Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2008

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 351, NWS Birmingham, AL

July 5, 2008Jefferson County, Shelby County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 5, 2008, 3:31 PM CDT for Jefferson County, Shelby County, Alabama. It was in force for 44 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 5, 2008, 3:31 PM CDT (20:31 UTC)
Expired
Jul 5, 2008, 4:15 PM CDT
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Jefferson County, AL, Shelby County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 26 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:32 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 8.5 hours before the alert went out and 25 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2008-07-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 961 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2008-07-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 40 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
961 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-75 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
993 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
40 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
62 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 Jul 5, 12:42 PM CDT, 2 hours 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 5, 12:42 PM CDT, 2 hours 49 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1242 PM CDT SAT JUL 5 2008

.UPDATE...18Z AVIATION DISCUSSION.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

EARLY MORNING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS THE
CENTRAL PORTION OF THE FORECAST AREA...AS SCATTERED DIURNAL
DEVELOPMENT HAS BEGUN IN THE SOUTHEAST. A FEW OTHER CONVECTIVE
IMPULSES OVER MISSISSIPPI WILL PUSH EASTWARD...AFFECTING LOCATIONS
IN THE EAST. THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO IS THAT THOSE IMPULSES WILL
CONTINUE TO DISSIPATE AND REFIRE. CLOUD COVER COULD PROHIBIT
WIDESPREAD DEVELOPMENT EARLY...BUT AS BOUNDARIES INTERACT WITHIN A
MOIST UNSTABLE AIRMASS...CONVECTION AREAWIDE WILL BE POSSIBLE
THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. THE BEST CHANCE WILL BE IN THE SOUTH WHERE
INSTABILITIES ARE SLIGHTLY HIGHER.  STRONGER STORMS WILL PRODUCE
GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY RAINFALL.

TEMPERATURES THIS AFTERNOON WILL DEPEND ON LOCATION OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS...WILL HIGHS GENERALLY IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S
EXPECTED.

UPDATED ZONES OUT SHORTLY.

14

&&

.AVIATION...12Z AVIATION.

ACTIVE CONVECTIVE DAY EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON...AS SCATTERED SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP AREAWIDE. INCLUDED VCTS AT ALL TERMINALS
AND WILL UPDATE AS NEEDED. BRIEF MVFR TO IFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
AT A FEW TERMINALS. HOWEVER...VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL. STRONGER
STORMS WILL PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS. WET MICROBURST POTENTIAL THIS
AFTERNOON IS MODERATE.

WINDS AND CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY WILL DIMINISH AFTER SUNSET. AN
ISOLATED SHOWER OR TWO WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT
PERIOD.

14

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE.
&&
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 5, 2:15 PM CDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
215 PM CDT SAT JUL 5 2008

ALZ011>015-017>050-061130-
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-
215 PM CDT SAT JUL 5 2008

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

ISOLATED STRONG...TO MARGINALLY SEVERE...STORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH
9 PM ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. THE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE
OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS OF 35 TO 60 MPH...FREQUENT DEADLY
LIGHTNING...LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINFALL OF ONE TO TWO INCHES...AND PEA
TO PENNY SIZE HAIL.

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

A FEW STRONG STORMS ARE POSSIBLE AGAIN ON SUNDAY ACROSS ALL OF
CENTRAL ALABAMA. AT THIS TIME...IT APPEARS THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY
WILL OCCUR IN ASSOCIATION WITH DAYTIME HEATING...FROM 1 PM THROUGH
9 PM. WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH...LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINFALL AND
DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE THE POTENTIAL THREATS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

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

75

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 5, 2:14 PM CDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Local storm report, Jul 5, 2:21 PM CDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
221 PM CDT SAT JUL 05 2008

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

0123 PM     TSTM WND DMG     7 SE CLAYTON            31.81N 85.37W
07/05/2008                   BARBOUR            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREE DOWN ON COUNTY ROAD 79. WIND GUSTS ESTIMATED 45 TO
            50 MPH.

&&

GGOGGINS
Special weather statement, Jul 5, 2:38 PM CDT, 53 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
238 PM CDT SAT JUL 5 2008

ALZ039-052015-
MARENGO-
238 PM CDT SAT JUL 5 2008

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR MARENGO COUNTY UNTIL 315 PM CDT...

AT 236 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR DAYTON...OR 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF UNIONTOWN...MOVING
EAST AT 10 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 30 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  DAYTON.
  FAUNSDALE.

REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE
STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

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

14
Special weather statement, Jul 5, 2:45 PM CDT, 46 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
245 PM CDT SAT JUL 5 2008

ALZ030-031-039-052030-
GREENE-MARENGO-SUMTER-
245 PM CDT SAT JUL 5 2008

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR GREENE...MARENGO AND SUMTER COUNTIES
UNTIL 330 PM CDT...

AT 241 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES WEST OF JEFFERSON...OR 13 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
DEMOPOLIS...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  US 80 AND AL 28.
  WHITFIELD.
  JEFFERSON.
  PIN HOOK.
  MYRTLEWOOD.

REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE
STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

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

14
Special weather statement, Jul 5, 3:08 PM CDT, 23 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
308 PM CDT SAT JUL 5 2008

ALZ023-024-052100-
JEFFERSON-TUSCALOOSA-
308 PM CDT SAT JUL 5 2008

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR JEFFERSON AND TUSCALOOSA COUNTIES
UNTIL 400 PM CDT...

AT 306 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR BULL CITY...OR 14 MILES WEST OF HUEYTOWN...MOVING
EAST AT 20 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 30 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  BULL CITY.
  ABERNANT.
  WELLER.
  LAKE VIEW.
  NORTH JOHNS.
  MCADORY.

REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE
STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.
Local storm report, Jul 5, 3:12 PM CDT, 19 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
312 PM CDT SAT JUL 05 2008

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

0227 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 W BOYD                32.62N 88.34W
07/05/2008                   SUMTER             AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DOWN ON COUNTY ROAD 12.

&&

GGOGGINS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 4, 7:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTallapoosa38 min
Jul 5, 1:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXSumter52 min
Jul 5, 2:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa39 min
Jul 5, 3:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Marion47 min
Jul 5, 4:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson, St. Clair, Shelby43 min
Jul 5, 4:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Etowah, St. Clair45 min
Jul 5, 4:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXRussell26 min
Jul 5, 4:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBullock, Montgomery, Pike26 min
Jul 5, 5:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBullock, Montgomery, Pike30 min
Jul 5, 5:27 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXMontgomery3 hr
Jul 5, 5:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Talladega37 min
Jul 5, 6:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, Talladega52 min
Jul 5, 6:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXElmore, Tallapoosa45 min
Jul 5, 6:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBullock, Macon49 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2008Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2008

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.