A slow moving cold front brought an extended period of severe weather and heavy rain, that lasted about 24 hours. The storms produced damaging winds, large hail, flooding rains, and at least 4 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 slow moving cold front brought an extended period of severe weather and heavy rain, that lasted about 24 hours. The storms produced damaging winds, large hail, flooding rains, and at least 4 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 Feb 27, 6:07 AM CST, 2 hours 28 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 607 AM CST FRI FEB 27 2009 .UPDATE...FOR AVIATION. && .DISCUSSION... THIS DISCUSSION WILL ONLY HIGHLIGHT THE SEVERE AND WINTER WEATHER THREATS. IN A NUTSHELL...THIS FORECAST IS JUST ABOUT AS COMPLEX AS IT GETS. WE SEEM TO HAVE ALMOST EVERY WEATHER ELEMENT IN PLAY FROM NOW UNTIL SUNDAY AFTERNOON...I REALLY WOULDNT WISH THIS FORECAST PACKAGE ON MY WORST ENEMY. MUCH OF TODAY STILL APPEARS TO BE ON TRACK...COLD FRONT EXPECTED TO CONTINUE PUSHING SOUTHEAST INTO THE NORTHERN THIRD OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. FROM THE LOOKS OF IT WILL CALL THE I20/59 CORRIDOR AS THE STALLING POINT. INITIALLY DO NOT EXPECT MUCH IN THE WAY OF SEVERE WEATHER...AT LEAST THROUGH NOON. HOWEVER...AS THE UPPER LEVEL...POSITIVE TILT...LOW CATCHES UP TO THE FRONT IN CENTRAL MS...EXPECTING A FAIRLY POTENT SURFACE LOW TO BEGIN DEEPENING AND SLOWLY PUSHING EAST THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. THE OLD STALLED FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL THEN REDIRECT ITS EFFORTS AS A WARM FRONT AND WILL TEND TO LIFT NORTH OR MORE LIKELY NORTHEAST. AS THIS HAPPENS...EXPECT TO GET HIT WITH STORMS IN THE PSEUDO WARM SECTOR AND SECONDARY...DEVELOPING COLD FRONT AS IT SWINGS THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY IN THE WEST THROUGH MIDDAY SATURDAY IN THE SOUTHEAST. THIS LEAVES ROOM FOR PLENTY TO HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN. STILL HANGING ON TO THE THREATS BEING RATHER BENIGN AS THE EVENT BEGINS TO UNFOLD LATER THIS MORNING. THE STALLED COLD FRONT SOON TO BE WARM FRONT WILL HAVE PLENTY OF SURFACE CONVERGENCE AND MOISTURE TO WORK WITH TO PRODUCE SEVERAL WAVES OF SHOWERS WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS. AS THE HEATING OF THE DAY WEARS ON...WILL LIKELY SEE SOME ADDITIONAL INSTABILITY SOUTH OF THE BOUNDARY KEEPING STRONGER UPDRAFTS IN THE MIX. AS THESE STORMS...WHICH WILL LIKELY FORM TO OUR WEST...PUSH INTO OUR AREA...SEVERAL COULD BE LONG LASTING WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND PERHAPS SOME SMALL HAIL. IF THEY VENTURE TOO CLOSE TO THE STALLED BOUNDARY...ADDITIONAL 0 TO 1 KM SRH COULD PRESENT A PROBLEM OF TORNADOES. AGAIN...THE MOST LIKELY INITIATION FOR TORS WILL BE ALONG THE BOUNDARY...SO ANY SUPERCELLS THAT ARE RIDING ALONG THE STALLED BOUNDARY SHOULD BE MONITORED CLOSELY. AS THE EVENT CONTINUES INTO THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT...THINGS COULD GET INTERESTING AS THE SURFACE LOW CONTINUES TO DEEPEN. WILL NEED TO WATCH FOR BACKING SURFACE WINDS IF THE SURFACE LOW IS POTENT ENOUGH. THERE IS ALSO A DRY PUNCH ALOFT THAT CONTINUES TO BE NOTEWORTHY. THIS DRY PUNCH WILL ACT TO STEEPEN LAPSE RATES ALOFT AND LARGE HAIL WILL BECOME MORE OF A THREAT. ALSO...AS MENTIONED...THE BACKING SURFACE WINDS COULD ACTUALLY CREATE AN ADDITIONAL TOR THREAT THROUGH THE EARLY TO LATE MORNING TIME PERIOD. THESE MESO DETAILS WILL CERTAINLY BE TRICKY. NOT MENTIONED TO THIS POINT...BUT HEAVY PERHAPS LOCALLY FLOODING RAIN IS LIKELY TO BE THE BIGGEST THREAT WITH THIS SYSTEM. WE WILL GO AHEAD WITH A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL ALABAMA THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND INTO THE OVERNIGHT. BEING THAT FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE VALUES ARE HIGH...HOPEFULLY WILL KEEP IT A MORE LOCAL..NUISANCE ISSUE VERSES WIDESPREAD. ON TO THE SECOND HALF...SNOW LOOKS TO BE IN THE CARDS FOR MUCH OF THE NORTHERN TWO-THIRDS...AND PERHAPS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA LATE SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY MORNING. MODELS ARE STILL STRUGGLING WITH THE TRACK OF THE UPPER COLD CORE LOW...BUT FOR NOW AM LEANING WITH THE FURTHER NORTH SOLUTION FROM THE EURO AND MOST OF THE GFS ENSEMBLE MEMBERS. THE OPERATIONAL GFS...FURTHER SOUTHWESTERN TRACK IS THE MAIN OUTLIER AT THIS JUNCTURE. IF THE GUIDANCE IS CORRECT...MUCH OF THE DEVELOPING SNOW WILL BEGIN IN THE NORTHWESTERN CWA AROUND MIDNIGHT OR SO...AND WORK ACROSS THE NORTHERN TWO-THIRDS OF THE STATE THROUGH MIDDAY SUNDAY. PRECIP AMOUNTS CONTINUE TO COME IN WETTER AND WETTER WITH EVERY RUN...SO IT DOES APPEAR THAT THERE WILL BE SOME ACCUMULATION ISSUES...PERHAPS A FEW INCHES NORTH AND EAST OF BHM. DONT WANT TO GET CARRIED AWAY YET...AS WE STILL HAVE FIRST THINGS FIRST TO DEAL WITH TODAY AND TONIGHT...BUT THIS SYSTEM WILL CERTAINLY BE OF INTEREST SOON. 17/KLAWS && .AVIATION...06Z TERMINAL DISCUSSION. CEILINGS ARE LOWERING TO MVFR CATEGORY NORTHERN TAF SITES (TCL, BHM, EET) AND THIS TREND WILL SPREAD EASTWARD TO ANB BY 15Z AS SHRA AND TSRA CONTINUE TO SPREAD/DEVELOP EASTWARD ACROSS AREA. DO NOT EXPECT MVFR CONDITIONS IN CEILINGS TO PREVAIL AT MGM OR TOI SITES BEFORE 19Z. MAIN IMPACT FROM STRONGER TSRA SHOULD COME AFTER 19Z NORTHERN AREAS AS COLD FRONT MOVES INTO AREA AND SEVERE WEATHER PARAMETERS BECOME MORE FAVORABLE...WITH HIGH WINDS AND HAIL EXPECTED TO BE THE MAIN WEATHER THREAT...AND AFTER 22Z MGM AND TOI AREAS WITH ACTIVITY CONTINUING THROUGH MUCH OF THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. WINDS SHOULD PICK UP FROM THE SOUTH DURING THE MORNING WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO 20 KNOTS EXPECTED AFT 15Z. CEILINGS SHOULD LOWER TO IFR CATEGORY AFTER 03Z WITH PREVAILING VSBYS 3 TO 4 MILES IN RAIN. 41 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && 17/16
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 500 AM CST FRI FEB 27 2009 ALZ011>015-017>050-281100- 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- 500 AM CST FRI FEB 27 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL...AND FLOODING RAIN ARE POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT CENTRAL ALABAMA TODAY. ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE MAINLY ALONG AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 20. THE SEVERE STORMS ARE LIKELY TO DEVELOP AROUND NOON IN WESTERN COUNTIES AND WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AREAWIDE. THE THREAT SHOULD SLOWLY SHIFT FURTHER SOUTH AND EAST AS THE EVENT CONTINUES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL AGAIN BE POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY... LASTING INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON. THE MAIN THUNDERSTORM THREATS WILL BE LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN. AT THIS TIME...IT APPEARS THAT AREAS NEAR AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 85 AND HIGHWAY 80 WILL HAVE THE BEST ENVIRONMENT FOR THE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. AN INCREASED THREAT NORTHWARD WILL BE SOLELY DEPENDANT ON THE POSITION OF THE COLD FRONT. BREEZY CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE BOTH AHEAD AND BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. THESE CONDITIONS MAY MATERIALIZE FRIDAY...SATURDAY...AND SUNDAY. A FEW WIND GUSTS OF 25 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. A STRONG UPPER LOW WILL MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA LATE SATURDAY NIGHT AND EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. SOME MOISTURE WILL BE AVAILABLE AS THE COLD AIR FILTERS IN. THEREFORE...THERE WILL BE A CHANCE OF MEASURABLE SNOW FROM MIDNIGHT THROUGH NOON ON SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. 17/KLAWS
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 49 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:36 UTC.
15 hail, 6 thunderstorm wind, 5 tornado, 4 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were blown down on AL-171 near Harbin Road.
Trees and power lines were blown down around the Kennedy area.
Penny sized hail was reported at Princeton Hospital in Birmingham.
The tornado touched down briefly near County Road 11 in Chelsea. There was no solid path of destruction, but the tornado was witnessed by several people. Damage in the area included several trees and power lines that were blown down, windows blown out of multiple cars, and a gas station sign that was destroyed. Winds were estimated around 75 mph.
Several roads around the University of Alabama campus became flooded and temporarily impassable.
Reported near Interstate 65 exit 186.
Multiple 911 calls were received from the public of a tornado crossing AL-69 north of Greensboro. Only one damaged tree could be found with the apparent brief touchdown.
Old Fayette Road at Brady Montgomery Road became temporarily impassable and was closed due to high water.
Several trees were blown down on CR-19.
Three to six inches of rain caused several roads across Pickens County to become temporarily impassable, including around the city of Reform.
Reported at mile marker 20 on Interstate 20.
Several trees were blown down across roadways in Uniontown.
Several trees were blown down on AL-22, west of Orville.
Baseball sized hail was reported on AL-69 south of US-80.
Several trees were blown down and blocked AL-25, near the Bragg community.
Rainfall of 3 to 6 inches across Lamar County caused as many as 60 county roads to become temporarily closed due to high water.
Reported in the Stokes area, south of Tuscaloosa.
The tornado touched down briefly near CR-51 in far southern Tallapoosa County. Several trees and power lines were blown down and 2 outbuildings were destroyed. A couple of homes in the area also sustained shingle damage.
The tornado touched down briefly near the intersection of US-280 and CR-147, near an area known as The Bottle. One building sustained heavy damage when its metal roof was peeled off. One car was overturned at a used car dealership and a few trees were snapped or uprooted.
The tornado touched down southwest of the community of Salem. It then moved just north of due east, crossing US-280 and several smaller county roads, before lifting at CR-379. Winds estimated at 125-130 mph destroyed 6 mobile homes and 4 site built homes, badly damaged 8 homes, and caused minor damage to 9 others. Two area businesses were destroyed, one other received minor damage, and one school building was damaged. Hundreds of trees were snapped off and uprooted, and one 18-wheeler was overturned. There were three minor injuries reported, only one that required hospitalization.
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, 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: 156683, 156684, 156685, 156686, 156688, 156689, 156690, 156691, 156692, 156693, 156694, 156695, 156696, 156702, 156713, 156714, 156715, 156716, 156717, 156718, 156719, 156720, 156721, 156722, 156723, 156724, 156725, 156735, 156732, 156734.