Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 234, NWS Birmingham, AL

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

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 5, 2012, 10:01 PM CDT for Jefferson County, St. Clair County, Alabama. It was in force for 29 min. 1 report 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, 10:01 PM CDT (03:01 UTC)
Expired: Jul 5, 2012, 10:30 PM CDT
In force: 29 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Jefferson County, AL, St. Clair County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 65 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:05 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, 10:20 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Pell City, AL	TREES DOWN IN CITY LIMITS OF PELL CITY

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 19 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 00:00Z, 3.0 hours before the alert went out and 179 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: 1415 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -21 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 2090 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 66 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 117 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 3.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

251 
WUUS54 KBMX 060301
SVRBMX
ALC073-115-060330-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0234.120706T0301Z-120706T0330Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1001 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN ALABAMA...
  SOUTHERN ST. CLAIR COUNTY IN ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 1030 PM CDT

* AT 1001 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A LINE OF
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS
  OF 60 MPH.  THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM
  CLAY TO PELL CITY...AND MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 55 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MOODY...TRUSSVILLE...BALD ROCK...PINSON AND CENTER POINT.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 147 THROUGH 162...
INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBERS 141 THROUGH 148...

WINDS OF 60 TO 70 MPH WILL BREAK LARGE TREE LIMBS AND CAUSE SOME
DAMAGE...ESPECIALLY TO SMALLER STRUCTURES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FOR YOUR PROTECTION...MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF
YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
IN BIRMINGHAM.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3376 8665 3376 8658 3379 8658 3367 8618
      3363 8616 3362 8617 3361 8620 3359 8619
      3359 8622 3356 8621 3349 8630 3367 8681
      3383 8674
TIME...MOT...LOC 0301Z 051DEG 48KT 3370 8661 3358 8633

$$

75

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, 7:45 PM CDT, 2 hours 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 5, 7:45 PM CDT, 2 hours 16 minutes before

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

.UPDATE...
AVIATION.

&&

.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...
00Z TAF DISCUSSION.

MAINLY DIURNALLY DRIVEN THUNDERSTORMS...COMBINED WITH COLD POOL
INTERACTIONS...HAVE PRODUCED SOME STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS ACROSS THE
AREA. THESE STORMS ARE SLOWLY PROPAGATING SOUTH SOUTHWEST. EXPECT
MUCH OF THIS ACTIVITY TO LOSE COVERAGE AND INTENSITY BETWEEN 10 AND
MIDNIGHT. AN MCS ACROSS TENNESSEE HAS BEEN SLOWLY LOSING INTENSITY
THE PAST HOUR OR SO BUT STILL REMAINS FAIRLY STRONG. WILL WATCH FOR
THIS ACTIVITY TO MOVE INTO PARTS OF NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA IN THE
NEXT FEW HOURS. ONCE AGAIN...EXPECT THIS ACTIVITY TO SLOWLY LOSE
INTENSITY. MENTION TEMPO/VCTS FOR MOST LOCATIONS THROUGH 04Z.
EXPECTED SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN TOMORROW BIB DID NOT MENTION
ANYTHING JUST YET. HAVE KEPT PATCHY MVFR VIS FOR THE NORMAL PROBLEM
TAF SITES FOR NOW...SINCE VISIBILITIES WILL GREATLY DEPEND ON WHERE
THE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP AND MOVE. RAIN AREAS WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE
A BETTER CHANCE OF RESTRICTIONS.

75

&&

.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, 7:42 PM CDT, 2 hours 19 minutes before

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

ALZ011>015-017>050-070045-
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-
742 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...TONIGHT.

SCATTERED TO ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR
ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. THE STORMS WILL LOSE SOME INTENSITY
BETWEEN 10 AND MIDNIGHT. THE MAIN THREATS FROM THESE STORMS WILL
BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND LARGE 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

Local storm report, Jul 5, 9:43 PM CDT, 18 minutes before

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

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

0900 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 N HOKES BLUFF         34.04N 85.86W
07/05/2012                   ETOWAH             AL   PUBLIC

            TREES DOWN ALONG COATS BEND RD.

&&

ANDERSON

Local storm report, Jul 5, 9:48 PM CDT, 13 minutes before

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

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

0930 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 ENE OHATCHEE          33.80N 85.97W
07/05/2012                   CALHOUN            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            POWERLINES DOWN ON THE EAST SIDE OF OHATCHEE.

&&

ANDERSON

Local storm report, Jul 5, 9:49 PM CDT, 12 minutes before

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

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

0718 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 N CALERA              33.15N 86.75W
07/05/2012                   SHELBY             AL   NWS EMPLOYEE

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN NEAR THE CONCORD CHURCH. THE SYSCO
            BUILDING SUSTAINED ROOF DAMAGE AND VERY LARGE BAY DOORS
            WERE BLOWN DOWN.

&&

LINHARES

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 9:52 PM CDT, 9 minutes before

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

ALZ017-019-024>028-060330-
BLOUNT AL-CALHOUN AL-CLAY AL-JEFFERSON AL-SHELBY AL-ST. CLAIR
AL-TALLADEGA AL-
952 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN TALLADEGA...NORTHEASTERN
SHELBY...SOUTHERN ST. CLAIR...NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON...NORTHERN
CLAY...SOUTHWESTERN BLOUNT AND SOUTHERN CALHOUN COUNTIES UNTIL 1030
PM CDT...

AT 952 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOW WINDS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES NORTH
OF DELTA TO ALPINE TO ARKADELPHIA...AND MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 25 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH WELL AHEAD OF THE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  LEEDS...
  GARDENDALE...
  CENTER POINT...
  ALPINE...
  LOGAN MARTIN DAM...

&&

LAT...LON 3366 8606 3363 8569 3362 8569 3360 8574
      3356 8575 3356 8579 3347 8589 3347 8579
      3350 8576 3349 8573 3333 8585 3336 8626
      3376 8698 3390 8685
TIME...MOT...LOC 0252Z 028DEG 23KT 3353 8568 3337 8620
          3383 8700

75

Local storm report, Jul 5, 9:54 PM CDT, 7 minutes before

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

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

0930 PM     HAIL             SNEAD                   34.12N 86.40W
07/05/2012  E0.25 INCH       BLOUNT             AL   PUBLIC

&&

ANDERSON

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 9:58 PM CDT, 3 minutes before

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

ALZ014-015-060345-
WALKER AL-WINSTON AL-
958 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WINSTON AND NORTHEASTERN WALKER
COUNTIES UNTIL 1045 PM CDT...

AT 958 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 13 MILES EAST OF
RUSSELLVILLE TO 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF BRUSHY LAKE TO INMANFIELD TO 6
MILES NORTHEAST OF SMITH DAM...AND MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 20 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  ARLEY...
  SUMITON...
  JASPER...
  DORA...
  ADDISON...

THESE STORMS 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3430 8712 3426 8710 3399 8710 3397 8713
      3396 8710 3390 8708 3390 8701 3384 8696
      3380 8695 3378 8697 3377 8703 3370 8704
      3366 8707 3403 8745 3411 8759 3431 8762
TIME...MOT...LOC 0258Z 037DEG 16KT 3455 8752 3437 8736
          3429 8721 3401 8706

75

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 5, 7:14 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Shelby	46 min
Jul 5, 7:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Bibb, Chilton	45 min
Jul 5, 7:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Shelby, Talladega	22 min
Jul 5, 7:48 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee	42 min
Jul 5, 7:51 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Shelby	39 min
Jul 5, 8:01 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Shelby	29 min
Jul 5, 8:04 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chilton	41 min
Jul 5, 8:11 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee, Cleburne	34 min
Jul 5, 8:22 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee	23 min
Jul 5, 8:35 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chilton, Coosa	40 min
Jul 5, 8:40 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Autauga, Dallas	50 min
Jul 5, 8:47 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Calhoun, Cleburne, Etowah	28 min
Jul 5, 8:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Etowah	51 min
Jul 5, 9:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Etowah, St. Clair	38 min
Jul 5, 9:32 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, St. Clair	28 min
Jul 5, 9:35 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Dallas, Marengo	40 min
Jul 5, 9:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Montgomery	39 min
Jul 5, 9:52 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	St. Clair, Talladega	38 min
Jul 5, 9:58 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Winston	47 min
Jul 5, 10:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion, Winston	39 min
Jul 5, 10:10 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tuscaloosa	50 min
Jul 5, 10:17 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Montgomery	43 min
Jul 5, 10:23 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marengo	52 min
Jul 5, 10:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion, Winston	61 min
Jul 5, 11:11 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Walker	34 min
Jul 5, 11:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar	60 min
Jul 5, 11:32 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Russell	43 min
Jul 6, 12:14 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Pickens	46 min
Jul 6, 12:17 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Barbour, Russell	43 min
Jul 6, 12:30 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Barbour	45 min
Jul 6, 1:01 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Barbour, Russell	44 min
Jul 6, 1:44 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Barbour	46 min
Jul 6, 3:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	28 min
Jul 6, 3:29 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	46 min
Jul 6, 3:35 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Bibb	40 min
Jul 6, 3:37 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	38 min
Jul 6, 3:47 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene	43 min
Jul 6, 3:53 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lamar	52 min
Jul 6, 3:58 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	47 min
Jul 6, 4:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar	43 min
Jul 6, 4:22 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Winston	38 min
Jul 6, 4:27 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette	48 min
Jul 6, 4:32 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene	43 min
Jul 6, 4:48 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	42 min
Jul 6, 5:00 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lamar	45 min
Jul 6, 5:28 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	47 min
Jul 6, 5:38 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene, Hale	52 min
Jul 6, 6:27 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	48 min
Jul 6, 6:39 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tuscaloosa	51 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.