A warm and unstable air mass led to the develop of numerous showers and thunderstorms, some of which produced damaging winds and large hail.
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 warm and unstable air mass led to the develop of numerous showers and thunderstorms, some of which produced damaging winds and large hail.
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 Jul 22, 11:25 AM CST, 1 hour 5 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1225 PM CDT TUE JUL 22 2008 .UPDATE...AVIATION DISCUSSION. && .DISCUSSION...A VERY ACTIVE AFTERNOON AND EVENING EXPECTED ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES HAVE RISEN TO BETWEEN 1.75 AND 2 INCHES AND SURFACE DEWPOINTS ARE NOT FALLING DUE TO MIXING AS PREVIOUS DAYS. AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY APPROACHING NW ALABAMA WILL BE FOCUS FOR AFTERNOON CONVECTION FOR AREAS NORTH OF I-20. THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS PLACED THE NORTHERN ONE-THIRD OF ALABAMA UNDER A SLIGHT RISK AND LOCAL CALCULATIONS SHOW A HIGH MICROBURST POTENTIAL. DECIDED TO UPGRADE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK TO MENTION SEVERE POTENTIAL FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...WITH ISOLATED SOUTH AND MORE ORGANIZED CONVECTION NORTH. MAIN THREAT WILL BE DOWNBURSTS WINDS. CURRENT FORECAST WITH RESPECT TO TEMPERATURES AND POPS LOOK ON TRACK. SURFACE TEMPERATURES ARE RUNNING ABOUT 3 DEGREES COOLER THAN YESTERDAY. 58/ROSE && .AVIATION...18Z TAF DISCUSSION. HAZE IS SLIGHTLY REDUCING VISIBILITIES AT MOST TAF SITES EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MGM AND TOI. THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON AVIATION WILL COME LATER THIS AFTERNOON...WITH MOSTLY ISOLATED CONVECTION AFFECTING THE SOUTHERN TAF SITES AND MORE ORGANIZED CONVECTION ACROSS THE NORTH. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ALONG AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY AND BECOME LINEAR...WITH THE MAIN LINE MOVING FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING...AND EXITING THE AREA BY MIDNIGHT. EXPECT FOG TO REDUCE VISIBILITIES AT MGM AND TOI FOR A FEW HOURS AGAIN EARLY TOMORROW MORNING. 19 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 957 AM CDT TUE JUL 22 2008 ALZ011>015-017>050-231200- 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- 957 AM CDT TUE JUL 22 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY FROM 1 PM UNTIL 10 PM. THE BEST CHANCE FOR ORGANIZED SEVERE STORMS WILL BE NORTH OF I-20...BUT ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE AREA WIDE. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE GUSTY WINDS UP TO 60 MPH...BUT THE STORMS WILL ALSO CONTAIN FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAINFALL. THERE IS ALSO A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR WET MICROBURSTS THIS AFTERNOON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ON WEDNESDAY ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA MAINLY BETWEEN 1 PM AND 10 PM. THE MAIN THREAT WITH THESE STORMS WILL BE STRONG GUSTY WINDS UP TO 50 MPH AND HEAVY RAINFALL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BE NEEDED TODAY AND WEDNESDAY.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
912 AM CDT TUE JUL 22 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1100 PM TSTM WND DMG DADEVILLE 32.83N 85.76W
07/21/2008 TALLAPOOSA AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE ON BUILDING AT 321 EAST LAFAYETTE ST...ALSO REPORTED
TREE DOWN ON FENCE ON TALLASSEE ST.
1100 PM TSTM WND DMG DADEVILLE 32.83N 85.76W
07/21/2008 TALLAPOOSA AL EMERGENCY MNGR
GAZEBO WAS BLOWN AWAY FROM RESIDENCE AT 138 SCHOOL ST.
1100 PM TSTM WND DMG DADEVILLE 32.83N 85.76W
07/21/2008 TALLAPOOSA AL EMERGENCY MNGR
PART OF THE METAL ROOF OF THE OLD JUNIOR FOOD STORE ON
SOUTH ST WAS BLOWN ACROSS THE STREET.
&&
GOLDENPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
926 AM CDT TUE JUL 22 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0745 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 SW WINFIELD 33.90N 87.83W
07/21/2008 FAYETTE AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE DOWN ON COUNTY ROAD 21.
&&
GOLDENPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1001 AM CDT TUE JUL 22 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0135 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 NW GUERRYTON 32.26N 85.55W
07/21/2008 MACON AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TWO TREES BLOWN DOWN ALONG CR 47...NORTH OF HANNON.
0713 PM HAIL HOOVER 33.38N 86.82W
07/21/2008 E0.25 INCH JEFFERSON AL NWS EMPLOYEE
PEA SIZED HAIL REPORTED IN HOOVER.
0713 PM TSTM WND GST HOOVER 33.38N 86.82W
07/21/2008 E45.00 MPH JEFFERSON AL NWS EMPLOYEE
WINDS ESTIMATED AT 45-50 MPH IN HOOVER
0715 PM TSTM WND GST HOOVER 33.38N 86.82W
07/21/2008 M50.00 MPH JEFFERSON AL AMATEUR RADIO
MEASURED WINDS OF UP TO 50 MPH IN THE TRACE CROSSINGS
AREA IN HOOVER.
0730 PM TSTM WND DMG HOOVER 33.38N 86.82W
07/21/2008 JEFFERSON AL NWS EMPLOYEE
TREE DOWN NEAR WATERFORD LANDING APTS
0730 PM TSTM WND DMG HOOVER 33.38N 86.82W
07/21/2008 JEFFERSON AL LAW ENFORCEMENT
WINDOW BLOWN OUT AT THE GALLERIA DUE TO HIGH WINDS
0735 PM LIGHTNING HOOVER 33.38N 86.82W
07/21/2008 JEFFERSON AL PUBLIC
MINOR ROOF DAMAGE TO THE ROOMS-TO-GO AT PATTON CREEK
0745 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 SW WINFIELD 33.90N 87.83W
07/21/2008 FAYETTE AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE DOWN ON COUNTY ROAD 21.
0745 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NNW SAND ROCK 34.26N 85.77W
07/21/2008 CHEROKEE AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE DOWN ON POWERLINES ALONG CR 11
0810 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 NE WEISS DAM 34.20N 85.70W
07/21/2008 CHEROKEE AL AMATEUR RADIO
NUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN FROM SAND ROCK TO
CEDAR BLUFF
0815 PM TSTM WND DMG TABOR ROAD 34.19N 85.86W
07/21/2008 ETOWAH AL TRAINED SPOTTER
SEVERAL TREES DOWN IN THE TABOR ROAD COMMUNITY. ESTIMATED
WINDS OF 45 TO 50 MPH.
1100 PM TSTM WND DMG DADEVILLE 32.83N 85.76W
07/21/2008 TALLAPOOSA AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE ON BUILDING AT 321 EAST LAFAYETTE ST...ALSO REPORTED
TREE DOWN ON FENCE ON TALLASSEE ST.
1100 PM TSTM WND DMG DADEVILLE 32.83N 85.76W
07/21/2008 TALLAPOOSA AL EMERGENCY MNGR
GAZEBO WAS BLOWN AWAY FROM RESIDENCE AT 138 SCHOOL ST.
1100 PM TSTM WND DMG DADEVILLE 32.83N 85.76W
07/21/2008 TALLAPOOSA AL EMERGENCY MNGR
PART OF THE METAL ROOF OF THE OLD JUNIOR FOOD STORE ON
SOUTH ST WAS BLOWN ACROSS THE STREET.
&&
GOLDENSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1242 PM CDT TUE JUL 22 2008 ALZ014-221830- WINSTON- 1242 PM CDT TUE JUL 22 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR WINSTON COUNTY UNTIL 130 PM CDT... AT 1238 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF LYNN...MOVING EAST AT 11 MPH. WINDS UP TO 45 MPH AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... LYNN. CLEAR CREEK. HOUSTON RECREATIONAL AREA. BLACK POND. CURTIS CROSSROADS. WINSTON COUNTY AIRPORT. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT TUESDAY EVENING FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 89 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:28 UTC.
18 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, 3 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees were blown down near the Saragossa Community.
A 75 ton, 40 foot tall, gantry crane on the top of R. L. Harris Dam was moved along its tracks by an apparent microburst. The crane subsequently rolled through its end stops, eventually coming to a stop partially resting over the edge of the dam. The crane itself, and several portions of the dam that it impacted, sustained considerable damage as a result.
Several trees and power lines were blown down in and just east of Roanoke.
The top of a pine tree fell on a mobile home, and injured one person who was taken to the hospital.
Several trees and power lines were blown down.
Lightning struck a house, causing it to catch fire. The roof was completely burned. One occupant escaped without injury.
Several trees were blown down across Old Mill Road, near Lineville.
Several trees and power lines were blown down on Peninsula Point.
A couple trees were blown down in the city of Fayette.
Several trees and power lines were blown down.
Several trees and power lines were blown down.
Several trees were blown down in the New Moon Community.
A house on Old Highway 431, in the Morrison Crossroads Community, was destroyed by fire after being struck by lightning.
A few trees were blown down near and southeast of Windham Springs.
A house and barn caught fire after being struck by lightning.
Several trees were blown down and blocked the road, on Merkel Loop.
A tree fell onto a house, several chicken houses were damaged, and several power lines were blown down, in the Five Points area.
Trees and power lines were blown down in and near Weogufka.
Several trees were snapped on Windover Drive, in the city of Clanton.
Trees were blown down at several locations in and around Wetumpka.
Several trees and power lines were blown down on CR-924, near the Potter Station Community.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, July 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: 128050, 128052, 128055, 128136, 128059, 128060, 128283, 128061, 128062, 128072, 128074, 128075, 128068, 128070, 128064, 128077, 128078, 128082, 128084, 128085, 128089, 128110, 128108, 128111.