Hail and Damaging Wind in Alabama, August 10, 2012

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in Alabama, August 10, 2012
Start: 2012-08-10T16:45
End: 2012-08-10T22:00
Location: Alabama

August 10, 2012 · NWS BMX · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS BMX wrote it up.

Ahead of a cold front stretching across the Tennessee Valley and Central Mississippi, scattered thunderstorms developed and moved into Central Alabama on Friday, August 10. Cloud cover kept instabilities low during much of the day. However, by late afternoon, skies cleared and instabilities increased with CAPE values over 3000 J/kg. Thunderstorms produced isolated wind damage and locally heavy rain.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Aug 10, 2:27 PM CST, 2 hours 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 10, 2:27 PM CST, 2 hours 18 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
327 PM CDT FRI AUG 10 2012

.UPDATE...
MESOSCALE UPDATE.

CORRECTED 2ND SENTENCE IN FIRST PARAGRAPH TO HIGHLIGHT THE MOST
UNSTABLE AIRMASS ACROSS WESTERN ALABAMA.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

INTERESTING SETUP THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA...AS LOW
CLOUDS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HANG AROUND FOR MUCH OF THE AREA.
HOWEVER...FAR WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE STATE HAVE OBSERVED MORE
SUNSHINE FOR MUCH OF THE AFTERNOON AND HAVE BEGUN TO DESTABILIZE.
LOOKING AT THE KBMX 12Z SOUNDING FROM THIS MORNING...DRIER AIR ALOFT
WAS ABLE TO WORK IN BEHIND THE PRE-FRONTAL TROUGH THAT IS NOW WELL
TO OUR SOUTH ACROSS THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE WITH PW'S AROUND 1.37
INCHES. HOWEVER...THE TEMPORARY DRY AIR LOOKS TO HAVE BEEN SHORT
LIVED AS A SURGE OF MOISTURE FROM THE SOUTHWEST LOOKS TO MOVE INTO
CENTRAL ALABAMA THIS EVENING.

SURFACE ANALYSIS REVEALS WHAT LOOKS TO BE AN MCV THAT HAS FORMED
OVER CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI...AND A DISTINCT CYCLONIC SWIRL CAN BE
VIEWED ON THE VISIBLE SATELLITE LOOP THIS AFTERNOON. SEVERAL OUTFLOW
BOUNDARIES CAN BE VIEWED ROTATING AROUND THE MCV...AND ONE OUTFLOW
HAS ALREADY SERVED TO ERODE THE LOW STRATUS LAYER THAT HAS BEEN
PRESENT THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY ALONG THE I-65 CORRIDOR. STRONG
STORMS ARE ALREADY DEVELOPING ALONG AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY JUST TO THE
NORTH OF THE CENTER OF THE MCV...AND WILL BE MOVING EASTWARD THROUGH
THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON. WITH THE LOW CLOUDS NOW ERODED ACROSS
MUCH OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...DESTABILIZATION HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO OCCUR.
RAP ANALYSIS IS NOW INDICATING AROUND 3000 J/KG OF CAPE ACROSS OUR
WESTERN COUNTIES...AND LI'S OF AROUND -5 TO -6. THIS UNSTABLE
AIRMASS IS PROGGED TO MOVE EASTWARD THROUGHOUT THE LATE AFTERNOON
AND EARLY EVENING HOURS AND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO INCREASED SHOWER AND
THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT...ESPECIALLY ALONG AND AHEAD OF OUTFLOW
BOUNDARIES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. WITH THESE UNSTABLE CONDITIONS
IN PLACE...STORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING
WINDS UP TO 60 MPH. 500MB TEMPS WILL ALSO LOOK TO BE DROPPING ACROSS
OUR WESTERN AND NORTHWESTERN COUNTIES...AND LARGE HAIL WILL POSSIBLE
AS WELL. IT IS LOOKING MORE DIFFICULT FOR STORMS TO DEVELOP ACROSS
OUR EASTERN COUNTIES DUE TO THE LENGTH OF TIME LOW CLOUDS HAVE BEEN
IN PLACE TODAY...AND DECREASED INSTABILITIES...BUT WE WILL CLOSELY
WATCH TRENDS THROUGH THIS EVENING.

ONE OUTFLOW BOUNDARY MOVING INTO SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA IS ALREADY
BEGINNING TO TRIGGER SHOWERS ACROSS SUMTER AND GREENE COUNTIES AND
WILL GRADUALLY INCREASE IN COVERAGE OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS. THE
STRONG STORMS FORMING IN MISSISSIPPI WILL SERVE TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN
OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES THAT WILL TRIGGER ADDITIONAL STORMS THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON. THERE IS A BIT MORE 0-6KM SHEAR TO OUR WEST THAT IS
HELPING SUSTAIN THE CURRENT STORMS. IN ADDITION TO THE MCV
ACTIVITY...A LARGE OUTFLOW IS ALSO MOVING NORTHWARD INTO
SOUTHEASTERN ALABAMA FROM ACTIVITY IN THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE THAT
COULD TRIGGER STORMS THIS AFTERNOON IN THE SOUTHEAST AND POSSIBLY
COLLIDE WITH OUTFLOWS ALREADY PRESENT ACROSS THE STATE.

56/GDG

TONIGHT...THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL CONTINUE TO SLIDE SOUTHWARD INTO
THE AREA. LOOKS TO BEGIN TO SLOW AS IT APPROACHES THE I-85 CORRIDOR
BY LATE OVERNIGHT. WE ARE FINALLY BEGINNING TO BREAK OUT FROM THE
CLOUDS ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. HOWEVER TEMPERATURES ARE STILL IN THE
UPPER 70S TO LOW 80S. AS WE CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THE MESOSCALE
FEATURES FOR THIS AFTERNOON...TONIGHT'S WEATHER REALLY DEPENDS ON
WHAT DEVELOPS THIS AFTERNOON. AND RIGHT NOW IS WAY TO EARLY TO GET
SPECIFIC. WILL GO RIGHT NOW WITH HIGH CHANCES ACROSS THE SOUTH...
CLOSEST TO THE PRE-FRONTAL TROUGH...AS WELL AS THE NORTHEAST...
CLOSEST TO THE FRONT AND ONGOING PRECIPITATION. THE BEST CHANCES
TONIGHT WILL BE SOUTH OF I-59. WILL STICK WITH THE LOWER POPS ACROSS
THE NORTHWEST AS THE FRONT WILL BE THROUGH THIS AREA.

SATURDAY...MOST OF THE ACTIVITY WILL BE LIMITED TO THE I-85 CORRIDOR
AND POINTS SOUTH AS THE DRIER AIRMASS BEGINS TO WORK INTO THE NORTH.
WHILE AN ISOLATED STORM IS POSSIBLE SOUTH OF THE I-20
CORRIDOR...ACTIVITY WOULD BE LIMITED TO PEAK HEATING OF THE DAY.

LOOK FOR A FAIRLY DRY SUNDAY AS WELL AS THE FLOW REMAINS FROM THE
NORTH. WE WILL BEGIN TO WARM UP A TOUCH MORE ONLY WITH THE INCREASE
IN SUNSHINE.

BY NEXT WEEK...WE WILL GET BACK INTO THE SOUTHERN FLOW OF THINGS AND
TEMPERATURES WARM BACK UP IN THE LOW 90S. WITH THIS FLOW WE WILL BE
IN MORE OF THE TYPICAL SUMMERTIME HIT AND MISS AFTERNOON
THUNDERSTORMS. WILL NOT GET FANCY AT THIS TIME AND CONTINUE POPS
INTO THE EVENING HOURS BUT AS WE GET CLOSER TO NEXT WEEK MAY HAVE TO
ADD IN ISOLATED WORDING THROUGH AT LEAST 9 OR 10 PM EACH NIGHT.

16

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF DISCUSSION

VISIBLE SATELLITE INDICATES THAT THE MVFR TO IFR STRATUS DECK IS
ERODING AND EXPECT ALL TAF SITES WILL IMPROVE TO VFR OVER THE NEXT
HOUR OR SO. CONVECTION HAS BEEN SLOW TO DEVELOP TODAY BUT EXPECT
VCTS AT THE TAF SITES BETWEEN 20-22Z AS THE FRONT APPROACHES FROM
THE NORTHWEST. CONVECTION SHOULD END AFTER SUNSET WITH JUST VCSH
OVERNIGHT. COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE NORTHERN TERMINALS
BETWEEN 05-07Z AND SHOULD BE LOCATED ALONG THE I-85 CORRIDOR
AROUND 12Z. MODELS ARE SHOWING MVFR TO IFR CEILINGS BEHIND THE
FRONT AND INCLUDED MVFR CONDITIONS IN THE TAFS FOR THE NORTHERN
SITES BEHIND THE FRONT. THE FRONT WILL BRING IN DRY CONDITIONS FOR
THE TERMINALS DURING THE DAY TOMORROW. A FEW SHOWERS COULD LINGER
AROUND KMGM AND KTOI TOMORROW MORNING.

MA

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     66  86  60  86  62 /  40  10   0  10   0
ANNISTON    68  87  62  87  64 /  40  10   0  10   0
BIRMINGHAM  67  86  63  88  66 /  30  10   0  10   0
TUSCALOOSA  67  87  63  89  67 /  30  10   0  10   0
CALERA      68  86  64  88  67 /  40  10  10  10   0
AUBURN      71  86  67  88  69 /  50  30  10  10   0
MONTGOMERY  72  90  67  91  70 /  50  20  10  10   0
TROY        72  88  68  90  70 /  50  30  10  10   0

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.

&&

56/16/05

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 10, 2:01 PM CST, 2 hours 44 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
301 PM CDT FRI AUG 10 2012

ALZ011>015-017>050-112015-
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-
301 PM CDT FRI AUG 10 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY IMPACT THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA THROUGH 9 PM. THE MAIN THREAT WITH THESE STORMS WILL BE
STRAIGHT LINED DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. AREAS OF MAIN CONCERN
WILL BE WEST OF A LINE FROM ARLEY...TO DIXONS MILL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BE
NEEDED ACROSS THE WESTERN SECTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA THIS
AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 10, 2:54 PM CST, 1 hour 51 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
354 PM CDT FRI AUG 10 2012

ALZ031-032-102130-
GREENE AL-HALE AL-
354 PM CDT FRI AUG 10 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN HALE AND EASTERN
GREENE COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM CDT...

AT 353 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR EUTAW...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH
HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  EVANSVILLE...
  AKRON...
  KNOXVILLE...
  MOUNDVILLE AIRPORT...
  HAVANA...

TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY.

&&

LAT...LON 3303 8783 3302 8784 3302 8771 3300 8771
      3300 8764 3289 8757 3278 8788 3293 8796
TIME...MOT...LOC 2055Z 239DEG 8KT 3289 8786

56

Special weather statement, Aug 10, 3:37 PM CST, 1 hour 8 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
437 PM CDT FRI AUG 10 2012

ALZ023-032-102200-
HALE AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-
437 PM CDT FRI AUG 10 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN TUSCALOOSA AND
NORTHEASTERN HALE COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM CDT...

AT 434 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR MOUNDVILLE...OR 16 MILES NORTH OF GREENSBORO...
MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH
HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  PHIPPS...
  WATEROAK...
  HAGLER...

TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY.

&&

LAT...LON 3301 8771 3311 8731 3309 8731 3301 8732
      3300 8742 3288 8742 3287 8742 3283 8767
      3293 8770
TIME...MOT...LOC 2137Z 256DEG 18KT 3294 8758

56

Special weather statement, Aug 10, 4:11 PM CST, 34 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
511 PM CDT FRI AUG 10 2012

ALZ032>034-102245-
BIBB AL-HALE AL-PERRY AL-
511 PM CDT FRI AUG 10 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN PERRY...NORTHEASTERN
HALE AND SOUTHWESTERN BIBB COUNTIES UNTIL 545 PM CDT...

AT 507 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR MERTZ...OR 15 MILES WEST OF BRENT...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH
HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  BRENT...
  CENTREVILLE...
  MERTZ...
  LOW GAP...
  HARRISBURG...

TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY.

&&

LAT...LON 3301 8745 3301 8732 3305 8732 3310 8716
      3288 8707 3281 8744 3300 8748
TIME...MOT...LOC 2210Z 244DEG 20KT 3288 8740

56

Special weather statement, Aug 10, 4:30 PM CST, 15 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
530 PM CDT FRI AUG 10 2012

ALZ023-034-102300-
BIBB AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-
530 PM CDT FRI AUG 10 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN TUSCALOOSA AND
NORTHERN BIBB COUNTIES UNTIL 600 PM CDT...

AT 530 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR COALING...OR 12 MILES SOUTHEAST OF HOLT...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH
HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  BROOKWOOD...
  BEVILL LOCK AND DAM...
  VANCE...
  WEST BLOCTON...
  WOODSTOCK JUNCTION...

TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY.

&&

LAT...LON 3336 8720 3332 8718 3330 8715 3330 8713
      3329 8712 3328 8707 3325 8707 3325 8705
      3321 8702 3317 8702 3316 8701 3313 8701
      3304 8736 3319 8748
TIME...MOT...LOC 2230Z 237DEG 16KT 3317 8732

56

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 49 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:44 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Tuscaloosa

When: August 10, 4:45 PM CST
Where: Tuscaloosa County, 1.35 mi ENE of Cedar Cove
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.190, -87.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Shelby

When: August 10, 5:47 PM CST
Where: Shelby County, 1.8 mi SE of Acton
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.330, -86.800

Trees were reported down along Chandabrook Drive in Pelham, as well as near the intersection of Chelsea Road and Tara Drive in Chelsea.

Heavy Rain, Blount

When: August 10, 8:30 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Blount County, Oneonta
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 33.950, -86.470

Heavy rainfall and poor drainage led to approximately two feet of standing water over the roadway at the intersection of First Avenue East and Springville Boulevard in downtown Oneonta.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alabama in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in Alabama, August 2012

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 409060, 409061, 409093.