Interesting Statement, NWS/Birmingham

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
943 AM CDT TUE APR 5 2011

..SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AFFECT CENTRAL ALABAMA

THE ATMOSPHERE BECAME INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA
MONDAY AFTERNOON APRIL 4TH. TEMPERATURES ROSE INTO THE 80S WHILE
SURFACE DEW POINTS CLIMBED INTO THE 60S. THE STORM PREDICTION
CENTER HAD ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA UNDER A MODERATE RISK OF
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED JUST AHEAD OF
A STRONG COLD FRONT AND QUICKLY FORMED A SQUALL LINE. A FEW
THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED JUST AHEAD OF THE SQUALL LINE, BUT IT DOES
NOT APPEAR THAT ANY TORNADIC SUPERCELLS FORMED.

THE BROKEN SQUALL LINE AFFECTED FAR NORTHWEST ALABAMA BY 3 PM,
STRENGTHENED AND FILLED IN TO NEAR THE INTERSTATE 59 CORRIDOR BY 7
PM, AND RACED ACROSS EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST ALABAMA THROUGH
MIDNIGHT.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS ESTIMATED
BETWEEN 45 AND 75 MPH. NUMEROUS TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN AND SOME
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED. THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS WERE WITHOUT
POWER. LARGE HAIL FORMED WITH THE MOST INTENSE STORMS AND GENERALLY
RANGED FROM PEA TO GOLF BALL SIZE. A FEW LOCATIONS REPORTED THE HAIL
TEMPORARILY COVERING THE GROUND. ADDITIONALLY, FAIRLY BRIEF
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SQUALL LINE. RAINFALL
ESTIMATES WERE BETWEEN 1 AND 3 INCHES ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA WITH A
FEW HIGHER TOTALS LIKELY. SOME SHORT-LIVED FLOODING WAS OBSERVED.
INTENSE LIGHTNING ALSO ACCOMPANIED THE STORMS. SEVERAL LIGHTNING
STRIKES KNOCKED OUT POWER, CAUSED BRUSH FIRES, AND PRODUCED HOUSE
FIRES.

AT THIS TIME, DAMAGE REPORTS INDICATE MORE WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE AND
NO CONCENTRATED DAMAGE AREAS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED. THEREFORE, IT
APPEARS THAT NO TORNADOES DEVELOPED AND STORMS SURVEYS ARE NOT
ANTICIPATED.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS CONTINUE TO EVALUATE
INCOMING DAMAGE REPORTS. IF ANY ORGANIZED AREAS OF DAMAGE CAN BE
UNCOVERED, SURVEYS MAY BECOME NECESSARY. ADDITIONAL PUBLIC
INFORMATION STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED WITH ANY UPDATED INFORMATION
REGARDING POSSIBLE TORNADO DAMAGE.

A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR SEVERE WEATHER WARNING
PROGRAM IS THE RECEIPT OF STORM REPORTS FROM ALL OUR CUSTOMERS AND
PARTNERS ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. IF YOU WITNESSED OR ARE AWARE OF
ANY STORM DAMAGE DUE TO HIGH WINDS OR TORNADOES…PLEASE CONTACT
YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE…OR CALL OUR STORM REPORTING
HOTLINE AT 1-800-856-0758.

Category: Alabama's Weather, Severe Weather