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A Severe Weather Climatology for the Birmingham, Alabama County Warning Area
Note: Clicking on any images contained in this page will display a larger version of that image.
Click on the links [Figure ##] to view charts, and maps used in this paper.
1. Introduction
The National Weather Service (NWS) has no greater responsibility than warning the public of impending severe weather. A thorough understanding of severe weather climatology can better prepare
forecasters for anticipating the timing, strength, extent and nature of severe weather. The purpose of this study is to quantitatively describe the severe weather climatology for Birmingham’s
County Warning Area (CWA). The Birmingham CWA has undergone several changes through the years. From the early 1970s through the mid 90s the warning responsibility for Alabama’s 67 counties was
split among 6 NWS offices, with Birmingham’s CWA encompassing 25 counties in north and west-central Alabama. As the modernization and associated restructuring of the NWS drew to a close, CWA
configurations in Alabama changed significantly. Birmingham’s area of responsibility expanded to include 50 counties in north and central Alabama, including most of the CWA’s previously
served by Huntsville and Montgomery.
The Birmingham CWA (shown to the left) comprises 34,613 square miles of Alabama’s
50,744 square miles (U.S. Census Bureau and Murphy 2001). The CWA offers much topographical diversity (Fig. 1). The rich agricultural valley of the Tennessee River occupies the extreme northern part
of the state. The southern fringe of the Appalachian Mountains extends southwest across far northeast and east Alabama. Below that a band of prairie lowland stretches across central Alabama. Piney
woods encompass the area east and southeast of the Montgomery area.
Although the average elevation of Alabama is about 500 feet above sea level, this represents a gradation from 2,407 feet atop Cheaha Mountain in east central Alabama, down to sea level at Mobile Bay.
2. Data
The data used for this study came from several sources. The primary source was a database of tornado reports dating from 1950 to 1994 provided by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC). This database was
supplemented with Storm Data publications, the reference book Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991 (Grazulis 1993), and local records. These resources were used to compile a list of all
known tornadoes in Birmingham’s CWA from 1880 to 2000. Each of these sources uses a different method by which to list tornadoes. Most notably, Storm Data and the SPC database list
tornado events on a county by county basis, which in turn leads to “tornado segments” when a tornado crosses several counties. In contrast, Grazulis denotes a tornado by a single path
length, regardless of the number of counties it affects. In order to have the most complete and comprehensive database of tornadoes, “tornado segments” have been combined into single
tornado events. Prior to 1950, the main source for tornado data is the Grazulis text. However, Grazulis only documented strong tornadoes (F2 - F5), so prior to 1950, there is no documentation of F0
or F1 tornadoes.
The hail and wind data used for this study were taken from several sources as well. SPC maintains a database of both wind and hail data. Several formats were employed to archive these events and the
data was only available through 1995. The SPC database was supplemented with Storm Data publications, and the National Climatic Data Center’s storm events web page. Local records were also used
to complete the databases, especially between 1996 and 2000.
Due to the increased number of severe weather reports after the 1950s, the time frame of 1961 to 2000 was chosen for this study.
The NWS defines a severe thunderstorm as one which meets one or more of the following criteria:
- hail three-quarters of an inch in diameter or larger
- wind of at least 50 knots (58 mph) or wind which cause damage, including trees or power lines blown down
- a tornado
3. Climatology
a. Tornadoes
1) Yearly Distribution
Tornadoes have occurred in Birmingham’s CWA almost every year since 1880. Analysis of the annual tornado frequency indicates a rise in the number of reported tornadoes after the mid 1950s.
This does not mean that there has been an increase in the number of tornadoes after that time; more likely it is due to increased population and awareness of severe weather (Hales, 1993). Indeed,
between 1990 and 2000 there was a 10.4% increase in total population across the Birmingham CWA. Another pivotal event was the onset of the NWS’s warning verification program in 1980. The
increased awareness of tornadoes resulted in many more reports of relatively weak events (F0 and F1) which may not necessarily cause widespread destruction, injuries, or fatalities.
Two-thirds of all tornadoes reported since 1880 occurred after 1961 [Figure 2]. In fact, even with the increased awareness after the beginning of the verification
program in 1980, the Birmingham CWA only reported 50 more tornadoes in the years 1981 through 2000 compared with 1961 through 1980. Since the time frame from 1961 to 2000 accounts for the majority
(63 %) of the reported tornado events, any analysis of tornado events would be skewed toward these years. Therefore it was decided to focus our analysis on this period.
During the time frame, 1961 to 2000, the Birmingham CWA has averaged slightly more than 16 tornadoes per year. However the area experiences only 7 tornado days on average each year. Multiple tornado
events occur on an average of 3 days per year. Years in which major tornado outbreaks have occurred stand out, such as 1973 and 1974, as well as the mid 1980s and late 1990s
[Figure 3].
2) Monthly Distribution
Early spring is the time of year when the main ingredients for severe weather (atmospheric instability, moisture, surface boundaries, and wind shear) come together across the Southeastern United States. March, April and May are the most active months for tornadoes in
the Birmingham CWA, accounting for 351 events, or 54% of all tornadoes reported between 1961 and 2000. The summer and early fall months experience a sharp drop off in tornadic activity, accounting
for just 15 % (101) of all tornadoes. A secondary maximum is also noted in November, as forcing coincides with good instability across the Southeastern states. The winter months see a small decline,
followed by a rapid rise in early spring [Figure 4]
Early spring is the time of year when the main ingredients for severe.
3) Hourly Distribution
Tornadoes typically occur during the afternoon and early evening hours, peaking between 4 and 5 pm Central Standard Time (CST)
[Figure 5]. The hours between noon and 7 pm account for 61% of all tornado reports.
This period correlates to the peak time of deaths and injuries caused by tornadoes [Figure 6].
4) F-SCALE
Relatively weak - F0 to F2 - tornadoes account for 85% of tornadoes reported from 1961 to 2000
[Figure 7] . The number of F0 and F1 tornadoes has increased steadily since the mid 1980s. From 1961 to
1980, an average of 5.6 F0 or F1 tornadoes was reported each year, as opposed to 9.6 F2 or greater tornadoes
during the same time frame. Since 1981 the average yearly number of weak tornadoes has
doubled to 12.6, and may be attributable to the increased emphasis on verification. On the other hand, the average
number of stronger tornado reports has declined to near 5.1 per year
[Figure 8].
5) F-Scale Effects on Deaths and Injuries
While F0 and F1 tornadoes account for 55% of all tornadoes since 1961, less than 5 % of injuries and 3% of deaths have been attributed to F0 and F1 tornadoes. On the other extreme, F4 and F5
tornadoes account for just more than 3% of all tornadoes, but more than 60% of injuries and more than 76% of all deaths
[Figure 9] and [Figure 10].
b. Hail
1) Yearly Distribution
The number of hail reports received at the Birmingham NWS has increased dramatically in recent years [Figure 11]. In the 1960s, less than 10 reports of hail were received each year, but since 1995 no
fewer than 100 yearly reports of hail were received with 340 reports received in 1998. Once the NWS verification program was emphasized in the mid 1980s, the number of hail reports grew with each
year.
2) Monthly Distribution
Typically in north and central Alabama, the spring months (March through May) are the main times of the year for hail. Reports of hail will taper off throughout the summer months reaching their
lowest values during the fall and early winter [Figure 12].
3) Hourly Distribution
Hail generally occurs during the afternoon, but can occur at any time, day or night. Between 1961 and 2000, less than 30
reports of hail occurred during each hour between 1 and 9 am. The number of reports of hail increased throughout the late morning, peaking around 3 pm in the afternoon with just over 250 reports of
hail [Figure 13]
4) Hail Size Distribution
The National Weather Service utilizes the criteria of hail diameter three-quarters of an inch or greater to verify a severe thunderstorm. For the purposes of this study, only hail that met this
criteria was included. Hail less than 1 inch accounted for 48% of all hail reports between 1961 and 2000. Hail 2 inches or greater accounted for 3% of all hail reports [Figure 14]. From 1961 to the
early 1980s, hail larger than 1 inch accounted for a large percentage of all hail reports each year. After the NWS verification initiative, hail larger than 1 inch accounts for about one-half of all
reports each year [Figure 15].
c.Thunderstorm Wind
1) Yearly Distribution
There was a marked increase in thunderstorm wind reports in the early 1980s. In 1980 the National Weather Service began its intensive severe weather verification program. There is an upward trend in
thunderstorm wind reports since the early 1980s [Figure 16].
2) Monthly Distribution
Severe thunderstorm winds in the Birmingham CWA are most likely to occur during the spring and summer months,
with reports falling off during the early fall months [Figure 17]. During the spring,
squall lines often move across the area, producing widespread wind damage. Although widespread convection is less
likely during the summer months, summertime pulse thunderstorms will often produce wet microbursts which can cause
localized damage paths.
3) Daily Distribution
Thunderstorm wind damage is reported on an average of 27 days each year. The most days in a single year in which
thunderstorm wind damage was recorded is 52 in 1998, the least 7 in 1966 [Figure 18].
4) Hourly Distribution
Thunderstorm wind damage occurs most often in the late afternoon and early evening. Although thunderstorm wind
reports peak around 5 pm, they do not decline until late in the evening when daytime
heating is lost [Figure 19]. Severe thunderstorm winds are most likely to occur during the
afternoon and evening during the Spring and Summer months, which correlates to diurnal-type convection
[Figure 20] and [Figure 21]. Severe thunderstorm winds during
the Fall and Winter months do not indicate a particular pattern, likely due to the variable nature of frontal passage
[Figure 22] and [Figure 23].
4. Summary
- March, April and May are the most active months for tornadoes in the Birmingham CWA, with a secondary maximum in the month of November.
- The Birmingham CWA reports tornadoes on an average of 7 days per year; multiple tornadoes occur on 3 of those days.
- Tornado reports peak between the hours of 5 and 6 pm CST, which correlates to the peak time of deaths and injuries. A secondary peak of death and injuries occur near 2 am CST.
- Relatively weak tornado (F0/F1) reports have increased over time, while strong tornado (F4/F5) have decreased.
- F0/F1 tornadoes account for 55% of all tornadoes; less than 5% of injuries; 3% of deaths.
F2/F3 tornadoes account for 42% of all tornadoes; 35% of injuries; 21% of deaths.
F4/F5 tornadoes account for 3% of tornadoes; 60% of all injuries; 76% of deaths.
- The most tornadoes reported during a year is 33, in 1985 and again in 2000. The least tornadoes reported during a year is 5, in 1987 and again in 1991.
- Hail reports peak during the months of March, April and May.
- The peak time of day for hail is 3 pm CST.
- Hail greater than three-quarters of an inch and less than 1 inch in diameter is reported 48% of the time.
- Severe thunderstorm winds are most likely to occur during the spring and summer months.
- Severe thunderstorm wind damage occurs most often in the afternoon hours, with a peak around 5 pm CST.
- Severe thunderstorm winds are most likely to occur during the afternoon and evening during the Spring and Summer months, which correlates to diurnal-type convection.
- Severe thunderstorm winds during the Fall and Winter months does not indicate a particular pattern, likely due to the variable nature of frontal passage.
Additional graphics:
- [Figure 24] shows the number of tornadoes per county from 1961-2000.
- [Figure 25] has the number of tornadoes per county normalized by land area 1961-2000.
- [Figure 26] shows the average population (1961-2000) normalized by land area.
5. Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank MIC Gary Petti, SOO Kevin Pence and FIC Tom Bradshaw at WFO Birmingham for their help, reviews and suggestions during the development of this study.
6. References
Grazulis, Thomas P., 1993: Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. Environmental Films, ST. Johnsbury, VT, 1326 pp.
Grazulis, Thomas P., 1997: Significant Tornadoes Update 1992-1995. Environmental Films, ST. Johnsbury, VT, 118 pp.
Hales, John E., 1993: Biases in the severe thunderstorm data base: ramifications and solutions. Preprints, 13th Conf. Weather Forecasting and Analysis, Vienna, VA Amer. Meteor.
Soc., 504-507
Murphy, Ron A., 2001: Population and population density across WFO Birmingham’s county warning area. NWS Birmingham local study.
National Climatic Data Center. Storm Events. Online. Internet, July 2001
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1959 - 2000: Storm Data. National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC 1-42, Nos. 1-12
Ostby, Frederick P., 1993: The changing nature of tornado climatology. Preprints, 17th Conf. Severe Local Storms, St. Louis, MO, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 1-5.
United States Census Bureau. 2000 Census statistics. Online. Internet, July 2001.
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