Alert archive / Alabama / Special Weather Statements in 2011

Special Weather Statement, NWS Birmingham, AL

July 3, 2011Pickens County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this special weather statement at Jul 3, 2011, 9:32 PM CDT for Pickens 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: Jul 3, 2011, 9:32 PM CDT (02:32 UTC)
Expired: Jul 3, 2011, 10:15 PM CDT
In force: 43 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL

County Pickens County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 77 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:33 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 2.5 hours before the alert went out and 125 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: 3800 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -7 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1287 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 4 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 42 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.

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What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this special weather statement 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 special weather statement went out at Jul 3, 6:29 PM CDT, 3 hours 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 3, 6:29 PM CDT, 3 hours 3 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
629 PM CDT SUN JUL 3 2011

.UPDATE...

FOR AVIATION.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

A TYPICAL SUMMER PATTERN WILL BE ON TAP FOR CENTRAL ALABAMA OVER
THE NEXT 7 DAYS. NOW THAT A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY HAS MOVED NORTH
OF THE FORECAST AREA...EXPECT SCATTERED AFTERNOON AND EVENING
STORMS THROUGH THE ENTIRE FORECAST PERIOD. IN ADDITION...THE
INCREASE IN MOISTURE WILL HELP REGULATE TEMPERATURES KEEPING THEM
FROM REACHING NEAR TRIPLE DIGITS. NEVER THE LESS...HEAT INDEX
VALUES WILL STILL BE NEAR 100 WHEN FACTORING IN THE SURGE OF
MOISTURE.

MODELS HAVE BACKED AWAY FROM MOVING A FRONT ACROSS EARLY NEXT
WEEK. IN FACT...YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE ONLY ONE
SHOWING THAT SOLUTION. THIS TIME OF THE YEAR...FRONTS LACK THE
UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT THAT HELPS THEM REACH THE GULF OF MEXICO. WE
COULD STILL SEE ANOTHER FRONT TRY TO COME IN TOWARDS THE END OF
THE WEEK...BUT JUST LIKE THE PREVIOUS FRONT...IT COULD SUFFER THE
SAME FATE AND NOT REACH THE AREA.

SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR CENTRAL ALABAMA? THE COMBINATION OF LOW
LEVEL MOISTURE AND LESS OF AN INFLUENCE BY THE UPPER LEVEL
RIDGE...WILL PRODUCE PLENTY OF THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY EACH AFTERNOON.
MOST OF THE STORMS BEING TRIGGERED BY PEAK HEATING...THEN INCREASE
IN NUMBERS BY COLLIDING OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES.

FORECAST WISE...THE NAM CONTINUES TO PERFORM THE BEST OUT OF THE
ALL THE GUIDANCE AND SEE NO REASON TO DEVIATE MUCH FROM IT.

10/ARM

&&

.AVIATION...
00Z TAF DISCUSSION.

ONGOING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD DISSIPATE BY 2 TO 3Z.  WENT
WITH GENERALLY MVFR BR FOR ALL SITES...BUT GENERALLY TEMPO IN FOR
BHM. ALSO INCLUDED A TEMPO IFR FOR TCL IN THE MORNING AFTER 9Z.
RAINFALL ALL AROUND SO WE SHOULD AT LEAST SEE SOME PASSING AREAS OF
DENSE FOG HERE. MORE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ON TAP FOR
MONDAY AFTERNOON SO INCLUDED VCTS AT ALL SITES...STARTING AT 16Z FOR
MGM AND TOI AND THEN BY 18Z FOR ANB.

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.

&&

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

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 3, 11:06 AM CDT, 10 hours 26 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1106 AM CDT SUN JUL 3 2011

ALZ011>015-017>050-041615-
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-
1106 AM CDT SUN JUL 3 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 TO SCATTERED SHOWERS THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE
BETWEEN 1 PM AND 8 PM THIS EVENING. THE AREA OF FOCUS WILL BE
ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20...WHERE THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE
DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND BRIEF HEAVY
DOWNPOURS.

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

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

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

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 3, 7:23 PM CDT, 2 hours 9 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
723 PM CDT SUN JUL 3 2011

ALZ013-023-040115-
FAYETTE AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-
723 PM CDT SUN JUL 3 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN TUSCALOOSA AND EASTERN
FAYETTE COUNTIES UNTIL 815 PM CDT...

AT 721 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES NORTH OF SAMANTHA...OR 19 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
FAYETTE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL 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...
  BOLEY SPRINGS...
  BERRY...

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 3372 8760 3370 8753 3369 8752 3370 8749
      3368 8742 3364 8743 3348 8752 3349 8765
TIME...MOT...LOC 0023Z 203DEG 5KT 3352 8758

14

Special weather statement, Jul 3, 7:59 PM CDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
759 PM CDT SUN JUL 3 2011

ALZ014-040145-
WINSTON AL-
759 PM CDT SUN JUL 3 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN WINSTON COUNTY UNTIL 845
PM CDT...

AT 759 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR HELICON...OR 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF ARLEY...MOVING
NORTHWEST AT 10 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL 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...
  HELICON...
  NESMITH...
  ADDISON...
  INMANFIELD...
  BRUSHY LAKE...

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 3430 8731 3430 8711 3430 8710 3405 8710
      3402 8723 3431 8739 3431 8737
TIME...MOT...LOC 0059Z 157DEG 10KT 3412 8713

Special weather statement, Jul 3, 8:07 PM CDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
807 PM CDT SUN JUL 3 2011

ALZ012-022-040145-
LAMAR AL-PICKENS AL-
807 PM CDT SUN JUL 3 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN PICKENS AND SOUTHERN
LAMAR COUNTIES UNTIL 845 PM CDT...

AT 804 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR MCMULLEN...OR NEAR ALICEVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
5 MPH. THIS STORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN PICKENS COUNTY. ANOTHER
STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR FOREST...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH.
THIS STORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN PICKENS AND SOUTHERN LAMAR COUNTIES.

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

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORM INCLUDE...
  PICKENSVILLE...
  CARROLLTON...
  FOREST...
  REFORM...
  MILLPORT...
  MCMULLEN...
  MELBORNE...

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 3373 8825 3372 8795 3363 8794 3305 8805
      3302 8834
TIME...MOT...LOC 0104Z 221DEG 5KT 3314 8819

Special weather statement, Jul 3, 8:16 PM CDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
816 PM CDT SUN JUL 3 2011

ALZ023-040200-
TUSCALOOSA AL-
816 PM CDT SUN JUL 3 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY UNTIL
900 PM CDT...

AT 812 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR COKER...OR 7 MILES WEST OF NORTHPORT...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL 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...
  NORTHPORT...
  LAKE LURLEEN STATE PARK...
  LAKE TUSCALOOSA BINION CREEK LANDING...
  SAMANTHA...

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 3333 8779 3350 8767 3350 8740 3314 8767
      3314 8784
TIME...MOT...LOC 0116Z 208DEG 3KT 3326 8772

Special weather statement, Jul 3, 8:45 PM CDT, 47 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
845 PM CDT SUN JUL 3 2011

ALZ015-017-024-040230-
BLOUNT AL-JEFFERSON AL-WALKER AL-
845 PM CDT SUN JUL 3 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WALKER...NORTHWESTERN JEFFERSON
AND SOUTHWESTERN BLOUNT COUNTIES UNTIL 930 PM CDT...

AT 842 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR SUMITON...MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH.

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

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  SIPSEY...
  ARKADELPHIA...
  CURRY...
  SMITH DAM...
  BLOUNT SPRINGS...

&&

LAT...LON 3412 8662 3350 8709 3374 8752 3400 8733
      3399 8720 3401 8717 3396 8710 3390 8708
      3390 8701 3386 8697 3387 8693 3392 8692
      3398 8677 3404 8671 3409 8670
TIME...MOT...LOC 0146Z 200DEG 26KT 3380 8705

Special weather statement, Jul 3, 9:32 PM CDT, 0 minutes before

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The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 3, 7:23 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette	52 min
Jul 3, 7:59 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Winston	46 min
Jul 3, 8:07 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	38 min
Jul 3, 8:16 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tuscaloosa	44 min
Jul 3, 8:38 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Pickens	52 min
Jul 3, 8:45 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Walker	45 min
Jul 3, 8:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Walker	47 min
Jul 3, 9:46 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Walker	29 min
Jul 3, 10:21 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Blount	39 min
Jul 4, 12:50 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marengo	40 min
Jul 4, 1:30 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Walker	45 min
Jul 4, 1:36 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene	39 min
Jul 4, 1:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, St. Clair	35 min
Jul 4, 1:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker	50 min
Jul 4, 1:44 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Jefferson	46 min
Jul 4, 1:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale	46 min
Jul 4, 2:04 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Jefferson	3 hr
Jul 4, 2:14 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Randolph	46 min
Jul 4, 2:18 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene	42 min
Jul 4, 2:26 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Pickens, Sumter	45 min
Jul 4, 2:30 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Jefferson	45 min
Jul 4, 2:32 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Bibb	43 min
Jul 4, 2:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Hale, Perry, Tuscaloosa	41 min
Jul 4, 2:39 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marengo	51 min
Jul 4, 2:52 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Jefferson	38 min
Jul 4, 2:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa	49 min
Jul 4, 2:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Sumter	47 min
Jul 4, 3:19 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene	41 min
Jul 4, 3:29 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Sumter	3 hr
Jul 4, 3:30 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tuscaloosa	45 min
Jul 4, 3:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby, Tuscaloosa	46 min
Jul 4, 3:49 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Jefferson, Shelby	3 hr
Jul 4, 4:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker	39 min
Jul 4, 4:08 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Winston	52 min
Jul 4, 4:13 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Blount	47 min
Jul 4, 4:27 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Shelby	48 min
Jul 4, 4:40 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Clay	50 min
Jul 4, 4:42 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Sumter	3 hr
Jul 4, 4:47 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette	43 min
Jul 4, 5:07 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	38 min
Jul 4, 5:18 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chilton, Coosa	31 min
Jul 4, 5:37 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Clay	53 min
Jul 4, 5:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion	51 min
Jul 4, 5:52 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Coosa	38 min
Jul 4, 5:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion, Walker, Winston	39 min
Jul 4, 6:20 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette	25 min
Jul 4, 6:40 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette, Walker	50 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Alabama, 2011 Every special weather statement 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.