A warm and unstable air mass led to the development of showers and thunderstorms in the heat of the afternoon, some of which produced damaging winds.
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 development of showers and thunderstorms in the heat of the afternoon, some of which produced damaging winds.
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 4, 2:20 PM CST, 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 320 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008 .DISCUSSION... UNFORTUNATELY...IT LOOKS LIKE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. SOME OF THESE COULD STILL HANG AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO MESS UP SOME OF THE EVENING INDEPENDENCE DAY FIREWORKS...ESPECIALLY FOR AREAS ALONG AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 20. HOPEFULLY...MOST OF THE CONVECTION WILL BEGIN TO SUBSIDE AFTER SUNSET. OTHERWISE...EXPECT A VERY SUMMER LIKE NIGHT WITH MUGGY CONDITIONS AND TEMPERATURES AROUND 70. MUCH OF THE SAME IS EXPECTED TOMORROW ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. THE SURFACE BOUNDARY THAT IS CURRENTLY TRIGGERING ALL OF THESE STORMS IN NORTH MISSISSIPPI WILL STALL ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. EXPECT ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. EXPECT RAIN CHANCES TO PRETTY MUCH CONTINUE THROUGH ALL OF NEXT WEEK. PLENTY OF MOISTURE IN PLACE AND DAYTIME HEATING WILL BE ENOUGH TO TRIGGER THE USUAL AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORM. IN FACT...MODELS INCREASE PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES EACH DAY NEXT WEEK. NOT MUCH CHANGE IN TEMPERATURES EXPECTED. THEY WILL BE RUNNING EITHER AT OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL. THAT MEANS THAT UNBEARABLE HUMIDITY IS BACK. 10/ARM && .AVIATION...18Z TAF DISCUSSION. SCT SHRA AND TSRA ARE DOTTING THE SKIES ACROSS CENTRAL AL. EXPECT THIS ACTIVITY TO CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING HOURS. HAVE INCLUDED VCTS IN ALL TAF SITES THROUGH 01Z. VC SHRA/TSRA IS EXPECTED ACROSS NORTHERN SITES IN THE AROUND DAYBREAK AS A FRONT WORKS DOWN FROM THE NORTH. SCT TSRA WILL BE AROUND ALL DAY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GADSDEN 67 85 67 86 67 / 40 60 30 50 20 ANNISTON 68 86 67 87 68 / 30 60 40 50 20 BIRMINGHAM 69 86 69 87 70 / 40 60 40 50 20 TUSCALOOSA 70 88 69 89 69 / 40 60 40 50 20 CALERA 70 86 69 87 69 / 40 60 40 50 20 AUBURN 69 87 70 88 69 / 20 50 40 50 30 MONTGOMERY 70 89 70 90 71 / 20 50 40 60 20 TROY 69 89 69 89 70 / 20 50 40 60 30 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1216 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008 ALZ011>015-017>050-051716- 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- 1216 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. A FEW STRONG STORMS ARE POSSIBLE GENERALLY THROUGH 10 PM. THESE STRONG STORMS MAY DEVELOP ANYWHERE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING ARE THE POTENTIAL THREATS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. A FEW STRONG STORMS ARE POSSIBLE AGAIN ON SATURDAY ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. AT THIS TIME...IT APPEARS THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY WILL OCCUR IN ASSOCIATION WITH DAYTIME HEATING...FROM 2 PM THROUGH 10 PM. WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE THE POTENTIAL THREATS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. 27
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 207 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008 ALZ012-041945- LAMAR- 207 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR LAMAR COUNTY UNTIL 245 PM CDT... AT 205 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR VERNON. THIS STORM WAS MOVING SLOWLY EAST.. PEA SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... VERNON. LAMAR COUNTY AIRPORT. THIS THUNDERSTORM COULD INTENSIFY QUICKLY...SO BE READY TO ACT IF A WARNING IS ISSUED. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. 16
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 217 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008 ALZ046-042000- BULLOCK- 217 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR BULLOCK COUNTY UNTIL 300 PM CDT... AT 215 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR BEANS CROSSROADS...OR 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF UNION SPRINGS...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 30 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... HIGH RIDGE. INVERNESS. UNION SPRINGS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. 14
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 254 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008 ALZ014-042100- WINSTON- 254 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR WINSTON COUNTY UNTIL 400 PM CDT... AT 252 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR GU-WIN...OR NEAR WINFIELD. THIS STORM WAS MOVING SLOWLY EAST. PEA SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. 16
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 257 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008 ALZ039-042045- MARENGO- 257 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR MARENGO COUNTY UNTIL 345 PM CDT... AT 256 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR SWEET WATER...OR 15 MILES SOUTH OF LINDEN...MOVING EAST NEAR 10 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... HALF ACRE. SWEET WATER. WAYNE. MILLER. OCTAGON. SHILOH. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. 16
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 317 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008 ALZ012-042115- LAMAR- 317 PM CDT FRI JUL 4 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR LAMAR COUNTY UNTIL 415 PM CDT... AT 313 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM SULLIGENT TO CALEDONIA...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM SULLIGENT TO 8 MILES EAST OF COLUMBUS AFB...MOVING EAST AT 18 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... PINE SPRINGS. SULLIGENT. CREWS. MELBORNE. BEAVERTON. HIGHTOGY. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. 16
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
336 PM CDT FRI JUL 04 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0250 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 2 SE SULLIGENT 33.87N 88.11W
07/04/2008 LAMAR AL EMERGENCY MNGR
SEVERAL TREES DOWN ALONG MULBERRY ROAD.
&&
GOLDENThe Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 21 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:50 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees were blown down on Mulberry Road, southeast of the city of Vernon.
Several trees were blown down along the Tombigbee River, near Pickensville.
A few trees were blown down on CR-20, near Boligee.
A few trees were blown down on US-11, near Eutaw.
Two separate lightning strikes hit 3 people in Wind Creek State Park. All 3 were injured, and one had to be taken to the hospital. Another lightning strike destroyed a boat house in the same area.
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: 127723, 127725, 127726, 127727, 127728.