Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2013

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 9, NWS Birmingham, AL

January 30, 2013Calhoun County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jan 30, 2013, 9:02 AM CST for Calhoun County, Alabama. It was in force for 28 min. 2 reports 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: Jan 30, 2013, 9:02 AM CST (15:02 UTC)
Expired: Jan 30, 2013, 9:30 AM CST
In force: 28 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

County Calhoun County, AL

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 112 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:04 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
Jan 30, 9:10 AM CST	TSTM WND DMG	5 Ese Anniston, AL	A TREE DOWN ALONG BERNARD COUCH DRIVE.
Jan 30, 9:12 AM CST	TSTM WND DMG	1 Nw Choccolocco, AL	LARGE TREE FELL ON HOUSE OFF OF RENEAU STREET. SOME ROOF DAMAGE.

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

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 2 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 8 minutes after it went out.

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 watch it was issued in

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

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Jan 30, 5:15 AM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 3.0 hours before the alert went out and 116 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: 916 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -1 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 468 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 62 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 296 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 364 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 1.9
Supercell composite: 9.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

082 
WUUS54 KBMX 301502
SVRBMX
ALC015-301530-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0009.130130T1502Z-130130T1530Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
902 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN CALHOUN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 930 AM CST

* AT 902 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60
  MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR GRANT TOWN...OR 6 MILES SOUTHWEST
  OF OXFORD...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  OXFORD...WEST END-COBB TOWN...COBB TOWN...ANNISTON...SAKS...FORT
  MCCLELLAN...JACKSONVILLE AND HOBSON CITY.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 185 THROUGH 191...

WINDS OF 60 TO 70 MPH WILL BREAK LARGE TREE LIMBS AND CAUSE SOME
DAMAGE...ESPECIALLY TO SMALLER STRUCTURES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FOR YOUR PROTECTION...MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF
YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.

&&

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM CST WEDNESDAY MORNING
FOR WESTERN ALABAMA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100
PM CST WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FOR ALABAMA.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...
CALL 1-800-856-0758 OR TWEET YOUR REPORT USING HASHTAG ALWX

LAT...LON 3377 8564 3363 8565 3363 8569 3361 8570
      3360 8574 3356 8575 3356 8579 3359 8580
      3359 8599 3392 8570 3388 8563 3385 8564
      3384 8559 3381 8559
TIME...MOT...LOC 1502Z 223DEG 51KT 3359 8585

$$

73

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 Jan 30, 6:46 AM CST, 2 hours 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 30, 6:46 AM CST, 2 hours 16 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
646 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

.UPDATE...
MESOSCALE UPDATE.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE SQUALL LINE/QLCS HAS NOW BECOME VERY BROKEN
IN APPEARANCE...AND CELLS ARE FORMING OUT AHEAD OF THE LINE. LIGHTNING
HAS REALLY INCREASED WITH AN INTENSIFYING LINE OF STORMS ACROSS
SOUTHEASTERN MISSISSIPPI...AND SURFACE MESOANLYSIS HAS REVEALED
THAT A WEAK AREA OF LOW PRESSURE HAS NOW BEGUN TO FORM NEAR
HATTIESBURG MISSISSIPPI. THIS WILL BECOME VERY PROBLEMATIC
THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS FOR OUR SOUTHERN SECTIONS OF THE
CWA...WHERE 68+ DEWPOINTS ARE BEGINNING TO GET ADVECTED NORTHWARD.
DEWPOINTS OF 66 HAVE BEEN ADVECTED AS FAR NORTH AS WINSTON AND
CULLMAN COUNTY. FRESH OFF THE PRESS...THE 12Z KBMX SOUNDING
MODIFIED FOR THE CURRENT SURFACE CONDITIONS REVEALS OVER 1000 J/KG
OF CAPE WITH A VERY WEAK CAP ABOUT TO BE BROKEN...WHICH WILL MEAN
THE LIKELIHOOD FOR TORNADIC DEVELOPMENT WILL CONTINUE OUT AHEAD OF
THE BROKEN LINE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS. THE ADDITION OF THE WEAK
AREA OF LOW PRESSURE ACROSS SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI WILL NO DOUBT
CONTINUE TO INCREASE SHEAR ACROSS THE AREA AS WELL. SO THE FIRST
THREAT THAT WE WILL SEE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS...WILL BE THE
ROTATING CELLS OUT AHEAD OF THE LINE AND WITHIN THE OLD QLCS
STRETCHING NORTHEASTWARD FROM SUMTER COUNTY NORTHEAST TO CULLMAN
COUNTY. BASED ON RADAR TRENDS...THE BEST DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE
WIND THREAT LOOKS TO BE MATERIALIZING ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN
MISSISSIPPI...AND THAT LINE OF STORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE
SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF OUR CWA THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS. ALSO...THE
DAMAGING WIND THREAT WILL STILL BE POSSIBLE IN ANY STORM THAT IS
CAPABLE OF MIXING DOWN THE EXTREMELY STRONG WINDS ALOFT.

56/GDG

&&

.AVIATION...
12Z TAF DISCUSSION.

MVFR CIGS ARE PREVAILING FOR MOST LOCATIONS...AND HAVE DECIDED TO GO
WITH PREVAILING MVFR FOR ALL TERMINALS THROUGH THE PERIOD IN THE
NEAR TERM. AS HEAVIER RAINFALL PASSES OVER ANY TERMINAL
LOCATION...CIGS AND VIS COULD SUDDENLY DROP AT ANY TIME. WITH CELLS
DEVELOPING OUT AHEAD OF THE SQUALL LINE...HAVE ADDED IN VCTS FOR
KBHM AND KEET THROUGH THE NEAR TERM. WINDS WILL REMAIN VERY GUSTY
THROUGH THE MORNING WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 KNOTS POSSIBLE FROM THE
SOUTH.

AS FAR AS THE TIMING OF THE SQUALL LINE...THE LINE ITSELF IS
BECOMING MORE BROKEN THAN IT WAS EARLIER THIS MORNING...BUT HAVE
STILL TRIED TO TIME THE ARRIVAL OF STRONGER WINDS AND SQUALLS AT
KTCL...KBHM...AND KEET. IF THE LINE BECOMES MORE BROKEN...WILL AMEND
BASED ON A WESTERLY WIND SHIFT THROUGH THE MORNING INSTEAD OF A
SQUALL...WITH TSRA CONTINUED TO BE MENTIONED.

DUE TO SO MANY FORECAST CHALLENGES WITHIN THE FIRST 12 HOURS OF THE
PERIOD...DID NOT SPEND MUCH TIME ON THE SECOND HALF OF THE PERIOD.
AS A HEADS UP...WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE W/SW BEHIND THE LINE OF
STORMS BUT WILL REMAIN GUSTY.

56/GDG

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES: 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.

&&

56

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 30, 8:55 AM CST, 7 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
855 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

ALZ011>015-017>050-311445-
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-
855 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES REMAIN POSSIBLE TODAY
EAST OF A LINE FROM ONEONTA...TO BIRMINGHAM...MYRTLEWOOD. ISOLATED
SUPERCELL STORMS AHEAD OF THE LINE WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSSIBLE
AHEAD OF THE SQUALL LINE AND WILL LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH INTO THE
AFTERNOON. THESE CELLS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO PRODUCE TORNADOES
BEFORE THE SQUALL LINE WORKS INTO THE AREA.

WINDY CONDITIONS WILL ALSO CONTINUE FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA
THROUGH 6 PM THIS EVENING. SUSTAINED WINDS OF 25 MPH...WITH GUSTS OF
UP TO 35 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. HIGHER ELEVATION LOCATIONS OF EASTERN
AND NORTHEASTERN ALABAMA COULD SEE WIND GUSTS OF UP TO 50 MPH.

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

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

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

08/MK

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 30, 8:11 AM CST, 51 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
811 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

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

0614 AM     TSTM WND DMG     SARDIS                  34.23N 87.12W
01/30/2013                   WINSTON            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            HANGER DAMAGE AT SARDIS AIPORT AND DAMAGE TO A CHURCH IN
            SARDIS

&&

GGOGGINS

Local storm report, Jan 30, 8:18 AM CST, 44 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
818 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

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

0605 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SW NESMITH            34.15N 87.14W
01/30/2013                   WINSTON            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ON COUNTY ROAD 40 JUST WEST OF
            COUNTY ROAD 77.

&&

GGOGGINS

Local storm report, Jan 30, 8:37 AM CST, 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
837 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

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

0618 AM     TSTM WND DMG     PRATTVILLE              32.46N 86.45W
01/30/2013                   AUTAUGA            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TWO TREES AND COUPLE OF POWER LINES DOWN ON HWY 31

&&

GGOGGINS

Local storm report, Jan 30, 8:38 AM CST, 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
838 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

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

0835 AM     HAIL             BIRMINGHAM              33.53N 86.80W
01/30/2013  E0.25 INCH       JEFFERSON          AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PEA HAIL REPORTED NEAR BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT

&&

GGOGGINS

Local storm report, Jan 30, 8:53 AM CST, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
853 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

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

0840 AM     HAIL             MOUNTAIN BROOK          33.49N 86.74W
01/30/2013  M0.25 INCH       JEFFERSON          AL   AMATEUR RADIO

&&

MROSE

Local storm report, Jan 30, 9:01 AM CST, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
901 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013

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

0456 AM     HAIL             HAMILTON                34.14N 87.98W
01/30/2013  E0.75 INCH       MARION             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN HAMILTON.

0532 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NW FAYETTE            33.71N 87.86W
01/30/2013                   FAYETTE            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN ON HWY 18 NORTHWEST OF FAYETTE

0605 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SW NESMITH            34.15N 87.14W
01/30/2013                   WINSTON            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ON COUNTY ROAD 40 JUST WEST OF
            COUNTY ROAD 77.

0614 AM     TSTM WND DMG     SARDIS                  34.23N 87.12W
01/30/2013                   WINSTON            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            HANGER DAMAGE AT SARDIS AIPORT AND DAMAGE TO A CHURCH IN
            SARDIS

0618 AM     TSTM WND DMG     PRATTVILLE              32.46N 86.45W
01/30/2013                   AUTAUGA            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TWO TREES AND COUPLE OF POWER LINES DOWN ON HWY 31

0835 AM     HAIL             BIRMINGHAM              33.53N 86.80W
01/30/2013  E0.25 INCH       JEFFERSON          AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PEA HAIL REPORTED NEAR BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT

0840 AM     HAIL             MOUNTAIN BROOK          33.49N 86.74W
01/30/2013  M0.25 INCH       JEFFERSON          AL   AMATEUR RADIO

&&

GGOGGINS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jan 30, 3:54 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	66 min
Jan 30, 4:34 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion	41 min
Jan 30, 5:05 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chilton	40 min
Jan 30, 5:23 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston	52 min
Jan 30, 5:44 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Winston	31 min
Jan 30, 5:49 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa, Walker	41 min
Jan 30, 6:49 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	56 min
Jan 30, 7:28 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Sumter	47 min
Jan 30, 7:53 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chilton, Coosa	52 min
Jan 30, 8:00 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Hale, Marengo	45 min
Jan 30, 8:15 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Coosa, Talladega	45 min
Jan 30, 8:19 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Hale	116 min
Jan 30, 8:46 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Talladega	29 min
Jan 30, 8:48 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Bibb, Hale, Jefferson, Shelby	117 min
Jan 30, 9:08 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Calhoun	52 min
Jan 30, 9:20 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Cleburne	40 min
Jan 30, 9:43 AM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson	3 hr
Jan 30, 10:09 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Coosa, Elmore	51 min
Jan 30, 10:12 AM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Talladega	3 hr
Jan 30, 10:20 AM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Calhoun, St. Clair	3 hr
Jan 30, 10:24 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Elmore, Montgomery	51 min
Jan 30, 10:31 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Randolph	44 min
Jan 30, 10:42 AM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Clay, Cleburne	3 hr
Jan 30, 10:53 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Tallapoosa	37 min
Jan 30, 10:57 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tallapoosa	33 min
Jan 30, 11:08 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cleburne, Randolph	37 min
Jan 30, 11:19 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Elmore, Tallapoosa	26 min
Jan 30, 11:26 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers, Randolph	49 min
Jan 30, 12:10 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Bullock, Montgomery, Pike	35 min
Jan 30, 12:26 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Barbour, Bullock, Russell	34 min
Jan 30, 12:28 PM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Chambers, Randolph, Tallapoosa	3 hr
Jan 30, 12:55 PM CST	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Talladega	3 hr
Jan 30, 2:03 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Barbour, Lee, Pike, Russell	57 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.