Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2013

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 47, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 18, 2013Tallapoosa County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 18, 2013, 5:05 PM CDT for Tallapoosa County, Alabama. It was in force for 40 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: Mar 18, 2013, 5:05 PM CDT (22:05 UTC)
Expired: Mar 18, 2013, 5:45 PM CDT
In force: 40 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

County Tallapoosa County, AL

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Mar 18, 3:16 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 10.1 hours before the alert went out and 98 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: 196 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -139 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 520 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 298 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 281 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Mar 18, 3:29 PM CDT, 1 hour 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 18, 3:29 PM CDT, 1 hour 36 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
329 PM CDT MON MAR 18 2013

.DISCUSSION...

ONGOING STORMS WILL GRADUALLY PUSH EASTWARD OUT OF AREA THROUGH
THE EVENING.

THE REST OF THE 7 DAY FORECAST PERIOD WILL BE LARGELY DOMINATED BY
EASTERN STATES TROUGHINESS...KEEPING OUR AREA NEAR OR BELOW
SEASONAL TEMPERATURE AVERAGES. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FREEZING
TEMPERATURES WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. NEXT
GOOD CHANCES OF RAIN WILL COME LATE IN THE WEEK INTO NEXT WEEKEND.

/61/

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY IDEALIZED TAF FORECAST...ESPECIALLY FOR
THE FIRST 6 TO 8 HOURS.  WITH MVFR CIGS BECOMING THINNER AND
THINNER...SUNSHINE IS STARTING TO SQUEEZE THROUGH THE CLOUD DECK.
THIS WILL LIKELY HELP TO DESTABILIZE THINGS...ALLOWING FOR SCATTERED
TS DEVELOPMENT ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON.  PREVAILING
TAF LINES REALLY REVOLVE AROUND THE LINE OF TS OVER NORTHERN
MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA...WHICH WILL CONTINUE PUSHING TO THE SOUTH
AND EAST THROUGH 00Z.  MAY HAVE TO ADJUST A BIT IF THESE SCATTERED
STORMS BEGIN POPPING UP AHEAD OF THE LINE.

WINDS WILL GRADUALLY VEER THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AS WELL...GIVING US
SOUTHWESTERLY SURFACE FLOW AHEAD OF FROPA...WHICH WILL TRANSLATE
THROUGH CENTRAL ALABAMA DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.  CLEARING IS
LIKELY A FEW HOURS AFTER DAYBREAK ON TUESDAY.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     42  63  40  60  30 / 100   0  10  10   0
ANNISTON    44  63  41  59  32 / 100   0  10  10   0
BIRMINGHAM  44  64  43  61  32 / 100   0  10   0   0
TUSCALOOSA  45  66  44  63  36 /  70   0  10   0   0
CALERA      46  65  43  62  34 / 100   0  10  10   0
AUBURN      51  67  44  61  35 /  90   0  10  10   0
MONTGOMERY  52  69  46  62  37 /  70   0  10  10   0
TROY        55  70  46  62  37 /  60   0  10  10   0

&&

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

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 18, 1:08 PM CDT, 3 hours 57 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
108 PM CDT MON MAR 18 2013

ALZ011>015-017>050-191815-
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-
108 PM CDT MON MAR 18 2013

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THERE WILL BE A CHANCE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH 10 PM...
FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. THE PRIMARY THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING
STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND LARGE HAIL...POSSIBLY UP TO TWO INCHES IN
DIAMETER.

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

A DRY AIRMASS WILL WORK INTO THE AREA ON TUESDAY. THERE IS A LOW
CONFIDENCE THAT RELATIVE HUMIDITIES MAY DROP BELOW 25 PERCENT
ACROSS THE EAST FOR SEVERAL HOURS DURING THE AFTERNOON. THIS WOULD
HELP CREATE A POTENTIAL HIGH FIRE DANGER. OUTDOOR BURNING IS
DISCOURAGED WITH THIS TYPE OF AIRMASS.

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR TEMPERATURES TO FALL BELOW THE FREEZING MARK
WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING. SENSITIVE VEGETATION WILL
NEED TO BE PROTECTED DUE TO THE FREEZING TEMPERATURES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL BE
NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

27

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 18, 4:26 PM CDT, 39 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
426 PM CDT MON MAR 18 2013

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

0408 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BLANCHE                 34.36N 85.61W
03/18/2013                   CHEROKEE           AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN ON HWY 35 NEAR DEKALB COUNTY LINE

&&

SUNGER

Special weather statement, Mar 18, 4:43 PM CDT, 22 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
443 PM CDT MON MAR 18 2013

ALZ030>033-039-040-182245-
DALLAS AL-GREENE AL-HALE AL-MARENGO AL-PERRY AL-SUMTER AL-
443 PM CDT MON MAR 18 2013

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN SUMTER...SOUTHERN
PERRY...MARENGO...SOUTHERN HALE...SOUTHEASTERN GREENE AND NORTHERN
DALLAS COUNTIES UNTIL 545 PM CDT...

AT 443 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM MARION TO 9 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF CUBA...AND MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  UNIONTOWN...
  VALLEY GRANDE...
  LINDEN...
  SELMA...
  SELMONT-WEST SELMONT...

&&

LAT...LON 3251 8840 3269 8740 3252 8689 3244 8686
      3242 8683 3237 8684 3223 8741 3226 8745
      3226 8751 3220 8752 3211 8790 3216 8802
      3230 8801 3232 8843
TIME...MOT...LOC 2143Z 291DEG 40KT 3262 8732 3238 8847

GRANTHAM

Local storm report, Mar 18, 4:45 PM CDT, 20 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
445 PM CDT MON MAR 18 2013

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

0320 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 N TRUSSVILLE          33.71N 86.61W
03/18/2013                   JEFFERSON          AL   PUBLIC

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN

0356 PM     HAIL             TALLADEGA               33.43N 86.10W
03/18/2013  M0.25 INCH       TALLADEGA          AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

0357 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SARDIS CITY             34.17N 86.12W
03/18/2013                   ETOWAH             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES ON HOUSE. RESIDENTS TRAPPED.

0400 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 SSE GADSDEN           33.98N 86.01W
03/18/2013  M88.00 MPH       ETOWAH             AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            ANEMOMETER REGISTERED 88 MPH PRIOR TO LOSING A CUP.
            NUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN.

0411 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SAKS                    33.71N 85.85W
03/18/2013                   CALHOUN            AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            ROOF OF ACKER ELECTRIC CO BUILDING PARTIALLY REMOVED.
            WINDS ESTIMATED AT 70-80 MPH BY TRAINED NWS SPOTTER.

0421 PM     HAIL             STURKIE                 32.80N 85.47W
03/18/2013  E1.75 INCH       CHAMBERS           AL   PUBLIC

0422 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 ESE MOUNT CHEAHA      33.48N 85.77W
03/18/2013                   CLAY               AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN NEARY HWY 49 AND ABEL RD.

&&

JD/02

Local storm report, Mar 18, 4:58 PM CDT, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
458 PM CDT MON MAR 18 2013

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

0454 PM     HAIL             6 SW DADEVILLE          32.77N 85.84W
03/18/2013  E1.75 INCH       TALLAPOOSA         AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

0453 PM     HAIL             LANETT                  32.87N 85.21W
03/18/2013  E1.25 INCH       CHAMBERS           AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

JD/02

Local storm report, Mar 18, 5:02 PM CDT, 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
502 PM CDT MON MAR 18 2013

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

0210 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 S ARKADELPHIA         33.80N 86.92W
03/18/2013                   JEFFERSON          AL   PUBLIC

            DOZEN LARGE PINE TREES DOWN POINTING IN A UNIFORM
            DIRECTION.

&&

JD/02

Local storm report, Mar 18, 5:05 PM CDT, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
505 PM CDT MON MAR 18 2013

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

0246 PM     TSTM WND DMG     JASPER                  33.85N 87.27W
03/18/2013                   WALKER             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN WITH ROADS BLOCKED IN NUMEROUS LOCATIONS. 2
            MANUFACTURED HOMES OVERTURNED IN DOGWOOD ACRES.

&&

JD/02

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 18, 4:58 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	32 min
Mar 18, 1:06 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	39 min
Mar 18, 1:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	41 min
Mar 18, 1:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	44 min
Mar 18, 1:51 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion	54 min
Mar 18, 2:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Winston	39 min
Mar 18, 2:18 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Winston	57 min
Mar 18, 2:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa, Walker	62 min
Mar 18, 3:03 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	St. Clair	27 min
Mar 18, 3:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Jefferson	39 min
Mar 18, 3:20 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene, Sumter	55 min
Mar 18, 3:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	47 min
Mar 18, 3:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Etowah, St. Clair, Shelby	56 min
Mar 18, 3:38 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chilton, Coosa	52 min
Mar 18, 3:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Talladega	44 min
Mar 18, 3:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Chilton	66 min
Mar 18, 4:01 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Talladega	59 min
Mar 18, 4:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers, Tallapoosa	66 min
Mar 18, 4:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Cleburne, Randolph	63 min
Mar 18, 4:14 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Coosa	31 min
Mar 18, 4:18 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Chilton, Perry	57 min
Mar 18, 4:24 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Russell	36 min
Mar 18, 4:35 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tallapoosa	55 min
Mar 18, 4:43 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Dallas, Marengo, Perry	62 min
Mar 18, 4:49 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Dallas, Marengo, Perry, Sumter	56 min
Mar 18, 4:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Elmore	62 min
Mar 18, 5:18 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers, Lee	57 min
Mar 18, 5:30 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lowndes, Montgomery	60 min
Mar 18, 5:32 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Macon	58 min
Mar 18, 5:38 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Russell	52 min
Mar 18, 6:11 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lowndes, Montgomery	49 min
Mar 18, 6:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lee	15 min
Mar 18, 6:21 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Barbour, Bullock, Pike, Russell	54 min
Mar 18, 6:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Barbour, Bullock, Pike	53 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2013 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2013

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.