Alert archive / Alabama / Special Weather Statements in 2012

Special Weather Statement, NWS Birmingham, AL

July 5, 2012Walker County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this special weather statement at Jul 5, 2012, 11:11 PM CDT for Walker County, Alabama. It was in force for 34 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, 11:11 PM CDT (04:11 UTC)
Expired: Jul 5, 2012, 11:45 PM CDT
In force: 34 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL

County Walker County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 69 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:13 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

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 00:00Z, 4.2 hours before the alert went out and 238 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: 1343 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -43 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 2258 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 3 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 94 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.

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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 Jul 5, 7:45 PM CDT, 3 hours 26 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 5, 7:45 PM CDT, 3 hours 26 minutes before

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

.UPDATE...
AVIATION.

&&

.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...
00Z TAF DISCUSSION.

MAINLY DIURNALLY DRIVEN THUNDERSTORMS...COMBINED WITH COLD POOL
INTERACTIONS...HAVE PRODUCED SOME STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS ACROSS THE
AREA. THESE STORMS ARE SLOWLY PROPAGATING SOUTH SOUTHWEST. EXPECT
MUCH OF THIS ACTIVITY TO LOSE COVERAGE AND INTENSITY BETWEEN 10 AND
MIDNIGHT. AN MCS ACROSS TENNESSEE HAS BEEN SLOWLY LOSING INTENSITY
THE PAST HOUR OR SO BUT STILL REMAINS FAIRLY STRONG. WILL WATCH FOR
THIS ACTIVITY TO MOVE INTO PARTS OF NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA IN THE
NEXT FEW HOURS. ONCE AGAIN...EXPECT THIS ACTIVITY TO SLOWLY LOSE
INTENSITY. MENTION TEMPO/VCTS FOR MOST LOCATIONS THROUGH 04Z.
EXPECTED SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN TOMORROW BIB DID NOT MENTION
ANYTHING JUST YET. HAVE KEPT PATCHY MVFR VIS FOR THE NORMAL PROBLEM
TAF SITES FOR NOW...SINCE VISIBILITIES WILL GREATLY DEPEND ON WHERE
THE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP AND MOVE. RAIN AREAS WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE
A BETTER CHANCE OF RESTRICTIONS.

75

&&

.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, 7:42 PM CDT, 3 hours 29 minutes before

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

ALZ011>015-017>050-070045-
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-
742 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...TONIGHT.

SCATTERED TO ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR
ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. THE STORMS WILL LOSE SOME INTENSITY
BETWEEN 10 AND MIDNIGHT. THE MAIN THREATS FROM THESE STORMS WILL
BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND LARGE 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

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 9:58 PM CDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before

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

ALZ014-015-060345-
WALKER AL-WINSTON AL-
958 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WINSTON AND NORTHEASTERN WALKER
COUNTIES UNTIL 1045 PM CDT...

AT 958 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 13 MILES EAST OF
RUSSELLVILLE TO 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF BRUSHY LAKE TO INMANFIELD TO 6
MILES NORTHEAST OF SMITH DAM...AND MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 20 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  ARLEY...
  SUMITON...
  JASPER...
  DORA...
  ADDISON...

THESE STORMS 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 3430 8712 3426 8710 3399 8710 3397 8713
      3396 8710 3390 8708 3390 8701 3384 8696
      3380 8695 3378 8697 3377 8703 3370 8704
      3366 8707 3403 8745 3411 8759 3431 8762
TIME...MOT...LOC 0258Z 037DEG 16KT 3455 8752 3437 8736
          3429 8721 3401 8706

75

Local storm report, Jul 5, 10:06 PM CDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1006 PM CDT THU JUL 05 2012

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

1000 PM     HAIL             3 W PELL CITY           33.56N 86.32W
07/05/2012  E0.75 INCH       ST. CLAIR          AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            REPORTED ALONG I-20 WEST OF PELL CITY

&&

ANDERSON

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 10:10 PM CDT, 1 hour 1 minute before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1010 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

ALZ023-060400-
TUSCALOOSA AL-
1010 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR TUSCALOOSA COUNTY UNTIL 1100 PM
CDT...

AT 1009 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF DEERLICK CREEK CAMPGROUNDS...OR 10
MILES NORTHEAST OF HOLT...MOVING SOUTHWEST 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...
  HOLT...
  TUSCALOOSA...
  NORTHPORT...
  BROOKWOOD...
  DEERLICK CREEK CAMPGROUNDS...

&&

LAT...LON 3303 8745 3315 8770 3347 8743 3338 8724
TIME...MOT...LOC 0311Z 031DEG 14KT 3334 8739

GRANTHAM

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 10:17 PM CDT, 54 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1017 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

ALZ044-060400-
MONTGOMERY AL-
1017 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY
UNTIL 1100 PM CDT...

AT 1012 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR SELLERS...OR 11 MILES WEST OF MEADVILLE...MOVING
SOUTH 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...
  STRATA...
  NAFTEL...

&&

LAT...LON 3197 8631 3205 8631 3205 8641 3224 8641
      3225 8643 3233 8641 3227 8619 3196 8622
      3196 8630
TIME...MOT...LOC 0317Z 010DEG 13KT 3205 8633

GRANTHAM

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 10:23 PM CDT, 48 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1023 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

ALZ032-033-039-060415-
HALE AL-MARENGO AL-PERRY AL-
1023 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN PERRY...EASTERN MARENGO
AND SOUTHERN HALE COUNTIES UNTIL 1115 PM CDT...

AT 1021 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEWBERN TO 5 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF REHOBOTH...AND MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 25 MPH.

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

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  LINDEN...
  CONSUL...
  FAUNSDALE...
  DAYTON...
  THOMASTON...

&&

LAT...LON 3241 8789 3280 8732 3248 8734 3248 8742
      3231 8742 3231 8747 3226 8748 3225 8752
      3214 8752 3212 8762 3200 8763 3198 8767
      3198 8781
TIME...MOT...LOC 0323Z 047DEG 21KT 3258 8754 3214 8746

GRANTHAM

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 11:11 PM CDT, 0 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1111 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

ALZ015-060445-
WALKER AL-
1111 PM CDT THU JUL 5 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN WALKER COUNTY UNTIL
1145 PM CDT...

AT 1109 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR ELDRIDGE...OR 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF CARBON HILL...
MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 20 MPH.

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...
  ELDRIDGE...

&&

LAT...LON 3400 8762 3400 8753 3393 8747 3386 8757
      3387 8764 3400 8764
TIME...MOT...LOC 0411Z 053DEG 17KT 3395 8763

GRANTHAM

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 5, 7:14 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Shelby	46 min
Jul 5, 7:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Bibb, Chilton	45 min
Jul 5, 7:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Shelby, Talladega	22 min
Jul 5, 7:48 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee	42 min
Jul 5, 7:51 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Shelby	39 min
Jul 5, 8:01 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Shelby	29 min
Jul 5, 8:04 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chilton	41 min
Jul 5, 8:11 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee, Cleburne	34 min
Jul 5, 8:22 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee	23 min
Jul 5, 8:35 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chilton, Coosa	40 min
Jul 5, 8:40 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Autauga, Dallas	50 min
Jul 5, 8:47 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Calhoun, Cleburne, Etowah	28 min
Jul 5, 8:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Etowah	51 min
Jul 5, 9:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Etowah, St. Clair	38 min
Jul 5, 9:32 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, St. Clair	28 min
Jul 5, 9:35 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Dallas, Marengo	40 min
Jul 5, 9:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Montgomery	39 min
Jul 5, 9:52 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	St. Clair, Talladega	38 min
Jul 5, 9:58 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Winston	47 min
Jul 5, 10:01 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, St. Clair	29 min
Jul 5, 10:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion, Winston	39 min
Jul 5, 10:10 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tuscaloosa	50 min
Jul 5, 10:17 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Montgomery	43 min
Jul 5, 10:23 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marengo	52 min
Jul 5, 10:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion, Winston	61 min
Jul 5, 11:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar	60 min
Jul 5, 11:32 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Russell	43 min
Jul 6, 12:14 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Pickens	46 min
Jul 6, 12:17 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Barbour, Russell	43 min
Jul 6, 12:30 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Barbour	45 min
Jul 6, 1:01 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Barbour, Russell	44 min
Jul 6, 1:44 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Barbour	46 min
Jul 6, 3:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	28 min
Jul 6, 3:29 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	46 min
Jul 6, 3:35 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Bibb	40 min
Jul 6, 3:37 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	38 min
Jul 6, 3:47 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene	43 min
Jul 6, 3:53 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lamar	52 min
Jul 6, 3:58 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	47 min
Jul 6, 4:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar	43 min
Jul 6, 4:22 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Winston	38 min
Jul 6, 4:27 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette	48 min
Jul 6, 4:32 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene	43 min
Jul 6, 4:48 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	42 min
Jul 6, 5:00 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lamar	45 min
Jul 6, 5:28 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	47 min
Jul 6, 5:38 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene, Hale	52 min
Jul 6, 6:27 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	48 min
Jul 6, 6:39 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tuscaloosa	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.