If you are referring to those during the night and early this morning, they moved over into Georgia and not nearly as strong. Much lightning and severe storms was the main feature of that line of storms overnight.
At 9 o’clock this morning, a cold front was passing through the Birmingham area. Winds were shifting to the NW and rather gusty. A secondary zone of showers was along or near the front. That zone of showers extended from about Huntsville to Birmingham and Montgomery.
Actually there was some lightning also further north toward the Tennessee Valley but not nearly as much as last night.
At 9 am, temperatures had dropped to the upper 40s over North Mississippi and West Tennessee contrasting to the 60s over South Alabama.
Still a chance of some showers tonight as it turns colder but not bitter cold.
Check out this from ABC 33/40 Skywatcher Mike Wilhelm… complete with video of our weather team covering the storm. Back then I worked with WeatherBrains associate Kevin Selle (he called himself Kevin Collins back then), and Dan Satterfield, who is in Huntsville now at Channel 19…
These are all photos taken during, or just after the Blizzard of 1993, from various parts of Alabama. Thanks to everyone for scanning these shots and sharing them (no digital cameras 15 years ago!)…
If you have some scanned images, send them to us to pictures@abc3340.com and we will add them!
* That long line of intense thunderstorms that bugged us all night has begun to weaken considerably.
* By the time the line of storms reached Birmingham, vivid lightning was the main problem. Jefferson and surrounding counties came under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning and a Flash Flood Warning.
* At 7:15 this morning, that line of storms had already scooted eastward through the immediate Birmingham area and was over near the Jefferson/St. Clair County line.
* The line of storms extends now from East Cullman County into extreme East Jefferson County and through Eastern Shelby County. Only the extreme east part of Jefferson County is now under the gun–places like Trussville where there is vivid lightning and house-shaking thunder, West of downtown Birmingham, the storms have weakened greatly and mostly over.
* This line of storms has had a long history of producing very large hail. We will be interested in getting follow up reports from NW Walker County, where it was described as a major hail event.
* Final note: So if you live west of I-65, most of the rough weather is over. All the thunderstorms are not completely gone, but the main line has passed.
RIGHT NOW: The good news is that the squall line moving through Alabama this morning most likely won’t produce any tornadoes, and we have not had any reports of really high wind, but hail has been very common. These storms have produced hail stones to the size of golf balls, and hail is covering the ground in many locations. I will post lots of pictures shortly; if you have images send them to pictures@abc3340.com…
REST OF TH DAY: The storms will move through East Alabama during the next hour or so, and it sure looks like the line will be out of the state by 8:00, a little ahead of schedule. We will see additional showers later today, but for now it looks like this will be it for the threat of severe weather this morning. A severe thunderstorm watch for much of Alabama will expire at 7:00 this morning.
THE WEEKEND: A very deep, large cold core upper low will impact Alabama tonight and tomorrow with lots of clouds, cooler temperatures, and a few passing showers. Due to the cold temperatures aloft, some of the showers tomorrow could produce small hail, even though there won’t be any thunder. The high tomorrow will be in the 53 to 56 degree range, almost 10 degrees below average for mid-March. And, it is beginning to look like we might be too optimistic for Sunday; late model runs suggest clouds could hang tough into Sunday, keeping highs in the 50s. And, we might even see a shower Sunday, especially over Northeast Alabama. If the 12Z runs keep this up, we will make the adjustment to the forecast.
NEXT WEEK: The week looks pretty benign… mostly dry with highs in the 60s. We have mentioned a risk of showers Wednesday with an upper impulse moving through, but moisture will be very limited and the rain should not be especially heavy or widespread.
AT THE BEACH: Next week is spring break week for a number of Alabama school systems. For those of you headed to the Gulf Coast, the weather will be dry tomorrow through Tuesday with a good supply of sunshine each day. The high along the immediate coast will close to 60, with mid to upper 60s for areas immediately inland. SSTs (sea water temperatures) are running right at 60 degrees, with some spots reporting upper 50s; that will limit the warmth you can get right on the coast. A few showers could show up Wednesday, but for now that does not look like a major rain event.
LONG RANGE: Lots of cold air will move down into the continental U.S. during the latter half of the month, I do believe it turns sharply colder here at some point, but model guidance remains very inconsistent on exactly when this happens. Watch the Weather Xtreme video for more.
LIVE CHAT: We are now offering a real time chat here on the blog… open blog comments will stay in place, of course, but this will allow a more immediate method of communication for weather geeks. We do have moderators posted over there, so be sure and play nice. Members of our weather team will be there from time to time to answer questions; we will post those times we are available here on the blog.
I will have the next Weather Xtreme video posted by 3:30 this afternoon… in the meantime I have stops today at the Hand in Hand UCP Center in Birmingham, and Shades Mountain Elementary School in Hoover. Enjoy the day…
BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
544 AM CST FRI MAR 12 2010
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A
* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR…
EXTREME NORTHEASTERN AUTAUGA COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA…
EASTERN BIBB COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA…
CHILTON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA…
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF…JEMISON…CLANTON…
JEFFERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA…
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF…VESTAVIA HILLS…TRUSSVILLE…
MOUNTAIN BROOK…LEEDS…IRONDALE…HUEYTOWN…HOOVER…
GARDENDALE…FULTONDALE…FAIRFIELD…BIRMINGHAM…BESSEMER…
HOMEWOOD…
SHELBY COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA…
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF…WILSONVILLE…PELHAM…MONTEVALLO…
HELENA…COLUMBIANA…CHELSEA…CALERA…ALABASTER…
* UNTIL 845 AM CST
* AT 538 AM CST…A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA
PRODUCING BETWEEN ONE HALF TO ONE AND ONE HALF INCHES OF RAIN WITHIN
AN HOUR. DUE TO THE ALREADY SATURATED GROUND CONDITIONS…ALL
RAINFALL WILL BECOME RUNOFF PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING IN A SHORT
AMOUNT OF TIME.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE…TURN AROUND…DONT DROWN.
BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
515 AM CST FRI MAR 12 2010
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
BIBB COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA…
JEFFERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA…
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF…VESTAVIA HILLS…MOUNTAIN BROOK…
IRONDALE…HUEYTOWN…HOOVER…FAIRFIELD…BIRMINGHAM…BESSEMER…
HOMEWOOD…
NORTHWESTERN SHELBY COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA…
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF…PELHAM…HELENA…ALABASTER…
EAST CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA…
* UNTIL 600 AM CST
* AT 512 AM CST…THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETECTED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL…AND DAMAGING
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR LAKE VIEW
..AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR…
NORTH JOHNS BY 520 AM CST…
ALABAMA ADVENTURE BY 530 AM CST…
BESSEMER AND HUEYTOWN BY 535 AM CST…
BON AIR…MIDFIELD…MADISON AND LIPSCOMB BY 540 AM CST…
FAIRFIELD AND MINOR BY 545 AM CST…
THIS INCLUDES…
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 238 THROUGH 266
INTERSTATE 459 EXIT NUMBERS 1 THROUGH 27
US 78 EXIT NUMBERS 85 THROUGH 91
INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 86 THROUGH 133
INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBER 130
That intense line of thunderstorms, some of them severe and overloaded with lightning at 5:10 am extended from Cullman through the east Part of Walker County then through East Tuscaloosa County to Marion in Perry County.
The line of storms now entering West Jefferson County. The entire Greater Birmingham area will be under the gun between now and at least 6 am, possibly longer. At least the early part of the morning rush hour will be quite stormy.
Highly recommend extra time for driving in this morning.
This line of storms has a history of producing very large hail. Numerous Severe Thunderstorm Warnings.
The Severe Thunderstorm Watch continues until at least 7 am.
Now a Severe Thunderstorm watch for Bibb and Jefferson County including the Birmingham Metro. (Details in a few minutes)
BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
549 AM CST FRI MAR 12 2010
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
EASTERN CULLMAN COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA…
EASTERN MORGAN COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA…
* UNTIL 630 AM CST
* AT 547 AM CST…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL…AND
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
BLACK BOTTOM…OR ABOUT 12 MILES NORTH OF WARRIOR…AND MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. ANOTHER SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS AFFECTING
AREAS ALONG THE CULLMAN/MORGAN COUNTY LINE JUST SOUTHWEST OF EVA.
MOVEMENT OF THIS STORM IS NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…
HANCEVILLE…
GOOD HOPE…
PHELAN…
CULLMAN…
SOUTH VINEMONT…
FAIRVIEW…
LACON…
BAILEYTON…
EVA…
FLORETTE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH…PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS…DESTRUCTIVE HAIL…AND DEADLY CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER…
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 AM CST FRIDAY
MORNING FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA.
At 3:53 am, hail the size of baseballs (2.75 inch in diameter) at Carbon Hill in NW Walker County, Reported by a radio station. We have received several reports of a major hail event in that part of Walker,
