Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2009
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 198, NWS Birmingham, AL
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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 3, 7:44 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
| May 3, 11:35 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 5 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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</html>Special weather statement, May 3, 10:55 AM CDT, 2 hours 23 minutes before
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</html>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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 7:02 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Walker | 43 min |
| May 2, 7:21 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Blount | 24 min |
| May 2, 7:34 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Blount, Jefferson, Walker | 56 min |
| May 2, 7:56 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BMX | Lamar, Marion | 4 hr |
| May 2, 7:56 PM CDT | Flash Flood Watch | BMX | Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Walker and 1 more | 9 hr |
| May 2, 8:19 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Blount, Jefferson, St. Clair, Walker | 41 min |
| May 3, 5:08 AM CDT | Flash Flood Watch | BMX | Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marion and 6 more | 16 hr |
| May 3, 8:37 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Greene, Pickens, Sumter | 53 min |
| May 3, 11:28 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Bibb, Greene, Hale, Tuscaloosa | 15 min |
| May 3, 12:29 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Marengo, Sumter | 61 min |
| May 3, 12:50 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter | 55 min |
| May 3, 12:54 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Bibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa | 51 min |
| May 3, 12:58 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Greene, Hale, Sumter | 62 min |
| May 3, 1:23 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Jefferson, Shelby | 67 min |
| May 3, 1:33 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Bibb, Chilton, Dallas, Hale, Perry | 42 min |
| May 3, 1:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Bibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa | 50 min |
| May 3, 1:40 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Bibb, Greene, Hale, Perry, Tuscaloosa | 50 min |
| May 3, 1:42 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Bibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa | 2 hr |
| May 3, 1:46 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Jefferson, Shelby | 44 min |
| May 3, 1:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Autauga, Bibb, Chilton, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore and 6 more | 65 min |
| May 3, 2:02 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega | 58 min |
| May 3, 2:32 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Autauga, Bibb, Bullock, Chilton, Clay, Coosa and 7 more | 58 min |
| May 3, 2:48 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, St. Clair, Talladega | 57 min |
| May 3, 3:17 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Barbour, Bullock, Chambers, Coosa, Elmore, Lee and 5 more | 73 min |
| May 3, 3:20 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Chambers, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Randolph and 3 more | 55 min |
| May 3, 3:21 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne | 54 min |
| May 3, 3:25 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Talladega | 18 min |
| May 3, 4:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Chambers, Cleburne, Randolph | 34 min |
| May 3, 4:26 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Chambers, Lee, Russell | 34 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.