Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 66, NWS Tallahassee, FL

April 13, 2020Geneva County, Houston County, Alabama

NWS Tallahassee, FL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 13, 2020, 2:09 AM CDT for Geneva County, Houston County, Alabama. It was in force for 96 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: Apr 13, 2020, 2:09 AM CDT (07:09 UTC)
Expired: Apr 13, 2020, 3:45 AM CDT
In force: 96 min
Issued by: NWS Tallahassee, FL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Possible
Hail: 0.75 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Geneva County, AL, Houston County, AL

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Apr 13, 2:40 AM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Slocomb, AL	SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT OF A TREE FALLING ON A POWER LINE IN SLOCOMB.
Apr 13, 2:50 AM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Taylor, AL	SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT OF TREES DOWN AROUND TAYLOR.
Apr 13, 2:55 AM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 Sw Pansey, AL	SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT OF POWER LINES DOWN ALONG ROCKY CREEK ROAD.
Apr 13, 2:55 AM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Ashford, AL	MULTIPLE TREES DOWN AROUND ASHFORD.
Apr 13, 2:55 AM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Pansey, AL	MULTIPLE TREES DOWN AROUND PANSEY.
Apr 13, 2:55 AM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Webb, AL	MULTIPLE TREES DOWN AROUND WEBB.

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 31 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
Apr 12, 10:45 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Tallahassee Rgnl, FL (KTLH), launched 00:00Z, 7.2 hours before the alert went out and 137 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: 854 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -88 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 749 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 50 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 193 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 299 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.6
Supercell composite: 6.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

235 
WUUS52 KTAE 130709
SVRTAE
ALC061-069-130845-
/O.NEW.KTAE.SV.W.0066.200413T0709Z-200413T0845Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
209 AM CDT Mon Apr 13 2020

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Geneva County in southeastern Alabama...
  Houston County in southeastern Alabama...

* Until 345 AM CDT.

* At 208 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Geneva,
  moving northeast at 60 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Cottonwood, Dothan, Geneva, Hartford, Taylor, Kinsey, Ashford,
  Slocomb, Cowarts, Webb, Columbia, Malvern, Rehobeth, Avon, Madrid,
  Gordon, Coffee Springs, Black, Memphis and Kellys Crossroads.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 600 AM CDT for southeastern
Alabama...the Panhandle of Florida...and southwestern Georgia.

Remain alert for a possible tornado! Tornadoes can develop quickly
from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado go at once into the
basement or small central room in a sturdy structure.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3119 8598 3119 8571 3127 8566 3127 8561
      3124 8549 3128 8548 3129 8542 3131 8542
      3131 8509 3128 8511 3123 8510 3119 8511
      3117 8510 3115 8507 3110 8503 3107 8503
      3100 8500 3100 8598
TIME...MOT...LOC 0708Z 246DEG 52KT 3106 8588 

TORNADO...POSSIBLE
HAIL...<.75IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

42-DVD

2 follow-up statements

017 
WWUS52 KTAE 130753
SVSTAE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
253 AM CDT Mon Apr 13 2020

ALC061-069-130845-
/O.CON.KTAE.SV.W.0066.000000T0000Z-200413T0845Z/
Geneva AL-Houston AL-
253 AM CDT Mon Apr 13 2020

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 AM CDT
FOR EASTERN GENEVA AND HOUSTON COUNTIES...

At 253 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 7 miles south of
Taylor, or 7 miles west of Cottonwood, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
Cottonwood, Dothan, Taylor, Kinsey, Ashford, Slocomb, Cowarts, Webb,
Columbia, Malvern, Rehobeth, Avon, Madrid, Gordon, Memphis, Pansey,
Crosby, Grangeburg, Garretts Crossroads and Sigma.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 600 AM CDT for southeastern
Alabama...the Panhandle of Florida...and southwestern Georgia.

Remain alert for a possible tornado! Tornadoes can develop quickly
from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado go at once into the
basement or small central room in a sturdy structure.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3107 8559 3112 8558 3113 8555 3116 8552
      3124 8549 3128 8548 3129 8542 3131 8542
      3131 8509 3128 8511 3123 8510 3119 8511
      3117 8510 3115 8507 3110 8503 3107 8503
      3100 8500 3100 8558
TIME...MOT...LOC 0753Z 277DEG 32KT 3107 8543 

TORNADO...POSSIBLE
HAIL...<.75IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

42-DVD

903 
WWUS52 KTAE 130830
SVSTAE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
330 AM CDT Mon Apr 13 2020

ALC061-130840-
/O.CAN.KTAE.SV.W.0066.000000T0000Z-200413T0845Z/
Geneva AL-
330 AM CDT Mon Apr 13 2020

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EASTERN GENEVA COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
    
The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has
moved out of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been
cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 600 AM CDT for southeastern
Alabama...the Panhandle of Florida...and southwestern Georgia.

LAT...LON 3100 8545 3111 8540 3116 8541 3117 8539
      3119 8537 3122 8532 3131 8509 3128 8511
      3123 8510 3119 8511 3117 8510 3115 8507
      3110 8503 3107 8503 3100 8500
TIME...MOT...LOC 0830Z 268DEG 63KT 3106 8515 

$$

ALC069-130845-
/O.CON.KTAE.SV.W.0066.000000T0000Z-200413T0845Z/
Houston AL-
330 AM CDT Mon Apr 13 2020

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 AM CDT
FOR HOUSTON COUNTY...

At 330 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles east of
Cottonwood, moving east at 70 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
Cottonwood, Dothan, Ashford, Cowarts, Webb, Columbia, Avon, Madrid,
Gordon, Memphis, Pansey, Crosby, Grangeburg, Enon, Lovetown, Wilson
Mill, Sealy Springs, Barber, Keytons and Chattahoochee SP.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 600 AM CDT for southeastern
Alabama...the Panhandle of Florida...and southwestern Georgia.

Remain alert for a possible tornado! Tornadoes can develop quickly
from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado go at once into the
basement or small central room in a sturdy structure.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3100 8545 3111 8540 3116 8541 3117 8539
      3119 8537 3122 8532 3131 8509 3128 8511
      3123 8510 3119 8511 3117 8510 3115 8507
      3110 8503 3107 8503 3100 8500
TIME...MOT...LOC 0830Z 268DEG 63KT 3106 8515 

TORNADO...POSSIBLE
HAIL...<.75IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

42-DVD

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 Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Apr 13, 2:05 AM CDT, 4 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 13, 2:05 AM CDT, 4 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
305 AM EDT Mon Apr 13 2020

.NEAR TERM [Through Tonight]...

Tornado watches are up for portions of the tri-state region as a
broken line of thunderstorms, edging into our SW GA/SE AL counties
currently as of 2 AM CT, aided by 1000 J/kg CAPE and a 70 kt LLJ
pumps high theta-e air into and ahead of the line. Progging the
line out places the line into our central sections in the predawn
hours and into the eastern Big Bend counties after dawn. SPC has
an enhanced risk for severe storms early this morning then slight
risk after dawn ahead of the line with all modes of severe
weather possible given the highly sheared environment. The line
appears to move south of the eastern Big Bend early to mid
afternoon and the supporting trough and dynamics move further
north and away from the region.

.SHORT TERM [Tuesday through Wednesday]...

Cold front will stall across the coastal waters and east Big Bend
as the supporting trough races northeast and ridging to the south
stops its movement southward. Good convergence with cyclonic flow
aloft will lead to good rain chances this period along and just
north of the front as it moves little through Wednesday. The upper
trough moves through Wednesday adding additional diffluence aloft
and additional heavy rainfall amounts before it gets pushed
southward in the long term.

.LONG TERM [Wednesday Night Through Monday]...

A slight break in the active weather is possible late this work
week but relative cyclonic flow over much of the eastern US will
lead to additional chances for shower and thunderstorms across the
area into the weekend

&&

.AVIATION...
[Through 06Z Tuesday]

Updated timing of arrival for line of thunderstorms based from
latest high resolution guidance to each of our TAF sites. Expect
MVFR/IFR just ahead of the line, variable strong wind gusts with
the line along with heavy thunderstorms, an hour or two of
degraded flight conditions behind the line, then decreasing
westerly winds and VFR conditions after that through the rest of
the TAF period.

&&

.MARINE...

Hazardous marine conditions will continue today with an
improvement this evening. Today, a cold front will move from west
to east with strong thunderstorms accompanying the front. Ahead of
this line, strong onshore flow will continue. Wave heights will be
around 6 to 10 feet today with improvement tonight. Gale warning
will expire this morning, and even though winds will decrease
through the day, wave heights will remain at or above 7 feet and
the small craft advisory will be left in tact till this evening.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

No hazardous fire weather conditions are expected over the next
few days.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...

The storm system moving through is only expected to bring around
1-1.5 inches of rain across the region due to the fast movement of
the cold front. No flooding is expected with this system.

The cold front is expected to stall near the Gulf Coast and will
be a focus for additional showers and storms. There is the
possibility of an additional 2-4 inches of rain on Tuesday and
Wednesday. At the current time, most of the guidance indicates the
heaviest rain is expected to occur over North Florida, in areas
with moderate drought conditions, thus little or no flooding is
anticipated with these rainfall amounts.

For coastal flood concerns, strong onshore flow will lead to some
minor coastal flooding around the time of high tide this morning
in Apalachee Bay. Water levels of 1 to 1.5 ft MHHW are possible
around Apalachee Bay. These levels typically only impact boat
ramps along the coast.

&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is requested. Spotters should safely report
significant weather conditions and/or damage (while following all
local, state, and CDC guidelines) by calling the office or tweeting
us @NWSTallahassee.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...

Tallahassee   88  62  84  61  75 /  80  30  50  80  80
Panama City   82  64  80  60  75 /  30  30  50  80  80
Dothan        84  57  82  55  73 /  10  10  20  70  50
Albany        84  59  84  58  74 /  40  10  20  70  60
Valdosta      86  63  82  62  73 /  80  30  50  70  90
Cross City    83  67  82  67  80 /  70  50  60  40  70
Apalachicola  81  65  78  63  73 /  80  50  60  70  80

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Wind Advisory until 5 AM EDT /4 AM CDT/ early this morning for
     Calhoun-Central Walton-Coastal Bay-Coastal Franklin-Coastal
     Gulf-Gadsden-Holmes-Inland Bay-Inland Franklin-Inland Gulf-
     Jackson-Liberty-North Walton-South Walton-Washington.

     High Rip Current Risk through Tuesday evening for Coastal Bay-
     Coastal Franklin-Coastal Gulf-South Walton.

     High Surf Advisory until 5 PM EDT /4 PM CDT/ this afternoon for
     Coastal Bay-South Walton.

GA...Wind Advisory until 5 AM EDT early this morning for Baker-Ben
     Hill-Calhoun-Clay-Colquitt-Decatur-Dougherty-Early-Grady-
     Irwin-Lee-Miller-Mitchell-Quitman-Randolph-Seminole-Terrell-
     Thomas-Tift-Turner-Worth.

AL...Wind Advisory until 4 AM CDT early this morning for Coffee-Dale-
     Geneva-Henry-Houston.

GM...Small Craft Advisory from 7 AM this morning to 7 PM CDT this
     evening for Coastal waters from Mexico Beach to
     Apalachicola FL out 20 NM-Coastal waters from Mexico Beach
     to Okaloosa Walton County Line FL out 20 NM-Waters from
     Apalachicola to Mexico Beach FL from 20 to 60 NM-Waters
     from Mexico Beach to Okaloosa Walton County Line FL from 20
     to 60 NM.

     Gale Warning until 7 AM CDT this morning for Coastal waters from
     Mexico Beach to Apalachicola FL out 20 NM-Coastal waters
     from Mexico Beach to Okaloosa Walton County Line FL out 20
     NM-Waters from Apalachicola to Mexico Beach FL from 20 to
     60 NM-Waters from Mexico Beach to Okaloosa Walton County
     Line FL from 20 to 60 NM.

     Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for Apalachee
     Bay or Coastal Waters From Keaton Beach to Ochlockonee
     River FL out to 20 Nm-Coastal Waters From Ochlockonee River
     to Apalachicola Fl out to 20 Nm-Coastal waters from
     Suwannee River to Keaton Beach FL out 20 NM-Waters from
     Suwannee River to Apalachicola FL from 20 to 60 NM.

&&

NEAR TERM...Scholl
SHORT TERM...Scholl
LONG TERM...Scholl
AVIATION...Scholl
MARINE...Scholl
FIRE WEATHER...Scholl
HYDROLOGY...Godsey

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 13, 12:28 AM CDT, 1 hour 41 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
128 AM EDT MON APR 13 2020

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

0120 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 WSW EWELL             31.41N 85.60W
04/13/2020                   DALE               AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DOWN ALONG HIGHWAY 231.

&&

LN

Local storm report, Apr 13, 12:40 AM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
140 AM EDT MON APR 13 2020

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

0139 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 E ARITON              31.60N 85.69W
04/13/2020                   DALE               AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DOWN ON COUNTY ROAD 72.

&&

LN

Local storm report, Apr 13, 1:03 AM CDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
203 AM EDT MON APR 13 2020

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

0126 AM     TSTM WND GST     1 NW CAIRNS AAF         31.28N 85.72W
04/13/2020  M51 MPH          DALE               AL   AWOS

            AWOS STATION KOZR OZARK CAIRNS AAF.

&&

Local storm report, Apr 13, 1:21 AM CDT, 48 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
221 AM EDT MON APR 13 2020

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

0219 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 NNE CLINTONVILLE      31.43N 85.89W
04/13/2020                   COFFEE             AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            REPORTS OF TREES DOWN, TREES ON POWER LINES,
            TREES ON MULTIPLE COUNTY ROADS NOT ONLY
            AROUND NEW BROCKTON BUT VARIOUS OTHER PARTS
            OF THE COUNTY OVER THE LAST HOUR. COUNTY
            ROADS 260, 216, 248 AND 239 ALL HAD TREES
            DOWN.

&&

LN

Local storm report, Apr 13, 1:29 AM CDT, 40 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
229 AM EDT MON APR 13 2020

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

0215 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 ESE GEORGETOWN        31.88N 85.08W
04/13/2020                   QUITMAN            GA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE ON POWER LINES ALONG US HWY 82.

&&

LN

Local storm report, Apr 13, 1:35 AM CDT, 34 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
235 AM EDT MON APR 13 2020

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

0215 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NNE GRABALL           31.61N 85.27W
04/13/2020                   HENRY              AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            911 CALL CENTER REPORTS WIDESPREAD TREES
            DOWN COUNTY WIDE AS WELL AS POWER OUTAGES.

&&

LN

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tallahassee, FL issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 13, 12:04 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Coffee, Dale, Geneva	86 min
Apr 13, 12:58 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Dale, Henry	92 min
Apr 13, 1:21 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Coffee, Dale, Geneva	69 min
Apr 13, 2:25 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Dale, Henry	69 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2020 Every 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.