Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2011

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 377, NWS Birmingham, AL

July 14, 20114 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 14, 2011, 1:18 PM CDT for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 42 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: Jul 14, 2011, 1:18 PM CDT (18:18 UTC)
Expired: Jul 14, 2011, 2:00 PM CDT
In force: 42 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Autauga County, AL, Chilton County, AL, Coosa County, AL, Elmore County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 57 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.

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 nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 6.3 hours before the alert went out and 58 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: 2065 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -35 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 744 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 5 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 11 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 24 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.

271 
WUUS54 KBMX 141818
SVRBMX
ALC001-021-037-051-141900-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0377.110714T1818Z-110714T1900Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
118 PM CDT THU JUL 14 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN AUTAUGA COUNTY IN ALABAMA...
  EAST CENTRAL CHILTON COUNTY IN ALABAMA...
  COOSA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  NORTHWESTERN ELMORE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 200 PM CDT

* AT 117 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 WELONA...OR
  14 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ROCKFORD...AND MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 15 MPH. A 
  SECOND STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR HANOVER AND MOVING SOUTHWEST AS WELL.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WEOKA MILLS...VERBENA...MARBURY...DEATSVILLE...ELMORE...JORDAN
  DAM...COOPER AND SPEIGNER.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 193 THROUGH 205...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

IN ADDITION TO LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS
IMMEDIATELY! LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES LEADING KILLERS. REMEMBER...
IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING.

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3273 8666 3309 8626 3308 8601 3305 8601
      3286 8606 3250 8632
TIME...MOT...LOC 1817Z 036DEG 11KT 3275 8640

$$

1 follow-up statement

630 
WWUS54 KBMX 141837
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
137 PM CDT THU JUL 14 2011

ALC001-021-037-051-141900-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0377.000000T0000Z-110714T1900Z/
CHILTON AL-COOSA AL-ELMORE AL-AUTAUGA AL-
137 PM CDT THU JUL 14 2011

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN
AUTAUGA...NORTHWESTERN ELMORE...COOSA AND EAST CENTRAL CHILTON
COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM CDT...

AT 136 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED TWO 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND 
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THE FIRST STORM WAS LOCATED 
NEAR MARBURY...OR 14 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CLANTON...MOVING SOUTHWEST 
AT 10 MPH. THE SECOND STORM WAS LOCATED 2 MILES SOUTH OF 
HANOVER...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 10 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  VERBENA...MARBURY...DEATSVILLE...ELMORE...JORDAN DAM...COOPER...NEW
  PROSPECT...SPEIGNER...ENTERPRISE AND WETUMPKA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 193 THROUGH 205...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS
IMMEDIATELY! LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURE'S LEADING KILLERS.
REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3273 8666 3309 8626 3303 8602 3286 8606
      3250 8632
TIME...MOT...LOC 1835Z 036DEG 10KT 3274 8641

$$

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 Jul 14, 11:33 AM CDT, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 14, 11:33 AM CDT, 1 hour 45 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1133 AM CDT THU JUL 14 2011

.UPDATE...
FOR MORNING DISCUSSION AND AVIATION.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

GOING TO DO A QUICK UPDATE THIS MORNING...BEFORE THINGS REALLY GET
FIRING THIS AFTERNOON. NOT MUCH OF A CHANGE TO THE CURRENT TRENDS
AS THEY ARE FAIRLY WELL LINED UP. STILL EXPECTING PRETTY GOOD
COVERAGE THIS AFTERNOON AND A COLD FRONT AND SEVERAL OUTFLOW
BOUNDARIES WILL INTERACT THROUGH OUT THE AFTERNOON. CONCERNS FOR
THE AFTERNOON WILL BE MAINLY FOR WIND DAMAGE AND OCCASIONALLY
HEAVY RAIN THAT FALLS QUICKLY OVER ONE AREA. ESPECIALLY WITH PWS
AT 2.17 AT EET AND AN AVERAGE OF 2 TO 2.3 AREAWIDE. TAKING A PEAK
AT SOME MESOSCALE FEATURES THIS AFTERNOON AS WELL AS A MODIFIED
SOUNDING...PUTS A LARGE PORTION OF THE AREA IN A MODERATE TO HIGH
CHANCE FOR MICROBURST WITH THE BEST CHANCES ALONG AND EAST OF A
LINE FROM TUSCALOOSA TO MONTGOMERY. HERE SURFACE BASED CAPES ARE
3000 TO 3500 WITH DOWNDRAFT CAPES OF 700 TO 900 J/KG. LIS ARE -6
TO -8 AREAWIDE...SO LOOK FOR ONCE AGAIN QUITE A LIGHTNING SHOW
WITH ANY STORM THAT GETS GOING. ONE THING TO NOTE TODAY IS THAT IT
IS A TOUCH COOLER ALOFT TODAY AS THE 500 MB TEMPERATURE IS AT -7
DEG C COMPARED TO -4 DEG C ON WEDNESDAY. THIS WOULD HELP THE
DOWNDRAFTS REACH THE GROUND QUICKER IF A CORE WAS TO GET HIGH
ENOUGH. OTHERWISE MOST OF THE ACTIVITY WILL DISSIPATE LATE EVENING
WITH MORE SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED
ON FRIDAY.

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

A SURFACE FRONT WILL SAG SOUTHWARD INTO CENTRAL ALABAMA THIS
AFTERNOON. ADDITIONALLY...NUMEROUS SMALLER SCALE BOUNDARIES REMAIN
FROM THE PREVIOUS DAYS CONVECTION. THESE BOUNDARIES WILL INTERACT
WITH DAYTIME HEATING AND A VERY HIGH MOISTURE CONTENT TO PRODUCE
SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS STORMS BY THIS AFTERNOON. DUE TO THE HIGHER
CONFIDENCE IN OCCURRENCE...ADDED TEMPO GROUPS FOR ALL LOCATIONS
DURING THE MAX HEATING PERIOD OF 21-24Z. A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY
PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAINFALL. MAY SEE SOME VFR/MVFR
CEILINGS AS THE STORMS PROCEED THIS AFTERNOON. WILL AMEND AS
NEEDED.

CLOUDS SHOULD REMAIN FOR MOST OF THE NIGHT...SO FOG WILL BE
LIMITED. MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TOMORROW AND WILL GO AHEAD
AND START AROUND 15Z.

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.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     94  74  90  73  88 /  50  50  60  30  40
ANNISTON    94  74  90  73  89 /  50  50  60  30  40
BIRMINGHAM  95  76  92  76  89 /  50  50  60  30  40
TUSCALOOSA  96  76  94  75  92 /  60  50  60  30  50
CALERA      95  75  92  74  89 /  60  50  60  30  50
AUBURN      95  75  90  74  88 /  60  50  60  40  60
MONTGOMERY  95  77  93  75  90 /  60  50  70  40  60
TROY        95  76  92  74  89 /  70  50  70  40  60

&&

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

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 14, 12:00 PM CDT, 1 hour 18 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1200 PM CDT THU JUL 14 2011

ALZ011>015-017>050-151659-
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-
1200 PM CDT THU JUL 14 2011

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS
AFTERNOON. THE BEST CHANCES FOR ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS
ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH 9 PM. THE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 60 MPH. HEAVY RAINFALL
MAY ALSO RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING.

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

ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE AGAIN ON FRIDAY...
MAINLY BETWEEN 2 PM AND 9 PM. THE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 60 MPH.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS NOT
EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 14, 12:21 PM CDT, 57 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1221 PM CDT THU JUL 14 2011

ALZ035-141800-
CHILTON AL-
1221 PM CDT THU JUL 14 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN CHILTON COUNTY UNTIL 100
PM CDT...

AT 1218 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR CLANTON...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 5 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  POOLES CROSSROADS...
  PLECHER...
  MAPLESVILLE...
  ENTERPRISE...
  ISABELLA...

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 3276 8691 3294 8669 3282 8653 3271 8661
      3271 8671 3266 8671 3266 8676
TIME...MOT...LOC 1721Z 039DEG 3KT 3281 8668

Special weather statement, Jul 14, 12:22 PM CDT, 56 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1222 PM CDT THU JUL 14 2011

ALZ011-013-141800-
FAYETTE AL-MARION AL-
1222 PM CDT THU JUL 14 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MARION AND NORTHERN
FAYETTE COUNTIES UNTIL 100 PM CDT...

AT 1222 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR BRILLIANT...OR 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF WINFIELD...
MOVING SOUTH AT 5 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  WINFIELD...
  GU-WIN...
  GLEN ALLEN...
  TUCKER...
  HUBBERTVILLE...

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.

&&

LAT...LON 3409 8764 3382 8763 3383 8792 3409 8786
TIME...MOT...LOC 1722Z 003DEG 5KT 3399 8775

10/ARM

Special weather statement, Jul 14, 1:04 PM CDT, 14 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
104 PM CDT THU JUL 14 2011

ALZ036-043-141845-
COOSA AL-ELMORE AL-
104 PM CDT THU JUL 14 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN ELMORE AND COOSA
COUNTIES UNTIL 145 PM CDT...

AT 100 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR WELONA...OR 13 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ROCKFORD...MOVING
SOUTHWEST AT 15 MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  WETUMPKA...
  DEATSVILLE...
  ELMORE...
  JORDAN DAM...
  WALLSBORO...

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 3254 8641 3275 8641 3275 8637 3278 8641
      3281 8642 3310 8637 3310 8601 3276 8601
      3275 8598 3277 8597 3277 8596 3252 8595
TIME...MOT...LOC 1804Z 037DEG 14KT 3273 8637

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 14, 12:21 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chilton	39 min
Jul 14, 12:22 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	38 min
Jul 14, 12:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chilton	50 min
Jul 14, 12:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lee, Russell	33 min
Jul 14, 1:04 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Coosa, Elmore	41 min
Jul 14, 1:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chilton	39 min
Jul 14, 1:23 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Bullock	52 min
Jul 14, 1:36 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Winston	39 min
Jul 14, 1:41 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Clay	49 min
Jul 14, 1:50 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Russell	40 min
Jul 14, 1:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Elmore, Montgomery	46 min
Jul 14, 2:04 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Talladega	41 min
Jul 14, 2:09 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pike	51 min
Jul 14, 2:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	St. Clair, Talladega	41 min
Jul 14, 2:26 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Russell	34 min
Jul 14, 2:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Montgomery	39 min
Jul 14, 2:38 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Clay	52 min
Jul 14, 2:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Talladega	15 min
Jul 14, 2:48 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	42 min
Jul 14, 2:50 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lowndes	40 min
Jul 14, 2:59 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tallapoosa	46 min
Jul 14, 3:07 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Montgomery, Pike	68 min
Jul 14, 3:15 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chambers	45 min
Jul 14, 3:28 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lowndes	47 min
Jul 14, 3:36 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Jefferson, Shelby	114 min
Jul 14, 4:02 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Bibb	43 min
Jul 14, 5:35 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marengo	40 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.