Widely scattered strong to severe thunderstorms developed along and ahead of a cold front that moved into northern Alabama during the late afternoon and evening.
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 HUN wrote it up.
Widely scattered strong to severe thunderstorms developed along and ahead of a cold front that moved into northern Alabama during the late afternoon and evening.
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 Huntsville, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 18, 2:20 PM CST, 2 hours 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 320 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 2008 .DISCUSSION... INTERESTING FORECAST FOR THE UPCOMING WEEK. AS WE HEAD TOWARD THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND...WE COULD BE GREETED WITH OUR FIRST TASTE OF SUMMER. AT LEAST AT FIRST GLANCE...IT APPEARS OUR STRETCH OF WET WEATHER IS STARTING TO COME TO AN END. SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT)... AT MID-AFTERNOON...A COLD FRONT EXTENDED FROM NEAR LONDON KENTUCKY TO JUST NORTHWEST OF MEMPHIS. THIS FRONT HAS BEEN MAKING STEADY PROGRESS SOUTHWARD. AHEAD OF THE FRONT...MULTIPLE BANDS OF SHOWERS AND NOW THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN SWINGING THROUGH THE AREA. NOT A BIG DEAL SO FAR...BUT COULD SEE A STRONGER STORM BEFORE THE DAY IS DONE. CRUDE TIMING OF THE FRONTAL PASSAGE WOULD PUT IT THROUGH MUSCLE SHOALS BEFORE 00 UTC...AND AT HUNTSVILLE AROUND 00 UTC...THROUGH THE ENTIRE AREA BY 03 UTC. WILL RETAIN A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR SHRA/TSRA THIS EVENING IN THE ALABAMA COUNTIES ONLY. MEANWHILE...HAVE NOTED THAT DEWPOINTS BEHIND THE FRONT ARE MUCH MUCH LOWER THAN MODELS HAD FORECASTED. SINCE WINDS ARE FORECAST TO BECOME LIGHT OVERNIGHT...I AM UNDERCUTTING ALL AVAILABLE MOS...AND GUT FEELING IS THAT I MAY STILL BE TOO HIGH. WOULD NOT BE SHOCKED TO SEE WIDESPREAD UPPER 40S. MONDAY LOOKS QUIET BUT WINDS QUICKLY TURN SOUTHWESTERLY...WHICH IS A RAPID-WARMTH FLOW FOR THIS AREA. AS A RESULT...HIGHS SHOULD EASILY REACH THE LOW OR MAYBE EVEN MID 80S. CLOUDS INCREASE MONDAY NIGHT AS ANOTHER DISTURBANCE AND ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT MOVE DOWN IN FAST NORTHWESTERLY FLOW. MUGGY AIR WILL DEFINITELY BE IN PLACE...AND DEPENDING ON HOW QUICKLY THE CLOUDS ARRIVE...LOWS MIGHT NOT EVEN GET DOWN TO 65 DEGREES (WE WERE BARELY THAT WARM ALL DAY FRIDAY). WILL INTRODUCE A SMALL RAIN CHANCE MAINLY IN SRN MIDDLE TN WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR AN MCS DEVELOPING TO OUR NORTH. KEPT CHANCE POPS IN FOR TUESDAY AS DIURNAL CONVECTION MAY FIRE ALONG/AHEAD OF THE SFC BOUNDARY MOVING THROUGH (SIMILAR TO TODAY). DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FROM TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS UPPER RIDGING STARTS TO GRADUALLY BUILD IN AND WE LOSE THE INFLUENCE OF THE LARGE NORTHEASTERN CONUS UPPER TROUGH. TEMPERATURES WILL BE FAIRLY CLOSE TO NORMAL FOR MID MAY. EXTENDED (THURSDAY THROUGH NEXT SUNDAY)... JUST WHEN WE THINK THE EXTENDED PERIOD IS COMING INTO BETTER FOCUS...ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS STARTS DIVERGING FROM THE OTHERS. UPPER RIDGING WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE MORE AND MORE CONTROL OVER OUR WEATHER PATTERN DURING THE EXTENDED PERIOD...BUT TUESDAYS FRONTAL BOUNDARY (WHICH WILL STALL TO THE SOUTH) IS GOING TO TRY TO MAKE A RETURN APPEARANCE. AT ONE POINT...IT APPEARED THIS FRONT WOULD PASS AS A WARM FRONT AND KEEP US IN HOT AND MUGGY CONDITIONS. BUT THE ENSEMBLE SOLUTION...AND THE ONE I PRESENTLY FAVOR...KEEPS THE FRONT IN OUR GENERAL VICINITY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY (PROBABLY NORTH OF THE GFS POSITION GIVEN ITS INHERENT BIASES)...AND THEN JUST TO THE SOUTH AND WEST (OR WASHED OUT) BEYOND THAT. I SUPPOSE IT COULD PASS TO OUR NORTH FOR A TIME LATE IN THE WEEK...BUT THE MODELS JUST HAVE NOT CONVERGED ON A SOLUTION HERE YET. GENERALLY WENT WITH THE ENSEMBLE MEAN FOR MAX TEMPS AND A MIX OF JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING FOR MINS. FOR POPS...DROPPED THU/THU NIGHT TO SLIGHT CHANCE...BUT LEFT FRIDAY WITH CHANCE POPS EXCEPT IN SRN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. THE WEEKEND LOOKS DRY BUT WARM (ESPECIALLY DURING EACH DAY). STILL TOO SOON TO SAY IF WE WILL HIT 90 DURING THAT PERIOD BUT IF THE LOWER-DEWPOINT SCENARIO PANS OUT IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE MORE LIKELY BY MEMORIAL DAY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... HUNTSVILLE 51 84 66 82 / 20 10 20 30 SHOALS 50 84 65 83 / 20 10 20 30 CULLMAN 53 84 65 81 / 20 10 20 30 FAYETTEVILLE 50 81 64 81 / 20 10 30 30 ALBERTVILLE 53 85 65 83 / 20 10 20 30 FORT PAYNE 52 82 64 83 / 20 10 20 30 && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. TN...NONE. && JE/23
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 415 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 2008 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-190400- LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN- MARSHALL-JACKSON-DE KALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN- 415 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE AND ASSOCIATED WEAK COLD FRONT...WILL BRING SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO THE AREA THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING. THERE IS A THREAT FOR ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. THE COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO CLEAR THE AREA BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT...ENDING PRECIPITATION AND ANY SEVERE THREAT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY... THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE AND WEAK COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE AREA TUESDAY. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE AHEAD OF THIS FRONT LATE MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY. THE PRIMARY THREAT WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. TOWARDS THE END OF THE WORK WEEK...A WARM...MOIST...AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS WILL COMBINE WITH AN UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM TO SUPPORT THE CHANCE FOR MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS ON THURSDAY. ANOTHER UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL THEN MOVE ACROSS THE AREA ON FRIDAY...WITH CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. KDW/DJN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 418 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 2008 ALZ004-005-007-182145- LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MORGAN- 418 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR LAWRENCE...LIMESTONE AND MORGAN COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM CDT... AT 415 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF TRINITY...OR 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ATHENS...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... RIPLEY. TRINITY. TANNER. BELLE MINA. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. JLL
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 439 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 2008 ALZ009-182215- JACKSON- 439 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR JACKSON COUNTY UNTIL 515 PM CDT... AT 435 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF GURLEY...OR 13 MILES EAST OF MOORES MILL...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... HOLLYTREE. SKYLINE. LARKINSVILLE. SCOTTSBORO. HOLLYWOOD. MARTINTOWN. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. JLL
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 445 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 2008 ALZ009-010-182215- DE KALB-JACKSON- 445 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR DEKALB AND JACKSON COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM CDT... AT 439 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR HOLLYWOOD...OR NEAR SCOTTSBORO...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... MARTINTOWN. PISGAH. ROSALIE. BEATY CROSSROADS. HAMMONDVILLE. SULPHER SPRINGS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. JLL
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 459 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 2008 ALZ006-182245- MADISON- 459 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR MADISON COUNTY UNTIL 545 PM CDT... AT 459 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR MADISON...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. ONE HALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... MADISON. REDSTONE ARSENAL. HUNTSVILLE. FARLEY. HAMPTON COVE. BROWNSBORO. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. JLL
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 506 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 2008 ALZ007-182245- MORGAN- 506 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR MORGAN COUNTY UNTIL 545 PM CDT... AT 506 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR PRICEVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... PRICEVILLE. SOMERVILLE. FLORETTE. RYAN CROSSROADS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. DJN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 515 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 2008 ALZ009-010-182300- DE KALB-JACKSON- 515 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR DEKALB AND JACKSON COUNTIES UNTIL 600 PM CDT... AT 515 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR HOLLYWOOD...OR 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF SCOTTSBORO...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. ONE HALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... MARTINTOWN. PISGAH. ROSALIE. HENAGAR. BEATY CROSSROADS. HAMMONDVILLE. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. JLL
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 60 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:49 UTC.
2 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe thunderstorm winds snapped two oak trees at the Lil Mole Golf course. Dime size hail also covered the ground.
Quarter size hail was reported near Atwood.
Quarter size hail was reported in the Hodges 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, May 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: 105897, 105901, 105898.