Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2011

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 394, NWS Birmingham, AL

August 10, 2011Greene County, Pickens County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 10, 2011, 2:10 PM CDT for Greene County, Pickens County, Alabama. It was in force for 50 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
Aug 10, 2011, 2:10 PM CDT (19:10 UTC)
Expired
Aug 10, 2011, 3:00 PM CDT
In force
50 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Greene County, AL, Pickens County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 106 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:10 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, 7.2 hours before the alert went out and 111 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 2011-08-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 386 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2011-08-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 21 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
386 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-103 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
912 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
21 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
77 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

630 
WUUS54 KBMX 101910
SVRBMX
ALC063-107-102000-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0394.110810T1910Z-110810T2000Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
210 PM CDT WED AUG 10 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN GREENE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA
  SOUTH CENTRAL PICKENS COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA

* UNTIL 300 PM CDT

* AT 209 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZED HAIL...AND
  DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
  ALICEVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  UNION.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED...AND THEN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6.

&&

LAT...LON 3317 8820 3308 8783 3303 8783 3303 8771
      3300 8771 3298 8775 3294 8774 3290 8778
      3289 8782 3284 8783 3296 8816 3299 8817
      3299 8823 3300 8828
TIME...MOT...LOC 1910Z 290DEG 22KT 3306 8814

$$
2 follow-up statements
275 
WWUS54 KBMX 101940
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
240 PM CDT WED AUG 10 2011

ALC107-101949-
/O.CAN.KBMX.SV.W.0394.000000T0000Z-110810T2000Z/
PICKENS AL-
240 PM CDT WED AUG 10 2011

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL PICKENS COUNTY
IS CANCELLED...

THE THUNDERSTORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE 
COUNTY.

LAT...LON 3305 8814 3305 8809 3306 8807 3305 8804
      3307 8803 3311 8795 3308 8783 3303 8783
      3303 8771 3300 8771 3298 8775 3294 8774
      3289 8782 3284 8783 3296 8816 3299 8817
      3302 8817
TIME...MOT...LOC 1939Z 288DEG 21KT 3301 8795

$$

ALC063-102000-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0394.000000T0000Z-110810T2000Z/
GREENE AL-
240 PM CDT WED AUG 10 2011

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT
FOR NORTHERN GREENE COUNTY...

AT 236 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZED
HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
UNION...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS
OF THE INDICATED COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL AFTER THE STORM HAS PASSED...AND THEN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6.

&&

LAT...LON 3305 8814 3305 8809 3306 8807 3305 8804
      3307 8803 3311 8795 3308 8783 3303 8783
      3303 8771 3300 8771 3298 8775 3294 8774
      3289 8782 3284 8783 3296 8816 3299 8817
      3302 8817
TIME...MOT...LOC 1939Z 288DEG 21KT 3301 8795

$$
837 
WWUS54 KBMX 101955
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
255 PM CDT WED AUG 10 2011

ALC063-102004-
/O.EXP.KBMX.SV.W.0394.000000T0000Z-110810T2000Z/
GREENE AL-
255 PM CDT WED AUG 10 2011

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHERN GREENE COUNTY EXPIRES
AT 300 PM CDT...

AT 250 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS REPORTED CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING QUARTER SIZED HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 60 MPH. THIS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR UNION...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS
OF THE INDICATED COUNTY.

IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL AFTER THE STORM HAS PASSED...AND THEN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6.

LAT...LON 3305 8814 3305 8809 3306 8807 3305 8804
      3307 8803 3311 8795 3308 8783 3303 8783
      3303 8771 3300 8771 3298 8775 3294 8774
      3289 8782 3284 8783 3296 8816 3299 8817
      3302 8817
TIME...MOT...LOC 1954Z 288DEG 21KT 3298 8785

$$

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 Aug 10, 12:45 PM CDT, 1 hour 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 10, 12:45 PM CDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1245 PM CDT WED AUG 10 2011

.UPDATE...
ALTHOUGH MCS OVER MEMPHIS AREA IS WEAKENING...ONLY RECENT MODEL
RUNS HAVE BEGUN TO PICK UP THIS FEATURE WHICH IS MOVING FASTER
THAN PREV MODELS INDICATED. 12Z NAM AND 11-13Z HRRR RUNS INDICATE
COULD SEE REDEVELOPMENT OF SCT TSRA THIS AFTERNOON OVER WRN
ZONES...LIKELY DUE TO ENHANCED FLOW AND LOW LEVEL FORCING DUE TO
MCV. NEW MET GUIDANCE ALSO HAS SLT CHC TO CHC POPS WHICH IS QUITE
A BIT HIGHER THAN PREVIOUS RUNS. ON SAT IMAGERY...LOW AND MID
CLOUDS ALREADY DEVELOPING LATE THIS MORNING SO MOISTURE HAS
RECOVERED SOME FROM FAIRLY DRY SOUNDING AT 12Z. HAVE BUMPED UP
POPS FOR WESTERN 2/3RDS OF CWA TODAY.

LIKEWISE...COULD SEE SOME SVR STORMS MOVE IN A LITTLE SOONER THAN
PREVIOUSLY EXPECTED ASSUMING THEY DEVELOP. WILL TWEAK HWO TO ADD
SVR POSS BEGINNING LATE THIS AFTERNOON FOR WESTERN AREAS AFTER
LOOKING AT 16Z SPC DAY1 OUTLOOK.

REST OF FCST LOOKS GOOD.

SNELSON

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF DISCUSSION.
REMNANTS OF MCS MOVING ACROSS THE MID SOUTH WILL PUSH INTO ALABAMA
LATE THIS AFTERNOON. HAVE INCLUDED CB IN THE TAFS BEGINNING 22Z WEST
THROUGH 00Z EAST/SOUTHEAST. ANY CONVECTION SHOULD DISSIPATE
OVERNIGHT. EXPECT MVFR FOG TO DEVELOP AT MOST SITES WITH CALM WINDS.
MODELS INDICATE ANOTHER MCS MOVING ACROSS THE AREA EARLY THURSDAY...
SO HAVE MADE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS AND STARTED CB AT 12Z TO ACCOUNT FOR
THIS. TIMING STILL UNCERTAIN AS WELL AS POTENTIAL STRENGTH SO NO
ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO THURSDAY TAF AT THIS TIME. WESTERLY WINDS
EXPECTED BUT SOME HINTS AT NORTHEASTERLY WINDS THURSDAY WITH THE MCS
PASSING THROUGH.

TDP

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     93  69  92  68  93 /  10  20  30  20  30
ANNISTON    93  72  94  68  94 /  10  20  30  20  30
BIRMINGHAM  94  75  94  73  94 /  20  30  30  20  30
TUSCALOOSA  96  73  95  70  96 /  20  30  30  20  30
CALERA      94  73  92  70  94 /  20  20  30  20  30
AUBURN      93  74  95  72  95 /  10  20  30  20  30
MONTGOMERY  95  75  97  72  97 /  10  10  30  20  30
TROY        95  72  96  70  97 /  10  10  30  20  30

&&

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

&&
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 10, 11:45 AM CDT, 2 hours 25 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1145 AM CDT WED AUG 10 2011

ALZ011>015-017>050-111045-
MARION-LAMAR-FAYETTE-WINSTON-WALKER-BLOUNT-ETOWAH-CALHOUN-
CHEROKEE-CLEBURNE-PICKENS-TUSCALOOSA-JEFFERSON-SHELBY-ST. CLAIR-
TALLADEGA-CLAY-RANDOLPH-SUMTER-GREENE-HALE-PERRY-BIBB-CHILTON-
COOSA-TALLAPOOSA-CHAMBERS-MARENGO-DALLAS-AUTAUGA-LOWNDES-ELMORE-
MONTGOMERY-MACON-BULLOCK-LEE-RUSSELL-PIKE-BARBOUR-
1145 AM CDT WED AUG 10 2011

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA
THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...MAINLY LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS
EVENING AS THE REMNANTS OF STORMS OVER THE MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY
MOVE INTO THE AREA. IMPACTED AREAS INCLUDE PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA ALONG AND WEST OF A MONTGOMERY TO ANNISTON LINE. THE MAIN
THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY CONTINUE INTO THE REST OF CENTRAL ALABAMA
DURING THE DAY THURSDAY. THE HAZARDOUS THREATS INCLUDE DAMAGING
STRAIGHT LINE WIND GUSTS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAIN. THERE
ARE STILL SOME TIMING DIFFERENCES AND THE EXACT TIMING WILL BE
DETERMINED BY UPSTREAM CONVECTION.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BE
NEEDED ACROSS THE AREA OVERNIGHT AND INTO THURSDAY.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 10, 1:49 PM CDT, 21 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
149 PM CDT WED AUG 10 2011

ALZ022-101930-
149 PM CDT WED AUG 10 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS
TO 40 MPH IN PICKENS COUNTY UNTIL 230 PM CDT...

AT 146 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF PICKENSVILLE TO 10
MILES SOUTH OF MEMPHIS...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

LIGHTNING DETECTION SYSTEMS INDICATE NUMEROUS CLOUD-TO-GROUND
LIGHTNING STRIKES ACROSS PICKENS COUNTY...INCLUDING AREAS AROUND
PICKENSVILLE...MEMPHIS...MCMULLEN...ALICEVILLE AND CARROLLTON.
RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA SHOULD STAY INDOORS. IN ADDITION WIND GUSTS
TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE AS THE STORM MOVES ACROSS THE COUNTY.
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND TELEPHONES SHOULD NOT BE USED UNLESS IN AN
EMERGENCY.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 10, 3:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Hale, Perry50 min
Aug 10, 3:17 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXHale43 min
Aug 10, 3:33 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXBibb42 min
Aug 10, 3:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPerry48 min
Aug 10, 3:52 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXLowndes38 min
Aug 10, 4:08 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXLamar57 min
Aug 10, 4:12 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXDallas48 min
Aug 10, 4:18 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXAutauga42 min
Aug 10, 4:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDallas52 min
Aug 10, 4:34 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXLamar, Pickens41 min
Aug 10, 4:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPickens50 min
Aug 10, 5:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Pickens, Sumter43 min
Aug 10, 5:21 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXMontgomery39 min
Aug 10, 5:43 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXGreene47 min
Aug 10, 6:20 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXSumter40 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2011Every 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.