Alert archive / Alabama / Special Weather Statements in 2012

Special Weather Statement, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 5, 2012Dallas County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this special weather statement at Apr 5, 2012, 12:28 PM CDT for Dallas County, Alabama. It was in force for 32 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, 12:28 PM CDT (17:28 UTC)
Expired: Apr 5, 2012, 1:00 PM CDT
In force: 32 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL

County Dallas County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 118 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:30 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, 5.5 hours before the alert went out and 119 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.

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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 Apr 5, 12:27 PM CDT, 1 minute earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 5, 12:27 PM CDT, 1 minute before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1227 PM CDT THU APR 5 2012

.DISCUSSION...

MCS/SQUALL LINE CONTINUES TO MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA AND
SHOULD BE NEAR THE GEORGIA STATE LINE BETWEEN 3 TO 4 PM. SURFACE
HEATING AHEAD OF THE LINE SHOULD ALLOW IT STORMS TO CONTINUE TO BE
STRONG TO SEVERE AT TIMES. REMOVED SEVERAL COUNTIES FROM THE
WESTERN PART OF THE WATCH AS THE THREAT FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS HAS
ENDED. ADDED COUNTIES IN THE EAST AS THE LINE IS EXPECTED TO
MAINTAIN INTENSITY ACROSS THE STATE.

ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE NEAR THE UPPER
LOW IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI ALONG THE COLD FRONT. MID LEVEL DRY
SLOT AND CLEARING IS WORKING IN TO THE WESTERN PART OF ALABAMA AND
WILL ALLOW FOR SURFACE HEATING IN THE WAKE OF THE MCS. EXPECT
ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT THE NORTHWEST
PART OF THE AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND SPREAD SOUTHEASTWARD
ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE COLD CORE UPPER
LOW. HAIL WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREAT WITH THESE STORMS AS 500 MB
TEMPS OF -17 TO -19 C MOVE OVER THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE STATE.
THESE STORMS MAY LAST UNTIL A FEW HOURS AFTER SUNSET BEFORE
WEAKENING.

DID NOT UPDATE MUCH OF THE FORECAST BEYOND THE TONIGHT PERIOD DUE
TO ONGOING WEATHER. A GLANCE AT THE 12Z GFS SHOWS NO MAJOR CHANGES
ARE NECESSARY FOR THE EXTENDED AS COOLER AND DRIER NORTHWEST FLOW
CONTINUES INTO NEXT WEEK.

GRANTHAM/87

&&

.AVIATION...
12Z TAF DISCUSSION.

LARGE UPPER LOW SPINNING OVER WESTERN ARKANSAS WILL TRIGGER NUMEROUS
SHOWERS AND TSTMS ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA AS IT TRACKS EASTWARD
TOWARDS ALABAMA.  THERE HAS BEEN SOME LCL IFR VSBYS DUE TO FOG...BUT
THIS SHOULD CLEAR BY 13Z.

FORECAST WILL BE DIFFICULT TODAY DUE TO THE TIMING OF THE CLUSTERS
OF CONVECTION DEVELOPING AHEAD OF UPPER LOW. THE MAJORITY OF THE
CONVECTION SHOULD BE AFFECT TAF SITES BETWEEN 15Z AND 21Z...AND
INCLUDED TEMPO TSRA DURING THIS TIME FRAME.  ANY OF THE STORMS THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO PRODUCE LARGE HAIL. AS
THE CENTER OF THE UPPER LOW PASSES ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA BETWEEN
00Z AND 06Z...THERE COULD BE ANOTHER ROUND OF STORMS PRODUCING LARGE
HAIL.  NORTHWEST WINDS OF 5-10 KNOTS AND DRIER AIR BEHIND EXITING
UPPER LOW SHOULD KEEP CIGS ABOVE 3000 FEET AGL AND VSBYS AOA 5 MILES
AFTER 06Z.

58/ROSE

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     50  71  46  74  48 /  40  10   0   0   0
ANNISTON    52  72  47  74  49 /  40  10   0   0   0
BIRMINGHAM  49  73  49  74  51 /  40  10   0   0   0
TUSCALOOSA  51  74  49  76  50 /  30   0   0   0   0
CALERA      50  71  51  75  51 /  40  10   0   0   0
AUBURN      55  71  48  73  47 /  40  10   0   0   0
MONTGOMERY  54  76  51  76  50 /  30  10   0   0   0
TROY        55  75  50  74  48 /  30  10   0   0   0

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.

&&

87/58

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 5, 5:44 AM CDT, 6 hours 44 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, 11:01 AM CDT, 1 hour 27 minutes before

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Local storm report, Apr 5, 11:15 AM CDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Apr 5, 11:27 AM CDT, 1 hour 1 minute 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, 25 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

Special weather statement, Apr 5, 12:21 PM CDT, 7 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1221 PM CDT THU APR 5 2012

ALZ041-042-051815-
AUTAUGA AL-LOWNDES AL-
1221 PM CDT THU APR 5 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AUTAUGA AND LOWNDES COUNTIES
UNTIL 115 PM CDT...

AT 1219 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM PARNELL TO OLD CAHABA
PARK...AND MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  MOSSES...
  PRATTVILLE...
  HAYNEVILLE...
  BILLINGSLEY...
  MULBERRY...

THESE STORMS 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.

TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY.

&&

LAT...LON 3222 8691 3223 8681 3228 8686 3231 8683
      3232 8685 3236 8681 3240 8684 3242 8683
      3254 8691 3266 8692 3266 8672 3269 8671
      3271 8641 3241 8641 3241 8646 3234 8649
      3228 8648 3224 8641 3206 8641 3206 8690
TIME...MOT...LOC 1721Z 270DEG 23KT 3266 8688 3228 8703

61

Special weather statement, Apr 5, 12:28 PM CDT, 0 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1228 PM CDT THU APR 5 2012

ALZ040-051800-
DALLAS AL-
1228 PM CDT THU APR 5 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN DALLAS COUNTY UNTIL 100
PM CDT...

AT 1226 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR DALLAS LAKE...OR 8 MILES SOUTH OF SELMONT-WEST
SELMONT...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  TYLER...

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.

&&

LAT...LON 3206 8718 3209 8721 3209 8723 3221 8733
      3238 8688 3223 8689 3222 8691 3204 8690
      3204 8718
TIME...MOT...LOC 1728Z 261DEG 25KT 3227 8701

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, 12:03 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chilton, Shelby	57 min
Apr 5, 12:21 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Autauga, Lowndes	54 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.