Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2018

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 17, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 19, 2018Blount County, St. Clair County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 19, 2018, 7:41 PM CDT for Blount County, St. Clair County, Alabama. It was in force for 34 min. 8 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 19, 2018, 7:41 PM CDT (00:41 UTC)
Expired: Mar 19, 2018, 8:15 PM CDT
In force: 34 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.75 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Blount County, AL, St. Clair County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 97 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:44 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 19, 7:50 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 Se Highland Lake, AL	MULTIPLE TREES DOWN ON DAYLILY LANE.
Mar 19, 7:50 PM CDT	TORNADO	3 S Highland Lake, AL	EF1 TORNADO WITH WINDS ESTIMATED AT 90 MPH. PATH LENGTH 6.43 MILES AND 1000 YARDS WIDE. SIGNIFICANT TREE DAMAGE WITH SEVERAL FALLING ON STRUCTURES.
Mar 19, 7:53 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 W Whitney Junction, AL	TREES DOWN ON CRAWFORD COVE ROAD.
Mar 19, 8:01 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 Ene Whitney Junction, AL	TREES DOWN ON I-59 AND HIGHWAY 411 BETWEEN ASHVILLE AND STEELE.
Mar 19, 8:02 PM CDT	TORNADO	2 Ne Ashville, AL	* 1 INJ * EF2 TORNADO WITH WINDS ESTIMATED AT 120 MPH. DAMAGE PATH 15.73 MILES LONG AND 1760 YARDS WIDE AT ITS WIDEST POINT. DAMAGE FROM ASHVILLE TO SOUTHSIDE WITH NUMEROUS STRUCTURES DAMAGED.
Mar 19, 8:07 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	5 Sse Alabama Internati, AL	TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN ON COUNTY 33 NEAR ASHVILLE. POSSIBLE TORNADO.
Mar 19, 8:10 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 Sw Alabama Internatio, AL	TREES AND POWER LINES WERE BLOWN DOWN.
Mar 19, 8:11 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 Ese Ashville, AL	A LARGE TREE BLOWN DOWN ON A HOME.

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 6 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 9 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 19, 3:28 PM CDT	Tornado Watch PDS	SPC	9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 0.7 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: 1154 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -50 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1046 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 61 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 334 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 409 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 2.6
Supercell composite: 17.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

662 
WUUS54 KBMX 200041
SVRBMX
ALC009-115-200115-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0017.180320T0041Z-180320T0115Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
741 PM CDT MON MAR 19 2018

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Southeastern Blount County in central Alabama...
  Northern St. Clair County in central Alabama...

* Until 815 PM CDT

* At 741 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Allgood, or
  near Oneonta, moving east at 50 mph.

  HAZARD...Golf 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...
  Rainbow City, Oneonta, Ashville, Steele, Allgood, Neely Henry Lake,
  Inland Lake, Highland Lake, Whitney Junction, Alabama International
  Dragway, Holly Springs, Horse Pens Forty, I 59 Rest Areas At
  Oneonta and Camp Sumatanga.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

A tornado watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for central,
northeastern and east central Alabama.

LAT...LON 3394 8637 3394 8633 3398 8629 3399 8627
      3397 8625 3399 8622 3399 8620 3396 8617
      3393 8617 3392 8615 3390 8614 3390 8611
      3386 8610 3386 8606 3385 8605 3384 8607
      3383 8605 3381 8649 3395 8653 3399 8633
TIME...MOT...LOC 0041Z 261DEG 45KT 3388 8643 

HAIL...1.75IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

87/GRANTHAM

1 follow-up statement

383 
WWUS54 KBMX 200056
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
756 PM CDT MON MAR 19 2018

ALC009-115-200115-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0017.000000T0000Z-180320T0115Z/
Blount AL-St. Clair AL-
756 PM CDT MON MAR 19 2018

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM CDT
FOR EAST CENTRAL BLOUNT AND NORTHEASTERN ST. CLAIR COUNTIES...

At 756 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Steele, or 9
miles west of Rainbow City, moving east at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Golf 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...
Rainbow City, Ashville, Steele, Neely Henry Lake, Whitney Junction,
Alabama International Dragway, Horse Pens Forty, I 59 Rest Areas At
Oneonta and Camp Sumatanga.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

A tornado watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for central and
northeastern Alabama.

LAT...LON 3396 8617 3393 8617 3392 8615 3390 8614
      3390 8611 3386 8610 3385 8605 3384 8607
      3383 8606 3383 8640 3396 8640 3397 8634
      3394 8637 3394 8633 3399 8627 3397 8625
      3399 8622 3399 8620
TIME...MOT...LOC 0056Z 261DEG 45KT 3391 8621 

HAIL...1.75IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

87/GRANTHAM

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 19, 6:49 PM CDT, 52 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 19, 6:49 PM CDT, 52 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
649 PM CDT Mon Mar 19 2018

.UPDATE...
For 00Z Aviation.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Confidence has increased in the potential for explosive supercell
thunderstorm development late this afternoon into tonight
especially along and north of a line from Tuscaloosa to Calera to
Wedowee. A dangerous environment will also be in place south of
this line, but initiation of storms and storm coverage is
questionable.

Currently, surface winds have veered to the southwest across most
of the area following the passage of a warm front. Normally this
would yield lower dewpoints and overall moisture quality, but this
does not appear to be the case. Dewpoints are holding in the mid
to upper 60s upstream across MS. Moisture quality should not be an
issue as this event progresses.

This event will hinge on evolution of the surface to 850mb wind
fields in response to the approaching upper-level trough. We are
already seeing this response across the northern half of MS where
winds are south to southeast near Tupelo and Columbus. Hi-res
models appear to be getting a better handle on the mesoscale
features and are slowly trending more aggressive with surface
pressure troughing and backing of winds in the 23-03z time frame.
HRRR guidance suggests the potential for 0-1km shear to exceed
40kts. This amount of shear combined with SBCAPE of 2000-3000 J/kg,
supports a risk for a few long-track tornadoes. A violent tornado
cannot be ruled out. The best chance of these enhanced ingredients
coming together for long-track tornadoes appears to be from I-65
eastward and as far south as Shelby, Talladega, Clay, and Randolph
counties.

Balloon launches are planned for 330 PM, 6 PM, and 730 PM to sample
critical changes in the low-level wind environment.

87/Grantham

&&

.AVIATION...
00Z TAF Discussion.

Trend with this set of TAFs will be in a bit more optimistic
direction, as the higher coverage of convection thus far has
remained well to the north of central Alabama terminals. Will
maintain a VCTS for a couple of hours at most locations, although
it did push this back an hour or two from the previous forecast
(based on radar trends). Still quite a bit of uncertainty on how
far south the convection will get overnight. If radar trends over
the next couple hours show the storms eventually expanding in
area, then we can update the TAFs where necessary.

Winds will shift around to a more westerly direction overnight,
and start to increase and be more gusty after sunrise on Tuesday.
The models were giving me mixed signals on the development of
lower clouds after the rain/storm threat ends overnight. Given the
lack of clouds back to the west, I am inclined to believe the more
optimistic of the model solutions. But once the winds kick up
Tuesday, the cumulus field should start to fill in as well.

/61/

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

After some storms tonight, light showers are possible Tuesday,
before dry conditions arrive by Wednesday. RH values will be
elevated the next couple days. There are no fire weather
concerns.

&&

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

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 19, 4:03 PM CDT, 3 hours 38 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
403 PM CDT Mon Mar 19 2018

ALZ011>015-017>050-210015-
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-
403 PM CDT Mon Mar 19 2018

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

.DAY ONE...Outlook Through Tonight.

Severe storms are expected late this afternoon into tonight These
storms will move from west to east, entering northwest Central
Alabama as early as 4 PM and exiting southeast Central Alabama as
late as 2 AM Tuesday morning. The greatest potential for strong
tornadoes is north of a line from Tuscaloosa to Calera to Wedowee.
However, tornadoes, very large large hail, and damaging winds are
possible area wide.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

Cooler air moving in behind the system will result in the potential
for lows at or below freezing across parts of north central Alabama
Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Activation of storm spotters and emergency management will be
needed through early Tuesday morning.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 19, 3:29 PM CDT, 4 hours 12 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
329 PM CDT MON MAR 19 2018

ALZ048-192100-
Russell AL-
329 PM CDT MON MAR 19 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN RUSSELL COUNTY UNTIL 400
PM CDT...

At 329 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Russell County Sports Complex, or 8 miles southwest of Phenix City,
moving east at 40 mph.

Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Phenix City, Ladonia, Russell County Sports Complex, Uchee, Seale,
Uchee Creek, Fort Mitchell, Ladonia Sports Complex, Fort Mitchell
Activity Center, Phenix Drag Strip and Parkmanville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Birmingham.

&&

LAT...LON 3229 8539 3241 8538 3241 8533 3245 8533
      3247 8521 3247 8506 3250 8506 3251 8500
      3246 8500 3244 8497 3242 8496 3241 8498
      3239 8497 3238 8499 3238 8497 3237 8499
      3233 8501 3229 8493
TIME...MOT...LOC 2029Z 261DEG 33KT 3237 8511

75

Local storm report, Mar 19, 4:10 PM CDT, 3 hours 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
410 PM CDT MON MAR 19 2018

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

0359 PM     HAIL             FOSTERS CROSSROADS      33.42N 85.56W
03/19/2018  E1.50 INCH       RANDOLPH           AL   PUBLIC

&&

Local storm report, Mar 19, 6:45 PM CDT, 56 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
645 PM CDT MON MAR 19 2018

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

0630 PM     HAIL             1 NE DOUBLE SPRINGS     34.15N 87.40W
03/19/2018  E0.50 INCH       WINSTON            AL   PUBLIC

            A FEW REPORTS OF DIME SIZE HAIL IN AND
            AROUND DOUBLE SPRINGS.

&&

MAL

Local storm report, Mar 19, 7:24 PM CDT, 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
724 PM CDT MON MAR 19 2018

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

0710 PM     HAIL             1 SW STRAWBERRY         34.24N 86.50W
03/19/2018  E1.00 INCH       BLOUNT             AL   PUBLIC

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN FAR NORTHERN
            BLOUNT COUNTY.

&&

MAL

Local storm report, Mar 19, 7:26 PM CDT, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
726 PM CDT MON MAR 19 2018

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

0653 PM     HAIL             2 SSE HALEYVILLE        34.22N 87.60W
03/19/2018  E1.00 INCH       WINSTON            AL   PUBLIC

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED IN
            HALEYVILLE.

&&

MAL

Local storm report, Mar 19, 7:27 PM CDT, 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
727 PM CDT MON MAR 19 2018

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

0726 PM     HAIL             2 N BLOUNTSVILLE        34.11N 86.58W
03/19/2018  E1.75 INCH       BLOUNT             AL   PUBLIC

            GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL ON THE NORTH SIDE OF
            BLOUNTSVILLE.

&&

MAL

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 19, 7:03 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	42 min
Mar 19, 7:18 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Blount	31 min
Mar 19, 7:29 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Etowah	61 min
Mar 19, 7:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Etowah	62 min
Mar 19, 7:49 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	56 min
Mar 19, 8:02 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Cherokee	58 min
Mar 19, 8:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun	66 min
Mar 19, 8:15 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Etowah	45 min
Mar 19, 8:33 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	St. Clair	42 min
Mar 19, 8:38 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Cleburne	46 min
Mar 19, 8:48 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Calhoun	42 min
Mar 19, 9:05 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Calhoun	21 min
Mar 19, 9:24 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Blount, Calhoun, Etowah, St. Clair	6 hr
Mar 19, 9:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cleburne	34 min
Mar 19, 9:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, St. Clair, Talladega	59 min
Mar 19, 10:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cleburne	40 min
Mar 19, 11:01 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Calhoun, Cleburne, Talladega	3 hr
Mar 20, 3:06 AM CDT	Wind Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more	19 hr
Mar 20, 5:33 AM CDT	Dense Fog Advisory	BMX	Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah and 3 more	3 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2018 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2018

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.