A powerful spring storm system and associated cold front brought numerous thunderstorms to central Alabama. Many of the storms produced large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.
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 powerful spring storm system and associated cold front brought numerous thunderstorms to central Alabama. Many of the storms produced large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.
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 Apr 19, 1:30 PM CST, 17 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 230 PM CDT SUN APR 19 2009 .SHORT TERM...TONIGHT. ACTIVE EVENING EXPECTED AS A COLD FRONT ACROSS PORTIONS OF MISSISSIPPI MOVES INTO AND ACROSS THE AREA. STRONG UPPER LEVEL IMPULSE WILL SWING ACROSS THE NORTHERN THIRD OF THE AREA BETWEEN 5 PM AND 11 PM...HELPING TO TRIGGER STRONG TO POSSIBLY SEVERE STORMS. AIR MASS AHEAD OF THE FRONT CONTINUES TO DE-STABILIZE. WILL INCLUDE RATHER HIGH POPS FOR TONIGHT AND SEVERE WORDING. BEST CHANCE OF SEVERE WILL BE WEST OF INTERSTATE 65 PRIOR TO 8 PM AND EAST OF THE INTERSTATE AFTER 8 PM. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD DECREASE IN INTENSITY LATE THIS EVENING AND END FROM WEST TO EAST OVERNIGHT. MAY ADJUST POPS JUST BEFORE RELEASE. .LONG TERM...MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. FOR MONDAY AND TUESDAY...UPPER PORTION OF THE SYSTEM REMAINS TO OUR NORTH AND WILL BE SLOW TO SHIFT NORTHEAST. THIS WILL ALLOW SOME WRAP-AROUND MOISTURE MAINLY ACROSS THE NORTH FOR MONDAY AND TUESDAY AND COOL TEMPERATURES AS FLOW REMAINS FROM THE NORTHWEST. WE CAN EXPECT A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS EACH DAY. HIGHS EACH DAY MID 60S NORTH TO LOWER 70S SOUTH. OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE 40S MONDAY NIGHT... THEN 35 TO 45 TUESDAY NIGHT WITH SOME PATCHY FROST POSSIBLE EAST. WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN BY MID- WEEK...THEN RETURN FLOW DEVELOPS LATER IN THE WEEK PROVIDING FOR A VERY NICE WARM-UP. WE CAN EXPECT DRY CONDITIONS AND A GOOD DEAL OF SUNSHINE EACH DAY. HIGHS 65 TO 75 EARLY IN THE PERIOD...WARMING INTO THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S BY FRIDAY AND LASTING THROUGH THE WEEKEND. && .AVIATION...18Z TAF DISCUSSION. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE FINALLY MOVING INTO THE WESTERN EXTREMES OF ALABAMA...BUT TIMING IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS ALL THE SITES. LOOK FOR TWO BACK TO BACK DISTINCT LINES OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS TO TRAVERSE THE STATE EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...COULD BE SOME TS EMBEDDED IN THE LINE. THIS FEATURE WILL MOVE THROUGH...CIGS SHOULD IMPROVE TO MVFR...IF NOT VFR FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS...THEN MORE TS DEVELOPMENT SHOULD OCCUR LATER THIS EVENING...DROPPING CIGS AND VIS INTO A MVFR/IFR SITUATION... ESPECIALLY IFR IN AND AROUND THE THUNDERSTORMS. PRECIPITATION SHOULD EXIT THE EAST SIDE OF THE STATE AROUND 20/11Z...BUT CLOUDS WILL LIKELY STICK AROUND AS WRAP AROUND MOISTURE WILL AFFECT AT LEAST THE NORTHERN SITES THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS ON MONDAY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GADSDEN 52 66 42 67 39 / 60 20 20 20 10 ANNISTON 54 67 42 68 39 / 70 20 20 20 10 BIRMINGHAM 54 67 42 68 42 / 60 10 10 10 10 TUSCALOOSA 53 70 45 72 42 / 40 10 10 10 10 CALERA 54 68 44 68 41 / 60 10 10 10 10 AUBURN 54 70 43 70 42 / 60 10 10 10 10 MONTGOMERY 56 71 47 72 43 / 60 10 10 10 10 TROY 57 72 47 72 41 / 60 10 10 10 10 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM FOR WESTERN SECTIONS. && 50
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 227 PM CDT SUN APR 19 2009 ALZ011>015-017>050-201927- 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- 227 PM CDT SUN APR 19 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ALONG AND AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. THE MAIN FOCUS OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE WEST OF INTERSTATE 65 AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20 PRIOR TO 8 PM WITH THE THREAT OF DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL AND THE SLIM CHANCE OF AN ISOLATED TORNADO. THE FOCUS WILL SHIFT EAST OF INTERSTATE 65 AFTER 8 PM AS THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY MOVES ACROSS THE STATE. AFTER 8 PM...THE THREAT OF TORNADOES WILL DIMINISH GREATLY...BUT THERE WILL STILL BE A CHANCE OF DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL THROUGH MIDNIGHT. SUSTAINED WINDS WILL BE AROUND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS...SO A LAKE WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY FOR THE WESTERN TIER OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...THROUGH 6 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. COLDER TEMPERATURES WILL WORK IN BEHIND THIS SYSTEM. ON WEDNESDAY MORNING...TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO BE IN THE MIDDLE TO UPPER 30S IN THE NORTH AND CENTRAL SECTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. WHILE FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE NOT FORECASTED AT THIS TIME...AREAS OF PATCHY FROST WILL BE POSSIBLE AS WINDS WILL BE LIGHT OVERNIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT. 27
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 52 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:45 UTC.
11 tornado, 10 hail, 8 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was blown down onto power lines, just south of the city of Fayette.
A few trees were blown down on AL-14, in the city of Aliceville.
A tree was blown down on Sipsey Valley Road, just north of Kellyton Road.
A tree was blown down on Clements Road, near the Eastern Hills subdivision.
Hail up to the size of golf balls was reported near the Alabama/Mississippi state line, west of the Byrd community.
Hail grew to the size of golf balls in the city of Hamilton.
The tornado touched down just to the west of AL-25 about 1 1/2 miles north of the the town of Whitsitt. It then traveled east-northeast over County Road 47 and lifted just to the east of AL-61, south of the County Road 24 intersection. About 50 trees were snapped or uprooted, and a metal roof was peeled off of an outbuilding.
The tornado touched down on Luke Jackson Road, just east of AL-61. From there, it traveled to the east-northeast, crossing over several dirt roads before lifting near Webb Road. Along the path, several large hardwood trees were uprooted and snapped, and softwoods were snapped. One home sustained minor shingle damage near the beginning of the path. A large deer stand was destroyed near the end of the path.
The tornado touched down in Alabaster, near the intersection of US-31 and CR-66. It then traveled northeastward, crossed Interstate 65, and then lifted just after crossing CR-52 near the fire station in Pelham. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted along the path. A few apartment complexes sustained minor to moderate roof damage. Several fallen trees landed on homes and mobile homes. A large billboard was blown down, which briefly blocked the north bound lanes of I-65.
The tornado touched down in a wooded ravine, between Nichols Lane and CR-7. It then traveled east-northeast for just over a mile, and lifted near the intersection of Coles Truck Stop Road and AL-5. Along the path, approximately 100 hardwood trees were snapped, and near the end of the path, several hardwoods were uprooted. A home sustained minor damage to shingles and siding. The occupant of the home took refuge in a closet, and was unharmed, after her brother called to inform her of the tornado warning.
The tornado a touched down on CR-17, in the the Maylene community. It then produced sporadic damage as it moved northeastward, crossing Kent Dairy and Thompson Roads, and AL-119, before lifting just before reaching Old Highway 31 and a large shopping center. Damage along the path was minor, with a few trees being snapped off, and a few homes sustaining light shingle damage.
A few large trees were uprooted along the AL-22 Truck Route, in Maplesville.
The tornado touched down briefly on Mount Lebanon Road, just to the west of the Gibson community in the southern part of Montgomery County. About 10 trees were snapped or uprooted, the metal roof was blown off a barn, and a home sustained minor shingle damage.
The tornado touched down briefly near the intersection of US-231 and Old Barnes Road, a few miles north of the Pine Level community. Three horse trailers, including one that weighed over 10,000 pounds, were tossed over 50 feet.
The tornado touched down briefly about two miles north of the Shopton community. Several trees were snapped or uprooted.
The tornado touched down at the intersection of CR-27 and Jones Chapel Road. It then traveled northeastward and crossed Lake Rd, CR-29, Putman Road, and Hicks Road, before moving into Saint Clair County. Six chicken houses were completely destroyed, killing nearly 100,000 chickens. One home had its second story destroyed, and another home suffered a complete roof collapse. One large industrial barn was destroyed. Two additional homes, several more chicken sheds, and about 9 outbuilding also received varying degrees of damage. About 200 trees were snapped and uprooted.
The tornado touched down at the intersection of US-411 and Joshua Drive, several miles northeast of Ashville. It then moved nearly coincident with US-411 for about 3 miles, lifting just west of Mopar Drive. About 50 trees were snapped or uprooted, but no other damage was found.
A couple of trees were blown down on CR-71.
A couple of trees were blown down near the intersection of CR-79 and CR-10, near the Creek Stand community.
Several trees were blown down in the city of Talladega. At least two trees fell onto houses, and another fell onto a car.
The tornado touched down near the intersection of 22nd Avenue and 17th Street in Phenix City. It then traveled northeast through the south end of Phenix City, and crossed the Chattahoochee River and moved into Muscogee County Georgia. Five businesses sustained major damage, and seven homes received varying degrees of roof damage. At least 100 and as many as 200 trees were snapped or uprooted.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Alabama, 2009Warnings in Alabama, April 2009
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: 168486, 168488, 168489, 168490, 168491, 168492, 168500, 168501, 168502, 168499, 168507, 168510, 168511, 168514, 168515, 168516, 168518, 168519, 168520, 168521, 168523, 168524, 168527, 168543, 168544, 168551, 168559, 168561, 168568.