Alert archive / Alabama / Special Weather Statements in 2015

Special Weather Statement, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 3, 2015Jefferson County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this special weather statement at Apr 3, 2015, 10:07 PM CDT for Jefferson County, Alabama. It was in force for 38 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
Apr 3, 2015, 10:07 PM CDT (03:07 UTC)
Expired
Apr 3, 2015, 10:45 PM CDT
In force
38 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL

County Jefferson County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 25 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:08 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 nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 3.1 hours before the alert went out and 24 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Birmingham, AL at 00:00Z on 2015-04-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 44 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Birmingham, AL at 00:00Z on 2015-04-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 101 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
44 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-18 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1830 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
43 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
101 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
136 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

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 Apr 3, 6:41 PM CDT, 3 hours 26 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 3, 6:41 PM CDT, 3 hours 26 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
641 PM CDT FRI APR 3 2015

.UPDATE...
AVIATION DISCUSSION.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

THE FORECAST FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING SEEMS FAIRLY
STRAIGHTFORWARD WITH STORMS EXPECTED TO INITIATE ALONG OR JUST
AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT ACROSS EASTERN ARKANSAS AND EVENTUALLY INTO
NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND NORTHWEST ALABAMA. A TONGUE OF HIGHER
QUALITY MOISTURE IS EVIDENT IN THAT REGION BASED ON VISIBLE
SATELLITE AND SURFACE OBSERVATIONS. MLCAPE OF 1000-1500 J/KG AND
WESTERLY DEEP-LAYER SHEAR OF 40-50 KT ORIENTED AT AROUND 45 DEG TO
THE ZONE OF DEVELOPMENT...SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO A BROKEN LINE OF
STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WITH SUPERCELLS AND BOWING SEGMENTS
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 70 MPH AND HAIL UP TO
1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER. A BRIEF TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT WHERE
STRONGER REAR INFLOW OCCURS...BUT THIS POTENTIAL SHOULD BE LIMITED
BY MODEST 0-1 KM SHEAR AND HELICITY AND HIGHER-THAN-OPTIMAL LCL
HEIGHTS. THE GREATEST RISK SHOULD BE CONFINED TO OUR NORTHWEST
COUNTIES FROM 6-9 PM AS STORMS INTERACT WITH ZONE OF ENHANCED
INSTABILITY. STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO SLOWLY WEAKEN AS THEY APPROACH
THE I-59 CORRIDOR...WITH THE SEVERE THREAT ENDING AROUND MIDNIGHT.

IN THE WAKE OF THE COLD FRONT...THE WEEKEND SHOULD BE DRY FOR THE
MOST PART WITH TEMPERATURES RETURNING CLOSER TO NORMAL FOR BOTH
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. A SERIES OF IMPULSES IN THE SOUTHERN STREAM
WILL MOVE TOWARD THE AREA BEGINNING LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON WITH
RAIN CHANCES INCREASING SUBSTANTIALLY SUNDAY EVENING INTO MONDAY
ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE WEST AND NORTH. DEWPOINTS IN THE MID TO
UPPER 60S WILL BECOME WIDESPREAD BY TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...AND
MODELS SUGGEST THE SUBTROPICAL RIDGE TO OUR SOUTH WILL REMAIN FLAT
ENOUGH FOR DAILY AFTERNOON AND EVENING SHOWERS AND STORMS. EVEN
THOUGH WE ARE IN THE HEART OF SEVERE WEATHER SEASON...A LACK OF
DEEP-LAYER SHEAR SHOULD KEEP STORMS FROM BECOMING ORGANIZED AT
LEAST THROUGH MIDWEEK.

87/GRANTHAM

&&

.AVIATION...
00Z TAF DISCUSSION.

ISOLATED TSTORMS POSSIBLE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS...MAINLY NEAR
TCL AND BHM...BUT DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH CONFIDENCE IN THE TERMINAL
ACTUALLY BEING AFFECTED TO INCLUDE VCTS. BROKEN LINE OF TS WILL MOVE
FROM WEST TO EAST THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT...AFFECTING ALL
TERMINALS. HAVE TIMED OUT TSRA BASED ON CURRENT RADAR TRENDS AND
NEAR TERM GUIDANCE. DUE TO DECREASING INSTABILITY WITH TIME WILL
CONTINUE WITH SHRA AND ONLY VCTS FOR MGM/TOI. CIGS WILL DROP TO MVFR
WITH THE RAIN/STORMS AND THEN EVENTUALLY TO IFR IMMEDIATELY AFTER
THE FRONT WHILE WINDS SHIFT TO THE NW AND THEN N. VFR CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED TO RETURN TOMORROW MORNING...WITH GUSTY WINDS FROM THE
NORTH.

14

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     47  64  37  67  51 /  80   0   0  10  60
ANNISTON    48  65  40  68  52 /  80   0   0  10  60
BIRMINGHAM  48  67  41  68  55 /  80   0   0  10  60
TUSCALOOSA  48  68  43  69  56 /  80   0   0  20  60
CALERA      49  68  43  70  55 /  80   0   0  10  50
AUBURN      55  69  43  69  54 /  60  10   0  10  40
MONTGOMERY  54  72  45  72  57 /  60  10   0  10  40
TROY        58  71  43  72  57 /  50  10   0  10  30

&&

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

87/14
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 3, 7:39 AM CDT, 14 hours 28 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
739 AM CDT FRI APR 3 2015

ALZ011>015-017>050-041545-
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-
739 AM CDT FRI APR 3 2015

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING...GENERALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM LINDEN...TO
ALABASTER...TO JACKSONVILLE. THE THREAT TIME WILL BE FROM 6 PM
UNTIL MIDNIGHT. THE PRIMARY THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE
WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. AN ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED
OUT...ESPECIALLY NORTH OF A LINE FROM ALICEVILLE TO JASPER.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

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

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 3, 7:49 PM CDT, 2 hours 18 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
749 PM CDT FRI APR 3 2015

ALZ030-031-040115-
GREENE AL-SUMTER AL-
749 PM CDT FRI APR 3 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL SUMTER AND CENTRAL GREENE
COUNTIES UNTIL 815 PM CDT...

AT 749 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
BOLIGEE...OR 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF EUTAW...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
EUTAW...BOLIGEE...GAINESVILLE...EPES...THORNHILL...ALLISON...WALDEN
QUARTERS...I 20 REST AREA NEAR EUTAW...EUTAW MUNICIPAL AIRPORT...FIVE
POINTS INTERSECTION AND NEW MOUNT HEBRON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 3297 8775 3295 8773 3293 8777 3291 8777
      3286 8783 3280 8782 3277 8787 3276 8786
      3277 8783 3275 8781 3271 8783 3271 8780
      3270 8780 3265 8813 3283 8819
TIME...MOT...LOC 0049Z 254DEG 34KT 3277 8808

56
Local storm report, Apr 3, 8:14 PM CDT, 1 hour 53 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
814 PM CDT FRI APR 03 2015

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

0813 PM     HAIL             6 N DOUBLE SPRINGS      34.24N 87.40W
04/03/2015  E0.88 INCH       WINSTON            AL   PUBLIC

&&

LINHARES
Special weather statement, Apr 3, 8:20 PM CDT, 1 hour 47 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
820 PM CDT FRI APR 3 2015

ALZ032-040145-
HALE AL-
820 PM CDT FRI APR 3 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN HALE COUNTY UNTIL 845 PM
CDT...

AT 820 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
WEDGEWORTH...OR NEAR EUTAW...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MOUNDVILLE...AKRON...EVANSVILLE...WEDGEWORTH...SAWYERVILLE...
WATEROAK...MOUNDVILLE AIRPORT...SELDEN LOCK AND DAM...PHIPPS...HARPER
HILL AND HAVANA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO 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 3280 8782 3286 8783 3289 8782 3291 8776
      3293 8776 3301 8759 3300 8742 3283 8742
      3283 8747 3280 8748 3272 8783 3275 8781
      3277 8783 3276 8786 3277 8787
TIME...MOT...LOC 0120Z 244DEG 22KT 3283 8782

56
Special weather statement, Apr 3, 9:46 PM CDT, 21 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Apr 3, 9:50 PM CDT, 17 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Apr 3, 10:07 PM CDT, 0 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 3, 7:02 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXMarion43 min
Apr 3, 7:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarion53 min
Apr 3, 7:47 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXWinston58 min
Apr 3, 7:49 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXGreene26 min
Apr 3, 8:20 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXHale25 min
Apr 3, 9:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount48 min
Apr 3, 9:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCherokee37 min
Apr 3, 9:46 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXPickens29 min
Apr 3, 9:50 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXEtowah40 min
Apr 3, 10:11 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXSt. Clair34 min
Apr 3, 11:27 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXCleburne48 min
Apr 3, 11:29 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXBibb, Hale, Perry31 min
Apr 3, 11:57 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXChilton48 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Alabama, 2015Every special weather statement in 2015

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.