A very moist and tropical air mass, ushered in by the remnants of Tropical Storm Claudette, led to several days of thunderstorms with very heavy rainfall across Central Alabama.
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 very moist and tropical air mass, ushered in by the remnants of Tropical Storm Claudette, led to several days of thunderstorms with very heavy rainfall across Central Alabama.
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 18, 6:03 PM CST, 7 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 703 PM CDT TUE AUG 18 2009 .UPDATE...FOR AVIATION. && .DISCUSSION... UNSETTLED WEATHER PATTERN EXPECTED THROUGH FRIDAY AS RESIDUAL MOISTURE FROM THE GULF REMAINS IN PLACE WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WITH A COLD FRONT ARRIVING ON FRIDAY. MODELS INDICATE PRECIP. WATER REMAINING AT OR ABOVE 2 INCHES SO WE CAN EXPECT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP ESPECIALLY DURING THE PEAK HEATING HOURS EACH DAY. THE COLD/COOL FRONT WILL ARRIVE DURING THE DAY FRIDAY WITH A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE. SLIGHTLY BUMPED UP RAIN CHANCES ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF AS SHOWERS APPEAR MORE AND MORE LIKELY WITH EACH RUN. IT WILL BE COOLER AND DRIER BEHIND THE FRONT LEADING INTO THE WEEKEND...BUT NOTHING LIKE THE RECORD COOL DOWN IN JULY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 80S TO LOWER 90S WITH LOWS IN THE MID 60S. && .AVIATION...00Z TAF DISCUSSION. MAIN LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CURRENTLY DRAPED ACROSS EET AND SOUTH OF BHM. LOOK FOR ACTIVITY TO CONTINUE AT EET THROUGH 1 TO 2Z. THIS BAND SHOULD DISSIPATE BY 4Z TO 6Z. MOST OF THE ACTIVITY SHOULD REMAIN WEST OF ANB AND EAST OF TCL. MEANWHILE TOI AND MGM WILL SEE LIGHT RAIN THROUGH 1 TO 2Z AS WELL. LOOK FOR ANOTHER REPEAT OF THIS MORNING IN WHICH LOW CLOUDS WILL BE IN AROUND SUNRISE FOR MOST OF THE TAF SITES. LOOKS TO BE THE LOWEST ACROSS THE NORTH...WITH AROUND 1000 TO 1500 FEET. MOST OF THIS WILL END BY 15 TO 16Z. MORE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TOMORROW AFTERNOON...AS THE AIRMASS REMAINS MOIST AND TROPICAL. WENT WITH VCTS AFTER 18 AND 19Z. && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && 88/16
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 130 PM CDT TUE AUG 18 2009 ALZ011>015-017>050-191200- 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- 130 PM CDT TUE AUG 18 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON FRIDAY AS A COLD FRONT PASSES THROUGH CENTRAL ALABAMA. STRENGTH AND EXACT TIMING OF THE FRONT ARE STILL IN QUESTION SO STAY TUNED FOR THE LATEST FORECAST ON FRIDAYS ACTIVITY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. 08
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 202 PM CDT TUE AUG 18 2009 ALZ043-044-181945- ELMORE-MONTGOMERY- 202 PM CDT TUE AUG 18 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR ELMORE AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES UNTIL 245 PM CDT... AT 200 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR MONTGOMERY ZOO...OR 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF MONTGOMERY...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 15 MPH. WINDS UP TO 30 MPH AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... TALLAPOOSA RIVER WATER PLANT. MONTGOMERY ZOO. BOYLSTON. BOB WOODRUFF LAKE. WETUMPKA. COOSADA. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. 14
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
217 PM CDT TUE AUG 18 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0210 PM TSTM WND GST 5 ENE BOYLSTON 32.46N 86.20W
08/18/2009 E40.00 MPH MONTGOMERY AL EMERGENCY MNGR
40 MPH WIND GUST ALONG HIGHWAY 231
&&
HBSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 323 PM CDT TUE AUG 18 2009 ALZ044-049-182115- MONTGOMERY-PIKE- 323 PM CDT TUE AUG 18 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR MONTGOMERY AND PIKE COUNTIES UNTIL 415 PM CDT... AT 320 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM LAPINE TO ANSLEY TO TROY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MEADVILLE TO 8 MILES SOUTH OF MEADVILLE TO 6 MILES NORTH OF TROY...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 10 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... TROY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. NAFTEL. STRATA. RAMER. CHINA GROVE. MEADVILLE. 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 411 PM CDT TUE AUG 18 2009 ALZ044-046-049-182200- BULLOCK-MONTGOMERY-PIKE- 411 PM CDT TUE AUG 18 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR BULLOCK...MONTGOMERY AND PIKE COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM CDT... AT 411 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM RAMER TO PINE LEVEL TO LINWOOD...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM MEADVILLE TO 6 MILES EAST OF MEADVILLE TO 12 MILES NORTHEAST OF TROY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... MEADVILLE. CHINA GROVE. BEANS CROSSROADS. HIGH RIDGE. SHOPTON. INVERNESS. 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 706 PM CDT TUE AUG 18 2009 ALZ025-034-190100- BIBB-SHELBY- 706 PM CDT TUE AUG 18 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR BIBB AND SHELBY COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM CDT... AT 703 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR WILTON...OR 5 MILES WEST OF MONTEVALLO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... WILTON. UNIVERSITY OF MONTEVALLO. MONTEVALLO. AMERICAN VILLAGE. 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 Birmingham radar (KBMX), 25 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:11 UTC.
8 flash flood, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rains caused water to flow over AL-119, near Briarwood Christian School.
Heavy rain caused water to cover the road, which led to the closure of AL-160 at Locust Fork.
Six inches of water was reported to be flowing across CR-49, near Kennedy.
Winds estimated around 45 mph blew down a tree on 42nd Street, in Ensley.
Six inches of water was flowing across 5th Street, near Main Avenue, in Northport.
Lightning struck and damaged an apartment building in the Rainbow City area, near Gadsden, which caused heavy smoke outside the building. Two units of the building had to be evacuated, as firefighters searched for the source of the smoke. The time of the event is estimated.
Up to six inches of water was flowing across Walker Chapel Road, in Fultondale.
Heavy rains caused water to flow over a bridge, on Hunter Creek Road, just south of McFarland Boulevard.
Six inches of water was flowing across S.A. Graham Boulevard, in Brundidge.
Water was reported flowing over Elba Highway, just north of the Spring Hill community.
Winds estimated around 45 mph blew a single large tree down onto a house, north of the Mount Olive community.
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: 191514, 191516, 191517, 191524, 191519, 191531, 191521, 191522, 191525, 191527, 191528.