A strong low pressure system and associated cold front caused numerous severe thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes across central Alabama.
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 strong low pressure system and associated cold front caused numerous severe thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes across central Alabama.
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 Jan 10, 12:15 PM CST, 53 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1215 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008 .UPDATE...FOR MESOSCALE DISCUSSION. && .MESOSCALE... CURRENTLY...LOOKING AT RAPID DESTABILIZATION THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS AS SEVERAL SPOTS ESPECIALLY SOUTH AND EAST HAVE SCATTERED TO BROKEN CLOUD COVER. THIS IS ALLOWING TEMPS TO INCREASE IN SPOTTY LOCATIONS. SURGING DEWPOINTS ARE ALSO A CONCERN...AS THE SOUTHWEST HAS SEEN STATIONS IN THE MIDDLE 60S...WHILE FURTHER NORTH IT IS CLOSER TO THE 60 MARK. ANY ADDITIONAL INCREASE IN TEMPS AND DEWPOINTS WILL FURTHER THE CAUSE OF INCREASING SURFACE BASED CAPE. CAPE VALUES ARE AROUND 500 IN GENERAL WITH POCKETS CLOSER TO 1000 IN THE FAR WESTERN AND SOUTHWESTERN AREAS. AS FOR WIND SHEAR...THE BULK SHEAR CONTINUES HIGHEST OVER NEARLY THE SAME PLACES...OUT WEST AND TO THE SOUTHWEST. BOTH THE 0 TO 3KM AND THE MORE CRITICAL FOR LASTING TORNADOES 0 TO 1KM SHEAR ARE NEAR THE 350 OR SO MARK. BOTH OF THESE CRITICAL ELEMENTS MEAN SEVERAL THINGS...THE FIRST BEING THAT ORDINARY CELLS WILL LIKELY TO CONTINUE BEING SUPERCELLULAR IN NATURE AND THE SECOND IS THAT A MAJORITY OF CELLS WILL BE LONG LASTING. THE CELLS THAT ARE CURRENTLY DEVELOPING JUST TO OUR SOUTH AND WEST HAVE ALSO SHOWN BOTH OF THESE TRENDS. FOR THE AFTERNOON THESE PARAMETERS WILL CONTINUE SHIFTING TO THE EAST AND SETUP ACROSS THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE AREA. QUESTION MARKS STILL HAMPER ON HOW MUCH LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL MOVE NORTH THROUGH THE CWA THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS. THIS WILL BE A CRITICAL ELEMENT IN KEEPING THE UNSTABLE PARAMETERS HIGH ENOUGH FOR CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT. FOR NOW...IT APPEARS THIS WILL NOT BE A PROBLEM. 17/KLAWS && .AVIATION....AVIATION...18Z TAF DISCUSSION. STRONG SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL CONTINUE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 KTS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON ACROSS THE REGION BEGINNING IN TCL AROUND 18Z TO 19Z AND NEAR TOI BY 22Z. A STRONG SQUALL LINE WILL MOVE THROUGH THE STATE LATER THIS EVENING WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS POSSIBLE. THIS LINE SHOULD REACH TCL NEAR 23Z AND TOI BETWEEN 04Z AND 05Z. WINDS WILL SHIFT BEHIND THIS LINE TO WESTERLY AND NORTHWESTERLY. THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING...SKIES SHOULD BE BKN TO OVC MVFR/VFR WITH VIS 5 TO P6SM BASED ON VCSH AND VCTS. ALL CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO IMPROVE BY 15Z FRIDAY WITH AREAWIDE VFR. && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LAKE WIND ADVISORY FOR ALL AREAS FROM NOON UNTIL 8 PM CST. && 17/88
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1220 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008 ALZ011>015-017>050-111230- 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- 1220 AM CST THU JAN 10 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...ARE LIKELY TODAY AND TONIGHT ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. FOR AREAS GENERALLY ALONG AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 65...THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT AND INTENSITY WILL BE ON THE INCREASE THROUGH 3 PM. AREAS WEST INTERSTATE 65 WILL BE AFFECTED MAINLY THROUGH 10 PM. AREAS EAST OF INTERSTATE 65 WILL BE AFFECTED MAINLY AFTER 3 PM...WITH AREAS IN EXTREME EASTERN ALABAMA AFFECTED UNTIL 2 AM FRIDAY MORNING. THIS EVENT IS DEVELOPING INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE REPORTS OF STORM DAMAGE IN MISSISSIPPI THIS MORNING AS STORMS MOVE EASTWARD. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THERE WILL BE SEVERAL TORNADO TOUCHDOWNS IN CENTRAL ALABAMA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...ALONG WITH NUMEROUS REPORTS OF WIND DAMAGE AND LARGE HAIL. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT TRAVEL BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM AS THE STORMS APPROACH YOUR AREA...AND THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO GET TO A SAFE BUILDING IN SHORT NOTICE. STAY TUNED TO FURTHER STATEMENTS REGARDING THIS POTENTIAL DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL WILL BE NECESSARY THROUGH 2 AM FRIDAY. STEFKOVICH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1238 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008 ALZ033-039-101930- MARENGO-PERRY- 1238 PM CST THU JAN 10 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR MARENGO AND PERRY COUNTIES UNTIL 130 PM CST... AT 1230 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR WOODS BLUFF...OR 21 MILES NORTHWEST OF GROVE HILL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... PUTNAM. NICHOLSVILLE. DIXONS MILL. MILLER. SHILOH. MAGNOLIA. A FUNNEL CLOUD HAS BEEN REPORTED ASSOCIATED WITH THIS STORM IN CHOCTAW COUNTY. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CST THURSDAY EVENING FOR WESTERN ALABAMA. 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 Mobile radar (KMOB), 158 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:07 UTC.
9 thunderstorm wind, 7 tornado, 1 hail, 1 funnel cloud, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Four home suffered minor damage, and several trees were snapped off, near Amber Lane and AL-10, just west of Dixons Mill.
This tornado is a continuation of a tornado that originally touched down in Lowndes County Mississippi. It crossed into Alabama near Willie Greer Road, just north of AL-18. From there, it continued to move east-northeast, remaining just north of AL-18 as it passed close to the town of Molloy. The tornado finally lifted near McNees Crossing Road, just northeast of Molloy. Along its path in Alabama, the tornado took the roof off of two homes, destroyed 2 wooden barns, moved the foundation of 2 mobile homes, and uprooted several huge trees. Although it only produced EF-2 damage in Alabama, the entire tornado was rated EF-3 due to the damage in Mississippi.
Quarter size hail was on Aberdeen Road in Vernon.
A tree fell on a vehicle, trapping a woman inside. The woman was subsequently freed by rescuers, and taken to the hospital for undisclosed injuries.
The tornado briefly touched down on the south side of Pickensville, near Jackson Ferry Road, and was on the ground for less than a minute. One metal storage barn was damaged, and several small trees were blown down.
Several trees were blown down on AL-86 near Carrollton.
The tornado touched down between Gordo and the Tuscaloosa County line, near the intersection of Ben Elmore Road and CR-33. From there, it travelled east-northeast before crossing into Tuscaloosa County. A barn and several old chicken houses on CR-33 east of Gordo sustained heavy damage.
The tornado that previously touched down in eastern Pickens County moved into extreme western Tuscaloosa County, just north of Barefoot Springer Road. The tornado was on the ground for less than a minute in Tuscaloosa County, producing only minor tree damage.
A funnel cloud was spotted in Demopolis by Fire Department personnel, a train conductor, and at least one member of the general public.
The tornado touched down around just southwest of the intersection of AL-69 and CR-38, near Windham Springs. From there, it traveled northeast across the intersection, and then roughly parallel to CR-38 for about 5 miles, before lifting northeast of the Wiley Community. At least 5 structures were heavily damaged, including a church in Windham Springs and a general store in Wiley. At least 300 trees were either snapped or uprooted along the damage path.
One tree was blown down in Bellamy.
Several trees and powerlines were blown down on multiple roads within and just south of the city limts of Jasper. The front windows of a pharmacy business were shattered due to the winds.
A few trees were blown down in southwestern Blount County, near Hayden.
Minor street flooding was reported at the intersection of CR-17 and CR-44, near Fox Valley Farms.
A single tree was blown down on US-31, near the Instructional Service Center.
Several trees and powerlines were blown down on AL-119, near Veterans Park.
The roof of a storage trailer was blown off, a tree fell on a car, and a wooden storage shed was destroyed.
Several trees were blown down in the southern part of Saint Clair County, on Levine and Woodland Ridge Roads in Margaret, Cedar Creek Road in Argo, CR-33 in Ashville, and Georgia Road in Steele.
The tornado touched down just southwest of the intersection of CR-33 and CR-72, where it damaged the roof of a mobile home, and tore off a covered deck and a portion of the attached roof of another home. Several large trees were also uprooted in this area. The tornado then tracked northeastward near Blue Springs State Park, with limited tree damage. Near the intersection of CR-70 and CR-41, a pecan tree was partially snapped and twisted, and another home sustained significant roof damage. Tornado debris punctured the roof of another home across the street. A total of 4 homes and one mobile home was damaged.
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, January 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: 76506, 76555, 76557, 78229, 77666, 76558, 76561, 77664, 76562, 76564, 76563, 76565, 76567, 76566, 76568, 76569, 78230, 76571, 77667.