Alert archive / Alabama / Special Weather Statements in 2015

Special Weather Statement, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 20, 2015St. Clair County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this special weather statement at Apr 20, 2015, 2:34 AM CDT for St. Clair County, Alabama. It was in force for 41 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 20, 2015, 2:34 AM CDT (07:34 UTC)
Expired: Apr 20, 2015, 3:15 AM CDT
In force: 41 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL

County St. Clair County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 87 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:33 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, 7.6 hours before the alert went out and 87 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: 190 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -87 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1575 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 90 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 147 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.7

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 20, 1:01 AM CDT, 1 hour 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 20, 1:01 AM CDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
101 AM CDT MON APR 20 2015

.UPDATE...
FOR 06Z AVIATION.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

WATCHING THE CONVECTION DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AS A SHORTWAVE
PASSES THROUGH THE TENNESSEE VALLEY. A CHANCE SOME OF THESE
STORMS COULD PRODUCE HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS. ONE OR TWO WARNING CANT
BE RULED OUT BUT THE MAJORITY SHOULD STAY BELOW SEVERE LIMITS.

LATER TONIGHT THE MAIN UPPER TROUGH AXIS WILL PASS THROUGH THE
DEEP SOUTH PUSHING A COLD FRONT INTO OUR AREA AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SHEAR VALUES INCREASE ENOUGH TO INCLUDE A LIMITED TORNADO THREAT
ALONG WITH LARGE HAIL AND WIND DAMAGE POSSIBLE. MODELS ARE STILL
HAVING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME GETTING A HANDLE ON THE EVOLUTION OF
STORMS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP TO OUR WEST. SOME WEAKENING IS
POSSIBLE BY THE TIME THEY REACH ALABAMA. OVERALL COVERAGE IS ALSO
QUESTIONABLE WITH THE HIGHER POPS DEFINITELY ACROSS THE NORTH.

THIS SYSTEM EXITS TO THE EAST TOMORROW MORNING WITH DRIER WEATHER
MONDAY AFTERNOON INTO WEDNESDAY. SOME POTENTIAL SCATTERED
SHOWERS/STORMS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WITH BETTER RAIN CHANCES OVER
THE WEEKEND.

88

&&

.AVIATION...
06Z TAF DISCUSSION.

MAIN CONCERN FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS IS THE CHANCE FOR
THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING THE NORTHERN SITES...BUT THESE APPEAR TO
BE ON A TRAJECTORY THAT WILL TAKE THEM NORTH OF ALL SITES. UNLESS
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY DEVELOPS...IT IS DOUBTFUL THAT ANY RAIN AT ALL
WILL OCCUR. FARTHER SOUTH...MVFR AND IFR CIGS ARE DEVELOPING AS
MOISTURE MOVES NORTHWARD. CONDITIONS SHOULD IMPROVE THROUGH THE
LATE MORNING HOURS.

87/GRANTHAM

&&

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

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 20, 1:30 AM CDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
130 AM CDT MON APR 20 2015

ALZ011>015-017>050-210930-
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-
130 AM CDT MON APR 20 2015

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL TRACK EASTWARD
ACROSS AREAS NORTH OF I-20 OVERNIGHT. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 60
MPH AND HAIL UP TO QUARTER SIZE ARE POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

MINOR RIVER FLOODING IS POSSIBLE ALONG PORTIONS OF THE TOMBIGBEE
AND BLACK WARRIOR RIVER BASINS BEGINNING MONDAY AND LASTING
UNTIL WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BE
NEEDED TONIGHT.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 20, 1:11 AM CDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
111 AM CDT MON APR 20 2015

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

1255 AM     HAIL             6 E VERNON              33.76N 88.01W
04/20/2015  E0.50 INCH       LAMAR              AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            DIME SIZE HAIL IN CROSSVILLE.

&&

LINHARES

Special weather statement, Apr 20, 1:34 AM CDT, 1 hour before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
134 AM CDT MON APR 20 2015

ALZ012-013-200700-
LAMAR AL-FAYETTE AL-
134 AM CDT MON APR 20 2015

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...

AT 133 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM ELDRIDGE TO NEAR BLOOMING
GROVE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WINFIELD...VERNON...GLEN ALLEN...GU-WIN...BLOOMING GROVE...BLUFF...
WAYSIDE...FOWLERS CROSSROADS...BAZEMORE AND HUBBERTVILLE.

LAT...LON 3388 8808 3392 8792 3392 8785 3391 8774
      3391 8764 3387 8763 3387 8753 3382 8753
      3371 8810
TIME...MOT...LOC 0633Z 246DEG 48KT 3390 8762 3377 8804

75

Local storm report, Apr 20, 1:45 AM CDT, 49 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
145 AM CDT MON APR 20 2015

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

0830 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 N LEESBURG            34.19N 85.77W
04/19/2015                   CHEROKEE           AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN IN LEESBURG. ALSO DAMAGE TO A BARN
            AND HOUSE. CORRECTED REPORT.

0835 AM     TSTM WND DMG     4 NE SULPHUR SPRINGS    33.88N 85.82W
04/19/2015                   CALHOUN            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            MULTIPLE TREES DOWN ALONG PLEASANT VALLEY RD. ALSO DAMAGE
            TO AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS AT PLEASANT VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL.
            UPDATED REPORT.

0843 AM     TORNADO          7 N HAWKINSVILLE        32.13N 85.23W
04/19/2015                   RUSSELL            AL   NWS STORM SURVEY

            THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN A VERY RURAL PORTION OF
            SOUTHWEST RUSSELL COUNTY...NEAR THE BARBOUR COUNTY LINE
            ALONG PERRYS WELL ROAD. THE TORNADO TRAVELED NORTHEAST
            APPROXIMATELY ONE-HALF MILE BEFORE LIFTING. MAXIMUM WIDTH
            WAS 188 YARDS. ESTIMATED PEAK WIND WAS 95 MPH.

0917 AM     TORNADO          3 SSE FORT MITCHELL ACT 32.27N 85.00W
04/19/2015  F1               RUSSELL            AL   NWS STORM SURVEY

            THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN SOUTH OF COUNTY ROAD 18 JUST
            WEST OF HIGHWSY 165. THE TORNADO TRACKED NORTHEAST AND
            CROSSED HIGHWAY 165...AND CAUSED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO
            SEVERAL BUSINESSES IN THE DROP ZONE MARKET...REMOVING THE
            ROOF OFF A METAL BUILDING AS WELL AS TOSSING SEVERAL
            ROOFTOP AIR CONDITIONING UNITS. A LARGE HARDWOOD TREE WAS
            ALSO UPROOTED IN THE SAME LOCATION. AS IT CONTINUED
            NORTHEAST...IT CROSSED TWO SUBDIVISIONS CAUSING MAINLY
            ROOF AND SIDING DAMAGE TO HOMES IN THE SUBDIVISION.

0425 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 ENE LEEDS             33.57N 86.50W
04/19/2015                   ST. CLAIR          AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN ON OAK RIDGE DRIVE.

0432 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 SE MOODY              33.56N 86.44W
04/19/2015                   ST. CLAIR          AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN ON PAPAS HILL ROAD.

1237 AM     TSTM WND DMG     SHOTTSVILLE             34.26N 88.13W
04/20/2015                   MARION             AL   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            SEVERAL TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN.

1255 AM     HAIL             6 E VERNON              33.76N 88.01W
04/20/2015  E0.50 INCH       LAMAR              AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            DIME SIZE HAIL IN CROSSVILLE.

0109 AM     HAIL             VERNON                  33.76N 88.11W
04/20/2015  E0.50 INCH       LAMAR              AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            DIME SIZE HAIL

&&

LINHARES

Special weather statement, Apr 20, 2:07 AM CDT, 27 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
207 AM CDT MON APR 20 2015

ALZ011-200745-
MARION AL-
207 AM CDT MON APR 20 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MARION COUNTY UNTIL
245 AM CDT...

AT 206 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR BRINN TO NEAR
BEAVERTON...AND MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WINFIELD...HALEYVILLE...GUIN...BRILLIANT...GLEN ALLEN...GU-WIN...LAKE
BUTTAHATCHEE...TWIN...TUCKER...PINEY GROVE AND TEXAS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3392 8764 3392 8795 3400 8795 3419 8775
      3421 8763
TIME...MOT...LOC 0706Z 261DEG 32KT 3415 8775 3390 8801

GRANTHAM

Local storm report, Apr 20, 2:19 AM CDT, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
219 AM CDT MON APR 20 2015

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

0210 AM     HAIL             3 NNW JASPER            33.89N 87.28W
04/20/2015  E0.75 INCH       WALKER             AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS ESTIMATED AT 45 MPH AT FARMSTEAD
            BAPTIST CHURCH.

&&

GRANTHAM

Special weather statement, Apr 20, 2:34 AM CDT, 0 minutes before

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The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 20, 12:27 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion	48 min
Apr 20, 12:48 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion	42 min
Apr 20, 1:15 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar	16 min
Apr 20, 1:16 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker, Winston	59 min
Apr 20, 1:34 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lamar	26 min
Apr 20, 2:07 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	38 min
Apr 20, 2:32 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	13 min
Apr 20, 3:10 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Etowah	35 min
Apr 20, 3:20 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	DeKalb	25 min
Apr 20, 4:07 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee	23 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Alabama, 2015 Every 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.