A cold front moving through the southeastern states caused several strong to severe thunderstorms in central Alabama, with large hail and damaging winds.
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 cold front moving through the southeastern states caused several strong to severe thunderstorms in central Alabama, with large hail and damaging winds.
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 May 9, 8:30 PM CST, 25 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 930 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 2009 .UPDATE...TONIGHTS DISCUSSION. .DISCUSSION... OVERALL FORECAST FAIRLY IN LINE. JUST MADE SOME HOURLY TWEAKS...BUT LEFT LOWS ALONE. DID RAISE POPS TO ACCOUNT FOR ONGOING CONDITIONS ACROSS THE AREA. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE QUICKLY SOUTH AND EAST...WITH BRIEF GUSTY WINDS. BEHIND THE INITIAL LINE WILL BE LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN WITH AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM OR TWO. MAY SEE A BRIEF LULL IN THE WEATHER ACROSS THE NORTHWEST OVERNIGHT...BUT ANOTHER MCS IN DUE IN BY SUNRISE...SO WILL KEEP POPS ON THE LIKELY SIDE UP THERE AS WELL. WITH THE RAIN FROM TONIGHT AND EXPECTED RAIN TOMORROW...ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH EARLIER FOR THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE AREA. && .AVIATION...00Z TAF DISCUSSION. A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY WAS LOCATED ACROSS EXTREME NORTH ALABAMA. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED ALONG THIS BOUNDARY AND WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO EXPAND IN COVERAGE DURING THE EVENING HOURS. WIDESPREAD SHOWERS WITH EMBEDDED TSTMS WILL SPREAD FROM NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI INTO NORTHERN ALABAMA BEFORE 03Z. RAIN AREA SHOULD WEAKEN AND SHRINK IN COVERAGE BY 05Z. MVFR CIGS WILL LIKELY DEVELOP AT ALL TAF SITES BY 08Z DUE TO VERY MOIST AIR MASS IN PLACE...WITH LCL IFR CIGS. FOG MAY ALSO BECOME AN ISSUE DUE TO THE RAINFALL DURING THE EVENING HOURS...BUT CLOUD COVER WILL LIKELY LIMIT FOG POTENTIAL. A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL SAG SOUTHWARD ON SUNDAY AND PROVIDE A MECHANISM FOR MORE TSTM DEVELOPMENT AFTER 17Z. 58/ROSE && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 7 PM SUNDAY NIGHT FOR THE NORTHERN HALF OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 720 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 2009 ALZ011>015-017>050-101300- 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- 720 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH 10 PM THIS EVENING...MAINLY ACROSS AREAS ALONG AND WET OF I-65. THE MAIN THREAT WITH THESE STORMS WILL BE WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA AS A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTH MISSISSIPPI MOVES INTO NORTH ALABAMA THIS EVENING...PRODUCING RAINFALL TOTALS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES. SEE THE FLOOD WARNINGS AND STATEMENTS FOR INFORMATION ON CONTINUED RIVER FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL ONCE AGAIN BE POSSIBLE ON SUNDAY. THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE THREAT WILL BE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...MAINLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE U.S. HIGHWAY 80... INTERSTATE 85 CORRIDOR. THREATS WITH THESE STORMS WILL BE STRONG DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL. STRONG STORMS ARE POSSIBLE AREAWIDE ON MONDAY WITH THE MAIN THREATS OF GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL. SUNDAY AND MONDAY WILL ALSO BRING A CONTINUED CHANCE OF FLOODING ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. ANY AREAS THAT RECEIVE RAINFALL FOR A PROLONG PERIOD OF TIME WILL RUN THE RISK OF LOCALIZED FLOODING. RIVER FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND...SEE RIVER FLOOD STATEMENTS FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BECOME NECESSARY TONIGHT AND SUNDAY.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 555 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 2009 ALZ015-017-024-092345- BLOUNT-JEFFERSON-WALKER- 555 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR BLOUNT...JEFFERSON AND WALKER COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM CDT... AT 552 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR LYNNS PARK...OR 7 MILES EAST OF JASPER...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 30 MPH...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... LYNNS PARK. SIPSEY. DORA. EMPIRE. ARKADELPHIA. PARTRIDGE CROSSROADS. 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 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 713 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 2009 ALZ011-100100- MARION- 713 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR MARION COUNTY UNTIL 800 PM CDT... AT 713 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR HAMILTON...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 30 MPH...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... HAMILTON. HACKLEBURG. PIKEVILLE. TESSNER. PEARCES MILL. PINEY GROVE. 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 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 910 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 2009 ALZ022-023-031-100300- GREENE-PICKENS-TUSCALOOSA- 910 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR GREENE...PICKENS AND TUSCALOOSA COUNTIES UNTIL 1000 PM CDT... AT 909 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF REFORM TO 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CARROLLTON TO NEW WEST GREENE...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM REFORM TO 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CARROLLTON TO 11 MILES SOUTH OF ALICEVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... OWENS. REFORM. LEWISTON. PIONEER. LUBBUB. MOORES BRIDGE. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. 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 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 917 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 2009 ALZ024>026-100300- JEFFERSON-SHELBY-ST. CLAIR- 917 PM CDT SAT MAY 9 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR JEFFERSON...SHELBY AND ST. CLAIR COUNTIES UNTIL 1000 PM CDT... AT 915 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM SPRINGVILLE TO KINGSTON TO NORTH JOHNS...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM SPRINGVILLE TO BIRMINGHAM TO 10 MILES WEST OF BESSEMER...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 40 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... ALABAMA ADVENTURE. VESTAVIA HILLS. ROSS BRIDGE. VERIZON MUSIC CENTER AT OAK MOUNTAIN. WATTSVILLE. STERRETT. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.
The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 65 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:56 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Two trees were blown down onto power lines and a car, on Renfroe Road east of the city of Talladega.
A lightning strike caused a house fire, on Lee County Road 390.
Nine trees were blown down on Interstate-85, between mile markers 70 and 74.
Several trees were blown down on Lee County Road 266.
Several trees were uprooted and snapped off, on CR-271 near Valley.
Several trees and power lines were blown down in Fairfax.
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: 176272, 176273, 176274, 176275, 176276, 176277, 176278, 176279.