Alert archive / Alabama / Special Weather Statements in 2011

Special Weather Statement, NWS Birmingham, AL

July 4, 2011Fayette County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this special weather statement at Jul 4, 2011, 4:47 PM CDT for Fayette 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 4, 2011, 4:47 PM CDT (21:47 UTC)
Expired: Jul 4, 2011, 5:30 PM CDT
In force: 43 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL

County Fayette County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 74 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:48 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 12:00Z, 9.8 hours before the alert went out and 90 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: 2435 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -46 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 821 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 10 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -37 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: -27 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 4, 3:06 PM CDT, 1 hour 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 4, 3:06 PM CDT, 1 hour 41 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
306 PM CDT MON JUL 4 2011

.DISCUSSION...

SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED THIS AFTERNOON
AS A GENERAL WEAKNESS IN THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE HAS SET IN ACROSS
THE DEEP SOUTH. STRONG TO ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS WITH WIND GUSTS
REPORTED UP TO 70 MPH WITH SOME DAMAGE HAVE OCCURRED THUS FAR.
THUNDERSTORMS USUALLY CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS WITH
THIS TYPE OF PATTERN SO WILL KEEP THE CHANCE WORDING FOR THE
OVERNIGHT AND LET THE EVENING SHIFT CLEAN IT UP ONCE THE ACTIVITY
DIES DOWN. WAS TEMPTED TO GO WITH LIKELY POPS THE NEXT COUPLE OF
DAYS AS LEFT OVER BOUNDARIES...DAYTIME HEATING AND THE PRESENCE
OF THE UPPER TROUGH SHOULD ALLOW FOR PLENTY OF THUNDERSTORM
DEVELOPMENT...BUT WILL HOLD OFF WITH HIGHER CHANCE WORDING FOR
NOW.

THIS PATTERN IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH FRIDAY AT
WHICH POINT SOME UPPER RIDGING WILL BEGIN TO BUILD NEAR THE OHIO
VALLEY AND LESSEN THE POTENTIAL FOR CONVECTION ALTHOUGH NOT
ELIMINATE EITHER. WILL TAPPER THE POPS TO LOWER CHANCE AS WE REACH
INTO THE WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK WHEN CONVECTION LOOKS TO
BECOME MORE DIURNALLY RESTRICTED.

TEMPERATURES NEAR NORMAL FOR EARLY JULY WITH HIGHS IN THE LOWER TO
MID 90S AND LOWS IN THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S.

&&

.AVIATION...18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

SEVERAL OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES APPROACHING THE AREA COULD SPARK SOME
AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS. WITH HIGH PRESSURE NO LONGER DOMINATING THE
WEATHER PATTERN...THERE SHOULD BE NO SUPPRESSION OF CONVECTION. WENT
AHEAD AND MENTIONED VCTS AT ALL SITES SINCE CONFIDENCE IS NOT HIGH
AS TO WHERE EXACTLY THUNDERSTORMS WILL INITIATE AND PROPAGATE
THROUGHOUT THE DAY. AMENDMENTS MAY BE NECESSARY THIS AFTERNOON ONCE
CONVECTION BEGINS. WINDS WILL BECOME CALM ONCE AGAIN AFTER SUNSET
AND THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY CLEARS. LOW CLOUDS WILL LIKELY MOVE
INTO THE NORTHERN 4 SITES DURING THE MORNING HOURS. DOES NOT LOOK
LIKE CLOUDS WILL MAKE IT AS FAR SOUTH AS MGM OR TOI...SO WITH
ABUNDANT MOISTURE AGAIN...EXPECT BR FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS TOMORROW
MORNING.

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.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     68  90  68  89  67 /  30  50  30  50  30
ANNISTON    71  92  70  92  69 /  30  50  30  50  30
BIRMINGHAM  73  93  72  93  72 /  30  50  30  50  30
TUSCALOOSA  73  92  71  94  71 /  40  50  30  50  30
CALERA      72  91  71  91  71 /  30  50  30  50  30
AUBURN      72  92  72  92  72 /  30  40  30  40  30
MONTGOMERY  72  95  71  93  71 /  30  40  30  40  30
TROY        68  94  69  93  69 /  30  30  30  40  30

&&

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

&&

88/73

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 4, 2:33 PM CDT, 2 hours 14 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
233 PM CDT MON JUL 4 2011

ALZ011>015-017>050-051936-
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-
233 PM CDT MON JUL 4 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 THROUGH 8 PM ACROSS
ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. WIND GUST TO 70 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG
WITH LARGE HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

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 4, 4:08 PM CDT, 39 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
408 PM CDT MON JUL 4 2011

ALZ014-042200-
WINSTON AL-
408 PM CDT MON JUL 4 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN WINSTON COUNTY UNTIL 500
PM CDT...

AT 406 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR LYNN...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER 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...
  WINSTON FREE STATE BARN...
  ASHBANK...
  DOUBLE SPRINGS...
  HOUSTON RECREATIONAL AREA...
  POPLAR SPRINGS...

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

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 3415 8719 3400 8727 3399 8740 3403 8764
      3409 8764 3424 8763
TIME...MOT...LOC 2109Z 295DEG 8KT 3408 8748

Special weather statement, Jul 4, 4:13 PM CDT, 34 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
413 PM CDT MON JUL 4 2011

ALZ017-042200-
BLOUNT AL-
413 PM CDT MON JUL 4 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN BLOUNT COUNTY UNTIL
500 PM CDT...

AT 409 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM ARAB TO ROSA...AND MOVING
EAST AT 15 MPH.

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

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  BROOKSVILLE...
  ROSA...
  SUSAN MOORE...
  MCLARTY...
  SNEAD...

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 3425 8644 3420 8640 3411 8631 3405 8633
      3398 8633 3395 8636 3405 8659 3418 8657
      3422 8655 3426 8652 3427 8649 3427 8646
TIME...MOT...LOC 2113Z 277DEG 13KT 3434 8644 3403 8651

14

Special weather statement, Jul 4, 4:27 PM CDT, 20 minutes before

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Local storm report, Jul 4, 4:35 PM CDT, 12 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Jul 4, 4:40 PM CDT, 7 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
440 PM CDT MON JUL 4 2011

ALZ019-021-027-028-042230-
CALHOUN AL-CLAY AL-CLEBURNE AL-TALLADEGA AL-
440 PM CDT MON JUL 4 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN TALLADEGA...
SOUTHWESTERN CLEBURNE...NORTHEASTERN CLAY AND SOUTHERN CALHOUN
COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM CDT...

AT 439 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM OXFORD LAKE TO 7 MILES
NORTH OF ASHLAND...AND MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  LINEVILLE...
  MOUNT CHEAHA...
  BARFIELD...
  CAMP SEQUOYAH...
  CHALAFINNEE...

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 3350 8560 3349 8564 3332 8565 3326 8566
      3341 8593 3362 8585 3363 8557
TIME...MOT...LOC 2140Z 291DEG 4KT 3360 8579 3338 8587

14

Special weather statement, Jul 4, 4:47 PM CDT, 0 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
447 PM CDT MON JUL 4 2011

ALZ013-015-023-024-042230-
FAYETTE AL-JEFFERSON AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-WALKER AL-
447 PM CDT MON JUL 4 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN WALKER...NORTHERN
TUSCALOOSA...WESTERN JEFFERSON AND SOUTHEASTERN FAYETTE COUNTIES
UNTIL 530 PM CDT...

AT 444 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM OAK GROVE TO 7 MILES
NORTHEAST OF ASHCRAFT CORNER...AND MOVING NORTH AT 5 MPH.

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

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  BOLEY SPRINGS...
  BANKSTON...
  BERRY...
  GORGAS STEAM PLANT...
  GORGAS...

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 3371 8782 3367 8716 3343 8721 3349 8784
      3353 8784
TIME...MOT...LOC 2147Z 179DEG 3KT 3350 8721 3360 8781

14

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, 9:32 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	43 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, 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.