Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2009

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 150, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 10, 2009Chambers County, Lee County, Tallapoosa County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 10, 2009, 7:07 PM CDT for Chambers County, Lee County, Tallapoosa County, Alabama. It was in force for 38 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: Apr 10, 2009, 7:07 PM CDT (00:07 UTC)
Expired: Apr 10, 2009, 7:45 PM CDT
In force: 38 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Chambers County, AL, Lee County, AL, Tallapoosa County, AL

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 10, 2:39 PM CDT	Tornado Watch PDS	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 0.1 hours before the alert went out and 126 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: 1068 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -44 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1433 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 67 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 348 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 390 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 1.5
Supercell composite: 9.8

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 Apr 10, 6:49 PM CDT, 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 10, 6:49 PM CDT, 18 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
649 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

.UPDATE...FOR AVIATION DISCUSSION.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

NOT MANY CHANGES TO PREVIOUS FORECAST PACKAGE. PARTS OF NE CWA UNDER
A HIGH RISK FROM SPC WITH REMAINDER OF AREA UNDER MDT RISK. RAPID
DESTABILIZATION IS TAKING PLACE THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS MUCH OF
CENTRAL ALABAMA...AS THE CAP IS QUICKLY ERODING AWAY FURTHER NORTH.
WILL WATCH THE CAP STAY STRONGER FURTHER SOUTH...SAY SOUTH OF
I20...BUT EVENTUALLY COOLING ALOFT COMBINED WITH SURFACE HEATING AND
MOISTENING WILL WIN OUT. THE OTHER QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN ARE PW
VALUES FOR AREAS SOUTH OF 20. FOR NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT VALUES JUST
ABOVE 1 INCH ALONG THE FRONT SUGGESTING THE CELLS WILL BECOME MORE
INDIVIDUALIZED AND ISOLATED AS THE LINE PUSHES FURTHER SOUTH AND
EAST. AREAS NORTH LOOK PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS AS AGAIN RAPID
DESTABILIZATION IS ALLOWING CAPE VALUES TO SOAR TO JUST BELOW 3000
J/KG AND SRH VALUES ABOVE 300 BOTH IN THE 0 TO 3 KM RANGE AND 0 TO 1
KM RANGE. TORNADOES WILL BE A HIGH THREAT...WITH EVEN STRONG
TORNADOES POSSIBLE ACROSS THE NORTHERN CWA. HAIL CONTINUES TO BE THE
BIGGEST THREAT AS LAPSE RATES ALOFT CONTINUE TO INCREASE AND CAPE
VALUES IN THE MAXIMUM HAIL GROWTH ZONE HAVE INCREASED TO NEARLY 500
J/KG...WHICH IS ABOUT THE HIGHEST IVE SEEN IN QUITE SOME TIME. IN
ADDITION...VERY STRONG GRADIENT FLOW WILL CONTINUE FOR AREAS AHEAD
OF THE FRONT...POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN SOME TREES GOING DOWN.

DUE TO ORIENTATION OF STORMS (NE-SW)...EXPECT SEVERE WEATHER TO
CONTINUE FOR AREAS EAST OF I-65 AND SOUTH OF I-20 UNTIL THE 02-04Z
TIMEFRAME WITH THE LINE MOVING INTO GA AFTER THAT TIME.

CALM AND COOLER ON SATURDAY WITH NEXT SYSTEM AFFECTING REGION AS
EARLY AS 00Z SUNDAY IN WESTERN SECTIONS AND ACROSS REMAINDER OF
STATE AFTER 06Z. TUE AND WED WILL HAVE NEAR NORMAL TEMPS WITH
ANOTHER ROUND OF STORMS LATE IN WEEK.

LAWS/STEFKOVICH

&&

.AVIATION...00Z TAF DISCUSSION.

WILL CONTINUE THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS AT MGM AND TOI UNTIL 05Z.
VISIBLE SATELLITE SHOWS A LARGE BREAK IN THE CLOUD COVER BEHIND
FRONT...BEFORE COLD-AIR ADVECTION...MVFR CIGS MOVE SOUTHEAST BACK
OVER OUR NORTHERN TAF SITES.  I HAVE THESE MVFR CIGS BACK IN THE
TAFS BY 09Z.  THE TREND LOOKS GOOD FOR VFR CONDITIONS AT ALL TAF
SITES BY 18Z.

03

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     49  67  42  68  56 /  30  10  10  10  70
ANNISTON    52  67  46  69  60 /  30  10  10  10  70
BIRMINGHAM  51  66  46  70  61 /  20  10  10  20  70
TUSCALOOSA  52  69  45  70  63 /  20  10  10  30  70
CALERA      53  67  47  69  60 /  20  10  10  20  70
AUBURN      56  71  48  72  57 /  30  10  10  10  70
MONTGOMERY  56  74  47  74  60 /  20  10  10  20  70
TROY        57  75  49  75  60 /  30  10  10  20  50

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR ALL COUNTIES UNTIL 7 PM TODAY.

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 10, 1:04 PM CDT, 6 hours 3 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
104 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

ALZ011>015-017>050-111130-
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-
104 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

...MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS NORTH
ALABAMA...

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS NORTH
CENTRAL ALABAMA. LARGE HAIL...TORNADOES...AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE ALL
POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

FOR AREAS ALONG AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM AUBURN...TO ALABASTER...TO
REFORM...THERE WILL BE A POTENTIAL FOR SCATTERED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
WITH STRONG TORNADOES AND VERY LARGE HAIL.

FOR AREAS SOUTH OF THIS LINE...ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE
WITH VERY LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.

THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL END WITH A COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE LATE
THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. THE FRONT WILL BE LOCATED NEAR A
LINE FROM SELMA TO ANNISTON BY AROUND 7 PM.

IN ADDITION TO THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...STRONG STRAIGHT LINE WINDS
NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THUNDERSTORMS WILL LAST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.
WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE. THESE WINDS MAY KNOCK
A FEW TREES DOWN OR BREAK SOME LIMBS. SECURE ALL OUTDOOR FURNITURE.

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

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE AGAIN ON MONDAY...AS A COLD FRONT
PUSHES THROUGH THE AREA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL BE NEEDED
INTO THE EVENING AND POSSIBLY AGAIN ON MONDAY.

75/LINHARES

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 10, 5:52 PM CDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
552 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

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

0549 PM     HAIL             FAYETTEVILLE            33.15N 86.41W
04/10/2009  E1.00 INCH       TALLADEGA          AL   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            REPORTED BY FAYETTEVILLE VFD.

&&

KSUMRALL

Local storm report, Apr 10, 6:05 PM CDT, 1 hour 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
605 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

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

0602 PM     HAIL             THORSBY                 32.92N 86.71W
04/10/2009  E1.00 INCH       CHILTON            AL   PUBLIC

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED IN THORSBY.

&&

LINHARES

Local storm report, Apr 10, 6:07 PM CDT, 1 hour before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
607 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

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

0600 PM     HAIL             ELLISVILLE              34.06N 85.61W
04/10/2009  E1.75 INCH       CHEROKEE           AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED IN ELLISVILLE.

&&

LINHARES

Local storm report, Apr 10, 6:13 PM CDT, 54 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
613 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

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

0608 PM     HAIL             S SYLACAUGA             33.18N 86.26W
04/10/2009  E1.75 INCH       TALLADEGA          AL   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            REPORTED BY COUNTY LINE VFD.

&&

KSUMRALL

Local storm report, Apr 10, 6:14 PM CDT, 53 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
614 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

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

0606 PM     HAIL             N JACKSONVILLE          33.81N 85.76W
04/10/2009  E1.00 INCH       CALHOUN            AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            REPORTED BY ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

&&

KSUMRALL

Local storm report, Apr 10, 6:50 PM CDT, 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
650 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009

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

0645 PM     HAIL             ALEXANDER CITY          32.93N 85.93W
04/10/2009  E0.75 INCH       TALLAPOOSA         AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            PENNY SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED AT ALEXANDER CITY.

&&

LINHARES

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 10, 7:05 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chambers, Elmore, Lee, Macon, Tallapoosa	55 min
Apr 10, 7:18 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Dallas, Lowndes, Montgomery, Perry	57 min
Apr 10, 7:41 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lee, Macon, Russell	49 min
Apr 10, 7:45 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Elmore, Lee, Macon, Tallapoosa	60 min
Apr 10, 7:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Bullock, Elmore, Macon, Montgomery	62 min
Apr 10, 8:24 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lee, Russell	21 min
Apr 10, 8:26 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Dallas, Lowndes, Montgomery	64 min
Apr 10, 8:37 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lee, Macon, Russell	68 min
Apr 10, 8:47 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Bullock, Macon, Montgomery	58 min
Apr 10, 9:33 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Barbour, Bullock, Macon, Russell	57 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2009 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2009

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.