Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2009

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 21, NWS Birmingham, AL

February 18, 20096 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Feb 18, 2009, 5:33 PM CST for 6 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 42 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
Feb 18, 2009, 5:33 PM CST (23:33 UTC)
Expired
Feb 18, 2009, 6:15 PM CST
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Calhoun County, AL, Clay County, AL, Cleburne County, AL, Shelby County, AL, St. Clair County, AL, Talladega County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 82 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:33 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Feb 18, 6:20 PM CSTHAIL 1Barfield, AL

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Feb 18, 12:42 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 11.6 hours before the alert went out and 83 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2009-02-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 11 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2009-02-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 604 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
11 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-38 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
526 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
57 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
604 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
698 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS54 KBMX 182333
SVRBMX
ALC015-027-029-115-117-121-190015-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0021.090218T2333Z-090219T0015Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
533 PM CST WED FEB 18 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  EXTREME NORTHEASTERN SHELBY COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  SOUTH CENTRAL ST. CLAIR COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  SOUTH CENTRAL CALHOUN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF OXFORD...
  NORTH CENTRAL CLAY COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  SOUTHWESTERN CLEBURNE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  CENTRAL TALLADEGA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF TALLADEGA...

* UNTIL 615 PM CST

* AT 528 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL.  THIS STORM WAS
  LOCATED NEAR LOGAN MARTIN DAM...OR 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF   
CHILDERSBURG...AND MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. ANOTHER STORM WAS
LOCATED 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE TALLADEGA SUPER SPEEDWAY...
MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  TALLADEGA BY 540 PM CST...
  WALDO BY 545 PM CST...
  9 MILES SOUTH OF GRANT TOWN BY 555 PM CST...
  MOUNT CHEAHA BY 600 PM CST...
  BARFIELD BY 605 PM CST...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 173 THROUGH 191.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR ALABAMA.

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

LAT...LON 3364 8572 3335 8568 3328 8636 3355 8639
TIME...MOT...LOC 2332Z 262DEG 44KT 3338 8624

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 182347
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
547 PM CST WED FEB 18 2009

ALC115-117-182358-
/O.CAN.KBMX.SV.W.0021.000000T0000Z-090219T0015Z/
SHELBY AL-ST. CLAIR AL-
548 PM CST WED FEB 18 2009

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL ST. CLAIR AND
EXTREME NORTHEASTERN SHELBY COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR ALABAMA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CST
WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3340 8623 3362 8589 3364 8572 3335 8568
      3329 8628
TIME...MOT...LOC 2348Z 276DEG 43KT 3334 8602

$$

ALC015-027-029-121-190015-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0021.000000T0000Z-090219T0015Z/
CLAY AL-TALLADEGA AL-CLEBURNE AL-CALHOUN AL-
548 PM CST WED FEB 18 2009

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CST
FOR SOUTH CENTRAL CALHOUN...SOUTHWESTERN CLEBURNE...CENTRAL TALLADEGA
AND NORTH CENTRAL CLAY COUNTIES...

AT 542 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
WALDO...OR ABOUT 6 MILES SOUTH OF TALLADEGA...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  BARFIELD BY 610 PM CST...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 179 THROUGH 191.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR ALABAMA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CST
WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3340 8623 3362 8589 3364 8572 3335 8568
      3329 8628
TIME...MOT...LOC 2348Z 276DEG 43KT 3334 8602

$$
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 182357
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
557 PM CST WED FEB 18 2009

ALC015-029-190008-
/O.CAN.KBMX.SV.W.0021.000000T0000Z-090219T0015Z/
CLEBURNE AL-CALHOUN AL-
558 PM CST WED FEB 18 2009

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL CALHOUN AND
SOUTHWESTERN CLEBURNE COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 185 THROUGH 191.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR ALABAMA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CST
WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3340 8609 3342 8599 3341 8587 3335 8568
      3330 8614
TIME...MOT...LOC 2358Z 270DEG 31KT 3334 8596

$$

ALC027-121-190015-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0021.000000T0000Z-090219T0015Z/
CLAY AL-TALLADEGA AL-
558 PM CST WED FEB 18 2009

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CST
FOR CENTRAL TALLADEGA AND CENTRAL CLAY COUNTIES...

AT 556 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL.  THIS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR CHANDLER SPRINGS...OR ABOUT 9 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF TALLADEGA...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  RURAL CENTRAL CLAY COUNTY AT 610 PM CST

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR ALABAMA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CST
WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3340 8609 3342 8599 3341 8587 3335 8568
      3330 8614
TIME...MOT...LOC 2358Z 270DEG 31KT 3334 8596

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 18, 4:01 AM CSTLake Wind AdvisoryBMXAutauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more14 hr
Feb 18, 2:31 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson, St. Clair29 min
Feb 18, 2:39 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXCalhoun, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega51 min
Feb 18, 2:42 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCherokee33 min
Feb 18, 3:11 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXRussell17 min
Feb 18, 3:12 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker24 min
Feb 18, 3:19 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter41 min
Feb 18, 3:22 PM CSTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXCalhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, St. Clair, Talladega38 min
Feb 18, 3:53 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson, St. Clair37 min
Feb 18, 3:55 PM CSTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXCalhoun, Cleburne, Randolph35 min
Feb 18, 3:57 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXDallas, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Sumter33 min
Feb 18, 4:24 PM CSTTornado Warning EmergencyBMXBlount, Calhoun, Cleburne, Etowah, St. Clair, Talladega66 min
Feb 18, 4:24 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXDallas, Hale, Marengo, Perry51 min
Feb 18, 4:42 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa33 min
Feb 18, 4:52 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Dallas, Lowndes, Perry38 min
Feb 18, 5:13 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Talladega, Tuscaloosa47 min
Feb 18, 5:24 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDallas, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Sumter66 min
Feb 18, 5:28 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Dallas, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery47 min
Feb 18, 5:39 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Greene, Jefferson, Pickens, Shelby, Tuscaloosa51 min
Feb 18, 5:41 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah34 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.