Damaging Winds in Alabama, July 20, 2007

Name: Damaging Winds in Alabama, July 20, 2007
Start: 2007-07-20T17:15
End: 2007-07-20T19:25
Location: Alabama

July 20, 2007 · NWS TAE · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

Severe thunderstorms produced damaging winds across portions of southeast Alabama.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $2,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS TAE wrote it up.

Severe thunderstorms produced damaging winds across portions of southeast Alabama.

What forecasters said that day

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 Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 20, 12:54 PM CST, 4 hours 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 20, 12:54 PM CST, 4 hours 21 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
254 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 2007

.SHORT TERM...IMPRESSIVE JULY SHORTWAVE ROTATING INTO THE BASE OF
THE PERSISTENT EASTERN CONUS TROUGH. LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS HAS DEVELOPED AHEAD OF THE SHORTWAVE AND IS PUSHING
SOUTH THROUGH CENTRAL GEORGIA ATTM. PLENTY OF INSTABILITY ACROSS
SOUTH GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON SHOULD ALLOW THESE STORMS TO CONTINUE
TO MOVE SOUTH INTO THE CWA LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING.
SOME SEVERE STORMS EXPECTED WITH THIS LINE WITH THE MAIN THREAT
OF DAMAGING WINDS.

EXPECT LINE TO CONTINUE SOUTH OVERNIGHT PUSHING INTO THE PANHANDLE
AND BIG BEND LATE IN THE EVENING OR OVERNIGHT. COULD SEE SOME
STRONG STORMS IN THESE AREAS BUT THREAT NOT QUITE AS GREAT WITH
LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING AND A BIT LOWER INSTABILITY OVER THE BIG
BEND.

STRONG SHORTWAVE WILL PUSH SOUTH INTO THE COASTAL WATERS SATURDAY
MORNING WITH SOME DRY AIR MOVING INTO THE NORTHERN TWO THIRDS OF
THE CWA. THIS WILL KEEP BEST RAIN CHANCES OVER SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF
THE AREA FOR SATURDAY. BY SUNDAY...DRY AIR WILL STILL BE IN PLACE
OVER MUCH OF CWA...BUT SHORTWAVES CONTINUING TO ROTATE THROUGH
THE BASE OF THE TROUGH WILL PROVIDE A TRIGGER FOR AFTERNOON
CONVECTION OVER MAINLY THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE CWA.

.LONG TERM...BASE OF TROUGH EXPECTED TO CUTOFF BY EARLY NEXT WEEK
AND SLOWLY RETROGRADE WEST THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY. THIS WILL
CONTINUE TO ALLOW FOR WEAK DISTURBANCE TO MOVE ACROSS THE
AREA...BUT WITH DEEP LAYER MOISTURE A LITTLE BELOW NORMAL...WILL
NOT HAVE MORE THAN CHANCE POPS IN THE FORECAST.

&&

.AVIATION...VFR CONDITIONS CONTINUE AT ALL TERMINALS THIS AFTERNOON.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT FOR MUCH
OF SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL GA INCLUDING KABY AND JUST NORTH OF
KVLD. LINE OF STORMS WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE
WINDS AND LARGE HAIL WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTH ACROSS AL AND GA
INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS REACHING KDHN TO KABY DURING THE EARLY
TO MID EVENING. ELSEWHERE LOOK FOR A SCT-BKN CU FIELD WITH MORE
ISOLATED SHOWERS AND STORMS DEVELOPING ALONG THE SEA-BREEZE FROM
KPFN TO KTLH. AREA OF SHOWERS AND STORMS WITH STILL THE CHANCE FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL WILL EXPAND SOUTH TOWARD KVLD DURING THE
MIDDLE AND LATE EVENING HOURS. AT THIS TIME GREATEST CHANCE OF
STORMS ACROSS FLORIDA AFTER EARLY EVENING SEA-BREEZE ACTIVITY
DIMINISHES WILL BE FROM KTLH AND EASTWARD ALONG TWEB ROUTE 112
TOWARD JACKSONVILLE. WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND LIGHTER STORMS ARE
LIKELY TO LINGER WELL INTO THE NIGHT ACROSS THE SOUTHERN FORECAST
AREA.

&&

.MARINE...WINDS AND SEAS TO GENERALLY STAY ON THE MILD SIDE. WILL
SEE AN ACTIVE MORNING OVER THE WATERS WITH CONVECTION AND LOCALLY
HIGHER WINDS AND SEAS.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...DEWPOINT DROPPED QUICKLY THIS AFTERNOON AS
TEMPERATURES ROSE INTO THE UPPER 90S. THIS ALLOWED RH VALUES TO
DROP INTO THE 20S PROMPTING THE ISSUANCE OF A RED FLAG WARNING FOR
THE INLAND BIG BEND COUNTIES. COOLER TEMPS ON SATURDAY WILL
PREVENT RH VALUES FROM DROPPING AS LOW...SO NO HEADLINES NEEDED.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TALLAHASSEE  74  92  71  92  71 /  30  40  20  30  30
PANAMA CITY  78  92  76  92  76 /  20  40  20  20  20
DOTHAN       73  93  70  93  69 /  40  20  10  20  20
ALBANY       72  93  71  93  70 /  40  20  10  30  20
VALDOSTA     72  94  70  92  70 /  40  30  20  40  20
CROSS CITY   74  92  72  92  71 /  30  40  30  40  30

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...NONE.
GA...NONE.
FL...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: GADSDEN...JEFFERSON...LEON...MADISON.

GM...NONE.

&&

CAMP/MROCZKA

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 20, 12:19 PM CST, 4 hours 56 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
219 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 2007

ALZ065>069-FLZ007>019-026>029-034-GMZ730-750-755-765-770-775-
210900-
COFFEE-DALE-HENRY-GENEVA-HOUSTON-INLAND WALTON-COASTAL WALTON-
HOLMES-WASHINGTON-JACKSON-BAY-CALHOUN-GULF-FRANKLIN-GADSDEN-LEON-
JEFFERSON-MADISON-LIBERTY-WAKULLA-TAYLOR-LAFAYETTE-DIXIE-
APALACHEE BAY OR COASTAL WATERS FROM KEATON BEACH TO OCHLOCKONEE
RIVER FL OUT TO 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM APALACHICOLA TO DESTIN FL OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM  OCHLOCKONEE RIVER TO APALACHICOLA FL OUT TO
20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM  SUWANNEE RIVER TO KEATON BEACH OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM APALACHICOLA TO DESTIN FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM  SUWANNEE RIVER TO APALACHICOLA FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
219 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 2007 /119 PM CDT FRI JUL 20 2007/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST ALABAMA...
THE FLORIDA BIG BEND AND PANHANDLE...AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE SOUTHEAST ACROSS
ALABAMA THROUGH THE MIDDLE EVENING HOURS BEFORE REACHING NORTHERN
FLORIDA LATE THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. A FEW OF THESE STORMS
MAY BE ON THE STRONG TO SEVERE SIDE WITH DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE
WINDS AND LARGE HAIL THE GREATEST THREAT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...

A DEEPENING UPPER TROUGH AND A SURFACE COLD FRONT WILL BRING A
CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ALONG WITH COOLER AFTERNOON
TEMPERATURES TO THE REGION ON SATURDAY. A FEW OF THE STORMS MAY
STILL BE ON THE STRONG SIDE ALTHOUGH THE GREATER CHANCES FOR
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL FARTHER SOUTH AND EAST INTO THE FLORIDA
PENINSULA. DRIER AIR WILL FILTER SOUTH ON SUNDAY INTO MONDAY WITH
LIMITED RAINFALL.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED ACROSS SOUTHEAST ALABAMA THIS
EVENING.

GAZ120>131-142>148-155>161-210900-
QUITMAN-CLAY-RANDOLPH-CALHOUN-TERRELL-DOUGHERTY-LEE-WORTH-TURNER-
TIFT-BEN HILL-IRWIN-EARLY-MILLER-BAKER-MITCHELL-COLQUITT-COOK-
BERRIEN-SEMINOLE-DECATUR-GRADY-THOMAS-BROOKS-LOWNDES-LANIER-
219 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 2007

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL
GEORGIA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WATCH NUMBER 547 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT
THIS EVENING FOR ALL BUT EXTREME SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL GEORGIA.

A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IS ANTICIPATED TO MOVE
SOUTHEAST INTO PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL GEORGIA
DURING THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE
LIKELY TO BE STRONG TO SEVERE. THE MAIN CONCERN WITH THIS LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE BOWING STORMS SEGMENTS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. ALTHOUGH THE SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THERE IS
A CHANCE THAT THE SEVERE THREAT WILL LINGER INTO THE LATE EVENING
HOURS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...

A DEEPENING UPPER TROUGH AND A SURFACE COLD FRONT WILL BRING A
CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ALONG WITH COOLER AFTERNOON
TEMPERATURES TO THE REGION ON SATURDAY. A FEW OF THE STORMS MAY
STILL BE ON THE STRONG SIDE ALTHOUGH THE GREATER CHANCES FOR
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE FURTHER SOUTH INTO FLORIDA. DRIER AIR
WILL FILTER SOUTH ON SUNDAY INTO MONDAY WITH LIMITED RAINFALL.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS
EVENING.

14-MROCZKA

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 20, 3:02 PM CST, 2 hours 13 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
502 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 2007

FLZ028-202200-
TAYLOR-
502 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 2007

...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT FOR TAYLOR COUNTY IN
NORTH FLORIDA...

* UNTIL 600 PM EDT

AT 500 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF PERRY...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT
15 MPH.

SMALL HAIL...AND WINDS 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WHICH MAY
CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING OF STREETS AND LOW LYING AREAS...AND IS
ALSO PRODUCING FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.

RELAY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
TALLAHASSEE AT (8 5 0) 9 4 2 8 8 3 3. OR...YOU MAY CONTACT THE
NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

85-GIBBS

Special weather statement, Jul 20, 3:33 PM CST, 1 hour 42 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
533 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 2007

GAZ123-125-127>129-131-142>148-202245-
BAKER-BERRIEN-CALHOUN-COLQUITT-COOK-DOUGHERTY-EARLY-IRWIN-MILLER-
MITCHELL-TIFT-TURNER-WORTH-
533 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 2007

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IN EFFECT FOR BAKER...BERRIEN...
CALHOUN...COLQUITT...COOK...DOUGHERTY...EARLY...IRWIN...MILLER...
MITCHELL...TIFT...TURNER AND WORTH COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA...

* UNTIL 645 PM EDT

AT 530 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF
BLAKELY TO AMBROSE...MOVING SOUTH AT 30 MPH.

THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  TY TY BY 540 PM EDT.
  UNIONVILLE BY 545 PM EDT.
  ENIGMA BY 550 PM EDT.
  NEWTON BY 555 PM EDT.
  OMEGA BY 600 PM EDT.
  NORMAN PARK BY 605 PM EDT.

SMALL HAIL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH ARE
POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. THE GUST FRONT IS SPEEDING OUT AHEAD OF
THE THUNDERSTORMS...SO THE GUSTY WINDS WILL ARRIVE BEFORE THE ACTUAL
THUNDERSTORMS REACH THE ALERTED COUNTIES.

RELAY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
TALLAHASSEE AT (8 5 0) 9 4 2 8 8 3 3. OR...YOU MAY CONTACT THE
NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

14-MROCZKA

Special weather statement, Jul 20, 4:11 PM CST, 1 hour 4 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
611 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 2007

FLZ028-202245-
TAYLOR-
611 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 2007

...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT FOR TAYLOR COUNTY...

* UNTIL 645 PM EDT

AT 607 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF PERRY...MOVING SOUTH AT 5
MPH.

SMALL HAIL...AND WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WHICH MAY
CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING OF STREETS AND LOW LYING AREAS...AND IS ALSO
PRODUCING FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. MOVE INDOORS
IMMEDIATELY LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES NUMBER ONE KILLERS.
REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

18-WOOL

Special weather statement, Jul 20, 4:18 PM CST, 57 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
618 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 2007

ALZ067-202315-
HENRY-
518 PM CDT FRI JUL 20 2007

...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT FOR HENRY COUNTY IN
SOUTHEAST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 615 PM CDT

AT 518 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 11 MILES WEST OF ABBEVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT
10 TO 15 MPH.

WINDS 30 TO 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WHICH MAY
CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING OF STREETS AND LOW LYING AREAS...AND IS
ALSO PRODUCING FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.

RELAY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
TALLAHASSEE AT (8 5 0) 9 4 2 8 8 3 3. OR...YOU MAY CONTACT THE
NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

85-GIBBS

Special weather statement, Jul 20, 5:01 PM CST, 14 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
701 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 2007

ALZ069-202330-
HOUSTON-
601 PM CDT FRI JUL 20 2007

...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN HOUSTON
COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 630 PM CDT

AT 552 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
DEVELOPING STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR ASHFORD...OR 11 MILES EAST OF
DOWNTOWN DOTHAN...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS TO AROUND 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

14-MROCZKA

Special weather statement, Jul 20, 5:11 PM CST, 4 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
711 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 2007

GAZ157-158-202345-
GRADY-THOMAS-
711 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 2007

...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT FOR GRADY AND THOMAS
COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA...

* UNTIL 745 PM EDT

AT 706 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES WEST OF THOMASVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT
10 TO 15 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WHICH MAY
CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING OF STREETS AND LOW LYING AREAS...AND IS
ALSO PRODUCING FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.

RELAY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
TALLAHASSEE AT (8 5 0) 9 4 2 8 8 3 3. OR...YOU MAY CONTACT THE
NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

85-GIBBS

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Coffee

When: July 20, 5:15 PM CST
Where: Coffee County, Elba
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $250
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.420, -86.070

Several downed trees blocked roads in northern part of the city.

Thunderstorm Wind, Coffee

When: July 20, 6:15 PM CST
Where: Coffee County, Enterprise
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $250
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.320, -85.850

A few utility poles were down in the northern part of the city.

Thunderstorm Wind, Geneva

When: July 20, 7:25 PM CST
Where: Geneva County, Slocomb
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.120, -85.600

Several trees and utility poles were down.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alabama in 2007 Every state in 2007 This day in weather history Warnings in Alabama, July 2007

Sources

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: 43734, 43737, 43740.