Alert archive / Alabama / Special Weather Statements in 2012

Special Weather Statement, NWS Birmingham, AL

July 5, 2012Etowah County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this special weather statement at Jul 5, 2012, 6:57 PM CDT for Etowah County, Alabama. It was in force for 48 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: Jul 5, 2012, 6:57 PM CDT (23:57 UTC)
Expired: Jul 5, 2012, 7:45 PM CDT
In force: 48 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL

County Etowah County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:59 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, 12.0 hours before the alert went out and 104 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: 1129 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -104 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1533 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 11 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 24 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 46 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

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 Jul 5, 3:21 PM CDT, 3 hours 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 5, 3:21 PM CDT, 3 hours 36 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
321 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

.DISCUSSION...

FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS WATCHING THE CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS
HEADING SOUTHWARD OUT OF EASTERN KY. THERE ARE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WATCHES OUT NOT TOO FAR FROM THE CWA BORDER...AND A ROUGH AND
DIRTY TIMING PUTS THE LEADING EDGE OF THIS CLUSTER INTO OUR
NORTHEAST COUNTIES BETWEEN 7 AND 8 PM. I'VE HEDGED THE POPS HIGHER
IN THE NORTHEAST DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS CLUSTER OF STORMS
GETTING INTO CENTRAL ALABAMA. ELSEWHERE AND OTHERWISE...STORMS
WILL BE MORE ISOLATED.

THE CENTER OF THE BIG UPPER LEVEL RIDGE THAT BROUGHT THE HEAT
WAVE TO OUR AREA OVER THE WEEKEND AND EARLY THIS WEEK HAS SHIFTED
BACK NORTHWESTWARD. THIS RIDGE IS FORECAST TO STAY TO OUR NORTH
THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK...KEEPING US ON THE TROPICAL
EASTERLIES SIDE OF THINGS. THIS GENERALLY ALLOWS FOR AT LEAST
CLIMATOLOGICAL POPS...WITH TEMPS LOWER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN BUT
STILL AROUND/SOMEWHAT ABOVE NORMAL.

BY LATE IN THE WEEKEND INTO THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK...THE
MODELS ARE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT OF A BROAD TROUGH DEVELOPING EAST
OF THE MS RIVER. THIS WOULD MODERATE TEMPS EVEN MORE...AND KEEP AT
LEAST A CHANCE OF POPS EACH AFTERNOON/EVENING.

/61/

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

OTHER THAN AN ISOLATED SHOWER THAT MOVED THROUGH TCL ABOUT AN HOUR
AGO...CURRENTLY NO THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS AFFECTING ANY TAF SITE.
THE BOUNDARY THAT TRIGGERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING
WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTHWARD THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE
AFTERNOON. THIS WILL LIKELY BE THE FOCUS FOR CONVECTION FOR THIS
AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY FOR MGM AND TOI. STILL THINKING THAT THESE
SITES WILL HAVE THE GREATEST CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS.
MEANWHILE...AN OUTFLOW FROM AN MCS TO THE NORTHEAST IS SLOWLY MOVING
TOWARD NORTHEAST ALABAMA. THIS BOUNDARY WILL TRIGGER SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE NORTHERN TAF SITES. SINCE THESE
THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE DIURNALLY DRIVEN...WILL KEEP VCTS FOR THE
NORTHERN TAF SITES...AS CONFIDENCE IS NOT HIGH ENOUGH AS TO WHERE
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL ACTIVE MOVE. MOST OF THE ACTIVITY IS
EXPECTED TO DISSIPATE BY 04Z TONIGHT. HAVE KEPT PATCHY MVFR VIS FOR
THE NORMAL TAF SITES FOR NOW...SINCE VISIBILITIES WILL GREATLY
DEPEND ON WHERE THE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP AND MOVE.

73

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     73  96  74  94  74 /  50  30  20  20  20
ANNISTON    74  94  73  92  73 /  50  30  20  20  20
BIRMINGHAM  76  96  75  94  75 /  50  30  20  20  20
TUSCALOOSA  76  97  75  95  74 /  40  30  20  20  20
CALERA      75  95  75  94  74 /  40  30  20  20  20
AUBURN      75  93  74  94  74 /  40  30  20  20  20
MONTGOMERY  75  93  74  93  74 /  40  30  20  20  20
TROY        73  91  72  92  72 /  40  20  20  20  20

&&

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

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 5, 12:36 PM CDT, 6 hours 21 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1236 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

ALZ011>015-017>050-061745-
MARION-LAMAR-FAYETTE-WINSTON-WALKER-BLOUNT-ETOWAH-CALHOUN-CHEROKEE-
CLEBURNE-PICKENS-TUSCALOOSA-JEFFERSON-SHELBY-ST. CLAIR-TALLADEGA-
CLAY-RANDOLPH-SUMTER-GREENE-HALE-PERRY-BIBB-CHILTON-COOSA-TALLAPOOSA-
CHAMBERS-MARENGO-DALLAS-AUTAUGA-LOWNDES-ELMORE-MONTGOMERY-MACON-
BULLOCK-LEE-RUSSELL-PIKE-BARBOUR-
1236 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR ALL OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA FROM 2 PM UNTIL 8 PM. THE MAIN THREATS FROM THESE STORMS
WILL BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND HAIL.

.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
NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 5, 6:43 PM CDT, 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
643 PM CDT THU JUL 05 2012

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

0638 PM     HAIL             ASHVILLE                33.83N 86.26W
07/05/2012  E1.00 INCH       ST. CLAIR          AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

&&

LINHARES

Local storm report, Jul 5, 6:46 PM CDT, 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
646 PM CDT THU JUL 05 2012

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

0600 PM     HAIL             VINCENT                 33.39N 86.41W
07/05/2012  E0.25 INCH       SHELBY             AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

&&

LINHARES

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 6:52 PM CDT, 5 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
652 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

ALZ025-027-060030-
SHELBY AL-TALLADEGA AL-
652 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN TALLADEGA AND EASTERN
SHELBY COUNTIES UNTIL 730 PM CDT...

AT 650 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR HARPERSVILLE...OR 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF
CHILDERSBURG.  THIS STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  HARPERSVILLE...
  VINCENT...

&&

LAT...LON 3342 8638 3339 8638 3341 8634 3340 8627
      3321 8633 3327 8655 3343 8647
TIME...MOT...LOC 2352Z 130DEG 1KT 3335 8640

MA

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 6:53 PM CDT, 4 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
653 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

ALZ035-060045-
CHILTON AL-
653 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL CHILTON COUNTY UNTIL 745
PM CDT...

AT 650 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR THORSBY...OR NEAR JEMISON...MOVING SOUTH AT 10 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...
  CHILTON COUNTY MOTOR SPORTS PARK...
  CAMPBELL...
  ISABELLA...

&&

LAT...LON 3281 8691 3284 8689 3284 8688 3287 8688
      3299 8681 3293 8667 3274 8673
TIME...MOT...LOC 2353Z 018DEG 8KT 3290 8678

GRANTHAM

Local storm report, Jul 5, 6:57 PM CDT, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
657 PM CDT THU JUL 05 2012

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

0649 PM     HAIL             5 NNE CALERA            33.16N 86.72W
07/05/2012  E1.00 INCH       SHELBY             AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            1 INCH HAIL ALONG VILLAGE DRIVE IN THE WATERFORD AREA.

&&

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 6:57 PM CDT, 0 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
657 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

ALZ018-026-060045-
ETOWAH AL-ST. CLAIR AL-
657 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN ST. CLAIR AND
CENTRAL ETOWAH COUNTIES UNTIL 745 PM CDT...

AT 655 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES WEST OF ATTALLA...OR 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF
RAINBOW CITY...MOVING SOUTH AT 10 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  STEELE...
  RAMSEY...
  GALLANT...
  GADSDEN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT...
  CAMP SUMATANGA...

&&

LAT...LON 3385 8604 3387 8631 3409 8626 3406 8605
TIME...MOT...LOC 2357Z 010DEG 10KT 3401 8618

MA

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 5, 1:37 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cleburne	38 min
Jul 5, 1:39 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee	51 min
Jul 5, 2:15 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cleburne	45 min
Jul 5, 2:47 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Etowah	28 min
Jul 5, 2:59 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Calhoun	31 min
Jul 5, 3:21 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tallapoosa	39 min
Jul 5, 3:57 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Coosa	33 min
Jul 5, 4:09 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Russell	51 min
Jul 5, 4:21 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Russell	24 min
Jul 5, 4:26 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Coosa	49 min
Jul 5, 4:31 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lee	44 min
Jul 5, 4:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Russell	33 min
Jul 5, 4:58 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Blount	47 min
Jul 5, 5:11 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lee, Russell	49 min
Jul 5, 5:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	25 min
Jul 5, 5:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lee, Russell	18 min
Jul 5, 5:23 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Talladega	52 min
Jul 5, 5:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lee	47 min
Jul 5, 5:51 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	24 min
Jul 5, 5:55 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chilton	50 min
Jul 5, 5:59 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	St. Clair	46 min
Jul 5, 6:03 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	St. Clair	27 min
Jul 5, 6:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, St. Clair	38 min
Jul 5, 6:20 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Lee	3 hr
Jul 5, 6:22 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee	53 min
Jul 5, 6:26 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Macon	49 min
Jul 5, 6:29 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	St. Clair	46 min
Jul 5, 6:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	St. Clair	29 min
Jul 5, 6:32 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lee	28 min
Jul 5, 6:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chilton, Shelby	35 min
Jul 5, 6:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, St. Clair	16 min
Jul 5, 6:52 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Talladega	38 min
Jul 5, 6:53 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chilton	52 min
Jul 5, 6:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Shelby, Talladega	35 min
Jul 5, 6:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Macon, Tallapoosa	35 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.