Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 219, NWS Birmingham, AL

July 5, 2012Blount County, St. Clair County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 5, 2012, 6:07 PM CDT for Blount County, St. Clair County, Alabama. It was in force for 38 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 5, 2012, 6:07 PM CDT (23:07 UTC)
Expired: Jul 5, 2012, 6:45 PM CDT
In force: 38 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Blount County, AL, St. Clair County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 90 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:06 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 5, 6:38 PM CDT	HAIL 1	Ashville, AL
Jul 5, 6:48 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Horse Pens Forty, AL	SEVERAL TREE LIMBS WERE BLOWN DOWN NEAR HORSE PENS 40.
Jul 5, 6:48 PM CDT	HAIL 0.88	Horse Pens Forty, AL

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 one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 31 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

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 11.1 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: 1129 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -104 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1533 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 11 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 24 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 46 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.

310 
WUUS54 KBMX 052307
SVRBMX
ALC009-115-052345-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0219.120705T2307Z-120705T2345Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
607 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN BLOUNT COUNTY IN ALABAMA...
  NORTH CENTRAL ST. CLAIR COUNTY IN ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 645 PM CDT

* AT 606 PM 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 ASHVILLE...
  OR 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ONEONTA...AND MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 5 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  ASHVILLE...I 59 REST AREAS AT ONEONTA AND CALDWELL.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBER 166...

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 3395 8636 3394 8637 3394 8632 3392 8620
      3374 8626 3381 8647 3396 8639
TIME...MOT...LOC 2307Z 023DEG 6KT 3387 8634

$$

MA

1 follow-up statement

652 
WWUS54 KBMX 052319 RRA
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
619 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

ALC009-115-052345-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0219.000000T0000Z-120705T2345Z/
BLOUNT AL-ST. CLAIR AL-
619 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTH CENTRAL
ST. CLAIR AND SOUTHEASTERN BLOUNT COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM CDT...

AT 615 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 5 MILES
WEST OF ASHVILLE...OR 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF SPRINGVILLE...MOVING
SOUTHWEST AT 5 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CALDWELL.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBER 166...

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

LAT...LON 3395 8636 3394 8637 3394 8632 3392 8620
      3374 8626 3381 8647 3396 8639
TIME...MOT...LOC 2319Z 023DEG 6KT 3385 8635

$$

MA

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 5, 3:21 PM CDT, 2 hours 46 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 5, 3:21 PM CDT, 2 hours 46 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
321 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

.DISCUSSION...

FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS WATCHING THE CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS
HEADING SOUTHWARD OUT OF EASTERN KY. THERE ARE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WATCHES OUT NOT TOO FAR FROM THE CWA BORDER...AND A ROUGH AND
DIRTY TIMING PUTS THE LEADING EDGE OF THIS CLUSTER INTO OUR
NORTHEAST COUNTIES BETWEEN 7 AND 8 PM. I'VE HEDGED THE POPS HIGHER
IN THE NORTHEAST DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS CLUSTER OF STORMS
GETTING INTO CENTRAL ALABAMA. ELSEWHERE AND OTHERWISE...STORMS
WILL BE MORE ISOLATED.

THE CENTER OF THE BIG UPPER LEVEL RIDGE THAT BROUGHT THE HEAT
WAVE TO OUR AREA OVER THE WEEKEND AND EARLY THIS WEEK HAS SHIFTED
BACK NORTHWESTWARD. THIS RIDGE IS FORECAST TO STAY TO OUR NORTH
THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK...KEEPING US ON THE TROPICAL
EASTERLIES SIDE OF THINGS. THIS GENERALLY ALLOWS FOR AT LEAST
CLIMATOLOGICAL POPS...WITH TEMPS LOWER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN BUT
STILL AROUND/SOMEWHAT ABOVE NORMAL.

BY LATE IN THE WEEKEND INTO THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK...THE
MODELS ARE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT OF A BROAD TROUGH DEVELOPING EAST
OF THE MS RIVER. THIS WOULD MODERATE TEMPS EVEN MORE...AND KEEP AT
LEAST A CHANCE OF POPS EACH AFTERNOON/EVENING.

/61/

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

OTHER THAN AN ISOLATED SHOWER THAT MOVED THROUGH TCL ABOUT AN HOUR
AGO...CURRENTLY NO THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS AFFECTING ANY TAF SITE.
THE BOUNDARY THAT TRIGGERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING
WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTHWARD THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE
AFTERNOON. THIS WILL LIKELY BE THE FOCUS FOR CONVECTION FOR THIS
AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY FOR MGM AND TOI. STILL THINKING THAT THESE
SITES WILL HAVE THE GREATEST CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS.
MEANWHILE...AN OUTFLOW FROM AN MCS TO THE NORTHEAST IS SLOWLY MOVING
TOWARD NORTHEAST ALABAMA. THIS BOUNDARY WILL TRIGGER SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE NORTHERN TAF SITES. SINCE THESE
THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE DIURNALLY DRIVEN...WILL KEEP VCTS FOR THE
NORTHERN TAF SITES...AS CONFIDENCE IS NOT HIGH ENOUGH AS TO WHERE
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL ACTIVE MOVE. MOST OF THE ACTIVITY IS
EXPECTED TO DISSIPATE BY 04Z TONIGHT. HAVE KEPT PATCHY MVFR VIS FOR
THE NORMAL TAF SITES FOR NOW...SINCE VISIBILITIES WILL GREATLY
DEPEND ON WHERE THE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP AND MOVE.

73

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     73  96  74  94  74 /  50  30  20  20  20
ANNISTON    74  94  73  92  73 /  50  30  20  20  20
BIRMINGHAM  76  96  75  94  75 /  50  30  20  20  20
TUSCALOOSA  76  97  75  95  74 /  40  30  20  20  20
CALERA      75  95  75  94  74 /  40  30  20  20  20
AUBURN      75  93  74  94  74 /  40  30  20  20  20
MONTGOMERY  75  93  74  93  74 /  40  30  20  20  20
TROY        73  91  72  92  72 /  40  20  20  20  20

&&

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

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 5, 12:36 PM CDT, 5 hours 31 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1236 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

ALZ011>015-017>050-061745-
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-
1236 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

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 FOR ALL OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA FROM 2 PM UNTIL 8 PM. THE MAIN THREATS FROM THESE STORMS
WILL BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND HAIL.

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

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BE
NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 5:55 PM CDT, 12 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
555 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

ALZ025-035-052345-
CHILTON AL-SHELBY AL-
555 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN SHELBY AND NORTHERN
CHILTON COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM CDT...

AT 552 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES NORTH OF UNION GROVE...OR 7 MILES EAST OF
CALERA...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 5 MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES 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...
  CALERA...
  JEMISON...
  UNION GROVE...
  THORSBY...
  GAP OF THE MOUNTAIN...

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 3296 8688 3318 8669 3310 8650 3309 8651
      3307 8651 3284 8662
TIME...MOT...LOC 2255Z 029DEG 5KT 3306 8664

MA

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 5:59 PM CDT, 8 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
559 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

ALZ026-052345-
ST. CLAIR AL-
559 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL ST. CLAIR COUNTY UNTIL
645 PM CDT...

AT 557 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF ODENVILLE...MOVING SOUTH AT 5 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...
  ODENVILLE...
  MOODY...
  BRANCHVILLE...
  MARGARET...
  BALD ROCK...

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 3381 8622 3353 8630 3361 8655 3365 8654
      3366 8652 3368 8652 3382 8642
TIME...MOT...LOC 2259Z 020DEG 6KT 3376 8635

MA

Local storm report, Jul 5, 6:02 PM CDT, 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
602 PM CDT THU JUL 05 2012

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

0552 PM     TSTM WND DMG     AUBURN                  32.59N 85.48W
07/05/2012                   LEE                AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TREES AND POWER LINES BLOWN DOWN NEAR EXIT 57 ON
            INTERSTATE 85.

&&

LINHARES

Local storm report, Jul 5, 6:04 PM CDT, 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
604 PM CDT THU JUL 05 2012

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

0600 PM     HAIL             ONEONTA                 33.95N 86.47W
07/05/2012  E1.75 INCH       BLOUNT             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTS JUST UNDER GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL
            ALONG HIGHWAY 75.

&&

Local storm report, Jul 5, 6:05 PM CDT, 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
605 PM CDT THU JUL 05 2012

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

0604 PM     HAIL             AUBURN                  32.59N 85.48W
07/05/2012  E0.25 INCH       LEE                AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

LINHARES

Local storm report, Jul 5, 6:07 PM CDT, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
607 PM CDT THU JUL 05 2012

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

0605 PM     HAIL             ODENVILLE               33.69N 86.40W
07/05/2012  E0.75 INCH       ST. CLAIR          AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

&&

LINHARES

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 5, 1:37 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cleburne	38 min
Jul 5, 1:39 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee	51 min
Jul 5, 2:15 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cleburne	45 min
Jul 5, 2:47 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Etowah	28 min
Jul 5, 2:59 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Calhoun	31 min
Jul 5, 3:21 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tallapoosa	39 min
Jul 5, 3:57 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Coosa	33 min
Jul 5, 4:09 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Russell	51 min
Jul 5, 4:21 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Russell	24 min
Jul 5, 4:26 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Coosa	49 min
Jul 5, 4:31 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lee	44 min
Jul 5, 4:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Russell	33 min
Jul 5, 4:58 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Blount	47 min
Jul 5, 5:11 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lee, Russell	49 min
Jul 5, 5:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	25 min
Jul 5, 5:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lee, Russell	18 min
Jul 5, 5:23 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Talladega	52 min
Jul 5, 5:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lee	47 min
Jul 5, 5:51 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	24 min
Jul 5, 5:55 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chilton	50 min
Jul 5, 5:59 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	St. Clair	46 min
Jul 5, 6:03 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	St. Clair	27 min
Jul 5, 6:20 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Lee	3 hr
Jul 5, 6:22 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee	53 min
Jul 5, 6:26 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Macon	49 min
Jul 5, 6:29 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	St. Clair	46 min
Jul 5, 6:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	St. Clair	29 min
Jul 5, 6:32 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lee	28 min
Jul 5, 6:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chilton, Shelby	35 min
Jul 5, 6:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, St. Clair	16 min
Jul 5, 6:52 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Talladega	38 min
Jul 5, 6:53 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chilton	52 min
Jul 5, 6:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Shelby, Talladega	35 min
Jul 5, 6:57 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Etowah	48 min
Jul 5, 6:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Macon, Tallapoosa	35 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.