Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2011

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 229, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 26, 2011Lowndes County, Montgomery County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 26, 2011, 1:14 PM CDT for Lowndes County, Montgomery County, Alabama. It was in force for 46 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: May 26, 2011, 1:14 PM CDT (18:14 UTC)
Expired: May 26, 2011, 2:00 PM CDT
In force: 46 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Lowndes County, AL, Montgomery County, AL

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

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 26, 9:15 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 6.2 hours before the alert went out and 130 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: 2103 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -6 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 485 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 165 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 143 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 1.8
Supercell composite: 7.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

270 
WUUS54 KBMX 261814
SVRBMX
ALC085-101-261900-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0229.110526T1814Z-110526T1900Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
114 PM CDT THU MAY 26 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN LOWNDES COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  WEST CENTRAL MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 200 PM CDT

* AT 112 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING
  WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR LOGAN...OR
  NEAR FORT DEPOSIT...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  DAVENPORT...PINTLALA...SPRAGUE AND LETOHATCHEE.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 142 THROUGH 158...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FOR YOUR PROTECTION...MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF
YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3196 8671 3226 8649 3214 8622 3204 8635
      3205 8639 3200 8640 3195 8647
TIME...MOT...LOC 1815Z 224DEG 15KT 3205 8651

$$

14

1 follow-up statement

195 
WWUS54 KBMX 261835
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
135 PM CDT THU MAY 26 2011

ALC085-101-261900-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0229.000000T0000Z-110526T1900Z/
LOWNDES AL-MONTGOMERY AL-
135 PM CDT THU MAY 26 2011

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL
MONTGOMERY AND SOUTHEASTERN LOWNDES COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM CDT...

AT 130 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
DAVENPORT...OR 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF FORT DEPOSIT...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 15 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  DAVENPORT...PINTLALA AND LETOHATCHEE.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 147 THROUGH 158...

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

LAT...LON 3209 8634 3205 8640 3202 8642 3198 8647
      3198 8669 3226 8649 3216 8626
TIME...MOT...LOC 1835Z 225DEG 13KT 3209 8646

$$

14

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 26, 12:20 PM CDT, 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 26, 12:20 PM CDT, 54 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1220 PM CDT THU MAY 26 2011

.UPDATE...FOR 18Z TAFS.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

MAIN COLD FRONT NOW BEGINNING TO ENTER THE NORTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF
THE AREA. RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN A WATCHING GAME AS THE FIRST WAVE OF
STORMS HAVE MOVED NORTH OF THE AREA. THERE ARE SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI.

AS THE UPPER LOW BEGINS TO MOVE MORE EAST-NORTHEAST THIS AFTERNOON
THE MAIN DYNAMICS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR ANY TORNADO THREAT
AT ALL WILL BEGIN TO LIFT OUT OF THE AREA AS WELL. IN FACT MID
LEVEL LAPSE RATE ARE DECREASING ACROSS THE NORTH. WE WILL BE
REMOVING TORNADO THREATS FROM THE HWO WITH THE UPDATE THIS
MORNING. THE SEVERE POTENTIAL REMAINS POSSIBLE AREAWIDE. LOOKING
AT MUCAPES THEY ARE RIGHT AROUND 2000 WITH SBCAPES GOING FROM 2000
NORTH TO 3000 SOUTHEAST. LOWEST LI VALUES ARE ACROSS THE SOUTH AS
WELL. WILL POSSIBLY NEED TO EXTEND THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
FURTHER SOUTH WITH THE DAYTIME HEATING...BUT WILL CONTINUE TO
WATCH AND MONITOR RADAR TRENDS FOR THIS.

AS FOR THE UPDATE...MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THE WEATHER GRIDS AS
WELL AS MODIFIED THE TEMPERATURE TRENDS. UPDATES HAVE BEEN SENT.

&&

.AVIATION...
12Z TAF DISCUSSION.

SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT WILL PUSH INTO AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING WITH SHRA AND TSRA FORMING ACROSS THE AREA IN ADVANCE OF THE
FRONT. EXPECT SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS TSRA INTO THE EVENING BUT TIMING
FOR INDIVIDUAL TAF SITES IS DIFFICULT SO WILL CARRY TEMPO GROUPS
INDICATING ANTICIPATED BEST WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY. SOME TSRA COULD
BECOME STRONG WITH STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND HAIL THE MAIN CONCERN.
EXPECT TSRA TO DIMINISH AFTER 00Z AS WE LOSE DAYTIME HEATING AND
SOMEWHAT DRIER MORE STABLE AIR SPREADS INTO AREA BEHIND FRONT.
GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO INDICATE IFR CONDITIONS DEVELOPING TOWARD 12Z
AND WITH TROUGHINESS HANGING IN THE AREA SEE NO REASON TO DISCOUNT
THIS HAPPENING.  WILL INDICATE IFR CONDS 10Z-14Z TIME FRAME WITH
CONDITIONS IMPROVING RAPIDLY AFTER THAT TIME AS MOIST NEAR SURFACE
LAYER MIXES OUT. GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS THIS AFTERNOON WILL DIMINISH
AFTER 00Z AND GRADUALLY SHIFT TO MORE WESTERLY OR NORTHWESTERLY
DIRECTION BY 12Z.

NOTICE...KEET TAF WILL HAVE (AMD LTD TO VIS WIND AND WX) AMENDED
TO THE END OF THE FORECAST UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. THE CEILOMETER
DATA WILL BE GOING THROUGH NUMEROUS TESTS AND MONITORED FOR
ACCURACY.

41

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 639 AM CDT THU MAY 26 2011/

DISCUSSION...

BEHIND THE FRONT ON FRIDAY...ALTHOUGH THE FLOW IS WEAK SHOULD HAVE
ONE DAY OF WEST/NORTHWEST THEN VARIABLE FLOW AND NEAR NORMAL
TEMPERATURES FOR LATE MAY IN THE LOWER TO MID 80S. HOWEVER...BY
SATURDAY...THE FLOW TURNS BACK AROUND AS A WARM FRONT MOVES WELL
TO THE NORTH OF THE AREA...A HIGH BUILDS OVER THE EASTERN UNITED
STATES WITH WARM HUMID SOUTHERLY FLOW AROUND THE BACKSIDE OF THIS
HIGH. IN THE MEANTIME...BRIEF UPPER NORTHWEST FLOW THAT HELPS THE
FRONT INITIALLY TURNS ZONAL AND THEN SOUTHWEST BRIEFLY AS A HUGE
HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE DEVELOPS ACROSS THE EASTERN U.S. FOR THE FIRST
PART OF NEXT WEEK EXPANDING TO THE WEST SOME BY MID WEEK. THIS
MEANS A RETURN TO HOT ABOVE NORMAL UPPER 80S INTO THE 90S STARTING
OVER THE WEEKEND INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.

08/MNK

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     83  60  83  59  89 /  70  50  10  10  10
ANNISTON    83  61  83  60  89 /  70  50  20  10  10
BIRMINGHAM  84  61  83  62  90 /  70  50  10  10  10
TUSCALOOSA  86  59  84  61  92 /  70  30  10  10  10
CALERA      84  61  84  62  90 /  70  40  10  10  10
AUBURN      85  63  84  63  88 /  30  40  20  10  10
MONTGOMERY  86  64  87  64  91 /  40  40  10  10  10
TROY        88  64  86  62  90 /  30  30  20   0  10

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.

&&

16/08/27

Hazardous weather outlook, May 26, 11:34 AM CDT, 1 hour 40 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1134 AM CDT THU MAY 26 2011

ALZ011>015-017>050-270200-
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-
1134 AM CDT THU MAY 26 2011

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 POSSIBLE ACROSS MOST OF CENTRAL ALABAMA THROUGH
THE EARLY EVENING HOURS AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES THE AREA.  THE
SEVERE ACTIVITY WILL BE MAINLY ALONG AND EITHER SIDE OF THE I-59
CORRIDOR.  THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS...
LARGE HAIL...AND CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

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

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 26, 7:43 AM CDT, 5 hours 31 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
743 AM CDT THU MAY 26 2011

ALZ035-036-261330-
CHILTON AL-COOSA AL-
743 AM CDT THU MAY 26 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR COOSA AND EASTERN CHILTON
COUNTIES UNTIL 830 AM CDT...

AT 741 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR HIGGINS FERRY PARK...OR 6 MILES EAST OF CLANTON...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  ROCKFORD...
  WEOGUFKA...
  STEWARTVILLE...
  KELLYTON...
  HIGGINS FERRY PARK...

&&

LAT...LON 3271 8653 3285 8666 3311 8636 3310 8612
      3301 8600 3297 8601
TIME...MOT...LOC 1243Z 232DEG 33KT 3284 8651

17/KLAWS

Special weather statement, May 26, 7:48 AM CDT, 5 hours 26 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
748 AM CDT THU MAY 26 2011

ALZ011-261315-
MARION AL-
748 AM CDT THU MAY 26 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN MARION COUNTY UNTIL 815
AM CDT...

AT 746 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF HAMILTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35
MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  BRINN...
  HACKLEBURG...
  TESSNER...
  BEAR CREEK...

&&

LAT...LON 3431 8786 3432 8766 3431 8764 3425 8763
      3405 8794 3424 8811 3432 8799 3432 8786
TIME...MOT...LOC 1248Z 237DEG 33KT 3423 8792

17/KLAWS

Local storm report, May 26, 8:33 AM CDT, 4 hours 41 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
833 AM CDT THU MAY 26 2011

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

0745 AM     HAIL             CLANTON                 32.84N 86.63W
05/26/2011  E0.50 INCH       CHILTON            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

JWINTON

Special weather statement, May 26, 8:41 AM CDT, 4 hours 33 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
841 AM CDT THU MAY 26 2011

ALZ018>020-261430-
CALHOUN AL-CHEROKEE AL-ETOWAH AL-
841 AM CDT THU MAY 26 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN ETOWAH...CHEROKEE AND
NORTHEASTERN CALHOUN COUNTIES UNTIL 930 AM CDT...

AT 837 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR WEAVER...OR NEAR JACKSONVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
45 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  PIEDMONT...
  CENTRE...
  CEDAR BLUFF...
  TENNALA...
  MOSHAT...

TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY.

&&

LAT...LON 3419 8543 3411 8542 3374 8578 3381 8591
      3432 8572
TIME...MOT...LOC 1341Z 211DEG 38KT 3384 8580

14

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 25, 10:56 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	49 min
May 25, 11:25 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lamar	50 min
May 25, 11:35 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Winston	40 min
May 26, 12:18 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette, Walker, Winston	42 min
May 26, 12:32 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Winston	28 min
May 26, 12:50 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker	14 min
May 26, 1:22 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Pickens	38 min
May 26, 2:10 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette, Walker, Winston	50 min
May 26, 2:40 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette	50 min
May 26, 2:49 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa	41 min
May 26, 3:20 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Walker	40 min
May 26, 7:43 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Coosa	47 min
May 26, 7:48 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	27 min
May 26, 8:41 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee	49 min
May 26, 12:21 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marengo	24 min
May 26, 1:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Dallas	38 min
May 26, 1:20 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Etowah, St. Clair	40 min
May 26, 1:27 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee	48 min
May 26, 1:32 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chilton	43 min
May 26, 1:35 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Jefferson	40 min
May 26, 1:37 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee	23 min
May 26, 1:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery	38 min
May 26, 1:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Etowah	49 min
May 26, 2:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bullock, Pike	33 min
May 26, 2:16 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery	119 min
May 26, 2:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chilton, Coosa, Elmore	40 min
May 26, 2:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bullock, Macon, Russell	32 min
May 26, 2:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah	44 min
May 26, 2:47 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Macon, Montgomery	13 min
May 26, 2:51 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Coosa, Talladega, Tallapoosa	24 min
May 26, 2:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Talladega	23 min
May 26, 2:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Macon	18 min
May 26, 3:08 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby	40 min
May 26, 3:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah	45 min
May 26, 3:21 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Tallapoosa	24 min
May 26, 3:35 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers	25 min
May 26, 3:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, St. Clair	39 min
May 26, 3:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Russell	35 min
May 26, 3:45 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Jefferson, Walker	45 min
May 26, 3:51 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Pickens, Sumter	24 min
May 26, 3:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Pickens	26 min
May 26, 3:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers, Randolph	36 min
May 26, 4:08 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Etowah, St. Clair	52 min
May 26, 4:23 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee	52 min
May 26, 4:51 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	24 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2011 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2011

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.