Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2006

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 41, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 3, 2006Fayette County, Pickens County, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 3, 2006, 2:12 AM CDT for Fayette County, Pickens County, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. It was in force for 33 min. 5 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Apr 3, 2006, 2:12 AM CDT (07:12 UTC)
Expired: Apr 3, 2006, 2:45 AM CDT
In force: 33 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Fayette County, AL, Pickens County, AL, Tuscaloosa County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 81 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:13 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Apr 3, 2:14 AM CDT	HAIL 0.75	12 Ne Reform, AL	DIME TO PENNY SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED JUST NORTH OF THE LUBBUB COMMUNITY ALONG STATE HIGHWAY 159.
Apr 3, 2:19 AM CDT	HAIL 0.88	11 Nw Samantha, AL	NICKEL SIZE HAIL WAS OBSERVED AT THE TUSCALOOSA FAYETTE COUNTYLINE. THE HAIL FELL ALONG STATE HIGHWAY 171 BETWEEN NEWTONVILLE AND MOORES BRIDGE.
Apr 3, 2:19 AM CDT	HAIL 0.88	13 Nw Samantha, AL	NICKEL SIZE HAIL WAS OBSERVED AT THE TUSCALOOSA FAYETTE COUNTYLINE. THE HAIL FELL ALONG STATE HIGHWAY 171 BETWEEN NEWTONVILLE AND MOORES BRIDGE.
Apr 3, 2:19 AM CDT	HAIL 0.88	1 S Newtonville, AL	NICKEL SIZE HAIL FELL JUST SOUTH OF NEWTONVILLE ALONG STATE HIGHWAY 171.
Apr 3, 2:24 AM CDT	HAIL 0.75	12 Ne Reform, AL	DIME TO PENNY SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED JUST NORTH OF THE LUBBUB COMMUNITY ALONG STATE HIGHWAY 159.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

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
Apr 3, 1:06 AM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 7.2 hours before the alert went out and 80 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: 1222 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -16 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1601 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 43 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 118 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 341 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.5
Supercell composite: 6.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS54 KBMX 030712
SVRBMX
ALC057-107-125-030745-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0041.060403T0712Z-060403T0745Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
212 AM CDT MON APR 3 2006

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN FAYETTE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA
  NORTHEASTERN PICKENS COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA
  NORTHERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA

* UNTIL 245 AM CDT

* AT 210 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL.  THIS
  STORM WAS LOCATED OVER NORTHEASTERN PICKENS COUNTY...OR ABOUT 15
  MILES SOUTH OF FAYETTE...AND MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL
  AREAS OF THE INDICATED COUNTIES.

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.

LAT...LON 3354 8794 3358 8794 3359 8737 3358 8733
      3353 8732 3352 8729 3350 8729 3351 8732
      3349 8735 3344 8729 3339 8729 3342 8798
      3353 8799

$$

1 follow-up statement

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 030744
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
245 AM CDT MON APR 3 2006

ALC057-107-125-030755-
/O.EXP.KBMX.SV.W.0041.000000T0000Z-060403T0745Z/
PICKENS AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-FAYETTE AL-
245 AM CDT MON APR 3 2006

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN FAYETTE...
NORTHERN TUSCALOOSA AND NORTHEASTERN PICKENS COUNTIES EXPIRES AT 245
AM CDT...

AT 245 AM CDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT
THE THUNDERSTORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAD EXITED THE WARNED
AREA. THUS...THE WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 AM CDT MONDAY MORNING FOR
NORTHERN ALABAMA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000
AM CDT MONDAY MORNING FOR NORTHEASTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3354 8794 3358 8794 3359 8737 3358 8733
      3353 8732 3352 8729 3350 8729 3351 8732
      3349 8735 3344 8729 3339 8729 3342 8798
      3353 8799

$$

JD/81

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 Apr 2, 9:04 PM CDT, 5 hours 8 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 2, 9:04 PM CDT, 5 hours 8 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
904 PM CDT SUN APR 2 2006

.DISCUSSION...

ALL THE ACTION THIS EVENING HAS REMAINED WELL NORTHWEST OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA...WHILE WE HAVE REMAINED DRY.  BOTH NAM AND GFS MODELS
CONTINUE TO INSIST THAT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE IN
COVERAGE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT...THROUGH
DAYBREAK MONDAY...AS UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE ENERGY SWINGS THROUGH THE
TENNESSEE VALLEY. WITH SUCH MODEL INSISTANCE...I AM RELUCTANT TO
LOWER POPS AT THIS TIME.

LATEST DAY ONE SWO FROM SPC BRINGS THE SLIGHT RISK AREA DOWN TO JUST
INTO MARION AND WINSTON COUNTIES.  TRAJECTORIES FROM ONGOING
SUPERCELLS SUGGEST THAT THESE WILL SAY REMAIN NORTH OF THE COUNTY
WARNING AREA. WHILE VARIOUS SEVERE WEATHER PARAMETERS WILL NOT BE
NEARLY AS ROBUST OVERNIGHT COMPARED TO THIS EVENING...IT WOULDNT
SURPRISE ME IF A FEW STRONGS EVENTUALLY MOVED INTO ALABAMA.

ALL IN ALL...WILL NOT BE MAKING ANY MAJOR CHANGES TO THE ONGOING
FORECAST.

&&

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

&&

61

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 3, 1:27 AM CDT, 45 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
127 AM CDT MON APR 3 2006

ALZ011>015-017>050-031230-
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-
127 AM CDT MON APR 3 2006

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

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH 7 AM CDT FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA...

.DAY ONE...REST OF TONIGHT.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS
OF 70 MPH...LARGE HAIL...AND TORNADOES...ARE POSSIBLE FOR
NORTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...GENERALLY NORTH OF LINE
FROM VERNON...TO FAYETTE..AND JASPER THROUGH 7 AM CDT.

A SQUALL LINE OUT AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH MARION COUNTY
AFTER 3 AM CDT...AND TRACK SLOWLY SOUTHEASTWARD THROUGH 7 AM CDT. THE
ATMOSPHERE REMAINS MOIST AND UNSTABLE OUT AHEAD OF THE FRONT...AND
STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH
SUNRISE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

A FEW STRONG STORMS MAY BE LINGERING ACROSS THE INTERSTATE 20 59
CORRIDOR EARLY THIS MORNING...DURING THE MORNING COMMUTE HOURS...AS A
LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS JUST AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT PUSHES
THROUGH THE AREA.

AS TEMPERATURES HEAT UP LATE MONDAY MORNING...A FEW STRONG STORMS ARE
POSSIBLE GENERALLY SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20 AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 65.
THE STORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS UP TO 40
MPH...PEA SIZED HAIL...A DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. THE BEST
CHANCE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR BETWEEN 11 AM AND 4 PM.

A COLD FRONT WILL PUSH ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA ON MONDAY. THE FRONT
WILL BE NEAR A GADSDEN TO BIRMINGHAM TO TUSCALOOSA LINE BY 1 PM...
AND TO A TROY TO PHENIX CITY LINE BY 4 PM. A FEW STRONG STORMS ARE
POSSIBLE JUST AHEAD OF THE FRONT AS ITS MOVES THROUGH CENTRAL
ALABAMA.

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE AGAIN POSSIBLE LATE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEXT COLD FRONT APPROACHING CENTRAL ALABAMA.
THIS SYSTEM LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO THE ONE AFFECTING US TONIGHT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL
IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

JD/81

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 3, 2:49 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Walker	26 min
Apr 3, 2:58 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	32 min
Apr 3, 3:41 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	St. Clair	19 min
Apr 3, 3:57 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette	33 min
Apr 3, 3:59 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun	31 min
Apr 3, 4:03 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker	33 min
Apr 3, 4:22 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee, Etowah	23 min
Apr 3, 4:31 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Pickens	29 min
Apr 3, 4:48 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	27 min
Apr 3, 5:01 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Walker	29 min
Apr 3, 5:26 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Shelby	34 min
Apr 3, 6:07 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Shelby	23 min
Apr 3, 6:31 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Talladega	29 min
Apr 3, 6:39 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chilton	20 min
Apr 3, 6:53 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Coosa, Tallapoosa	17 min
Apr 3, 7:20 AM CDT	Lake Wind Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more	11 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2006 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2006

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.