Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2005

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 470, NWS Birmingham, AL

December 4, 2005Walker County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Dec 4, 2005, 2:33 AM CST for Walker County, Alabama. It was in force for 42 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: Dec 4, 2005, 2:33 AM CST (08:33 UTC)
Expired: Dec 4, 2005, 3:15 AM CST
In force: 42 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Walker County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 90 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:36 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
Dec 3, 10:01 PM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 8.6 hours before the alert went out and 95 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: 40 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -53 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 847 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 53 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 637 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 916 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 1.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS54 KBMX 040834
SVRBMX
ALC127-040915-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0470.051204T0833Z-051204T0915Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
233 AM CST SUN DEC 4 2005

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN WALKER COUNTY
  THIS INCLUDES THE AREAS OF...JASPER...CORDOVA

* UNTIL 315 AM CST

* AT 230 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL...AND
  DAMAGING WINDS OF 60 MPH...WHICH CAN KNOCK DOWN LIMBS AND POWER
  LINES...DAMAGE WEAK STRUCTURES...AND PUSH TRUCKS OFF THE
  HIGHWAY.   THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 9 MILES WEST OF CARBON HILL...OR
  ABOUT 7 MILES EAST OF WINFIELD...AND MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  ELDRIDGE...NAUVOO AND CURRY.

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.

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

LAT...LON 3399 8717 3399 8715 3375 8710 3376 8711
      3380 8753 3387 8753 3388 8754 3388 8763
      3400 8763

$$

1 follow-up statement

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 040906
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
305 AM CST SUN DEC 4 2005

ALC127-040915-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0470.000000T0000Z-051204T0915Z/
WALKER AL-
305 AM CST SUN DEC 4 2005

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 AM CST 
FOR WALKER COUNTY...

AT 301 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL. 
THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR CARBON HILL...OR ABOUT 12 MILES WEST OF 
JASPER...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

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

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM CST SUNDAY MORNING FOR
WALKER.

LAT...LON 3399 8717 3399 8715 3375 8710 3376 8711
      3380 8753 3387 8753 3388 8754 3388 8763
      3400 8763

$$

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 Dec 3, 7:30 PM CST, 7 hours 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 3, 7:30 PM CST, 7 hours 3 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
730 PM CST SAT DEC 3 2005

.UPDATE...
CONVECTION IS FINALLY GETTING STARTED ACROSS WESTERN TENNESSEE.
UPPER AIR SOUNDINGS AT KJAN AND KBMX SHOW A STRONG CAPPING INVERSION
AT 850MB AND 700MB RESPECTIVELY.  THIS INVERSION WILL BE HARD TO
BREAK AND DO NOT EXPECT ANY STORMS TO DEVELOP ACROSS AREA UNTIL WELL
AFTER MIDNIGHT.  SPC HAS MOVED SOUTHERN EDGE OF SLIGHT RISK FARTHER
NORTHWARD AND ONLY MARION/LAMAR COUNTIES IN A SLIGHT RISK AREA THRU
6 AM SUNDAY.  WITH A LATER ARRIVAL OF SHWRS/TSTMS...REDUCED RAIN
CHANCES OVERNIGHT FOR MOST AREAS...ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20.

WITH STRONG WARM AIR ADVECTION IN PLACE...SURFACE TEMPERATURES WILL
NOT LIKELY FALL BELOW MORE THAN A COUPLE OF DEGREES BELOW CURRENT
READINGS AND ADJUSTED OVERNIGHT MINIMUM TEMPS UPWARD.

&&

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

&&

58/ROSE

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 3, 8:32 PM CST, 6 hours 1 minute before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
832 PM CST SAT DEC 3 2005

ALZ011>015-017>050-050233-
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-
832 PM CST SAT DEC 3 2005

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

COMPLEX WEATHER SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OVERNIGHT WITH
POSSIBLE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE. THE TIME FRAME OF CONCERN WILL BE
BETWEEN 2 AND 6 AM FOR NORTHWEST ALABAMA.

FOR LOCATIONS GENERALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 59 AND WEST OF
INTERSTATE 65...WINDS IN THE LOWER LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE WILL
FAVOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS. THESE STORMS WILL
BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND ISOLATED
TORNADOES.  THE ISOLATED TORNADO THREAT WILL GENERALLY BE CONFINED
TO THE EXTREME NORTHWEST COUNTIES OF MARION AND LAMAR.

FOR LOCATIONS ALONG AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 65 AND SOUTH OF
INTERSTATE 59...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL HAS DECREASED
FOR THE OVER NIGHT HOURS.  THIS IS DUE TO THE SLOW MOVING NATURE
OF THE DEVELOPING STORM SYSTEM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

ON SUNDAY...SEVERE WEATHER IS STILL A CONCERN...WITH DAMAGING
WINDS AND LARGE HAIL AS THE PRIMARY THREATS. AT THIS TIME, THE THREAT
WILL MAINLY BE FOR AREAS SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 59 AND/OR EAST OF
INTERSTATE 65. THE FRONT WILL BE SLOW TO MOVE THROUGH CENTRAL ALABAMA
AND THUNDERSTORMS MAY PERSIST THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING.

AT THIS TIME...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED MONDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL
MAY BE REQUIRED LATE TONIGHT FOR NORTHWEST ALABAMA AND THE
REMAINDER OF THE AREA ON SUNDAY.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 4, 1:33 AM CST, 1 hour before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
133 AM CST SUN DEC 04 2005

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

0132 AM     HAIL             HACKLEBURG              34.27N 87.83W
12/04/2005  0.88 INCH        MARION             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            NICKEL SIZED HAIL REPORTED

&&

61

Local storm report, Dec 4, 1:40 AM CST, 53 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
140 AM CST SUN DEC 04 2005

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

0139 AM     HAIL             BEAR CREEK              34.26N 87.72W
12/04/2005  0.88 INCH        MARION             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            NICKEL SIZED HAIL REPORTED

&&

61

Local storm report, Dec 4, 1:46 AM CST, 47 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
146 AM CST SUN DEC 04 2005

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

0135 AM     TSTM WND DMG     HACKLEBURG              34.27N 87.83W
12/04/2005                   MARION             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            PORCH OF A MOBILE HOME DAMAGED

&&

61

Local storm report, Dec 4, 1:59 AM CST, 34 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
159 AM CST SUN DEC 04 2005

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

0145 AM     HAIL             HALEYVILLE              34.24N 87.62W
12/04/2005  0.88 INCH        WINSTON            AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            NICKEL SIZED HAIL REPORTED

&&

61

Special weather statement, Dec 4, 2:07 AM CST, 26 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
207 AM CST SUN DEC 4 2005

ALZ012-040845-
LAMAR-
207 AM CST SUN DEC 4 2005

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

...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS POSSIBLE FROM APPROACHING
THUNDERSTORMS...

...WINDS 35 TO 45 MILES AN HOUR ARE POSSIBLE FROM APPROACHING
THUNDERSTORMS...

AT 204 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF BEAVERTON TO 7 MILES
NORTHWEST OF MOLLOY...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR
SULLIGENT...BEAVERTON...MOLLOY...VERNON AND MANSFIELD THROUGH 245 AM
CST.

THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS IS STRONG GUSTY WINDS. THESE
WINDS CAN BREAK OFF SMALL TREE LIMBS...AND BLOW AROUND UNSECURED
OBJECTS SUCH AS LAWN FURNITURE AND TRASH CANS.

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Dec 4, 1:21 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	39 min
Dec 4, 1:37 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Winston	38 min
Dec 4, 2:11 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Winston	34 min
Dec 4, 2:19 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Marion	26 min
Dec 4, 3:40 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee	35 min
Dec 4, 12:04 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Shelby	26 min
Dec 4, 12:26 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Talladega	34 min
Dec 4, 12:38 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb	19 min
Dec 4, 1:02 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Talladega	28 min
Dec 4, 1:38 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette	37 min
Dec 4, 1:54 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Randolph	36 min
Dec 4, 2:20 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Coosa, Shelby, Talladega	40 min
Dec 4, 2:23 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker	30 min
Dec 4, 2:26 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pickens	34 min
Dec 4, 2:30 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Randolph	15 min
Dec 4, 3:00 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Talladega	25 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.