Alert archive / Alabama / Special Weather Statements in 2012

Special Weather Statement, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 31, 2012Lamar County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this special weather statement at Mar 31, 2012, 11:29 PM CDT for Lamar County, Alabama. It was in force for 46 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Mar 31, 2012, 11:29 PM CDT (04:29 UTC)
Expired: Apr 1, 2012, 12:15 AM CDT
In force: 46 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL

County Lamar County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 26 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:31 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 4.5 hours before the alert went out and 144 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: 927 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -7 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1532 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 21 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 71 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

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What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this special weather statement 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 special weather statement went out at Mar 31, 11:02 PM CDT, 27 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 31, 11:02 PM CDT, 27 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 31, 8:21 PM CDT, 3 hours 8 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
821 PM CDT SAT MAR 31 2012

ALZ011>015-017>050-020130-
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-
821 PM CDT SAT MAR 31 2012

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING
HOURS TONIGHT...MAINLY FOR AREAS WEST OF INTERSTATE 65. THE PRIMARY
THREAT FROM ANY SEVERE STORMS ARE LARGE HAIL...WITH DAMAGING
STRAIGHT LINE WINDS A SECONDARY THREAT.

AREAS OF FOG MAY REDEVELOP ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA
OVERNIGHT...REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO ONE MILE OR LESS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

THE NEXT ROUND OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE FROM TUESDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA.
THE HAZARDOUS THREATS INCLUDE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND
LARGE HAIL. THE STORMS WILL DEVELOP ALONG AND AHEAD OF A COLD
FRONT THAT WILL PUSH ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA BY EARLY THURSDAY.
MODELS CONTINUE TO TREND SLOWER WITH THIS SYSTEM SO THERE MAY
STILL BE CHANGES AS WE APPROACH THESE DAYS.

WE ARE IN THE HEART OF SEVERE WEATHER SEASON...SO PAY SPECIAL
ATTENTION TO ADDITIONAL DETAILS AS WE APPROACH THESE POTENTIAL
HAZARDOUS DAYS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BECOME
NECESSARY TONIGHT AND EARLY NEXT WEEK.

14

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 31, 9:39 PM CDT, 1 hour 50 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
939 PM CDT SAT MAR 31 2012

ALZ034-010330-
BIBB AL-
939 PM CDT SAT MAR 31 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BIBB COUNTY UNTIL 1030 PM CDT...

AT 937 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR WOODSTOCK JUNCTION...OR 15 MILES NORTH OF
CENTREVILLE...MOVING SOUTH AT 25 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  CENTREVILLE...
  BRENT...
  WEST BLOCTON...
  WEST CENTREVILLE...
  SIX MILE...

&&

LAT...LON 3313 8720 3318 8720 3323 8714 3294 8690
      3286 8718 3313 8722
TIME...MOT...LOC 0239Z 341DEG 24KT 3317 8717

GRANTHAM

Special weather statement, Mar 31, 9:56 PM CDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
956 PM CDT SAT MAR 31 2012

ALZ035-040-041-010345-
AUTAUGA AL-CHILTON AL-DALLAS AL-
956 PM CDT SAT MAR 31 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN AUTAUGA...NORTHEASTERN
DALLAS AND SOUTHWESTERN CHILTON COUNTIES UNTIL 1045 PM CDT...

AT 951 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR PARNELL...OR 12 MILES NORTHEAST OF VALLEY GRANDE...
MOVING SOUTH AT 30 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...
  BURNSVILLE...
  MULBERRY...
  GARDNER ISLAND...
  TYLER...
  VALLEY CREEK JUNCTION...

&&

LAT...LON 3272 8699 3274 8677 3236 8670 3241 8672
      3239 8674 3239 8678 3233 8678 3231 8680
      3234 8682 3232 8685 3230 8683 3227 8686
      3223 8681 3223 8682 3222 8697
TIME...MOT...LOC 0256Z 353DEG 25KT 3263 8687

GRANTHAM

Special weather statement, Mar 31, 9:57 PM CDT, 1 hour 32 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
957 PM CDT SAT MAR 31 2012

ALZ011-010345-
MARION AL-
957 PM CDT SAT MAR 31 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN MARION COUNTY UNTIL
1045 PM CDT...

AT 954 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES SOUTH OF RED BAY...MOVING SOUTH AT 25 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...
  WESTON...
  SHOTTSVILLE...
  BEXAR...
  BYRD...

&&

LAT...LON 3432 8806 3405 8800 3406 8821 3430 8819
      3433 8817
TIME...MOT...LOC 0258Z 355DEG 23KT 3431 8818

GRANTHAM

Local storm report, Mar 31, 10:27 PM CDT, 1 hour 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1027 PM CDT SAT MAR 31 2012

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

1025 PM     HAIL             5 SW SHOTSVILLE         34.21N 88.18W
03/31/2012  E1.75 INCH       MARION             AL   STORM CHASER

            STORM CHASER REPORTED GOLF BALL HAIL FALLING NEAR THE
            STATE LINE ON U.S. HIGHWAY 78.

&&

GRANTHAM

Local storm report, Mar 31, 11:08 PM CDT, 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1108 PM CDT SAT MAR 31 2012

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

1105 PM     HAIL             2 NE DETROIT            34.05N 88.15W
03/31/2012  E1.50 INCH       LAMAR              AL   STORM CHASER

            STORM CHASER REPORTED PING PONG BALL SIZE HAIL ALONG
            HIGHWAY 17 NORTHEAST OF DETROIT.

&&

GRANTHAM

Special weather statement, Mar 31, 11:29 PM CDT, 0 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1129 PM CDT SAT MAR 31 2012

ALZ012-010515-
LAMAR AL-
1129 PM CDT SAT MAR 31 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN LAMAR COUNTY UNTIL
1215 AM CDT...

AT 1126 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR DETROIT...OR 6 MILES NORTH OF SULLIGENT...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 15 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...
  CREWS...
  BEAVERTON...

&&

LAT...LON 3388 8795 3380 8810 3401 8817 3405 8810
TIME...MOT...LOC 0429Z 334DEG 11KT 3397 8812

GRANTHAM

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 31, 7:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	47 min
Mar 31, 7:15 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Clay, Randolph, Talladega	45 min
Mar 31, 7:23 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker	52 min
Mar 31, 7:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Winston	51 min
Mar 31, 7:55 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chambers, Coosa, Elmore, Lee, Tallapoosa	50 min
Mar 31, 7:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa	47 min
Mar 31, 8:14 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker	46 min
Mar 31, 8:21 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Shelby	24 min
Mar 31, 8:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Walker, Winston	47 min
Mar 31, 8:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Chilton, Shelby	39 min
Mar 31, 8:44 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Jefferson, Shelby	106 min
Mar 31, 8:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa	46 min
Mar 31, 9:10 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chilton	50 min
Mar 31, 9:12 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Walker	48 min
Mar 31, 9:39 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Bibb	51 min
Mar 31, 9:56 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Autauga	49 min
Mar 31, 9:57 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	48 min
Mar 31, 10:03 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	42 min
Mar 31, 10:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion	51 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Alabama, 2012 Every special weather statement 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.