Severe Thunderstorm Warning 196, NWS Birmingham, AL

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1216 AM CDT SUN MAY 11 2008

.UPDATE...AVIATION DISCUSSION.

&&

.SHORT TERM....OVERNIGHT

IMPRESSIVE CONVECTION JUST PASSING THROUGH THE MEMPHIS METRO AREA AT
THIS WRITING...WITH AN INCREASE IN ACTIVITY NOTED TO THE SOUTHWEST
OF LARGE SUPERCELL SOUTH OF TUNICA. VERY UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE OVER
CENTRAL ALABAMA THIS EVENING...WITH HIGH SHEAR AND HIGH CAPE.
LUCKILY THE CAPPING INVERSION HAS HELD FOR THE MOST PART SO FAR.
SURFACE WARM FRONT HAS MOVED INTO FAR NORTHERN REACHES OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA AND THE ATMOSPHERE SOUTH OF SAID BOUNDARY WILL CONTINUE TO
DESTABILIZE AND WEAKEN THE CAP. SUPERCELL STRUCTURES ARE EXPECTED
WITH THE ACTIVITY AS IT MOVES INTO CENTRAL ALABAMA JUST AFTER 11
PM...BUT A TRANSITION TO A SIGNIFICANT BOWING STRUCTURE MAY TAKE
PLACE. THEREFORE...DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND TORNADOES ALL
REMAIN POSSIBLE DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.

MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT ADJUSTMENTS TO HOURLY GRIDS FOR THE LATEST
TRENDS. LOOKS LIKE AN ACTIVE NIGHT SO STAY TUNED FOR ADDITIONAL
WATCHES AND WARNINGS.

75

.LONG TERM...SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY.

SEVERE THREAT SHOULD END ACROSS EAST ALABAMA EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...
NO LATER THAN 9 AM. A FAST MOVING COLD FRONT WILL PUSH THROUGH
AREA QUICKLY DUE TO WEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH. MAIN CHANGE TO
FORECAST WAS TO END RAIN SOONER ACROSS WEST ALABAMA WITH RAIN
GONE FROM CENTRAL ALABAMA BY 12 NOON. TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT
BEHIND FRONT WILL PRODUCE BRISK WEST WINDS SUNDAY AFTERNOON...AND
A LAKE WIND ADVISORY WILL BE NECESSARY ONCE SEVERE THREAT IS OUT
OF AREA. A DRY AND RATHER COOL AIR MASS WILL SETTLE INTO CENTRAL
ALABAMA SUNDAY NIGHT WITH TEMPERATURES FALLING INTO THE MIDDLE TO
UPPER 40S ACROSS NORTHERN COUNTIES. BRISK NORTHERLY FLOW WILL
CONTINUE ON MONDAY DUE TO GRADIENT BETWEEN EXITING SURFACE LOW OFF
THE MID ATLANTIC COAST AND SURFACE RIDGE AXIS ALONG THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THIS WILL KEEP DAYTIME TEMPERATURES SEVERAL
DEGREES BELOW AVERAGE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. VERY DRY AIR MASS
WILL ALLOW TEMPERATURES TO RADIATE NICELY MONDAY NIGHT WITH LOWS
IN THE MIDDLE TO UPPER 40S ACROSS A LARGE PORTION OF THE CWA.

TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITIES WILL RISE ON TUESDAY AS SURFACE RIDGE
MOVES EAST OF ALABAMA AND SOUTHERLY FLOW RETURNS. MOISTURE WILL
NOT BE DEEP ENOUGH BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR ANY CONVECTION AND
REMOVED SMALL RAIN CHANCES WEST. A FAIRLY ROBUST NORTHERN STREAM
SHORT WAVE WILL TRY AND PHASE UP WITH CUT-OFF LOW OVER THE
SOUTHWESTERN STATES. MODELS SHOW CLOSED UPPER LOW GETS LEFT BEHIND
AS NORTHERN TROF PULLS EASTWARD...AND SO A WEAK SURFACE FRONT WILL
SAG TOWARDS ALABAMA BY WEDNESDAY AND INCREASE RAIN CHANCES OVER
NORTHERN HALF OF ALABAMA. GFS IS SHOWING TO MUCH CONVECTIVE
FEEDBACK WITH THIS SYSTEM AND KEPT POPS IN THE CHANCE CATEGORY.

ANOTHER NORTHERN STREAM SHORT WAVE TROF MOVES OUT OF THE PLAINS
STATES AND THIS TIME IT APPEARS IT WILL PICK UP CUT-OFF LOW.
THIS PHASING WILL BRING WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO
THE GULF COAST STATES THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. POSITION OF BOUNDARY
FROM PREVIOUS SYSTEM WILL BE CRITICAL TO POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
RAINFALL ACROSS ALABAMA. DUE TO TIMING AND ISSUES RELATED TO
PLACEMENT OF FOCUS MECHANISM...POPS HELD BELOW 50 PERCENT...BUT
HIGHER RAIN CHANCES WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED ONCE CONFIDENCE GROWS IN
MODEL OUTPUT.

UPPER TROF SHOULD FINALLY PUSH THROUGH AREA LATE FRIDAY WITH RAIN
FREE CONDITIONS AND COOLER CONDITIONS BY THE WEEKEND.

58/ROSE

&&

.AVIATION...06Z TAF DISCUSSION.

LINE OF STORMS IS MOVING IN A LOT FASTER THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT.
THE FORECAST HAS BEEN UPDATED ACORDINGLY. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD
PRODUCE SOME VERY STRONG WINDS. THUNDERSTORMS ACTIVITY WILL CONTINUE
AT LEAST THROUGH 12Z ALONG THE SOUTHEASTERN TAF SITES. AFTER THE
COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH...STILL EXPECTING SUSTAINED GUSTY WINDS
AROUND 30 KNOTS AFTER 18Z.

10/ARM

&&

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

&&

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1031 PM CDT SAT MAY 10 2008

ALZ011>015-017>050-120331-
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-
1031 PM CDT SAT MAY 10 2008

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS ALL OF
CENTRAL ALABAMA...INCLUDING DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED
TORNADOES. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE AT LEAST
THROUGH 6 AM SUNDAY.

NIGHTTIME SEVERE WEATHER CAN BE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS. PLEASE MAKE
SURE THAT YOUR NOAA WEATHER RADIO HAS CHARGED BATTERIES AND STAY
TUNED TO LATER THIS EVENING IF ANY WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE ISSUED.

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

THERE IS A RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...INCLUDING DAMAGING WINDS...
LARGE HAIL...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES...ACROSS SOUTHEAST PORTIONS OF
CENTRAL ALABAMA THROUGH NOON SUNDAY. A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS
THE AREA ENDING MUCH OF THE THREAT BY NOON. THE GREATEST THREAT AREA
WILL BE EAST OF INTERSTATE 65 AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 85 ON SUNDAY
MORNING.

BEHIND THE FRONT ON SUNDAY...GUSTY WEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED.
SUSTAINED WINDS WILL BE 15 TO 20 MPH WITH A FEW GUSTS AROUND 35 MPH.
SOME TYPE OF WIND ADVISORY WILL MOST LIKELY BE REQUIRED.

FINALLY...THERE IS A RISK OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS ALL
OF CENTRAL ALABAMA ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.  FORECAST CONFIDENCE
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM IS RATHER LOW AT THIS POINT.  IF
CONFIDENCE LATER INCREASES...THEN A SEVERE WEATHER THREAT MAY NEED
TO BE INTRODUCED IN LATER OUTLOOKS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BE
REQUIRED WILL BE REQUIRED TONIGHT AND EARLY SUNDAY.

10/ARM

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
741 PM CDT SAT MAY 10 2008

ALZ017-018-026-110130-
BLOUNT-ETOWAH-ST. CLAIR-
741 PM CDT SAT MAY 10 2008

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR BLOUNT...ETOWAH AND ST. CLAIR
COUNTIES UNTIL 830 PM CDT...

AT 741 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS ARE
TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM ASHVILLE
TO ROSA...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 12 MILES WEST OF MARKTON TO
CLEVELAND...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH
THESE STORMS.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  WHITNEY JUNCTION.
  HORSE PENS FORTY.
  STEELE.
  WILLIAMS.
  RAMSEY.
  HOWELTON.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM CDT SUNDAY MORNING FOR
NORTHERN ALABAMA.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1140 PM CDT SAT MAY 10 2008

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

1135 PM     TSTM WND DMG     12 NW HAMILTON          34.26N 88.13W
05/10/2008                   MARION             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES HAVE BEEN BLOWN DOWN NEAR THE SCHOTSVILLE
            COMMUNITY.

&&

LINHARES

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1141 PM CDT SAT MAY 10 2008

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

1140 PM     HAIL             HAMILTON                34.14N 87.98W
05/10/2008  E0.75 INCH       MARION             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            DIME TO PENNY SIZE HAIL WAS FALLING IN HAMILTON.

&&

LINHARES

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1151 PM CDT SAT MAY 10 2008

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

1149 PM     HAIL             HACKLEBURG              34.27N 87.83W
05/10/2008  E0.75 INCH       MARION             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            DIME TO PENNY SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED IN HACKLEBURG.

&&

LINHARES

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1212 AM CDT SUN MAY 11 2008

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

1158 PM     TSTM WND GST     BEAR CREEK              34.26N 87.72W
05/10/2008  E60 MPH          MARION             AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            HAM RADIO OPERATOR REPORTED 60 MPH WIND GUST NEAR BEAR
            CREEK.

&&

GGOGGINS