Alert archive / Alabama / Special Weather Statements in 2018

Special Weather Statement, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 3, 2018Pickens County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this special weather statement at Apr 3, 2018, 9:55 PM CDT for Pickens County, Alabama. It was in force for 65 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 3, 2018, 9:55 PM CDT (02:55 UTC)
Expired: Apr 3, 2018, 11:00 PM CDT
In force: 65 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL

County Pickens County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 85 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:59 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, 2.9 hours before the alert went out and 122 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: 156 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -75 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1767 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 88 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 134 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

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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 3, 9:49 PM CDT, 6 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 3, 9:49 PM CDT, 6 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
949 PM CDT Tue Apr 3 2018

.UPDATE...
MESOSCALE UPDATE.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

A QLCS with a history of damaging winds is making its way across NW
Alabama but appears to be losing a little bit of intensity. This is
likely due to a pocket of lower quality moisture as a result of
mixing this afternoon. However, greater surface to 925mb dewpoints
are advecting from the southwest across SE Mississippi and SW
Alabama. There may be enough time for a tongue of MLCAPE up to
1200 J/kg to surge northward ahead of the line as it reaches the
I-59 corridor and areas to the east. This would likely result in
some reintensification of the QLCS with a damaging wind threat
continuing all the way to the AL/GA state line and as far south as
Interstate 85. The increase in moisture quality would suggest a
better chance for tornadoes, but surface winds are expected to
become more veered with time. This should limit the tornado threat,
though a couple of brief tornadoes cannot be completely ruled out.

87/Grantham

&&

.AVIATION...
00Z TAF Discussion.

A potent storm system will sweep across the Central Gulf Coast
region tonight. South winds 12-22 kts with higher gusts will prevail
this evening ahead of a fast-moving squall line. Made minor changes
to adjust for arrival timing of the squall line; near a KTCL-KBHM
line by 04z, near KEET by 05z, and near KASN-KANB by 06Z. Portions
of the line will contain large hail and wind gusts in excess of 50
mph. A gradual weakening trend is expected after 06Z. Widespread
MVFR cigs expected behind the squall line, but rapid drying in the
low levels will bring clearing skies to the northern TAFS between
09z and 12z.

Winds behind the squall line become westerly, then northwesterly
just before sunrise, with sustained wind up to 12kts with higher
gusts.

14

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

Scattered showers are possible this afternoon before wetting
rains will be possible for tonight into Wednesday with the
arrival of the next frontal system. Much colder weather expected
Wednesday into Thursday. There are no fire weather concerns at
this time.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Gadsden     47  58  32  67  45 /  90  10   0   0  10
Anniston    49  59  34  68  46 /  90  20   0   0  10
Birmingham  48  60  35  70  48 /  90  10   0   0  10
Tuscaloosa  49  62  36  70  48 /  90  10   0   0  10
Calera      49  60  36  70  48 /  90  20   0   0  10
Auburn      57  62  38  69  46 /  90  40   0   0  10
Montgomery  56  65  37  72  46 /  90  30   0   0   0
Troy        59  64  37  71  45 /  80  50   0   0   0

&&

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

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 3, 11:33 AM CDT, 10 hours 22 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1133 AM CDT Tue Apr 3 2018

ALZ011>015-017>050-041945-
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-
1133 AM CDT Tue Apr 3 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 tonight generally along and north of
I-85, with a higher threat for areas north of I-59. Damaging winds,
large hail, and a few brief tornadoes are possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Cold weather expected Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Areas
in the North Central Alabama could drop to near or below freezing.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Activation of storm spotters and emergency management will likely be
needed tonight.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 3, 9:55 PM CDT, 0 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
955 PM CDT TUE APR 3 2018

ALZ022-040400-
Pickens AL-
955 PM CDT TUE APR 3 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PICKENS COUNTY UNTIL 1100 PM
CDT...

At 955 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Gholson to Steens. Movement was east at 50 mph.

Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Aliceville, Gordo, Reform, Carrollton, Pickensville, Ethelsville,
McMullen, Garden, Benevola, Johnston Lake, Bevill Lock And Dam,
Gainesville Lake Campground, Dillburg, North Pickens Airport, McShan,
Shaw, George Downer Airport, Owens, Kirk and Pioneer.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3353 8827 3352 8784 3315 8784 3312 8793
      3306 8804 3304 8804 3305 8808 3304 8808
      3303 8810 3304 8815 3300 8817 3299 8833
TIME...MOT...LOC 0255Z 271DEG 41KT 3294 8875 3354 8830

32/Davis

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 3, 9:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion	80 min
Apr 3, 9:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette	61 min
Apr 3, 9:51 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Walker, Winston	54 min
Apr 3, 10:31 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tuscaloosa, Walker	59 min
Apr 3, 10:49 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene, Pickens, Sumter	56 min
Apr 3, 10:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Jefferson	53 min
Apr 3, 11:29 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Etowah, St. Clair	61 min
Apr 3, 11:49 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cherokee, Etowah	56 min
Apr 4, 12:03 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Bibb, Calhoun, Perry, Shelby, Talladega	57 min
Apr 4, 12:21 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, Talladega	54 min
Apr 4, 12:42 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Autauga, Chilton, Coosa, Dallas, Lowndes	63 min
Apr 4, 1:34 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Coosa, Elmore	45 min
Apr 4, 3:14 AM CDT	Freeze Warning	BMX	Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah and 10 more	29 hr

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Alabama, 2018 Every special weather statement 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.