Alert archive / Alabama / Special Weather Statements in 2015

Special Weather Statement, NWS Birmingham, AL

July 1, 2015Clay County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this special weather statement at Jul 1, 2015, 3:21 PM CDT for Clay County, Alabama. It was in force for 24 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: Jul 1, 2015, 3:21 PM CDT (20:21 UTC)
Expired: Jul 1, 2015, 3:45 PM CDT
In force: 24 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL

County Clay County, AL

The radar

The Maxwell AFB radar (KMXX), 70 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:22 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 12:00Z, 8.4 hours before the alert went out and 97 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: 133 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -183 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 860 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 32 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 87 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

835 
WWUS84 KBMX 012021
SPSBMX

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
321 PM CDT WED JUL 1 2015
 
ALZ028-012045-
CLAY AL-
321 PM CDT WED JUL 1 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN CLAY COUNTY UNTIL
345 PM CDT...

AT 321 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
GOLDVILLE...OR 8 MILES SOUTH OF ASHLAND...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ASHLAND...MOTLEY...CRAGFORD AND MELLOW VALLEY. 

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 3311 8565 3310 8587 3323 8589 3329 8565
TIME...MOT...LOC 2021Z 262DEG 19KT 3316 8580 

$$

56

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 Jul 1, 3:21 PM CDT, 0 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 1, 3:21 PM CDT, 0 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
321 PM CDT WED JUL 1 2015

.DISCUSSION...

NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED ACROSS NORTH
ALABAMA THIS AFTERNOON ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF A DECAYING MCS OVER
TENNESSEE. THE ACTIVITY SHOULD WEAKEN CONSIDERABLY BY EARLY
EVENING AND DO NOT EXPECT MUCH COVERAGE AFTER SUNSET. ANOTHER MCS
IS LIKELY TO DROP SOUTHEAST INTO NORTH ALABAMA AFTER MIDNIGHT
AND THIS IS THE REASON FOR LIKELY POPS ACROSS THE FAR NORTHERN
COUNTIES. NORTHWEST FLOW PATTERN WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE
WEEKEND...AND THE WEATHER WILL REMAIN UNSETTLED. WARM AND MOIST
SOUTHWEST LOW WILL FEED INSTABILITY INTO ANY MCS THAT COMES DOWN
THE PIKE. ALTHOUGH WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED...AN
ISOLATED SEVERE STORM IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE OVER THE NEXT FEW
DAYS. A SLIGHTLY HIGHER SEVERE THREAT MAY COME ON FRIDAY AS MODELS
SHOW A INCREASE IN LOW LEVEL SHEAR OVER NORTH ALABAMA AS A
SURFACE LOW PASSES TO THE NORTH.

THE UPPER PATTERN WILL UNDERGO A CHANGE EARLY NEXT WEEK AS AN
UPPER RIDGE OVER TEXAS BUILDS EASTWARD. THIS WILL PRODUCE WARMER
DAYTIME TEMPERATURES AND DECREASING RAIN CHANCES.

58/ROSE

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND STORMS HAVE BEGUN TO DEVELOP IN RESPONSE TO
THE DECREASING CLOUD COVER FROM THIS MORNING. VCTS WILL REMAIN IN
THE FORECAST FOR NORTHERN TERMINALS...WITH LESS COVERAGE EXPECTED
AT KMGM AND KTOI. ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL BE
POSSIBLE FROM 06Z TO 12Z ON THURSDAY MORNING...AND HAVE RE-
INTRODUCED VCTS FOR THE NORTHERN TERMINALS ONCE AGAIN FOR THE
INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF STORM FORMATION. OTHERWISE...VFR
CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD WITH
SOUTHWESTERLY SURFACE WINDS PRIMARILY UNDER 10 KNOTS.

56/GDG

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED EACH
DAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND. NO FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS ARE EXPECTED AT
THIS TIME.

19

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     70  84  70  86  70 /  60  70  60  60  50
ANNISTON    70  85  71  86  70 /  60  70  60  60  50
BIRMINGHAM  73  87  73  88  72 /  50  60  50  60  50
TUSCALOOSA  72  89  72  89  72 /  30  50  40  50  50
CALERA      72  88  73  88  71 /  40  60  40  50  40
AUBURN      71  85  72  88  72 /  30  60  40  40  30
MONTGOMERY  73  90  72  90  73 /  20  40  20  30  30
TROY        73  90  72  91  72 /  20  40  20  30  30

&&

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

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 1, 4:53 AM CDT, 10 hours 28 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
453 AM CDT WED JUL 1 2015

ALZ011>015-017>050-021300-
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-
453 AM CDT WED JUL 1 2015

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

.DAY ONE...OUTLOOK THROUGH TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.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 IS NOT
EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 1, 2:32 PM CDT, 49 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
232 PM CDT WED JUL 1 2015

ALZ018-012000-
ETOWAH AL-
232 PM CDT WED JUL 1 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN ETOWAH COUNTY UNTIL
300 PM CDT...

AT 232 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
REECE CITY...OR 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF GADSDEN...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

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

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
GADSDEN...HOKES BLUFF...ATTALLA...REECE CITY...TABOR ROAD...NOCCALULA
FALLS...BALLPLAY...RIDGEVILLE...BLACK CREEK...ROCKLEDGE...CRUDUP...
KEENER...WILSONIA AND GADSDEN WATER WORKS.

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 3411 8584 3413 8580 3412 8579 3410 8580
      3400 8574 3397 8574 3405 8614 3420 8609
      3420 8584
TIME...MOT...LOC 1932Z 279DEG 21KT 3413 8595

56

Special weather statement, Jul 1, 2:59 PM CDT, 22 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
259 PM CDT WED JUL 1 2015

ALZ014-012045-
WINSTON AL-
259 PM CDT WED JUL 1 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN WINSTON COUNTY UNTIL
345 PM CDT...

AT 259 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
FALLS CITY...OR OVER ARLEY...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

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

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ARLEY...FALLS CITY...CAMP MCDOWELL...CORINTH REC AREA...HELICON...
SMITH LAKE...HOUSTON...BLACK POND...BEAR BRANCH...HULLETT BRANCH...
BATTLE BRANCH...CURTIS CROSSROADS...MAPLE BRANCH...LITTLE DISMAL
CREEK...DEVILS BRANCH...HIDDEN COVE CAMPGROUND...MILL BRANCH...
ROCKHOUSE CREEK...YELLOW CREEK AND BIG BEAR BRANCH.

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 3399 8711 3399 8715 3400 8717 3400 8719
      3398 8720 3399 8722 3399 8726 3400 8737
      3414 8737 3417 8711
TIME...MOT...LOC 1959Z 267DEG 31KT 3406 8722

56

Special weather statement, Jul 1, 3:01 PM CDT, 20 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
301 PM CDT WED JUL 1 2015

ALZ026-012030-
ST. CLAIR AL-
301 PM CDT WED JUL 1 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN ST. CLAIR COUNTY UNTIL
330 PM CDT...

AT 301 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
ASHVILLE...OR 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ONEONTA...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

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

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SPRINGVILLE...ASHVILLE...RAGLAND...STEELE...NEELY HENRY LAKE...ST.
CLAIR SPRINGS...CALDWELL...ALABAMA INTERNATIONAL DRAGWAY...I 59 REST
AREAS AT ONEONTA...WHITNEY JUNCTION...HORSE PENS FORTY...NEELY HENRY
DAM AND CAMP SUMATANGA.

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 3396 8617 3393 8617 3390 8614 3390 8611
      3386 8610 3386 8606 3384 8607 3382 8605
      3381 8607 3377 8605 3370 8615 3378 8648
      3382 8647 3382 8643 3389 8634 3391 8635
      3398 8629 3397 8625 3399 8620
TIME...MOT...LOC 2001Z 279DEG 26KT 3386 8638

56

Special weather statement, Jul 1, 3:12 PM CDT, 9 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
312 PM CDT WED JUL 1 2015

ALZ018-012045-
ETOWAH AL-
312 PM CDT WED JUL 1 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR ETOWAH COUNTY UNTIL 345 PM CDT...

AT 311 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
REECE CITY...OR 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF GADSDEN...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
GADSDEN...RAINBOW CITY...HOKES BLUFF...ATTALLA...GLENCOE...SARDIS
CITY...REECE CITY...GADSDEN MALL...TABOR ROAD...NOCCALULA FALLS...
BALLPLAY...RIDGEVILLE...GADSDEN STEAM PLANT...BLACK CREEK...
ROCKLEDGE...MOUNTAINBORO...BIG WILLS CREEK...CRUDUP...REAVES AND
KEENER.

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 3411 8584 3413 8580 3412 8579 3410 8580
      3399 8574 3394 8574 3400 8618 3418 8617
      3420 8585
TIME...MOT...LOC 2011Z 271DEG 26KT 3409 8609

56

Special weather statement, Jul 1, 3:18 PM CDT, 3 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
318 PM CDT WED JUL 1 2015

ALZ015-012100-
WALKER AL-
318 PM CDT WED JUL 1 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN WALKER COUNTY UNTIL
400 PM CDT...

AT 318 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
JASPER...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

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

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
JASPER...SUMITON...CORDOVA...DORA...PARRISH...SIPSEY...ROCKY
HOLLOW...BURNWELL...QUINTON...BELOIT...LYNNS PARK...BARNEY...BOLDO...
EMPIRE AND MANCHESTER.

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 3389 8701 3387 8700 3386 8697 3384 8695
      3380 8695 3380 8697 3379 8697 3379 8700
      3377 8701 3377 8702 3375 8702 3373 8704
      3369 8704 3368 8706 3366 8706 3366 8709
      3374 8733 3392 8728
TIME...MOT...LOC 2018Z 285DEG 20KT 3381 8723

56

Special weather statement, Jul 1, 3:21 PM CDT, 0 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
321 PM CDT WED JUL 1 2015

ALZ028-012045-
CLAY AL-
321 PM CDT WED JUL 1 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN CLAY COUNTY UNTIL
345 PM CDT...

AT 321 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
GOLDVILLE...OR 8 MILES SOUTH OF ASHLAND...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ASHLAND...MOTLEY...CRAGFORD AND MELLOW VALLEY.

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 3311 8565 3310 8587 3323 8589 3329 8565
TIME...MOT...LOC 2021Z 262DEG 19KT 3316 8580

56

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 1, 1:45 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee	60 min
Jul 1, 2:23 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Blount	52 min
Jul 1, 2:32 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Etowah	28 min
Jul 1, 2:59 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Winston	46 min
Jul 1, 3:01 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	St. Clair	29 min
Jul 1, 3:12 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Etowah	33 min
Jul 1, 3:18 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Walker	42 min
Jul 1, 3:28 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Calhoun	32 min
Jul 1, 3:33 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun	31 min
Jul 1, 3:57 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cleburne	33 min
Jul 1, 4:10 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Calhoun	35 min
Jul 1, 4:19 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	DeKalb	41 min
Jul 1, 4:37 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cleburne	23 min
Jul 1, 4:40 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Jefferson	50 min
Jul 1, 4:56 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	49 min
Jul 1, 5:26 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Jefferson	49 min
Jul 1, 6:14 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Talladega	46 min
Jul 1, 6:21 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Bibb	24 min
Jul 1, 6:26 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette	34 min
Jul 1, 6:52 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Shelby	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.