Alert archive / Alabama / Special Weather Statements in 2021
Special Weather Statement, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this special weather statement at Mar 16, 2021, 10:38 PM CDT for Hale County, Alabama. It was in force for 37 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
- Mar 16, 2021, 10:38 PM CDT (03:38 UTC)
- Expired
- Mar 16, 2021, 11:15 PM CDT
- In force
- 37 min
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
County Hale County, AL
The radar
The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 124 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:42 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.
The nearest sounding before it
Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 3.6 hours before the alert went out and 124 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
- 221 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -36 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 578 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 47 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -39 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 20 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- -0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.5
The text
As transmitted.
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</html>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 Mar 16, 6:59 PM CDT, 3 hours 39 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 16, 6:59 PM CDT, 3 hours 39 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 659 PM CDT Tue Mar 16 2021 .UPDATE... For 00Z Aviation. && .SHORT TERM... /Updated at 308 PM CDT Tue Mar 16 2021/ Through Wednesday morning. A wedge front is causing some chilly temperatures across the northeast counties this afternoon, with a milder and more humid air mass southwest of it. An effective warm front/low-level confluence axis across our southern counties is causing some training showers and storms there, aided by ripples in the southwest flow aloft. This activity will continue to cause locally heavy rainfall amounts across the south. Low streamflow values will mitigate the flooding threat somewhat, but some isolated flash flooding will be possible mainly in urban areas or if additional heavy rainfall moves into areas of our southwest counties that have already received 3 to 4 inches of rainfall. Effective shear values around 50 kts have resulted in a few rotating storms across our south this afternoon which could produce localized hail or damaging winds. Low-level SRH is marginal until you get further north to the wedge front, so while the threat for a brief tornado is non-zero, it is low. Further north, clouds are limiting instability. Severe potential further to the north seems fairly low, but will leave it in for the afternoon for now with some clearing occurring in our northwest counties. May get a lull in activity tonight with the loss in daytime heating before activity increases after midnight as the effective warm front lifts northward and another weak shortwave moves through. Most of the activity will be along and north of the warm front, with elevated instability and shear supportive of some hail and gusty winds. But if a storm is able to be rooted near the surface along the warm front, there will be a low but non-zero threat of an isolated tornado across the north early Wednesday morning. With a more significant threat later in the day on Wednesday, won't be including this on our messaging at this time but will continue to monitor. 32/Davis .LONG TERM... /Updated at 308 PM CDT Tue Mar 16 2021/ **Significant severe weather outbreak expected Wednesday and Wednesday night** Overall little change to the forecast thinking, with a relatively long duration and significant severe threat for all modes of severe weather. A potent and compact low-amplitude trough will move from the Southern Plains on Wednesday to the Lower Mississippi Valley Wednesday night, preceded by a 60-80kt mid-level speed max and a 40-50kt LLJ. A 998mb surface low will track from Oklahoma to Illinois with a broad warm sector with mid to upper 60s dew points in advance of a cold front. Shortwave ridging/anti-cyclonic flow aloft is forecast to develop Wednesday morning which should allow the early morning showers/storms to move out of the area. This will allow for heating and ample destabilization. CAPE values will increase to 2000 to 3000 J/kg across much of the area by afternoon. Forecast soundings indicate the air mass across the warm front will be uncapped across the warm sector by afternoon, and CAMs are in fairly good agreement on scattered to perhaps numerous supercells developing in the 1 to 4 PM timeframe. Low- level SRH is less than 200 m2/s2 initially during the afternoon, so large, potentially significant hail may be the main threat initially with 50 to 60kt of 0-6km shear aiding updraft rotation, but a couple isolated tornadoes will still be possible. For simplicity, will start the threat time at 2 PM everywhere to account for this activity. After 4 PM, the 850mb jet and associated SRH begins to really ramp up across West Alabama, and across the rest of the area by 6 to 7 PM. This is when concern for strong, potentially long track tornadoes will begin to ramp up with any semi-discrete supercells still present. We will also be monitoring mesoscale trends closely for the possibility of a violent tornado. It's hard to find too many limiting factors for this event, but if I had to mention one it might be if too many storms get going too early before the low-level shear increases. However with the strong low-level jet and activity remaining cellular I don't see this being much of a limiting factor. Will also need to monitor the northward movement of the wedge front. It could limit the afternoon threat across some of our far northeast counties, but also serve as an additional source of helicity for storms near the warm side of it. I do expect the wedge front to exit the area prior to the overnight activity. During the late evening and overnight hours, another strong line of storms will move in from the west ahead of the cold front. Shear vector orientation has a component normal to the line and the magnitude is strong as well. This will be favorable for embedded supercells in the line or a semi-broken line of supercells, therefore this activity will also be a concern for strong to intense long-track tornadoes, not just weak QLCS spin- ups. Additionally, any bowing segments will have a significant wind threat as well. Outside of storms, gradient winds near 35 mph will be possible, and will monitor for the possible need for a wind advisory. Activity will remain fairly progressive and antecedent conditions still fairly dry, limiting the overall flooding threat, but some minor flooding in poor drainage areas is possible, and some rivers are forecast to be near or above flood stage. The rest of the previous long term discussion remains valid. 32/Davis Previous long-term discussion: /Updated at 311 AM CDT Tue Mar 16 2021/ Thursday through Sunday. Storms will likely be ongoing Thursday morning across east Alabama, but should be in a weakening trend. Should see some clearing skies during the day Thursday as drier low level air moves in behind exiting cold front. However, strong cold air advection will also bring low clouds back into the area Thursday afternoon, starting in the west and spreading eastward. A much colder air mass Thursday night and into weekend with temperatures back closer to normal values. May not see much sunshine Friday as cyclonic circulation keeps low level moisture in the area. A few sprinkles not out of the question on Friday as an upper level vort lobe pushes down from the north. Partly cloudy over the weekend with a gradual warming trend. 58/rose && .AVIATION... 00Z TAF Discussion. Waves of showers and thunderstorms will be possible through the forecast. Low cigs (IFR and below) in the NE part of the state will spread S and W across C AL terminals tonight lasting into the morning hours on Wednesday. Widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected on Wednesday with severe thunderstorms likely. 08 && .FIRE WEATHER... Periods of showers and storms are expected through Wednesday night, with severe storms likely Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday night. Much cooler temperatures are expected Thursday and Friday with little or no rain expected and minimum relative humidity values remaining above 40 percent in most areas. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 55 75 54 67 43 / 50 90 100 20 0 Anniston 59 76 58 68 45 / 60 90 100 30 0 Birmingham 61 77 56 65 45 / 60 90 100 20 0 Tuscaloosa 63 79 54 65 45 / 60 90 100 10 0 Calera 62 77 57 65 44 / 70 90 100 20 0 Auburn 62 76 62 70 47 / 70 50 90 50 0 Montgomery 64 81 62 70 46 / 60 50 100 30 0 Troy 64 81 63 74 47 / 60 50 90 40 0 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES/... None. && 32/58/08
Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 16, 3:16 PM CDT, 7 hours 22 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 316 PM CDT Tue Mar 16 2021 ALZ011>015-017>050-172330- 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- 316 PM CDT Tue Mar 16 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham. .DAY ONE...Outlook through Tonight. Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible through 9 PM this evening across Central Alabama. Damaging winds and large hail are the main threats. A brief tornado cannot be ruled out with isolated flash flooding also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Severe thunderstorms are likely Wednesday afternoon into early Thursday morning across all of Central Alabama. Threats include strong long track tornadoes, large hail up to tennis ball size, and damaging winds up to 80 mph. Winds may gust to near 35 mph outside of thunderstorms Wednesday night. Locally heavy rainfall may cause minor flooding of poor drainage areas Wednesday and Wednesday night. Minor flooding is forecast along portions of the Black Warrior River beginning Thursday night. Please see the latest flood statements for details. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management may be needed through this evening and again on Wednesday into the pre-dawn hours on Thursday.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Mar 16, 5:33 PM CDT, 5 hours 5 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
533 PM CDT Tue Mar 16 2021
ALZ022-030-031-162300-
Greene AL-Pickens AL-Sumter AL-
533 PM CDT Tue Mar 16 2021
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN PICKENS...NORTHERN
GREENE AND NORTHWESTERN SUMTER COUNTIES UNTIL 600 PM CDT...
At 533 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Cooksville, or 14 miles southwest of Aliceville, moving east at 50
mph.
Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Aliceville, Union, New West Greene, Mantua, Panola, Jena, West
Greene, Benevola, Geiger, Gainesville Lake Campground, Snoddy,
Warsaw, Clinton, Pleasant Ridge, Cochrane and Lewiston.
This storm 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 3308 8833 3314 8784 3302 8783 3302 8782
3288 8781 3286 8836
TIME...MOT...LOC 2233Z 264DEG 43KT 3297 8832
15Special weather statement, Mar 16, 9:59 PM CDT, 39 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
959 PM CDT Tue Mar 16 2021
ALZ030-170345-
Sumter AL-
959 PM CDT Tue Mar 16 2021
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN SUMTER COUNTY UNTIL
1045 PM CDT...
At 958 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Tamola, or near Lauderdale, moving east at 35 mph.
Pea size hail and winds up to 40 mph will be possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Livingston, York, Cuba, Epes, Boyd, The University Of West Alabama,
Bluffport, Coatopa, Old Mallard Airport, Lilita, Bellamy, I 20
Welcome Center At Cuba and Payneville.
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 3265 8838 3269 8809 3268 8809 3268 8807
3264 8807 3264 8808 3262 8808 3261 8807
3243 8807 3243 8841
TIME...MOT...LOC 0258Z 265DEG 29KT 3255 8846
86/MartinSpecial weather statement, Mar 16, 10:38 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 9:59 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Sumter | 46 min |
| Mar 16, 10:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Sumter | 24 min |
| Mar 17, 1:27 AM CDT | Dense Fog Advisory | BMX | Autauga, Barbour, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers and 22 more | 6 hr |
| Mar 17, 11:18 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | BMX | Jefferson | 27 min |
| Mar 17, 12:13 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Dallas | 47 min |
| Mar 17, 12:19 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BMX | Jefferson, Tuscaloosa | 2 hr |
| Mar 17, 12:21 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Fayette, Lamar, Marion | 25 min |
| Mar 17, 12:41 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Autauga | 64 min |
| Mar 17, 12:59 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Greene, Sumter | 61 min |
| Mar 17, 1:18 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Autauga, Chilton, Elmore | 57 min |
| Mar 17, 1:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Pickens, Tuscaloosa | 28 min |
| Mar 17, 1:52 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter | 41 min |
| Mar 17, 1:58 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Marengo | 62 min |
| Mar 17, 1:59 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Greene, Hale | 46 min |
| Mar 17, 2:02 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Chilton, Coosa | 58 min |
| Mar 17, 2:09 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Marengo | 66 min |
| Mar 17, 2:14 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Jefferson, Walker | 61 min |
| Mar 17, 2:20 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Tuscaloosa | 40 min |
| Mar 17, 2:33 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Clay, Coosa, Talladega | 42 min |
| Mar 17, 2:44 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Hale, Marengo, Perry | 2 hr |
| Mar 17, 2:47 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BMX | Greene, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa | 2 hr |
| Mar 17, 2:48 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BMX | Blount, Jefferson, Walker | 2 hr |
| Mar 17, 2:48 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BMX | Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston | 2 hr |
| Mar 17, 2:51 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Jefferson | 2 hr |
| Mar 17, 2:53 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Tuscaloosa | 52 min |
| Mar 17, 2:54 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Dallas, Marengo, Perry | 66 min |
| Mar 17, 2:58 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Blount, Jefferson | 34 min |
| Mar 17, 3:21 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Tuscaloosa | 54 min |
| Mar 17, 3:25 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Tuscaloosa | 2 hr |
| Mar 17, 3:28 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BMX | Dallas, Perry | 2 hr |
| Mar 17, 3:34 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Jefferson, Walker | 56 min |
| Mar 17, 3:37 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Marengo | 38 min |
| Mar 17, 3:58 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Jefferson | 47 min |
| Mar 17, 3:58 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Dallas, Perry | 47 min |
| Mar 17, 4:12 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Dallas | 48 min |
| Mar 17, 4:28 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Marengo | 62 min |
| Mar 17, 4:36 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Jefferson | 54 min |
| Mar 17, 4:40 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Autauga | 50 min |
| Mar 17, 4:43 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Dallas, Perry | 47 min |
| Mar 17, 5:00 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Chilton | 60 min |
| Mar 17, 5:09 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BMX | Jefferson | 111 min |
| Mar 17, 5:15 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Chilton | 60 min |
| Mar 17, 5:16 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Blount | 44 min |
| Mar 17, 5:23 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Dallas, Marengo, Perry | 67 min |
| Mar 17, 5:26 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BMX | Autauga, Chilton, Dallas, Hale, Marengo, Perry and 1 more | 3 hr |
| Mar 17, 5:41 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Marengo | 23 min |
| Mar 17, 5:42 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Chilton, Coosa, Shelby, Talladega | 48 min |
| Mar 17, 5:48 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Blount | 42 min |
| Mar 17, 5:56 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BMX | Walker, Winston | 44 min |
| Mar 17, 6:09 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Chilton, Coosa, Shelby, Talladega | 13 min |
| Mar 17, 6:40 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Walker, Winston | 3 hr |
| Mar 17, 6:48 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Dallas | 42 min |
Nearby
Special Weather Statements in Alabama, 2021Every special weather statement in 2021
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.