County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 149 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:15 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 31, 1:15 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 148 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 310911
SVRBMX
ALC091-311015-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0171.050331T0911Z-050331T1015Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
311 AM CST THU MAR 31 2005

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  MARENGO COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...LINDEN...DEMOPOLIS

* UNTIL 415 AM CST

* AT 308 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL.  THIS
  STORM WAS LOCATED 33 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JEFFERSON...OR ABOUT 32
  MILES WEST OF THOMASVILLE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  MAGNOLIA.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...AND DEADLY CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IN ADDITION TO LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS
IMMEDIATELY LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES NUMBER ONE KILLERS.
REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

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

LAT...LON 3213 8833 3196 8816 3208 8769 3230 8752
      3246 8758 3252 8783 3244 8801 3235 8796

$$

KH/99

2 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 310957
SVSBMX

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

ALC091-311015-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0171.000000T0000Z-050331T1015Z/
MARENGO AL-
357 AM CST THU MAR 31 2005

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 415 AM CST FOR
MARENGO COUNTY...

AT 352 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL.
THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR MYRTLEWOOD...OR ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTHWEST 
OF LINDEN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SWEET
WATER...JEFFERSON...MAGNOLIA...PROVIDENCE...DEMOPOLIS...THOMASTON...
FAUNSDALE AND DAYTON.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...AND DEADLY CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

LAT...LON 3213 8833 3196 8816 3208 8769 3230 8752
      3246 8758 3252 8783 3244 8801 3235 8796

$$

KH/99

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 311014
SVSBMX

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

ALC091-311024-
/O.EXP.KBMX.SV.W.0171.000000T0000Z-050331T1015Z/
MARENGO AL-
414 AM CST THU MAR 31 2005

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR MARENGO COUNTY EXPIRES AT 415
AM CST...

THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED. THE STORMS THAT PROMPTED THE
WARNING HAVE WEAKENED.

LAT...LON 3213 8833 3196 8816 3208 8769 3230 8752
      3246 8758 3252 8783 3244 8801 3235 8796

$$

KH/99

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, 11 hours 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 30, 3:30 PM CST, 11 hours 41 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 31, 2:17 AM CST, 54 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
217 AM CST THU MAR 31 2005

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

1206 AM     HAIL             AUBURN                  32.59N 85.48W
03/31/2005  1.75 INCH        LEE                AL   PUBLIC

            GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED NEAR BEEVILLE AND COX ROAD
            AREA

&&

JBW

Special weather statement, Mar 31, 2:19 AM CST, 52 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
219 AM CST THU MAR 31 2005

ALZ030-310845-
SUMTER-
219 AM CST THU MAR 31 2005

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IN EFFECT FOR SUMTER COUNTY UNTIL 245 AM
CST...

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

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

AT 214 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF EMELLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55
MPH.

THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR EMELLE...
LIVINGSTON...GEIGER AND EPES THROUGH 245 AM CST.

THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS IS FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING STRIKES. SOME POWER OUTAGES ARE POSSIBLE. AVOID USING
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. IF YOU FEEL YOUR
SKIN TINGLE...OR YOUR HAIR STAND ON END...SQUAT AS LOW TO THE GROUND
AS POSSIBLE.

Local storm report, Mar 31, 2:24 AM CST, 47 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
224 AM CST THU MAR 31 2005

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

1212 AM     FLASH FLOOD      MILLBROOK               32.49N 86.37W
03/31/2005                   ELMORE             AL   PUBLIC

            FLOODING REPORTED APPROACHING RESIDENTIAL AREAS

&&

JBW

Local storm report, Mar 31, 2:42 AM CST, 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
242 AM CST THU MAR 31 2005

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

1212 AM     HAIL             AUBURN                  32.59N 85.48W
03/31/2005  1.75 INCH        LEE                AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL REPORTED IN THE AUBURN AREA

1218 AM     HAIL             AUBURN                  32.59N 85.48W
03/31/2005  1.75 INCH        LEE                AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL REPORTED IN THE AUBURN AREA

1218 AM     HAIL             AUBURN                  32.59N 85.48W
03/31/2005  1.75 INCH        LEE                AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL IN THE AUBURN AREA

&&

JBW

Local storm report, Mar 31, 2:42 AM CST, 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
242 AM CST THU MAR 31 2005

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

1218 AM     HAIL             AUBURN                  32.59N 85.48W
03/31/2005  1.75 INCH        LEE                AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL REPORTED IN THE AUBURN AREA

&&

JBW

Special weather statement, Mar 31, 2:53 AM CST, 18 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
253 AM CST THU MAR 31 2005

ALZ023-032-311000-
HALE-TUSCALOOSA-
253 AM CST THU MAR 31 2005

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IN EFFECT FOR HALE AND TUSCALOOSA
COUNTIES UNTIL 400 AM CST...

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

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

AT 250 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM OVER MOUNDVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR AKRON...MOUNDVILLE...
FOSTERS...WILEY...TUSCALOOSA...NORTHPORT...DUNCANVILLE AND HOLT
THROUGH 400 AM CST.

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.

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, 11:45 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Walker	48 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, 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.