Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 34, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 2, 2012Jefferson County, Walker County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 2, 2012, 4:39 PM CST for Jefferson County, Walker County, Alabama. It was in force for 53 min. 2 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: Mar 2, 2012, 4:39 PM CST (22:39 UTC)
Expired: Mar 2, 2012, 5:32 PM CST
In force: 53 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Jefferson County, AL, Walker County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 64 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:43 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
Mar 2, 4:50 PM CST	HAIL 1	Dora, AL
Mar 2, 5:04 PM CST	HAIL 0.75	5 Wnw Gardendale, AL	REPORTED IN THE MOUNT OLIVE AREA.

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 11 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Mar 2, 1:20 PM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	9 hr
Mar 2, 4:37 PM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 10.7 hours before the alert went out and 63 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: 544 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -15 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 530 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 59 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 180 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 204 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.6
Supercell composite: 2.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

221 
WUUS54 KBMX 022239
SVRBMX
ALC073-127-022345-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0034.120302T2239Z-120302T2345Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
439 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN ALABAMA...
  SOUTHEASTERN WALKER COUNTY IN ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 545 PM CST

* AT 434 PM CST...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
  GORGAS...OR 10 MILES SOUTH OF CORDOVA...AND MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  DORA...SUMITON...FULTONDALE...GARDENDALE...BURNWELL...WEST
  JEFFERSON...QUINTON AND GRAYSVILLE.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 271 THROUGH 281...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 78 THROUGH 91...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. TORNADOES CAN
DEVELOP QUICKLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. ALTHOUGH NOT IMMEDIATELY
LIKELY...IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF
SAFETY INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL
INTERIOR ROOM.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3382 8672 3380 8670 3378 8666 3361 8663
      3357 8717 3371 8719 3383 8675
TIME...MOT...LOC 2239Z 258DEG 30KT 3364 8719

$$

61

3 follow-up statements

157 
WWUS54 KBMX 022301
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
501 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

ALC127-022311-
/O.CAN.KBMX.SV.W.0034.000000T0000Z-120302T2345Z/
WALKER AL-
501 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN WALKER COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED THE WARNED AREA.

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

LAT...LON 3382 8672 3380 8670 3378 8666 3362 8664
      3361 8701 3373 8702 3383 8675
TIME...MOT...LOC 2301Z 256DEG 48KT 3370 8686

$$

ALC073-022345-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0034.000000T0000Z-120302T2345Z/
JEFFERSON AL-
501 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTH CENTRAL
JEFFERSON COUNTY UNTIL 545 PM CST...

AT 500 PM CST...THE PUBLIC REPORTED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING
QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR GARDENDALE...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  FULTONDALE...GARDENDALE...MORRIS...KIMBERLY...TRAFFORD...CENTER
  POINT...PINSON AND NEW CASTLE.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 271 THROUGH 281...
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 85 THROUGH 87...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. TORNADOES CAN
DEVELOP QUICKLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. ALTHOUGH NOT IMMEDIATELY
LIKELY...IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF
SAFETY INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL
INTERIOR ROOM.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3382 8672 3380 8670 3378 8666 3362 8664
      3361 8701 3373 8702 3383 8675
TIME...MOT...LOC 2301Z 256DEG 48KT 3370 8686

$$

658 
WWUS54 KBMX 022317
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
517 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

ALC073-022345-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0034.000000T0000Z-120302T2345Z/
JEFFERSON AL-
517 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN
JEFFERSON COUNTY UNTIL 545 PM CST...

AT 516 PM CST...THE PUBLIC REPORTED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING
QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR CLAY...OR 8 MILES NORTH OF TRUSSVILLE...MOVING
EAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. TORNADOES CAN
DEVELOP QUICKLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. ALTHOUGH NOT IMMEDIATELY
LIKELY...IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF
SAFETY INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL
INTERIOR ROOM.

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL. SEEK SHELTER NOW
INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3382 8672 3378 8666 3362 8664 3362 8673
      3382 8677 3383 8675
TIME...MOT...LOC 2317Z 256DEG 48KT 3375 8661

$$

27

644 
WWUS54 KBMX 022332
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
532 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

ALC073-022342-
/O.CAN.KBMX.SV.W.0034.000000T0000Z-120302T2345Z/
JEFFERSON AL-
532 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY
IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED
AREA.

ADDITIONAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE STILL POSSIBLE...AND A TORNADO 
WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM.

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

LAT...LON 3382 8672 3378 8666 3362 8664 3362 8673
      3382 8677 3383 8675
TIME...MOT...LOC 2332Z 256DEG 48KT 3379 8637

$$

27

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 Mar 2, 2:53 PM CST, 1 hour 46 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 2, 2:53 PM CST, 1 hour 46 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
253 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

.DISCUSSION...

AS OF EARLY THIS AFTERNOON CONVECTION HAS BEEN OCCURRING ACROSS
PORTIONS OF NORTH ALABAMA...EASTERN MISSISSIPPI AND WESTERN
TENNESSEE. THESE STORMS ARE FORMING WELL AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT THAT
IS CURRENTLY LOCATED ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THESE
THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORMING IN A MOIST AND UNSTABLE BOUNDARY LAYER
WITH TEMPERATURES TODAY RISING UP INTO THE UPPER 70S AND LOWER 80S.
THE SOUNDING FROM BMX AT 18Z INDICATED NEARLY 1400 J/KG OF CAPE WITH
NO CAP TO LIMIT CONVECTION FROM FORMING THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
WINDS ARE CURRENTLY SOUTHWEST ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA AHEAD OF THE
APPROACHING FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR LOW LEVEL WIND FIELDS ANY
BACKING OF THE WINDS OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS COULD INCREASE THE
LIKELIHOOD FOR TORNADIC SUPERCELLS. NEAR SUNSET THE LOW LEVEL WINDS
FIELDS BECOME MORE UNIDIRECTIONAL AS A SQUALL LINE FORMS ACROSS
CENTRAL ALABAMA.

LATEST MODELS MOVE THE COLD FRONT THROUGH CENTRAL ALABAMA BY 18Z
SATURDAY. A FEW SHOWERS COULD LINGER BEHIND THE FRONT INTO SATURDAY
NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA AS
ANOTHER SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES THROUGH THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S. STRONG
COLD AIR ADVECTION AND CLEARING BEHIND THE FRONT WILL PUSH
TEMPERATURES INTO THE 30S ACROSS THE CENTRAL ALABAMA SATURDAY NIGHT
INTO SUNDAY MORNING. AS THE STRONG UPPER LEVEL JET EJECTS
NORTHEAST...HEIGHT RISES WILL OCCUR ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S.
WITH UPPER LEVEL RIDGING BUILDING LATE WEEKEND AND INTO EARLY NEXT
WEEK. THIS PATTERN WILL LEAD TO TEMPERATURES NEAR NORMAL FOR THIS
TIME OF YEAR WITH LOWS IN THE UPPER 30 AND LOWER 40S AND HIGHS IN THE
UPPER 60S AND LOWER 70S. MODELS DIFFER ON WHEN THE NEXT SYSTEM WILL
IMPACT THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S. WITH THE GFS SHOWING A MORE PROGRESSIVE
UPPER LEVEL WAVE THAT WOULD IMPACT THE REGION ON WEDNESDAY. WHILE
THE ECMWF HAS A MUCH SLOWER SYSTEM AS THE UPPER LEVEL LOW CLOSES OFF
OVER THE DESERT SOUTHWEST AND SLOWLY PROGRESSES EASTWARD BRINGING
PRECIPITATION CHANCES ON FRIDAY. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR MODEL
TRENDS FOR PRECIPITATION CHANCES MID TO LATE NEXT WEEK.

ANDERSON

&&

.AVIATION...

18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

CEILINGS RISING TO VFR THIS AFTERNOON. WINDS FROM THE SOUTH AND
GUSTY TO NEAR 25 KTS AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING STORM SYSTEM. LATE
THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EVENING...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS
WILL DEVELOP AHEAD OF A SQUALL LINE. AT THIS POINT...THE HEAVIEST
RAINFALL AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD FALL BETWEEN 23Z AND 06Z ACROSS
THE NORTH...AND IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS NEAR MGM AND TOI.
TIMING WILL HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED AS THE ACTUAL STORMS BEGIN TO
DEVELOP.

AFTER THE MAIN CONVECTIVE LINE PUSHES THROUGH...STEADY LIGHT RAIN
IS EXPECTED THROUGH MUCH OF THE MID MORNING HOURS WITH SOME
IMPROVING CONDITIONS TO VFR POSSIBLE ACROSS THE NORTH BY LATE
MORNING.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     46  53  33  58  38 / 100  30  10  10  10
ANNISTON    49  54  34  58  41 / 100  30  10  10  10
BIRMINGHAM  47  54  35  58  43 / 100  30  10  10  10
TUSCALOOSA  47  55  35  61  42 / 100  20  10  10  10
CALERA      49  54  35  59  43 / 100  30  10  10  10
AUBURN      57  60  36  59  41 /  80  60  30  10  10
MONTGOMERY  55  61  37  62  42 /  90  60  20  10  10
TROY        61  62  36  61  41 /  60  80  30  10  10

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA.

&&

05/05/88

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 2, 6:24 AM CST, 10 hours 15 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
624 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

ALZ011>015-017>050-031230-
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-
624 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS NORTHWEST
CENTRAL ALABAMA AHEAD OF AND ALONG A STRONG COLD FRONT...AND
CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST. ALL
SEVERE WEATHER MODES WILL BE POSSIBLE...INCLUDING DAMAGING STRAIGHT
LINE WINDS...TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL...AND FLASH FLOODING. THE
HIGHEST THREAT AREA FOR TORNADOES WILL BE ALONG AND NORTH OF
INTERSTATE 20. THE SEVERE THREAT WILL END EARLY SATURDAY MORNING AS
THE FRONT EXITS TO THE SOUTHEAST.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE
POSSIBLE SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE 85 CORRIDOR...AHEAD OF AND ALONG A
STRONG COLD FRONT EXITING SOUTHEAST CENTRAL ALABAMA. ALL SEVERE
WEATHER MODES WILL BE POSSIBLE...INCLUDING DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE
WINDS...LARGE HAIL...ISOLATED TORNADOES...AND FLASH FLOODING.

A DRY AIRMASS WILL SPREAD ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA NEXT WEEK RESULTING
IN LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES AND POSSIBLE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS TUESDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL LIKELY BE
NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 2, 4:32 PM CST, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
432 PM CST FRI MAR 02 2012

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

0431 PM     HAIL             JASPER                  33.85N 87.27W
03/02/2012  E1.00 INCH       WALKER             AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            1302 8TH AVE.

&&

MBAER

Local storm report, Mar 2, 4:36 PM CST, 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
436 PM CST FRI MAR 02 2012

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

0431 PM     TSTM WND DMG     JASPER                  33.85N 87.27W
03/02/2012                   WALKER             AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            SR 269 AND 24TH ST - TREES DOWN

&&

MBAER

Local storm report, Mar 2, 4:39 PM CST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
439 PM CST FRI MAR 02 2012

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

0437 PM     HAIL             SIPSEY                  33.82N 87.09W
03/02/2012  E1.00 INCH       WALKER             AL   AMATEUR RADIO

&&

MBAER

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 2, 4:53 AM CST	Wind Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more	13 hr
Mar 2, 2:46 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	44 min
Mar 2, 2:59 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Pickens	46 min
Mar 2, 3:26 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Pickens, Tuscaloosa	49 min
Mar 2, 3:38 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion	52 min
Mar 2, 3:47 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Winston	43 min
Mar 2, 4:05 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker	40 min
Mar 2, 4:16 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker	44 min
Mar 2, 4:23 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion, Winston	31 min
Mar 2, 4:46 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	48 min
Mar 2, 4:53 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marengo	52 min
Mar 2, 5:16 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Jefferson, St. Clair	44 min
Mar 2, 5:43 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lowndes	47 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.