A very unstable air mass developed as early as midday across the central Tennessee Valley. Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms developed by late morning producing very heavy rainfall that resulted in isolated flash flooding in northeast Madison County.
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 HUN wrote it up.
A very unstable air mass developed as early as midday across the central Tennessee Valley. Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms developed by late morning producing very heavy rainfall that resulted in isolated flash flooding in northeast Madison County. A few of these initial storms produced small hail. As instability increased during the mid to late afternoon, more numerous thunderstorms developed. Outflow boundary collisions triggered rapid development of new storms which became severe rather quickly in a few instances. A few reports of large hail and damaging winds were received into the mid evening hours. Isolated flash flooding occurred again in northeastern Madison County and in the town of Bridgeport in Jackson County where water depth climbed up to two feet. One person was struck by lightning in the town of Fairview in Cullman County. Additional thunderstorms moved northwest out of Georgia during the late evening hours producing additional rainfall, but diminished rather quickly after midnight.
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 May 15, 8:40 AM CST, 2 hours 4 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 940 AM CDT FRI MAY 15 2009 .DISCUSSION...LATEST SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS A WARM FRONT POSITIONED NEAR THE OHIO RIVER WITH A WARM MOIST AIRMASS ENTRENCHED ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY. AT 1400 UTC...TEMPS WERE RUNNING IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S ACROSS THE REGION WITH DWPTS MAINLY IN THE UPPER 60S. REGIONAL VIS AND RADAR IMAGERY CONTINUE TO SHOW A CONVECTIVE CLUSTER ACROSS NORTHEAST MS WHICH HAS BEEN NEARLY STATIONARY FOR HOURS NOW. SOME ISOLATED SHRA ASSOCIATED WITH CONVECTIVE OUTFLOW WERE NOTED FROM LAWRENCEBURG TN TO NEAR RED BAY. HOWEVER...A GENERAL WEAKENING TREND WAS NOTED WITH THESE CELLS. MAIN QUESTIONS FOR TODAY WILL BE POPS AND TEMPS. THERE ARE SOME CONFLICTING SIGNALS FROM THE DIAGNOSTICS AND SHORT RANGE MODELS IN TERMS OF POPS. CLOUD COVER ASSOCIATED WITH DECAYING CONVECTION MAY LIMIT HEATING ACROSS FAR WRN COUNTIES FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. HOWEVER...THIS CLOUD COVER MAY ALSO HELP SET UP A DIFFERENTIAL HEATING BOUNDARY ALONG AND EAST OF A LINE FROM FAYETTEVILLE TO MOULTON. THE 00Z NSSL WRF AND THE 13Z RUC BOTH KIND OF HINT AT THIS...AND WOULD INDICATE HIGHER POPS ACROSS CENTRAL AND ERN ZONES. THERE IS ALSO SOME INDICATIONS THAT MASS CONVERGENCE WILL BE MAXIMIZED EAST OF THE SHOALS THIS AFTN. AS FOR TEMPS...CURRENT TRENDS WOULD WARRANT MID 80S MOST AREAS SO WILL LIKELY ADJUST TEMPS UP SLIGHTLY WITH MORNING UPDATE. THERE IS SOME SMALL POTENTIAL FOR SVR WX THIS AFTN WITH MAINLY WET MICROBURST TYPE STORMS WITH MDPI AND WINDEX VALUES BOTH ON THE MARGINAL SIDE. BIGGER CONCERN MAY BE LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN GIVEN SLOW MOVEMENT OF STORMS. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 640 AM CDT FRI MAY 15 2009/ AVIATION... VFR CONDITIONS GENERALLY EXPECTED OUTSIDE OF IMPROVING MVFR FOG THIS MORNING AND SHRA/TSRA MAINLY THIS AFTN. SUMMER-LIKE CONVECTION IS TOO UNPREDICTABLE TO INCLUDE IN TAFS BEYOND VCTS/CB FOR MOST OF THE AFTN. EITHER HSV OR MSL COULD SEE MVFR OR EVEN IFR CIG/VIS WITHIN SHRA/TSRA...AND THE DURATION COULD BE LONG DUE TO WEAK WINDS ALOFT. SOME ACTIVITY MAY LINGER PAST SUNSET BUT ODDS WILL BE TOO LOW TO INCLUDE IN TAFS. REDEVELOPMENT IS EXPECTED TOWARDS DAYBREAK SATURDAY DUE TO AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT...BUT WILL INCLUDE ONLY VCSH ONLY AT MSL...AS IT WOULD BE CLOSER TO THE FRONT. DISCUSSION...SATURDAY AND SAT NIGHT HAS THE HIGHEST CHANCES FOR CONVECTION...AS THE ABOVE MENTIONED COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE NORTH. MODEL OUTPUT WAS IN THE HIGHER LIKELY TO LOWER CATEGORICAL RANGE... SO STAYED WITH LOWER END CATEGORICAL POPS. DECENT PRECIP WATER AMOUNTS IN THE 1.5 TO 1.6 INCH RANGE AGAIN WILL MEAN LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS... ALONG WITH A POTENTIAL FOR FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS. ONE OR TWO STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE...BUT THINK THIS WILL BE MORE OF A RAIN MAKER. THE COLD FRONT PROGRESS THIS GO AROUND WAS FASTER THAN YESTERDAYS GUIDANCE...WITH A PASSAGE DURING SAT EVENING. SHOWERS/ THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE NIGHT...AND TRANSITION TO SHOWERS DURING SUNDAY. THESE SHOWERS SHOULD TAPER OFF FROM NW TO SE DURING THE COURSE OF SUN...WITH ALL EXCEPT MAYBE DEKALB COUNTY POSSIBLY EXPERIENCING LIGHT SHOWERS DURING THE EARLY EVENING. DRY WEATHER WILL GREET THE START OF ANOTHER WORK WEEK. TEMPERATURES HOWEVER WILL BE COOLER THAN SEASONABLE FOR MONDAY/TUESDAY...BUT SHOULD RECOVER TO NORMAL LEVELS BY THE MIDWEEK. THE TROPICS MAY BE GEARING UP A BIT EARLY FOR THEIR SEASON. LONG RANGE GUIDANCE THIS MORNING WAS SHOWING VARIOUS SOLUTIONS OF MOISTURE AFFECTING THE SE. THE DGEX CONTINUED ITS LOW OVER THE GULF...WITH GFS FOLLOWING IT. THE ECMWF THIS GO AROUND WAS DISPLACED FURTHER EASTWARD. REGARDLESS OF THE DETAILS...THE GUIDANCE WAS IN REASONABLE AGREEMENT RETURNING MOISTURE FOR THE LATER PART OF THE WEEK...WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. TN...NONE. && DISCUSSION...15/CBD
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 445 AM CDT FRI MAY 15 2009 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-151800- LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN- MARSHALL-JACKSON-DEKALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN- 445 AM CDT FRI MAY 15 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL REDEVELOP TODAY...AND MAY LAST INTO TONIGHT AS A COLD FRONT BEGINS MOVING INTO THE REGION. A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME STRONG TO SEVERE...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. HOWEVER...DUE TO ABUNDANT MOISTURE AND SLOW STORM MOTION...CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR LOCALIZED FLOODING WHERE STORMS DEVELOP. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... THE COLD FRONT WILL SLOWLY MOVE INTO THE CENTRAL TENNESSEE VALLEY SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT...PROMPTING ADDITIONAL SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE...BUT LOCALIZED FLOODING IS LIKELY TO REMAIN THE PRIMARY THREAT. THE THREAT FOR RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DIMINISH SUNDAY AS THE FRONT MOVES SOUTHWARD. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. BCC
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 1105 AM CDT FRI MAY 15 2009 ALZ006-008-151645- MADISON-MARSHALL- 1105 AM CDT FRI MAY 15 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR SOUTHEAST MADISON AND NORTHWEST MARSHALL COUNTIES UNTIL 1145 AM CDT... AT 1102 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR HEBRON...OR 12 MILES NORTHWEST OF GUNTERSVILLE...MOVING NORTH AT 5 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... NEW HOPE. GRANT. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. CBD
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 1136 AM CDT FRI MAY 15 2009 ALZ006-TNZ096-151700- LINCOLN-MADISON- 1136 AM CDT FRI MAY 15 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR SOUTHEAST LINCOLN AND EASTERN MADISON COUNTIES UNTIL NOON CDT... AT 1134 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM PLEVNA TO NEAR MAYSVILLE...MOVING NORTH AT 10 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE FROM THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... NEW MARKET. PLEVNA. ELORA...FLINTVILLE. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. CBD
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 32 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:42 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood, 2 hail, 2 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds blew down a tree and some other large branches along Winchester Road.
Heavy rainfall caused flash flooding which closure of Old Mountain Fork Road near Winchester Road.
Power lines were knocked down on Buddy Williamson Road. Time was estimated from radar.
Heavy rainfall from strong to severe thunderstorms produced water six inches deep over Alabama Line Road. Also, water was reported flowing across Honey Drive nearby.
Golfball size hail was reported in the Lacey Springs area.
Nickel size hail was reported in the Fairview communty.
Thunderstorm winds blew down a tree across Apple Grove Road south of Union Hill. Time was estimated from radar.
A person was struck by lightning on CR 1536 in the Fairview area.
Thunderstorm winds blew down a tree onto Jacobs Avenue in Bridgeport.
Strong to severe thunderstorms caused two to three feet of water to accumulate over Broadway Avenue between 8th and 9th Street. Other streets that were impacted included: Bleeker Street, Aldhouse Avenue, and Moore Avenue.
Lighting struck a person along Good Hop School Road. Other details unknown.
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, May 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: 173001, 171763, 171764, 171772, 171766, 171774, 171780, 171777, 171784, 171792, 171782.