Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2018

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 99, NWS Birmingham, AL

July 21, 2018Randolph County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 21, 2018, 4:41 PM CDT for Randolph County, Alabama. It was in force for 49 min. 6 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: Jul 21, 2018, 4:41 PM CDT (21:41 UTC)
Expired: Jul 21, 2018, 5:30 PM CDT
In force: 49 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 2.0 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

County Randolph County, AL

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 74 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:42 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
Jul 21, 4:45 PM CDT	HAIL 0.75	Woodland, AL	DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED NEAR WOODLAND IN RANDOLPH COUNTY.
Jul 21, 4:48 PM CDT	HAIL 1	Woodland, AL	QUARTER SIZED HAIL NOW REPORTED NEAR WOODLAND IN RANDOLPH COUNTY.
Jul 21, 4:48 PM CDT	HAIL 1.75	Wedowee, AL	GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL REPORTED NEAR WEDOWEE.
Jul 21, 4:58 PM CDT	HAIL 1	Wedowee, AL	REPORT OF HAIL LARGE ENOUGH TO CRACK CAR WINDSHIELDS NEAR WEDOWEE.
Jul 21, 5:11 PM CDT	HAIL 1	2 E Crystal Lake, AL	HAIL OF AT LEAST QUARTER SIZE ON THE GROUND WHEN RETURNING HOME. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Jul 21, 5:25 PM CDT	HAIL 2.75	4 E Fosters Crossroads, AL	BASEBALL SIZED HAIL REPORTED NEAR MORRISON CROSSROADS COMMUNITY.

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 5 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 7 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 nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 133 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: 2831 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -66 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 906 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 245 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 283 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 3.6
Supercell composite: 24.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

777 
WUUS54 KBMX 212141
SVRBMX
ALC111-212230-
/O.NEW.KBMX.SV.W.0099.180721T2141Z-180721T2230Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
441 PM CDT SAT JUL 21 2018

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Central Randolph County in east central Alabama...

* Until 530 PM CDT.

* At 441 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Morrison
  Cross Roads, or 7 miles north of Wedowee, moving southeast at 30
  mph.

  HAZARD...Two inch 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...
  Roanoke, Wedowee, Woodland, Morrison Cross Roads, Fosters Cross
  Roads, Graham, Newell, Napoleon, Tennant, Rock Mills, Big Springs,
  Paran and Rock Stand.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3311 8526 3335 8564 3350 8550 3349 8536
      3350 8535 3348 8530 3311 8523
TIME...MOT...LOC 2141Z 308DEG 27KT 3341 8547 

HAIL...2.00IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

89^GSatterwhite

1 follow-up statement

921 
WWUS54 KBMX 212210
SVSBMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
510 PM CDT SAT JUL 21 2018

ALC111-212230-
/O.CON.KBMX.SV.W.0099.000000T0000Z-180721T2230Z/
Randolph AL-
510 PM CDT SAT JUL 21 2018

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT
FOR SOUTHEASTERN RANDOLPH COUNTY...

At 510 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Crystal Lake,
or near Roanoke, moving southeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tennis 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...
Roanoke, Big Springs, Paran, Rock Mills, Rock Stand and Napoleon. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3324 8546 3335 8533 3330 8527 3311 8523
      3311 8526
TIME...MOT...LOC 2210Z 316DEG 27KT 3321 8534 

HAIL...2.50IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

89^GSatterwhite

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 Jul 21, 2:56 PM CDT, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 21, 2:56 PM CDT, 1 hour 45 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
256 PM CDT Sat Jul 21 2018

.UPDATE...
Near Term and Fire Weather Discussion.

&&

Near Term...
Through Early Evening.

A couple storms have developed over the last hour across east
Alabama, and seeing a more developed cu field across portions of the
northeast. Expect this to be the primary area of development. The
mesoscale discussion issued earlier today remains valid (below).
Although storm coverage will be low, any storm that develops could
be strong to severe through early evening.

14

&&

MESOSCALE UPDATE.

--Low-confidence severe weather threat this afternoon--

As of 16:25Z/11:25AM, an outflow boundary from an earlier
thunderstorm complex that moved through GA (and clipping east
Alabama) was oriented along a northwest-to-southeast axis from
north-central Alabama to southeast Alabama, quite close to the
I-65 corridor. I doubt this boundary will move any farther west
due to low-level westerly flow to its west. Surface observations
show ~southerly surface winds near and east of the outflow
boundary. High-res guidance moves the outflow boundary eastward
during the afternoon, and this is the only area across central
Alabama where surface winds will have an opportunity to feature a
backed flow (westerly elsewhere). Winds aloft will remain veered,
with speeds/shear on the high end for this time of year,
alongside a moderate-to-strongly unstable air mass.

The big question is if storms will form this afternoon, and how
many. As has been the trend with this event, forecast guidance has
a wide range of solutions. The current thinking is that a few
afternoon storms could form near the position of the outflow
boundary/east Alabama where surface convergence will exist, with
some threat of severe weather: damaging winds and hail up to
quarter size. Within the slight risk area only/east Alabama,
there is a conditional threat for storm rotation/an isolated
tornado, but is on the (very) low end as low-level flow isn't all
that strong, with relatively weak SRH even along the boundary.
This may end up being within a fairly short window as the feature
moves eastward across the state line/out of our forecast area. For
the Marginal Risk area/west Alabama, there is an even lower
confidence of any thunderstorm formation. The general time frame
for storms is 2PM-8PM.

We will continue to monitor the setup for any amendments through
the afternoon.

89^GSatterwhite

.LONG TERM...
Sunday through Friday.

The cold front will slowly slide southward through the area on
Sunday and should be near the I-85 corridor by sunset. Look for
the front to actually clear the area by Sunday night, but then we
shift our attention to the north and the path of the upper low.
Models have come into a little bit more of a consensus on the path
of the upper low swinging through northern GA and into Central AL
on Monday and then setting up shop for several days. This scenario
would place the highest rain chances in the eastern half each
afternoon through Wednesday. By Thursday the upper low opens up
and begins to elongate across the Southeast, before the energy
slides east ahead of the next front that will likely hold of until
the beginning of next week. Highest rain chances for Friday and
Saturday will be across the north, while the southern areas could
dry out some. Temperatures will be in the upper 80s with the cloud
cover through midweek and then rise back into the low 90s by the
weekend.

16

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF Discussion.

Somewhat complicated forecast in terms of convective potential for
this afternoon and evening across central Alabama. For the bulk of
the time period, expect VFR conditions at all the TAF sites.
Scattered to broken cumulus will remain in the 4-5 kft range
through this evening with a general west/northwest wind at 10-12
knots to prevail through sunset.

Conditions will become somewhat unstable again this
afternoon/evening in the wake of morning scattered storms. The
best chance of redevelopment will be across eastern Alabama into
southern sections and that is where VCTS will be carried from
roughly 22z through late evening.

Winds will be light and perhaps variable overnight into early
Sunday.

15/CBD

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

Isolated to scattered showers/storms are possible through tonight as
a front moves slowly through the area. Tomorrow through early next
week, an upper low will move over the region, leading to higher rain
chances, especially across the east. This will also bring slightly
cooler temperatures. Localized fog will be possible each morning
over the next couple of days where rainfall occurs during the
previous afternoon and evening. There are no fire weather concerns.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Gadsden     70  88  68  85  68 /  30  40  20  60  20
Anniston    70  88  68  85  68 /  30  30  30  60  30
Birmingham  74  90  71  87  70 /  30  20  10  50  10
Tuscaloosa  73  92  72  89  71 /  40  10  10  30  10
Calera      74  90  70  87  69 /  40  20  10  40  10
Auburn      72  89  70  86  70 /  40  30  30  50  30
Montgomery  73  93  72  90  70 /  40  30  10  50  20
Troy        73  92  72  89  70 /  40  30  20  50  20

&&

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

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 21, 3:18 PM CDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
318 PM CDT Sat Jul 21 2018

ALZ011>015-017>050-222330-
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-
318 PM CDT Sat Jul 21 2018

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight.

Severe storms are possible from now through 8 PM roughly from
counties along and east of the Interstate 65 corridor in Central
Alabama. These storms may be isolated to scattered in nature and
capable of producing damaging winds along with quarter size hail.
Forecast confidence remains low.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

Hazardous weather is not anticipated at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Activation of storm spotters and emergency management may be needed
This Afternoon and Tonight.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 21, 4:18 PM CDT, 23 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
418 PM CDT SAT JUL 21 2018

ALZ019-021-212200-
Calhoun AL-Cleburne AL-
418 PM CDT SAT JUL 21 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL CALHOUN AND
NORTHEASTERN CLEBURNE COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM CDT...

At 418 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles east of Jacksonville, moving southeast at 25 mph.

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

Locations impacted include...
Heflin, Fruithurst, Edwardsville, Muscadine, Abernathy, I 20 Welcome
Center, Liberty Hill, Sweetwater Lake and Coleman Lake And
Campground.

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 3357 8538 3376 8574 3388 8565 3377 8536
      3363 8533
TIME...MOT...LOC 2118Z 306DEG 22KT 3379 8562

89^GSatterwhite

Local storm report, Jul 21, 4:19 PM CDT, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
419 PM CDT SAT JUL 21 2018

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

0410 PM     HAIL             OXFORD                  33.61N 85.84W
07/21/2018  E0.75 INCH       CALHOUN            AL   PUBLIC

            DINE SIZED HAIL REPORTED IN OXFORD.

&&

05

Special weather statement, Jul 21, 4:23 PM CDT, 18 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
423 PM CDT SAT JUL 21 2018

ALZ028-037-212200-
Tallapoosa AL-Clay AL-
423 PM CDT SAT JUL 21 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN TALLAPOOSA AND
SOUTHEASTERN CLAY COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM CDT...

At 423 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles northwest of Goldville, or 9 miles southwest of Ashland, moving
east at 25 mph.

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

Locations impacted include...
New Site, Goldville, Daviston, Cleveland Crossroads, Motley,
Millerville and Mellow Valley.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 3299 8564 3311 8601 3323 8594 3318 8565
      3311 8565 3311 8561
TIME...MOT...LOC 2123Z 285DEG 21KT 3315 8591

89^GSatterwhite

Local storm report, Jul 21, 4:29 PM CDT, 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
429 PM CDT SAT JUL 21 2018

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

0427 PM     HAIL             HOLLIS CROSSROADS       33.52N 85.64W
07/21/2018  E3.00 INCH       CLEBURNE           AL   PUBLIC

            3 INCH DIAMETER HAIL NOW REPORTED NEAR
            HOLLIS CROSSROADS COMMUNITY.

&&

05

Special weather statement, Jul 21, 4:34 PM CDT, 7 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
434 PM CDT SAT JUL 21 2018

ALZ038-212215-
Chambers AL-
434 PM CDT SAT JUL 21 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL CHAMBERS COUNTY UNTIL 515
PM CDT...

At 434 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Trammel Crossroads, or 7 miles northwest of Lafayette, moving east at
20 mph.

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

Locations impacted include...
Lafayette, La Fayette, Chambers County Lake, Fredonia, Veasey Creek
Park, Denson, Amity Park, Penton, Trammel Crossroads, Buffalo,
Huguley, Rocky Point and Stroud Creek.

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 3279 8527 3290 8559 3304 8559 3304 8522
      3297 8520
TIME...MOT...LOC 2134Z 284DEG 19KT 3297 8550

89^GSatterwhite

Local storm report, Jul 21, 4:37 PM CDT, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
437 PM CDT SAT JUL 21 2018

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

0434 PM     HAIL             CHALAFINNEE             33.54N 85.65W
07/21/2018  E0.75 INCH       CLEBURNE           AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            DIME TO PENNY SIZED HAIL CAPTURED IN VIDEO
            NEAR CHALAFINNEE IN CLEBURNE COUNTY.

&&

05

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 21, 4:36 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee	54 min
Jul 21, 5:23 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee	37 min
Jul 21, 6:03 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cherokee	42 min
Jul 21, 6:41 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cleburne, Randolph	49 min
Jul 21, 7:01 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene	44 min
Jul 21, 8:00 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Hale	30 min
Jul 21, 8:16 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Dallas	44 min
Jul 21, 1:49 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Russell	41 min
Jul 21, 3:49 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cleburne	26 min
Jul 21, 3:57 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Calhoun	33 min
Jul 21, 4:01 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Randolph	44 min
Jul 21, 4:18 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cleburne	42 min
Jul 21, 4:23 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Clay	37 min
Jul 21, 4:26 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cleburne	34 min
Jul 21, 4:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cleburne	29 min
Jul 21, 4:34 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chambers	41 min
Jul 21, 4:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers, Clay, Randolph, Tallapoosa	46 min
Jul 21, 4:54 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cleburne	36 min
Jul 21, 5:00 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cleburne, Randolph	60 min
Jul 21, 5:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers, Lee, Randolph	62 min
Jul 21, 5:47 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lee	27 min
Jul 21, 5:58 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	BMX	Lee	16 min
Jul 21, 6:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lee, Russell	64 min
Jul 21, 6:33 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lee, Russell	54 min

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.