Alert archive / Alabama / Special Weather Statements in 2012

Special Weather Statement, NWS Birmingham, AL

August 9, 2012Jefferson County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this special weather statement at Aug 9, 2012, 11:07 AM CDT for Jefferson County, Alabama. It was in force for 38 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Aug 9, 2012, 11:07 AM CDT (16:07 UTC)
Expired: Aug 9, 2012, 11:45 AM CDT
In force: 38 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL

County Jefferson County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 56 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:10 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Aug 9, 11:35 AM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Moody, AL	SEVERAL TREES DOWN WITH ROOD DAMAGE TO HOME.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 4.1 hours before the alert went out and 56 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: 1967 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -39 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 780 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 20 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -4 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 55 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 1.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

532 
WWUS84 KBMX 091607
SPSBMX

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1107 AM CDT THU AUG 9 2012

ALZ024>026-091645-
JEFFERSON AL-SHELBY AL-ST. CLAIR AL-
1107 AM CDT THU AUG 9 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN SHELBY...
SOUTHWESTERN ST. CLAIR AND EASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTIES UNTIL 1145 AM
CDT...

AT 1107 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM TARRANT TO IRONDALE TO
HIGHLAND LAKES...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  FULTONDALE...
  LEEDS...
  TRUSSVILLE...
  MOODY...
  ODENVILLE...

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

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 3380 8657 3370 8639 3350 8630 3333 8663
      3348 8673 3359 8689 3377 8662 3377 8658
      3380 8658
TIME...MOT...LOC 1606Z 233DEG 22KT 3359 8679 3352 8668
          3339 8662

$$

77/GLEASON

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 Aug 9, 7:02 AM CDT, 4 hours 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 9, 7:02 AM CDT, 4 hours 5 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
702 AM CDT THU AUG 9 2012

.UPDATED...
AVIATION DISCUSSION.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

BIT OF AN ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN TO START THIS FORECAST PACKAGE.
LOOKING ACROSS THE COUNTRY...UPPER LEVEL RIDGING IS OCCURRING ACROSS
THE WESTERN HALF...WITH UPPER LEVEL TROUGH CENTERED OVER THE CENTRAL
PORTION...WITH WEAK UPPER RIDING ACROSS THE APPALACHIANS. WITHIN THE
LONG WAVE PATTERN...SEVERAL SHORTWAVES WILL ROTATE AROUND THE BASE
OF THE TROUGH AND THIS WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR THE FIRST PERIOD.
CURRENTLY...SHORTWAVE POSITIONED JUST TO THE WEST OVER MISSISSIPPI
IS GENERATING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THAT AREA. MODELS ARE
IN AGREEMENT THAT THIS SHORTWAVE WILL ROTATE EASTWARD OVER OUR
CWA...WITH THE COVERAGE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS INCREASING
THROUGHOUT THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON. ALTHOUGH ISOLATED STRONG TO
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON...THE THREAT FOR
WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER DOES NOT APPEAR ALL THAT GREAT FOR CENTRAL
ALABAMA. WHILE INSTABILITY WILL BE SUFFICIENT...AND THERE WILL BE
DECENT LIFT IN THE AREA...0-6 KM BULK SHEAR VALUES REMAIN BELOW 20
KTS AND MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES ARE NOT ALL THAT IMPRESSIVE. SOUNDINGS
LOOK TO BE RATHER MOIST...WITH ONLY A SMALL LAYER OF DRY AIR ALOFT.
HOWEVER...AS WITH ANY CONVECTIVE SITUATION...AN UPDATE TO THE HWO
LATER IN THE MORNING MAY BE NEEDED.

THE SHORTWAVE MOVES TO THE EAST DURING THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT
PERIOD...WITH ONLY A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE
AREA. AS THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH SLOWLY MOVES EAST...AN UPPER LOW
DEVELOPS OVER SOUTHERN CANADA AND BEGINS TO DIP SOUTHWARD. AS THIS
FEATURE MOVES EAST...A COLD FRONT WILL TRAIL SOUTHWARD AND WORK ITS
WAY TOWARD CENTRAL ALABAMA FRIDAY MORNING. WITH VERY GOOD AGREEMENT
AMONGST MODELS...HAVE KEPT POPS AT LIKELY FOR THE EASTERN HALF OF
THE CWA ON FRIDAY. THE COLD FRONT WILL ENTER NORTHWEST ALABAMA
DURING THE AFTERNOON ON FRIDAY AND THEN SLOWLY MOVE ACROSS THE
CWA...BEFORE EXITING OUR AREA SATURDAY MORNING. AS THE FRONT MOVES
THROUGH...A SURFACE LOW WILL DEVELOP ACROSS OUR SOUTHERN COUNTIES
AND MOVE EAST.

ONCE AGAIN ON FRIDAY...THE CHANCE FOR SEVERE WEATHER DOES NOT SEEM
VERY HIGH AT THIS POINT. WITH THE PARENT UPPER FEATURE ACROSS THE
NORTHERN CONUS...MUCH OF THE ENERGY WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL BE WELL TO
THE NORTH. 0-6 KM BULK SHEAR IS TOO LOW FOR ANY ORGANIZED STORMS TO
DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT...AND ONCE AGAIN...LAPSE RATES WILL BE
DECENT...BUT NOT GREAT. FORECAST INSTABILITIES WILL BE ABOUT 1500
J/KM...BUT WITH THE POSSIBILITY FOR SKY COVER DURING AS THE FRONT
APPROACHES...THESE VALUES MAY NOT BE REALIZED.

AS THE FRONT EXITS THE AREA...DRIER AIR WILL FILTER INTO THE REGION
AND HIGH PRESSURE WILL BEGIN TO MOVE IN. A DRY WEEKEND IS IN STORE
FOR CENTRAL ALABAMA...WITH COOLER TEMPERATURES IN PLACE. MODELS ARE
INDICATING ANOTHER FRONT MOVING INTO THE AREA DURING THE BEGINNING
OF NEXT WEEK...HOWEVER THE OVERALL SYSTEM LOOKS TO BE WEAKER THAN
OUR CURRENT SYSTEM...AND MODEL AGREEMENT IS NOT ALL THAT GREAT. WITH
THAT SAID...MADE VERY MINOR CHANGES TO THE EXTENDED POP FORECAST.

73

&&

.AVIATION...
12Z TAF DISCUSSION.

UPPER LEVEL IMPULSE WILL CROSS THE AREA TODAY...BRINGING INCREASED
CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. ALREADY SEEING DEVELOPMENT
ACROSS NORTHERN MS PUSHING INTO NORTHWEST ALABAMA. THIS ACTIVITY
WILL SPREAD EASTWARD THROUGH THE MORNING...IN ADDITION TO SCATTERED
DEVELOPMENT AHEAD OF THE MORE ORGANIZED CLUSTER OF STORMS BY LATE
MORNING. ACTIVITY WILL DIMINISH IN COVERAGE THIS EVENING...ALTHOUGH
A SECOND IMPULSE ASSOCIATED WITH A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE AREA
LATE IN THE FORECAST PERIOD.

HAVE INCLUDED VCTS FOR FAIRLY LARGE TIME FRAMES AT EACH TERMINAL.
EXPECT TERMINALS TO POTENTIALLY RECEIVE MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF ACTIVITY
TODAY. UPDATES WILL BE NEEDED IF ORGANIZED ACTIVITY MAINTAINS ITSELF
FURTHER INTO CENTRAL ALABAMA. TONIGHT...DUE TO THE DIMINISHING
COVERAGE AND SLIGHT UNCERTAINTY CONCERNING THE APPROACH OF THE
FRONT...WILL NOT CARRY ANY WX THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD. MODELS
DO SHOW SOME GRADUAL UPSLOPING TONIGHT...BRINGING LOW LEVEL CLOUDS
TO THE AREA. HAVE INCLUDED MVFR CIGS FOR ALL SITES AFTER 02-04Z.

14

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     90  70  87  65  86 /  50  40  60  30  10
ANNISTON    91  72  88  67  85 /  50  50  60  40  20
BIRMINGHAM  90  73  88  66  87 /  60  40  60  30  10
TUSCALOOSA  92  73  91  69  88 /  60  40  60  20  10
CALERA      91  71  88  68  87 /  60  50  60  30  20
AUBURN      89  72  87  71  87 /  50  50  60  50  20
MONTGOMERY  93  73  92  72  91 /  60  50  60  50  20
TROY        89  71  90  71  88 /  60  50  60  50  30

&&

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

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 9, 9:39 AM CDT, 1 hour 28 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
939 AM CDT THU AUG 9 2012

ALZ011>015-017>050-101200-
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-
939 AM CDT THU AUG 9 2012

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

AN ISOLATED FLASH FLOODING THREAT IS POSSIBLE TODAY OVER NORTHERN
PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA DUE TO HEAVY RAINFALL FROM NUMEROUS
THUNDERSTORMS. THE THREAT AREA IS GENERALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF
I-20. URBAN AREAS WILL BE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE ISOLATED FLASH
FLOODING THREAT. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO
DIMINISH AFTER 7 PM... AND THE FLASH FLOODING THREAT WITH
THEREFORE ALSO DECREASE AT THAT TIME.

.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 IS NOT
EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 9, 9:29 AM CDT, 1 hour 38 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
929 AM CDT THU AUG 9 2012

ALZ023-091515-
TUSCALOOSA AL-
929 AM CDT THU AUG 9 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY UNTIL
1015 AM CDT...

AT 929 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR LAKE TUSCALOOSA BINION CREEK LANDING...OR 9 MILES
NORTH OF NORTHPORT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  BANKHEAD LOCK AND DAM...
  BULL CITY...
  WINDHAM SPRINGS...
  WILEY...
  WHITSON...

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

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 3360 8738 3358 8737 3358 8732 3352 8732
      3351 8726 3350 8727 3350 8729 3348 8729
      3349 8733 3346 8734 3344 8729 3339 8725
      3327 8759 3341 8769
TIME...MOT...LOC 1429Z 240DEG 16KT 3338 8756

77/GLEASON

Special weather statement, Aug 9, 10:26 AM CDT, 41 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1026 AM CDT THU AUG 9 2012

ALZ024-091615-
JEFFERSON AL-
1026 AM CDT THU AUG 9 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTY UNTIL
1115 AM CDT...

AT 1026 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR NORTH JOHNS...OR 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BESSEMER...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  BESSEMER...
  HUEYTOWN...
  FAIRFIELD...
  HOOVER...
  VESTAVIA HILLS...
  BIRMINGHAM...

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

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 3345 8669 3343 8670 3341 8675 3337 8678
      3336 8683 3333 8683 3333 8688 3324 8699
      3325 8706 3327 8706 3329 8709 3329 8713
      3335 8718 3365 8687
TIME...MOT...LOC 1525Z 230DEG 25KT 3334 8702

77/GLEASON

Special weather statement, Aug 9, 10:36 AM CDT, 31 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1036 AM CDT THU AUG 9 2012

ALZ020-091615-
CHEROKEE AL-
1036 AM CDT THU AUG 9 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CHEROKEE COUNTY UNTIL 1115 AM
CDT...

AT 1031 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR FORNEY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  LITTLE RIVER CANYON NATIONAL PRESERVE...
  FORNEY...
  GAYLESVILLE...
  BLANCHE...
  WATSON...

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 3421 8544 3397 8540 3394 8551 3396 8558
      3397 8574 3409 8580 3412 8579 3411 8584
      3424 8585 3424 8581 3426 8580 3426 8578
      3438 8563 3443 8558 3449 8557 3453 8552
TIME...MOT...LOC 1536Z 245DEG 16KT 3412 8551

Special weather statement, Aug 9, 11:07 AM CDT, 0 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1107 AM CDT THU AUG 9 2012

ALZ024>026-091645-
JEFFERSON AL-SHELBY AL-ST. CLAIR AL-
1107 AM CDT THU AUG 9 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN SHELBY...
SOUTHWESTERN ST. CLAIR AND EASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTIES UNTIL 1145 AM
CDT...

AT 1107 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM TARRANT TO IRONDALE TO
HIGHLAND LAKES...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  FULTONDALE...
  LEEDS...
  TRUSSVILLE...
  MOODY...
  ODENVILLE...

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

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 3380 8657 3370 8639 3350 8630 3333 8663
      3348 8673 3359 8689 3377 8662 3377 8658
      3380 8658
TIME...MOT...LOC 1606Z 233DEG 22KT 3359 8679 3352 8668
          3339 8662

77/GLEASON

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 8, 7:45 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Walker	30 min
Aug 9, 9:29 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tuscaloosa	46 min
Aug 9, 10:17 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Pickens, Tuscaloosa	3 hr
Aug 9, 10:26 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Jefferson	49 min
Aug 9, 10:36 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee	39 min
Aug 9, 11:12 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Clay	48 min
Aug 9, 11:21 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Blount, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby	114 min
Aug 9, 11:37 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega	38 min
Aug 9, 11:46 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Etowah	119 min
Aug 9, 12:02 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Etowah	43 min
Aug 9, 12:15 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Talladega	45 min
Aug 9, 12:24 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Calhoun, Clay, Talladega	111 min
Aug 9, 1:49 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Marengo, Sumter	116 min
Aug 9, 3:43 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Dallas	47 min
Aug 9, 4:33 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Elmore, Macon, Montgomery	3 hr
Aug 9, 4:42 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Lowndes	3 hr
Aug 9, 5:01 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lee	44 min
Aug 9, 5:13 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Lee	2 hr
Aug 9, 5:21 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Shelby	114 min
Aug 9, 5:41 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Shelby	3 hr
Aug 9, 6:39 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Talladega	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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.