Flash Flood and Hail in Alabama, July 12 to 16, 2009

Name: Flash Flood and Hail in Alabama, July 12 to 16, 2009
Start: 2009-07-12T16:53
End: 2009-07-16T12:23
Location: Alabama

July 12 to 16, 2009 · NWS BMX · 9 events in 5 counties and zones

A cold front moved into Alabama, and became stationary, causing a several day period of isolated severe thunderstorms.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $41,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 9

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS BMX wrote it up.

A cold front moved into Alabama, and became stationary, causing a several day period of isolated severe thunderstorms.

What forecasters said that day

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 Jul 12, 1:48 PM CST, 3 hours 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 12, 1:48 PM CST, 3 hours 5 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
248 PM CDT SUN JUL 12 2009

.DISCUSSION...

AN UNSTABLE AIRMASS IS IN PLACE ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA ALONG
WITH ABUNDANT MOISTURE.  PWS ARE IN THE 1.75 TO 2.0 RANGE WITH LIS
BETWEEN -3 AND -5.  ITS NO SURPRISE THAT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
ARE ONGOING AND WILL LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH SUNSET.  THESE STORMS
ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW SEVERE LIMITS...ALTHOUGH IF YOU ARE
DIRECTLY BENEATH ONE THE INTENSE LIGHTNING AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL
RATES MAY MAKE YA THINK OTHERWISE.

GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO FORECAST THE DEVELOPMENT OF A POTENTIALLY
SIGNIFICANT MCS OVERNIGHT TRACKING INTO NORTHERN ALABAMA SOMETIME
BETWEEN 3 AM AND NOON ON MONDAY. ALTHOUGH SIGNIFICANT TIMING
DISCREPANCIES REMAIN BETWEEN FORECAST MODELS...OTHERWISE
CONSISTENCY AND AGREEMENT IS GOOD AND HAS PROMPTED ME TO GO AHEAD
AND ADD SEVERE WORDING TO THE ZONES.  WITH THESE SYSTEMS...DAMAGING
WIND ALONG THE LEADING EDGE IS GENERALLY THE GREATEST THREAT...BUT
LARGE HAIL CANNOT BE RULED OUT AND WITH SUCH HIGH PRECIPITABLE WATER
VALUES LOCAL FLOODING WILL BE A CONCERN. AS FAR AS SPECIFICS GO THE
GFS BRINGS THE SYSTEM INTO NORTHERN ALABAMA AROUND 06Z AND IS
CENTERED NEAR TUSCALOOSA BY 12Z.  THE NAM IS A GOOD 4 TO 6 HOURS
SLOWER WITH THE ECMWF A GOOD COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE TWO.  AS
CONDITIONS WARM DURING THE DAY AND A MID LEVEL SHORTWAVE APPROACHES
FROM THE NORTH...THE SEVERE THREAT WILL INCREASE AND ANY SURFACE
BOUNDARIES LEFT OVER FROM EARLIER STORMS COULD HELP TO FOCUS LIFT.
WITH THAT IN MIND...THE SLOWER NAM SOLUTION COINCIDING WITH THE
BETTER INSTABILITY FROM SURFACE HEATING WOULD LIKELY BE THE WORSE
SCENARIO.

THE FRONT WE HAVE BEEN MENTIONING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL FORECAST
PACKAGES WILL LARGELY BE MASKED BY THE MCS AND WILL BE HARD TO
IDENTIFY.  ITS ORIENTATION AS IT MOVES INTO THE STATE IS HIGHLY
SUSPECT BUT FOR NOW WE WILL CONTINUE A BACK DOOR SCENARIO AS THE
HIGH CONTINUES TO BUILD NORTH AND EASTWARD TRANSLATING TO MORE
NORTH-NORTHEASTERLY FLOW ACROSS NORTHEAST  ALABAMA.  NEVERTHELESS
ITS PRESENCE WILL KEEP RAIN CHANCES IN THE FORECAST ON TUESDAY.

WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WILL FEATURE THE BATTLE OF THE HIGH TRYING TO
BUILD IN FROM THE WEST AND WEAK IMPULSES TRACKING THROUGH
NORTHWESTERLY FLOW TO OUR NORTHEAST....A MESSY PATTERN THAT WILL
LIKELY RESULT IN TEMPERATURES A BIT COOLER THAN GUIDANCE
SUGGESTS...AND AT LEAST SCATTERED AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS.

FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST THE GFS AND ECMWF MODELS ARE BOTH
INDICATING THE UPPER TROF WILL REASSERT ITSELF EAST OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER BY FRIDAY AND PUSH A SURFACE FRONT INTO ALABAMA BY
THE WEEKEND. THIS WOULD BE A NICE REPRIEVE FROM WARM AND HUMID
CONDITIONS EARLIER IN THE WEEK. MAIN CHANGE TO FORECAST WAS TO RAISE
POPS SLIGHTLY ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY IN ANTICIPATION OF A MORE
FAVORABLE PATTERN FOR RAIN.

&&

.AVIATION...18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

SCT TO BROKEN LOW TO MID CLOUDS WILL CONTINUE TO ADVECT AND DEVELOP
OVER THE AREA THROUGH MUCH OF THE AFTERNOON.  ISO TO SCT SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BEGIN OVER THE FIRST HOUR OR SO OF THE
PERIOD..AND SLOWLY PUSH SOUTH THROUGH AROUND 9PM. FOR...NOW LEFT
VCTS IN THE FIRST 8 HOURS OVER THE NORTHERN SITES DUE TO THE SCT
NATURE OF THE CONVECTION...BUT WILL LIKELY NEED TO AMEND ON AN AS
NEEDED BASIS.  FOR AREAS SOUTH...MGM AND TOI...LEFT IN CB AS MUCH OF
THE CONVECTION WILL BE OUTSIDE OF THE FIRST 6 HOURS AND MUCH MORE
ISOLATED AS THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS CONTINUE.  BOTTOM
LINE...EXPECT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AROUND THE AREA FROM 18 TO
AROUND 02 UTC...WITH LOW TO MID CU TOWERS.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     69  86  71  90  73 /  50  70  30  20  10
ANNISTON    71  86  72  89  73 /  40  60  30  30  10
BIRMINGHAM  72  87  74  90  75 /  50  70  30  30  10
TUSCALOOSA  73  89  75  93  77 /  40  70  30  30  10
CALERA      72  88  73  90  74 /  40  70  30  30  10
AUBURN      71  85  73  89  71 /  20  50  30  40  20
MONTGOMERY  74  90  74  90  74 /  20  50  30  50  20
TROY        74  89  73  89  73 /  20  40  30  50  20

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE.

&&

07/07/07

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 12, 7:43 AM CST, 9 hours 10 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
843 AM CDT SUN JUL 12 2009

ALZ011>015-017>050-131328-
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-
843 AM CDT SUN JUL 12 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE AFTER 12 PM
MAINLY ALONG AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 59.  THESE STORMS COULD
CARRY INTO THE EVENING HOURS WHERE THE MAIN AREAS OF CONCERN WILL
LIKELY BE ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 59. THE MAIN THREATS IN BOTH
CASES WILL BE HEAVY RAINFALL...COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF LIGHTNING AND WIND
GUSTS TO 50 MPH.

ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT WILL BE POSSIBLE PRIOR TO
SUNRISE MONDAY MORNING AS A FRONT NEARS THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF
CENTRAL ALABAMA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON MONDAY AS A
FRONT MOVES THROUGH CENTRAL ALABAMA. THE MAIN THREAT FROM THESE
STORMS WILL BE HEAVY RAINS AND POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WIND.

ON TUESDAY STRONG STORMS WILL ONCE AGAIN BE POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY
DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS. THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE LOCALLY
HEAVY RAINFALL AND WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL MAY
BE NEEDED ON MONDAY.

12/SIRMON

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 12, 1:28 PM CST, 3 hours 25 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
228 PM CDT SUN JUL 12 2009

ALZ025-122000-
SHELBY-
228 PM CDT SUN JUL 12 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR SHELBY COUNTY UNTIL 300 PM CDT...

AT 227 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR COLUMBIANA...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  COLUMBIANA.
  SHELBY.
  BEESWAX AT LAY LAKE.
  AL 145 AND CR 46.
  SPRING CREEK AT LAY LAKE.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

17/KLAWS

Special weather statement, Jul 12, 1:51 PM CST, 3 hours 2 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
251 PM CDT SUN JUL 12 2009

ALZ035-041-122015-
AUTAUGA-CHILTON-
251 PM CDT SUN JUL 12 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR AUTAUGA AND CHILTON COUNTIES UNTIL
315 PM CDT...

AT 251 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR PLECHER...OR 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CLANTON...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  PLECHER.
  BILLINGSLEY.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

17/KLAWS

Special weather statement, Jul 12, 2:31 PM CST, 2 hours 22 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
331 PM CDT SUN JUL 12 2009

ALZ041-122100-
AUTAUGA-
331 PM CDT SUN JUL 12 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR AUTAUGA COUNTY UNTIL 400 PM CDT...

AT 331 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MARBURY...OR 12 MILES NORTH OF
PRATTVILLE. THIS STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY.

PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  NEW PROSPECT.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

17/KLAWS

Special weather statement, Jul 12, 2:56 PM CST, 1 hour 57 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
356 PM CDT SUN JUL 12 2009

ALZ027-122145-
TALLADEGA-
356 PM CDT SUN JUL 12 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR TALLADEGA COUNTY UNTIL 445 PM CDT...

AT 355 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR ALPINE...OR 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF CHILDERSBURG...
MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  ALPINE.
  WINTERBORO.
  TALLADEGA.
  WALDO.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

Special weather statement, Jul 12, 4:01 PM CST, 52 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
501 PM CDT SUN JUL 12 2009

ALZ018-019-026-122300-
CALHOUN-ETOWAH-ST. CLAIR-
501 PM CDT SUN JUL 12 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR CALHOUN...ETOWAH AND ST. CLAIR
COUNTIES UNTIL 600 PM CDT...

AT 458 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF STEELE...OR 7 MILES WEST OF
MARKTON...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. A SECOND STORM IS NEAR ANNISTON.

WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  WILLIAMS.
  RAGLAND.
  RAINBOW CITY.
  SOUTHSIDE.
  MARKTON.
  OHATCHEE.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

Special weather statement, Jul 12, 4:28 PM CST, 25 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
528 PM CDT SUN JUL 12 2009

ALZ030-122300-
SUMTER-
528 PM CDT SUN JUL 12 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR SUMTER COUNTY UNTIL 600 PM CDT...

AT 527 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR WEST UNION...OR 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF LIVINGSTON...
MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  WEST UNION.
  SUMTERVILLE.
  GAINESVILLE.
  EPES.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 53 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:51 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Jefferson

When: July 12, 4:53 PM CST
Where: Jefferson County, 0.69 mi N of Center Pt
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 33.640, -86.680

Thunderstorm Wind, Etowah

When: July 13, 12:40 AM CST
Where: Etowah County, 0.42 mi SW of Gadsden
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 34.015, -86.024

At least 20 trees were blown down across various parts of Etowah County, mainly around the city of Gadsden. Fallen trees struck two homes in the 1400 block of 4th Avenue in the city, and another tree struck a house on 4th Street.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jefferson

When: July 13, 6:15 AM CST
Where: Jefferson County, 1.78 mi S of Overton
Measured: 40 kt (46 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 33.474, -86.697

One tree was blown down onto power lines near Liberty Park.

Flash Flood, Jefferson

When: July 13, 7:15 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: Jefferson County, 1.22 mi ESE of Ensley to 1.33 mi ESE of Ensley
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 33.513, -86.881

Heavy rains caused water to overflow several streets in the Ensley area. A vehicle became stranded in flood waters, near the intersection of 18th Street and Avenue V.

Thunderstorm Wind, Winston

When: July 15, 10:10 PM CST
Where: Winston County, 0.16 mi WNW of Natural Bridge
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.101, -87.602

Trees were blown down on AL-13, just north of US-278.

Thunderstorm Wind, Winston

When: July 15, 10:12 PM CST
Where: Winston County, Addison
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.200, -87.180

Power lines were blown down in Addison.

Thunderstorm Wind, Blount

When: July 15, 10:50 PM CST
Where: Blount County, 4.1 mi SW of Blount Spgs
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 33.887, -86.850

A single tree was blown down and briefly blocked a lane of Interstate 65, near exit 287.

Hail, Talladega

When: July 16, 12:15 PM CST
Where: Talladega County, 0.58 mi SSW of Bon Air
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Post Office
Coordinates: 33.263, -86.335

Thunderstorm Wind, Talladega

When: July 16, 12:23 PM CST
Where: Talladega County, 1.81 mi S of Gantt Jct
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 33.124, -86.248

A single large tree was blown down on Settlement Road, in Sylacauga.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alabama in 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history Warnings in Alabama, July 2009

Sources

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: 191246, 191455, 191247, 191453, 191249, 191248, 191252, 191250, 191251.