Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 61, NWS Mobile, AL

May 23, 2026Choctaw County, Clarke County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 23, 2026, 2:56 PM CDT for Choctaw County, Clarke County, Alabama. It was in force for 29 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
May 23, 2026, 2:56 PM CDT (19:56 UTC)
Expired
May 23, 2026, 3:25 PM CDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Choctaw County, AL, Clarke County, AL

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 162 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:59 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

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, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 167 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 2026-05-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 84 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 2026-05-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 78 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
84 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-97 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
592 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
18 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
78 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
52 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

197 
WUUS54 KMOB 231956
SVRMOB
ALC023-025-232045-
/O.NEW.KMOB.SV.W.0061.260523T1956Z-260523T2045Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Mobile AL
256 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026

The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Choctaw County in southwestern Alabama...
  Northwestern Clarke County in southwestern Alabama...

* Until 345 PM CDT.

* At 256 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
  extending from 5 miles east of Crandall to 6 miles northeast of
  Coffeeville, moving northeast at 35 mph.

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

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

* Locations impacted include...
  Butler, Lisman, Pennington, and Toxey.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3231 8793 3228 8793 3230 8794 3230 8800
      3228 8802 3215 8802 3214 8804 3209 8804
      3206 8807 3207 8810 3206 8812 3201 8811
      3201 8809 3199 8807 3199 8779 3179 8800
      3195 8847 3231 8842
TIME...MOT...LOC 1956Z 214DEG 29KT 3200 8844 3181 8800 

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

$$

RD
1 follow-up statement
997 
WWUS54 KMOB 232025
SVSMOB

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
325 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026

ALC023-025-232034-
/O.CAN.KMOB.SV.W.0061.000000T0000Z-260523T2045Z/
Choctaw AL-Clarke AL-
325 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CHOCTAW AND NORTHWESTERN
CLARKE COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

The storms which prompted the warning have weakened below severe
limits, and no longer pose an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

LAT...LON 3231 8793 3228 8793 3230 8794 3230 8800
      3228 8802 3215 8802 3214 8804 3209 8804
      3206 8807 3207 8810 3206 8812 3201 8811
      3201 8809 3199 8807 3199 8779 3179 8800
      3195 8847 3231 8842
TIME...MOT...LOC 2020Z 214DEG 29KT 3217 8831 3198 8787 

$$

RD

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 May 23, 2:53 PM CDT, 3 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Issued at 253 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026
  • Numerous to widespread daytime thunderstorms will continue through the Memorial Day weekend into Tuesday. Locally heavy rainfall is likely along and west of I-65 where additional widespread rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches, locally as high as 6 to 8 inches, will occur.
  • A High risk for strong, potentially life threatening rip currents will occur through tonight, followed by a Moderate risk Sunday and Memorial day. A High risk for strong, potentially life threatening rip currents will likely return Tuesday into Wednesday.
Area forecast discussion, May 23, 2:53 PM CDT, 3 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Mobile AL
253 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026

...New DISCUSSION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Issued at 253 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026

 -  Numerous to widespread daytime thunderstorms will continue
    through the Memorial Day weekend into Tuesday. Locally heavy
    rainfall is likely along and west of I-65 where additional
    widespread rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches, locally as high
    as 6 to 8 inches, will occur.

 - A High risk for strong, potentially life threatening rip
   currents will occur through tonight, followed by a Moderate
   risk Sunday and Memorial day. A High risk for strong,
   potentially life threatening rip currents will likely return
   Tuesday into Wednesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 253 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026

Current radar is detecting numerous showers and thunderstorms
just north of the Highway-84 corridor moving northward at around
30 mph. Some of the stronger storms exhibit winds aloft up to 55
knots, so additional Special Weather Statements and perhaps a
Severe Thunderstorm Warning or two will be required. CAMs are also
indicting a secondary band developing behind this one by late
afternoon that will continue through mid-evening that will need to
be closely monitored. A continuous fetch of impulses and
shortwave energy will continue to move in a deep southwesterly
flow along the eastern periphery of a southern plains trough.
This will primarily affect our area along and west of I-65 through
the Memorial Day weekend into Tuesday as atmospheric moisture
remains moderate with PWATs generally around 1.8 to 2.0 inches.
Highest rain chances will occur during the daytime and early
evening hours coinciding with decreasing stability from diurnal
heating. With more than sufficient environmental moisture in
place, the combination of ascent provided by the passage of the
series of upper level impulses, the risk of locally heavy rains
and instances of flooding continues. In fact, the Day Two
Excessive Rain Outlook (ERO) Slight Risk area has been expanded
eastward include our southeast Mississippi zones, and Day Three
ERO will include most of our warning area with the exception of
our far eastern zones.

Flash Flooding Potential...

We continue to have high confidence on the potential of localize
flash flooding over the Memorial Day weekend into Tuesday along
and west of I-65. Heavy rainfall is possible with additional
widespread rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches, locally as high as 6
to 8 inches. Instances of flash flooding will occur where banding
and prolonged training of thunderstorms with high precipitation
rates occur. For now, we will hold off on issuing any flash flood
watches as recovery times between the daytime events should allow
for waters to recede, or until our confidence on placement of the
banding and prolonged training of thunderstorms increases.

Beach Forecast: A High risk for strong, potentially life
threatening rip currents will occur through tonight, followed by a
Moderate risk Sunday and Memorial day. A High risk for strong,
potentially life threatening rip currents will likely return
Tuesday into Wednesday. /22

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1240 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026

VFR conditions are in place across much of the local area at
issuance time, although some localized MVFR ceilings linger along
the coast. Overall, VFR conditions should remain prevalent through
the afternoon and into the evening hours. Scattered showers and
storms will also continue to develop throughout the afternoon,
primarily north of I-10. Expect brief reductions in visibilities
and ceilings in some of the heavier activity. Rain chances are
expected to decrease throughout the evening hours. MVFR ceilings
may return late tonight and into Sunday morning. Southerly winds
at around 10 knots will become more light and variable tonight.
/96

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 253 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026

Light to moderate southeasterly flow will prevail through this
weekend and into early next week. Seas will generally be 1 to 3
feet. No impacts are expected other than locally higher winds and
seas possible near thunderstorms. /22

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Mobile      71  85  71  82 /  30  80  70  90
Pensacola   74  85  74  83 /  20  50  50  80
Destin      74  84  74  84 /  10  40  30  70
Evergreen   69  87  70  84 /  30  70  30  90
Waynesboro  68  83  69  80 /  40  90  70  90
Camden      68  84  68  82 /  40  80  50  90
Crestview   70  89  71  87 /  20  60  20  80

&&

.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...High Rip Current Risk through late tonight for ALZ265-266.

FL...High Rip Current Risk through late tonight for FLZ202-204-206.

MS...None.
GM...None.
&&

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 23, 12:10 PM CDT, 2 hours 46 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Mobile AL
1210 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0100 PM     Flash Flood      Creola                  30.89N 88.04W
05/22/2026                   Mobile             AL   Public

            Numerous reports of flash flooding in and
            around Creola. Several impassable roadways,
            which led to multiple road closures and
            stalled vehicles. Videos of flood waters
            reaching residences and businesses.

&&
Local storm report, May 23, 12:11 PM CDT, 2 hours 45 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Mobile AL
1211 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0100 PM     Flash Flood      Saraland                30.82N 88.07W
05/22/2026                   Mobile             AL   Public

            Numerous reports of flash flooding in and
            around Saraland. Several impassable
            roadways, which led to multiple road
            closures and stalled vehicles. Videos of
            flood waters reaching residences and
            businesses.

&&
Local storm report, May 23, 12:16 PM CDT, 2 hours 40 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Mobile AL
1216 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0200 PM     Flash Flood      Semmes                  30.78N 88.26W
05/22/2026                   Mobile             AL   Public

            Numerous reports of flash flooding in and
            around Semmes. Several impassable roadways,
            which led to multiple road closures and
            stalled vehicles. Videos of flood waters
            reaching residences and businesses.

&&
Local storm report, May 23, 12:58 PM CDT, 1 hour 58 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Mobile AL
1258 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0302 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Andalusia               31.31N 86.48W
05/22/2026                   Covington          AL   911 Call Center

            Covington County 911 reports several trees
            down in Andalusia. Time estimated via radar.

&&
Special weather statement, May 23, 1:53 PM CDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
153 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026

ALZ052-231930-
Washington AL-
153 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY
THROUGH 230 PM CDT...

At 153 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Tibbie, or 7 miles south of Chatom, moving north at 35 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...
Chatom, Tibbie, and Millry.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3169 8809 3168 8808 3166 8808 3166 8809
      3165 8809 3163 8808 3162 8807 3160 8808
      3159 8806 3127 8810 3128 8835 3170 8840
      3170 8809
TIME...MOT...LOC 1853Z 181DEG 29KT 3136 8823

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

RD
Special weather statement, May 23, 2:05 PM CDT, 51 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
205 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026

ALZ051-052-MSZ067-231945-
Choctaw AL-Washington AL-Wayne MS-
205 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN CHOCTAW...
NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON AND WAYNE COUNTIES THROUGH 245 PM CDT...

At 205 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 7 miles northeast of Mill Creek to Waynesboro
to 7 miles east of Buckatunna. Movement was northeast at 30 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 damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Waynesboro, Clara, Millry, Buckatunna, Silas, and Gilbertown.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3182 8818 3177 8816 3175 8814 3138 8839
      3142 8845 3144 8845 3144 8848 3156 8868
      3166 8894 3182 8894 3185 8865 3189 8848
      3198 8846 3199 8845
TIME...MOT...LOC 1905Z 203DEG 28KT 3178 8890 3169 8862 3154 8839

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

RD

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 23, 9:09 AM CDTRip Current StatementMOBBaldwin, Mobile21 hr
May 23, 1:53 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMOBWashington37 min
May 23, 2:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBChoctaw, Clarke, Washington46 min
May 23, 3:02 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMOBWilcox43 min
May 23, 3:43 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMOBWilcox47 min
May 23, 5:56 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMOBBaldwin, Mobile3 hr
May 23, 6:04 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMOBMobile41 min
May 23, 6:50 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMOBMobile3 hr

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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.