Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2011

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 401, NWS Birmingham, AL

August 11, 2011Marion County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 11, 2011, 7:01 PM CDT for Marion County, Alabama. It was in force for 44 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 11, 2011, 7:01 PM CDT (00:01 UTC)
Expired: Aug 11, 2011, 7:45 PM CDT
In force: 44 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

County Marion County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 52 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:03 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 00:00Z, 0.0 hours before the alert went out and 140 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: 347 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -32 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1453 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -17 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 52 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.

752 
WUUS54 KBMX 120001
SVRBMX
ALC093-120045-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0401.110812T0001Z-110812T0045Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
701 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN MARION COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 745 PM CDT

* AT 701 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60
  MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR BRINN...OR 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF
  HAMILTON...AND MOVING SOUTH AT 20 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WINFIELD...BRINN...LAKE BUTTAHATCHEE...BRILLIANT...GUIN...GU-WIN...
  PEARCES MILL AND PEA RIDGE.

THIS INCLUDES...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 22 THROUGH 34...

WINDS OF 60 TO 70 MPH WILL BREAK LARGE TREE LIMBS AND CAUSE SOME
DAMAGE...ESPECIALLY TO SMALLER STRUCTURES.

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 3428 8772 3392 8764 3392 8793 3392 8795
      3428 8796
TIME...MOT...LOC 0001Z 345DEG 19KT 3420 8782

$$

73

1 follow-up statement

986 
WWUS54 KBMX 120018
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
718 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2011

ALC093-120045-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0401.000000T0000Z-110812T0045Z/
MARION AL-
718 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2011

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN MARION
COUNTY UNTIL 745 PM CDT...

AT 717 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF
60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR BRINN...OR 11 MILES EAST OF
HAMILTON...MOVING SOUTH AT 20 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WINFIELD...LAKE BUTTAHATCHEE...BRILLIANT...GUIN...GU-WIN...PEA
  RIDGE...PINEY GROVE...PIKEVILLE AND TUCKER.

THIS INCLUDES...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 22 THROUGH 34...

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

LAT...LON 3425 8772 3392 8764 3392 8795 3424 8796
TIME...MOT...LOC 0018Z 345DEG 19KT 3411 8779

$$

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 Aug 11, 6:28 PM CDT, 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 11, 6:28 PM CDT, 33 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
628 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2011

.UPDATE...
FOR 00Z AVIATION.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

REMNANTS OF DECAYED OVERNIGHT MCS ARE NOW IN GA. LESSOR SYSTEM
WENT INTO W MS. BETTER CONVECTIVE SYSTEM TODAY OVER N TX/OK/INTO
AR. HOWEVER...THIS SYSTEM SHOULD REMAIN WELL WEST OF C AL WITH THE
CURRENT UPPER STEERING FLOW THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT AFFECTING
POSSIBLY PORTIONS OF LA/MS. ANY ADDITIONAL CONVECTION TODAY SHOULD
NOT BE VERY STRONG AS ATMOSPHERE WAS PRETTY WORKED OVER EARLY ON
WITH SEVERE PARAMETERS GREATLY AFFECTED...ALONG WITH SIGNIFICANT
OUTFLOW BOUNDARY THAT TRAVERSED THE SOUTHEAST THIRD OF THE AREA
AND HAS MOVED AWAY FROM THE CWA. FRIDAY SHOULD GO BACK TO MORE OF
A ROUTINE SUMMER DAY WITH LOW DIURNALLY DRIVEN POPS MAINLY WITH
THE HEAT OF THE DAY. THIS MEANS WARMER TEMPERATURES FOR FRIDAY.

ON SATURDAY...POSSIBLY ONE MORE VERY WARM DAY. HOWEVER...SOME
UNCERTAINTY IS IN THIS TEMPERATURE FORECAST AS IT IS HIGHLY
DEPENDENT ON THE TIMING OF THE PRE-FRONTAL TROUGH COMING IN ON
SATURDAY. IF IT COMES IN EARLIER THAN EXPECTED THAN OUR
OPPORTUNITY FOR HEATING WILL BE LOST AND SO WILL SOME OF OUR
SEVERE CHANCES. A FEW STRONG STORMS ARE A POSSIBILITY FOR THE
EXPECTED AFTERNOON ACTIVITY. AS THE UPPER LOW MOVES ACROSS THE
UPPER MIDWEST INTO THE GREAT LAKES LATE SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY...
THIS WILL YIELD A MORE PROGRESSIVE UPPER FLOW TO AIDE IN USHERING
THE SURFACE FRONT THROUGH CENTRAL ALABAMA. BY NO MEANS IS THIS
FRONT EXPECTED TO BRING COLD TEMPERATURES...BUT NOT AS HUMID AND
SOMEWHAT MILDER AIR WILL STILL BE A WELCOME CHANGE TO THE
CONDITIONS OF LATE. THE RESULTING SURFACE RIDGE THAT DEVELOPS
LOOKS TO KEEP US RAIN FREE FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE WEEK...WITH
EARLY MONDAY THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY CONDITIONS ALMOST KINDA NICE.

08/MNK

&&

.AVIATION...
00Z TAF DISCUSSION.

CURRENTLY WATCHING SCATTERED STORMS DEVELOP ACROSS PORTIONS OF
CENTRAL ALABAMA. ONLY ANTICIPATE THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT TOI THROUGH
01Z. OTHERWISE...VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR THE FIRST PORTIONS OF
THE EVENING HOURS. LOOK FOR MVFR VIS TO DEVELOP FOR MOST SITES BY
MIDNIGHT LASTING THROUGH 13Z. BIG QUESTION WILL BE BOUNDARY LAYER
WINDS AND HOW MUCH FOG WILL ACTUALLY DEVELOP. DURING THE AFTERNOON
HOURS TOMORROW...DAYTIME HEATING MAY ALLOW SOME ISOLATED AFTERNOON
THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP. UNCERTAINTY REMAINS HIGH AS TO WHO WILL BE
AFFECTED AND WHEN...SO WENT AHEAD AND PUT IN CB FOR ALL SITES.

73/27

&&

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

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 11, 5:35 PM CDT, 1 hour 26 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
535 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2011

ALZ011>015-017>050-121130-
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-
535 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2011

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH 9 PM THIS
EVENING FOR AREAS ALONG AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 65 AND NORTH OF
INTERSTATE 20/59. MAIN THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS
AND LARGE HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
THE THREAT WILL BE WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 60 MPH. AT THIS TIME...IT
APPEARS THE STRONGEST ACTIVITY WILL BE DURING THE MAXIMUM HEATING OF
THE AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY EVENING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BE NEEDED
OVER THE WEEKEND.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 11, 1:06 PM CDT, 5 hours 55 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
106 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2011

ALZ021-029-111845-
CLEBURNE AL-RANDOLPH AL-
106 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR RANDOLPH AND SOUTHEASTERN
CLEBURNE COUNTIES UNTIL 145 PM CDT...

AT 106 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR FOSTERS CROSS ROADS...OR 12 MILES SOUTH OF
HEFLIN...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

WIND GUSTS 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH
FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  WEDOWEE...
  MORRISON CROSS ROADS...
  CRYSTAL LAKE...
  RANBURNE...
  TENNANT...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3315 8565 3330 8565 3331 8564 3332 8565
      3349 8564 3350 8568 3356 8568 3359 8532
      3320 8525
TIME...MOT...LOC 1806Z 268DEG 18KT 3347 8556

JT

Special weather statement, Aug 11, 1:18 PM CDT, 5 hours 43 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
118 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2011

ALZ045-047-048-111900-
LEE AL-MACON AL-RUSSELL AL-
118 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN RUSSELL...
NORTHEASTERN MACON AND SOUTHWESTERN LEE COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM CDT...

AT 118 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR NOTASULGA...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

WIND GUSTS 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH
FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  TUSKEGEE...
  LAKE TUSKEGEE...
  TUSKEGEE NATIONAL FOREST...
  SOCIETY HILL...
  UPHAPEE CREEK...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3228 8542 3248 8583 3249 8582 3250 8580
      3253 8580 3259 8577 3258 8571 3260 8571
      3260 8570 3263 8569 3250 8529
TIME...MOT...LOC 1818Z 306DEG 15KT 3252 8567

JT

Special weather statement, Aug 11, 5:55 PM CDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
555 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2011

ALZ037-043-112345-
ELMORE AL-TALLAPOOSA AL-
555 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN TALLAPOOSA AND
NORTHEASTERN ELMORE COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM CDT...

AT 553 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR MARTIN LAKE AT KOWALIGA...OR 7 MILES EAST OF
EQUALITY...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

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...
  MARTIN LAKE AT KOWALIGA...
  MARTIN DAM...
  STILL WATERS RESORT...
  TALLAPOOSA CITY...
  MAXWELL GUNTER RECREATION AREA...

&&

LAT...LON 3260 8570 3258 8571 3258 8579 3251 8580
      3249 8582 3249 8584 3275 8607 3276 8601
      3280 8600 3282 8602 3288 8601 3289 8600
      3270 8569
TIME...MOT...LOC 2255Z 311DEG 21KT 3277 8598

27

Special weather statement, Aug 11, 6:12 PM CDT, 49 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
612 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2011

ALZ011-014-120000-
MARION AL-WINSTON AL-
612 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN WINSTON AND MARION
COUNTIES UNTIL 700 PM CDT...

AT 612 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES EAST OF MOULTON TO
10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF RUSSELLVILLE TO 7 MILES EAST OF RED BAY...AND
MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS...ALONG WITH FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  HALEYVILLE...
  HAMILTON...
  BRUSHY LAKE...
  HACKLEBURG...
  NEEDMORE...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3430 8710 3420 8710 3410 8747 3406 8821
      3426 8819 3433 8817
TIME...MOT...LOC 2312Z 327DEG 11KT 3445 8716 3438 8760
          3441 8801

JT

Special weather statement, Aug 11, 6:45 PM CDT, 16 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
645 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2011

ALZ046-049-120030-
BULLOCK AL-PIKE AL-
645 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN PIKE AND SOUTHWESTERN
BULLOCK COUNTIES UNTIL 730 PM CDT...

AT 644 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES WEST OF BEANS CROSSROADS...OR 14 MILES EAST OF
MEADVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH
FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  TROY...
  BEANS CROSSROADS...
  LINWOOD...
  TROY UNIVERSITY...
  BANKS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3168 8591 3196 8606 3197 8600 3206 8600
      3212 8589 3187 8566 3186 8567 3181 8567
TIME...MOT...LOC 2342Z 328DEG 12KT 3199 8592

73

Local storm report, Aug 11, 6:57 PM CDT, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
657 PM CDT THU AUG 11 2011

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

0650 PM     TSTM WND GST     CHINA GROVE             32.03N 85.94W
08/11/2011  M58 MPH          PIKE               AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            NO KNOWN DAMAGE AT THIS TIME.

&&

10.5

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 11, 7:07 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pike	38 min
Aug 11, 7:13 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Walker	47 min
Aug 11, 7:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Jefferson, Walker, Winston	45 min
Aug 11, 7:46 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	44 min
Aug 11, 8:44 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette	46 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.