Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2011

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 412, NWS Birmingham, AL

September 14, 20114 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 14, 2011, 8:29 PM CDT for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 46 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Sep 14, 2011, 8:29 PM CDT (01:29 UTC)
Expired: Sep 14, 2011, 9:15 PM CDT
In force: 46 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Fayette County, AL, Jefferson County, AL, Tuscaloosa County, AL, Walker County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 66 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:30 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Sep 14, 8:45 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Cordova, AL	TREE AND POWER LINES DOWN IN CORDOVA.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 16 minutes after it went out.

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, 1.5 hours before the alert went out and 65 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: 2073 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 22 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 82 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.

221 
WUUS54 KBMX 150129
SVRBMX
ALC057-073-125-127-150215-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0412.110915T0129Z-110915T0215Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
829 PM CDT WED SEP 14 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  EAST CENTRAL FAYETTE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  WESTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN ALABAMA...
  NORTH CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  SOUTHERN WALKER COUNTY IN ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 915 PM CDT

* AT 829 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 BOLEY
  SPRINGS...OR 18 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CORDOVA...AND MOVING EAST AT 20
  MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CORDOVA...DORA...SUMITON...HUEYTOWN...OAKMAN...BANKHEAD LOCK AND
  DAM...BULL CITY AND PARRISH.

THIS INCLUDES...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 65 THROUGH 85...
INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBER 110...

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 3381 8697 3337 8697 3345 8756 3380 8749
TIME...MOT...LOC 0129Z 264DEG 17KT 3363 8743

$$

16

2 follow-up statements

357 
WWUS54 KBMX 150144
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
844 PM CDT WED SEP 14 2011

ALC057-150154-
/O.CAN.KBMX.SV.W.0412.000000T0000Z-110915T0215Z/
FAYETTE AL-
844 PM CDT WED SEP 14 2011

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL FAYETTE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED 
AREA.

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

LAT...LON 3337 8697 3344 8749 3360 8744 3361 8742
      3363 8743 3378 8738 3381 8697
TIME...MOT...LOC 0144Z 264DEG 17KT 3363 8735

$$

ALC073-125-127-150215-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0412.000000T0000Z-110915T0215Z/
JEFFERSON AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-WALKER AL-
844 PM CDT WED SEP 14 2011

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEASTERN
WALKER...NORTH CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA AND WESTERN JEFFERSON COUNTIES
UNTIL 915 PM CDT...

AT 842 PM CDT...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 6 MILES
SOUTH OF OAKMAN...OR 13 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CORDOVA...MOVING EAST AT
20 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CORDOVA...DORA...SUMITON...HUEYTOWN...BULL CITY...PARRISH...
  GORGAS...GORGAS STEAM PLANT...OAK GROVE AND WEST JEFFERSON.

THIS INCLUDES...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 70 THROUGH 85...
INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBER 110...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES PER
HOUR...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR
YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR
HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE
INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3337 8697 3344 8749 3360 8744 3361 8742
      3363 8743 3378 8738 3381 8697
TIME...MOT...LOC 0144Z 264DEG 17KT 3363 8735

$$

16

681 
WWUS54 KBMX 150203
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
903 PM CDT WED SEP 14 2011

ALC073-125-127-150215-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0412.000000T0000Z-110915T0215Z/
JEFFERSON AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-WALKER AL-
903 PM CDT WED SEP 14 2011

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL
WALKER...NORTHEASTERN TUSCALOOSA AND WEST CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTIES
UNTIL 915 PM CDT...

AT 902 PM CDT...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
BANKHEAD LOCK AND DAM...OR 17 MILES NORTHEAST OF HOLT...MOVING EAST 
AT 20 MPH. THIS SOUTHERN STORM IS THE MAIN AREA OF CONCERN...HOWEVER 
STRONG WINDS ARE STILL POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT THE WARNED AREAS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HUEYTOWN...BULL CITY...OAK GROVE...SYLVAN SPRINGS...MAYTOWN...
  ALABAMA ADVENTURE...WEST JEFFERSON...MULGA...LITTLE SHOAL AND
  BIRMINGHAMPORT.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBER 110...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES PER
HOUR...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR
YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR
HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE
INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3337 8697 3343 8741 3351 8740 3359 8733
      3363 8727 3366 8716 3365 8697
TIME...MOT...LOC 0202Z 268DEG 17KT 3347 8735

$$

16

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 Sep 14, 6:40 PM CDT, 1 hour 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 14, 6:40 PM CDT, 1 hour 49 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
640 PM CDT WED SEP 14 2011

.UPDATE...
FOR AVIATION.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

A COLD FRONT CONTINUES TO APPROACH CENTRAL ALABAMA THIS AFTERNOON.
ALTHOUGH A GOOD AMOUNT OF PRECIPITATION HAS DEVELOPED ACROSS
WESTERN MISSISSIPPI...IT HAS STRUGGLED TO MOVE MUCH FARTHER EAST.
HOWEVER...AS WE APPROACH PEAK HEATING...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE
BEGINNING TO DEVELOP ACROSS NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI. EXPECT FOR THAT
ACTIVITY TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE AS WE HEAD INTO THE EVENING
HOURS.

FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS THE AREA ON THURSDAY. WE COULD
STILL SEE A FEW LINGERING SHOWERS OR STORMS AHEAD OF THE
FRONT...ESPECIALLY IF THE FRONT IS STILL IN THE AREA AS WE REACH
PEAK TIME HEATING. DRIER AIR WILL BEGIN TO MOVE IN THURSDAY
EVENING.

CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN DRY THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND POSSIBLY
THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK AS A WEDGE BRINGS IN ADDITIONAL DRIER AIR
IN THE LOW LEVELS. RAIN COULD RETURN TO THE AREA TOWARDS THE
LATTER HALF OF NEXT WEEK.

TEMPERATURE WISE...WE WILL BE HEADING INTO A BIT OF A COOL DOWN FOR
THIS WEEKEND ONCE THE COOLER AIR IS IN PLACE. TEMPERATURES COULD
REMAIN IN THE COOL SIDE THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK ESPECIALLY IF THE
WEDGE DOES IN FACT MOVE IN.

10/ARM

&&

.AVIATION...
00Z TAF DISCUSSION.

A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS FROM
WEST TO EAST. TRYING TO FIND A MODEL THAT HAS THE BEST HANDLE ON
THINGS RIGHT NOW WAS A LITTLE DIFFICULT. IT APPEARS THAT THE 15Z RUN
OF THE SREF PLACED THINGS PRETTY CLOSE AS TO THE ONGOING CONDITIONS
AND EXPECTED CONDITIONS APPEAR REASONABLE FOR THE NEXT 6 TO 12
HOURS.

EXPECT SCT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE INTO WESTERN CENTRAL
ALABAMA WITHIN THE NEXT 3 HOURS...AND SPREAD ACROSS THE AREA
OVERNIGHT. A WIND SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED BEGINNING AT
THE NORTHWESTERN TERMINALS THURSDAY MORNING AS THE FRONT MOVES
THROUGH THE AREA. A PERIOD OF MVFR CEILINGS AND MAYBE EVEN BRIEF IFR
CEILINGS AND LIGHT RAIN WILL LINGER BEHIND THE FRONT. CLOUDS WILL
LIKELY HANG AROUND LONGER THAN MODELS ARE ADVERTISING SO MADE SOME
ADJUSTMENTS BACK AS WELL.

16

&&

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

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 14, 4:40 PM CDT, 3 hours 49 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
440 PM CDT WED SEP 14 2011

ALZ011>015-017>050-152143-
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-
440 PM CDT WED SEP 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.

ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR AREAS WEST OF
INTERSTATE 65 AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 20 59 THROUGH 10 PM.  THE
MAIN THREAT WITH THESE STORMS WILL BE STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL.

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

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

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

27

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 14, 7:35 PM CDT, 54 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
735 PM CDT WED SEP 14 2011

ALZ011-150115-
MARION AL-
735 PM CDT WED SEP 14 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MARION COUNTY UNTIL
815 PM CDT...

AT 731 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR BRILLIANT...OR NEAR WINFIELD...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT
25 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND 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...
MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF SOUTHEASTERN MARION COUNTY.

&&

LAT...LON 3405 8764 3391 8764 3392 8785 3395 8790
      3411 8780
TIME...MOT...LOC 0035Z 298DEG 20KT 3398 8776

27

Local storm report, Sep 14, 7:36 PM CDT, 53 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
736 PM CDT WED SEP 14 2011

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

0647 PM     TSTM WND DMG     7 NE HAMILTON           34.21N 87.90W
09/14/2011                   MARION             AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREE DOWN ON A POWER LINE AS WELL AS LARGE TREE LIMBS
            REPORTED DOWN.

&&

GGOGGINS

Special weather statement, Sep 14, 7:42 PM CDT, 47 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
742 PM CDT WED SEP 14 2011

ALZ014-015-150130-
WALKER AL-WINSTON AL-
742 PM CDT WED SEP 14 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN WINSTON AND
NORTHEASTERN WALKER COUNTIES UNTIL 830 PM CDT...

AT 739 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR CURRY...OR 7 MILES NORTH OF JASPER...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND 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...
  JASPER...
  CORDOVA...
  DORA...
  SUMITON...
  LAKE SHORE...

&&

LAT...LON 3405 8710 3399 8710 3397 8713 3392 8708
      3390 8708 3390 8701 3386 8698 3386 8696
      3380 8696 3379 8697 3377 8703 3369 8704
      3366 8706 3389 8744 3411 8729
TIME...MOT...LOC 0043Z 297DEG 30KT 3394 8726

27

Local storm report, Sep 14, 7:45 PM CDT, 44 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
745 PM CDT WED SEP 14 2011

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

0652 PM     TSTM WND DMG     7 NE HAMILTON           34.21N 87.90W
09/14/2011                   MARION             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SEVERAL TREES REPORTED DOWN IN THE SHILOH
            COMMUNITY...ALONG HIGHWAY 20.

&&

GGOGGINS

Local storm report, Sep 14, 8:20 PM CDT, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
820 PM CDT WED SEP 14 2011

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

0718 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 E NATURAL BRIDGE      34.09N 87.56W
09/14/2011                   WINSTON            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN BLOCKING ONE LANE OF U.S. HIGHWAY 278.

&&

GGOGGINS

Local storm report, Sep 14, 8:21 PM CDT, 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
821 PM CDT WED SEP 14 2011

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

0710 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HALEYVILLE              34.24N 87.62W
09/14/2011                   WINSTON            AL   911 CALL CENTER

            SEVERAL TREES REPORTED DOWN AROUND THE CITY OF
            HALEYVILLE. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

&&

GGOGGINS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Sep 14, 7:02 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Winston	43 min
Sep 14, 7:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker, Winston	35 min
Sep 14, 7:16 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette	44 min
Sep 14, 7:21 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Walker	39 min
Sep 14, 7:35 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	40 min
Sep 14, 7:42 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Walker	48 min
Sep 14, 7:49 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Marion, Walker	41 min
Sep 14, 8:42 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Jefferson, Shelby	33 min
Sep 14, 9:17 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby	43 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.