Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2006

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 70, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 8, 2006Cherokee County, Etowah County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 8, 2006, 1:33 AM CDT for Cherokee County, Etowah County, Alabama. It was in force for 46 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: Apr 8, 2006, 1:33 AM CDT (06:33 UTC)
Expired: Apr 8, 2006, 2:19 AM CDT
In force: 46 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Cherokee County, AL, Etowah County, AL

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 94 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:34 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
Apr 7, 7:28 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 6.6 hours before the alert went out and 140 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: 578 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -120 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1683 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 59 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 156 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 269 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.1
Supercell composite: 0.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS54 KBMX 080633
SVRBMX
ALC019-055-080730-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0070.060408T0633Z-060408T0730Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
133 AM CDT SAT APR 8 2006

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL CHEROKEE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ALABAMA
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF CENTRE
  NORTHEASTERN ETOWAH COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ALABAMA

* UNTIL 230 AM CDT

* AT 133 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND
  DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 16
  MILES WEST OF CENTRE...OR ABOUT 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF GADSDEN...AND
  MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  CENTRE BY 145 AM CDT
  CEDAR BLUFF BY 150 AM CDT

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 3412 8543 3403 8580 3403 8583 3398 8598
      3399 8599 3415 8605 3421 8588 3421 8585
      3423 8583 3434 8548

$$

JONES/90

2 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 080702
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
202 AM CDT SAT APR 8 2006

ALC055-080712-
/O.CAN.KBMX.SV.W.0070.000000T0000Z-060408T0730Z/
ETOWAH AL-
202 AM CDT SAT APR 8 2006

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR ETOWAH COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 AM CDT SATURDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3413 8543 3405 8575 3410 8578 3413 8578
      3415 8581 3413 8584 3422 8584 3425 8579
      3435 8548

$$

ALC019-080730-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0070.000000T0000Z-060408T0730Z/
CHEROKEE AL-
202 AM CDT SAT APR 8 2006

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 230 AM CDT
FOR CENTRAL CHEROKEE COUNTY...

AT 202 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE
HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS
LOCATED 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CEDAR BLUFF...OR ABOUT 9 MILES EAST OF
CENTRE...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

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 3413 8543 3405 8575 3410 8578 3413 8578
      3415 8581 3413 8584 3422 8584 3425 8579
      3435 8548

$$

JONES/90

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 080719
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
219 AM CDT SAT APR 8 2006

ALC019-080729-
/O.CAN.KBMX.SV.W.0070.000000T0000Z-060408T0730Z/
CHEROKEE AL-
219 AM CDT SAT APR 8 2006

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL CHEROKEE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

AT 219 AM CDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT
THE THUNDERSTORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAD EXITED THE WARNED
AREAS...THUS THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 AM CDT SATURDAY MORNING
FOR SOUTHEAST ALABAMA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
400 AM CDT SATURDAY MORNING FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3413 8543 3405 8575 3410 8578 3413 8578
      3415 8581 3413 8584 3422 8584 3425 8579
      3435 8548

$$

JONES/90

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 8, 1:18 AM CDT, 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 8, 1:18 AM CDT, 15 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
118 AM CDT SAT APR 8 2006

.UPDATE...MESOSCALE UPDATE...

CONDITIONS REMAIN FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE WEATHER THROUGHOUT MUCH OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA. TORNADO WATCH #169 REMAINS IN EFFECT GENERALLY NORTH OF A
LINE FROM ALEXANDER CITY TO LINDEN. SEVERE STORMS WILL MOVE INTO
THE TUSCALOOSA METRO AREA BY 115 AM AND INTO THE BIRMINGHAM
METROPOLITAN AREA BY 145.

OVER THE LAST HOUR...PRESSURE FALLS APPROACHING 1 MB HAVE BEEN
OBSERVED JUST AHEAD OF THE CONVECTIVE LINE IN THE TUSCALOOSA AND
BIRMINGHAM AREAS. SIMILAR PRESSURE FALLS EXTEND SOUTHWARD AS FAR
SOUTH AS CLANTON AND DEMOPOLIS...AND ARE MAXIMIZED NEAR DEMOPOLIS.
IN THIS SAME AREA...A FINGER OF CAPE IN EXCESS OF 1000J/KG EXTENDS
NORTHWARD OUT OF SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA...ACROSS
SELMA...LINDEN...AND DEMOPOLIS...AS FAR NORTH AS TUSCALOOSA. CAPE
VALUES HAVE ACTUALLY DECREASED SLIGHTLY ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA...BUT REMAIN IN EXCESS OF 800 ACROSS MOST LOCATIONS. 0-1KM
HELICITY REMAINS MAXIMIZED NORTH OF TUSCALOOSA WHERE VALUES ARE IN
EXCESS OF 450...WITH WIDESPREAD VALUES AROUND 300 ACROSS MOST OF
CENTRAL ALABAMA. LIFTED INDICES ARE GENERALLY -2 TO -3. THE
SIGNIFICANT TORNADO PARAMETER IS MAXIMIZED ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN
ALABAMA (NEAR 4) BUT FAVORABLE VALUES (GREATER THAT 2) ARE
OBSERVES SOUTHEAST OF A LINE FROM TUSCALOOSA TO ANNISTON.

RADAR INDICATES STRONG INFLOW SIGNATURES STRONG ECHOS ALOFT AND AS
WELL AS SIGNIFICANT ROTATION.

&&

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

&&

12/SIRMON

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 7, 10:35 PM CDT, 2 hours 58 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1035 PM CDT FRI APR 7 2006

ALZ011>015-017>050-081130-
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-
1035 PM CDT FRI APR 7 2006

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

...HIGH RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH SIGNIFICANT TORNADOES
POSSIBLE ACROSS NORTH ALABAMA...

AT THIS TIME A HIGH RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER EXISTS OVER PORTIONS OF
NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN ALABAMA...GENERALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF
A LINE FROM ALICEVILLE...TO TUSCALOOSA...TO BIRMINGHAM...TO GADSDEN.
SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS HAVE ENTERED MARION AND WINSTON COUNTIES WITH
REPORTS OF TORNADO DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS. THE
STORMS WILL GRADUALLY MOVE SOUTHEASTWARD AND AFFECT THE INTERSTATE
59 CORRIDOR BY 2 AM. THE THREAT OF STRONG...LONG TRACK TORNADOES
CONTINUES THROUGH 4 AM.

FOR AREAS FARTHER SOUTH AND EAST...SEVERE WEATHER WILL BEGIN TO
AFFECT THESE AREAS BETWEEN 1 AND 3 AM.  SUPERCELLS CANNOT BE RULED
OUT IN THIS RISK AREA...BUT THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO IS FOR
THUNDERSTORMS TO EVOLVE INTO A LINE CONTAINING EMBEDDED SUPERCELLS
AND MOVE ACROSS THIS RISK AREA. THESE STORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL
OF PRODUCING TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...DEADLY
LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAIN. THE RISK WILL LAST THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT
HOURS.

ADDITIONALLY...INCREASING SOUTHERLY WINDS AHEAD OF THE MAIN SYSTEM
WILL PRODUCE SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO
35 MPH TONIGHT.  A LAKE WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 4 AM
SATURDAY.

STAY TUNED TO FURTHER STATEMENTS ON THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS
WEATHER EVENT AND SPECIFICALLY THE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE TIMING OF THE
EVENT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

...SEVERE WEATHER MAY CONTINUE OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST ALABAMA
THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE
POSSIBLE ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM SELMA...TO CLANTON...
LAFAYETTE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

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

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 8, 1:15 AM CDT, 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
115 AM CDT SAT APR 08 2006

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

0106 AM     FUNNEL CLOUD     3 NW MINOR              33.56N 86.98W
04/08/2006                   JEFFERSON          AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER REPORTS FUNNEL CLOUD ON BIRMINGPORT ROAD MOVING
            TOWARD MINOR.

&&

DCW

Local storm report, Apr 8, 1:18 AM CDT, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
118 AM CDT SAT APR 08 2006

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

0117 AM     HAIL             GRAYSVILLE              33.63N 86.97W
04/08/2006  E1.75 INCH       JEFFERSON          AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER REPORTED QUARTER TO GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL IN
            GRAYSVILLE.

&&

DCW

Local storm report, Apr 8, 1:22 AM CDT, 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
122 AM CDT SAT APR 08 2006

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

0119 AM     HAIL             2 S GRAYSVILLE          33.60N 86.97W
04/08/2006  E0.88 INCH       JEFFERSON          AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER REPORTED NICKEL SIZE HAIL IN THE
            ADAMSVILLE...SHADY GROVE AREA.

&&

DCW

Local storm report, Apr 8, 1:24 AM CDT, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
124 AM CDT SAT APR 08 2006

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

0119 AM     HAIL             MORRIS                  33.75N 86.81W
04/08/2006  E1.75 INCH       JEFFERSON          AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN MORRIS.

&&

DCW

Local storm report, Apr 8, 1:26 AM CDT, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
126 AM CDT SAT APR 08 2006

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

0120 AM     HAIL             CEDAR BLUFF             34.22N 85.60W
04/08/2006  E0.50 INCH       CHEROKEE           AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN CEDAR BLUFF.

&&

DCW

Local storm report, Apr 8, 1:28 AM CDT, 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
128 AM CDT SAT APR 08 2006

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

0120 AM     TSTM WND DMG     5 SW GRAYSVILLE         33.58N 87.03W
04/08/2006                   JEFFERSON          AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES DOWN IN BIRMINGPORT.

&&

DCW

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 7, 8:20 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marion	55 min
Apr 7, 9:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion	29 min
Apr 7, 9:36 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marion	39 min
Apr 7, 9:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Winston	65 min
Apr 7, 10:07 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Winston	38 min
Apr 7, 10:35 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion	55 min
Apr 7, 10:47 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Marion	43 min
Apr 7, 11:01 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Winston	59 min
Apr 7, 11:10 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Winston	35 min
Apr 7, 11:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion, Walker	56 min
Apr 7, 11:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar	50 min
Apr 7, 11:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Winston	33 min
Apr 8, 12:01 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pickens	59 min
Apr 8, 12:13 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount	17 min
Apr 8, 12:28 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker, Winston	62 min
Apr 8, 12:39 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	66 min
Apr 8, 12:50 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount	55 min
Apr 8, 12:58 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson	47 min
Apr 8, 12:59 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Cherokee	12 min
Apr 8, 1:25 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene	35 min
Apr 8, 1:30 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pickens	30 min
Apr 8, 1:32 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Sumter	28 min
Apr 8, 1:35 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Greene	15 min
Apr 8, 1:36 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	St. Clair	24 min
Apr 8, 1:42 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	48 min
Apr 8, 1:45 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Shelby	15 min
Apr 8, 1:48 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Hale	27 min
Apr 8, 1:52 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne	38 min
Apr 8, 1:59 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	St. Clair, Talladega	31 min
Apr 8, 2:05 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cleburne	40 min
Apr 8, 2:06 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb	39 min
Apr 8, 2:09 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Clay, Talladega	36 min
Apr 8, 2:23 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Perry	19 min
Apr 8, 2:45 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb	30 min
Apr 8, 9:18 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Elmore, Montgomery	27 min
Apr 8, 9:31 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pike	41 min
Apr 8, 9:47 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bullock	28 min
Apr 8, 10:35 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pike	40 min

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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.