Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2017

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 51, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 9, 2017Marion County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 9, 2017, 11:49 PM CST for Marion County, Alabama. It was in force for 41 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: Mar 9, 2017, 11:49 PM CST (05:49 UTC)
Expired: Mar 10, 2017, 12:30 AM CST
In force: 41 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.25 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

County Marion County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 48 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:52 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
Mar 9, 11:52 PM CST	HAIL 1.25	Weston, AL	HAIL LARGER THAN QUARTER-SIZED REPORTED BY PUBLIC IN THE HAMILTON AREA. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
Mar 10, 12:10 AM CST	HAIL 1	3 Sw Tessner, AL	QUARTER SIZED HAIL SOUTH OF HACKLEBURG AT AROUND 12:10AM. .

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 3 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
Mar 9, 11:18 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	4 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 5.8 hours before the alert went out and 153 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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 2156 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 35 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 57 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

472 
WUUS54 KBMX 100549
SVRBMX
ALC093-100630-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0051.170310T0549Z-170310T0630Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1149 PM CST THU MAR 9 2017

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Central Marion County in northwestern Alabama...

* Until 1230 AM CST

* At 1148 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm was located over Weston, or
  near Hamilton, moving east at 45 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail. 

  SOURCE...Radar indicated. 

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage 
           to roofs, siding, and trees. 

* Locations impacted include...
  Hamilton, Haleyville, Weston, Lake Buttahatchee, Brinn, Bear Creek,
  Rankin Fite Airport, Pearces Mill and Piney Grove.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3424 8812 3424 8763 3405 8764 3406 8812
TIME...MOT...LOC 0548Z 271DEG 39KT 3413 8805 

HAIL...1.25IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

32/Davis

2 follow-up statements

064 
WWUS54 KBMX 100558
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1158 PM CST THU MAR 9 2017

ALC093-100630-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0051.000000T0000Z-170310T0630Z/
Marion AL-
1158 PM CST THU MAR 9 2017

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1230 AM CST
FOR NORTHEASTERN MARION COUNTY...

At 1158 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm was located near Hamilton,
moving east at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts. 

SOURCE...Radar indicated. 

IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail 
         damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind 
         damage to roofs, siding, and trees. 

Locations impacted include...
Hamilton, Haleyville, Weston, Lake Buttahatchee, Brinn, Bear Creek,
Rankin Fite Airport, Pearces Mill and Piney Grove.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3424 8803 3424 8763 3405 8764 3409 8804
TIME...MOT...LOC 0558Z 271DEG 39KT 3413 8792 

HAIL...1.50IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

32/Davis

543 
WWUS54 KBMX 100612
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1212 AM CST FRI MAR 10 2017

ALC093-100630-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0051.000000T0000Z-170310T0630Z/
Marion AL-
1212 AM CST FRI MAR 10 2017

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1230 AM CST
FOR NORTHEASTERN MARION COUNTY...

At 1212 AM CST, a severe thunderstorm was located over Lake
Buttahatchee, or 9 miles southwest of Haleyville, moving east at 45
mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail. 

SOURCE...Radar indicated. 

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to 
         roofs, siding, and trees. 

Locations impacted include...
Haleyville, Lake Buttahatchee, Brinn, Bear Creek and Piney Grove. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3424 8803 3424 8763 3405 8764 3407 8779
      3419 8783 3420 8803
TIME...MOT...LOC 0612Z 271DEG 39KT 3413 8773 

HAIL...1.25IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

32/Davis

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 Mar 9, 10:05 PM CST, 1 hour 44 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 9, 10:05 PM CST, 1 hour 44 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1005 PM CST Thu Mar 9 2017

.UPDATE...
MESOSCALE UPDATE.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

We're tracking a line of storms moving through Western Tennessee
this evening. This line will track southeastward and move through
the Central AL region through the overnight hours tonight. General
timing is expected to be after midnight for our northwestern
counties, reaching the Birmingham Metro around 2-4am.
The severe threat is expected to be confined to the northern half
of Central AL (mainly north of I-20 corridor). In this area, the
low level jet has increased the low-level shear values just enough
to support organized updrafts in the storms as the the front makes
its way through. Much of the instability remains elevated, which
will limit any tornado threat, but will support damaging winds and
hail.
South of the I-20 corridor, the shear is more unidirectional and
0-6km bulk shear does not support as organized of updrafts. The
question will be just how far south the better environment
stretches. For now, keeping the I-20 corridor as a rough
delineation, but it could extend a little south of that line. The
further south you go, elevated instability is still present, so
would expect some sub-severe thunderstorms still possible from
4am to 7am. By 7-8am, the front is expected to exit Central AL,
ending the rain/storm chances.

25/Owen

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF Discussion.

Pretty quiet for the next 12 to 15 hours as a cold front will
begin to slide into the region. Looks like most of it will hold
off until after 3Z north and 9Z south. VFR until the rain starts
then MVFR with brief rounds of IFR. Included VCTS but not
positive on exact timing as the front moves through. Conditions
remain MVFR through 18Z with backside clouds.

16

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

A moistening will continue this afternoon into tonight with a line
of showers and storms expected to affect much of the area. A
second system will bring widespread rainfall to the area Saturday
night and Sunday morning. There are no fire weather concerns.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...
/Issued 224 PM CST Thu Mar 9 2017/

Temperatures are soaring this afternoon with deep-layer westerly
flow and a dry low-level airmass in place. However, moisture is
beginning to increase especially across West AL and into MS due to
the onset of WSW flow at 850mb. This is occurring in advance of
an approaching subtle shortwave embedded within WNW flow at 500mb.
As a cold front sharpens to our north tonight, thunderstorms are
expected to develop upstream near the MS river and grow upscale.
Wind fields should strengthen in response to the approaching
shortwave with a 45kt low-level jet across our North at 06z. A
tongue of 500-800 J/kg MLCAPE and fairly steep mid-level lapse
rates combined with a mostly unidirectional wind profile could
lead to isolated damaging winds mainly along and north of I-20 in
association with a QLCS.

Our next chance of rain will come Saturday night into Sunday
morning with another shortwave in the WNW flow pattern. A cool/dry
antecedent airmass will be in place, leading to evaporational
cooling and temperatures falling into the 30s and 40s. Any impacts
from a wintry mix should stay just north of our forecast area,
though some ice pellets appear possible across the very northern
part of our northernmost counties.

Models are in good agreement that another shortwave will rotate
through on Monday with a strong reinforcing shot of cold air
lasting through Thursday. The trailing airmass may be the coldest
in several weeks, and a widespread significant freeze cannot be
ruled out in the Wednesday/Thursday timeframe.

87/Grantham

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Gadsden     56  66  35  60  38 /  90  10   0  20  90
Anniston    57  69  38  63  39 /  90  20   0  20  90
Birmingham  62  68  38  61  38 /  90  20   0  30  90
Tuscaloosa  61  72  40  65  40 /  90  20   0  30  80
Calera      59  70  40  64  40 /  90  30   0  30  90
Auburn      56  73  42  66  46 /  40  40   0  10  90
Montgomery  59  77  44  70  46 /  30  40   0  20  90
Troy        60  77  44  71  50 /  30  50   0  10  90

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES/...
None.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 9, 7:31 PM CST, 4 hours 18 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
731 PM CST Thu Mar 9 2017

ALZ011>015-017>050-110445-
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-
731 PM CST Thu Mar 9 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the
National Weather Service office in Birmingham.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

There is a risk of severe thunderstorms tonight across north central
Alabama, mainly near and north of a line from Aliceville to
Alabaster to Wedowee. Isolated storms are possible through midnight.
Then coverage increases midnight through 4 am north. A few of the
strongest storms may produce damaging winds up to 60 MPH and hail up
to the size of half dollars.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

The Spring Freeze program has begun. Temperatures will be close or
just below freezing briefly both Monday and Tuesday mornings across
the far northern row of counties. Higher confidence that most of the
area will be below freezing Wednesday morning and a Freeze Watch may
be necessary the closer we get.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Activation of storm spotters and emergency management may be
tonight.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 9, 7:55 PM CST, 3 hours 54 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
755 PM CST THU MAR 9 2017

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

0746 PM     HAIL             BYRD                    34.08N 88.13W
03/09/2017  E1.75 INCH       MARION             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED ALONG HIGHWAY 19
            IN THE BYRD COMMUNITY.

&&

ML

Local storm report, Mar 9, 8:03 PM CST, 3 hours 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
803 PM CST THU MAR 9 2017

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

0801 PM     HAIL             1 SE WESTON             34.15N 88.02W
03/09/2017  E1.50 INCH       MARION             AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            .

&&

ML

Local storm report, Mar 9, 8:06 PM CST, 3 hours 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
806 PM CST THU MAR 9 2017

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

0804 PM     HAIL             HAMILTON                34.14N 87.99W
03/09/2017  E1.75 INCH       MARION             AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            .

&&

ML

Special weather statement, Mar 9, 8:33 PM CST, 3 hours 16 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
833 PM CST THU MAR 9 2017

ALZ022-100315-
Pickens AL-
833 PM CST THU MAR 9 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL PICKENS COUNTY UNTIL
915 PM CST...

At 832 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Bent Oak, or 10 miles south of Columbus, moving east at 30 mph.

Half inch hail and winds in 30 to 40 mph will be possible with this
storm.

Locations impacted include...
Reform, Carrollton, Pickensville, Owens and Pine Grove.

LAT...LON 3339 8829 3336 8800 3320 8811 3323 8831
TIME...MOT...LOC 0232Z 279DEG 25KT 3336 8847

75

Local storm report, Mar 9, 9:14 PM CST, 2 hours 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
914 PM CST THU MAR 9 2017

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

0600 PM     HAIL             2 WNW BEXAR             34.21N 88.18W
03/09/2017  E1.00 INCH       MARION             AL   PUBLIC

            TRAVELER REPORTED HAIL COVERING THE GROUND
            AND IT LOOKED LIKE SNOW COVER. THE LARGEST
            PIECE WAS ESTIMATED AT QUARTER SIZE, BUT
            MOST WAS SMALLER.

0624 PM     HAIL             WESTON                  34.16N 88.02W
03/09/2017  E0.88 INCH       MARION             AL   PUBLIC

            REPORTED VIA SPOTTERNETWORK.

0624 PM     HAIL             1 ESE WESTON            34.16N 88.02W
03/09/2017  E0.88 INCH       MARION             AL   PUBLIC

            REPORTED VIA SPOTTERNETWORK.

0629 PM     HAIL             1 N HAMILTON            34.16N 87.98W
03/09/2017  E0.88 INCH       MARION             AL   PUBLIC

            DIME- TO NICKLE-SIZED HAIL REPORTED IN
            HAMILTON.

0629 PM     HAIL             1 N HAMILTON            34.16N 87.98W
03/09/2017  E0.88 INCH       MARION             AL   PUBLIC

            DIME- TO NICKLE-SIZED HAIL REPORTED IN
            HAMILTON.

0635 PM     HAIL             3 E HAMILTON            34.14N 87.93W
03/09/2017  E1.00 INCH       MARION             AL   PUBLIC

            .

0635 PM     HAIL             3 E HAMILTON            34.14N 87.93W
03/09/2017  E1.00 INCH       MARION             AL   PUBLIC

            .

0746 PM     HAIL             BYRD                    34.08N 88.13W
03/09/2017  E1.75 INCH       MARION             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED ALONG HIGHWAY 19
            IN THE BYRD COMMUNITY.

0801 PM     HAIL             1 SE WESTON             34.15N 88.02W
03/09/2017  E1.50 INCH       MARION             AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            .

0804 PM     HAIL             HAMILTON                34.14N 87.99W
03/09/2017  E1.75 INCH       MARION             AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            .

&&

NWS BIRMINGHAM AL
IRIS SYSTEM

Special weather statement, Mar 9, 11:38 PM CST, 11 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1138 PM CST THU MAR 9 2017

ALZ011-100615-
Marion AL-
1138 PM CST THU MAR 9 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MARION COUNTY UNTIL 1215 AM
CST...

At 1138 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Tremont, or 10 miles west of Hamilton, moving east at 50 mph.

Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Hamilton, Haleyville, Hackleburg, Brinn, Weston, Lake Buttahatchee,
Bear Creek, Tessner, Shottsville, Pearces Mill, Rankin Fite Airport,
Upper Bear Creek Reservoir, Byrd, Bexar, Pigeye and Piney Grove.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3430 8763 3405 8764 3407 8820 3424 8819
      3432 8817
TIME...MOT...LOC 0538Z 267DEG 41KT 3418 8816

32/Davis

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 9, 6:44 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	33 min
Mar 9, 7:34 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion	56 min
Mar 9, 8:12 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	19 min
Mar 9, 8:33 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	42 min
Mar 9, 11:38 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	37 min
Mar 10, 12:07 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marion	31 min
Mar 10, 12:18 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Winston	57 min
Mar 10, 1:12 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Blount	63 min
Mar 10, 1:14 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee	61 min
Mar 10, 1:16 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion, Winston	59 min
Mar 10, 1:21 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Etowah	54 min
Mar 10, 1:44 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Walker	76 min
Mar 10, 1:53 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Calhoun, Cleburne, St. Clair	82 min
Mar 10, 1:59 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Jefferson	76 min
Mar 10, 2:26 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens, Tuscaloosa	64 min
Mar 10, 2:36 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby	54 min
Mar 10, 2:40 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Clay, Randolph, Talladega	65 min
Mar 10, 2:58 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Bibb	62 min
Mar 10, 3:03 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene, Sumter	57 min
Mar 10, 3:15 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Chilton, Coosa	45 min
Mar 10, 3:24 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Clay, Coosa, Tallapoosa	51 min
Mar 10, 3:41 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chambers	64 min
Mar 10, 3:51 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Autauga, Dallas, Elmore	54 min
Mar 10, 4:02 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Elmore	28 min
Mar 10, 4:05 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lee	40 min
Mar 10, 4:15 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Macon, Montgomery	45 min
Mar 10, 4:21 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lowndes	39 min
Mar 10, 4:34 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Bullock, Russell	41 min
Mar 10, 4:57 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Barbour, Pike	48 min
Mar 10, 3:56 PM CST	Frost Advisory	BMX	Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah and 9 more	15 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2017 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2017

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.