Hail and Damaging Winds in Alabama, May 7, 2012

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Alabama, May 7, 2012
Start: 2012-05-07T14:06
End: 2012-05-07T14:36
Location: Alabama

May 7, 2012 · NWS BMX · 8 events in 2 counties and zones

On Monday, May 7, a cold pool boundary left over from a decaying mesoscale convective system advected into north central Alabama. Along and ahead of this boundary, isolated severe thunderstorms developed.

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: 8

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.

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 May 7, 11:35 AM CST, 2 hours 31 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 7, 11:35 AM CST, 2 hours 31 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1235 PM CDT MON MAY 7 2012

.UPDATE...
FOR 18Z AVIATION.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

VERY MESSY PATTERN WILL CONTINUE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA THIS
AFTERNOON...WITH A SUMMERISH SETUP THIS MORNING BASED ON RADAR AND
SATELLITE IMAGERY. SEVERAL MESOSCALE BOUNDARIES LEFTOVER FROM
YESTERDAY'S THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY...AS WELL AS NEW BOUNDARIES
MOVING INTO THE STATE FROM THE EAST...SOUTH...AND NORTHWEST WILL
HELP TO TRIGGER ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE
AFTERNOON TODAY. THE PREDOMINANT FEATURE OF INTEREST IS THE MCS
MOVING THROUGH CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI MOVING TOWARDS THE EAST-
SOUTHEAST. THIS IS ACTUALLY A LEFTOVER COLD POOL FROM A LARGER MCS
THAT DEVELOPED DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OVER WESTERN
TENNESSEE AND SOUTHERN MISSOURI. WITH SUFFICIENT INSTABILITIES IN
PLACE DURING THE AFTERNOON DUE TO HEATING OF 1500-2000 J/KG AND LI'S
OF -5 TO -7 ACROSS WESTERN ALABAMA...THE LARGE COLD POOL BOUNDARY
WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL (-10
TO -12C AT 500MB) THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. THE
MORNING KBMX SOUNDING ALSO INDICATES THIS POSSIBILITY WITH STEEP
LAPSE RATES UP TO 700MB...AND FAIRLY STEEP LAPSE RATES THROUGHOUT
THE HAIL GROWTH ZONE AS WELL. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH THIS COLD
POOL ADVANCE EASTWARD THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND SHOULD REACH THE
STATE LINE THROUGH 1PM.

ELSEWHERE ACROSS THE STATE...SCATTERED CONVECTION WILL BE POSSIBLE
THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS WITH OUTFLOW BOUNDARY COLLISIONS AND
INTERSECTIONS EXPECTED TO TRIGGER ADDITIONAL STORMS THROUGH THE
EVENING HOURS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE OBSERVED YESTERDAY. ANY
STORM THAT DEVELOPS WILL PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS...THE POSSIBILITY OF
HAIL...AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL.

IN REGARDS TO THE FORECAST...POPS WERE RAISED TO CATEGORICAL TO
CAPTURE THE MCS MOVING INTO NORTHWEST AND WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE
STATE...AND RAISED POPS TO LIKELY ALL THE WAY EAST TO NEAR THE
INTERSTATE 65 CORRIDOR. HIGHS WERE ALSO DROPPED IN THE AREAS THAT
WILL OBSERVE THE MCS MOVING THROUGH...BUT HIGHS WERE INCREASED FOR
SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF OUR CWA THAT ARE REALLY BEGINNING TO HEAT UP
LATE THIS MORNING. UPDATES ARE OUT.

56/GDG

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAS DEVELOPED BACK OVER CENTRAL
MISSISSIPPI THIS MORNING AND WILL BE THE FOCUS OF THIS TAF CYCLE.
THIS LINE WILL BEGIN TO WORK ITS WAY INTO THE WESTERN REACHES OF THE
STATE BY 18Z...AND BEGIN AFFECTING KTCL BY 20Z...SPREADING OVER THE
REMAINDER OF OUR SITES OVER THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON.  THIS LINE
COULD CARRY WIND GUSTS OF 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL.  HAVE ISSUED
INITIAL TAFS AS VCTS...AND WILL UPDATE AS WE ARE ABLE TO TIME OUT
ARRIVAL AT EACH TERMINAL.

AFTER TS...SOME LIGHT RAIN WILL PERSIST...BUT SHOULD DRY UP PRETTY
QUICK...LEAVING THE POTENTIAL FOR FOG DEVELOP AFTER MIDNIGHT.  HAVE
PREVAILED EVERYONE AT MVFR FOR NOW...BUT LOWER VISIBILITIES ARE
PROBABLY GOING TO BE POSSIBLE...DEPENDENT ON HOW MUCH RAIN EACH SITE
RECEIVES.  WINDS SHOULD BE OTHERWISE LIGHT.

27

NOTE***THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS ISSUING SEASONAL TERMINAL
FORECASTS FOR THE TALLADEGA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KASN) IN
TALLADEGA...ALABAMA. THE FORECASTS WILL LAST THROUGH THE 9TH OF MAY.
DUE TO THE LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF OBSERVATIONS...KASN TAF WILL HAVE
AMD NOT SKED APPENDED TO THE END OF THE FORECAST.

&&

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

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, May 7, 10:59 AM CST, 3 hours 7 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1159 AM CDT MON MAY 7 2012

ALZ011>015-017>050-081700-
AUTAUGA-BARBOUR-BIBB-BLOUNT-BULLOCK-CALHOUN-CHAMBERS-CHEROKEE-
CHILTON-CLAY-CLEBURNE-COOSA-DALLAS-ELMORE-ETOWAH-FAYETTE-GREENE-HALE-
JEFFERSON-LAMAR-LEE-LOWNDES-MACON-MARENGO-MARION-MONTGOMERY-PERRY-
PICKENS-PIKE-RANDOLPH-RUSSELL-SHELBY-ST CLAIR-SUMTER-TALLADEGA-
TALLAPOOSA-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER-WINSTON-
1159 AM CDT MON MAY 7 2012

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING ACROSS
CENTRAL ALABAMA. THE HAZARDOUS THREATS INCLUDE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING
WINDS. THE AREA WITH THE GREATEST CHANCE OF SEVERE STORMS IS NORTH
AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 59. THE STORMS SHOULD REACH THEIR PEAK
STRENGTH AND COVERAGE BETWEEN 4PM AND 7 PM...ALTHOUGH STORMS COULD
OCCUR AT JUST ABOUT ANY TIME THROUGH 10 PM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

THERE IS A THREAT OF ADDITIONAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...WITH DAMAGING
WINDS AND LARGE HAIL...ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...AS A COLD FRONT
APPROACHES AND SLOWLY MOVES THROUGH THE STATE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BE NEEDED
AT TIMES THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY...DUE TO THE SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM THREAT.

75

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 7, 12:20 PM CST, 1 hour 46 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
120 PM CDT MON MAY 7 2012

ALZ022-071900-
PICKENS AL-
120 PM CDT MON MAY 7 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PICKENS COUNTY UNTIL 200 PM
CDT...

AT 119 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM GLEN ALLEN TO 14 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF COLUMBUS...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH
HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  PICKENSVILLE...
  REFORM...
  CARROLLTON...
  GORDO...
  ALICEVILLE...

THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

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 3353 8828 3352 8784 3323 8783 3315 8785
      3311 8794 3308 8797 3306 8803 3304 8805
      3305 8807 3304 8808 3304 8814 3299 8818
      3299 8834
TIME...MOT...LOC 1820Z 322DEG 26KT 3390 8772 3334 8856

56

Special weather statement, May 7, 12:42 PM CST, 1 hour 24 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
142 PM CDT MON MAY 7 2012

ALZ011-013-071930-
FAYETTE AL-MARION AL-
142 PM CDT MON MAY 7 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MARION AND
NORTHWESTERN FAYETTE COUNTIES UNTIL 230 PM CDT...

AT 137 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR GUIN...OR 6 MILES WEST OF WINFIELD...MOVING EAST AT
10 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  WINFIELD...
  GU-WIN...
  GLEN ALLEN...
  BRILLIANT...
  TWIN...

&&

LAT...LON 3392 8763 3389 8764 3385 8795 3389 8796
      3389 8795 3402 8795 3414 8764
TIME...MOT...LOC 1843Z 253DEG 9KT 3395 8789

56

Special weather statement, May 7, 12:44 PM CST, 1 hour 22 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
144 PM CDT MON MAY 7 2012

ALZ012-013-022-023-071930-
FAYETTE AL-LAMAR AL-PICKENS AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-
144 PM CDT MON MAY 7 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN TUSCALOOSA...
PICKENS...SOUTHEASTERN LAMAR AND FAYETTE COUNTIES UNTIL 230 PM CDT...

AT 142 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM FAYETTE TO PICKENSVILLE...
AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

ONE HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH
THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  PICKENSVILLE...
  REFORM...
  CARROLLTON...
  ALICEVILLE...
  GORDO...

THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

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 3338 8830 3386 8780 3355 8732 3307 8783
      3315 8784 3311 8794 3308 8797 3306 8803
      3304 8805 3305 8808 3303 8815 3302 8815
      3314 8833
TIME...MOT...LOC 1844Z 307DEG 23KT 3373 8779 3324 8830

56

Special weather statement, May 7, 1:15 PM CST, 51 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
215 PM CDT MON MAY 7 2012

ALZ022-030-031-072000-
GREENE AL-PICKENS AL-SUMTER AL-
215 PM CDT MON MAY 7 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SUMTER...SOUTHEASTERN PICKENS AND
GREENE COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM CDT...

AT 212 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES WEST OF BENEVOLA TO
25 MILES NORTHWEST OF CUBA...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  EUTAW...
  LIVINGSTON...
  CUBA...
  YORK...
  BENEVOLA...

THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

&&

LAT...LON 3296 8835 3323 8796 3290 8779 3286 8783
      3279 8782 3276 8787 3275 8781 3271 8783
      3265 8779 3265 8774 3263 8781 3259 8774
      3258 8779 3253 8781 3252 8792 3243 8803
      3237 8805 3232 8795 3230 8840
TIME...MOT...LOC 1915Z 321DEG 23KT 3312 8804 3257 8875

56

Special weather statement, May 7, 1:29 PM CST, 37 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
229 PM CDT MON MAY 7 2012

ALZ013-015-023-024-072015-
FAYETTE AL-JEFFERSON AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-WALKER AL-
229 PM CDT MON MAY 7 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN WALKER...TUSCALOOSA...
WESTERN JEFFERSON AND EASTERN FAYETTE COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM CDT...

AT 230 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM PARRISH TO JENA...AND
MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  CORDOVA...
  NORTHPORT...
  TUSCALOOSA...
  HOLT...
  HUEYTOWN...

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 3385 8733 3361 8693 3325 8700 3325 8708
      3322 8711 3324 8713 3322 8717 3320 8720
      3313 8720 3313 8728 3312 8729 3301 8732
      3300 8772 3302 8771 3302 8783 3331 8784
TIME...MOT...LOC 1930Z 315DEG 31KT 3370 8731 3313 8785

56

Special weather statement, May 7, 2:05 PM CST, 1 minute before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
305 PM CDT MON MAY 7 2012

ALZ030>032-039-072045-
GREENE AL-HALE AL-MARENGO AL-SUMTER AL-
305 PM CDT MON MAY 7 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SUMTER...NORTHERN MARENGO...HALE
AND SOUTHERN GREENE COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM CDT...

AT 303 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES NORTH OF AKRON TO 6
MILES NORTHWEST OF YORK...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  LIVINGSTON...
  YORK...
  CUBA...
  GREENSBORO...
  DEMOPOLIS...

&&

LAT...LON 3264 8839 3299 8768 3266 8749 3265 8752
      3239 8753 3226 8802 3230 8801 3230 8842
      3235 8843
TIME...MOT...LOC 2005Z 335DEG 27KT 3293 8770 3253 8837

56

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 94 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:07 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Walker

When: May 7, 2:06 PM CST
Where: Walker County, 1.1 mi ESE of Marigold
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 33.915, -87.252

Thunderstorm Wind, Walker

When: May 7, 2:17 PM CST
Where: Walker County, 5.75 mi E of Jasper Walker Co Arp
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.864, -87.170

Trees and powerlines were blown down along Alabama Highway 69 at the intersection of Clayton Rd, near Boldo.

Thunderstorm Wind, Walker

When: May 7, 2:19 PM CST
Where: Walker County, 1.44 mi NE of Empire
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.816, -86.984

Trees were blown down and blocking the intersection of Empire Rd and Little Vine Rd, northeast of Empire.

Thunderstorm Wind, Walker

When: May 7, 2:20 PM CST
Where: Walker County, 6.91 mi E of Marigold
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.901, -87.152

Trees were blown down at the intersection of Alabama Highway 69 and Burrows Crossing Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Walker

When: May 7, 2:22 PM CST
Where: Walker County, 6.06 mi NW of Sipsey
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.892, -87.139

Trees were blown down at the intersection of Tidwell Cemetery Rd and Old Pineywoods Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Walker

When: May 7, 2:25 PM CST
Where: Walker County, 4.71 mi NNW of Sipsey
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.880, -87.119

Trees were blown down at the intersection of Pineywoods Sipsey Rd and Capps Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Walker

When: May 7, 2:28 PM CST
Where: Walker County, 2.78 mi NNW of Sipsey
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 33.858, -87.096

Trees were blown down on Pineywoods Sipsey Rd and Claude Banks Rd, blocking the roadway. A school bus was trapped due to the fallen trees. No injuries.

Hail, Blount

When: May 7, 2:36 PM CST
Where: Blount County, 0.9 mi SW of Oneonta
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 33.940, -86.480

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.

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, May 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: 386182, 386184, 386185, 386186, 386188, 386187, 386189, 386183.