Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 53, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 2, 2012Fayette County, Tuscaloosa County, Walker County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 2, 2012, 7:59 PM CST for Fayette County, Tuscaloosa County, Walker County, Alabama. It was in force for 46 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: Mar 2, 2012, 7:59 PM CST (01:59 UTC)
Expired: Mar 2, 2012, 8:45 PM CST
In force: 46 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Fayette County, AL, Tuscaloosa County, AL, Walker County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 66 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:02 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, 8:07 PM CST	HAIL 1.75	Samantha, AL

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

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 00:00Z, 2.0 hours before the alert went out and 65 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: 754 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -7 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1391 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 67 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 231 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 315 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.9
Supercell composite: 7.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

500 
WUUS54 KBMX 030159
SVRBMX
ALC057-125-127-030245-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0053.120303T0159Z-120303T0245Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  EAST CENTRAL FAYETTE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  NORTHERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  SOUTH CENTRAL WALKER COUNTY IN ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 845 PM CST

* AT 758 PM CST...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 LAKE
  LURLEEN STATE PARK...OR 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF NORTHPORT...AND MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  LAKE TUSCALOOSA BINION CREEK LANDING...SAMANTHA...BANKHEAD LOCK AND
  DAM...BOLEY SPRINGS...OAKMAN...GORGAS...GORGAS STEAM PLANT AND
  PARRISH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST SATURDAY MORNING
FOR ALABAMA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CST
FRIDAY EVENING FOR NORTHWESTERN ALABAMA.

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

LAT...LON 3385 8741 3363 8713 3360 8720 3355 8719
      3354 8723 3351 8725 3353 8727 3350 8726
      3350 8728 3348 8729 3349 8733 3346 8734
      3345 8732 3320 8767 3333 8782
TIME...MOT...LOC 0159Z 227DEG 51KT 3333 8766

$$

27

2 follow-up statements

130 
WWUS54 KBMX 030210
SVSBMX

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

ALC057-125-127-030245-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0053.000000T0000Z-120303T0245Z/
FAYETTE AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-WALKER AL-
810 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL
WALKER...NORTHERN TUSCALOOSA AND EAST CENTRAL FAYETTE COUNTIES UNTIL
845 PM CST...

AT 807 PM CST...THE PUBLIC REPORTED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING
GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR LAKE TUSCALOOSA BINION CREEK LANDING...OR 11
MILES NORTH OF NORTHPORT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BANKHEAD LOCK AND DAM...BOLEY SPRINGS...OAKMAN...GORGAS...GORGAS
  STEAM PLANT...PARRISH...WINDHAM SPRINGS...WILEY...WHITSON AND WEST
  CORONA.

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 3385 8741 3363 8713 3360 8720 3355 8719
      3354 8723 3351 8725 3353 8727 3350 8726
      3350 8729 3348 8729 3349 8733 3346 8734
      3345 8733 3330 8753 3339 8770
TIME...MOT...LOC 0210Z 222DEG 49KT 3343 8756

$$

17

166 
WWUS54 KBMX 030229
SVSBMX

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

ALC057-030239-
/O.CAN.KBMX.SV.W.0053.000000T0000Z-120303T0245Z/
FAYETTE AL-
829 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL FAYETTE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

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

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

LAT...LON 3385 8741 3363 8713 3360 8720 3355 8719
      3354 8723 3351 8725 3353 8727 3350 8726
      3350 8729 3348 8729 3349 8733 3345 8733
      3344 8749 3361 8745 3360 8742 3369 8742
      3369 8744
TIME...MOT...LOC 0229Z 227DEG 46KT 3360 8733

$$

ALC125-127-030245-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0053.000000T0000Z-120303T0245Z/
TUSCALOOSA AL-WALKER AL-
829 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL
WALKER AND NORTH CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA COUNTIES UNTIL 845 PM CST...

AT 826 PM CST...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 8 MILES
NORTH OF BANKHEAD LOCK AND DAM...OR 17 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CORDOVA...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  OAKMAN...GORGAS...GORGAS STEAM PLANT...PARRISH AND GOODSPRINGS.

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 3385 8741 3363 8713 3360 8720 3355 8719
      3354 8723 3351 8725 3353 8727 3350 8726
      3350 8729 3348 8729 3349 8733 3345 8733
      3344 8749 3361 8745 3360 8742 3369 8742
      3369 8744
TIME...MOT...LOC 0229Z 227DEG 46KT 3360 8733

$$

17

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 2, 6:01 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Winston	44 min
Mar 2, 6:01 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Coosa, Elmore	44 min
Mar 2, 6:05 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Walker	43 min
Mar 2, 6:11 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cleburne	49 min
Mar 2, 6:19 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cleburne	41 min
Mar 2, 6:22 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lowndes, Montgomery	15 min
Mar 2, 6:33 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Etowah	42 min
Mar 2, 6:44 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa	46 min
Mar 2, 6:44 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Sumter	46 min
Mar 2, 6:46 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Winston	29 min
Mar 2, 7:06 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Pickens, Sumter	39 min
Mar 2, 7:11 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee, Etowah	49 min
Mar 2, 7:15 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, St. Clair	45 min
Mar 2, 7:21 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Pickens, Sumter	39 min
Mar 2, 7:36 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Pickens	39 min
Mar 2, 7:49 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker	41 min
Mar 2, 7:51 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion, Walker, Winston	39 min
Mar 2, 8:13 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Walker	34 min
Mar 2, 8:17 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar	28 min
Mar 2, 8:38 PM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter	112 min
Mar 2, 8:38 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Dallas, Hale, Marengo, Perry	52 min
Mar 2, 8:56 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	49 min
Mar 2, 9:13 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chilton, Dallas, Perry	47 min
Mar 2, 9:16 PM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Walker, Winston	119 min
Mar 2, 9:45 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chilton	29 min
Mar 2, 9:47 PM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Blount	3 hr
Mar 2, 10:00 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, Talladega	45 min
Mar 2, 10:08 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, Talladega	24 min
Mar 2, 10:11 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Coosa	31 min
Mar 2, 10:22 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	38 min
Mar 2, 10:32 PM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Talladega	118 min
Mar 2, 10:34 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Tallapoosa	41 min
Mar 2, 10:37 PM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Jefferson	3 hr
Mar 2, 10:45 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee, Etowah	45 min
Mar 2, 10:46 PM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Blount, Etowah, St. Clair	3 hr
Mar 2, 10:52 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby	23 min
Mar 2, 11:00 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chambers	45 min
Mar 2, 11:05 PM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Dallas, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter	3 hr
Mar 2, 11:15 PM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Bibb, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega	3 hr
Mar 2, 11:47 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cleburne	15 min
Mar 3, 12:25 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Chilton, Clay, Coosa, Perry, Talladega, Tallapoosa	3 hr
Mar 3, 4:12 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Bibb, Chilton, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Marengo and 2 more	3 hr
Mar 3, 4:27 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Clay, Coosa, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega, Tallapoosa	3 hr
Mar 3, 4:33 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Calhoun, Chambers, Cleburne, Randolph, St. Clair	3 hr
Mar 3, 5:15 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Russell	45 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.