Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2025

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 159, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 24, 2025Greene County, Marengo County, Sumter County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 24, 2025, 5:50 PM CDT for Greene County, Marengo County, Sumter County, Alabama. It was in force for 40 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 24, 2025, 5:50 PM CDT (22:50 UTC)
Expired
May 24, 2025, 6:30 PM CDT
In force
40 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Greene County, AL, Marengo County, AL, Sumter County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 132 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:52 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 131 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2025-05-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 163 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2025-05-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 173 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
163 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-165 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1196 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
173 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
230 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, 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 this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 24, 1:37 PM CDT, 4 hours 13 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Updated at 134 PM CDT SAT MAY 24 2025
  • There is a low chance for severe storms during the afternoon and evening hours today, Sunday, and Monday. Damaging winds and large hail will be the primary threats.
  • An active weather pattern is expected through much of the upcoming week with a medium to high chance (50-80%) of thunderstorms each day. Some of these storms may become strong to severe with damaging wind gusts and large hail.
Area forecast discussion, May 24, 1:37 PM CDT, 4 hours 13 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
137 PM CDT Sat May 24 2025

...New LONG TERM...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 134 PM CDT SAT MAY 24 2025

 - There is a low chance for severe storms during the afternoon
   and evening hours today, Sunday, and Monday. Damaging winds and
   large hail will be the primary threats.
 - An active weather pattern is expected through much of the
   upcoming week with a medium to high chance (50-80%) of
   thunderstorms each day. Some of these storms may become strong
   to severe with damaging wind gusts and large hail.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Sunday)
Issued at 129 PM CDT SAT MAY 24 2025

This afternoon.

A northwesterly flow pattern prevails aloft over the area with
shortwave ridging to our east over Georgia and East Tennessee and
more robust broad ridging over the Central Plains. A mesoscale
convective system (MCS) was over Southeast Arkansas with another
developing across East-Central Oklahoma as of this writing.
Coastal convection was ongoing across far Southwest Alabama and
this activity was moving northeast with time. Lingering showers
and some thunderstorms continued to move east across portions of
our northern counties where a surface front and convective outflow
boundaries have resulted in cooler temperatures. Over the past
two hours showers and storms have developed across portions of
Hale County and are slowly drifting northeast around 15 mph.

Expect showers and some thunderstorms to persist across our
northern counties through mid afternoon while shower and
thunderstorm activity will likely continue across portions of our
southwest counties and gradually move and develop further eastward
with time. Coastal convection to our far southwest will continue
to approach our southern counties and likely affect those areas
from mid to late afternoon. The convective system currently across
Arkansas will continue to move southeast with time and will
affect our western counties as early as late this afternoon and
into the evening hours. Damaging winds and large hail will be the
primary risks with this activity. High temperatures will range
from the upper 80s far north to readings in the lower 90s far
south. Winds will be from the east and northeast across the
northern portion of the area at 4-8 mph and from the southwest at
5-10 mph across the southern portion of the area.

Tonight.

A shortwave disturbance in the mid-levels will move southeast
over the Lower Mississippi River Valley and approach the area this
evening from the west. Expect the ongoing heavy shower and
thunderstorm activity across Arkansas and Mississippi to move
southeast into our western and central counties through the
evening. Some severe storms will be possible with damaging winds
and large hail being the main risks. The extent of strong to
severe storms will depend on how much destabilization can occur in
areas that are currently or previously experienced shower and
thunderstorm activity today. Expect this activity to continue
moving east-southeast across the area overnight with greatest
potential for late night showers and some storms across our far
east and southeast counties. Winds will be from the east to
southeast at 3-6 mph. Low temperatures will range from the lower
60s far north to readings near 70 far southeast.

Sunday.

Overnight activity will become increasingly confined to the far
east and southeast counties through early morning with partly to
mostly cloudy skies elsewhere. A stationary front will remain
draped across the area from west to east through the day as
another mid-level disturbance is progged to move over the Mid-
South region late morning and approach from the northwest later in
the day. Expect increasing chances for showers and some
thunderstorms as early as late morning and expanding through the
afternoon hours generally from the northwest. Some severe storms
will again be possible due to sufficient instability with
sufficient wind shear to support storm organization and longevity.
Winds will be from the southwest at 4-8 mph. High temperatures
will range from the lower 80s northeast to the lower 90s far
south.

05

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Sunday night through next Friday)
Issued at 134 PM CDT SAT MAY 24 2025

No significant changes with this long term forecast update. An
unsettled pattern with moderate to high chances for showers and
thunderstorms continuing daily. Rainfall amounts through the week
will generally range from 2-4" with the highest amounts across our
northwestern areas.

95/Castillo

Previous long-term discussion:
(Sunday night through next Friday)
Issued at 244 AM CDT SAT MAY 24 2025

An active weather pattern is expected to continue for Memorial
Day and through all of the upcoming week.

A generally westerly flow regime will remain in place through the
week with several shortwaves moving through the region. Each of
these shortwaves will provide the forcing for thunderstorms along a
stalled frontal boundary through Central AL. This won't be a washout
of a week, though rain/thunderstorm chances will remain high through
much of the time, including the overnight hours. Rather, I would
expect breaks in between the waves of thunderstorms, but it's
uncertain what time of day those breaks will occur.

With each of these waves, we'll need to monitor for the potential
for strong to severe storms. Damaging wind gusts and large hail will
be the primary concerns. For now, we have a marginal risk (level 1
out of 5) for severe thunderstorms in the forecast for Monday given
steep lapse rates and the increased instability. I wouldn't be
surprised to see subsequent days in the week to have at least a
low risk included once we have a bit more confidence in the timing
for each wave since the overall synoptic pattern doesn't change
significantly through the period.

25/Owen

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1212 PM CDT SAT MAY 24 2025

Increasing clouds will expand southeast over the area with time
as showers with some thunderstorms develop and move into the area
from the northwest while more scattered activity over Coastal
Southwest Alabama moves northeast toward our southwest and south-
central counties through the afternoon hours. Expect chances for
showers and some thunderstorms with best potential across the
northern sites this afternoon then the better potential looks to
be across the eastern sites across the north and MGM south as
lingering activity continues past sunset and gradually moves
further southeast with time. Lingering showers with overcast
conditions are likely overnight before another round of showers
and storms looks to approach the area from the northwest during
the morning hours on Sunday.

05

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

Rain and thunderstorm chances increase today with a low to
moderate chance of severe storms. Wet pattern will continue
through much of the upcoming week. Min RHs look to settle into the
50-60% range daily through the next week.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Gadsden     62  84  64  84 /  60  70  50  80
Anniston    64  84  67  84 /  60  60  50  80
Birmingham  65  86  67  84 /  80  70  50  80
Tuscaloosa  66  89  70  87 /  80  70  40  80
Calera      65  87  69  86 /  70  60  40  70
Auburn      67  87  70  86 /  50  40  30  60
Montgomery  68  90  70  89 /  50  40  20  50
Troy        69  90  70  91 /  30  30  20  40

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

SHORT TERM...05
LONG TERM....95/Castillo
AVIATION...05
Hazardous weather outlook, May 24, 3:02 AM CDT, 14 hours 48 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
302 AM CDT Sat May 24 2025

ALZ011>015-017>050-251115-
Marion-Lamar-Fayette-Winston-Walker-Blount-Etowah-Calhoun-Cherokee-
Cleburne-Pickens-Tuscaloosa-Jefferson-Shelby-St. Clair-Talladega-
Clay-Randolph-Sumter-Greene-Hale-Perry-Bibb-Chilton-Coosa-Tallapoosa-
Chambers-Marengo-Dallas-Autauga-Lowndes-Elmore-Montgomery-Macon-
Bullock-Lee-Russell-Pike-Barbour-
302 AM CDT Sat May 24 2025

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the
National Weather Service office in Birmingham.

.DAY ONE...Outlook through Tonight.

There is a marginal and slight risk (levels 1 and 2 of 5) for severe
weather this afternoon and evening. Damaging winds and large hail
will be the primary concerns.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

There is a marginal and slight risk (levels 1 and 2 of 5) for severe
thunderstorms on Sunday, and a Marginal risk (level 1 of 5) for
Monday. Damaging winds and large hail will be the primary concern on
both days.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Activation of storm spotters and emergency management may be needed
today, Sunday, and Monday.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 24, 4:30 PM CDT, 1 hour 20 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 24, 4:45 PM CDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
445 PM CDT Sat May 24 2025

ALZ014-242215-
Winston AL-
445 PM CDT Sat May 24 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN WINSTON COUNTY
THROUGH 515 PM CDT...

At 445 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Inmanfield, or 10 miles north of Arley, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Addison, Sardis, Nesmith, Inmanfield, Helicon, Addison Town Hall,
Upshaw, and Addison Municipal Airport.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3412 8711 3417 8727 3430 8726 3430 8711
TIME...MOT...LOC 2145Z 279DEG 28KT 3423 8720

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

32/JDavis
Special weather statement, May 24, 4:56 PM CDT, 54 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
456 PM CDT Sat May 24 2025

ALZ030-031-242245-
Greene AL-Sumter AL-
456 PM CDT Sat May 24 2025

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT GREENE AND SUMTER COUNTIES
THROUGH 545 PM CDT...

At 456 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Scooba to near Boyd. Movement was east at
25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Livingston, Eutaw, York, Cuba, Forkland, Boligee, Gainesville, Epes,
Emelle, Panola, Walden Quarters, West Greene, The University Of West
Alabama, Thornhill, Tishabee, New West Greene, Boyd, Allison,
Bluffport, and Geiger.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3299 8834 3300 8817 3301 8817 3303 8814
      3304 8815 3303 8810 3305 8806 3304 8804
      3305 8804 3306 8796 3277 8785 3277 8787
      3276 8787 3276 8784 3264 8780 3263 8781
      3259 8778 3243 8841
TIME...MOT...LOC 2156Z 250DEG 23KT 3290 8845 3257 8827

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

32/JDavis
Special weather statement, May 24, 5:37 PM CDT, 13 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
537 PM CDT Sat May 24 2025

ALZ030>032-039-242315-
Greene AL-Hale AL-Sumter AL-Marengo AL-
537 PM CDT Sat May 24 2025

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL MARENGO...
SOUTHEASTERN GREENE...SOUTHWESTERN HALE AND SOUTHEASTERN SUMTER
COUNTIES THROUGH 615 PM CDT...

At 537 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Forkland to Dug Hill. Movement was east at 15
mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Demopolis, Greensboro, Forkland, Greensboro Municipal Airport, Duffys
Bend, Thornhill, Arcola, Coatopa, Dug Hill, Belmont, Demopolis Lock
And Dam, McDowell, Birdine, Cedarville, and Demopolis Municipal
Airport.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3270 8757 3241 8781 3249 8812 3272 8791
TIME...MOT...LOC 2237Z 282DEG 11KT 3265 8789 3252 8802

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

32/JDavis
Special weather statement, May 24, 5:38 PM CDT, 12 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
538 PM CDT Sat May 24 2025

ALZ011-012-242330-
Marion AL-Lamar AL-
538 PM CDT Sat May 24 2025

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN MARION AND LAMAR
COUNTIES THROUGH 630 PM CDT...

At 538 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 6 miles southeast of New Salem to 8 miles
northwest of Bedford to 6 miles northwest of Kolola Springs. Movement
was east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Hamilton, Vernon, Sulligent, Guin, Detroit, Beaverton, Blooming
Grove, Lamar County Airport, Crews, Bedford, Crossville, Henson
Springs, Lamar County Public Lake, Rankin Fite Airport, Star, Pine
Springs, Byrd, Marion County Public Lake, Hightogy, and Pikeville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3413 8820 3412 8785 3392 8791 3392 8795
      3382 8795 3362 8807 3362 8826
TIME...MOT...LOC 2238Z 265DEG 26KT 3408 8828 3385 8835 3369 8851

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

32/JDavis
Special weather statement, May 24, 5:45 PM CDT, 5 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
545 PM CDT Sat May 24 2025

ALZ030-242315-
Sumter AL-
545 PM CDT Sat May 24 2025

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN SUMTER COUNTY
THROUGH 615 PM CDT...

At 545 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Boyd to near Alamucha. Movement was east at 20
mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Livingston, York, Cuba, Boyd, The University Of West Alabama,
Bluffport, Kinterbish, Old Mallard Airport, Lilita, I 20 Welcome
Center At Cuba, Bellamy, Ward, and Payneville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3266 8838 3263 8808 3259 8806 3260 8804
      3232 8813 3231 8827 3231 8842
TIME...MOT...LOC 2245Z 252DEG 19KT 3260 8829 3237 8843

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

32/JDavis

The office that day

Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 24, 8:25 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXEtowah35 min
May 24, 12:18 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXHale42 min
May 24, 1:01 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXHale, Perry44 min
May 24, 1:47 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXDallas, Perry43 min
May 24, 2:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDallas, Perry45 min
May 24, 2:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga, Dallas, Lowndes50 min
May 24, 2:36 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXDallas39 min
May 24, 2:45 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXDallas45 min
May 24, 2:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDallas, Perry22 min
May 24, 3:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLowndes46 min
May 24, 3:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLowndes, Montgomery40 min
May 24, 3:52 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXGreene23 min
May 24, 3:58 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXLowndes47 min
May 24, 4:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXSumter41 min
May 24, 4:05 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXWinston40 min
May 24, 4:26 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXGreene49 min
May 24, 4:30 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXMontgomery30 min
May 24, 4:45 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXWinston30 min
May 24, 4:56 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXGreene, Sumter49 min
May 24, 5:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Sumter44 min
May 24, 5:37 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXHale38 min
May 24, 5:38 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXLamar52 min
May 24, 5:45 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXSumter30 min
May 24, 6:01 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXPickens44 min
May 24, 6:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarengo, Sumter56 min
May 24, 6:32 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXTuscaloosa43 min
May 24, 6:47 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXMarengo28 min
May 24, 6:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarengo81 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2025Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2025

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.