A potent cold front pushed across northern Alabama during the afternoon and evening hours. Intense low level shear and weak instability was present along and ahead of this front.
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 episode as NWS HUN wrote it up.
A potent cold front pushed across northern Alabama during the afternoon and evening hours. Intense low level shear and weak instability was present along and ahead of this front. A few severe thunderstorms developed along the front. One of the storms produced a bow echo just north of Decatur which resulted in a brief EF-1 tornado within the comma head of the storm in Belle Mina in Limestone 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 Dec 24, 12:45 PM CST, 1 hour 40 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1245 PM CST WED DEC 24 2008
.MESOSCALE UPDATE...
MAIN EMPHASIS IS THE SHORT TERM CONVECTIVE TRENDS THROUGH THIS
AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. QLCS FROM SW TN THROUGH CENTRAL MS IS
SHOWING AN INTENSIFYING TREND AT THE MOMENT. 18Z SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS
A WEAK PSEUDO-WARM FRONT EXTENDING FROM KMSL SE TO JUST N OF BHM.
SB-CAPES ARE CLIMBING S OF THIS BOUNDARY WITH UP TO 500 J/KG
INDICATED WHERE A NARROW CLEARING ZONE IS ALLOWING ADDITIONAL
HEATING. HIGHEST THREAT OF LOCALLY SEVERE WEATHER WILL OCCUR NEAR
THE WARM FRONT/QLCS INTERSECTION IN THE SHOALS...AND SWD INTO THE
SB-INSTABILITY AXIS. 0-1KM SRH/SHEAR VALUES REMAIN QUITE HIGH AND
FAVORABLE FOR ISOLATED BRIEF TORNADOES. THIS CONCERN AGAIN WOULD BE
HIGHEST SW OF A SHOALS-CULLMAN LINE FROM 21-00Z. LACK OF A DRY PUNCH
ALOFT SHOULD NEGATE WIDESPREAD DAMAGING STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS HOWEVER.
AS THE FRONT SLOWS ITS PROGRESS...THE THREAT OF TRAINING AND LOCALLY
HEAVY RAIN MAY INCREASE S OF THE TN RIVER FROM 00-03Z. WILL MONITOR
THIS CLOSELY GIVEN OUR SATURATED SOIL CONDITIONS.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
THE GOING FORECAST PACKAGE IS LOOKING IN GOOD SHAPE OVER THE
WEEKEND...WITH LITTLE CHANGE IN SYNOPTIC TRENDS WITH THE LATEST
MODEL SUITE. WITH THE COLD FRONT HANGING UP JUST TO OUR S ON
CHRISTMAS DAY...8-7H MOISTURE MAY TEND TO HUG OUR SOUTHERN
COUNTIES...THUS MAY SEE MO CLOUDY CONDITIONS IN THESE AREAS. THE
BOUNDARY WILL LIFT NWD THURSDAY NIGHT...WITH WEAK-MODERATE
ISENTROPIC ASCENT LENDING TO -SHRA. IF THE FRONT REMAINS
SLUGGISH...LOW CLOUDS/DZ/FG MAY BECOME A PROBLEM THROUGH FRIDAY.
STRONG TROF IS STILL PROGGED TO LIFT THROUGH THE MID MS AND OH
VALLEYS LATE FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY. THE STRONGEST UPPER Q-G FORCING
WILL REMAIN TO OUR N...BUT DEEP LAYER CONVERGENCE ALONG THE COLD
FRONT WILL PRODUCE A SQUALL LINE WHICH SHOULD EXTEND INTO THE DEEP
SOUTH. WIND ADVISORIES MAY BE REQUIRED ONCE AGAIN ON SATURDAY
AHEAD OF THIS FRONT GIVEN THE STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT AND LLJ.
MOISTURE WILL DEEPEN ONCE AGAIN WITH 60+ DEW POINTS LIKELY.
INSTABILITY...AS USUAL...WILL BE THE DETERMINING FACTOR ON HOW
WIDESPREAD THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE. ATTM...WILL CONTINUE
TO ADDRESS THE THREAT OF STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS...ALONG WITH
LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IN THE HWO.
A PATTERN CHANGE IS STILL SLATED FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK...WITH A MORE
NWLY FLOW ALOFT BRINGING A SHOT OF CANADIAN AIR INTO THE REGION. A
MORE SIGNIFICANT VORTEX DROPS SE INTO THE UPPER MIDWEST AND GREAT
LAKES JUST BEYOND THIS FORECAST PD.
&&
.AVIATION.../ISSUED AT 1157 AM CST WED DEC 24 2008/
NO CHANGES. CONVECTIVE LINE CONTINUES TO APPROACH THE AREA FROM
THE WEST. STRONG SPEED SHEAR ALOFT IS GENERATING SHRA AHEAD OF THE
MAIN CONVECTIVE LINE...SO TAFS WILL SHOW SHRA PRECEDING TSRA
ACTIVITY. WIND GUSTS IN HEAVIER CONVECTION ARE ACTUALLY NEAR THAT
OF THE GRADIENT WIND GUSTS AHEAD OF THE LINE THUS FAR. BUT STRONG
GUSTS 30KTS AND SOME WIND DIRECTION VARIABILITY FROM 180-240
DEGREES MAY BE EXPECTED WITH CONVECTIVE WINDS. THINK BRIEF IFR
CIGS MAY BE POSSIBLE WITH HEAVIER CONVECTION WITH ANY HEAVY
TSRA...BUT SHOULD PRIMARILY SEE MVFR CIGS/VIS AS HAS BEEN THE CASE
MOSTLY WITH THE LINE THUS FAR. TAFS WILL SHOW GRADUAL VEERING WIND
PROFILES POST FRONTAL PASSAGE THIS EVENING THRU TMRW.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
HUNTSVILLE 41 54 49 69 58 / 70 10 40 30 30
SHOALS 38 55 50 71 60 / 40 0 40 30 30
CULLMAN 43 55 52 70 59 / 80 10 40 30 30
FAYETTEVILLE 37 52 47 67 57 / 70 0 40 30 30
ALBERTVILLE 46 57 51 70 56 / 90 10 40 30 30
FORT PAYNE 45 56 46 67 53 / 100 10 40 30 20
&&
.HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: COLBERT...CULLMAN...DE KALB...FRANKLIN AL...
JACKSON...LAUDERDALE...LAWRENCE...LIMESTONE...MADISON...
MARSHALL...MORGAN.
TN...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: FRANKLIN TN...LINCOLN...MOORE.
&&
MESOSCALE/DISCUSSION...KULA
AVIATION...KDWHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 1236 PM CST WED DEC 24 2008 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-250200- LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN- MARSHALL-JACKSON-DE KALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN- 1236 PM CST WED DEC 24 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... A STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IN THE GREAT LAKES AND A HIGH OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST WILL GENERATE GUSTY WINDS ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY. WIND GUSTS AROUND 35 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON...WITH GUSTS OVER 40 MPH POSSIBLE OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF NORTHEASTERN ALABAMA AND SOUTHERN TENNESSEE. A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. ALTHOUGH WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT ANTICIPATED...A BRIEF ISOLATED TORNADO MAY BE POSSIBLE GENERALLY SOUTHWEST OF A MUSCLE SHOALS TO CULLMAN LINE. IN ADDITION...SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE STRONG WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH. AROUND ONE TO TWO INCHES OF RAINFALL IS EXPECTED WITH THIS LINE AS IT CROSSES THE AREA...ESPECIALLY WHERE HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS OCCUR. THIS COULD LEAD TO MINOR FLASH FLOODING ISSUES IN AND NEAR RECENTLY SWOLLEN STREAMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... AN UNSETTLED WEATHER PATTERN WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE HOLIDAY WEEK. ANOTHER COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE TENNESSEE VALLEY DURING SATURDAY. GUSTY WINDS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AGAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS SYSTEM. THIS ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL ENHANCE THE FLOOD THREAT...ESPECIALLY IN SMALL STREAMS AND OTHER LOW LYING AREAS. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL MAY BE NECESSARY THIS AFTERNOON. KDW
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 135 PM CST WED DEC 24 2008 ALZ002-003-242015- COLBERT-FRANKLIN- 135 PM CST WED DEC 24 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR COLBERT AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM CST... AT 135 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF IUKA TO 7 MILES NORTH OF FULTON...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... ALLSBORO...CHEROKEE TUSCUMBIA...MUSCLE SHOALS. POGO...MYNOT. PLEASANT SITE...BARTON. RED ROCK...HALLTOWN. SRYGLEY CHURCH...PRIDE LANDING. THE GUSTY WINDS WILL BE CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL TREES...TREE LIMBS...AND POWERLINES. SEEK SAFE SHELTER 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. KDW
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 210 PM CST WED DEC 24 2008 ALZ001>004-242100- COLBERT-FRANKLIN-LAUDERDALE-LAWRENCE- 210 PM CST WED DEC 24 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR COLBERT...FRANKLIN...LAUDERDALE AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM CST... AT 210 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM FLORENCE TO 8 MILES SOUTH OF RED BAY...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... MUSCLE SHOALS...TUSCUMBIA. KILLEN...COLBERT HEIGHTS. CROOKED OAK...LA GRANGE. DEMPSEY...ROCKWOOD. ATWOOD...PHIL CAMPBELL NEW BETHEL...WHITEOAK. THE GUSTY WINDS WILL BE CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL TREES...TREE LIMBS...AND POWERLINES. SEEK SAFE SHELTER 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. KDW
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 112 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:22 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds partially collapsed an aluminum porch canopy in the Muscle Shoals area on Highland Avenue. Trees were blown down nearby.
Thunderstorm winds tore off a canopy from a porch at a residence in the Hickory Flats neighborhood.
A tornado tracked through the northern portions of the community of Belle Mina on Christmas Eve. The tornado developed in a forested area just east of interstate 65 north of Garrett Road. It toppled trees onto a vehicle being used by hunters. The tornado tracked through a cotton field for about 1/2 of a mile before intensifying to EF-1 strength and destroying two single wide trailer homes. One was lifted off its foundation entirely with debris found several hundred yards downwind. Fortunately, no occupants were in either location. The tornado then tracked into a farmstead along Mooresville Road, completely destroying two large tractor sheds. Two of the adjacent homes sustained minor damage to the roof. Several cedar and cypress trees were either snapped or uprooted. One tree landed atop a vehicle. No injuries occurred. The tornado then crossed Mooresville Road, uprooting and snapping additional trees, and collapsing a small shed onto vehicles. One wall of an old small farmhouse also collapsed. No occupants were in the home at the time.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed trees and caused power outages in the Edgewater subdivision.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down large trees along Skyline road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Alabama, 2008Warnings in Alabama, December 2008
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: 140911, 140910, 140907, 140908, 140909.