Alert archive / Alabama / Special Weather Statements in 2012

Special Weather Statement, NWS Birmingham, AL

December 10, 2012Lowndes County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this special weather statement at Dec 10, 2012, 12:28 PM CST for Lowndes County, Alabama. It was in force for 47 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: Dec 10, 2012, 12:28 PM CST (18:28 UTC)
Expired: Dec 10, 2012, 1:15 PM CST
In force: 47 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL

County Lowndes County, AL

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 6.5 hours before the alert went out and 128 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: 385 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -1 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 531 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 52 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 218 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 254 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.4
Supercell composite: 2.7

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 Dec 10, 11:46 AM CST, 42 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 10, 11:46 AM CST, 42 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1146 AM CST MON DEC 10 2012

.UPDATE...
AVIATION DISCUSSION.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

/PREVIOUS DISCUSSION EDITED TO REMOVE DATED FIRST PERIOD INFORMATION/

COLD AIR WILL MOVE IN BEHIND THE FRONT. TEMPERATURES AT 2 AM ACROSS
NEBRASKA AND KANSAS ARE IN THE SINGLE DIGITS AND TEENS. OF
COURSE...THIS AIRMASS WILL MODIFY BEFORE REACHING THE FORECAST AREA
BUT INTERESTING TO NOTE THE STRENGTH OF THE COLD AIR MOVING IN
BEHIND THE SYSTEM. THE FRONT SHOULD EXIT THE FORECAST AREA AROUND
03Z TONIGHT. MODELS HAVE BEEN TRENDING A LITTLE FASTER WITH THE
FRONT AND MOVED OUT THE PRECIPITATION A LITTLE SOONER THAN IN THE
PREVIOUS FORECAST. MODELS ARE STILL INDICATING THAT THE FRONT MAY
LINGER JUST TO THE SOUTHEAST OF THE CWA ON TUESDAY. THEREFORE...
EXPECT THE TEMPERATURE GRADIENT WILL BE RATHER SUBSTANTIAL ACROSS
THE CWA ON TUESDAY WITH LOWS RANGING FROM UPPER 20S ACROSS THE
NORTHWEST TO MID 40S ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST. MODELS STILL INDICATE A
RATHER ROBUST UPPER LEVEL WAVE MOVING IN ON WEDNESDAY. CONTINUED
POPS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST WITH THE BOUNDARY POSSIBLY LINGERING JUST
TO THE SOUTH.

SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE JUST TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE
FORECAST AREA AS THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH AND FRONT FINALLY PUSH OF TO
THE EAST. THE LOCATION OF THE HIGH WILL SETUP A WEDGE ON THURSDAY
WITH COOLER TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE EAST AND WARM TEMPERATURES
ACROSS THE WEST WITH SOME WEAK CAD ACROSS THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN.

SURFACE FLOW WILL BECOME MORE SOUTHERLY MOVING INTO THE WEEKEND AS
THE HIGH MOVES OFF TO THE EAST AND THE NEXT SYSTEM APPROACHES FROM
THE WEST. CONTINUED CHANCE POPS FOR MUCH OF THE WEEKEND WITH THE GFS
AND ECMWF REMAINING IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH A COLD FRONT AND UPPER
LEVEL TROUGH MOVING ACROSS THE AREA. BEYOND THIS PERIOD...MODELS
SHOW THAT A BOWLING BALL TYPE TROUGH WILL MOVE IN QUICKLY BEHIND THE
FRONT WITH SOME COOLER AIR IN PLACE....BUT HAVE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT
EVOLUTION THAN PREVIOUS RUNS. WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS
SYSTEM AS WE APPROACH MID DECEMBER.

MA

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

PREDOMINANT CONDITIONS OVER MOST CENTRAL ALABAMA TAF LOCATIONS THE
NEXT SEVERAL HOURS ARE LIKELY TO REMAIN IN THE MVFR CATEGORY.
HOWEVER...THERE ARE HEAVIER POCKETS OF RAIN AND STORMS HERE AND
THERE THAT WILL BRIEFLY TAKE CONDITIONS LOWER...AND ALSO SOME
POCKETS OF LITTLE TO NO RAIN THAT ALLOWS CONDITIONS TO IMPROVE TO
VFR. I BELIEVE THE BULK OF THE LOWER CONDITIONS WILL BE RIGHT ALONG
THE LEADING EDGE OF THE MOST ACTIVE CONVECTIVE BAND...WHILE THE
IMPROVED CONDITIONS WILL COME AT THE TAIL END OF THE RAIN BUT BEFORE
A COLD FRONT ARRIVES. THE COLD FRONT IS MARKED BY A PRETTY DRASTIC
WIND SHIFT...FROM SOUTH/SOUTHWEST TO NORTHWEST...AND APPEARS TO BE
ACCOMPANIED BY A BRIEF PERIOD OF MVFR TO IFR CEILINGS. FINALLY...
CONFIDENCE IS ALSO RELATIVELY LOW REGARDING THE ULTIMATE SCATTERING
OUT OF THE CLOUDS OVERNIGHT TONIGHT. MODELS TYPICALLY DON'T HANDLE
THE CLEARING TREND AFTER COLD FRONTS LIKE THIS VERY WELL...AND I
WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THE LOWER CLOUDS ACTUALLY STUCK AROUND
LONGER THAN CURRENTLY FORECAST.

/61/

&&

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

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 10, 11:54 AM CST, 34 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1154 AM CST MON DEC 10 2012

ALZ011>015-017>050-110400-
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-
1154 AM CST MON DEC 10 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 STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH
THE AFTERNOON...GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF A SELMA...TO
WETUMPKA...TO DADEVILLE...TO LAFAYETTE LINE. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE
DAMAGING WIND...BUT A BRIEF TORNADO WILL BE POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BE
NECESSARY TODAY.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 10, 10:47 AM CST, 1 hour 41 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Dec 10, 10:47 AM CST, 1 hour 41 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1047 AM CST MON DEC 10 2012

ALZ043-101730-
ELMORE AL-
1047 AM CST MON DEC 10 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR ELMORE COUNTY UNTIL 1130 AM
CST...

AT 1046 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM TEN CEDAR ESTATES TO
WETUMPKA TO MILLBROOK...AND MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  WETUMPKA...
  TALLASSEE...
  DEXTER...
  SANTUCK...
  BLUE RIDGE...

&&

LAT...LON 3246 8621 3250 8626 3247 8629 3249 8631
      3247 8631 3248 8641 3258 8634 3270 8631
      3276 8614 3275 8598 3277 8596 3275 8595
      3274 8588 3270 8591 3250 8589 3248 8587
      3245 8589
TIME...MOT...LOC 1647Z 253DEG 41KT 3271 8621 3256 8622
          3246 8636

17

Special weather statement, Dec 10, 10:47 AM CST, 1 hour 41 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1047 AM CST MON DEC 10 2012

ALZ041-042-101715-
AUTAUGA AL-LOWNDES AL-
1047 AM CST MON DEC 10 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN AUTAUGA AND EXTREME
NORTHERN LOWNDES COUNTIES UNTIL 1115 AM CST...

AT 1043 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR GARDNER ISLAND...OR 9 MILES EAST OF SELMONT-WEST
SELMONT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  PRATTVILLE...
  MULBERRY...
  AUTAUGAVILLE...
  BOOTH...
  AUTAUGA COUNTY AIRPORT...

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY....AND A TORNADO 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 3236 8681 3241 8685 3242 8683 3244 8686
      3245 8686 3264 8644 3241 8641 3241 8646
      3238 8646 3237 8647 3234 8682
TIME...MOT...LOC 1647Z 246DEG 40KT 3239 8681

Special weather statement, Dec 10, 11:06 AM CST, 1 hour 22 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1106 AM CST MON DEC 10 2012

ALZ039-101730-
MARENGO AL-
1106 AM CST MON DEC 10 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MARENGO COUNTY UNTIL
1130 AM CST...

AT 1102 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR SWEET WATER...OR 17 MILES SOUTH OF LINDEN...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  SURGINER...
  SHILOH...
  MAGNOLIA...
  CONSUL...

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY....AND A TORNADO 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 3199 8787 3209 8791 3229 8752 3213 8753
      3213 8761 3206 8762
TIME...MOT...LOC 1706Z 247DEG 39KT 3208 8779

Special weather statement, Dec 10, 12:16 PM CST, 12 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1216 PM CST MON DEC 10 2012

ALZ040>042-101900-
AUTAUGA AL-DALLAS AL-LOWNDES AL-
1216 PM CST MON DEC 10 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN AUTAUGA...NORTHERN
LOWNDES AND EASTERN DALLAS COUNTIES UNTIL 100 PM CST...

AT 1211 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR DALLAS LAKE...OR 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SELMONT-WEST
SELMONT...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  TYLER...
  BENTON...
  WHITE HALL...
  LOWNDESBORO...
  AUTAUGAVILLE...

&&

LAT...LON 3251 8656 3226 8648 3215 8711 3232 8717
TIME...MOT...LOC 1816Z 255DEG 35KT 3226 8704

GRANTHAM

Special weather statement, Dec 10, 12:28 PM CST, 0 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1228 PM CST MON DEC 10 2012

ALZ042-101915-
LOWNDES AL-
1228 PM CST MON DEC 10 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN LOWNDES COUNTY UNTIL 115
PM CST...

AT 1225 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR SNOW HILL...OR 20 MILES EAST OF CAMDEN...MOVING
EAST AT 50 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  FORT DEPOSIT...
  HAYNEVILLE...
  BEECHWOOD...
  LOWNDES COUNTY AIRPORT...
  LOGAN...

&&

LAT...LON 3196 8686 3204 8686 3204 8691 3210 8690
      3223 8641 3205 8641 3204 8639 3200 8640
      3195 8664 3196 8685
TIME...MOT...LOC 1828Z 255DEG 42KT 3200 8691

GRANTHAM

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Dec 10, 1:55 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens	65 min
Dec 10, 4:38 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene, Sumter	52 min
Dec 10, 5:01 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Etowah	44 min
Dec 10, 5:42 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Etowah	48 min
Dec 10, 7:02 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Talladega	28 min
Dec 10, 8:02 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Sumter	28 min
Dec 10, 8:18 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Sumter	27 min
Dec 10, 8:22 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Greene, Hale, Sumter	3 hr
Dec 10, 8:49 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Sumter	26 min
Dec 10, 9:15 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Coosa	45 min
Dec 10, 9:54 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Cleburne, Randolph	66 min
Dec 10, 9:59 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Dallas	31 min
Dec 10, 10:05 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Dallas	25 min
Dec 10, 10:10 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Lowndes	35 min
Dec 10, 10:29 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Dallas	31 min
Dec 10, 10:47 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Elmore	43 min
Dec 10, 11:06 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marengo	24 min
Dec 10, 12:16 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Dallas	44 min
Dec 10, 1:07 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Elmore, Montgomery	53 min
Dec 10, 1:13 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery	47 min
Dec 10, 1:41 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bullock, Lee, Macon, Tallapoosa	64 min
Dec 10, 1:55 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Macon	22 min
Dec 10, 2:37 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Barbour	23 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.