Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 56, NWS Huntsville, AL

May 22, 2020Cullman County, Morgan County, Alabama

NWS Huntsville, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 22, 2020, 8:18 PM CDT for Cullman County, Morgan County, Alabama. It was in force for 27 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
May 22, 2020, 8:18 PM CDT (01:18 UTC)
Expired
May 22, 2020, 8:45 PM CDT
In force
27 min
Issued by
NWS Huntsville, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Cullman County, AL, Morgan County, AL

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 100 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:20 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

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 00:00Z, 1.3 hours before the alert went out and 206 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Nashville Metro, TN at 00:00Z on 2020-05-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 167 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Nashville Metro, TN at 00:00Z on 2020-05-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 100 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
167 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-45 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
857 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
100 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
193 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 Huntsville, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 22, 8:02 PM CDT, 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 22, 8:02 PM CDT, 16 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
802 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

.NEAR TERM...(Remainder of tonight)
Issued at 802 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

We continue to monitor the progress of convection across the
northern and southeastern portions of the TN Valley this evening.
Latest high-resolution model guidance has finally caught on to the
fact that the long-track MCS now centered across Middle TN will
likely not dissipate until perhaps very early Saturday morning, and
based on this as well as trends in radar reflectivity data, we have
increased POPs into the likely range for locations along and north of
the AL-TN border this evening. Meanwhile, a slightly more scattered
coverage of thunderstorms is expected to impact the southeastern
portion of the CWFA, driven largely by northward moving outflow from
widespread convection across central AL earlier this afternoon.
Although these storms may tend to dissipate a bit sooner than storms
to the north, recent trends have warranted an increase in POPs across
this region as well. At this point, the primary threats from the
strongest storms this evening appear to be hail up to the size of
quarters and wind gusts in the 50-60 MPH range.

Precipitation coverage will diminish rapidly during the early
morning hours Saturday, although given the combination of modest
nocturnal instability/abundant low-level moisture and lingering
outflow boundaries, we cannot completely remove POPs even during the
06-12Z timeframe. Other elements of the forecast are in good
condition this evening, but we did raise the min temperature forecast
slightly to account for southerly flow in the 5-10 MPH range and
dewpoints in the u60s-l70s.

.SHORT TERM...(Saturday through Sunday night)
Issued at 214 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

Upper ridge should begin to build over much of the SE region going
into the Memorial Day weekend. This should translate into afternoon
highs climbing more into the mid/upper 80s Sat/Sun, as convection
becomes more diurnally driven. Chances for showers/tstms should
generally remain in the sct cat during the day before lowering into
the iso cat during the evening hrs this weekend. Most of the tstms
this weekend should be air mass related given SBCAPE values in the
2-3K J/kg range coupled with minimal deep layer shear. Overnight
temps should also remain seasonably mild, with lows mainly in the
mid/upper 60s thru Sun night.

.LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Thursday)
Issued at 214 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

Surface ridge will remain fairly stationary over the Appalachians
and the East Coast next week, with southerly flow over the Tennessee
Valley. This will lead to a very summer-like pattern of warm and
humid conditions with a chance for diurnally-driven showers and
thunderstorms each afternoon/evening. The trough over the Great
Plains will start to inch closer later in the week on Wednesday and
Thursday, which may drive temperatures back up into the upper 80s and
increase the chances for afternoon thunderstorms toward the end of
the week due to enhanced southerly flow. However, the confidence in
the timing of this is low as forecast models will usually try and
move these stationary patterns out too quickly.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Saturday evening)
Issued at 654 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

Although VFR conditions are currently observed at the HSV and MSL
terminals, we will be closely monitoring the progress of both
northward-developing convection across central AL and the southern
flanks of an MCS across Middle TN that may impact MSL early this
evening. At this point, considerable uncertainty exists regarding
whether this convection will directly impact either of the airports,
but amendments may be required until convection dissipates late this
evening. Otherwise, we expect a 15-25 knot southwesterly low-lvl jet
to result in a northeastward surge of lower stratus clouds early Sat
morning, providing MVFR cig reductions through 15Z. Sct SHRA/TSRA
will redevelop by late morning invof several outflow boundaries in
the region, with PROB30 groups included for TSRA and MVFR cig/vsby
btwn 16-20Z.

&&

.HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...NONE.
TN...NONE.

&&

NEAR TERM...70/DD
SHORT TERM...09
LONG TERM...McCoy
AVIATION...70/DD

For more information please visit our website
at weather.gov/huntsville.
Hazardous weather outlook, May 22, 2:12 PM CDT, 6 hours 6 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
212 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-231015-
Lauderdale-Colbert-Franklin AL-Lawrence-Limestone-Madison-Morgan-
Marshall-Jackson-DeKalb-Cullman-Moore-Lincoln-Franklin TN-
212 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north Alabama and portions of
southern middle Tennessee.

.DAY ONE...Tonight...

Isolated thunderstorms are possible, mainly during the evening hours.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday...

Chances for thunderstorms will occur each day mainly during the
afternoons and evenings through at least Thursday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Activation of storm spotters and emergency management personnel is
not anticipated at this time.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 22, 7:02 PM CDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
702 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

ALZ001-002-230030-
Lauderdale AL-Colbert AL-
702 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN LAUDERDALE AND
NORTHWESTERN COLBERT COUNTIES UNTIL 730 PM CDT...

At 701 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Pickwick Dam, or near Pickwick Landing State Park, moving southeast
at 30 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Waterloo and Riverton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

If on or near Pickwick Dam, get out of the water and move indoors or
inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles
from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not
be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.

&&

LAT...LON 3501 8796 3500 8795 3478 8805 3482 8811
      3489 8810 3492 8816 3496 8817 3500 8820
      3501 8820
TIME...MOT...LOC 0001Z 294DEG 26KT 3503 8828

KTW
Special weather statement, May 22, 7:28 PM CDT, 50 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 22, 7:42 PM CDT, 36 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
742 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

ALZ001-002-230130-
Lauderdale AL-Colbert AL-
742 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL LAUDERDALE AND COLBERT
COUNTIES UNTIL 830 PM CDT...

At 740 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong
thunderstorms from Waterloo to just east of Iuka in Mississippi,
moving east at 25 mph.

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

Locations impacted include...
Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, Killen, Cherokee, St.
Florian, Underwood-Petersville, Waterloo and Malone.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3498 8807 3495 8749 3463 8769 3469 8813
      3489 8810 3491 8813
TIME...MOT...LOC 0040Z 286DEG 23KT 3487 8802

KTW
Special weather statement, May 22, 7:53 PM CDT, 25 minutes before
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  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
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  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
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Special weather statement, May 22, 8:14 PM CDT, 4 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
814 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

ALZ001-005-006-TNZ076-096-097-230200-
Madison AL-Lauderdale AL-Limestone AL-Franklin TN-Moore TN-
Lincoln TN-
814 PM CDT Fri May 22 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN MADISON...
NORTHEASTERN LAUDERDALE...LIMESTONE...MOORE...LINCOLN AND
NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL 900 PM CDT...

At 814 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 8 miles northwest of Shelbyville to near
Killen. Movement was east southeast at 30 mph.

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

Locations impacted include...
Athens, Fayetteville, Lynchburg, Rogersville, Ardmore, Lexington,
Petersburg, Harvest, Tims Ford Lake and Elkmont.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3541 8625 3539 8628 3538 8625 3537 8627
      3534 8624 3533 8620 3536 8616 3535 8608
      3469 8705 3497 8760 3501 8754 3499 8684
      3526 8683 3525 8675 3531 8668 3533 8660
      3537 8659 3536 8649 3532 8642 3541 8628
TIME...MOT...LOC 0114Z 292DEG 27KT 3554 8658 3493 8749

KTW

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 22, 7:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNColbert, Lauderdale25 min
May 22, 7:28 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNMorgan47 min
May 22, 7:42 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNColbert, Lauderdale48 min
May 22, 7:53 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNBlount22 min
May 22, 8:14 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLimestone46 min
May 22, 8:26 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNMarshall34 min
May 22, 8:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNMarshall16 min
May 22, 9:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNMadison34 min
May 22, 9:08 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLimestone52 min
May 22, 9:26 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNJackson49 min
May 22, 9:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNJackson19 min
May 23, 9:43 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNFranklin32 min
May 23, 4:11 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNFranklin19 min
May 23, 4:44 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNColbert46 min
May 23, 5:13 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLawrence32 min
May 23, 6:05 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLawrence40 min
May 23, 6:24 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLimestone36 min
May 23, 6:28 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNCullman17 min
May 23, 6:45 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNCullman, Morgan30 min
May 23, 6:49 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLimestone26 min
May 22, 9:42 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNFranklin18 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.