Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 142, NWS Mobile, AL

August 21, 2026Covington County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 21, 2026, 2:40 PM CDT for Covington County, Alabama. It was in force for 29 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Aug 21, 2026, 2:40 PM CDT (19:40 UTC)
Expired
Aug 21, 2026, 3:09 PM CDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

County Covington County, AL

The radar

The Eglin Afb radar (KEVX), 92 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:44 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 21, 2:49 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG1 S Andalusia, ALReport of power lines and tree limbs down around the south side of Andalusia. Also a video of hail nearing 1 inch in diameter, estimated. Time estimated from radar.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 9 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 7.7 hours before the alert went out and 214 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 2026-08-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1150 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 2026-08-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 18 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
1150 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-122 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1011 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
15 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
18 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
29 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

178 
WUUS54 KMOB 211940
SVRMOB
ALC039-212030-
/O.NEW.KMOB.SV.W.0142.260821T1940Z-260821T2030Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Mobile AL
240 PM CDT Fri Aug 21 2026

The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Central Covington County in south central Alabama...

* Until 330 PM CDT.

* At 240 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Andalusia,
  moving east at 10 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Andalusia, Opp, River Falls, and Heath.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3120 8659 3138 8655 3143 8620 3117 8619
TIME...MOT...LOC 1940Z 264DEG 10KT 3131 8648 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

JP
1 follow-up statement
075 
WWUS54 KMOB 212009
SVSMOB

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
309 PM CDT Fri Aug 21 2026

ALC039-212019-
/O.CAN.KMOB.SV.W.0142.000000T0000Z-260821T2030Z/
Covington AL-
309 PM CDT Fri Aug 21 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL COVINGTON COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.  However, gusty winds and
heavy rain are still possible with this thunderstorm.

LAT...LON 3120 8659 3138 8655 3143 8620 3117 8619
TIME...MOT...LOC 2007Z 264DEG 10KT 3132 8639 

$$

KLG

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 Mobile, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 21, 12:49 PM CDT, 1 hour 51 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Updated at 1249 PM CDT Fri Aug 21 2026
  • Very hot conditions continue today with peak heat indices in the 108 to 112 range.
  • Scattered to numerous thunderstorms this afternoon will continue to be capable of producing brief intense rainfall, excessive lightning, and strong to damaging wind gusts.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 21, 12:49 PM CDT, 1 hour 51 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Mobile AL
1249 PM CDT Fri Aug 21 2026

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1249 PM CDT Fri Aug 21 2026

- Very hot conditions continue today with peak heat indices in the
  108 to 112 range.

- Scattered to numerous thunderstorms this afternoon will continue
  to be capable of producing brief intense rainfall, excessive
  lightning, and strong to damaging wind gusts.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1243 AM CDT Fri Aug 21 2026

Another day of oppressive heat and humidity is expected today,
followed by another round of strong to potentially severe
thunderstorms. The area remains positioned within a weakness in
the mid-level ridge, with strong ridging centered over the Four
Corners and broad troughing to the north. On the backside of the
trough, somewhat stronger northwest flow will begin to overspread
the region today, while a 700 mb shortwave impulse over the
Tennessee Valley provides additional lift along the leading edge
of some drier mid- level air. Moisture ahead of this feature
remains high with PWATs around 2-2.2 inches across the area.
Extremely unstable thermodynamic profiles featuring SBCAPE over
4000 J/kg, very steep low to mid-level lapse rates, and DCAPE
values exceeding 1000 J/kg will once again support explosive
updrafts and intense downbursts capable of producing damaging wind
gusts and perhaps some hail. Briefly intense rainfall and
excessive cloud-to-ground lightning is also likely with the
stronger storms.

The mid-level disturbance combined with 20-30 knots of 0-6 km
shear could allow for somewhat more organized and widespread
convection today compared to previous days. Initial development is
expected over interior southern Alabama and southeast Mississippi
before dropping southeastward toward the coast during the 2PM-8PM
timeframe. Greatest coverage (50-60% PoPs) appears focused along
and north of I-10, with the greatest severe potential likely
lining up where outflows collide with the sea breeze boundary late
in the day. Faster storm motions should help limit the overall
flash flood threat, though brief intense rainfall will remain
likely with any storms. Prior to convection, heat indices are
expected to reach 108- 111 degrees once again, with a Heat
Advisory in effect area-wide.

For the weekend, some drier air aloft will filter into the region
from the north, resulting in lower rain chances (10-20% PoPs at
best) and a bit less humidity. Despite lower coverage, any storms
that develop could still produce strong downburst winds. High
temperatures will remain in the mid to upper 90s, while somewhat
lower humidity should keep heat indices in the 100-107 range. Heat
Advisory levels cannot be ruled out near the coast, particularly
Saturday where moisture will remain higher.

Looking into next week, guidance continues to hint at a somewhat
active northwest flow pattern developing, with persistent
troughing over the Great Lakes and several shortwave impulses
dropping southward along its western periphery into the northern
Gulf Coast states. This pattern could support a few active days of
strong thunderstorms across the region. Regardless of the exact
evolution of individual disturbances, rain chances should
gradually increase through midweek as moisture increases.
Temperatures will remain seasonably hot, with highs generally in
the low to mid 90s and heat indices most likely in the 100-107
range. JGC/98

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1249 PM CDT Fri Aug 21 2026

VFR conditions will mostly prevail this afternoon, and after a
line of convection passes through the region late this afternoon
until late evening. We are expecting numerous showers and
thunderstorms to develop north of Highway-84 by late afternoon and
move southward to the coast through this evening. Added a PROB30
group to the KMOB/KBFM/KPNS/KJKA sites for the early- to mid-
evening hours for IFR visibilities (could briefly become VLIFR),
MVFR ceilings and gusty northerly winds to 35 knots. /22

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 325 AM CDT Fri Aug 21 2026

No impacts expected other than locally higher winds and seas
possible near thunderstorms. /13

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Mobile      95  74  95  74 /  50  30  10   0
Pensacola   92  78  93  78 /  30  20  20   0
Destin      90  79  91  79 /  20  40  20  10
Evergreen   96  71  97  71 /  60  40  10   0
Waynesboro  98  72  99  73 /  60  30   0   0
Camden      95  72  97  72 /  60  20   0   0
Crestview   95  73  96  72 /  40  30  20  10

&&

.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for ALZ051>060-261>266.

FL...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for FLZ201>206.

MS...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for MSZ067-075-076-078-
     079.

GM...None.
&&

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 21, 2:34 PM CDT, 6 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
234 PM CDT Fri Aug 21 2026

MSZ075-076-078-079-212015-
Stone MS-Perry MS-Greene MS-George MS-
234 PM CDT Fri Aug 21 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WESTERN GEORGE...SOUTHEASTERN
PERRY...SOUTHWESTERN GREENE AND NORTHEASTERN STONE COUNTIES THROUGH
315 PM CDT...

At 233 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles south of McLain, or 15 miles west of Lucedale, moving southeast
at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of western George,
southeastern Perry, southwestern Greene and northeastern Stone
Counties.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for
southeastern Mississippi.

&&

LAT...LON 3108 8881 3081 8856 3073 8877 3074 8888
      3071 8889 3077 8890 3077 8891 3078 8890
      3100 8897
TIME...MOT...LOC 1933Z 327DEG 14KT 3099 8885

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

JP

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 21, 2:59 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMOBCovington46 min
Aug 21, 3:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBCovington, Escambia45 min
Aug 21, 3:28 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMOBEscambia47 min
Aug 21, 3:45 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMOBCovington45 min
Aug 21, 3:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBMobile28 min
Aug 21, 3:51 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMOBEscambia39 min
Aug 21, 4:03 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMOBEscambia42 min
Aug 21, 4:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBEscambia15 min
Aug 21, 5:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBMobile32 min
Aug 21, 6:10 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMOBChoctaw35 min
Aug 21, 6:19 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMOBWashington41 min
Aug 21, 6:29 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMOBMobile46 min
Aug 21, 6:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBChoctaw30 min
Aug 21, 6:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBBaldwin, Clarke, Monroe, Washington41 min
Aug 21, 6:54 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningMOB66 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 2026Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026

Sources

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