1 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 31, 3:33 AM CST, 2 hours 27 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 433 AM CDT MON MAY 31 2004 .DISCUSSION... AN ACTIVE WEATHER NIGHT SO FAR. A SQUALL LINE MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA AND EXPECT IT TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS. THE MAIN FRONT DOES NOT LAG FAR BEHIND THE SQUALL LINE AND THE BIG QUESTION IS WHERE WILL IT STALL. EXPECT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO CONTINUE INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS AND EXPECT SOME STORMS TO BE SEVERE MAINLY SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20 THIS AFTERNOON /IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE STALLED BOUNDARY/. AFTER THIS SYSTEM MOVES OUT SEVERAL MORE SHORT WAVES MOVE AROUND THE LOW PRESSURE THAT SETS UP OVER WESTERN NY AND PA. THIS WILL RESULT IN WET WEATHER FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. .PRELIMINARY NUMBERS... BIRMINGHAM 83 61 85 68 85 / 99 40 20 20 MONTGOMERY 88 64 87 68 88 / 80 50 30 20 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 9 AM 12>13...15...17>38...41...43...45...47 && 80
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 700 AM CDT MON MAY 31 2004 ALZ011>015-017>050-011200- AUTAUGA-BARBOUR-BIBB-BLOUNT-BULLOCK-CALHOUN-CHAMBERS-CHEROKEE- CHILTON-CLAY-CLEBURNE-COOSA-DALLAS-ELMORE-ETOWAH-FAYETTE-GREENE-HALE- JEFFERSON-LAMAR-LEE-LOWNDES-MACON-MARENGO-MARION-MONTGOMERY-PERRY- PICKENS-PIKE-RANDOLPH-RUSSELL-SHELBY-ST CLAIR-SUMTER-TALLADEGA- TALLAPOOSA-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER-WINSTON- 700 AM CDT MON MAY 31 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE (TODAY AND TONIGHT)... ...SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE STORMS GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20... AN APPROACHING STORM SYSTEM HAS MOVED A SQUALL LINE THROUGH THE AREA DURING THE OVERNIGHT AND EARLY MORNING HOURS. A COLD FRONT BEHIND THE THE SQUALL LINE WILL STALL AROUND INTERSTATE 20 THIS AFTERNOON. THE STALLED BOUNDARY WILL BE A FOCUS MECHANISM TO HELP SET OFF NUMEROUS STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20. THIS WILL BRING A THREAT OF DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED TORNADOES TO PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN (TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY)... AS THE FRONT STALLS ACROSS THE GULF COAST STATES...THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A SMALL RISK OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVERNIGHT MONDAY INTO TUESDAY MORNING. CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO FINALLY IMPROVE BY THE END OF THE WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL AND STORM SPOTTERS SHOULD MONITOR THE LATEST WEATHER CONDITIONS AND FORECASTS...AND BE READY FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVATION TODAY.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 520 AM CDT MON MAY 31 2004 ALZ012-013-015-022-023-311400- FAYETTE-LAMAR-PICKENS-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER- ...COUNTIES CLEARED FROM TORNADO WATCH... THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES HAVE BEEN CLEARED FROM WATCH NUMBER #21... FAYETTE LAMAR PICKENS TUSCALOOSA WALKER ALZ017>021-024>038-041-043-047-311400- AUTAUGA-BIBB-BLOUNT-CALHOUN-CHAMBERS-CHEROKEE-CHILTON-CLAY-CLEBURNE- COOSA-ELMORE-ETOWAH-GREENE-HALE-JEFFERSON-LEE-PERRY-RANDOLPH-SHELBY- ST. CLAIR-SUMTER-TALLADEGA-TALLAPOOSA- ...COUNTIES REMAIN IN TORNADO WATCH... THE FOLLOWING CONTIES REMAIN IN WATCH NUMBER #21... AUTAUGA BIBB BLOUNT CALHOUN CHAMBERS CHEROKEE CHILTON CLAY CLEBURNE COOSA ELMORE ETOWAH GREENE HALE JEFFERSON LEE PERRY RANDOLPH SHELBY ST. CLAIR SUMTER TALLADEGA TALLAPOOSA
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED WATCH NUMBER... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 520 AM CDT MON MAY 31 2004 ALZ012-013-015-022-023-311400- FAYETTE-LAMAR-PICKENS-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER- ...COUNTIES CLEARED FROM TORNADO WATCH... THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES HAVE BEEN CLEARED FROM WATCH NUMBER #350... FAYETTE LAMAR PICKENS TUSCALOOSA WALKER ALZ017>021-024>038-041-043-047-311400- AUTAUGA-BIBB-BLOUNT-CALHOUN-CHAMBERS-CHEROKEE-CHILTON-CLAY-CLEBURNE- COOSA-ELMORE-ETOWAH-GREENE-HALE-JEFFERSON-LEE-PERRY-RANDOLPH-SHELBY- ST. CLAIR-SUMTER-TALLADEGA-TALLAPOOSA- ...COUNTIES REMAIN IN TORNADO WATCH... THE FOLLOWING CONTIES REMAIN IN WATCH NUMBER #350... AUTAUGA BIBB BLOUNT CALHOUN CHAMBERS CHEROKEE CHILTON CLAY CLEBURNE COOSA ELMORE ETOWAH GREENE HALE JEFFERSON LEE PERRY RANDOLPH SHELBY ST. CLAIR SUMTER TALLADEGA TALLAPOOSA
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
629 AM CDT MON MAY 31 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1255 AM WIND DAMAGE 4 N BRILLIANT 34.23N 87.60W
05/30/2004 MARION AL PUBLIC
TREES DOWN ON HIGHWAY 129 S OF HALLEYVILLE.
0415 AM WIND DAMAGE TUSCALOOSA 33.24N 87.54W
05/31/2004 TUSCALOOSA AL EMA
ONE TREE DOWN ON LAKE LURLEEN RD.
0430 AM WIND DAMAGE HOOVER 33.37N 86.82W
05/31/2004 JEFFERSON AL SPOTTER
AT LEAST ONE LARGE OAK TREE DOWN ON CREEKVIEW RO.
0450 AM HAIL ALABASTER 33.22N 86.82W
05/31/2004 0.75 IN SHELBY AL PUBLIC
PENNY SIZE HAIL IN ALABASTER. ALSO NUMEROUS REPORTS
OF BRANCHES DOWN.
0455 AM WIND DAMAGE 3 N CHELSEA 33.37N 86.65W
05/31/2004 SHELBY AL HAM OPERATOR
STRUCTURE DAMAGE EAST OF HWY 280 AT THE 900 BLOCK OF
BEAR CREEK RD AND COUNTY RD 41.
0503 AM WIND DAMAGE 1 SE CALERA 33.09N 86.73W
05/31/2004 SHELBY AL CITY POLICE
POWERLINES DOWN ON HWY 22 NEAR SHELBY ACADEMY.
0513 AM WIND DAMAGE CALERA 33.10N 86.75W
05/31/2004 SHELBY AL CITY POLICE
TREES DOWN AT FOUNDRY RD.
0515 AM WIND DAMAGE 5 E CALERA 33.10N 86.67W
05/31/2004 SHELBY AL STATE POLICE
TREES DOWN AT COUNTY RD 42 AND 308. NEAR THE CITY OF
SHELBY.
0515 AM WIND DAMAGE 3 SW INVERNESS 33.37N 86.76W
05/31/2004 SHELBY AL STATE POLICE
TREE DOWN AT VALLEYDALE RD. AND MEADOW DR.
0515 AM WIND DAMAGE 1 S CALERA 33.09N 86.75W
05/31/2004 SHELBY AL CITY POLICE
TREES PARTIALLY BLOCKING ROAD AT HWY 209.
0535 AM WIND DAMAGE 1 NE JEMISON 32.98N 86.73W
05/31/2004 CHILTON AL PUBLIC
LOTS OF TREES DOWN WITH DAMAGE TO ONE HOUSE AT COUNTY
RD. 153 AND COUNTY RD 44. ALSO TREES DOWN AND POWER
LINES DOWN HIGHWAY 31 AND COUNTY RD 44.SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 635 AM CDT MON MAY 31 2004 ALZ017>021-024>028-030>036-311400- BIBB-BLOUNT-CALHOUN-CHEROKEE-CHILTON-CLAY-CLEBURNE-COOSA-ETOWAH- GREENE-HALE-JEFFERSON-PERRY-SHELBY-ST. CLAIR-SUMTER-TALLADEGA- ...COUNTIES CLEARED FROM TORNADO WATCH... THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES HAVE BEEN CLEARED FROM WATCH NUMBER #350... BIBB BLOUNT CALHOUN CHEROKEE CHILTON CLAY CLEBURNE COOSA ETOWAH GREENE HALE JEFFERSON PERRY SHELBY ST. CLAIR SUMTER TALLADEGA ALZ029-037-038-041-043-047-311400- AUTAUGA-CHAMBERS-ELMORE-LEE-RANDOLPH-TALLAPOOSA- ...COUNTIES REMAIN IN TORNADO WATCH... THE FOLLOWING CONTIES REMAIN IN WATCH NUMBER #350... AUTAUGA CHAMBERS ELMORE LEE RANDOLPH TALLAPOOSA
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
652 AM CDT MON MAY 31 2004
ALZ044-311230-
MONTGOMERY-
652 AM CDT MON MAY 31 2004
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IN EFFECT FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY UNTIL
730 AM CDT...
...WINDS 35 TO 45 MILES AN HOUR ARE POSSIBLE FROM APPROACHING
THUNDERSTORMS...
AT 647 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM MOUNT MEIGS TO 8 MILES WEST OF SNOWDOUN...
MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR MOUNT
MEIGS...SNOWDOUN...MATHEWS AND CARTERS HILL THROUGH 715 AM CDT.
THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS IS STRONG GUSTY WINDS. THESE
WINDS CAN BREAK OFF SMALL TREE LIMBS...AND BLOW AROUND UNSECURED
OBJECTS SUCH AS LAWN FURNITURE AND TRASH CANS.
LAT...LON 3213 8619 3218 8640 3229 8640 3239 8612
3228 8593 3226 8600 3208 8600SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
652 AM CDT MON MAY 31 2004
...CORRECTED TIME OF LOCATIONS AFFECTED...
ALZ044-311230-
MONTGOMERY-
652 AM CDT MON MAY 31 2004
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IN EFFECT FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY UNTIL
730 AM CDT...
...WINDS 35 TO 45 MILES AN HOUR ARE POSSIBLE FROM APPROACHING
THUNDERSTORMS...
AT 647 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM MOUNT MEIGS TO 8 MILES WEST OF SNOWDOUN...
MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR MOUNT
MEIGS...SNOWDOUN...MATHEWS AND CARTERS HILL THROUGH 730 AM CDT.
THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS IS STRONG GUSTY WINDS. THESE
WINDS CAN BREAK OFF SMALL TREE LIMBS...AND BLOW AROUND UNSECURED
OBJECTS SUCH AS LAWN FURNITURE AND TRASH CANS.
LAT...LON 3213 8619 3218 8640 3229 8640 3239 8612
3228 8593 3226 8600 3208 8600The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A few trees were knocked down or snapped off in Auburn. One of the trees fell on a home and it sustained moderate damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, May 2004
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: 5401766.