The leadership of the Central Alabama Chapter of the National Weather Association has big plans for 2013, including three exciting and informative general meetings with lots of opportunity to learn and network, two social events and chances to get involved in educating others about our favorite subject: weather!
Posted by Ryan Stinnett, Friday, May 24th, 2013 @ 6:47am
In the wake of the tornadoes that roared across th Oklahoma landscape, the Central Alabama Chapter of the National Weather Association is receiving donations now through June 1, 2013 for the American Red Cross
We ask for at least a minimum of a $10 donation, but please feel free to donate more if you are able. Your net donation after the PayPal fee will go directly to the disaster relief in Central Oklahoma. The chapter will match up to a total of $100.
We know what these people are going through and every little bit helps during this time of tragedy. Please help us help them. Click on the link below to make your donation.
Posted by Bill Murray, Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013 @ 9:15am
On this date in 1928, a 45 minute long barrage of hen’s egg to baseball sized hail struck Pickens County around 9 a.m.
According to historical reports, many head of livestock were killed and the hail piled so deep in ditches that some of it did not melt for weeks.
In fact, homemade ice cream was made using the frozen hail that was still piled up in ditches on the Fourth of July!
Pine trees were completely stripped of their needles and stands of the trees looked like there had been a forest fire after the storm.
The storm impacted areas from Aliceville to Gordo, with areas were north of Gordo near the Fayette County line hardest hit. The storm grazed Carrollton, preserving a curiosity at the Pickens County Courthouse that has “haunted” Alabama schoolchildren for decades.
In 1878, a man named Henry Wells, wrongly accused of burning down the former Courthouse was being held in the new Courthouse when lightning struck the Courthouse. Legend has it that an image of Wells’ face was etched in the glass. The pane reportedly survived the great hailstorm.
And the legend gets even bigger. Any time the pane has been replaced through the years, the ghostly image reportedly comes back!
The Central Alabama Chapter of the National Weather Association was founded in 2001 and is based in Birmingham, AL. The objective of the organization is to promote the science of meteorology through networking of individuals with a common interest in weather.
