Showers and some strong thunderstorms ahead of a slow moving cold front pushed into northwestern Alabama during the early morning hours on the 27th. This front slowly pushed south of the Tennessee River before stalling late on the 27th.
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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.
Showers and some strong thunderstorms ahead of a slow moving cold front pushed into northwestern Alabama during the early morning hours on the 27th. This front slowly pushed south of the Tennessee River before stalling late on the 27th. Heavy rainfall continued to fall through the early morning hours on the 28th. This produced 2 to 5 inches of rainfall across several counties in northern Alabama located south of the Tennessee River, which caused some areas of flash flooding.
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 Feb 27, 11:52 AM CST, 1 hour 23 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 1152 AM CST FRI FEB 27 2009 .UPDATE...18Z TAF ISSUANCE. && .AVIATION...VFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 2-4 HOURS BEFORE THE NEXT WAVE OF PRECIP ASSOCIATED WITH A WARM FRONT MOVES NE FROM CENTRAL MS/AL BY 21-23Z. HAVE DROPPED CIGS/VIS TO MVFR BEGINNING AROUND 23Z. TIMING UNCERTAINTY EXISTS WITH ANY TSRA AND HAVE INCLUDED CBS IN TAFS AT THIS TIME. ANOTHER ROUND OF HEAVY RAINFALL SHOULD OCCUR AS YET ANOTHER SYSTEM CROSSES THE REGION BY 09-15Z CONTRIBUTING TO PERIODS OF IFR VIS (TEMPO GROUP). HAVE MAINTAINED VIS/CIG TO MVFR BY 14-15Z AS THAT SYSTEM EXITS. && .DISCUSSION.../ISSUED 1044 AM CST FRI FEB 27 2009/ CURRENT ANALYSIS SHOWS A SFC COLD FRONT CURRENTLY EXTENDING FROM LAKE HURON/ERIE SW OVER WESTERN TN AND EASTERN TX. AN EARLIER MCS BROUGHT 0.5-1.0 INCH OF RAIN TO MOST OF NORTHERN AL AND SOUTHERN MIDDLE TN. THE MAJORITY OF THE RAINFALL AND SVR WX WILL REMAIN MAINLY OVER CENTRAL PORTIONS OF MS/AL AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS. THE COLD FRONT WILL PASS OVER THE FORECAST AREA BETWEEN 20-23Z AND STALL JUST TO THE SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA. CURRENT NAM/RUC SHOWING A SHORTWAVE TROUGH AND SFC LOW CROSSING ALMOST ATOP THE FRONT BRINGING HEAVY RAINFALL WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG TO SEVERE WEATHER BY 19-23Z MAINLY OVER NORTH CENTRAL AL. FURTHERMORE...ANOTHER SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL CROSS THE REGION LATER TONIGHT BRINGING YET ANOTHER POSSIBILITY OF HEAVY RAINFALL. HAVE ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE THREAT OF 2 TO 4 INCHES MAINLY OVER CULLMAN...MARSHALL...AND DEKALB COUNTIES. LOOKING AT THE SVR THREAT...THE MAJORITY OF THE INSTABILITY IS TO OUR SOUTH FOR THE MOMENT. WIND SHEAR LOOKS TO BE MODERATE WITH 0-3KM BULK SHEAR VALUES AROUND 20-25 KTS AND SRH RATHER LIMITED. THE SOUNDING DOES SHOW A SATURATED HAIL GROWTH ZONE TODAY MAINLY OVER THE CENTRAL PORTIONS OF AL STRETCHING SOMEWHAT INTO CULLMAN COUNTY. THERE IS A LOW LEVEL VEERING PROFILE WITH SPEED SHEAR DEPICTED. GIVEN ALL OF THIS INFO...EXPECTING HEAVY RAINFALL TO BE THE PRIMARY THREAT WITH T-STORMS OF THE STRONG TO NEAR SEVERE VARIETY. ONE SCENARIO THAT MAY SETUP IS A QLCS OVER NORTHERN MS WITH BOWING SEGMENTS AND BOOKEND VORTICES POSSIBLY CONTRIBUTING TO DAMAGE MAINLY OVER SOUTHERN EXTENTS OF CWA (CULLMAN). MADE SOME MINOR CHANGES TO THE WX GRIDS TO INCLUDE HEAVY RAINFALL AS THE PRIMARY THREAT TODAY. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM 3 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: CULLMAN...DEKALB...MARSHALL. TN...NONE. && SL/77
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 106 PM CST FRI FEB 27 2009 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-280300- LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN- MARSHALL-JACKSON-DEKALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN- 106 PM CST FRI FEB 27 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA THIS EVENING AHEAD OF A STRENGTHENING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM. STORM TOTAL RAINFALL OF 2 TO 4 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE...WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS UP TO 4 INCHES ESPECIALLY OVER AREAS SOUTH OF THE TENNESSEE RIVER. THIS MAY PRODUCE LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING. STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE AS A WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTH THIS EVENING INTO TONIGHT. THE PRIMARY THREATS WITH THESE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... COLDER AIR WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT AHEAD OF A FAIRLY INTENSE UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM. AS THIS OCCURS...SNOW IS LIKELY...MAINLY AFTER MIDNIGHT SATURDAY NIGHT. BRISK NORTHERLY WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WILL ACCOMPANY THE SNOW WHICH MAY REDUCE VISIBILITIES SATURDAY NIGHT. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 INCH OR LESS ARE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS POSSIBLE TONIGHT. SL
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 719 AM CST FRI FEB 27 2009 ALZ002-271400- COLBERT- 719 AM CST FRI FEB 27 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR COLBERT COUNTY UNTIL 800 AM CST... AT 719 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A THUNDERSTORM NEAR MARGERUM...OR NEAR IUKA...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL OCCUR WITH THIS STORM...ON TOP OF SATURATED GROUNDS FROM EARLIER RAINFALL. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... MT HESTER...CHEROKEE. BARTON. RED ROCK. NEW BETHEL. CROOKED OAK. COLBERT HEIGHTS. TUSCUMBIA...MUSCLE SHOALS. RAINFALL UP TO 1 INCH HAS RECENTLY OCCURRED ACROSS NORTHERN COLBERT COUNTY. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1/2 TO 1 INCH CAN BE EXPECTED FROM THIS THUNDERSTORM. THIS MAY RESULT IN BRIEF RUNOFF PROBLEMS AND PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS. 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 744 AM CST FRI FEB 27 2009 ALZ002-003-271430- COLBERT-FRANKLIN- 744 AM CST FRI FEB 27 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR COLBERT AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL 830 AM CST... AT 744 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM SRYGLEY CHURCH TO POGO...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... SRYGLEY CHURCH...PLEASANT SITE. DEMPSEY. BELGREEN. RUSSELLVILLE...ROCKWOOD. PLEASANT RIDGE. ISBELL. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1/2 TO 1 INCH ARE POSSIBLE FROM THESE STORMS. THIS MAY RESULT IN BRIEF RUNOFF PROBLEMS AND PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS. 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 750 AM CST FRI FEB 27 2009 ALZ007-008-271430- MARSHALL-MORGAN- 750 AM CST FRI FEB 27 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR MARSHALL AND SOUTHERN MORGAN COUNTIES UNTIL 830 AM CST... AT 750 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM HARTSELLE TO 5 MILES WEST OF ARAB TO ALBERTVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... FLORETTE...EDDY. RABBIT TOWN...MOUNTAIN VIEW. MCVILLE...GUNTERSVILLE. HUSTLEVILLE. ESTIMATED RAINFALL RATES OF 1/2 TO 1 INCH PER HOUR ARE POSSIBLE FROM THESE STORMS. THIS MAY RESULT IN BRIEF RUNOFF PROBLEMS AND PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. DJN
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 75 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:15 UTC.
3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flash flooding was reported on Apollo Road near the Grassy community.
Flash flooding was reported along Alabama highway 91 between mile markers 6 and 7.
The Morgan County Sheriff's department reported road closures due to flash flooding at the intersection of Apple Grove and Ruth Mountain Roads, and portions of Pine Ridge and Foreman Bottoms Roads.
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, February 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: 154492, 154514, 154520.