A band of low-topped thunderstorms along a cold front tracked slowly eastward across north Alabama during the afternoon and evening hours. Individual thunderstorms moved north-northeast at 40 to 50 mph with a few containing meso-cyclones.
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 band of low-topped thunderstorms along a cold front tracked slowly eastward across north Alabama during the afternoon and evening hours. Individual thunderstorms moved north-northeast at 40 to 50 mph with a few containing meso-cyclones. Isolated wind damage was reported in Colbert and Madison Counties.
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 Oct 30, 2:08 PM CST, 56 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 308 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009 .SYNOPSIS...A VERY PROGRESSIVE UPPER TROUGH HAS CAUSED ABUNDANT SNOWFALL OVER THE ROCKIES AND STRONG TO SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. THIS TROUGH AND SFC COLD FRONT ARE BEGINNING TO AFFECT THE TN VALLEY WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES MAINLY WEST OF INTERSTATE 65. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR LAWRENCE...FRANKLIN(AL)... COLBERT...AND LAUDERDALE COUNTIES UNTIL 7PM CDT. IN OTHER NEWS...DON'T FORGET TO CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS BACKWARD ON SATURDAY NIGHT AS DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS AT 2AM ON SUNDAY MORNING. && .SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT)...CURRENT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE TORNADO THREAT WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT AS THE COLD FRONT APPROACHES. SRH VALUES CONTINUE TO BE IN THE 300-400 M2/S2 RANGE THROUGH APPROX 04Z. WHILE THE FRONT MOVES OVER THE AREA. INSTABILITY IS QUITE LOW ACROSS MUCH OF THE TN VALLEY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FAR NW AL WHERE SOME MUCAPE IS PRESENT. MOST OF THIS ACTIVITY WILL BE LOW TOPPED MEANING A DEARTH OF LIGHTNING. WITH THE VERY STRONG JET STREAKS ALOFT AND THE PRESSURE GRADIENT PRESENT...EXPECTING WIND SPEEDS TO BE 10-20 KTS OVER MOST AREAS WITH HIGHER GUSTS AND 20-30 KTS SUSTAINED AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF NE AL. THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO SEPARATE FRONTAL BOUNDARIES. THE FIRST FRONTAL BOUNDARY IS THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY WILL BE MOVING ACROSS FAR NW AL BY 00-01Z...AROUND THE INTERSTATE 65 CORRIDOR BY 00Z-03Z...AND FAR NE AL BY 03-06Z. THE SECONDARY COLD FRONT WITH THE COOL DRY AIR MASS FOLLOWS SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. THE UPPER LOW SHOULD CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTHEAST OVERNIGHT WITH MORE RAINFALL OCCURRING DURING THE DAY. GIVEN THAT THE FIRST FRONTAL PASSAGE IS MAINLY IN THE MORNING WITH THE SECONDARY FRONT LATER IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON...DAYTIME HIGHS WILL LIKELY OCCUR IN THE MORNING. FOR NOW...HAVE INCLUDED DAYTIME HIGHS IN THE UPPER 50S TO LOW 60S. CLOUD COVER AND SHOWER ACTIVITY MAY BE SOMEWHAT STUBBORN TO DISSIPATE IN NE AL AS THE UPPER TROUGH MOVES NORTHEAST. BEHIND THE UPPER TROUGH...ZONAL FLOW BEGINS TO DEVELOP ALOFT ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST BY SUNDAY. DAYTIME HIGH TEMPS ON SUNDAY WILL BE SOMEWHAT WARMER IN THE LOW TO MID 60S. CLEAR CONDITIONS WILL THEN DOMINATE. .LONG TERM (MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT)...A PRETTY QUIET EXTENDED FORECAST WILL THEN DOMINATE THROUGHOUT THE REGION AS ZONAL FLOW DEVELOPS. DAYTIME HIGHS IN THE LOW TO MID 60S WITH LOWS MAINLY IN THE 40S SHOULD BE THE ORDER OF THE DAY. THE ECMWF IS SHOWING A SECONDARY UPPER TROUGH EJECTING SE FROM MT TOWARDS THE TN VALLEY ON TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. AT THIS POINT...NOT EXPECTING MORE THAN A SECONDARY COOL PUSH WITH THIS PARTICULAR SYSTEM. HAVE ADDED SOME CLOUD COVER MAINLY OVER NE AL. OTHERWISE...WE REMAIN IN NW FLOW FOR THE REST OF THE EXTENDED. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... HUNTSVILLE 54 57 43 62 41 / 100 70 10 10 0 SHOALS 53 59 42 63 39 / 100 40 10 10 0 VINEMONT 53 57 44 61 40 / 100 70 10 10 0 FAYETTEVILLE 53 56 42 60 39 / 100 70 10 10 0 ALBERTVILLE 56 57 45 63 42 / 100 80 10 10 0 FORT PAYNE 56 56 45 60 40 / 100 80 10 10 0 && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. TN...NONE. && SL.77
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 100 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-310330- LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN- MARSHALL-JACKSON-DEKALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN- 100 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE TENNESSEE VALLEY FROM THE WEST TODAY. UNTIL THE FRONT ARRIVES...SUSTAINED SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 20 MPH WILL GUST TO AROUND 35 MPH AREA-WIDE...WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO 40 MPH POSSIBLE IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN. SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE FRONT. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL BECOME STRONG TO SEVERE...WITH THE PRIMARY THREAT DAMAGING OF STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. A BRIEF TORNADO SPIN UP IS POSSIBLE WITHIN BREAKS OF THE MAIN LINE OF STORMS...OR IF ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP EAST OF THE COLD FRONT. IN ADDITION...BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL ALONG AND JUST BEHIND THE FRONT MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING CONCERNS...ESPECIALLY ACROSS NORTHWEST ALABAMA AND IN OTHER AREAS THAT RECEIVED RAINFALL ON THURSDAY. THE LATEST FORECAST SUGGESTS THE FRONT WILL ARRIVE INTO NORTHWEST ALABAMA BETWEEN 6 AND 7 PM THIS EVENING...REACH THE INTERSTATE 65 CORRIDOR AROUND 7 TO 9 PM...AND CLEAR EXTREME NORTHEAST ALABAMA BY 2 OR 3 AM SATURDAY MORNING. THE GUSTY WINDS AND SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL DIMINISH BEHIND THE FRONT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL MAY BE REQUESTED FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. JLL/RSB
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 249 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009 ALZ001>003-302030- COLBERT-FRANKLIN-LAUDERDALE- 249 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR COLBERT...FRANKLIN AND LAUDERDALE COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM CDT... AT 246 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM PICKWICK DAM TO EVERGREEN...MOVING NORTHEAST AROUND 35 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... RIVERTON... POGO... WRIGHT... PLEASANT SITE...MYNOT...AND CHEROKEE. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR NORTHWEST ALABAMA. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. RSB
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 330 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009 ALZ001-002-302115- COLBERT-LAUDERDALE- 330 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR COLBERT AND LAUDERDALE COUNTIES UNTIL 415 PM CDT... AT 328 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR MT HESTER...OR 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF IUKA... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... BARTON...RIVERTON. WRIGHT...WATERLOO. OAKLAND. THREET. CLOVERDALE. ZIP CITY. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR NORTHWEST ALABAMA. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. SS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 333 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009 ALZ003-302115- FRANKLIN- 333 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FRANKLIN COUNTY UNTIL 415 PM CDT... AT 333 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR VINA...OR NEAR RED BAY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... HALLTOWN...HODGES. DEMPSEY...PLEASANT SITE. BELGREEN. ROCKWOOD...ISBELL. RUSSELLVILLE. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR NORTHWEST ALABAMA. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. SS
AIRPORT WEATHER WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 358 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009 ALZ002-302230- COLBERT- 358 PM CDT FRI OCT 30 2009 ...AIRPORT WEATHER WARNING... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED AN AIRPORT WEATHER WARNING FOR... NORTHWEST ALABAMA REGIONAL AIRPORT (IN MUSCLE SHOALS) /MSL/ * UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING THREATS... * WIND GUSTS 30 MPH OR HIGHER. * CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WITHIN 5 MILES OF THE AIRPORT. DJN
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 88 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:02 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds knocked a tree down at 1160 Jones Road. Power lines were also blown down along Highway 247 at mile marker 20. Law enforcement relayed these reports from the public.
Thunderstorm winds damaged a mobile home and destroyed a nearby shed. The mobile home lost it's chimney and portions of its siding were torn.
Thunderstorm winds knocked a tree down along Mount Zion Road.
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, October 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 195600, 195595, 195596.