A cold front pushing through the state brought showers and thunderstorms to portions of Central Alabama, which produced one tornado and isolated wind damage.
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 BMX wrote it up.
A cold front pushing through the state brought showers and thunderstorms to portions of Central Alabama, which produced one tornado and isolated wind damage.
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 Dec 24, 3:41 PM CST, 51 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 341 PM CST WED DEC 24 2008 .DISCUSSION... .SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OUT AHEAD OF THE FRONT ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA...WITH THE MAIN LINE OF PRECIP JUST NOW CROSSING INTO THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE FORECAST AREA. WINDS HAVE BEEN GUSTING TO 20 TO 25 KNOTS ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE AREA. A LAKE WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM...AND IT WILL BE RE-EVALUATED WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR. MOISTURE CONTINUES TO STREAM INTO CENTRAL ALABAMA...WITH DEW POINTS ALREADY IN THE LOW TO MID 60S ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA. STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS ARE STILL POSSIBLE THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS FOR AREAS NORTH AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 85 DUE TO FAVORABLE SHEAR...BUT STORMS SHOULD DIMINISH QUICKLY AFTER SUNSET. THE COLD FRONT LOOKS TO ENTER THE NORTHWEST PORTION OF THE CWA IN THE LATE AFTERNOON AND BE NEAR THE TCL-BHM-ANB CORRIDOR BY 6 PM. THE MODELS CONTINUE TO HANG THE FRONT UP ACROSS THE SOUTH AND NOT PUSH IT ON THROUGH...SO CONTINUED THE TREND OF KEEPING SHOWERS IN THE FORECAST FOR CHRISTMAS DAY. .LONG TERM...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NOT MUCH CHANGE IN THE LONG TERM. THE FRONT LIFTS NORTHWARD AS A WARM FRONT ON FRIDAY...WITH MOISTURE INCREASING ACROSS THE AREA. THERE IS STILL A LOW CONFIDENCE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE SATURDAY AS MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE A HIGH SHEAR/LOW CAPE ENVIRONMENT OUT AHEAD OF THE NEXT FRONTAL SYSTEM. THIS SECOND COLD FRONT WILL PUSH THROUGH THE AREA LATE SATURDAY NIGHT AND INTO SUNDAY MORNING. TEMPERATURES FORECAST TO DROP BY 10-15 DEGREES ON SUNDAY BEHIND THE FRONT...WITH LOWS SUNDAY NIGHT IN THE 30S. SOME LOCATIONS COULD DROP BELOW FREEZING MONDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHTS...WITH HIGHS REMAINING IN THE MID TO UPPER 50S THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD. 19 && .AVIATION...18Z TAF DISCUSSION. CEILINGS OF AROUND 1500 FT HAVE SPREAD ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL ALABAMA AND SHOULD REMAIN THROUGH THE REST OF THE FORECAST PERIOD...WITH SOME SLIGHT VARIATION EXPECTED. WINDS HAVE SHIFTED TO THE SOUTH AND ARE STILL GUSTING TO 20 TO 25 KNOTS ACROSS THE NORTH AND WEST...AND ARE NOW BEGINNING TO PICK UP ACROSS THE SOUTH. NUMEROUS SHOWERS WILL SPREAD INTO TCL AND BHM AFTER 22Z...AND SHOULD REACH THE SOUTHERN TAF SITES AFTER 03Z. ISOLATED TS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE NORTHWEST THIS EVENING...INCLUDING TCL, BHM, AND EET. FRONTAL PASSAGE STILL EXPECTED TO OCCUR AROUND 2-3Z IN BHM AND TCL...WITH THE FRONT REACHING MGM AND TOI BETWEEN 08-10Z. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE WEST BEHIND THE FRONT...AND TO THE NORTH AFTER 06Z. FRONT WILL STALL IN THE VICINITY OF MGM/TOI...SO DECIDED TO KEEP SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS IN THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST PERIOD FOR THESE LOCATIONS. 19 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GADSDEN 47 58 50 70 55 / 100 20 40 30 20 ANNISTON 49 60 51 70 55 / 100 20 40 30 20 BIRMINGHAM 47 59 52 71 57 / 100 30 40 30 20 TUSCALOOSA 48 62 54 75 58 / 90 30 40 20 20 CALERA 50 61 54 73 58 / 90 30 40 20 20 AUBURN 52 63 52 71 54 / 60 40 40 20 20 MONTGOMERY 57 68 57 78 60 / 60 40 40 20 20 TROY 58 70 56 76 59 / 60 30 40 20 20 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LAKE WIND ADVISORY FOR ALL CENTRAL ALABAMA UNTIL 6 PM. && 19/19/14
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 109 PM CST WED DEC 24 2008 ALZ011>015-017>050-251909- 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- 109 PM CST WED DEC 24 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SOUTHERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED AT 10 TO 20 MPH TODAY...WITH A FEW GUSTS OF 25 TO 30 MPH. THE WINDS BEGIN DECREASING LATE THIS AFTERNOON. ISOLATED STRONG TO MARGINALLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...MAINLY ALONG AND TO THE NORTH OF INTERSTATE 59 THROUGH 8 PM. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH A SQUALL LINE MOVING FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE AREA. THE SQUALL LINE IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR JASPER AROUND 3:30 PM...TUSCALOOSA NEAR 4 PM...AND BIRMINGHAM NEAR 5 PM. THERE IS A SECOND AREA OF CONCERN IN SOUTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...WHERE THE AIR MASS IS MORE UNSTABLE. THERE IS A SMALL CHANCE FOR ISOLATED LOW TOPPED ROTATING THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP... WHICH MAY PRODUCE AN ISOLATED TORNADO. FINALLY...AS THE SQUALL LINE AND AREA OF INSTABILITY CONVERGE OVER WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA LATER THIS AFTERNOON...THERE IS A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY BETWEEN 4 PM AND 7 PM FOR THE STORMS TO BECOME STRONGER. BY 8 PM...THE SQUALL LINE AND ANY REMAINING STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO WEAKEN RATHER QUICKLY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...CHRISTMAS DAY THROUGH TUESDAY. ANOTHER COLD FRONT APPROACHES CENTRAL ALABAMA ON SATURDAY. THERE IS A CHANCE THAT A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL APPROACH WESTERN PARTS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA BY LATE IN THE AFTERNOON AND CONTINUING INTO THE EVENING HOURS. CONFIDENCE IS LOW AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE TIMING OF THE FRONT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. DUE TO THE LIMITED NATURE OF THE STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS...NO WATCHES ARE ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. JD/81
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 211 PM CST WED DEC 24 2008 ALZ032>034-242045- BIBB-HALE-PERRY- 211 PM CST WED DEC 24 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR BIBB...HALE AND PERRY COUNTIES UNTIL 245 PM CST... AT 206 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES EAST OF GREENSBORO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... MORGAN SPRINGS. ELLARDS. HARRISBURG. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. 12/SIRMON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 220 PM CST WED DEC 24 2008 ALZ011-012-242100- LAMAR-MARION- 220 PM CST WED DEC 24 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR LAMAR AND MARION COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM CST... AT 218 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM RUSSELLVILLE TO AMORY... MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... SHOTSVILLE. WESTON. SULLIGENT. RANKIN FITE AIRPORT. TESSNER. PIKEVILLE. 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.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 251 PM CST WED DEC 24 2008 ALZ011>014-242145- FAYETTE-LAMAR-MARION-WINSTON- 251 PM CST WED DEC 24 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FAYETTE...LAMAR...MARION AND WINSTON COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM CST... AT 248 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES EAST OF RUSSELLVILLE TO 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF CALEDONIA...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES EAST OF RUSSELLVILLE TO 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF COLUMBUS AFB...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... PINE SPRINGS. SULLIGENT. PIKEVILLE. VERNON. PINEY GROVE. GU-WIN. 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.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 418 PM CST WED DEC 24 2008 ALZ013>015-023-242300- FAYETTE-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER-WINSTON- 418 PM CST WED DEC 24 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FAYETTE...TUSCALOOSA...WALKER AND WINSTON COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM CST... AT 415 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM FALLS CITY TO 6 MILES SOUTH OF BANKSTON...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM ARLEY TO 12 MILES SOUTHEAST OF FAYETTE...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... GAMBLE. WILSON BEND. SMITH DAM. WHITSON. THE WYE. SIPSEY. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. 12/SIRMON
The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 87 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:32 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
The tornado briefly touched down near the intersection of AL-69 and Dutton Hill Road. It damaged 1 carport, 2 sheds, a trailer, and several trees in the area.
Several trees were blown down near the intersection of Empire Road and Hill Road.
Several trees were blown down.
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: 141372, 141373, 141374, 141375.