Alert archive / Alabama / Special Weather Statements in 2012

Special Weather Statement, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 5, 2012Chilton County, Shelby County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this special weather statement at Apr 5, 2012, 12:03 PM CDT for Chilton County, Shelby County, Alabama. It was in force for 57 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: Apr 5, 2012, 12:03 PM CDT (17:03 UTC)
Expired: Apr 5, 2012, 1:00 PM CDT
In force: 57 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL

Counties Chilton County, AL, Shelby County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 25 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:07 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 12:00Z, 5.1 hours before the alert went out and 26 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: 315 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -31 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 754 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -91 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: -43 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: -1.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

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 Apr 5, 10:42 AM CDT, 1 hour 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 5, 10:42 AM CDT, 1 hour 21 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 5, 5:44 AM CDT, 6 hours 19 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
544 AM CDT THU APR 5 2012

ALZ011>015-017>050-061045-
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-
544 AM CDT THU APR 5 2012

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR ALL OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. THE THREAT OF TORNADOES IS VERY LOW AT
THIS TIME. THERE MAY BE MORE THAN ONE WAVE OF STORMS THAT MOVE
THROUGH CENTRAL ALABAMA THROUGHOUT THE DAY BETWEEN THE HOURS OF
10 AM AND 10 PM.

.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
NECESSARY THURSDAY.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 5, 10:49 AM CDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Local storm report, Apr 5, 11:01 AM CDT, 1 hour 2 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Local storm report, Apr 5, 11:15 AM CDT, 48 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Special weather statement, Apr 5, 11:27 AM CDT, 36 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1127 AM CDT THU APR 5 2012

ALZ039-051715-
MARENGO AL-
1127 AM CDT THU APR 5 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MARENGO COUNTY UNTIL 1215 PM
CDT...

AT 1123 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR NANAFALIA...OR 14 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LINDEN...
MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES IS EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  LINDEN...
  SWEET WATER...
  PIN HOOK...
  WAYNE...
  DIXONS MILL...

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...AND A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN
EFFECT FOR THIS AREA. 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 3215 8804 3215 8802 3218 8801 3223 8802
      3247 8780 3245 8753 3220 8753 3213 8756
      3212 8762 3200 8762 3200 8765 3198 8767
      3201 8806
TIME...MOT...LOC 1628Z 266DEG 25KT 3214 8790

61

Special weather statement, Apr 5, 12:03 PM CDT, 0 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1203 PM CDT THU APR 5 2012

ALZ025-034-035-051800-
BIBB AL-CHILTON AL-SHELBY AL-
1203 PM CDT THU APR 5 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN SHELBY...CHILTON AND
EASTERN BIBB COUNTIES UNTIL 100 PM CDT...

AT NOON CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES SOUTH OF ASHBY...OR 10 MILES EAST OF
CENTREVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 35 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...
  MONTEVALLO...
  ALABASTER...
  JEMISON...
  CALERA...
  CLANTON...

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3284 8703 3322 8702 3337 8648 3320 8648
      3318 8651 3315 8648 3311 8647 3309 8651
      3301 8652 3293 8652 3287 8647 3272 8646
      3271 8671 3269 8672 3266 8701
TIME...MOT...LOC 1703Z 260DEG 32KT 3295 8692

61

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 5, 9:41 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Pickens, Sumter	64 min
Apr 5, 10:26 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Tuscaloosa	64 min
Apr 5, 11:07 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Perry	53 min
Apr 5, 11:27 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marengo	48 min
Apr 5, 11:44 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Dallas, Marengo	46 min
Apr 5, 12:21 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Autauga, Lowndes	54 min
Apr 5, 12:28 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Dallas	32 min
Apr 5, 12:49 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Coosa, Elmore	56 min
Apr 5, 12:56 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Montgomery	64 min
Apr 5, 3:56 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	49 min
Apr 5, 4:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar	28 min
Apr 5, 4:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion	49 min
Apr 5, 4:52 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	38 min
Apr 5, 5:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion, Walker, Winston	66 min
Apr 5, 5:24 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Hale	51 min
Apr 5, 5:36 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tuscaloosa	39 min
Apr 5, 5:38 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker	52 min
Apr 5, 5:59 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Jefferson	46 min
Apr 5, 6:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	39 min
Apr 5, 6:09 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Dallas	51 min
Apr 5, 6:14 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Blount	46 min
Apr 5, 6:18 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chilton	42 min
Apr 5, 6:25 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Bibb	65 min
Apr 5, 6:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Dallas, Lowndes	48 min
Apr 5, 6:28 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Shelby	47 min
Apr 5, 6:33 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Chilton, Shelby	42 min
Apr 5, 6:37 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chilton, Dallas, Elmore, Perry	53 min
Apr 5, 6:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby	47 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.