Tornado Warning 190, NWS Birmingham, AL

000 
WWUS54 KBMX 100838
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
238 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008

ALC009-100848-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0190.000000T0000Z-081210T0900Z/
BLOUNT AL-
238 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL BLOUNT COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 AM CST WEDNESDAY MORNING
FOR ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3420 8587 3401 8622 3417 8636 3412 8630
      3413 8627 3420 8618 3422 8588
TIME...MOT...LOC 0838Z 234DEG 52KT 3412 8622

$$

ALC055-100900-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0190.000000T0000Z-081210T0900Z/
ETOWAH AL-
238 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM CST FOR
NORTHWESTERN ETOWAH COUNTY...

AT 234 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES WEST OF HOWELTON...OR
ABOUT 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BOAZ...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  SARDIS CITY AND MOUNTAINBORO BY 245 AM CST...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 AM CST WEDNESDAY MORNING
FOR ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3420 8587 3401 8622 3417 8636 3412 8630
      3413 8627 3420 8618 3422 8588
TIME...MOT...LOC 0838Z 234DEG 52KT 3412 8622

$$

JD/81

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
845 PM CST TUE DEC 9 2008

.UPDATE...MESOSCALE UPDATE.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

COMPLEX WEATHER SCENARIO UNFOLDING ACROSS THE DEEP SOUTH THIS
EVENING. EXTENSIVE SQUALL LINE SLOWLY MOVING ACROSS EAST AND SOUTH
CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI....WITH SEVERAL REPORTS OF DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE
TORNADOES. THIS LINE WILL CONTINUE TO SLOWLY PROGRESS EASTWARD
BRINGING A CHANCE OF ISOLATED TORNADOES TO WESTERN PARTS OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA. THE STORMS WERE DEVELOPING ALONG A PRE-FRONTAL TROUGH WITH
A FEW MESO LOWS RIDING ALONG THE BOUNDARY. THESE MESO LOWS WERE
MAKING THE LINE DISPLAY A LEWP PATTERN...INDICATIVE OF STRONGER
THUNDERSTORMS.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES. AT 02Z...TEMPERATURES WERE HANGING
TOUGH IN THE 60S AREAWIDE. SOUTHERLY WINDS WERE BLOWING AT 15 TO 25
MPH USHERING IN SURFACE DEW POINTS INTO THE LOWER 60S GENERALLY
SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20. UPPER LEVEL LOW AND ASSOCIATED WIND
FIELDS/LIFT WILL ENTER WESTERN ALABAMA THROUGH MIDNIGHT. EXPECT
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE...BUT EXTENT OF
SEVERE STORMS AND TORNADOES REMAIN IN QUESTION. SURFACE BASED
INSTABILITY BECOMES A BIT LESS FAVORABLE FOR STRONGER ACTIVITY AS WE
PROGRESS THROUGH THE NIGHT. THEREFORE...UPDATED THE HWO WITH BEST
CHANCE OF STRONG TO SEVERE GENERALLY WEST OF I-65. SURFACE BASED
CAPE AND LIS LIMITED BUT SHEAR IS TREMENDOUS. WILL CONTINUE TO
CLOSELY MONITOR THE SURFACE BASED INSTABILITY THE NEXT SEVERAL
HOURS.

PRECIP WATER VALUES OVER 1.50 INCHES NEAR THE FRONT ARE A WHOPPING 2
STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE NORMAL FOR DECEMBER IN CENTRAL ALABAMA.
LATEST RADAR ESTIMATES HAVE RAIN TOTALS UP TO 1.75 INCHES IN FAR
NORTHWEST ALABAMA. ALTHOUGH STREAM FLOWS ARE RUNNING MUCH BELOW
NORMAL DUE TO THE EXTENDED DROUGHT CONDITIONS...WILL ISSUE A FLASH
FLOOD WATCH FOR SEVERAL NORTHWEST COUNTIES THROUGH 6 AM. RAIN
AMOUNTS MAY BE AS HIGH AS 3 TO 4 INCHES IN SPOTS.

75/LINHARES

&&

.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

COMPLEX SHORT TERM AS A STRONG UPPER LEVEL LOW CONTINUES TO DROP
SOUTH OUT OF THE SOUTHERN PLAINS CREATING WHAT WILL BECOME A
WEAKENING SURFACE LOW FROM CENTRAL ARKANSAS TO JUST WEST OF
KNOXVILLE. THIS WILL BRING ROUND ONE THROUGH THE AREA JUST AFTER
SUNSET THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING. IT HAS BEEN ON THE TRICKY SIDE TO
ASSESS THE SEVERE THREAT AND POTENTIAL. ONE THING FOR SURE IS IT
WILL BE WET. PW VALUES ARE AS HIGH AS IT GETS FROM DECEMBER AND
MOST FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW SATURATION FROM THE SURFACE TO THE
TOP OF THE COLUMN. THIS WOULD LEAVE ME TO BELIEVE THAT WITH THIS
MUCH MOISTURE THE SEVERE THREAT WOULD BE ON THE ISOLATED
SIDE...WITH AN OUTSIDE CHANCE OF SOME MID LEVEL WATER
LOADING...WHICH YOU STILL WOULD NEED SOME DRY AIR TO ACCOMPLISH.
MOST OF THE CAPE PROFILES ARE ON THE TALL AND SKINNY SIDE WITH
MOIST ADIABATIC PROFILES MOST OF THE WAY ABOVE THE LFC. THIS WOULD
LEAD TO SHORT DURATION STORMS AND NOT A LOT OF STABILITY TO
SUSTAIN STORM STRUCTURE. HOWEVER...LOOKING AT THE SHEAR
PROFILES...IT WOULD BE BELIEVABLE THAT SOME ROTATION COULD BE IN
THE WORKS WHERE TALL...SKINNY CAPE EXISTS...MAINLY SOUTH OF
INTERSTATE 20. FURTHER SOUTH THE MORE INSTABILITY.
INTERESTINGLY...THE SHEAR PROFILES ARE IN FACT...TOO GOOD...MEANING
THE SHEAR MAY ACTUALLY BE TOO STRONG FOR THE WEAKER UPDRAFTS.

ALL THIS SAID...DO FEEL THE OVERALL THREAT FOR SEVERE...INCLUDING
TORNADOES IS RELATIVELY LOW...HOWEVER...CERTAINLY CAN NOT RULE
ANYTHING OUT...EXCEPT HAIL...AT THIS POINT. THE GREATEST THREAT
WILL BE FURTHER SOUTH...AND WE WILL ALSO HAVE TO WATCH ANY ROGUE
CELLS THAT DEVELOP FURTHER WEST IN A MORE FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT
AND MOVE EAST TOWARDS OUR CWA. THE THREAT FOR HEAVY RAIN WILL
BE IN THE WEST AFTER SUNSET AND WORK ITS WAY EAST IN THE FORM OF
A DYING SQUALL LINE OR WEAK MCC.

AFTER ROUND ONE...ROUND TWO WILL DOMINATE AS THE UPPER LEVEL LOW
TRANSITION NEGATIVE AND CUTS OFF SOUTH OF THE AREA CREATING A NEW
SURFACE LOW THAT WILL DOMINATE FURTHER EAST. THE IMPACTS OVER
CENTRAL ALABAMA ON WEDNESDAY WILL BE ADDITIONAL HEAVY
RAIN...ESPECIALLY EAST OF I-65...NOT WORRIED ABOUT A SEVERE THREAT
FROM IT...BUT THERE IS AN OUTSIDE CHANCE IN THE MORNING TO EARLY
AFTERNOON HOURS IN THE EXTREME SOUTHERN AND EASTERN COUNTIES.

17/KLAWS

LONG TERM...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

FIRST SIGNIFICANT WINTER WEATHER EVENT OF THE SEASON MAY BE COMING
TOGETHER FOR NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA. MODELS ARE ALL SHOWING A DEEP
500MB LOW MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA ON THURSDAY WHICH WILL BRING
WITH IT MOISTURE AND LIFT. MAIN MODEL DIFFERENCES ARE DEVELOPMENT
AND TRACK OF SURFACE LOW. GFS TRACKS LOW FARTHER WEST THAN ECMWF AND
NAM WHICH MEANS PRECIPITATION WILL BE MORE RAIN THAN SNOW. THIS TYPE
OF COLD DEEP UPPER LOW WILL MANY TIMES FORM THERE OWN COLD POCKETS
AT THE THE LOW LEVELS DUE TO ENHANCED SNOWFALL RATES. THE MAIN
LIMITING FACTOR WILL BE THAT THE EVENT WILL OCCUR DURING THE DAY
WHEN HEATING WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES ABOVE FREEZING. AS MENTIONED IN
EARLIER DISCUSSION...MODELS ARE SHOWING AREA OF ENHANCED
PRECIPITATION NORTH OF 500MB UPPER LOW...IN AREA REFEREED TO AS A
TROWEL. THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY SNOWFALL WITHIN IN THIS
TROWEL...BUT FOR NOW MODELS ARE KEEPING THIS AREA NORTH OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA. AT THIS TIME WILL KEEP PRECIPITATION IN THE FORM OF A
RAIN/SNOW MIXTURE...BUT THERE COULD VERY WELL BE A PERIOD OF TIME ON
THURSDAY WHEN IT IS ALL SNOW.

THIS SYSTEM WILL QUICKLY LIFT OUT OF THE AREA THURSDAY EVENING WITH
SOME TRAILING LIGHT SNOW ACROSS EAST ALABAMA.  CLEARING SKIES AND
HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. A WEAK
SHORT WAVE TROF WILL PASS NORTH OF ALABAMA ON MONDAY WITH A TRAILING
COLD FRONT PUSHING TO NEAR THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. UPPER RIDGE OVER
THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES WILL LIKELY KEEP MOST OF THE RAIN NORTH AND
WEST OF AREA...BUT A FEW SHOWERS POSSIBLE.

58/ROSE

&&

.AVIATION...00Z TAF DISCUSSION.

LARGE MASS OF RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS POISED TO MOVE INTO CENTRAL
ALABAMA OVERNIGHT...AND THEN BEGIN TO STALL DURING THE DAY ON
WEDNESDAY.  A LITTLE PUZZLED ABOUT WHY WINDS ARE NOT AS STRONG AND
GUSTY THAN PREVIOUSLY EXPECTED (AND SUPPORTED BY CURRENT PRESSURE
ANALYSIS).  I DO EXPECT WINDS TO PICK BACK UP OVERNIGHT...AS COLD
FRONT PLODS EASTWARD.

AS THE FRONT SLOWS DOWN AND STALLS ON WEDNESDAY...THUNDER SHOULD
DIMINISH BUT RAIN WILL LIKELY CONTINUE.  THUS...KEPT FAIRLY LOW
CEILINGS AND MVFR CATEGORY VISIBILITIES DURING THE PERIOD.

/61/

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LAKE WIND ADVISORY FOR ALL ZONES UNTIL 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY
FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PICKENS-LAMAR-FAYETTE-WALKER-MARION-AND
WINSTON THROUGH 6 AM WEDNESDAY.

&&

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
210 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008

ALZ011>015-017>050-101230-
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-
210 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

BREEZY SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH ARE EXPECTED ACROSS ALL OF
CENTRAL ALABAMA OVERNIGHT. A FEW GUSTS MAY REACH 35 MPH ON OPEN
WATERWAYS.

STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT AS A
STRONG COLD FRONT SLOWLY MOVES INTO CENTRAL ALABAMA. THE THREAT
COVERS MUCH OF THE ENTIRE AREA AND WILL LAST MUCH OF THE NIGHT.

MORE SPECIFICALLY...ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE ROUGHLY
EAST OF A LINE FROM JASPER...TO LIVINGSTON.  THE BEST TIMING FOR
THE TORNADO THREAT APPEARS TO BE THROUGH 4 AM FOR AREAS ALONG AND
NORTH OF INTERSTATE 20...AND THROUGH 8 AM TO LAYFAYETTE AND FORT
DEPOSIT.

FOR AREAS IN FAR SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA...THE STORMS WILL NOT REACH
THE AREA UNTIL AFTER 6 AM.

IN ADDITION TO THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THREATS...LOCALLY HEAVY
RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE AREAWIDE. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE TO THREE
INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THESE RAIN AMOUNTS MAY
PRODUCE LOCALIZED FLOODING PROBLEMS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

WEDNESDAY...A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE
ROUGHLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF OF A LINE FROM SELMA TO AUBURN. LOCALLY
HEAVY RAINFALL WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY.
AN ADDITIONAL ONE TO THREE INCHES OF RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE.

THURSDAY...A DEEP AND COLD UPPER LOW WILL MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL
ALABAMA. THE AIR IS EXPECTED TO BE COLD ENOUGH ALOFT FOR RAIN TO
MIX WITH SNOW AND POSSIBLY CHANGE OVER TO ALL SNOW DURING THE DAY. NO
TRAVEL PROBLEMS ARE ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME DUE TO SURFACE
TEMPERATURES REMAINING WELL ABOVE FREEZING. IT WILL ALSO BE BREEZY
WITH WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS
LIKELY FOR WEST ALABAMA TONIGHT.

75/LINHARES

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1028 PM CST TUE DEC 09 2008

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

0936 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 N DETROIT             34.04N 88.17W
12/09/2008                   LAMAR              AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN ON HWY 17 NEAR THE TOWN OF DETROIT.

&&

GOLDEN

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1149 PM CST TUE DEC 09 2008

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

1144 PM     HAIL             DOUBLE SPRINGS          34.15N 87.40W
12/09/2008  E0.25 INCH       WINSTON            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            REPORTED IN THE DOUBLE SPRINGS AREA.

&&

GOLDEN

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
145 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008

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

0936 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HAMILTON                34.14N 87.98W
12/09/2008                   MARION             AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN ON HIGHWAY 17 NORTH BETWEEN SULIGENT AND
            DETROIT.

&&

JBW

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
148 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008

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

1000 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HAMILTON                34.14N 87.98W
12/09/2008                   MARION             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES REPORTED DOWN ACROSS COUNTY

&&

JBW

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
222 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008

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

1215 AM     FLASH FLOOD      SULLIGENT               33.89N 88.13W
12/10/2008                   LAMAR              AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            STREET FLOODING ON HIGHWAY 18 WEST WITH DEPTH ESTIMATED
            AT ONE AND ONE HALF FEET AND ESTIMATED10 INCHES DEEP ON
            HIGHWAY 278 NEAR SULLIGENT.

&&

JBW

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
224 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008

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

0105 AM     HAIL             MANCHESTER              33.90N 87.25W
12/10/2008  E0.25 INCH       WALKER             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            PEA SIZE HAIL REPORTED NEAR MANCHESTER.

&&

JBW