1 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at May 16, 1:30 PM CST, 6 hours 53 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM, AL 230 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND HEAVY RAIN CHANCES ARE THE SHORT TERM PROBLEMS. CURRENTLY...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT OVER NORTHERN COUNTIES UNTIL 7 PM. STRONGEST STORMS AT 215 PM WERE NW OF BIRMINGHAM. WITH HIGH INSTABILITY...CAPES 2500-3000...LIFTED INDICES BETWEEN -5 AND -8...EXPECT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS...MAINLY NORTH OF INTERSTATE 20. WILL MONITOR AREAS OF HEAVY RAINFALL AS WELL...IN FAR NORTHERN AREAS. SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE AREA MAY SEE SOME SHOWERS AND STORMS...BUT NOTHING TO SEVERE IS EXPECTED AS WARM MID LEVEL CAP SHOULD INHIBIT SIGNIFICANT CONVECTION THERE. TONIGHT...EXPECT SHOWERS AND STORMS TO DIE DOWN THIS EVENING. WILL GO SLIGHT CHANCE NORTH OVERNIGHT WERE FORCING WILL BE BETTER. WILL MENTION FOG AND LOW CLOUDS LATE SOUTH WITH PLENTY OF MOISTURE IN PLACE AND LIGHT WINDS. GENERALLY EXPECT TEMPS A LITTLE WARMER THAN LAST NIGHT...AROUND 70 DEGREES. SATURDAY...WITH THE APPROACH OF A WEAKENING UPPER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM FROM THE WEST...EXPECT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORM TO ONCE AGAIN DEVELOP. SOME STORMS MAY ONCE AGAIN BE STRONG TO SEVERE WITH SUFFICIENT WIND SHEAR AND HIGH INSTABILITY. SUNDAY APPEARS TO BE THE WETTEST DAY OF THE WEEKEND WITH THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM NEARLY ON TOP OF THE AREA. EXPECT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE DAY. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL ONCE AGAIN BE A CONCERN. BEYOND SUNDAY...KEPT PRECIP IN THE FORECAST AS WET PATTERN IS FORECAST TO CONTINUE WITH PLENTY OF MOISTURE AND LIFT FORECAST TO BE IN PLACE ACROSS THE AREA. A FRONT IS FORECAST TO STALL OUT ACROSS AREA BY MIDWEEK. PRELIMINARY NUMBERS FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES ONLY. BHM 071/087 069/082 067 24564 MGM 069 088 070/084 068 13364 .BHM...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM FOR ALZ011>015- 017>029-034...ROUGHLY NORTH OF A CARROLLTON TO WEDOWEE LINE. MBS/91
ALZ011>015-017>050-162000- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 123 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE (THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT)... A BROKEN LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE NORTHERN PART OF THE AREA...MAINLY NORTH OF A TUSCALOOSA TO ANNISTON LINE THIS AFTERNOON. DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS. BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE AS THE THUNDERSTORMS MOVE THROUGH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT RECEIVED TORRENTIAL RAINFALL LAST WEEK MAY SEE CONDITIONS AGGRAVATED BY THIS ADDITIONAL RAINFALL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN (SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY)... STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL ARE POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY AS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS THE AREA. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL WILL BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR AREAS NORTH OF A TUSCALOOSA TO ANNISTON LINE. THEY MAY BE REQUIRED ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
555 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0422 PM GARDENDALE AL 1.75 IN HAIL
05/16/03 JEFFERSON MEDIA REPORT.
0435 PM SAYRE AL WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03 JEFFERSON ROOF PARTIALLY TORN OFF
OF HOME. TREES DOWN.
PUBLIC REPORT.
0450 PM PINSON AL FLASH FLOOD
05/16/03 JEFFERSON SOME BUILDINGS FLOODED.
REPORTED BY JEFFERSON
COUNTY EMA.
0455 PM TARRANT CITY AL FLASH FLOOD
05/16/03 JEFFERSON STREET FLOODING.
REPORTED BY JEFFERSON
COUNTY EMA.
0310 PM PARRISH AL 2.50 IN HAIL
05/16/03 WALKER PUBLIC REPORT.
0515 PM MIDFIELD AL 0.75 IN HAIL
05/16/03 JEFFERSON REPORTED BY THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
0525 PM 3 NW HOOVER AL 0.88 IN HAIL
05/16/03 JEFFERSON REPORTED IN SHANNON
VALLEY. PUBLIC REPORT.
0528 PM HOMEWOOD AL 0.75 IN HAIL
05/16/03 JEFFERSON PUBLIC REPORT.PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
614 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0510 PM PLEASANT GROVE AL WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03 JEFFERSON TREES DOWN. REPORTED BY
SPOTTER.
0525 PM VESTAVIA HILLS AL 0.88 IN HAIL
05/16/03 JEFFERSON PUBLIC REPORT.
0525 PM HOOVER AL WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03 JEFFERSON TREES DOWN NEAR GALLERIA
MALL. REPORTED BY
JEFFERSON COUNTY EMA.
0526 PM HOOVER AL 0.88 IN HAIL
05/16/03 JEFFERSON PUBLIC REPORT.
0526 PM HOOVER AL 0.75 IN HAIL
05/16/03 JEFFERSON PUBLIC REPORT.
0526 PM HOOVER AL 1.00 IN HAIL
05/16/03 JEFFERSON PUBLIC REPORT.
0528 PM 1 S HOOVER AL 1.00 IN HAIL
05/16/03 JEFFERSON PUBLIC REPORT.
0530 PM MOODY AL WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03 ST. CLAIR TREES DOWN. REPORTED BY
ST. CLAIR COUNTY EMA.
0538 PM 3 NE PELHAM AL 0.75 IN HAIL
05/16/03 SHELBY REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
OPERATOR.
0538 PM 5 N CHELSEA AL 1.75 IN HAIL
05/16/03 SHELBY REPORTED BY MEDIA.
0540 PM INDIAN SPRINGS AL 1.00 IN HAIL
05/16/03 SHELBY PUBLIC REPORT.
0542 PM 4 W CHELSEA AL 1.75 IN HAIL
05/16/03 SHELBY
0544 PM 5 N CHELSEA AL 0.88 IN HAIL
05/16/03 SHELBY PUBLIC REPORT.
0555 PM STEWARTVILLE AL 1.25 IN HAIL
05/16/03 COOSA REPORTED BY COOSA COUNTY
EMA.
0540 PM 5 N CHELSEA AL 0.75 IN HAIL
05/16/03 SHELBY PUBLIC REPORT.PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
617 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0555 PM 3 S SYLACAUGA AL 1.25 IN HAIL
05/16/03 TALLADEGA REPORTED BY TALLADEGA
COUNTY EMA.
0530 PM MOODY AL WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03 ST. CLAIR TREES DOWN. REPORTED BY
ST. CLAIR COUNTY EMA.ALZ028-170015- THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 642 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003 .A THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR CLAY COUNTY UNTIL 715 PM CDT... .FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS LIKELY FROM AN APPROACHING THUNDERSTORM. AT 642 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING ACROSS NORTHERN CLAY COUNTY. THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR PYRITON...ASHLAND AND LINEVILLE THROUGH 715 PM CDT. THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS IS FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS IN THE VICINITY OF THESE STORMS...TAKE SHELTER NOW. IF LIGHTNING IS OBSERVED... WAIT AT LEAST 30 MINUTES AFTER THE LAST LIGHTNING STRIKE BEFORE RESUMING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. LAT...LON 3346 8595 3329 8601 3315 8568 3340 8567
ALZ027-170015-
THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
649 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003
.A THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR TALLADEGA COUNTY UNTIL 715 PM
CDT...
.FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS LIKELY FROM AN APPROACHING
THUNDERSTORM.
AT 647 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES WEST OF SYLACAUGA...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR SYLACAUGA THROUGH 715
PM CDT.
THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS IS FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING STRIKES. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS IN THE VICINITY OF THESE
STORMS...TAKE SHELTER NOW. IF LIGHTNING IS OBSERVED... WAIT AT LEAST
30 MINUTES AFTER THE LAST LIGHTNING STRIKE BEFORE RESUMING OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES.
LAT...LON 3327 8641 3319 8647 3312 8646 3312 8620
3321 8618PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
802 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0624 PM TALLADEGA AL 1.00 IN HAIL
05/16/03 TALLADEGA QUARTER SIZE HAIL ON HWY
77. REPORTED BY STATE
TROPPERS POST.
0710 PM COUNTY WIDE AL FLASH FLOOD
05/16/03 TALLADEGA NUMEROUS ROADS FLOODED.
REPORTED BY TALLADEGA
COUNTY EMA.The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 71 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:21 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning apparently struck an electrical breaker cutting off power to about 1,000 people according to Alabama Power Company. Power was restored about 35 minutes later.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, May 2003
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5360710.