Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 164, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 12, 2020, 2:25 PM CDT for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 66 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Jul 12, 2020, 2:25 PM CDT (19:25 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 12, 2020, 3:31 PM CDT
- In force
- 66 min
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 0.75 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Clay County, AL, Coosa County, AL, Talladega County, AL, Tallapoosa County, AL
The radar
The Maxwell AFB radar (KMXX), 67 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:28 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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 12, 12:09 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 7.4 hours before the alert went out and 71 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 43 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -299 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1793 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 31 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 37 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 68 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
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 12, 12:39 PM CDT, 1 hour 46 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 12, 12:39 PM CDT, 1 hour 46 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 1239 PM CDT Sun Jul 12 2020 .UPDATE... For 18Z Aviation. && .SHORT TERM... /Updated at 0955 AM CDT Sun Jul 12 2020/ Multiple lines of convection currently underway as the forecasted moisture gradient and boundary builds south/southeast. The unusual orientations stem from the axis of higher pwats, one across Tennessee and the other in Central Mississippi. It is likely after the initial line moves in from the west and weakens that there will be some limited recovery, therefore, a large portion of the northern CWA will see multiple rounds of thunderstorms through this afternoon. As the day progresses, should see these multiple lines congeal into a more southwest to northeast oriented MCS as it progresses southeastward. The severe weather threat remains as instability values are high with steeper lapse rates and drier air aloft. Some hail and higher wind gusts are the main threats through the afternoon and early evening. 17/KLAWS .LONG TERM... /Updated at 245 AM CDT Sun Jul 12 2020/ Tuesday through Sunday. Features. On Monday, expect longwave troughing extending from Southeast Canada southward over much of the Eastern United States. Deep- layer ridging will be centered over Southwest Texas with longwave ridging extending northeast into the Western Great Lakes region. A potent upper low will be situated over South- Central Canada with nearly zonal flow across the Pacific Northwest. Expect the longwave trough to slide further east as we head into Tuesday while the Deep-layer ridging to our west becomes positioned over Central Texas with height rises locally a s ridging builds further east into the region. On Wednesday and Thursday the ridging will be the primary influence to our local forecast as it remains to our west, centered over Central Texas. Further height rises will support hot temperatures across the area through late week. During this time, the longwave ridge moves east in the increasingly zonal northern stream. This flattening of the ridge meridionally will result in the ridge elongating zonally from the Desert Southwest eastward into the Lower Mississippi River Valley region. By Friday, the ridge becomes centered over the Arklatex region. It is at this point in time where global model member solutions diverge enough to result in overall pattern uncertainty. The fast zonal flow with the northern stream persists with a deep trough expected to move into the Pacific Northwest. Ridging will remain centered to our west, however, like last night a few members depict a weakness forming to our immediate northeast and even one solution develops an upper low. The overall expectation during this time period despite the increased uncertainty will be for the ridging to remain anchored to our west while some weakening occurs, especially to our immediate northeast and east. Forecast. Tuesday through Wednesday. Expect fair skies with generally isolated to widely scattered shower and thunderstorm activity largely confined to our south and western counties where better deeper moisture looks to exist. The convection that does develop will provide some localized heat relief. Otherwise, expect highs to range from the low to mid 90s north and east to the mid to upper 90s west and south. Lows will range from the upper 60s north and east to the mid 70s south and west. Thursday through Sunday. The lower and middle levels are expected to gradually become more moist as we progress into the mid to late week time frame. Hot temperatures are expected outside areas that experience convection. The moistening lower and middle levels combined with the hot temperatures will provide ample surface-based instability for shower and thunderstorm activity during the late morning into early afternoon hours and this activity will have better chances to linger further into the evening hours. Look for shower and thunderstorm chances to become more scattered with higher PoP's across the south and eastern areas generally around the periphery of the ridging to our west. Highs will range from around 90 northeast to the mid 90s south and west. Lows will range from around 70 northeast to the mid 70s south and west. 05 && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF Discussion. Rather large MCS currently ongoing across the northern-third of the CWA. Accounted for a timed predominant +TSRA at each site. It should be rather intense, but short-lived with higher wind gusts, reduced cig/vis. May be small hail mixed in as well. Behind the line, it should clear rather quickly with some sct cigs and calmer winds through the overnight period. 17/KLAWS && .FIRE WEATHER... Increased shower and thunderstorm activity is expected this afternoon and evening. Chances for showers and storms will be largely isolated Monday through Wednesday followed by more of a scattered coverage for the latter portion of the work week with best chances south and east. High temperatures will reach well into the 90s through much of the work week. Overnight lows will increase into the low to mid 70s over the next several days. Relative humidity values will drop into the mid 30s to low 40s this afternoon. Minimum values should remain above 40 percent on Monday. Values will bottom out in the mid 30 to around 40 percent range on Tuesday through Thursday. Minimum values look to remain above 40 percent on Friday and Sunday. 05 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 70 90 69 95 69 / 40 10 0 0 0 Anniston 71 90 69 95 69 / 50 10 0 0 0 Birmingham 72 92 72 96 72 / 40 10 0 10 0 Tuscaloosa 73 93 72 96 74 / 40 10 0 20 10 Calera 72 92 71 96 72 / 50 10 0 10 0 Auburn 71 91 72 95 72 / 60 20 0 10 0 Montgomery 73 93 74 97 74 / 60 20 0 20 10 Troy 73 93 74 97 73 / 70 20 10 30 10 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES/... None. &&
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 12, 11:57 AM CDT, 2 hours 28 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 1157 AM CDT Sun Jul 12 2020 ALZ011>015-017>050-132000- 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- 1157 AM CDT Sun Jul 12 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham. .DAY ONE...Outlook through Tonight. Severe thunderstorms are possible thru 7 PM this evening. Damaging winds up to 60 mph will be the primary threat, but large hail is also possible. Heat indices may briefly approach 105 across the far southwest portions of Central Alabama this afternoon. Take extra precautions if spending time outdoors. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Heat indices may reach 105 degrees or slightly above each afternoon across portions of Central Alabama. Take extra precautions if spending time outdoors. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management may be needed today into this evening. Please follow all local, state, and CDC guidelines in regards to travel.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 12, 2:05 PM CDT, 20 minutes before
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</html>Local storm report, Jul 12, 2:25 PM CDT, 0 minutes before
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</html>The office that day
Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 12, 9:03 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Marion | 42 min |
| Jul 12, 9:07 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Lamar, Pickens | 23 min |
| Jul 12, 9:40 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Pickens | 35 min |
| Jul 12, 10:50 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Winston | 40 min |
| Jul 12, 10:57 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Winston | 35 min |
| Jul 12, 11:18 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Marion | 57 min |
| Jul 12, 11:38 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Winston | 52 min |
| Jul 12, 11:48 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Blount | 57 min |
| Jul 12, 12:02 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BMX | Marion, Winston | 3 hr |
| Jul 12, 12:09 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Walker | 66 min |
| Jul 12, 12:11 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Fayette, Lamar | 64 min |
| Jul 12, 12:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Etowah, St. Clair | 65 min |
| Jul 12, 12:29 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Fayette, Lamar | 61 min |
| Jul 12, 12:49 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Jefferson, Walker | 56 min |
| Jul 12, 1:06 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Talladega | 54 min |
| Jul 12, 1:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Shelby | 65 min |
| Jul 12, 1:45 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Bibb | 45 min |
| Jul 12, 1:57 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Clay | 48 min |
| Jul 12, 2:00 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | St. Clair, Talladega | 46 min |
| Jul 12, 2:05 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Coosa | 55 min |
| Jul 12, 2:10 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Bibb, Greene, Hale | 50 min |
| Jul 12, 2:23 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Bibb, Chilton, Perry | 55 min |
| Jul 12, 2:40 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Randolph | 35 min |
| Jul 12, 2:56 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Autauga, Elmore | 49 min |
| Jul 12, 2:58 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Dallas, Perry, Sumter | 47 min |
| Jul 12, 3:01 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Tallapoosa | 44 min |
| Jul 12, 3:17 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Chambers, Elmore, Lee, Macon, Tallapoosa | 58 min |
| Jul 12, 3:43 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Autauga, Bullock, Elmore, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery | 62 min |
| Jul 12, 3:49 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Autauga, Bullock, Elmore, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery and 1 more | 60 min |
| Jul 12, 3:52 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Macon, Russell | 68 min |
| Jul 12, 4:07 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Marengo | 38 min |
| Jul 12, 4:48 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Pike | 42 min |
| Jul 12, 4:58 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Barbour | 47 min |
| Jul 12, 5:21 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Pike | 39 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2020Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2020
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.