Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 37, NWS Huntsville, AL

March 14, 2012Lawrence County, Alabama

NWS Huntsville, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 14, 2012, 3:32 PM CDT for Lawrence County, Alabama. It was in force for 28 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: Mar 14, 2012, 3:32 PM CDT (20:32 UTC)
Expired: Mar 14, 2012, 4:00 PM CDT
In force: 28 min
Issued by: NWS Huntsville, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

County Lawrence County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 102 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:32 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 8.5 hours before the alert went out and 144 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: 1678 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -14 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 452 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 47 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 35 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.

806 
WUUS54 KHUN 142032
SVRHUN
ALC079-142100-
/O.NEW.KHUN.SV.W.0037.120314T2032Z-120314T2100Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
332 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN LAWRENCE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 400 PM CDT

* AT 327 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND
  DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
  LANDERSVILLE...OR ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MOULTON...AND MOVING
  SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WREN...

LAT...LON 3436 8753 3439 8753 3452 8743 3438 8711
      3430 8711 3429 8741
TIME...MOT...LOC 2032Z 302DEG 21KT 3439 8738

$$
SS

1 follow-up statement

249 
WWUS54 KHUN 142043
SVSHUN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
343 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2012

ALC079-142100-
/O.CON.KHUN.SV.W.0037.000000T0000Z-120314T2100Z/
LAWRENCE AL-
343 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CDT
FOR SOUTHERN LAWRENCE COUNTY...

AT 341 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE
HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS
LOCATED NEAR WREN...OR ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTH OF MOULTON...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS
OF THE INDICATED COUNTY..

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...AND DEADLY CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

&&

LAT...LON 3436 8753 3439 8753 3452 8743 3438 8711
      3430 8711 3429 8741
TIME...MOT...LOC 2043Z 302DEG 21KT 3436 8731

$$

SS

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Huntsville, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Mar 14, 12:15 PM CDT, 3 hours 17 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 14, 12:15 PM CDT, 3 hours 17 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1215 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2012

.UPDATE...
FOR 18Z TAFS

&&

.DISCUSSION...
/ISSUED 1057 AM CDT WED MAR 14 2012/
LOW LEVEL MOISTURE SURGING NORTHWARD ACROSS MS/AL AROUND THE BACK
EDGE OF A DEPARTING HIGH PRESSURE CENTER CAUSED A LOW LEVEL STRATUS
DECK AND FOG TO BLANKET MUCH OF THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF
THESE STATES THIS MORNING. JUST NORTH OF A WEAK CONVERGENCE ZONE...DRY
AIR HELD IN PLACE ACROSS TENNESSEE AND EXTREME NORTHERN MS/AL AND
PREVENTED THIS AREA OF LIFR CIGS/VIS FROM REACHING MUCH OF OUR CWA.
THE MAIN EXCEPTIONS HAVE BEEN THE SOUTHERN TIER OF OUR
COUNTIES...WITH LOCATIONS SUCH AS CULLMAN SEEING A BRIEF PERIOD OF
VISIBILITIES DROPPING BELOW 1/2 MILE BEFORE SUNRISE. THIS DECK WILL
CONTINUE TO ERODE OVER THE COURSE OF THE MORNING AS DAYTIME MIXING
INCREASES...WHICH SHOULD ALLOW OUR SOUTHERN COUNTIES TO QUICKLY
RETURN TO PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES BY EARLY AFTERNOON.

IN ADDITION...THERE HAVE BEEN PERIODIC SHRA/TSRA THAT HAVE DEVELOPED
FROM EAST OF MEMPHIS TO NEAR BIRMINGHAM TO NEAR ATLANTA. SATELLITE
IMAGERY...RADAR TRENDS...EARLY MORNING SOUNDINGS AND A LOOK OUT THE
WINDOW ALL INDICATED THAT AN UNSTABLE LAYER EXISTED ABOVE THE
NOCTURNAL INVERSION THIS MORNING WITH LIMITED CU DEVELOPMENT ABOVE THE
LCL. THE SHRA/TSRA HAVE BEEN SPURRED ON BY THE PASSAGE OF A WEAK MID
LEVEL SHORTWAVE THAT WILL CONTINUE TO TRACK ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST
TODAY. AS DAYTIME TEMPS RISE...A BUILDING CU FIELD IS EXPECTED AND
VERY ISOLATED SHRA/TSRA DEVELOPMENT SHOULD PERSIST AS THE SHORTWAVE
CONTINUES TO SLOWLY SLIDE EASTWARD. THE POCKET OF DRY AIR BTWN
700-500MB SHOULD HELP LIMIT DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON BUT WILL
SLOWLY MOISTEN OVERNIGHT AND HELP INCREASE POP CHANCES THROUGH
TOMORROW.

FINALLY...ADJUSTED DEWPOINTS AND TEMPS UPWARDS SLIGHTLY THIS
AFTERNOON AND BACKED THE SFC WINDS A BIT. MORNING DEWPOINTS HAVE BEEN
HIGHER THAN FCST BUT STILL ANTICIPATE MORE MIXING THAN MUCH OF THE
MODEL OUTPUT INDICATES...SO HAVE KEPT AFTERNOON TD VALUES IN THE
UPPER 50S SINCE THEY SHOULD BE SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THOSE OBSERVED
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. LIKEWISE...EXPECT AFTERNOON TEMPS TO RISE A
COUPLE DEGREES WARMER THAN WERE OBSERVED YESTERDAY (DUE TO THE
LIMITED CLOUD COVER)...SO BUMPED UP THE FCST HIGHS A DEGREE TO TWO.

CCC

&&

.AVIATION...
FOR 18Z TAFS...VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FOR MUCH OF THE FORECAST
PERIOD. AFTERNOON CU FIELD WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE TO NEAR BKN BUT
SHOULD REMAIN ABV 3KFT...WHILE VERY ISOL SHRA/TSRA WILL CONTINUE TO
DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA. ONLY BRIEF AND LIMITED IMPACTS ARE EXPECTED IF
ANY STORMS SHOULD DIRECTLY IMPACT THE TERMINALS (BRIEF GUSTY WINDS
MAINLY OUT OF THE W AND SHORT VIS/CIG DROPS TO MVFR WILL BE
POSSIBLE)...SO HAVE INCLUDED ONLY A CB MENTION THRU 23Z DUE TO SPARSE
COVERAGE OF STORMS AND DIFFICULTY OF TIMING THE IMPACTS. CLOUD COVER
SHOULD DIMINISH SLIGHTLY OVERNIGHT AND MAY LEAD TO EARLY MORNING MVFR
FOG AT BOTH TERMINALS BEFORE LOWER CIGS AND MORE SHRA/TSRA ARRIVE
AFTER 13Z.

CCC

&&

.HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...NONE.
TN...NONE.
&&

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE
AT WEATHER.GOV/HUNTSVILLE.

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 14, 12:46 PM CDT, 2 hours 46 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1246 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2012

ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-150300-
LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN-
MARSHALL-JACKSON-DEKALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN-
1246 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS
OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THIS
AFTERNOON AND MAY DEVELOP AGAIN LATE TONIGHT AS A WEAK UPPER LEVEL
DISTURBANCE PUSHES ACROSS THE AREA. A FEW STORMS MAY BE CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH...BUT SEVERE WEATHER IS
NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL PERSIST THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT AS A
SERIES OF WEAK UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES MOVE ACROSS THE REGION. WIND
GUSTS TO 45 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN SOME STRONGER
THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS THURSDAY AND
FRIDAY. HOWEVER...ORGANIZED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED AT
THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS
NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.

BCC/CCC

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 14, 1:59 PM CDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
159 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2012

ALZ004-141930-
LAWRENCE-
159 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LAWRENCE COUNTY UNTIL 230 PM
CDT...

AT 155 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR TOWN CREEK...OR 14 MILES NORTH OF MOULTON...
MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

PENNY SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  COURTLAND.
  WHEELER.
  HILLSBORO.
  CHALYBEATE SPRINGS...CADDO.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3465 8749 3465 8748 3465 8744 3469 8745
      3471 8743 3472 8743 3479 8737 3463 8710
      3453 8711 3441 8721
TIME...MOT...LOC 1858Z 308DEG 16KT 3466 8736

CCC

Special weather statement, Mar 14, 2:26 PM CDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
226 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2012

ALZ004-007-142000-
LAWRENCE-MORGAN-
226 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LAWRENCE AND MORGAN COUNTIES
UNTIL 300 PM CDT...

AT 223 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR MOULTON...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH. AN
ADDITIONAL STRONG THUNDERSTORM IS SOUTHWEST OF WREN...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

PENNY SIZE HAIL IS EXPECTED WITH BOTH OF THESE STORMS.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  MOULTON.
  WREN.
  SPEAKE...DANVILLE.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3444 8744 3459 8732 3448 8699 3430 8711
      3429 8720 3430 8731
TIME...MOT...LOC 1925Z 294DEG 12KT 3451 8729

CCC

Special weather statement, Mar 14, 2:37 PM CDT, 55 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
237 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2012

ALZ004-005-007-142000-
LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MORGAN-
237 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LAWRENCE...LIMESTONE AND MORGAN
COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM CDT...

AT 232 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR WHEELER...OR 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ATHENS...
MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  HILLSBORO.
  RIPLEY.
  TRINITY...TANNER.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3481 8694 3458 8696 3462 8731 3476 8730
      3476 8727 3478 8728 3480 8723
TIME...MOT...LOC 1937Z 286DEG 14KT 3471 8720

CCC

Special weather statement, Mar 14, 2:59 PM CDT, 33 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
259 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2012

ALZ004-007-016-142030-
CULLMAN-LAWRENCE-MORGAN-
259 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CULLMAN...LAWRENCE AND MORGAN
COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM CDT...

AT 250 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR WREN...OR 5 MILES SOUTH OF MOULTON...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH. ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM IS 5 MILES SOUTH OF
WREN...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

NICKEL SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  SPEAKE.
  BATTLEGROUND.
  NORTHEAST PORTIONS OF BANKHEAD NATIONAL FOREST.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3430 8712 3430 8729 3443 8741 3452 8722
      3436 8702 3429 8695 3418 8711 3419 8712
TIME...MOT...LOC 1956Z 304DEG 13KT 3440 8725

CCC

Local storm report, Mar 14, 3:09 PM CDT, 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
309 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2012

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

1250 PM     HAIL             WREN                    34.43N 87.29W
03/14/2012  E0.50 INCH       LAWRENCE           AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            DIME SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED THROUGH 1 PM AT A RESIDENCE
            IN THE WREN COMMUNITY.

&&

KWEBER

Special weather statement, Mar 14, 3:27 PM CDT, 5 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
327 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2012

ALZ004-016-142100-
CULLMAN-LAWRENCE-
327 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CULLMAN AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES
UNTIL 400 PM CDT...

AT 322 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR LANDERSVILLE...OR 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
MOULTON...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

NICKEL SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  WREN.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3418 8712 3430 8712 3430 8738 3436 8753
      3453 8744 3439 8711 3432 8711 3431 8702
      3416 8708
TIME...MOT...LOC 2027Z 295DEG 18KT 3441 8738

SS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 14, 1:46 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	HUN	Colbert	29 min
Mar 14, 1:59 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	HUN	Lawrence	31 min
Mar 14, 2:26 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	HUN	Lawrence	34 min
Mar 14, 2:37 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	HUN	Limestone	23 min
Mar 14, 2:59 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	HUN	Lawrence	31 min
Mar 14, 3:27 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	HUN	Lawrence	33 min
Mar 14, 3:57 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	HUN	Franklin, Lawrence	3 hr
Mar 14, 4:01 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Lawrence	44 min
Mar 14, 4:51 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Lawrence	17 min
Mar 14, 5:11 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	HUN	Lawrence	34 min
Mar 14, 6:02 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	HUN	Franklin	28 min
Mar 14, 6:12 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	HUN	Colbert	33 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2012 Every severe thunderstorm warning 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.