Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2008

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 90, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 15, 2008Blount County, Jefferson County, St. Clair County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 15, 2008, 2:52 AM CDT for Blount County, Jefferson County, St. Clair County, Alabama. It was in force for 38 min. 1 report 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: Mar 15, 2008, 2:52 AM CDT (07:52 UTC)
Expired: Mar 15, 2008, 3:30 AM CDT
In force: 38 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Blount County, AL, Jefferson County, AL, St. Clair County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 92 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:52 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
Mar 15, 2:56 AM CDT	HAIL 0.5	3 Nnw Warrior, AL	REPORTED ON I-65 AT HIGHWAY 160.

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
Mar 15, 12:56 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 92 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: 940 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -8 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1109 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 56 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 138 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 208 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.8
Supercell composite: 3.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS54 KBMX 150753
SVRBMX
ALC009-073-115-150830-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0090.080315T0752Z-080315T0830Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
252 AM CDT SAT MAR 15 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN BLOUNT COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF ONEONTA...
  EXTREME NORTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  NORTHERN ST. CLAIR COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 330 AM CDT

* AT 252 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING
  WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR WARRIOR...
  OR 12 MILES NORTH OF GARDENDALE...AND MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  MT OLIVE BY 300 AM CDT...
  DALLAS AND REMLAP BY 305 AM CDT...
  CLEAR SPRINGS BY 310 AM CDT...
  ALLGOOD BY 315 AM CDT...
  HIGHLAND LAKE BY 320 AM CDT...
  CALDWELL BY 325 AM CDT...

WINDS OF 60 TO 70 MPH WILL BREAK LARGE TREE LIMBS AND CAUSE SOME
DAMAGE...ESPECIALLY TO SMALLER STRUCTURES.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS INDICATED SOME WEAK ROTATION WITHIN
THIS STORM. WHILE NOT IMMEDIATELY LIKELY...A TORNADO MAY STILL
DEVELOP. 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.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 AM CDT
SATURDAY MORNING FOR ALABAMA.

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

LAT...LON 3396 8617 3393 8617 3389 8611 3374 8610
      3379 8691 3392 8692 3397 8634 3393 8637
      3391 8634 3397 8629 3396 8626 3398 8621
TIME...MOT...LOC 0752Z 267DEG 37KT 3384 8680

$$

JONES/90

1 follow-up statement

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 150821
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
321 AM CDT SAT MAR 15 2008

ALC073-150831-
/O.CAN.KBMX.SV.W.0090.000000T0000Z-080315T0830Z/
JEFFERSON AL-
321 AM CDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EXTREME NORTH CENTRAL
JEFFERSON COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 AM CDT
SATURDAY MORNING FOR ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3396 8617 3393 8617 3389 8610 3377 8611
      3377 8638 3395 8639 3395 8636 3393 8637
      3391 8634 3395 8630
TIME...MOT...LOC 0821Z 267DEG 37KT 3386 8628

$$

ALC009-115-150830-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0090.000000T0000Z-080315T0830Z/
ST. CLAIR AL-BLOUNT AL-
321 AM CDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 330 AM CDT
FOR EAST CENTRAL BLOUNT AND NORTHEASTERN ST. CLAIR COUNTIES...

AT 321 AM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS REPORTED CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. 
THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR WHITNEY JUNCTION...OR ABOUT 11 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF ONEONTA...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 AM CDT
SATURDAY MORNING FOR ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3396 8617 3393 8617 3389 8610 3377 8611
      3377 8638 3395 8639 3395 8636 3393 8637
      3391 8634 3395 8630
TIME...MOT...LOC 0821Z 267DEG 37KT 3386 8628

$$

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 Mar 15, 12:32 AM CDT, 2 hours 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 15, 12:32 AM CDT, 2 hours 20 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1232 AM CDT SAT MAR 15 2008

.UPDATE...AVIATION DISCUSSION.

&&

.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY.

WE WILL BEGIN TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THE DEWPOINTS AND TEMPERATURES
ACROSS THE AREA AS THE WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTHWARD. SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BEGIN TO DEVELOP AS THIS MOVES NORTHWARD. THE
BEST CHANCES WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE NORTH. THESE CHANCES WILL THEN
TRANSITION EASTWARD SHORTLY AFTER SUNRISE...BEFORE LEAVING MOST OF
THE AREA SHORTLY AFTER NOON. WEST WINDS WILL THEN KICK IN AND
TEMPERATURES WILL REACH INTO THE LOW TO EVEN MID 80S ACROSS THE
SOUTH...WITH MID TO UPPER 70S ACROSS THE NORTH.

16

.LONG TERM...SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO CENTRAL ALABAMA ON SUNDAY...WITH
NORTHERLY WINDS AND COOL ADVECTION AFFECTING THE AREA. NEAR NORMAL
TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED ON SUNDAY...WITH LOW TO MID 60S ACROSS
THE NORTH AND LOW 70S IN THE SOUTH.

THE SURFACE HIGH WILL SHIFT TO THE EAST ON MONDAY...AS THE NEXT
WEATHER SYSTEM GETS ORGANIZED ACROSS SOUTHWEST TEXAS. THE PRESSURE
GRADIENT WILL TIGHTEN ON TUESDAY AS THE APPROACHING SURFACE LOW
MOVES INTO EASTERN OKLAHOMA/WESTERN ARKANSAS...CAUSING SOUTHERLY
FLOW TO INCREASE ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. THIS WILL PUSH HIGHS
TUESDAY AFTERNOON INTO THE 70S AREAWIDE...WITH LOCATIONS IN THE WEST
AND SOUTH NEARING 80 DEGREES.

AS THE SURFACE LOW TRACKS INTO THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY TUESDAY
NIGHT...A FRONT WILL APPROACH CENTRAL ALABAMA LATE TUESDAY NIGHT AND
CONTINUE ACROSS THE STATE ON WEDNESDAY. DYNAMICS LOOK GOOD WITH THIS
SYSTEM...ALTHOUGH SOME MODEL DISAGREEMENT ON TIMING STILL EXISTS.
WILL KEEP THE MENTION OF THUNDERSTORMS IN FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. HIGHS ON WEDNESDAY COULD BE TRICKY...AS
THEY WILL GREATLY DEPEND ON THE TIMING OF THE ACTUAL FRONTAL
PASSAGE. BUT NOT EXPECTING A SUBSTANTIAL COOL DOWN WITH THIS SYSTEM.

HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS BACK INTO THE REGION ON THURSDAY THROUGH THE
REMAINDER OF THE EXTENDED...WITH TEMPERATURES NEAR NORMAL WITH HIGHS
IN THE MID TO UPPER 60S THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...AND LOWS IN THE LOW
40S.

14

&&

.AVIATION...06Z TAF DISCUSSION.

TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF WEATHER HEADING AT UP FROM TWO DIFFERENT
DIRECTIONS EARLY THIS MORNING.  DECK OF LOW CLOUDS HEADING NORTH...
HAS ALREADY ENGULFED TOI AND MGM...AND SHOULD CONTINUE ON TO THE
REST OF THE TAF SITES THROUGH ANOUT 09Z.  CEILINGS ASSOCIATED WITH
THIS STRATUS DECK HAVE BEEN BETWEEN 1000 AND 1500 FEET.  THEY MAY
DROP BELOW 1000 FEET AS THE MORNING WEARS ON...BUT SHOULDNT GET AS
LOW AS 500.

COMING AT US FROM THE WEST IS A BIG MASS OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS...RIDING ALONG A WARM FRONT.  THIS RAIN IS EXPECTED TO
REACH TCL BY 07-08Z...AND PROGRESS EASTWARD FROM THERE...IT IT HOLDS
TOGETHER.  I WENT WITH VCTS INNITIALLY...SINCE (EVEN WITH THE
CONVECTION RELATIVELY CLOSE) MY CONFIDENCE IS STILL QUITE LOW ON HOW
THE OVERALL PATTERN OF SHOWERS/STORMS EVOLVES OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL
HOURS. THE ONE THING I AM FAIRLY CONFIDENT IN IS THAT IT SHOULD STAY
NORTH OF MGM AND TOI FOR NOW.

AFTER SUNRSIE...I TRIED TO INDICATE A GRADUAL BUT EVENTUAL
IMPROVEMENT IN CONDITIONS...WITH THE CLOUDS SLOWLY LIFTING AND THEN
BREAKING UP.  CONDITIONS SHOULD BE BACK TO VFR IF NOT BY 00Z
TOMORROW...THEN QUITE SOON AFTER.

/61/

&&

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

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 14, 8:48 PM CDT, 6 hours 4 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
848 PM CDT FRI MAR 14 2008

ALZ011>015-017>050-160130-
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-
848 PM CDT FRI MAR 14 2008

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED THROUGH 3 AM.

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

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA...FROM EARLY SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
THE FIRST WAVE OF STORMS COULD BEGIN AS EARLY AS 3 AM IN WEST
ALABAMA...AND THE LAST WAVE OF STORMS COULD CONTINUE IN EASTERN
ALABAMA THROUGH 3 PM. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WINDS...BUT THERE WILL BE A SMALL CHANCE OF TORNADOES. THE
AREA WITH THE GREATEST THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE FROM THE
CITIES OF LIVINGSTON...CLANTON...AND LAFAYETTE...NORTHWARD.

DRY AND BREEZY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL INCREASE AND BE SUSTAINED
BETWEEN 15 AND 20 MPH.

ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM WILL ENTER THE AREA LATE TUESDAY NIGHT AND
WEDNESDAY. AT THIS TIME THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF
SEVERE WEATHER. UNCERTAINTY REMAINS WITH TIMING AND STRENGTH OF THIS
SYSTEM. STAY TUNED TO LATER FORECASTS AS THIS SYSTEM APPROACHES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BE
NECESSARY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

61

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 15, 12:57 AM CDT, 1 hour 55 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1257 AM CDT SAT MAR 15 2008

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

1247 AM     HAIL             MILLPORT                33.56N 88.08W
03/15/2008  E1.75 INCH       LAMAR              AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL IN THE CITY OF MILLPORT.

&&

61

Local storm report, Mar 15, 2:11 AM CDT, 41 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
211 AM CDT SAT MAR 15 2008

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

0145 AM     HAIL             1 S CARROLLTON          33.25N 88.10W
03/15/2008  E0.75 INCH       PICKENS            AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            PENNY SIZED HAIL REPORTED ON STATE ROUTE 17 JUST SOUTH OF
            CARROLLTON.

&&

61

Local storm report, Mar 15, 2:21 AM CDT, 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
221 AM CDT SAT MAR 15 2008

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

0215 AM     HAIL             3 NW TUSCALOOSA         33.26N 87.57W
03/15/2008  E0.88 INCH       TUSCALOOSA         AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

61

Local storm report, Mar 15, 2:25 AM CDT, 27 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
225 AM CDT SAT MAR 15 2008

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

0224 AM     HAIL             4 WNW DUNCANVILLE       33.08N 87.47W
03/15/2008  E0.88 INCH       TUSCALOOSA         AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            HAIL UP TO NICKEL SIZE REPORTED ON BEAR CREEK ROAD.

&&

61

Local storm report, Mar 15, 2:44 AM CDT, 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
244 AM CDT SAT MAR 15 2008

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

0237 AM     HAIL             9 W HUEYTOWN            33.45N 87.16W
03/15/2008  E1.00 INCH       JEFFERSON          AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            QUARTER SIZED HAIL WAS REPORTED ON LOCK 17 ROAD NEAR
            PLEASANT GROVE.

&&

61

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 14, 7:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee, Etowah	39 min
Mar 15, 12:33 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Pickens, Tuscaloosa	26 min
Mar 15, 12:50 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	55 min
Mar 15, 12:53 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker	52 min
Mar 15, 1:06 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Pickens	54 min
Mar 15, 1:14 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion	31 min
Mar 15, 1:40 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion, Winston	50 min
Mar 15, 1:51 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Greene, Pickens, Tuscaloosa	39 min
Mar 15, 2:14 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker	46 min
Mar 15, 2:29 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Chilton, Hale, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby and 1 more	46 min
Mar 15, 2:34 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	41 min
Mar 15, 2:40 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Hale, Tuscaloosa	20 min
Mar 15, 3:01 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Etowah, St. Clair	29 min
Mar 15, 3:10 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Calhoun, Chilton, Clay, Coosa, Jefferson and 3 more	50 min
Mar 15, 3:25 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Shelby	20 min
Mar 15, 3:57 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Shelby, Talladega	33 min
Mar 15, 4:00 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers, Clay, Randolph, Tallapoosa	45 min
Mar 15, 6:45 AM CDT	Lake Wind Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more	12 hr
Mar 15, 7:04 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	41 min
Mar 15, 7:30 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion	14 min
Mar 15, 9:16 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Jefferson	59 min
Mar 15, 9:46 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount, Etowah, St. Clair	34 min
Mar 15, 10:13 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah	47 min
Mar 15, 10:31 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah	39 min
Mar 15, 1:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cleburne	45 min
Mar 15, 1:52 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Cleburne	13 min
Mar 15, 3:32 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Cleburne, Randolph	28 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2008 Every 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.