Alert archive / Alabama / Special Weather Statements in 2011

Special Weather Statement, NWS Birmingham, AL

August 4, 2011Walker County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this special weather statement at Aug 4, 2011, 8:09 AM CDT for Walker County, Alabama. It was in force for 36 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 4, 2011, 8:09 AM CDT (13:09 UTC)
Expired: Aug 4, 2011, 8:45 AM CDT
In force: 36 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL

County Walker County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 75 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 13:09 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, 1.2 hours before the alert went out and 102 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: 496 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -354 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1432 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 9 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -34 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: -66 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.

208 
WWUS84 KBMX 041309
SPSBMX

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
809 AM CDT THU AUG 4 2011

ALZ013-015-041345-
FAYETTE AL-WALKER AL-
809 AM CDT THU AUG 4 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN WALKER AND EASTERN
FAYETTE COUNTIES UNTIL 845 AM CDT...

AT 805 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR KANSAS...OR NEAR CARBON HILL...MOVING SOUTH AT 30
MPH.

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...
  OAKMAN...
  BANKSTON...
  BERRY...
  BOLEY SPRINGS...
  GAMBLE...

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 3399 8729 3360 8730 3361 8777 3392 8767
      3392 8764 3400 8764
TIME...MOT...LOC 1310Z 001DEG 25KT 3390 8754

$$

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 Aug 4, 6:30 AM CDT, 1 hour 39 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 4, 6:30 AM CDT, 1 hour 39 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
630 AM CDT THU AUG 4 2011

.UPDATE...UPDATED FOR AVIATION DISCUSSION.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX THAT DEVELOPED ALONG STATIONARY BOUNDARY IN
TENNESSEE OUTFLOWED SOUTHWARD INTO NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA THIS
MORNING. THIS UNDOUBTEDLY WILL SET UP A SIGNIFICANT BOUNDARY OVER
CENTRAL ALABAMA FOR ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP DURING THE
DAY AS TEMPERATURES HEAT UP AND THE ATMOSPHERE BECOMES EVEN MORE
UNSTABLE. INITIAL STORM MOTION IS FROM THE NORTHWEST AND A GENERAL
NORTHERLY MOTION SHOULD CONTINUE TODAY...SO AS STORMS DEVELOP
UPSTREAM IN THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE STATE THEY SHOULD CONTINUE TO
DEVELOP SOUTHWARD WITH TIME. STORM SEVERITY IS SOMEWHAT
QUESTIONABLE AS THE CURRENT THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX WILL HELP DICTATE
LATER CONVECTION BUT ADDITIONAL COLD POOL DRIVEN COMPLEXES WILL BE
POSSIBLE DURING THE DAY WITH SOME ISOLATED STRONG TO DAMAGING
WINDS NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION.

WITH THE HIGHER RAIN CHANCES ALSO COMES THE LESS LIKELIHOOD OF
SEEING WIDESPREAD EXTREME TEMPERATURES. NOT TO SAY THAT IT WILL
NOT BE HOT AND STEAMY BECAUSE IT WILL...BUT ANY THOUGHTS OF AN
EXTREME HEAT WARNING ARE OUT THE WINDOW NOW. WILL LET THE HEAT
ADVISORY CONTINUE FOR THE TIME BEING AS IT IS ALREADY OUT BUT MAY
END UP CANCELING IT LATER THIS MORNING.

THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK...THE UPPER RIDGING OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS
BECOMES INCREASINGLY FLATTENED WITH THE CENTER OF THE RIDGE
RETROGRADING TO THE FOUR CORNERS REGION OVER THE WEEKEND. THIS
WILL ALLOW FOR AN EASTERN CONUS TROUGH TO DEVELOP AND BRING RAIN
CHANCES UP TO CLIMATOLOGICAL VALUES. BY MIDWEEK...A SYNOPTIC
BOUNDARY IS FORECAST TO BE NEAR THE DEEP SOUTH AS THE UPPER TROUGH
OVER THE REGION DEEPENS. THUS WILL CONTINUE WITH AT LEAST
CLIMATOLOGICAL POPS THROUGH THE EXTENDED.

TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS SHOULD RESPOND TO THE
WEAKENING RIDGE AND HIGHER RAIN CHANCES BY FALLING INTO THE LOWER
TO MID 90S WITH OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE UPPER 60S TO MID 70S.

&&

.AVIATION...
12Z TAF DISCUSSION.

MAIN AVIATION CONCERN THROUGH THE PERIOD WILL BE THE STATIONARY
FRONT NORTH OF THE AREA WHERE CONTINUOUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
ARE DEVELOPING AND MOVING SOUTHWARD.  THERE WILL LIKELY BE A LULL IN
THE ACTIVITY...OTHER THAN WHAT IS CURRENT...THROUGH THE MORNING
HOURS...ONLY TO RE-FIRE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.  ALL SITES HAVE
BEEN INCLUDED WITH VCTS FOR NOW...BUT THE MOST LIKELY SITES TO BE
AFFECTED WILL BE BHM...TCL...EET...AND ANB.  THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY
WILL CONTINUE SAGGING SOUTH WITH ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY EXPECTED
TONIGHT THROUGH THE END OF THE PERIOD.

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES: 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.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 4, 6:40 AM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
640 AM CDT THU AUG 4 2011

ALZ011>015-017>050-051145-
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-
640 AM CDT THU AUG 4 2011

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FOR MUCH OF THE DAY AND INTO THE
OVERNIGHT HOURS TONIGHT AS A FRONTAL BOUNDARY SLOWLY PUSHES
SOUTH. THE MAIN THREAT WITH ANY STORMS WILL BE STRONG DAMAGING WINDS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

DUE TO THE EXPANSIVE CLOUD COVER AND SUBSEQUENT SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON HOURS...CONFIDENCE HAS DECREASED
THAT HEAT INDEX READINGS WILL REACH ADVISORY OR WARNING CRITERIA
FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. CAUTION SHOULD STILL BE EXERCISED IF WORKING
OUTDOORS IN THE ABSENCE OF CLOUD COVER...AS HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL
EASILY EXCEED 100 DEGREES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BE NEED
TODAY AND TONIGHT DUE TO THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 4, 3:17 AM CDT, 4 hours 52 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
317 AM CDT THU AUG 4 2011

ALZ011-014-040900-
MARION AL-WINSTON AL-
317 AM CDT THU AUG 4 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN WINSTON AND EASTERN
MARION COUNTIES UNTIL 400 AM CDT...

AT 312 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR HACKLEBURG...OR 13 MILES NORTHWEST OF HALEYVILLE...
MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  HALEYVILLE...
  HACKLEBURG...
  BRINN...
  NEEDMORE...
  LAKE BUTTAHATCHEE...

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...AND A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN
EFFECT FOR THIS AREA. 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3432 8766 3431 8762 3416 8743 3394 8786
      3432 8795
TIME...MOT...LOC 0817Z 318DEG 16KT 3432 8780

17/KLAWS

Special weather statement, Aug 4, 3:39 AM CDT, 4 hours 30 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
339 AM CDT THU AUG 4 2011

ALZ011-014-040930-
MARION AL-WINSTON AL-
339 AM CDT THU AUG 4 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WINSTON AND EASTERN MARION
COUNTIES UNTIL 430 AM CDT...

AT 335 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES NORTH OF ASHRIDGE
TO HALEYVILLE TO HACKLEBURG...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  LYNN...
  ARLEY...
  BRINN...
  ASHRIDGE...
  LAKE BUTTAHATCHEE...

&&

LAT...LON 3431 8732 3408 8718 3399 8728 3400 8764
      3391 8764 3391 8777 3430 8801 3427 8764
      3431 8760
TIME...MOT...LOC 0839Z 334DEG 18KT 3433 8744 3419 8760
          3421 8786

17/KLAWS

Special weather statement, Aug 4, 4:29 AM CDT, 3 hours 40 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
429 AM CDT THU AUG 4 2011

ALZ013-015-023-024-041000-
FAYETTE AL-JEFFERSON AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-WALKER AL-
429 AM CDT THU AUG 4 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WALKER...NORTHERN TUSCALOOSA...
WESTERN JEFFERSON AND EASTERN FAYETTE COUNTIES UNTIL 500 AM CDT...

AT 426 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF SMITH
DAM TO PARRISH TO GLEN ALLEN...AND MOVING SOUTH AT 40 MPH.

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...
  CORDOVA...
  DORA...
  SUMITON...
  PARRISH...
  OAKMAN...

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 3392 8779 3383 8736 3399 8715 3392 8708
      3390 8708 3390 8701 3386 8698 3386 8696
      3382 8695 3383 8691 3366 8688 3342 8722
      3349 8769 3392 8783
TIME...MOT...LOC 0929Z 343DEG 36KT 3397 8702 3373 8733
          3381 8770

Special weather statement, Aug 4, 5:05 AM CDT, 3 hours 4 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
505 AM CDT THU AUG 4 2011

ALZ023>025-034-041045-
BIBB AL-JEFFERSON AL-SHELBY AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-
505 AM CDT THU AUG 4 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN TUSCALOOSA...WESTERN
SHELBY...WESTERN JEFFERSON AND NORTHERN BIBB COUNTIES UNTIL 545 AM
CDT...

AT 500 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM CARDIFF TO OAK GROVE TO 5
MILES NORTHEAST OF SAMANTHA...AND MOVING SOUTH AT 35 MPH.

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...
  HUEYTOWN...
  FAIRFIELD...
  HOMEWOOD...
  NORTHPORT...
  HOLT...

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 3354 8766 3354 8732 3351 8731 3351 8727
      3353 8727 3352 8725 3354 8724 3354 8719
      3376 8686 3330 8677 3304 8708 3304 8764
TIME...MOT...LOC 1005Z 353DEG 29KT 3361 8693 3344 8718
          3345 8755

Special weather statement, Aug 4, 7:12 AM CDT, 57 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
712 AM CDT THU AUG 4 2011

ALZ011-014-015-041300-
MARION AL-WALKER AL-WINSTON AL-
712 AM CDT THU AUG 4 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WINSTON...NORTHERN WALKER AND
NORTHEASTERN MARION COUNTIES UNTIL 800 AM CDT...

AT 710 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF
HALEYVILLE TO BRUSHY LAKE...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  HALEYVILLE...
  ARLEY...
  LYNN...
  BRUSHY LAKE...
  NEEDMORE...

&&

LAT...LON 3430 8714 3424 8710 3399 8710 3399 8713
      3397 8713 3396 8710 3393 8710 3393 8749
      3431 8776
TIME...MOT...LOC 1212Z 330DEG 28KT 3434 8767 3434 8728

17/KLAWS

Special weather statement, Aug 4, 8:09 AM CDT, 0 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
809 AM CDT THU AUG 4 2011

ALZ013-015-041345-
FAYETTE AL-WALKER AL-
809 AM CDT THU AUG 4 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN WALKER AND EASTERN
FAYETTE COUNTIES UNTIL 845 AM CDT...

AT 805 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR KANSAS...OR NEAR CARBON HILL...MOVING SOUTH AT 30
MPH.

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...
  OAKMAN...
  BANKSTON...
  BERRY...
  BOLEY SPRINGS...
  GAMBLE...

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 3399 8729 3360 8730 3361 8777 3392 8767
      3392 8764 3400 8764
TIME...MOT...LOC 1310Z 001DEG 25KT 3390 8754

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 4, 12:43 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Blount, Calhoun, Etowah, St. Clair	47 min
Aug 4, 1:20 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby and 1 more	40 min
Aug 4, 1:51 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, Shelby, Talladega	39 min
Aug 4, 3:17 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	43 min
Aug 4, 3:39 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion, Winston	51 min
Aug 4, 3:52 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Marion, Walker, Winston	38 min
Aug 4, 4:29 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Walker	31 min
Aug 4, 5:05 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa	40 min
Aug 4, 7:12 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Winston	48 min
Aug 4, 12:11 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee	49 min
Aug 4, 1:02 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee	28 min
Aug 4, 2:49 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Blount	26 min
Aug 4, 3:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	64 min
Aug 4, 4:00 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion	60 min
Aug 4, 4:35 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Lamar	115 min
Aug 4, 4:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Pickens	49 min
Aug 4, 5:11 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marengo	49 min
Aug 4, 5:12 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Sumter	48 min
Aug 4, 5:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Pickens, Sumter	60 min
Aug 4, 5:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion	48 min
Aug 4, 6:48 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Sumter	27 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.