A warm and unstable air mass led to the development of numerous showers and thunderstorms during the heat of the day, 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 development of numerous showers and thunderstorms during the heat of the day, 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 5, 11:42 AM CST, 28 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1242 PM CDT SAT JUL 5 2008 .UPDATE...18Z AVIATION DISCUSSION. && .DISCUSSION... EARLY MORNING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE FORECAST AREA...AS SCATTERED DIURNAL DEVELOPMENT HAS BEGUN IN THE SOUTHEAST. A FEW OTHER CONVECTIVE IMPULSES OVER MISSISSIPPI WILL PUSH EASTWARD...AFFECTING LOCATIONS IN THE EAST. THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO IS THAT THOSE IMPULSES WILL CONTINUE TO DISSIPATE AND REFIRE. CLOUD COVER COULD PROHIBIT WIDESPREAD DEVELOPMENT EARLY...BUT AS BOUNDARIES INTERACT WITHIN A MOIST UNSTABLE AIRMASS...CONVECTION AREAWIDE WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. THE BEST CHANCE WILL BE IN THE SOUTH WHERE INSTABILITIES ARE SLIGHTLY HIGHER. STRONGER STORMS WILL PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY RAINFALL. TEMPERATURES THIS AFTERNOON WILL DEPEND ON LOCATION OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...WILL HIGHS GENERALLY IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S EXPECTED. UPDATED ZONES OUT SHORTLY. 14 && .AVIATION...12Z AVIATION. ACTIVE CONVECTIVE DAY EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON...AS SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP AREAWIDE. INCLUDED VCTS AT ALL TERMINALS AND WILL UPDATE AS NEEDED. BRIEF MVFR TO IFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED AT A FEW TERMINALS. HOWEVER...VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL. STRONGER STORMS WILL PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS. WET MICROBURST POTENTIAL THIS AFTERNOON IS MODERATE. WINDS AND CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY WILL DIMINISH AFTER SUNSET. AN ISOLATED SHOWER OR TWO WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD. 14 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 530 AM CDT SAT JUL 5 2008 ALZ011>015-017>050-060000- 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- 530 AM CDT SAT JUL 5 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME NUMEROUS AT TIMES THIS AFTERNOON. SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE STRONG...ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 1 PM AND 9 PM. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH...SMALL HAIL...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. A FEW STRONG STORMS ARE POSSIBLE AGAIN ON SUNDAY...ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 1 PM AND 9 PM. WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH...SMALL HAIL...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS SUNDAY AFTERNOON. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. 03
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
918 AM CDT SAT JUL 05 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0614 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 N BOLIGEE 32.78N 88.02W
07/04/2008 GREENE AL EMERGENCY MNGR
A FEW TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN ALONG COUNTY ROAD 20 NEAR
BOLIGEE.
&&
LINHARESPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
920 AM CDT SAT JUL 05 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0617 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 SW EUTAW 32.81N 87.93W
07/04/2008 GREENE AL EMERGENCY MNGR
A FEW TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN ALONG US HIGHWAY 11 NEAR
EUTAW.
&&
LINHARESPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
948 AM CDT SAT JUL 05 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0815 PM LIGHTNING 5 SSE ALEXANDER CITY 32.86N 85.90W
07/04/2008 TALLAPOOSA AL EMERGENCY MNGR
*** 3 INJ *** TWO SEPARATE LIGHTNING STRIKES HIT 3 PEOPLE
IN WIND CREEK STATE PARK. ALL 3 WERE INJURED AND ONE HAD
TO BE TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL. ANOTHER LIGHTNING
STRIKE DESTROYED A BOAT HOUSE NEAR THE STATE PARK.
&&
LINHARESPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1026 AM CDT SAT JUL 05 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0250 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 SE SULLIGENT 33.87N 88.11W
07/04/2008 LAMAR AL EMERGENCY MNGR
SEVERAL TREES DOWN ALONG MULBERRY ROAD.
0415 PM TSTM WND DMG PICKENSVILLE 33.23N 88.27W
07/04/2008 PICKENS AL EMERGENCY MNGR
A FEW TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN ALONG THE TOMBIGBEE RIVER
NEAR PICKENSVILLE.
0614 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 N BOLIGEE 32.78N 88.02W
07/04/2008 GREENE AL EMERGENCY MNGR
A FEW TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN ALONG COUNTY ROAD 20 NEAR
BOLIGEE.
0617 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 SW EUTAW 32.81N 87.93W
07/04/2008 GREENE AL EMERGENCY MNGR
A FEW TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN ALONG US HIGHWAY 11 NEAR
EUTAW.
0740 PM LIGHTNING 5 SSE ALEXANDER CITY 32.86N 85.90W
07/04/2008 TALLAPOOSA AL EMERGENCY MNGR
*** 3 INJ *** TWO SEPARATE LIGHTNING STRIKES HIT 3 PEOPLE
IN WIND CREEK STATE PARK. ALL 3 WERE INJURED AND ONE HAD
TO BE TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL. ANOTHER LIGHTNING
STRIKE DESTROYED A BOAT HOUSE NEAR THE STATE PARK. THESE
STRIKES OCCURRED BETWEEN 738 PM AND 810 PM.
&&
LINHARESSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1248 PM CDT SAT JUL 5 2008 ALZ039-051830- MARENGO- 1248 PM CDT SAT JUL 5 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR MARENGO COUNTY UNTIL 130 PM CDT... AT 1247 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR NANAFALIA...OR 18 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LINDEN... MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... NANAFALIA. NICHOLSVILLE. SWEET WATER. WAYNE. 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 106 PM CDT SAT JUL 5 2008 ALZ050-051845- BARBOUR- 106 PM CDT SAT JUL 5 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR BARBOUR COUNTY UNTIL 145 PM CDT... AT 104 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR CLAYTON...OR 13 MILES NORTHEAST OF CLIO...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... CLAYTON. MILLERS FORD. GAINO. 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
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
9 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was blown down on CR-43, near the Green Crossroads Community, south of Clayton.
A tree was blown down onto the road near the Boyd Community.
Several trees were blown down on 11th Avenue, near Midfield.
Several trees and power lines were blown down.
Several trees and power lines were blown down in the Cooks Springs Community.
Several trees were blown down on AL-94, between Ramer and Currys.
Several trees were blown down across the road at 10th Street and Christine Avenue, in Anniston.
Eight trees were blown down on AL-229, near the Kent Community.
A tree was blown down and blocked Littlejohn Road, near the Pleasant Valley Community northwest of Jacksonville.
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: 127743, 127744, 127745, 127746, 127747, 127748, 127749, 127750, 127751, 127752, 127753, 127754.