Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2025

Flash Flood Warning 41, NWS Huntsville, AL

August 20, 2025DeKalb County, Alabama

NWS Huntsville, AL issued this flash flood warning at Aug 20, 2025, 4:59 PM CDT for DeKalb County, Alabama. It was in force for 91 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
Aug 20, 2025, 4:59 PM CDT (21:59 UTC)
Expired
Aug 20, 2025, 6:30 PM CDT
In force
91 min
Issued by
NWS Huntsville, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County DeKalb County, AL

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 58 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:59 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, 10.0 hours before the alert went out and 168 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 2025-08-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 890 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 2025-08-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 70 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
890 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-45 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
895 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
11 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
70 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
59 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Huntsville, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Aug 20, 2:25 PM CDT, 2 hours 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 20, 2:25 PM CDT, 2 hours 34 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
225 PM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025

...New NEAR TERM...

.NEAR TERM...
(Tonight)
Issued at 225 PM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025

Clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms have erupted in
southern middle TN and north central AL. The storms have produced
intense rainfall rates of 2-3/hr and pea sized hail along with
brief gusty winds. This trend will continue this afternoon as new
storms in middle TN drop southward. No significant changes to
earlier forecast thinking from this morning.

Issued at 1002 AM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025

The surface map indicates a cold front has dropped south into KY
through southern MO near the position of a weak 5h trough. There
is also a weak wedge front lining the lower Appalachians through
central GA. Daytime heating will advance instability rather
quickly once again today, and expect thunderstorms to develop by
midday into early afternoon, especially closer to the frontal
boundary to our north, then drop south through the afternoon.
Additional development will occur along the higher terrain and
perhaps near the wedge front as well, although this boundary is
rather diffuse. Gusty to perhaps damaging winds and locally
excessive rainfall remain the primary hazards later today.
Thunderstorms should dissipate fairly quickly after sunset,
although gust front outflows may sustain a few thunderstorms into
mid evening. Depending on where the rain falls, patchy dense fog
is expected to develop later tonight.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Thursday through Friday night)
Issued at 1002 AM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025

The 5h trough and cold front will slowly drop south into the TN
Valley Thursday into Thursday night. This will shift the greatest
shower and thunderstorm chances to our south and southeast. But
the proximity of the front will maintain low chances in our
southeast counties Thursday and again on Friday. Consequently,
high temperatures will be slightly cooler in the middle to upper
80s due to more clouds and potential showers and thunderstorms. In
northwest AL, highs will be in the lower 90s. With dew points
still in the upper 60s to around 70, overnight lows will be close
to those values.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Saturday through Tuesday)
Issued at 934 PM CDT Tue Aug 19 2025

Through the extended forecast, there will be a daily chance for
showers and thunderstorms that give way to lower temperatures.

The TN Valley will be stuck in weak troughing at the end of the
week into the weekend. A trough axis drifting through the TN
Valley will keep low to medium (20-50%) chances for showers and
thunderstorms on Saturday. On Saturday, a cold front will slide
into the Midwest and Mid MS Valley and on Sunday it will bring one
more low end chance (15-30%) of showers and storms as the front
moves in.

With weak steering flow and elevated PWATS (1.5-1.9"), storms
Saturday could produce gusty winds and heavy rainfall that could
create localized flooding concerns. Behind this frontal passage,
drier air will filter in, bringing a break in the humidity, and
rainfall as Monday and Tuesday will be dry. We will see a steady
decline in temperatures through the extended, starting with highs
in the upper 80s-lower 90s on Saturday and only reaching the lower
80s on Tuesday. By Monday night, lows will only reach the upper
50s to lower 60s, really making it feel like Fall!

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1101 AM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025

Scattered TSRA are expected to develop after 18Z, some with +RA
and brief gusty winds up to 40kt. The TSRA should dissipate by 01Z
with VFR conditions otherwise. Patchy BR/FG may reduce visibility
to 5SM or less (MVFR) and perhaps less than 3SM (IFR) in a few
areas. Additional ceilings of 020-025agl (MVFR) may develop near a
cold front passage after 14Z.

&&

.HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...None.
TN...None.
&&

NEAR TERM...17
SHORT TERM....17
LONG TERM....JMS
AVIATION...17

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 20, 3:14 PM CDT, 1 hour 45 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
314 PM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025

TNZ097-202115-
Franklin TN-
314 PM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY
THROUGH 415 PM CDT...

At 313 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Monteagle, or 12 miles east of Winchester, moving south at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

Locations impacted include...
Winchester, Cowan, Sewanee, St. Andrews, and Sherwood.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3528 8591 3522 8586 3502 8586 3504 8626
      3515 8614 3529 8592
TIME...MOT...LOC 2013Z 020DEG 10KT 3524 8590

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

HC
Special weather statement, Aug 20, 3:18 PM CDT, 1 hour 41 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
318 PM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025

ALZ009-202115-
Jackson AL-
318 PM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN JACKSON COUNTY
THROUGH 415 PM CDT...

At 318 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Stevenson, or 9 miles southwest of Bridgeport, moving southeast at 10
mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 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...
Bridgeport, Stevenson, Hollywood, Pisgah, Martintown, Rosalie, Long
Island, Russell Cave National Monument, Fabius, and Fackler.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3468 8574 3461 8580 3475 8603 3499 8587
      3498 8561 3495 8560
TIME...MOT...LOC 2018Z 298DEG 8KT 3489 8588

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

HC
Special weather statement, Aug 20, 3:32 PM CDT, 1 hour 27 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
332 PM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025

TNZ097-202115-
Franklin TN-
332 PM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY
THROUGH 415 PM CDT...

At 331 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Huntland, or 9 miles southwest of Winchester, moving east at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and pea 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...
Winchester, Huntland, Tims Ford Lake, Lexie Crossroads, Beans Creek,
Harmony, Maxwell, and Belvidere.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3518 8608 3503 8625 3509 8632 3514 8632
      3528 8619
TIME...MOT...LOC 2031Z 275DEG 7KT 3513 8626

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

HC
Special weather statement, Aug 20, 3:38 PM CDT, 1 hour 21 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
338 PM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025

ALZ010-202145-
DeKalb AL-
338 PM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN DEKALB COUNTY
THROUGH 445 PM CDT...

At 338 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Fort Payne, moving south at 5 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea 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...
Fort Payne, Rainsville, Sylvania, Fyffe, Valley Head, Hammondville,
Pine Ridge, Guest, Collbran, and Dog Town.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3441 8561 3437 8563 3436 8566 3426 8577
      3426 8581 3424 8581 3424 8584 3420 8585
      3420 8591 3451 8589 3458 8567 3447 8558
      3444 8558
TIME...MOT...LOC 2038Z 359DEG 6KT 3447 8576

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

HC
Special weather statement, Aug 20, 4:17 PM CDT, 42 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 19, 9:42 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNColbert, Lauderdale48 min
Aug 20, 1:07 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNMadison53 min
Aug 20, 1:28 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNMadison47 min
Aug 20, 1:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNMadison, Morgan41 min
Aug 20, 1:57 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNMadison48 min
Aug 20, 2:10 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningHUNMadison95 min
Aug 20, 2:13 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNMadison47 min
Aug 20, 2:28 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNJackson62 min
Aug 20, 2:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNMadison39 min
Aug 20, 3:18 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNJackson57 min
Aug 20, 3:38 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNDeKalb67 min
Aug 20, 3:44 PM CDTTornado WarningHUNJackson17 min
Aug 20, 3:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNJackson32 min
Aug 20, 4:17 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNDeKalb58 min
Aug 20, 4:44 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNDeKalb61 min
Aug 20, 5:06 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLawrence39 min
Aug 20, 5:34 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNColbert41 min
Aug 20, 5:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNColbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence58 min
Aug 20, 6:15 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNColbert60 min
Aug 20, 6:39 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningHUNColbert, Franklin, Lauderdale96 min
Aug 19, 11:27 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLincoln48 min
Aug 20, 2:37 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLincoln68 min
Aug 20, 2:50 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNFranklin40 min
Aug 20, 3:04 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNMoore56 min
Aug 20, 3:14 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNFranklin61 min
Aug 20, 3:32 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNFranklin43 min
Aug 20, 3:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNFranklin53 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Alabama, 2025Every flash flood 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.