A strong thunderstorm produced frequent cloud to ground lightning sparking at least two fires in Franklin County. Heavy downpours produced minor street flooding in Winchester.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 episode as NWS HUN wrote it up.
A strong thunderstorm produced frequent cloud to ground lightning sparking at least two fires in Franklin County. Heavy downpours produced minor street flooding in Winchester. Strong wind gusts blew down small tree limbs across the county.
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 Huntsville, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 21, 1:00 PM CST, 5 hours 15 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 200 PM CDT MON AUG 21 2006 .DISCUSSION... IT TOOK A WHILE...BUT SCTD SHRA/TSRA HAVE FINALLY BEGUN TO DEVELOP OVER OUR FORECAST AREA. IF YOU DO NOT SEE RAIN TODAY THOUGH...IT WILL PROBABLY STAY DRY UNTIL NEXT WEEKEND AT THE EARLIEST. VERY SHORT TERM (TONIGHT AND TOMORROW)... AS HAS BEEN THE CASE IN PAST NIGHTS...MOST OF THE ONGOING ACTIVITY ON RADAR SHOULD CEASE BY 6 OR 7 PM. WILL RETAIN A SLIGHT CHANCE POP THROUGH THE NIGHT BECAUSE THE REAL SFC FRONT WILL BE SLIDING INTO THE AREA BY AROUND 12Z. DO NOT SEE MUCH IN THE WAY OF UPPER SUPPORT OR EVEN FRONTAL FORCING BUT YOU JUST NEVER KNOW. WITH THE FRONT MOVING THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING...WILL RETAIN ISOLATED POPS EVERYWHERE WITH THE HIGHEST IN THE SOUTHERN/EASTERN COUNTIES. HOWEVER...INCREASINGLY STABLE AIR SHOULD MOVE IN DURING THE DAY AND IT LOOKS LIKE HIGHS WILL STILL BE ABLE TO APPROACH 90 EXCEPT IN THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS. OUTSIDE OF AN ISOLATED PULSE STORM (JUST LIKE YESTERDAY)...DONT SEE MUCH SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. REMAINDER OF FORECAST (TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH NEXT MONDAY)... SKIES CLEAR TUESDAY NIGHT AND WE WILL WAKE UP WEDNESDAY MORNING TO SOME VERY PLEASANT TEMPS...MID/UPPER 60S. A BIG DITTO FOR THURSDAY MORNING...WITH EASTERN VALLEYS POSSIBLY AS COOL AS 63 OR 64. WEDNESDAY WILL WARM UP RATHER NICELY UNDER PLENTY OF SUNSHINE... HIGHS PROBABLY WILL AGAIN REACH 90 IN MANY AREAS. A SLIGHT WARMING TREND TAKES PLACE FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS OF THE WORK WEEK...AND HIGHS COULD APPROACH THE MID 90S IN A FEW SPOTS. LOWS WILL MODERATE TO AROUND 70. STILL NO RAIN EXPECTED. I RETAINED THE SLIGHT CHANCE POP ON FRIDAY FOR THE SOUTHERN/EASTERN COUNTIES BUT THIS LOOKS LESS LIKELY IN THE MOST RECENT MODEL RUNS. THERE ARE SOME MAJOR DIFFERENCES IN THE EXTENDED MODELS...AND SO HAVE TAKEN AN ENSEMBLE APPROACH FOR THE UPCOMING WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK. THIS YIELDS A RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF SOUTHERLY FLOW...AND GRADUALLY INCREASING RAIN CHANCES AS A COLD FRONT TRIES AND FAILS TO REACH THE AREA. TEMPS WILL RETURN TO NEAR CLIMATOLOGICAL LEVELS. FAST FACT... STILL WATCHING THE OVERALL WARM AUGUST. THROUGH AUGUST 20TH...THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IS 83.6 DEGREES...WHICH IS SECOND WARMEST (BEHIND 85.1 IN 1935). PLUGGING IN OUR FORECAST FOR THE NEXT WEEK...THE AVERAGE WOULD DROP JUST SHY OF A DEGREE IN THAT WEEKS TIME...LOWERING US TO THIRD WARMEST. STILL...IT APPEARS THIS AUGUST IS GOING TO BE WARMER THAN LAST AUGUST...WHICH ENDED UP SIXTH WARMEST AT HUNTSVILLE. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... HUNTSVILLE 72 91 66 91 / 20 10 10 10 SHOALS 72 90 66 91 / 20 10 10 10 CULLMAN 73 91 68 91 / 20 20 10 10 FAYETTEVILLE 72 90 65 90 / 20 10 10 10 ALBERTVILLE 72 91 67 90 / 20 20 10 10 FORT PAYNE 73 90 68 91 / 20 20 10 10 && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. TN...NONE. && JE/23
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 1235 PM CDT MON AUG 21 2006 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-221000- LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN- MARSHALL-JACKSON-DE KALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN- 1235 PM CDT MON AUG 21 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS A FRONTAL BOUNDARY SLOWLY SAGS SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE REGION. STRONGER STORMS WILL BRING LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH. AN ISOLATED STORM OR TWO MAY BRIEFLY APPROACH SEVERE LIMITS...CONTAINING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH BY LATE THIS EVENING. AREAS THAT RECEIVE GOOD WETTING RAINS MAY EXPERIENCE PATCHY FOG DEVELOPMENT DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... THE PROBABILITY OF WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL AGAIN BE POSSIBLE ON TUESDAY...MAINLY SOUTH OF THE TENNESSEE RIVER. OTHERWISE DRY WEATHER WILL PREVAIL THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WORK WEEK. THE NEXT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS RETURNS TO THE FORECAST FOR THE UPCOMING WEEKEND. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 158 PM CDT MON AUG 21 2006 ALZ003-211945- FRANKLIN- 158 PM CDT MON AUG 21 2006 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR NORTHEAST FRANKLIN COUNTY UNTIL 245 PM CDT... AT 156 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR LITTLEVILLE...OR 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF RUSSELLVILLE...MOVING SOUTH AT 5 MPH. WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... THARPTOWN. PLEASANT RIDGE. NEWBURG. RUSSELLVILLE. SEEK SHELTER AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FROM THE THUNDERSTORM. THIS MAY RESULT IN BRIEF RUNOFF PROBLEMS AND PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. 10
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 213 PM CDT MON AUG 21 2006 ALZ002-212000- COLBERT- 213 PM CDT MON AUG 21 2006 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR COLBERT COUNTY UNTIL 300 PM CDT... AT 209 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR MUSCLE SHOALS. THIS STORM WAS DRIFTING TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST. WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... MUSCLE SHOALS. LISTERHILL. SEEK SHELTER AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FROM THE THUNDERSTORM. THIS MAY RESULT IN BRIEF RUNOFF PROBLEMS AND PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. 10
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 418 PM CDT MON AUG 21 2006 ALZ016-212200- CULLMAN- 418 PM CDT MON AUG 21 2006 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR CULLMAN COUNTY UNTIL 500 PM CDT... AT 418 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM NEAR FAIRVIEW...TO JOPPA. THE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH. THESE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... FAIRVIEW. JOPPA. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. TROUTMAN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 428 PM CDT MON AUG 21 2006 ALZ006-212215- MADISON- 428 PM CDT MON AUG 21 2006 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR MADISON COUNTY UNTIL 515 PM CDT... AT 428 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR HAZEL GREEN...OR NEAR MERIDIANVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... HAZEL GREEN. MERIDIANVILLE. MOORES MILL. DEPOSIT. HUNTSVILLE. SEEK SHELTER AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. DJN
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 25 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:16 UTC.
2 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning struck a mobile home on Holt Road engulfing the structure in flames. Damage is estimated.
Lightning struck a residence sparking a small fire damaging a television cable. Firefighters responded but only minor damage was reported. Time estimated.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2006Every state in 2006This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, August 2006
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: 5527785, 5527784.