Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2009

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 198, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 3, 20098 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 3, 2009, 1:18 PM CDT for 8 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 57 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
May 3, 2009, 1:18 PM CDT (18:18 UTC)
Expired
May 3, 2009, 2:15 PM CDT
In force
57 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Bibb County, AL, Dallas County, AL, Greene County, AL, Hale County, AL, Marengo County, AL, Perry County, AL, Sumter County, AL, Tuscaloosa County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 91 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:20 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 3, 7:44 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC8 hr
May 3, 11:35 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC5 hr

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 May 3, 6:29 AM CDT, 6 hours 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 3, 6:29 AM CDT, 6 hours 49 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
629 AM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

.UPDATE...12Z AVIATION DISCUSSION.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

THUNDERSTORMS WERE A LITTLE MORE ACTIVE ACROSS NORTH ALABAMA ON
SATURDAY THAN EXPECTED...AND TODAY SHOULD BE ANOTHER ACTIVE PERIOD
FOR SEVERE WEATHER. A QUASI- STATIONARY SURFACE BOUNDARY WILL
REMAIN ACROSS NORTHWEST ALABAMA DURING THE DAY TODAY...AND PROVIDE
A FOCUS FOR CONVECTION. THE FIVE NORTHWEST COUNTIES HAVE ALREADY
EXPERIENCED 2-3 INCHES OF RAINFALL IN THE PAST 12 HOURS...AND AN
ADDITIONAL 2-4 INCHES POSSIBLE THROUGH THIS EVENING. THE FLASH
FLOOD WATCH WILL BE EXTENDED FOR THOSE COUNTIES THROUGH TONIGHT.

MODELS HAVE BEEN VERY CONSISTENT IN SHOWING INCREASING LOW LEVEL
INFLOW AHEAD OF DEVELOPING SURFACE FRONTAL WAVE. SEVERAL BANDS OF
INTENSE CONVECTION WILL DEVELOP AHEAD OF SURFACE WAVE WITH THE
FIRST WAVE REACHING NORTHWEST ALABAMA BY MID AFTERNOON...WITH
ADDITIONAL BAND OF CONVECTION CONTINUING WELL INTO THE EVENING.
FORECAST WIND PROFILES INDICATE THERE WILL BE SUFFICIENT SHEAR FOR
ISOLATED TORNADOES EMBEDDED IN BOW SEGMENTS. STORMS SHOULD WEAKEN
BY 06Z AS SURFACE WAVE MOVES OUT OF AREA AND LOW LEVEL INFLOW
RELAXES.

STALLED OUT FRONTAL BOUNDARY ACROSS NORTH ALABAMA WILL BE TRIGGER
FOR ADDITIONAL SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT ON MONDAY.
CLOUD COVER AND WEAKER WIND FLOW SHOULD LIMIT INSTABILITY AND WILL
CONTINUE WITH ONLY STRONG THUNDERSTORM WORDING IN HAZARDOUS.
FLATTENING OUT OF UPPER TROF WILL KEEP SURFACE FRONT FROM EXITING
AREA BUT IT SHOULD PUSH DEEPER MOISTURE INTO SOUTHERN ALABAMA ON
TUESDAY. MOISTURE WILL QUICKLY PUSH BACK NORTHWARD ON WEDNESDAY AS
A FAST MOVING SHORT WAVE TROF PASSES TO THE NORTH OF ALABAMA.
THERE COULD BE A SHORT BREAK IN THE RAIN ON THURSDAY BEFORE
ANOTHER FAST MOVING SHORT WAVE TROF APPROACHES AREA. THIS SYSTEM
MAY HAVE ENOUGH UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT TO PUSH A WEAK COLD FRONT
THROUGH AREA LATE FRIDAY OR SATURDAY...AND WILL SHOW A DRYING
TREND GOING INTO THE WEEKEND.

&&

.AVIATION...12Z TAF DISCUSSION.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA BY MID
MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY...AFFECTING ALL
TERMINALS. ACTIVITY SHOULD HOLD OFF AT MGM AND TOI TIL MID
AFTERNOON. ACTIVITY WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH AFTER 03Z. GUSTY WINDS
WILL BE POSSIBLE...WITH MVFR CONDITIONS DURING STRONGER STORMS...AND
BRIEF PERIODS OF IFR VIS POSSIBLE.

14

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...FLASH FLOOD WATCH NORTHWEST
COUNTIES TODAY AND TONIGHT.

&&
Hazardous weather outlook, May 3, 11:45 AM CDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1145 AM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

ALZ011>015-017>050-041645-
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-
1145 AM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

SEVERE STORMS ARE LIKELY ACROSS AREAS GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF A
LINE FROM VERNON TO HEFLIN.  THE MAIN THREATS WITH THESE STORMS WILL
BE STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES.  THE FIRST
AND PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE FROM 1 PM UNTIL 5 PM.  HOWEVER...A
SECONDARY LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS ALSO POSSIBLE LATER THIS
EVENING AND THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.

THERE IS ALSO THE THREAT OF FLASH FLOODING ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL
ALABAMA. DUE RECENT HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS NORTHWEST ALABAMA...THIS
AREA HAS BETTER CHANCES FOR FLASH FLOODING THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT...BUT AREAS OUTSIDE THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH COULD EXPERIENCE
FLOODING IF STORMS TRAIN OVER THE SAME AREA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA
MONDAY AFTERNOON. THE MAIN THREAT IS WIND GUSTS OF 35 TO 45 MPH
AND SMALL HAIL.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL LIKELY
BE NECESSARY TODAY.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 3, 9:30 AM CDT, 3 hours 48 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 3, 10:55 AM CDT, 2 hours 23 minutes before
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        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
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Special weather statement, May 3, 12:46 PM CDT, 32 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1246 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

ALZ023>025-034-031830-
BIBB-JEFFERSON-SHELBY-TUSCALOOSA-
1246 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR BIBB...JEFFERSON...SHELBY AND
TUSCALOOSA COUNTIES UNTIL 130 PM CDT...

AT 1245 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM WOODSTOCK JUNCTION TO LOW
GAP...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 17 MILES NORTH OF CENTREVILLE TO
15 MILES WEST OF BRENT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

MARBLE SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  LOW GAP.
  ABERNANT.
  CAFFEE JUNCTION.
  TANNEHILL IRONWORKS STATE PARK.
  MCCALLA.
  RAIMUND.

SEEK SHELTER AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT SUNDAY
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO
REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CDT SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHEASTERN
ALABAMA.

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

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 2, 7:02 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXWalker43 min
May 2, 7:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount24 min
May 2, 7:34 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson, Walker56 min
May 2, 7:56 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXLamar, Marion4 hr
May 2, 7:56 PM CDTFlash Flood WatchBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Walker and 1 more9 hr
May 2, 8:19 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson, St. Clair, Walker41 min
May 3, 5:08 AM CDTFlash Flood WatchBMXBibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marion and 6 more16 hr
May 3, 8:37 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Pickens, Sumter53 min
May 3, 11:28 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Greene, Hale, Tuscaloosa15 min
May 3, 12:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarengo, Sumter61 min
May 3, 12:50 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter55 min
May 3, 12:54 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa51 min
May 3, 12:58 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Sumter62 min
May 3, 1:23 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXJefferson, Shelby67 min
May 3, 1:33 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBibb, Chilton, Dallas, Hale, Perry42 min
May 3, 1:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa50 min
May 3, 1:40 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBibb, Greene, Hale, Perry, Tuscaloosa50 min
May 3, 1:42 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXBibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa2 hr
May 3, 1:46 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXJefferson, Shelby44 min
May 3, 1:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga, Bibb, Chilton, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore and 6 more65 min
May 3, 2:02 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXJefferson, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega58 min
May 3, 2:32 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga, Bibb, Bullock, Chilton, Clay, Coosa and 7 more58 min
May 3, 2:48 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, St. Clair, Talladega57 min
May 3, 3:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBarbour, Bullock, Chambers, Coosa, Elmore, Lee and 5 more73 min
May 3, 3:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Chambers, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Randolph and 3 more55 min
May 3, 3:21 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne54 min
May 3, 3:25 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Talladega18 min
May 3, 4:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChambers, Cleburne, Randolph34 min
May 3, 4:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChambers, Lee, Russell34 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2009Every 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.