Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 200, NWS Birmingham, AL

July 1, 2012Cherokee County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 1, 2012, 5:51 PM CDT for Cherokee County, Alabama. It was in force for 39 min. 3 reports 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: Jul 1, 2012, 5:51 PM CDT (22:51 UTC)
Expired: Jul 1, 2012, 6:30 PM CDT
In force: 39 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

County Cherokee County, AL

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 78 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:54 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
Jul 1, 5:55 PM CDT	HAIL 0.88	Cedar Bluff, AL	DIME TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN CEDAR BLUFF.
Jul 1, 6:05 PM CDT	HAIL 1	Cedar Bluff, AL
Jul 1, 6:20 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 E Cedar Bluff, AL	TREE DOWN ACROSS COUNTY ROAD 131 JUST OFF HWY 9.

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 2 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 14 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

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 149 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: 2785 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -200 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1830 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 3 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -38 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 60 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.

184 
WUUS54 KBMX 012251
SVRBMX
ALC019-012330-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0200.120701T2251Z-120701T2330Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
551 PM CDT SUN JUL 1 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN CHEROKEE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 630 PM CDT

* AT 548 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL...AND
  DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
  CEDAR BLUFF...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  LITTLE RIVER CANYON NATIONAL PRESERVE...CORNWALL FURNACE PARK...
  GAYLESVILLE...BLANCHE...WATERHOUSE...WATSON...FULLERTON AND
  BROOMTOWN.

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 3451 8550 3449 8550 3414 8542 3408 8542
      3425 8581 3427 8579 3426 8578 3437 8566
      3438 8563 3443 8559 3447 8559 3453 8552
TIME...MOT...LOC 2252Z 211DEG 8KT 3423 8561

$$

56

1 follow-up statement

280 
WWUS54 KBMX 012308
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
608 PM CDT SUN JUL 1 2012

ALC019-012330-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0200.000000T0000Z-120701T2330Z/
CHEROKEE AL-
608 PM CDT SUN JUL 1 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN
CHEROKEE COUNTY UNTIL 630 PM CDT...

AT 606 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 
CORNWALL FURNACE PARK...OR NEAR CEDAR BLUFF...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 
MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  GAYLESVILLE...WATSON...FULLERTON AND BROOMTOWN.

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

LAT...LON 3426 8574 3439 8553 3436 8547 3423 8544
      3414 8543 3423 8577
TIME...MOT...LOC 2308Z 211DEG 8KT 3426 8559

$$

56

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 Jul 1, 3:25 PM CDT, 2 hours 26 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 1, 3:25 PM CDT, 2 hours 26 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
325 PM CDT SUN JUL 1 2012

.DISCUSSION...

WE'VE GOT RAIN! OR...AT LEAST A FEW SPOTS NOW HAVE RAIN. CORFIDI
VECTORS SUGGEST THE PREFERRED DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT WOULD BE
SLOWLY TO THE NORTH...ALTHOUGH OUTFLOW INTERACTION COULD VERY WELL
CAUSE SOME ERRATIC STORM MOVEMENT AND PROPAGATION. POPS TONIGHT
WILL BE A LAST MINUTE DECISION...BASED LARGELY ON RADAR TRENDS.
AND WHILE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT POPS...I WILL JUST GO AHEAD AND
MENTION THAT WE WILL KEEP THE NEAR/JUST BELOW CLIMO POPS FOR THE
REST OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. STILL NOTHING SYNOPTICALLY EVIDENT IN
THE MODELS TO PLACE ANY AMOUNT OF CONFIDENCE IN A HIGHER CHANCE OF
RAIN.

WE NOW TURN OUR ATTENTION BACK TO THE TEMPERATURES...WHICH HAVE
DOMINATED OUR WEATHER STORY FOR SEVERAL DAYS. LOOKS LIKE YESTERDAY
AND TODAY WERE THE PEAK DAYS FOR THE HEAT. BUT HAVING SAID
THAT...TEMPS DON'T EXACTLY BACK OFF ALL THAT MUCH...AND THE
SLIGHTLY HIGHER DEWPOINTS WILL LEAD TO SIMILAR HEAT INDEX VALUES
ON MONDAY. THUS...WE WILL GO BACK TO A HEAT ADVISORY THAT WILL
BEGIN WHEN THE CURRENT EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING EXPIRES AT 9
PM...AND TAKE IT THROUGH 9 PM MONDAY. IT LOOKS LIKE WE CAN SHAVE A
COUPLE MORE DEGREES OFF THOSE TEMPS ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

/61/

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

HAZE AND ISOLD TSTMS WILL BE THE MAIN AVIATION HAZARDS THIS FORECAST
PERIOD. A WEAK SFC TROF BETWEEN KEET AND KMGM WILL LIKELY BE THE
FOCUS FOR ISOLD TSTMS FROM 20Z THRU 02Z. CONFIDENCE NOT ENOUGH FOR
INCLUSION OF TSTMS AT ANY TAF SITE.  HAZE WILL SETTLE OVER THE AREA
AGAIN TONIGHT WITH MVFR VSBYS FROM 10Z THRU 14Z.

58/ROSE

&&

.CLIMATE...
SELECTED HEAT RELATED CLIMATE INFORMATION FOR THE NEXT FEW
DAYS.

JULY 1

LOCATIONS           RECORD TEMPERATURES     YEAR(S)
----------------    -------------------     -----------
ANNISTON                    102             1954
BIRMINGHAM                  103             1954
MONTGOMERY                  100             1898, 2007
TUSCALOOSA                  103             1954

JULY 2

LOCATIONS           RECORD TEMPERATURES     YEAR(S)
----------------    -------------------     -----------
ANNISTON                    102             1954
BIRMINGHAM                  101             1954
MONTGOMERY                  101             1969
TUSCALOOSA                  102             1970

JULY 3

LOCATIONS           RECORD TEMPERATURES     YEAR(S)
----------------    -------------------     -----------
ANNISTON                    100             1970
BIRMINGHAM                  101             1970
MONTGOMERY                  100             1877
TUSCALOOSA                  103             1970

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     73 100  73  96  73 /  20  20  20  20  20
ANNISTON    75  99  74  95  73 /  20  20  20  20  20
BIRMINGHAM  79  99  75  96  75 /  20  20  20  20  20
TUSCALOOSA  76 101  75  97  75 /  20  20  20  20  20
CALERA      77  99  75  97  75 /  20  20  20  20  20
AUBURN      76  99  76  97  76 /  30  20  20  20  20
MONTGOMERY  77  99  77  97  76 /  10  20  20  20  20
TROY        75  96  75  95  74 /  10  20  20  20  20

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR ALL COUNTIES.

HEAT ADVISORY FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 PM CDT MONDAY ALL COUNTIES.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 1, 3:57 PM CDT, 1 hour 54 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
357 PM CDT SUN JUL 1 2012

ALZ011>015-017>050-020300-
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-
357 PM CDT SUN JUL 1 2012

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

AN EXCESSIVE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 9 PM. HIGH
TEMPERATURES THIS AFTERNOON WILL RANGE FROM 98 TO 106 DEGREES.
HEAT INDICES WILL RANGE FROM 107 TO 113 DEGREES. THESE VALUES
WILL APPROACH DANGEROUS LEVELS AND THUS AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING
REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA.

ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA
THROUGH 9 PM THIS EVENING. ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL BE CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.

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

HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE INTO MONDAY. ADDITIONAL
HEAT ADVISORIES ARE LIKELY TO BE ISSUED FOR MONDAY. IT APPEARS THAT
HIGH TEMPERATURES FALL JUST ENOUGH TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS
THAT CONFIDENCE IS LOWER ON REACHING ADVISORY CRITERIA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

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

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 1, 5:30 PM CDT, 21 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
530 PM CDT SUN JUL 1 2012

ALZ019-012315-
CALHOUN AL-
530 PM CDT SUN JUL 1 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN CALHOUN COUNTY UNTIL 615
PM CDT...

AT 530 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR FORT MCCLELLAN...MOVING NORTH AT 10 MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  FORT MCCLELLAN...
  JACKSONVILLE...
  ALEXANDRIA...
  WEAVER...
  WHITE PLAINS...

&&

LAT...LON 3378 8562 3377 8562 3377 8564 3374 8564
      3361 8571 3361 8572 3360 8573 3365 8592
      3389 8585 3383 8559
TIME...MOT...LOC 2230Z 199DEG 8KT 3371 8578

56

Local storm report, Jul 1, 5:32 PM CDT, 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
532 PM CDT SUN JUL 01 2012

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

0520 PM     HAIL             4 WNW PIEDMONT          33.95N 85.68W
07/01/2012  E1.00 INCH       CALHOUN            AL   PUBLIC

            REPORTED ALONG KIMBERLY ROAD.

&&

TGOGGINS

Local storm report, Jul 1, 5:36 PM CDT, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
536 PM CDT SUN JUL 01 2012

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

0520 PM     HAIL             5 S HAYDEN              33.85N 86.75W
07/01/2012  E1.75 INCH       BLOUNT             AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

&&

TGOGGINS

Local storm report, Jul 1, 5:43 PM CDT, 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
543 PM CDT SUN JUL 01 2012

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

0539 PM     HAIL             ODENVILLE               33.69N 86.40W
07/01/2012  E1.00 INCH       ST. CLAIR          AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

TGOGGINS

Local storm report, Jul 1, 5:44 PM CDT, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
544 PM CDT SUN JUL 01 2012

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

0543 PM     HAIL             1 NE ODENVILLE          33.70N 86.39W
07/01/2012  E1.75 INCH       ST. CLAIR          AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

TGOGGINS

Special weather statement, Jul 1, 5:46 PM CDT, 5 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
546 PM CDT SUN JUL 1 2012

ALZ035-012330-
CHILTON AL-
546 PM CDT SUN JUL 1 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN CHILTON COUNTY UNTIL 630
PM CDT...

AT 545 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR POOLES CROSSROADS...OR NEAR CLANTON...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  CLANTON...
  VERBENA...
  GAP OF THE MOUNTAIN...
  HIGGINS FERRY PARK...
  LAY LAKE DAM...

&&

LAT...LON 3278 8679 3300 8654 3297 8651 3293 8652
      3291 8649 3287 8648 3286 8645 3282 8646
      3279 8642 3270 8658 3271 8669
TIME...MOT...LOC 2246Z 230DEG 7KT 3277 8664

08

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 1, 2:49 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Sumter	41 min
Jul 1, 2:55 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Randolph	35 min
Jul 1, 3:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pickens	43 min
Jul 1, 3:08 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Shelby	52 min
Jul 1, 3:12 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene	48 min
Jul 1, 3:27 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Randolph	48 min
Jul 1, 3:42 PM CDT	Heat Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more	23 hr
Jul 1, 3:42 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette	48 min
Jul 1, 3:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers	46 min
Jul 1, 3:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Cleburne, Randolph	37 min
Jul 1, 3:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale	28 min
Jul 1, 4:02 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marengo	28 min
Jul 1, 4:05 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tuscaloosa	40 min
Jul 1, 4:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker	51 min
Jul 1, 4:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chilton	34 min
Jul 1, 4:14 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	35 min
Jul 1, 4:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers, Clay, Randolph, Tallapoosa	41 min
Jul 1, 4:22 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Clay	38 min
Jul 1, 4:38 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Dallas	52 min
Jul 1, 4:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun	49 min
Jul 1, 4:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Chilton	27 min
Jul 1, 4:45 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers	45 min
Jul 1, 4:56 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Walker	49 min
Jul 1, 4:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Etowah	48 min
Jul 1, 5:06 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Blount	39 min
Jul 1, 5:12 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Clay	48 min
Jul 1, 5:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Winston	44 min
Jul 1, 5:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Jefferson	43 min
Jul 1, 5:30 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Calhoun	45 min
Jul 1, 5:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	St. Clair	34 min
Jul 1, 5:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	20 min
Jul 1, 5:45 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee	30 min
Jul 1, 5:46 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chilton	44 min
Jul 1, 6:03 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee	117 min
Jul 1, 6:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun	24 min
Jul 1, 6:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee, Etowah	44 min
Jul 1, 6:26 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Calhoun	2 hr
Jul 1, 6:27 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee	3 hr
Jul 1, 6:34 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Calhoun	41 min
Jul 1, 6:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Etowah	44 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2012 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2012

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.