An unstable air mass caused a cluster of strong thunderstorms.
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.
An unstable air mass caused a cluster of strong thunderstorms.
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 Aug 11, 6:00 PM CST, 5 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 700 PM CDT TUE AUG 11 2009 .UPDATE...AVIATION DISCUSSION. && .DISCUSSION... SHORT WAVE TROF AXIS WAS LOCATED JUST WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER THIS AFTERNOON. THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WAS CONFINED TO AREAS EAST OF A MEMPHIS TENNESSEE TO JACKSON MISSISSIPPI LINE. THE THREAT OF STRONG TO POSSIBLY SEVERE STORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING HOURS...BUT LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING SHOULD ALLOW STORMS TO WEAKEN. BASED ON PREVIOUS NIGHTS ACTIVITY HARD TO JUSTIFY HIGH POPS FROM GFS MOS FOR TONIGHT. CURRENT ACTIVITY SHOULD DIMINISH FAIRLY QUICKLY THIS EVENING...AND THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE RE-DEVELOPMENT OVERNIGHT TO WARRANT ANYTHING ABOVE 50 PERCENT. SHORT WAVE TROF AXIS WILL BE ON OUR DOORSTEP TOMORROW MORNING... AND EXPECT ANOTHER ACTIVE DAY ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA...WITH THE HIGHEST CHANCES OF RAIN EAST OF I-65...AS DAYTIME HEATING COMBINES WITH DEEP MOISTURE EAST OF TROF AXIS. MAIN SHORT WAVE TROF LIFTS OUT TO THE NORTHEAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT. HOWEVER...A STRONG UPPER HIGH OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC PREVENTS SOUTHERN END OF TROF AXIS FROM ADVANCING EASTWARD...AND UPPER TROF AXIS HANGS UP OVER EAST ALABAMA THRU THE WEEKEND. ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE TROF AXIS THERE WILL LIKELY BE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND STORMS DEVELOPING EACH AFTERNOON...WITH LITTLE OR NO PRECIPITATION ALONG AND WEST OF I-65. IT IS NOT LIKELY THAT UPPER TROF AXIS WILL REMAIN OVER EAST ALABAMA IN THE PERIOD THURSDAY THRU SUNDAY...SO POPS WILL HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED ON A SHORT TERM BASIS. LONG TERM MODELS HINT AT UPPER RIDGE BUILDING BACK OVER SOUTHEAST STATES EARLY NEXT WEEK...AND TRENDED FORECAST TOWARDS WARMER TEMPERATURES AND SMALLER RAIN CHANCES. 58/ROSE && .AVIATION...00Z TAF DISCUSSION. VERY COMPLEX SET OF TAFS WITH ONGOING CONVECTION IN THE AREA...POSSIBLE FOG OVERNIGHT AND ADDITIONAL RAIN/THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TOMORROW. MADE AN ATTEMPT AT TIMING ONGOING CONVECTION ACROSS THE AREA AT ALL SITES OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS...TAPERING OFF TO JUST SHOWERS AT ALL LOCATIONS BY 06Z. FOG WILL BE PRONE TO DEVELOP AREA WIDE WITH ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL GROUND MOISTURE FROM RECENT PRECIPITATION...AND WILL LIKELY BE ENHANCED IN THE USUAL SPOTS SUCH AS TCL...MGM AND TOI. TOMORROWS RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE GOING TO BE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO TIME...BUT COVERAGE...DURATION AND INTENSITY SHOULD BE HIGHER AT MGM AND TOI AS A WEAK BOUNDARY PUSHES SOUTH OF TCL...BHM...EET...AND ANB. EXPECT THE BEST CHANCE OF CONVECTION AT TCL BETWEEN 16 AND 18Z, AND AT EET/BHM BETWEEN 17 AND 19Z. PRECIPITATION WILL LAST LONGER FARTHER SOUTH AND EAST...POSSIBLY LASTING THROUGH 00Z AT MGM AND TOI. 12/SIRMON && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GADSDEN 70 86 66 89 65 / 50 50 20 10 10 ANNISTON 71 86 69 89 69 / 50 60 20 20 20 BIRMINGHAM 72 86 68 89 68 / 50 50 20 10 10 TUSCALOOSA 73 89 68 92 67 / 50 40 20 10 10 CALERA 73 86 69 90 69 / 50 60 20 10 10 AUBURN 71 85 69 86 71 / 40 70 40 30 20 MONTGOMERY 74 88 71 91 70 / 40 70 40 30 20 TROY 73 88 71 89 69 / 40 70 40 30 20 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1050 AM CDT TUE AUG 11 2009 ALZ011>015-017>050-121130- 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- 1050 AM CDT TUE AUG 11 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS ALL CENTRAL ALABAMA THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. A FEW STORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WILL BE STRONG WITH GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS THE MAIN THREATS. AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT WILL HELP ENHANCE THE CHANCE FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE NORTH FOR THE EVENING AND INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE AREAWIDE AS A FRONT MOVES INTO CENTRAL ALABAMA ON WEDNESDAY WITH GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN BEING THE MAIN THREATS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 531 PM CDT TUE AUG 11 2009 ALZ035-112315- CHILTON- 531 PM CDT TUE AUG 11 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR CHILTON COUNTY UNTIL 615 PM CDT... AT 531 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR THORSBY...OR NEAR JEMISON...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. 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. 27
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 547 PM CDT TUE AUG 11 2009 ALZ041-043-112345- AUTAUGA-ELMORE- 547 PM CDT TUE AUG 11 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR AUTAUGA AND ELMORE COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM CDT... AT 547 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR DEATSVILLE...OR 11 MILES NORTH OF MILLBROOK... MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. MARBLE SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... MARBURY. DEATSVILLE. SPEIGNER. WETUMPKA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. WEOKA MILLS. JORDAN DAM. 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. 12/SIRMON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 551 PM CDT TUE AUG 11 2009 ALZ041-042-112315- AUTAUGA-LOWNDES- 551 PM CDT TUE AUG 11 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR AUTAUGA AND LOWNDES COUNTIES UNTIL 615 PM CDT... AT 551 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR WHITE HALL...OR 10 MILES NORTH OF MOSSES...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. 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. 27
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 606 PM CDT TUE AUG 11 2009 ALZ032-033-039-040-112345- DALLAS-HALE-MARENGO-PERRY- 606 PM CDT TUE AUG 11 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR DALLAS...HALE...MARENGO AND PERRY COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM CDT... AT 603 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES WEST OF NEWBERN...OR 9 MILES SOUTH OF GREENSBORO...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. 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. 27
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 650 PM CDT TUE AUG 11 2009 ALZ033-040-120015- DALLAS-PERRY- 650 PM CDT TUE AUG 11 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR DALLAS AND PERRY COUNTIES UNTIL 715 PM CDT... AT 649 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES WEST OF BOGUE CHITTO...OR 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF UNIONTOWN...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. 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. 27
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 655 PM CDT TUE AUG 11 2009 ALZ043-044-120045- ELMORE-MONTGOMERY- 655 PM CDT TUE AUG 11 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR ELMORE AND NORTHERN MONTGOMERY COUNTIES UNTIL 745 PM CDT... AT 652 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR EMERALD MOUNTAIN...OR 10 MILES WEST OF MILSTEAD. THIS STORM WAS MOVING SLOWLY TO THE EAST NORTHEAST. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... BLUE RIDGE. BRASSELL. WARE. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. 08
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were blown down at several locations near the city of Wetumpka. One large tree brought down power lines and poles, which blocked a portion of Willow Springs Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, August 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: 191512.