Alert archive / Alabama / Special Weather Statements in 2021

Special Weather Statement, NWS Birmingham, AL

July 31, 2021Barbour County, Russell County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this special weather statement at Jul 31, 2021, 6:36 PM CDT for Barbour County, Russell County, Alabama. It was in force for 39 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
Jul 31, 2021, 6:36 PM CDT (23:36 UTC)
Expired
Jul 31, 2021, 7:15 PM CDT
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL

Counties Barbour County, AL, Russell County, AL

The radar

The Ft Rucker radar (KEOX), 74 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:35 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

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 11.6 hours before the alert went out and 156 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2021-07-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1160 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2021-07-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 12 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
1160 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-93 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1021 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
8 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
12 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
2 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

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 Jul 31, 2:22 PM CDT, 4 hours 14 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 31, 2:22 PM CDT, 4 hours 14 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
222 PM CDT Sat Jul 31 2021

.SHORT TERM...
/Updated at 0149 PM CDT Sat Jul 31 2021/

This afternoon through Sunday.

Central Alabama will have active weather through Sunday. Scattered
to numerous showers and thunderstorms are anticipated with the
greatest coverage during the heating of the day. The strongest
storms will be capable of producing wind gusts up to 50 mph and
torrential rainfall. Additionally, the combination of high
temperatures and high humidity will lead to dangerous heat indices.
Most of the area will experience maximum heat indices of 104 to 109
degrees this afternoon and 104 to 107 on Sunday afternoon. Near the
Mississippi state line, surface dew points remain quite high and a
few spots may reach 110 briefly. Will stick with a heat advisory for
most of the area through Sunday evening.

This afternoon...The modified 12z raob indicates a moderate to high
microburst chance this afternoon. MLCAPE values should be around
3500 with DCAPE values 1000-1500. The convective temperature is
around 95 degrees which will be reached at several locations and
there will also be several boundary to aide in development. K-
indices indicate plenty of moisture for storm development.
Precipitable water values hover just below 2 inches. The mean wind
flow today is northwest and would expect any storms that develop
would tend to move south to southeast at 10-15 mph or so but also be
influenced by the storm propagation. Our trend for pops in the
forecast is good but will make some spatial adjust. The initiation
points will be south and east central, working into the central
areas within a few hours. Still expecting scattered to numerous
activity. A few locations are already reported heat indices near 105
degrees at this writing. A majority of locations will see heat
indices in the 105-109 range before lowering due to storm activity.
A few spots, especially near the Mississippi state line, may briefly
hit values of 110. Since this will be the exception, will continue
with a heat advisory for all areas.

Tonight...Convection will propagate south southeast and should be
more numerous south after sunset. This activity will wane with the
loss of daytime heating and mostly be gone by 9-10 pm. Very muggy
conditions will remain in place overnight with nearly saturated
conditions and 70 to 75 degrees. A few boundaries move our way in
the northwest flow and approach the area before sunrise. Currently
have small pops for far northern areas if anything pops up before
sunrise.

Sunday...The general trend with regard to the temperatures and heat
indices will be held on to. The heat advisory criteria looks to
still be met for much of the area. Very high surface dew points may
push the 110 degree limit for a warning, but this will be limited in
space and also duration due to convection. Will hold the advisory in
place as is. Storms will develop across a large part of the area
again on Sunday. Numerous smaller scale boundaries, a quasi-
stationary front lingering around northern areas, and mean moisture
gradients will lead to the development. Storms will develop north
and propagate southward with time in the afternoon. The atmosphere
does not change considerably, except for slightly higher winds aloft
and some height falls. Therefore, it appears a few strong storms are
likely with the potential of wind gusts to 50 mph and torrential
rainfall.

75

Previous short-term discussion:
/Updated at 230 AM CDT Sat Jul 31 2021/

Through Sunday.

Most of the showers and storms have dissipated for the night and
will give way to patchy fog and or low clouds, especially north.
As we move into afternoon hours, short range models are indicating
a pretty large swath of rain/storms developing across Central AL.
With plenty of left over boundaries from earlier activity, feel
as though this is a plausible scenario, along with the approaching
front. Confidence has increased to the point that PoPs have been
raised significantly to the likely category across the Central
sections of the area. Now this could dampen the chances of seeing
the extreme heat, but with high moisture content and ample morning
warming will leave the heat advisory as it is. If the rain
develops as expected, then high temperatures may only reach the
low 90s, but heat indices will still be in the 101 to 105 range in
the northeast and with the accumulated heat over the region there
still remains concern for heat illnesses. Storms that do develop
in the afternoon will most likely be strong to marginally severe.
Additional information on microburst potential will be available
after the morning sounding.

Depending on the exact placement of the rain in the afternoon will
play the role in where the best chances tonight will be. Based on
the consensus of the short range, convection based models will go
with a chance of showers and storms in the south, with the best
chances in the southwest. Showers and storms are in the forecast
again on Sunday, with more confidence of seeing significant
coverage during the afternoon ahead of the upper trough. Most of
the convection should be across the northern half of Alabama early
on Sunday and then slide south during the afternoon. There will
likely be a decent temperature gradient across Alabama Sunday
afternoon as a band of convection pushes southward. The hot/humid
air mass that has been across Alabama will still be in place in
areas south of the convective band, and the heat advisory will
be extended for areas along and south of I-20 on Sunday. Some
strong storms also possible Sunday afternoon as forecast soundings
indicate 3000+ CAPE.

16

.LONG TERM...
/Updated at 0211 PM CDT Sat Jul 31 2021/

Sunday night through Friday.

No significant changes made to the extended forecast. An broad
upper trof over the eastern United States will dig southward
through the period. Best rain chances will be Sunday night and
Monday as surface front pushes slowly southward across Central
Alabama. As the trof axis pivots eastward, a drying trend will
ensue over areas west of I-65. Models differ on amount of mid
level drying over east Alabama due to position of upper trof axis,
and small rain chances were left in forecast. The good news is
that daytime temperatures will be below normal.

58/rose

Previous long-term discussion:
/Updated at 0248 AM CDT Sat Jul 31 2021/

Sunday night through Friday.

A seasonally strong mid/upper-level trough will be over the
eastern CONUS for the first half of the extended period,
deamplifying over the second half of the period. A cold front will
sink southward Sunday night and Monday, with scattered to numerous
showers and storms through this period with the highest coverage
in the south. These will be aided by PWATs around 2 inches and the
right entrance region of a seasonally strong upper-level jet
streak. Localized flooding will be possible, as well as some gusty
winds with any storms due to some enhancement to the mid-level
flow resulting in 0-6km bulk shear values around 25 kts. There is
some uncertainty regarding where the front and associated moisture
gradient stalls out Tuesday through the rest of the week, as
several vorticity maxima rotate through the base of the trough.
These could result in waves of low pressure developing along the
front, with associated surges of easterly winds potentially
increasing moisture by a touch in East Alabama. In general PoPs
will be highest southeast and very limited northwest.
Temperatures will be below normal with highs in the mid to upper
80s and lows in the 60s in most areas. More importantly, dew
points will mix down into the 60s during the afternoons in many
areas resulting in more pleasant conditions and no heat advisory
concerns.

32/Davis

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF Discussion.

Shower and thunderstorm development will be widespread
this afternoon and last until around 02z. A few strong storms are
possible with the threat of wind gusts and brief torrential
rainfall. VFR conditions will prevail outside convection with
cumulus around 040-050 and then convective blowoff. Expect the
clouds to diminish overnight. Sunday looks to be a repeat
performance with convection developing again. It looks to be strong
again with the highest coverage just beyond this period. The general
wind direction will be west northwest but will be affected by
convective outflows.

75

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will develop
over Central Alabama each afternoon through Monday. A decrease in
rain chances can be expected Tuesday through Friday, but still
scattered in nature. Low level moisture remain very high through
Monday with Minimum RH values over 50 percent. Some drop is
expected the remainder of the week but only into the 40s. As is
typical of the summer pattern, transport winds remain rather
light.

75

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Gadsden     73  93  69  86  64 /  20  60  30  40  30
Anniston    73  93  71  86  67 /  20  60  40  50  30
Birmingham  73  95  72  86  67 /  20  60  40  50  30
Tuscaloosa  75  97  73  86  68 /  20  60  50  60  30
Calera      73  93  72  84  68 /  20  60  50  60  40
Auburn      73  93  73  86  69 /  30  70  50  70  50
Montgomery  75  96  74  89  70 /  40  70  60  80  50
Troy        74  96  73  89  71 /  40  70  60  80  60

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES/...
Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT Sunday for the following counties:
Autauga...Barbour...Bibb...Bullock...Chambers...Chilton...Clay...
Coosa...Dallas...Elmore...Fayette...Greene...Hale...Jefferson...
Lamar...Lee...Lowndes...Macon...Marengo...Montgomery...Perry...
Pickens...Pike...Randolph...Russell...Shelby...St. Clair...
Sumter...Talladega...Tallapoosa...Tuscaloosa...Walker.

Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for the following
counties: Blount...Calhoun...Cherokee...Cleburne...Etowah...
Marion...Winston.

&&
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 31, 10:43 AM CDT, 7 hours 53 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1043 AM CDT Sat Jul 31 2021

ALZ011>015-017>050-011845-
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-
1043 AM CDT Sat Jul 31 2021

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the
National Weather Service office in Birmingham.

.DAY ONE...Outlook through Tonight.

Hot temperatures along with high humidity values will lead to heat
indices reaching or exceeding 105 degrees over much of Central
Alabama today.

A few strong storms may produce isolated and brief instances of
damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

Heat indices will continue to be oppressive through Sunday with
values reaching or exceeding 105 degrees.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

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

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 31, 5:24 PM CDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 31, 5:30 PM CDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 31, 5:33 PM CDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 31, 5:37 PM CDT, 59 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 31, 5:42 PM CDT, 54 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 31, 6:36 PM CDT, 0 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 30, 7:07 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXWinston38 min
Jul 30, 7:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCherokee, Etowah31 min
Jul 30, 7:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount39 min
Jul 31, 2:25 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXRussell50 min
Jul 31, 2:26 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXSt. Clair49 min
Jul 31, 2:28 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXChilton47 min
Jul 31, 2:29 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXDallas46 min
Jul 31, 2:44 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXShelby46 min
Jul 31, 2:47 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXJefferson, Walker43 min
Jul 31, 2:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson, Walker49 min
Jul 31, 3:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, St. Clair, Talladega41 min
Jul 31, 3:09 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXChilton51 min
Jul 31, 3:11 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXRussell34 min
Jul 31, 3:23 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXCoosa37 min
Jul 31, 3:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson, Shelby41 min
Jul 31, 3:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChilton, Coosa, Shelby, Talladega52 min
Jul 31, 3:41 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXTalladega34 min
Jul 31, 3:57 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXShelby33 min
Jul 31, 3:59 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXElmore, Montgomery46 min
Jul 31, 4:12 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXClay, Randolph48 min
Jul 31, 4:18 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXChambers42 min
Jul 31, 4:22 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXTallapoosa53 min
Jul 31, 4:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTallapoosa45 min
Jul 31, 4:49 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXBibb41 min
Jul 31, 5:00 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXLee60 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.