Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2014

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 140, NWS Birmingham, AL

December 23, 2014Bibb County, Chilton County, Shelby County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Dec 23, 2014, 5:58 PM CST for Bibb County, Chilton County, Shelby County, Alabama. It was in force for 52 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: Dec 23, 2014, 5:58 PM CST (23:58 UTC)
Expired: Dec 23, 2014, 6:50 PM CST
In force: 52 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Bibb County, AL, Chilton County, AL, Shelby County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 16 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:01 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.

The watch it was issued in

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

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Dec 23, 2:47 PM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 12.0 hours before the alert went out and 17 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: 79 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -65 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 481 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 67 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 147 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 226 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.9

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 Dec 23, 3:26 PM CST, 2 hours 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 23, 3:26 PM CST, 2 hours 32 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
326 PM CST TUE DEC 23 2014

.DISCUSSION...

LARGE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OVER THE CENTRAL CONUS WILL GRADUALLY
SHIFT EASTWARD OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS LIFTING A SURFACE LOW FROM
SOUTHERN LOUISIANA NORTHEASTWARD INTO THE TENNESSEE VALLEY
OVERNIGHT. WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN
PERSISTENT THROUGH THE DAY AS MOIST AIR SURGES NORTHWARD.
PRECIPITABLE WATER FORECASTS WILL APPROACH ALL TIME HIGHS FOR THIS
TIME OF YEAR.

THUS FAR TODAY WE HAVE HAD VERY LIMITED INSTABILITY AS HEAVY RAIN
AND EASTERLY FLOW HAVE REALLY SUPPRESSED THE NORTHWARD EXPANSION OF
THE REALLY WARM UNSTABLE AIRMASS NEAR THE COAST. OVER THE PAST FEW
HOURS...A STRENGTHENING LOW LEVEL JET HAS BEEN ERODING THE STABLE
AIR ACROSS THE SOUTHERN TIER OF COUNTIES. THERE STILL REMAINS SOME
CONCERN ABOUT A TORNADO AND WIND DAMAGE THREAT IN THOSE LOCATIONS
AS WIND SHEAR AND BEST INSTABILITY OVERLAP IN THE LATE AFTERNOON
AND EARLY EVENING HOURS.

OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS...A SQUALL LINE IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP IN
EASTERN MISSISSIPPI AND THEN PROGRESS THROUGH CENTRAL ALABAMA
AHEAD OF THE ADVANCING COLD FRONT. A BRIEF SPIN-UP TORNADO OR
ISOLATED AREA OF WIND DAMAGE WILL BE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE BOWING
SEGMENTS OF THE LINE. THE NORTHWARD EXTENT OF THE SEVERE THREAT IS
STILL SOMEWHAT UNCERTAIN BUT MAY REACH THE I-20 CORRIDOR. THE
LATEST HRRR SUGGEST THE LINE WILL EXIT OUR EASTERN COUNTIES
BETWEEN 10 AND 11 PM. HIGH RAINFALL RATES WILL INCREASE THE RISK
FOR LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING.

CHRISTMAS DAY LOOKS DRY BUT COOL WITH HIGHS IN THE UPPER 40S TO
MID 50S.

BEYOND TODAY...ANOTHER ROUND OF WET WEATHER IS EXPECTED OVER THE
WEEKEND. SHOWERS AND POSSIBLY SOME THUNDERSTORMS WILL PUSH INTO
THE STATE SATURDAY EVENING/NIGHT WITH RAINFALL PERSISTING SUNDAY
THROUGH AT LEAST EARLY MONDAY AS ANOTHER COMPLICATED WEATHER
SYSTEM DEVELOPS.

NEXT WEEK...LOTS OF SPREAD IN THE LONGER TERM MODELS SO LOWER
CONFIDENCE BEYOND MONDAY. CURRENTLY THERE APPEARS TO BE A BROAD
TROUGH DEVELOPING OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF THE NATION.

88

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

IFR TO LIFR CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD...WITH
LIMITED PERIODS OF MVFR. THE NEXT 12 TO 18 HOURS WILL BRING
WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MOST TERMINAL
LOCATIONS. CEILING AND VISIBILITY CONDITIONS MAY IMPROVE SLIGHTLY
AS SHOWERS PASS OVER TERMINALS...BUT ONLY MARGINAL IMPROVEMENT CAN
BE EXPECTED. A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE STATE
OVERNIGHT...EXITING ALABAMA WEDNESDAY MORNING. CONDITIONS WILL
IMPROVE AS DRY AIR SINKS INTO THE REGION ON WEDNESDAY.

07

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     56  59  34  51  30 / 100  60  10   0   0
ANNISTON    58  62  35  52  32 / 100  60  10   0   0
BIRMINGHAM  57  59  36  52  35 / 100  40  10   0   0
TUSCALOOSA  54  55  35  54  35 / 100  20   0   0   0
CALERA      58  58  36  53  36 / 100  30   0   0   0
AUBURN      60  63  37  53  37 / 100  80   0   0   0
MONTGOMERY  61  64  35  56  35 / 100  50   0   0   0
TROY        62  64  36  56  37 / 100  60   0   0   0

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES: AUTAUGA...BARBOUR...BULLOCK...ELMORE...LEE...LOWNDES...
MACON...MONTGOMERY...PIKE...RUSSELL.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 23, 4:44 PM CST, 1 hour 14 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
444 PM CST TUE DEC 23 2014

ALZ011>015-017>050-242245-
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-
444 PM CST TUE DEC 23 2014

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

HEAVY RAIN EVENT ONGOING ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA WILL BE CAPABLE
OF PRODUCING LOCALIZED FLOODING ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA.
THE HIGHEST POTENTIAL FOR ANY SIGNIFICANT FLASH FLOODING WILL BE
GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE 85 CORRIDOR.

THERE IS ALSO A LOW-CONFIDENCE...LOW-END THREAT FOR ISOLATED
SEVERE STORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS...AND A WEAK TORNADO OR TWO
GENERALLY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM ALICEVILLE TO BIRMINGHAM TO
WEDOWEE. THIS THREAT IS EXPECTED TO END BY MIDNIGHT IN THE
SOUTHEAST.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BE
NEEDED THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

08/MK

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Dec 23, 1:09 PM CST, 4 hours 49 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
109 PM CST TUE DEC 23 2014

ALZ014-015-232000-
WALKER AL-WINSTON AL-
109 PM CST TUE DEC 23 2014

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN WINSTON AND NORTHERN
WALKER COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM CST...

AT 106 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM ELDRIDGE TO CARBON HILL TO
BERRY...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 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...
  JASPER...
  ARLEY...
  NAUVOO...
  ASHBANK...
  POPLAR SPRINGS...

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 3400 8711 3398 8714 3396 8711 3392 8708
      3390 8709 3389 8707 3371 8744 3369 8748
      3369 8753 3387 8753 3387 8761 3397 8764
      3403 8763 3429 8711
TIME...MOT...LOC 1909Z 239DEG 36KT 3398 8753 3384 8749
          3371 8756

56

Special weather statement, Dec 23, 1:16 PM CST, 4 hours 42 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
116 PM CST TUE DEC 23 2014

ALZ018-231945-
ETOWAH AL-
116 PM CST TUE DEC 23 2014

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL ETOWAH COUNTY UNTIL 145
PM CST...

AT 112 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR ATTALLA...OR 5 MILES WEST OF GADSDEN...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 45 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...
  NOCCALULA FALLS...
  REECE CITY...
  SARDIS CITY...
  TABOR ROAD...
  ROCKLEDGE...

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 3418 8585 3395 8605 3400 8617 3419 8613
      3420 8584
TIME...MOT...LOC 1916Z 217DEG 39KT 3405 8607

56

Special weather statement, Dec 23, 4:12 PM CST, 1 hour 46 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
412 PM CST TUE DEC 23 2014

ALZ022-030-031-232300-
GREENE AL-PICKENS AL-SUMTER AL-
412 PM CST TUE DEC 23 2014

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN SUMTER...
SOUTHWESTERN PICKENS AND NORTHERN GREENE COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM CST...

AT 408 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 13 MILES WEST OF CUBA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  BOYD...
  EMELLE...
  EPES...
  GAINESVILLE...
  PANOLA...

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.

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 3321 8832 3291 8780 3251 8840
TIME...MOT...LOC 2212Z 221DEG 45KT 3255 8854

05/MA

Special weather statement, Dec 23, 4:19 PM CST, 1 hour 39 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
419 PM CST TUE DEC 23 2014

ALZ030-039-232300-
MARENGO AL-SUMTER AL-
419 PM CST TUE DEC 23 2014

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN SUMTER AND WESTERN
MARENGO COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM CST...

AT 416 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR PUTNAM...OR 26 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LINDEN...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  LINDEN...
  DEMOPOLIS...
  NANAFALIA...
  MYRTLEWOOD...
  PIN HOOK...

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.

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 3259 8806 3263 8794 3262 8786 3261 8784
      3260 8790 3253 8786 3255 8783 3252 8782
      3253 8773 3248 8773 3248 8766 3198 8797
      3199 8810 3206 8812 3209 8805 3213 8805
      3217 8801 3228 8803 3230 8801 3230 8814
TIME...MOT...LOC 2219Z 206DEG 52KT 3206 8808

05/MA!

Local storm report, Dec 23, 4:52 PM CST, 1 hour 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
452 PM CST TUE DEC 23 2014

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

0445 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NW YORK                 32.50N 88.30W
12/23/2014                   SUMTER             AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            LARGE TREE LIMBS/BRANCHES DOWN

&&

DAVIS

Special weather statement, Dec 23, 5:03 PM CST, 55 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
503 PM CST TUE DEC 23 2014

ALZ031-032-039-232345-
GREENE AL-HALE AL-MARENGO AL-
503 PM CST TUE DEC 23 2014

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN MARENGO...HALE AND
SOUTHERN GREENE COUNTIES UNTIL 545 PM CST...

AT 500 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM TISHABEE TO DUG HILL TO 6
MILES NORTH OF MYRTLEWOOD...AND MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH
HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  DEMOPOLIS...
  LINDEN...
  GREENSBORO...
  JEFFERSON...
  PIN HOOK...

THESE STORMS 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.

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 3292 8742 3266 8748 3265 8753 3238 8752
      3222 8802 3228 8803 3232 8794 3237 8804
      3243 8804 3253 8790 3252 8784 3261 8788
      3263 8794 3259 8805 3263 8808 3269 8804
      3270 8812
TIME...MOT...LOC 2303Z 250DEG 48KT 3264 8801 3253 8794
          3234 8793

05/MA

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Dec 23, 7:48 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene	27 min
Dec 23, 8:05 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale	40 min
Dec 23, 8:40 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tuscaloosa	50 min
Dec 23, 9:01 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Bibb	44 min
Dec 23, 11:03 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Etowah	42 min
Dec 23, 11:09 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Etowah	28 min
Dec 23, 11:26 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Lamar	2 hr
Dec 23, 11:27 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee	48 min
Dec 23, 11:46 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lamar	44 min
Dec 23, 12:07 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Pickens	53 min
Dec 23, 12:27 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Winston	48 min
Dec 23, 1:07 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lamar	38 min
Dec 23, 1:09 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Walker, Winston	51 min
Dec 23, 1:16 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Etowah	29 min
Dec 23, 1:22 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Etowah	9 min
Dec 23, 1:29 PM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Winston	3 hr
Dec 23, 3:58 PM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Tuscaloosa	2 hr
Dec 23, 4:12 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene	48 min
Dec 23, 4:19 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marengo	41 min
Dec 23, 4:23 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Sumter	47 min
Dec 23, 5:03 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Hale	42 min
Dec 23, 5:31 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Dallas, Hale, Marengo, Perry	44 min
Dec 23, 5:50 PM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Jefferson	115 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2014 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2014

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.