Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2005

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 459, NWS Birmingham, AL

November 15, 2005Winston County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Nov 15, 2005, 8:01 PM CST for Winston County, Alabama. It was in force for 29 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: Nov 15, 2005, 8:01 PM CST (02:01 UTC)
Expired: Nov 15, 2005, 8:30 PM CST
In force: 29 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Winston County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 98 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:03 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
Nov 15, 3:15 PM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 2.0 hours before the alert went out and 110 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: 440 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -20 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 828 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 270 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 313 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.6
Supercell composite: 2.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS54 KBMX 160201
SVRBMX
ALC133-160230-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0459.051116T0201Z-051116T0230Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
801 PM CST TUE NOV 15 2005

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN WINSTON COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA

* UNTIL 830 PM CST

* AT 759 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS 60 TO 75
  MPH...WHICH CAN KNOCK DOWN LIMBS AND POWER LINES...DAMAGE WEAK
  STRUCTURES...AND PUSH TRUCKS OFF THE HIGHWAY.  THIS STORM WAS
  LOCATED NEAR POPLAR SPRINGS...OR ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTH OF DOUBLE
  SPRINGS...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

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

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. IF A TORNADO
IS SPOTTED... ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A STURDY
STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM.

IF ON OR NEAR SMITH LAKE...GET OUT OF THE WATER AND MOVE INDOORS OF 
INSIDE A VEHICLE. REMEMBER...LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE OUT TO 15 MILES 
FROM THE PARENT THUNDERSTORM. IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE 
CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER NOW. 
DONT BE CAUGHT ON THE WATER IN A THUNDERSTORM

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

LAT...LON 3409 8741 3400 8740 3401 8712 3419 8712

$$

61

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 Nov 15, 7:44 PM CST, 17 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 15, 7:44 PM CST, 17 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
744 PM CST TUE NOV 15 2005

.UPDATE...
TWO TORNADO WATCHES CURRENTLY IN EFFECT.  TORNADO WATCH 869 FOR
NORTHWEST ALABAMA REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM.  TORNADO WATCH 871
FOR A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL ALABAMA IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM.

THE SUPERCELL THAT MOVED ACROSS LAMAR AND FAYETTE COUNTIES HAS
WEAKENED CONSIDERABLY OVER THE PAST 45 MINUTES.  STORM-RELATIVE
HELICITY VALUES IN EXCESS 250 M2/S2 EXTEND NORTHWARD FROM THIS
STORM.  INSTABILITY/CAPES ARE HIGHEST SOUTHWESTWARD FROM FAYETTE
COUNTY BACK TO SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.  CAPES IN THE MID-LEVEL OF THE
ATMOSPHERE SUPPORT POTENTIAL FOR LARGE HAIL.

THUNDERSTORM OVER PICKENS COUNTY APPEARS TO GAINING STRENGTH.

COLD FRONT HAS MOVED TO A TUPELO...TO JACKSON...TO NATCHEZ LINE.
FRONT APPEARS TO BE A FEW HOURS AHEAD OF THE NAM PROJECTIONS.

OTHER SHOWERS HAVE DEVELOPED OVER MOBILES CWA...AND THESE SHOWERS
WERE MOVING NORTHEAST TOWARD MONTGOMERY.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     46  51  25  51 / 100  40   0   0
ANNISTON    49  50  29  50 / 100  50   0   0
BIRMINGHAM  44  50  27  50 / 100  10   0   0
TUSCALOOSA  45  52  28  52 / 100  10   0   0
CALERA      47  52  29  52 / 100  10   0   0
AUBURN      55  55  30  55 /  80  50   0   0
MONTGOMERY  53  54  30  54 / 100  50   0   0
TROY        55  55  31  55 /  80  50   0   0

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LAKE WIND ADVISORY ALL AREAS THROUGH 6 AM WEDNESDAY.
FREEZE WATCH ALL AREAS FOR WEDNESDAY MORNING.

&&

03

Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 15, 5:03 PM CST, 2 hours 58 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
503 PM CST TUE NOV 15 2005

ALZ011>015-017>050-161230-
AUTAUGA-BARBOUR-BIBB-BLOUNT-BULLOCK-CALHOUN-CHAMBERS-CHEROKEE-
CHILTON-CLAY-CLEBURNE-COOSA-DALLAS-ELMORE-ETOWAH-FAYETTE-GREENE-HALE-
JEFFERSON-LAMAR-LEE-LOWNDES-MACON-MARENGO-MARION-MONTGOMERY-PERRY-
PICKENS-PIKE-RANDOLPH-RUSSELL-SHELBY-ST CLAIR-SUMTER-TALLADEGA-
TALLAPOOSA-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER-WINSTON-
503 PM CST TUE NOV 15 2005

...SEVERE WEATHER THREAT TONIGHT...

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT TONIGHT...

...FREEZE CONDITIONS EXPECTED THURSDAY MORNING AND FRIDAY MORNING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO NORTHWEST ALABAMA THIS EVENING...
AND EXIT SOUTHEAST ALABAMA EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING.  THE AIRMASS
AHEAD OF THE FRONT IS WARM AND UNSTABLE...ESPECIALLY FOR NOVEMBER.
THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY DURING THE
EVENING HOURS.

AT THIS TIME...THE GREATEST THREAT IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE FAR
WEST AND NORTHWEST PARTS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...INCLUDING LAMAR...
MARION...WINSTON...FAYETTE...PICKENS...TUSCALOOSA...SUMTER...
GREENE AND WALKER COUNTIES. THE STORMS IN THESE COUNTIES WILL BE
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS AND SOME TORNADOES.THE REMAINDER
OF CENTRAL ALABAMA WILL SEE THE POTENTIAL OF DAMAGING WINDS AND
ISOLATED TORNADOES.

THERE MAY BE TWO LINES OF SEVERE WEATHER DURING THIS EVENT. ISOLATED
SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS AND
TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE AHEAD OF THE FRONT. AS THE FRONT APPROACHES...
A SQUALL LINE WITH EMBEDDED SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED...
WITH THE THREAT OF DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND TORNADOES. ALL
INTERESTS IN CENTRAL ALABAMA SHOULD MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS AND
FORECASTS...AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE PROTECTIVE ACTION IF A WARNING IS
ISSUED. THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL GRADUALLY END FROM
NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST AS THE FRONT PASSES DURING THE OVERNIGHT
HOURS.

ALONG WITH THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER...BREEZY CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED AHEAD AND BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. WIND GUSTS OF 25 TO 40
MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ON OPEN WATERWAYS...AND OVER HIGHER TERRAIN.
THE WINDS WILL SWING AROUND TO A NORTHERLY DIRECTION AND REMAIN
BREEZY LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY. ONCE AGAIN...WIND GUSTS
COULD REACH 25 TO 35 MPH ON AREA LAKES AND WATERWAYS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

COLD AIR WILL FUNNEL INTO ALABAMA BEHIND THE STRONG COLD FRONT. LOW
TEMPERATURES THURSDAY AND FRIDAY MORNING WILL RANGE FROM 25 TO 32
DEGREES. THEREFORE...A WIDESPREAD FREEZE IS EXPECTED EACH MORNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL
WILL BE REQUIRED TONIGHT.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Nov 15, 6:32 PM CST, 1 hour 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
632 PM CST TUE NOV 15 2005

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

0623 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     1 SW VERNON             33.75N 88.13W
11/15/2005                   LAMAR              AL   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            FUNNEL AND WALL CLOUDS REPORTED CROSSING COUNTY ROAD 9
            JUST SOUTHWEST OF VERNON.

&&

JSS

Local storm report, Nov 15, 6:47 PM CST, 1 hour 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
647 PM CST TUE NOV 15 2005

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

0622 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 SW VERNON             33.74N 88.14W
11/15/2005                   LAMAR              AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED IN THE STAR COMMUNITY.

0637 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     4 NE MILLPORT           33.60N 88.03W
11/15/2005                   LAMAR              AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED CROSSING COUNTY ROAD 12 4 MILES
            NORTHEAST OF MILLPORT.

&&

JSS

Local storm report, Nov 15, 7:11 PM CST, 50 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
711 PM CST TUE NOV 15 2005

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

0625 PM     TSTM WND DMG     VERNON                  33.76N 88.11W
11/15/2005                   LAMAR              AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ROOF DAMAGE REPORTED IN DOWNTOWN VERNON.

&&

JSS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Nov 15, 6:15 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lamar	30 min
Nov 15, 6:38 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette	48 min
Nov 15, 6:42 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lamar	18 min
Nov 15, 7:53 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker	52 min
Nov 15, 8:19 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Winston	11 min
Nov 15, 8:20 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pickens	55 min
Nov 15, 9:09 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	66 min
Nov 15, 9:14 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker	46 min
Nov 16, 3:51 AM CST	Freeze Warning	BMX	Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more	29 hr

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.