Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2011

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 94, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 28, 2011Marion County, Winston County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 28, 2011, 1:32 AM CDT for Marion County, Winston 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: Mar 28, 2011, 1:32 AM CDT (06:32 UTC)
Expired: Mar 28, 2011, 2:15 AM CDT
In force: 43 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Marion County, AL, Winston County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 53 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:32 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, 6.5 hours before the alert went out and 158 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: 652 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 69 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 44 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 105 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

420 
WUUS54 KBMX 280632
SVRBMX
ALC093-133-280715-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0094.110328T0632Z-110328T0715Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
132 AM CDT MON MAR 28 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  MARION COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...
  NORTHWESTERN WINSTON COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 215 AM CDT

* AT 127 AM 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 NEW
  SALEM...OR 8 MILES SOUTH OF FULTON...AND MOVING EAST AT 70 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HAMILTON...HALEYVILLE...WESTON...HACKLEBURG...BRINN...LAKE
  BUTTAHATCHEE...NEEDMORE AND ASHRIDGE.

THIS INCLUDES...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 3 THROUGH 16...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR LARGE
HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3433 8808 3432 8739 3414 8733 3405 8801
      3406 8821 3431 8818 3433 8809
TIME...MOT...LOC 0632Z 258DEG 62KT 3417 8827

$$

27

2 follow-up statements

152 
WWUS54 KBMX 280651
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
151 AM CDT MON MAR 28 2011

ALC093-133-280715-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0094.000000T0000Z-110328T0715Z/
WINSTON AL-MARION AL-
151 AM CDT MON MAR 28 2011

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN
MARION AND NORTHWESTERN WINSTON COUNTIES UNTIL 215 AM CDT...

AT 146 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND
DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
WESTON...OR 5 MILES NORTH OF HAMILTON...MOVING EAST AT 70 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HALEYVILLE...HACKLEBURG...BRINN...LAKE BUTTAHATCHEE...NEEDMORE...
  ASHRIDGE...WINSTON FREE STATE BARN...DOUBLE SPRINGS...HOUSTON
  RECREATIONAL AREA AND PINEY GROVE.

THIS INCLUDES...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 3 THROUGH 16...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS IF YOU ARE IN
THE PATH OF THIS STORM. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3432 8739 3414 8733 3405 8798 3406 8821
      3424 8812 3433 8801
TIME...MOT...LOC 0651Z 258DEG 62KT 3423 8788

$$

27

721 
WWUS54 KBMX 280707
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
207 AM CDT MON MAR 28 2011

ALC093-133-280715-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0094.000000T0000Z-110328T0715Z/
WINSTON AL-MARION AL-
207 AM CDT MON MAR 28 2011

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL MARION
AND NORTHWESTERN WINSTON COUNTIES UNTIL 215 AM CDT...

AT 205 AM 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
NEEDMORE...OR NEAR HALEYVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 70 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  ASHRIDGE...WINSTON FREE STATE BARN...DOUBLE SPRINGS...HOUSTON
  RECREATIONAL AREA...ROCK CREEK AND SIPSEY RIVER REC AREA.

THIS INCLUDES...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 7 THROUGH 16...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS IF YOU ARE IN
THE PATH OF THIS STORM. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3414 8733 3405 8798 3406 8803 3406 8821
      3422 8809 3426 8791 3432 8741 3431 8739
TIME...MOT...LOC 0707Z 258DEG 62KT 3428 8755

$$

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 Mar 28, 12:08 AM CDT, 1 hour 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 28, 12:08 AM CDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1208 AM CDT MON MAR 28 2011

.UPDATE...AVIATION AND PUBLIC FORECAST DISCUSSIONS.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

THE STORMS JUST KEEP COMING...WITH UPDRAFTS ROOTED ABOVE THE
BOUNDARY LAYER.  STILL POTENT.  INCREASED POPS PRETTY MUCH
EVERYWHERE FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT...AND MADE A FEW TEMPERATURE
ADJUSTMENTS AS WELL.

/61/

&&

.AVIATION...06Z TAF DISCUSSION.

THE BULK OF THE ONGOING CONVECTION...AND EXTRAPOLATED TRAJECTORIES
OF UPSTREAM STORMS...SUGGEST THAT TAF LOCATIONS MAY LARGELY DODGE
BULLETS OVERNIGHT WITH STORMS STAYING LARGELY TO THE NORTH. HAVING
SAID THAT...WILL PROBABLY NEED TO ISSUE PERIODIC UPDATES TO TAFS AS
NEW CELLS DEVELOP AND DIE.  THE STORMS ARE ALSO PLAYING HAVOC WITH
CEILINGS. CONDITIONS SEEM TO WANT TO SOCK IN WITH IFR CEILINGS...BUT
STORMS COME THROUGH AND PASS NEAR BY AND BRIEFLY IMPROVE CONDITIONS.

WILL TRY TO HANDLE THE SITUATION AS BEST I CAN...BUT CONFIDENCE
REMAINS MUCH LOWER THAN NORMAL DUE TO WIDELY VARYING CONDITIONS AND
SCATTERED NATURE OF STORMS.

/61/

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.

&&

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

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 27, 8:59 PM CDT, 4 hours 33 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
859 PM CDT SUN MAR 27 2011

ALZ011>015-017>050-281130-
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-
859 PM CDT SUN MAR 27 2011

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT ACROSS ALL
OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. THE THREATS WILL INCLUDE PEA TO QUARTER SIZE
HAIL...GUSTY WINDS...AND BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE AREA TUESDAY NIGHT AND
MAY IMPACT THE AREA THROUGH THURSDAY. THERE ARE STILL SOME TIMING AND
STRENGTH ISSUES TO OVERCOME...BUT MODELS AGREE THAT THERE IS A
CHANCE OF SEVERE WEATHER. AT THIS TIME...HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS
APPEAR TO BE THE THREATS. CONFIDENCE REMAINS LOW AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BE
NECESSARY TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY.

75

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 27, 11:56 PM CDT, 1 hour 36 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1156 PM CDT SUN MAR 27 2011

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

1133 PM     HAIL             FORT MITCHELL           32.34N 85.02W
03/27/2011  E1.50 INCH       RUSSELL            AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

&&

LINHARES

Special weather statement, Mar 27, 11:58 PM CDT, 1 hour 34 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1158 PM CDT SUN MAR 27 2011

ALZ018-026-280545-
ETOWAH AL-ST. CLAIR AL-
1158 PM CDT SUN MAR 27 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR ETOWAH AND NORTHERN ST. CLAIR
COUNTIES UNTIL 1245 AM CDT...

AT 1159 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR ALTOONA...OR 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF ONEONTA...MOVING
EAST AT 55 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  RAINBOW CITY...
  GADSDEN...
  HOKES BLUFF...
  STEELE...
  ATTALLA...

&&

LAT...LON 3413 8584 3413 8579 3411 8579 3397 8574
      3391 8613 3394 8636 3398 8633 3406 8633
      3411 8630 3415 8626 3419 8584
TIME...MOT...LOC 0459Z 265DEG 50KT 3405 8630

75

Special weather statement, Mar 28, 12:31 AM CDT, 1 hour 1 minute before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1231 AM CDT MON MAR 28 2011

ALZ023-031-034-280615-
BIBB AL-GREENE AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-
1231 AM CDT MON MAR 28 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN TUSCALOOSA...NORTHERN
BIBB AND NORTHEASTERN GREENE COUNTIES UNTIL 115 AM CDT...

AT 1232 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR KNOXVILLE...OR 15 MILES NORTHEAST OF EUTAW...MOVING
EAST AT 50 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER IS EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...
ALONG WITH FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  BRYANT DENNY STADIUM...
  MCFARLAND MALL...
  UNIVERSITY MALL...
  DEERLICK CREEK CAMPGROUNDS...
  LAKE WILDWOOD...

&&

LAT...LON 3311 8787 3335 8719 3331 8715 3328 8706
      3325 8706 3325 8702 3317 8702 3316 8697
      3301 8752 3301 8771 3299 8772 3298 8775
      3295 8774 3294 8779
TIME...MOT...LOC 0532Z 249DEG 42KT 3306 8772

75

Special weather statement, Mar 28, 12:50 AM CDT, 42 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1250 AM CDT MON MAR 28 2011

ALZ011>015-280630-
FAYETTE AL-LAMAR AL-MARION AL-WALKER AL-WINSTON AL-
1250 AM CDT MON MAR 28 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MARION...WINSTON...NORTHERN
LAMAR...NORTHERN WALKER AND NORTHERN FAYETTE COUNTIES UNTIL 130 AM
CDT...

AT 1249 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING SEVERAL
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE ADVISORY AREA. THE STORMS WERE MOVING
EAST NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL IS EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN
AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  CARBON HILL...
  LYNN...
  HALEYVILLE...
  ARLEY...
  BRILLIANT...

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 3432 8817 3432 8749 3431 8713 3430 8711
      3390 8710 3380 8824
TIME...MOT...LOC 0549Z 253DEG 47KT 3407 8782

75

Local storm report, Mar 28, 12:59 AM CDT, 33 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1259 AM CDT MON MAR 28 2011

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

1259 AM     HAIL             TUSCALOOSA              33.24N 87.54W
03/28/2011  E0.25 INCH       TUSCALOOSA         AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

LINHARES

Local storm report, Mar 28, 1:31 AM CDT, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
131 AM CDT MON MAR 28 2011

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

1248 AM     HAIL             TUSCALOOSA              33.24N 87.54W
03/28/2011  E0.75 INCH       TUSCALOOSA         AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            PENNY HAIL ON MCFARLAND AND HIGHWAY 216

&&

LINHARES

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 27, 7:03 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Barbour	42 min
Mar 27, 8:32 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Montgomery	43 min
Mar 27, 8:51 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette, Lamar	39 min
Mar 27, 9:05 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Autauga	40 min
Mar 27, 9:34 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Walker, Winston	41 min
Mar 27, 9:43 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Coosa, Elmore, Tallapoosa	47 min
Mar 27, 10:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Elmore, Lee, Macon, Tallapoosa	30 min
Mar 27, 10:30 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Winston	45 min
Mar 27, 10:31 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chambers, Tallapoosa	44 min
Mar 27, 10:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lee, Macon, Russell	39 min
Mar 27, 11:13 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Russell	47 min
Mar 27, 11:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lee, Russell	29 min
Mar 27, 11:28 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Randolph	47 min
Mar 27, 11:30 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Blount	45 min
Mar 27, 11:58 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Etowah	47 min
Mar 28, 12:03 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	42 min
Mar 28, 12:31 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tuscaloosa	44 min
Mar 28, 12:50 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion, Winston	40 min
Mar 28, 12:57 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa	48 min
Mar 28, 1:13 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa	47 min
Mar 28, 1:43 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cleburne	47 min
Mar 28, 1:44 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Shelby	28 min
Mar 28, 1:46 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Blount, Etowah	44 min
Mar 28, 1:50 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega	40 min
Mar 28, 2:10 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	50 min
Mar 28, 2:25 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cleburne	31 min
Mar 28, 2:42 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cleburne	14 min
Mar 28, 2:47 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Clay	43 min
Mar 28, 3:16 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Jefferson, St. Clair	44 min
Mar 28, 3:21 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marshall	39 min
Mar 28, 3:24 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Etowah	51 min
Mar 28, 3:25 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cleburne	20 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.