Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2011

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 32, NWS Birmingham, AL

February 28, 2011Autauga County, Dallas County, Lowndes County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Feb 28, 2011, 4:47 PM CST for Autauga County, Dallas County, Lowndes County, Alabama. It was in force for 43 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, 4:47 PM CST (22:47 UTC)
Expired: Feb 28, 2011, 5:30 PM CST
In force: 43 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Autauga County, AL, Dallas County, AL, Lowndes County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 112 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:49 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

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 112 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: 652 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -2 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 498 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 60 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 256 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 425 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 1.3
Supercell composite: 5.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

724 
WUUS54 KBMX 282247
SVRBMX
ALC001-047-085-282330-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0032.110228T2247Z-110228T2330Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN AUTAUGA COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  CENTRAL DALLAS COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  NORTHWESTERN LOWNDES COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 530 PM CST

* AT 444 PM CST...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 CENTRAL
  MILLS...OR 14 MILES SOUTHEAST OF UNIONTOWN...AND MOVING EAST AT 50
  MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  SELMA...SELMONT-WEST SELMONT...BOGUE CHITTO...ORRVILLE...FIVE
  POINTS...OLD CAHABA PARK...DALLAS COUNTY HORSE ARENA AND MEMORIAL
  STADIUM.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CST MONDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHERN ALABAMA.

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

LAT...LON 3218 8731 3220 8733 3220 8736 3223 8738
      3225 8743 3231 8743 3238 8742 3245 8668
      3208 8671
TIME...MOT...LOC 2247Z 267DEG 45KT 3229 8732

$$

1 follow-up statement

759 
WWUS54 KBMX 282317
SVSBMX

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

ALC001-047-085-282330-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0032.000000T0000Z-110228T2330Z/
LOWNDES AL-DALLAS AL-AUTAUGA AL-
517 PM CST MON FEB 28 2011

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL
AUTAUGA...EAST CENTRAL DALLAS AND NORTHWESTERN LOWNDES COUNTIES UNTIL
530 PM CST...

AT 517 PM CST...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
TYLER...OR 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SELMONT-WEST SELMONT...MOVING EAST AT
50 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BENTON...GORDONVILLE...WHITE HALL...COLLIRENE AND ROBERT F. HENRY
  LOCK AND DAM.

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 3216 8719 3233 8700 3245 8668 3208 8671
TIME...MOT...LOC 2317Z 267DEG 45KT 3231 8688

$$

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, 1 hour 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 28, 3:45 PM CST, 1 hour 2 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, 4 hours 7 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

Local storm report, Feb 28, 3:35 PM CST, 1 hour 12 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, 1 hour 2 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

Local storm report, Feb 28, 4:23 PM CST, 24 minutes before

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

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

0336 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NE HARPERSVILLE       33.36N 86.41W
02/28/2011                   SHELBY             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREE DOWN AT HIGHWAY 25 AT LOW ROAD AND MYRTLEWOOD DRIVE.

0350 PM     TSTM WND DMG     JACKSONVILLE            33.81N 85.76W
02/28/2011                   CALHOUN            AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POWER POLE DOWN ON GEORGE DOUTHIT DRIVE

0350 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WEAVER                  33.76N 85.81W
02/28/2011                   CALHOUN            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN NEAR CEDAR SPRINGS ROAD.

&&

KSUMRALL

Local storm report, Feb 28, 4:29 PM CST, 18 minutes before

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

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

0350 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ALPINE                  33.36N 86.22W
02/28/2011                   TALLADEGA          AL   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            POWER LINE DOWN BETWEEN ALABAMA HIGHWAY 21 AND BULLOCKS
            FERRY ROAD

&&

KSUMRALL

Local storm report, Feb 28, 4:37 PM CST, 10 minutes before

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

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

0350 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ANNISTON                33.66N 85.81W
02/28/2011                   CALHOUN            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            MULTIPLE POWER LINES DOWN AROUND TOWN.

&&

08

Local storm report, Feb 28, 4:46 PM CST, 1 minute before

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

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

0225 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 WSW TABOR ROAD        34.18N 85.90W
02/28/2011                   ETOWAH             AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREES DOWN AND TIN BLOWN OFF ROOF.

&&

08

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, 3:53 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cleburne	37 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, 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.