Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2011

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 27, NWS Birmingham, AL

February 28, 2011Cleburne County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Feb 28, 2011, 3:53 PM CST for Cleburne County, Alabama. It was in force for 37 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: Feb 28, 2011, 3:53 PM CST (21:53 UTC)
Expired: Feb 28, 2011, 4:30 PM CST
In force: 37 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

County Cleburne County, AL

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 99 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:54 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.

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
Feb 28, 12:29 PM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 105 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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 1162 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 50 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 229 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 350 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.

167 
WUUS54 KBMX 282153
SVRBMX
ALC029-282230-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0027.110228T2153Z-110228T2230Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
353 PM CST MON FEB 28 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  CLEBURNE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 430 PM CST

* AT 347 PM CST..THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED   A LINE     
OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GOLF BALL SIZE          
HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THESE STORMS         
WERE   LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES WEST OF           
CEDARTOWN TO   BYNUM...AND MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HEFLIN...MOUNT CHEAHA...MARS HILLS...EDWARDSVILLE...FRUITHURST...
  MUSCADINE...ABERNATHY AND RANBURNE.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 199 THROUGH 210...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. TORNADOES CAN
DEVELOP QUICKLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. ALTHOUGH NOT IMMEDIATELY
LIKELY...IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF
SAFETY INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL
INTERIOR ROOM.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3351 8534 3350 8535 3350 8576 3347 8580
      3347 8589 3355 8580 3356 8574 3361 8574
      3365 8564 3378 8564 3381 8559 3386 8558
      3396 8547 3396 8539 3349 8530
TIME...MOT...LOC 2152Z 282DEG 44KT 3397 8531 3357 8586

$$

1 follow-up statement

898 
WWUS54 KBMX 282212
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
412 PM CST MON FEB 28 2011

ALC029-282230-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0027.000000T0000Z-110228T2230Z/
CLEBURNE AL-
412 PM CST MON FEB 28 2011

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CLEBURNE
COUNTY UNTIL 430 PM CST...

AT 411 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A 
LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN 
EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING 
FROM 6 MILES SOUTH OF ROCKMART TO 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF FOSTERS CROSS 
ROADS...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  RANBURNE.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 199 THROUGH 210...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. TORNADOES CAN
DEVELOP QUICKLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. ALTHOUGH NOT IMMEDIATELY
LIKELY...IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF
SAFETY INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL
INTERIOR ROOM.

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DESTRUCTIVE WINDS. SEEK 
SHELTER NOW INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3351 8534 3350 8535 3350 8576 3347 8580
      3347 8589 3355 8580 3356 8574 3361 8574
      3362 8569 3364 8568 3364 8565 3375 8562
      3385 8538 3350 8530
TIME...MOT...LOC 2211Z 282DEG 44KT 3392 8504 3352 8559

$$

27

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 Feb 28, 3:45 PM CST, 8 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 28, 3:45 PM CST, 8 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
345 PM CST MON FEB 28 2011

.DISCUSSION...

ONGOING SEVERE/TORNADO THREAT OBVIOUSLY THE MAIN CONCERN.  SEE THE
FRONT PAGE ON OUR WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST WATCH AND WARNING
INFORMATION AND SHORT TERM GRAPHICAL FORECAST UPDATES.

BASIC EXPECTATION IS THAT THE LINE SHOULD BE ALONG THE INTERSTATE 85
CORRIDOR BY ABOUT 6 PM...AND CONTINUE RAPIDLY OFF TO THE SOUTHEAST
AND CLEAR THE FORECAST AREA BY 8 PM. AS THE LINE OF SHOWERS ALONG
AND AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT PASSES...EXPECT RAIN/THUNDER AND ANY
OTHER UNPLEASANTRIES TO COME TO A RAPID END.  WINDS WILL SHIFT
AROUND TO THE WEST AND NORTHWEST...AND NOTICEABLY COOLER AND DRIER
BEHIND IT.

BEYOND THIS AFTERNOON...BENIGN CONDITIONS THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF
THE WEEK.  MAINLY TEMPERATURE FORECAST CHALLENGES...AS WEDGE/COLD
AIR DAMMING DEVELOP IN RESPONSE TO STRONG SURFACE RIDGING ON THE
EAST COAST.  MAINLY TOOK A BLEND OF MAV AND ENSEMBLE GUIDANCE FOR
HIGH TEMPS...BUT FOR OVERNIGHT LOWS NEXT FEW NIGHTS INTRODUCED LOCAL
AFFECTS WITH COOP MOS TO HIGHLIGHT THE NORMALLY COOLER LOCATIONS
UNDER CLEAR SKIES AND CALM CONDITIONS.

NEXT SYSTEM OF CONCERN IS LINING UP FOR SATURDAY...WITH LATEST ECMWF
COMING IN WITH A STRONGER/SHARPER TROUGH.  FORTUNATELY PATTERN
REMAINS PROGRESSIVE...BUT SITUATION IS STILL DEVELOPING AND WILL
NEED TO BE WATCHED.  PARAMETERS/PROFILES NOT ALL THAT IMPRESSIVE AT
THIS POINT IN TIME...BUT THE SYSTEM LOOKS TO BE OF A SIMILAR
MAGNITUDE OF THE LAST SEVERAL SYSTEMS.

&&

.AVIATION...18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS ARE AREAS OF SHRA/TSRA DEVELOPING IN SW AL
MOVING NE...AND LINE OF DEVELOPING STORMS MOVING INTO WESTERN AREAS
OF STATE AT NOON. AS SUCH...HAVE PUT IN TEMPO GROUPS TO ANTICIPATE
STORM ARRIVAL. WIND GUSTS NEAR OR ABOVE 25 KTS WILL OCCUR AHEAD OF
FRONT ON SW WINDS. GENERAL THINKING IS THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE
EAST OF TAF SITES AROUND 00Z. AFTER A BRIEF PERIOD OF VFR AFTER
FRONTAL PASSAGE...POST FRONTAL IFR/MVFR CEILINGS WILL OCCUR WITH
CLEARING LATE IN THE TAF PERIOD.

NOTICE...TAF FOR ANB WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE /AMD NOT SKED/ APPENDED
TO THE END...DUE TO COMMUNICATIONS ISSUES. WILL UTILIZE DIAL UP AND
OTHER RESOURCES (SATELLITE...RADAR...ETC) TO TRY TO KEEP UP WITH
OBSERVATIONS THERE.

NOTICE...KEET TAF WILL HAVE (AMD LTD TO VIS WIND AND WX) AMENDED TO
THE END OF THE FORECAST THROUGH THE END OF THE 2010/2011 WINTER
SEASON. THE CEILOMETER DATA WILL BE GOING THROUGH NUMEROUS TESTS AND
MONITORED FOR ACCURACY.

STEFKOVICH

&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     37  64  33  66  33 /  10   0   0   0   0
ANNISTON    40  65  36  67  38 /  20   0   0   0   0
BIRMINGHAM  41  64  41  69  43 /  10   0   0   0   0
TUSCALOOSA  40  65  41  71  43 /  10   0   0   0   0
CALERA      42  66  40  67  42 /  10   0   0   0   0
AUBURN      44  63  39  65  39 /  80   0   0   0   0
MONTGOMERY  44  69  40  70  41 /  60   0   0   0   0
TROY        47  67  39  69  39 /  70   0   0   0   0

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES: 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.

&&

02/02/01

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 28, 12:40 PM CST, 3 hours 13 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1240 PM CST MON FEB 28 2011

ALZ011>015-017>050-011230-
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-
1240 PM CST MON FEB 28 2011

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...INCLUDING
TORNADOES...ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA TODAY. A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS
WILL MOVE FROM WEST TO EAST ACROSS THE STATE AND INTENSIFY DURING
THE AFTERNOON. AREAS WEST OF INTERSTATE 65 AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE
20 WILL BE AFFECTED THROUGH 5 PM...AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 65 FROM 2
PM THROUGH 7 PM. ANOTHER AREA OF STORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS SOUTH OF
INTERSTATE 20 THROUGH 7 PM. CONDITIONS WILL ALSO BE BREEZY
TODAY...WITH A FEW GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH LIKELY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM WILL APPROACH THE AREA SATURDAY. SOME OF THESE
STORMS MAY ALSO BE SEVERE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL LIKELY BE
NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING DUE TO THE THREAT OF SEVERE
STORMS.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Feb 28, 3:15 PM CST, 38 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
315 PM CST MON FEB 28 2011

ALZ020-282130-
CHEROKEE AL-
315 PM CST MON FEB 28 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN CHEROKEE COUNTY UNTIL 330
PM CST...

AT 315 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES EAST OF MOSHAT...OR 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CEDAR
BLUFF...MOVING EAST AT 70 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF EXTREME EASTERN CHEROKEE COUNTY.

&&

LAT...LON 3421 8543 3407 8540 3403 8541 3404 8560
      3420 8559 3422 8544
TIME...MOT...LOC 2115Z 272DEG 59KT 3412 8547

19

Local storm report, Feb 28, 3:23 PM CST, 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
323 PM CST MON FEB 28 2011

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

0245 PM     TSTM WND DMG     FULTONDALE              33.62N 86.80W
02/28/2011                   JEFFERSON          AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES DOWN. WALKERS CHAPEL ROAD AND LACEYS CHAPEL RAOD.

&&

KSUMRALL

Local storm report, Feb 28, 3:29 PM CST, 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
329 PM CST MON FEB 28 2011

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

0205 PM     TSTM WND DMG     10 N GADSDEN            34.15N 86.01W
02/28/2011                   ETOWAH             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN AT DUCK SPRINGS ELEMENTARY.

&&

KSUMRALL

Local storm report, Feb 28, 3:30 PM CST, 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
330 PM CST MON FEB 28 2011

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

0225 PM     TSTM WND DMG     10 N GADSDEN            34.15N 86.01W
02/28/2011                   ETOWAH             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN AT DUCK SPRINGS ELEMENTARY.

&&

KSUMRALL

Local storm report, Feb 28, 3:35 PM CST, 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
335 PM CST MON FEB 28 2011

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

0300 PM     HAIL             E BIRMINGHAM            33.53N 86.80W
02/28/2011  M1.00 INCH       JEFFERSON          AL   NWS EMPLOYEE

            IN AVONDALE AREA.

&&

KSUMRALL

Local storm report, Feb 28, 3:45 PM CST, 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
345 PM CST MON FEB 28 2011

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

0305 PM     HAIL             1 N CHELSEA             33.34N 86.64W
02/28/2011  E1.50 INCH       SHELBY             AL   PUBLIC

            HAIL AS LARGE AS PING PONG BALLS IN BROOK HIGHLAND.

&&

KSUMRALL

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Feb 28, 1:53 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marshall	37 min
Feb 28, 2:11 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee	34 min
Feb 28, 2:19 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa	41 min
Feb 28, 2:21 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee, Etowah	24 min
Feb 28, 2:32 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa	43 min
Feb 28, 2:44 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee	19 min
Feb 28, 2:58 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Barbour, Bullock, Pike	15 min
Feb 28, 2:59 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Shelby	61 min
Feb 28, 3:09 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, St. Clair, Talladega	51 min
Feb 28, 3:15 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee	15 min
Feb 28, 3:39 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Shelby, Talladega	36 min
Feb 28, 4:00 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Coosa, Randolph, Talladega, Tallapoosa	45 min
Feb 28, 4:16 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chilton, Dallas	44 min
Feb 28, 4:22 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Dallas, Perry	38 min
Feb 28, 4:43 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Randolph	17 min
Feb 28, 4:47 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Dallas, Lowndes	43 min
Feb 28, 5:11 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chambers	49 min
Feb 28, 5:15 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Dallas, Lowndes, Montgomery	45 min
Feb 28, 5:29 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chambers	23 min
Feb 28, 5:56 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bullock, Montgomery	49 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.