Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2025

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 137, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 17, 2025Jefferson County, St. Clair County, Shelby County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 17, 2025, 4:59 AM CDT for Jefferson County, St. Clair County, Shelby County, Alabama. It was in force for 46 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 17, 2025, 4:59 AM CDT (09:59 UTC)
Expired: May 17, 2025, 5:45 AM CDT
In force: 46 min
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 0.75 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Jefferson County, AL, Shelby County, AL, St. Clair County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 40 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:59 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
May 17, 2:17 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 10.0 hours before the alert went out and 198 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: 1148 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -125 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1473 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 130 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 185 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.2
Supercell composite: 7.2

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 Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 17, 1:43 AM CDT, 3 hours 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 17, 1:43 AM CDT, 3 hours 16 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, May 16, 3:31 PM CDT, 13 hours 28 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
331 PM CDT Fri May 16 2025

ALZ011>015-017>050-172345-
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-
331 PM CDT Fri May 16 2025

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

.DAY ONE...Outlook through Tonight.

There is a marginal to slight (level 1 to 2 of 5) risk for severe
storms from around midnight tonight through daybreak Saturday
morning, generally along and north of the Interstate 20 corridor.
The
main threat will be damaging winds and large hail.

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

There is a marginal (level 1 of 5) risk for severe storms that may
develop Saturday afternoon and evening across the southern half of
Central Alabama. Any storms that form will be capable of hail and
damaging winds.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Activation of storm spotters and emergency management may be needed
from late tonight through Saturday night.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 17, 2:27 AM CDT, 2 hours 32 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
227 AM CDT Sat May 17 2025

ALZ011>015-170845-
Fayette AL-Walker AL-Winston AL-Marion AL-Lamar AL-
227 AM CDT Sat May 17 2025

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WESTERN WALKER...MARION...
WINSTON...FAYETTE AND LAMAR COUNTIES THROUGH 345 AM CDT...

At 226 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Fairview to 6 miles southeast of
Smithville to near Aberdeen. Movement was east at 55 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Cody, Henson Springs, Camp McDowell, Wayside, Clear Creek, Lynn,
Ashbank, Rankin Fite Airport, Fayette, Pebble, Bull Branch, Coon
Creek, Pine Springs, Marion County Public Lake, Hightogy, Piney
Grove, Natural Bridge, Black Pond, Weiss, and Bazemore.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for
central, northwestern and west central Alabama.

&&

LAT...LON 3432 8817 3430 8711 3399 8711 3399 8715
      3395 8711 3361 8739 3361 8763 3352 8768
      3354 8828
TIME...MOT...LOC 0726Z 271DEG 50KT 3435 8824 3403 8830 3383 8860

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

12/Robinson

Special weather statement, May 17, 3:43 AM CDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
343 AM CDT Sat May 17 2025

ALZ012>015-022-023-170945-
Fayette AL-Walker AL-Winston AL-Pickens AL-Tuscaloosa AL-Lamar AL-
343 AM CDT Sat May 17 2025

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WALKER...NORTHWESTERN
TUSCALOOSA...PICKENS...WINSTON...FAYETTE AND SOUTHERN LAMAR COUNTIES
THROUGH 445 AM CDT...

At 343 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Inmanfield to near Kansas to near Steens.
Movement was southeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Aliceville, Cody, Ethelsville, Lake Tuscaloosa, Carrollton, Camp
McDowell, Clear Creek, Samantha, Ashbank, Fayette, George Downer
Airport, Bull Branch, Coon Creek, Kirk, Wiley, Powellville, Echola,
Hightogy, Black Pond, and Addison Town Hall.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for
central, northwestern and west central Alabama.

&&

LAT...LON 3377 8825 3391 8764 3430 8732 3430 8711
      3399 8711 3399 8714 3389 8709 3389 8701
      3384 8695 3366 8706 3360 8719 3355 8719
      3353 8727 3350 8726 3349 8733 3346 8734
      3344 8729 3343 8731 3300 8822 3324 8831
TIME...MOT...LOC 0843Z 302DEG 31KT 3425 8720 3383 8761 3349 8828

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

12/Robinson

Special weather statement, May 17, 4:27 AM CDT, 32 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
427 AM CDT Sat May 17 2025

ALZ017-018-024-026-171015-
Etowah AL-Jefferson AL-St. Clair AL-Blount AL-
427 AM CDT Sat May 17 2025

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT BLOUNT...ETOWAH AND NORTHERN ST.
CLAIR COUNTIES THROUGH 515 AM CDT...

At 427 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Strawberry to near Arkadelphia. Movement
was east at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Whitney Junction, Gadsden Steam Plant, Hokes Bluff, Smoke Rise,
Rockledge, Fairview, Bangor, Aurora, Strawberry, Attalla, Gadsden
Water Works, Susan Moore, Glencoe, Chamblees Mill, Snead, Crudup,
Holly Springs, Gallant, Gadsden Municipal Airport, and Keener.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for
central, northeastern and east central Alabama.

&&

LAT...LON 3410 8630 3418 8619 3420 8584 3411 8584
      3412 8579 3399 8574 3394 8576 3396 8584
      3391 8597 3384 8607 3377 8604 3367 8615
      3369 8620 3368 8620 3367 8619 3385 8696
      3392 8692 3397 8677 3426 8649
TIME...MOT...LOC 0927Z 275DEG 42KT 3428 8650 3390 8693

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

12/Robinson

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 17, 2:27 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston	78 min
May 17, 2:37 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar	38 min
May 17, 3:43 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Pickens, Walker, Winston	62 min
May 17, 4:00 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Fayette, Greene, Jefferson, Lamar, Pickens and 3 more	60 min
May 17, 4:27 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Blount, Etowah, St. Clair	48 min
May 17, 5:05 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	40 min
May 17, 5:21 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tuscaloosa	54 min
May 17, 5:34 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Calhoun, Talladega	26 min
May 17, 5:55 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Bibb	35 min
May 17, 6:04 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Clay, Cleburne, Randolph	56 min
May 17, 6:16 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene	29 min
May 17, 6:29 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chilton, Shelby	46 min
May 17, 6:51 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chilton, Coosa	24 min
May 17, 5:01 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Dallas	44 min
May 17, 6:15 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Dallas	45 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2025 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2025

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.