A very moist boundary layer coupled with abundant sunshine resulted in an unstable air mass. Numerous outflow boundaries from the previous days convection and a stalled frontal boundary helped to focus lift as diurnally enhanced pulse and multicell thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon hours.
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 very moist boundary layer coupled with abundant sunshine resulted in an unstable air mass. Numerous outflow boundaries from the previous days convection and a stalled frontal boundary helped to focus lift as diurnally enhanced pulse and multicell thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon hours.
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 Aug 15, 2:50 PM CST, 1 hour 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 350 PM CDT SUN AUG 15 2010 .DISCUSSION... REMNANT TROPICAL LOW WAS LOCATED OVER FAR SOUTHWEST GEORGIA. THE DISTINCTIVE COUNTERCLOCKWISE ROTATION OF SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO THIS EVENING FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN COUNTIES. THIS LOW EVENTUALLY SLIDES SOUTHWARD AND BACK INTO THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO ON MONDAY. NHC CURRENTLY HAS A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF THIS SYSTEM REGAINING TROPICAL CYCLONE STATUS IN 48 HOURS. LUCKILY...THIS SYSTEM WILL MOVE WESTWARD AND AWAY FROM CENTRAL ALABAMA. NORTHERLY FLOW HAS INVADED CENTRAL ALABAMA ALOFT AS NOTED BY THE STORM MOTION. SEVERAL LOW LEVEL BOUNDARIES ALSO ENTERING THE NORTHWEST HALF OF CENTRAL ALABAMA THIS AFTERNOON. SIGNIFICANT DAYTIME HEATING UNDER MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES EARLY THIS AFTERNOON WILL PRODUCE GOOD DESTABILIZATION AND A MODERATELY UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE. EXPECT THUNDERSTORMS TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING HOURS...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE NORTHWEST HALF OF THE AREA. A FEW WET MICROBURST ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE MAIN THREAT BEING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL ALSO REMAINS IN THE CARDS AREA WIDE DUE TO PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES WELL OVER 2 INCHES. HEAT REMAINS AN ISSUE FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. HEAT INDICES ARE EXPECTED BETWEEN 105 AND 110 DEGREES FOR AREAS WEST OF INTERSTATE 65 THIS AFTERNOON. THESE HIGHER NUMBERS ARE GENERALLY DUE TO HIGH SURFACE DEW POINTS IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S. MODEL SOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING AND UNDER FORECASTING THE MOISTURE POOL. DO NOT REALLY SEE ANYTHING THAT WILL DROP THESE DEW POINTS SIGNIFICANTLY ON MONDAY AFTERNOON. THEREFORE...WILL KEEP DEWPOINTS IN THE MID 70S AND THIS PUTS THE HEAT INDICES IN THE 105 TO 110 RANGE AGAIN MONDAY. HIGHS ARE EVEN FORECAST TO BE A FEW DEGREES COOLER. ISSUED A HEAT ADVISORY FOR WEST HALF THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON. THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST CONTINUES WITH THE SAME TREND THAT HAS BEEN ADVERTISED THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS. THE MODELS DO HAVE A FEW NEW WRINKLES BUT OVER CONSENSUS REMAINS GOOD FOR THE MOST PART. THE REMNANT TROPICAL LOW CIRCLES CLOCKWISE FROM SOUTHERN GEORGIA...OUT INTO THE NORTHERN GULF...THEN BACK INLAND HEADING NORTHWEST ACROSS LOUISIANA. THIS FEATURE PRODUCES A WEAKNESS IN THE ELONGATED RIDGE FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE GREAT BASIN. BY WEEKS END...THE BERMUDA RIDGE BUILDS WESTWARD OVER THE SOUTHEAST. PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES GENERALLY REMAIN OVER 2 INCHES THE ENTIRE PERIOD. THE BRIEF NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WILL ALLOW THE COLD FRONT TO CLOSELY APPROACH FAR NORTHWEST ALABAMA MONDAY...BUT SHOULD NOT CLEAR THE AREA SOUTHWARD. SOUTHERLY FLOW QUICKLY DOMINATES CENTRAL ALABAMA AS LOW EXITS WESTWARD. WILL KEEP POPS SCATTERED DAYTIME INTO THE EVENING HOURS THROUGH WEDNESDAY AND MENTION ALL NIGHT. POPS BECOME EVEN MORE DIURNAL THURSDAY AND BEYOND AND GENERALLY KEPT POPS AT CLIMATOLOGY... SCATTERED DAYTIME...ISOLATED EVENING. HIGH TEMPS DROP A BIT BUT STILL REMAIN ABOVE NORMAL THROUGHOUT AND LOWS STAY MILD GENERALLY IN THE LOW TO MID 70S. 75 && .AVIATION...18Z TAF DISCUSSION. CEILINGS HAVE FINALLY STARTED TO LIFT ACROSS THE AREA...WITH BROKEN CU STILL AFFECTING MGM AND TOI THROUGH THE EARLY AFTERNOON. ALL TAF LOCATIONS WILL SEE A GOOD CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON HOURS...SO INCLUDED A TEMPO GROUP FOR THUNDERSTORMS FOR ALL TAF SITES. HOWEVER...THE UNCERTAINTY STILL EXISTS FOR SOME STORMS TO NOT PASS DIRECTLY OVER SOME TAF LOCATIONS. IF THUNDERSTORMS DO PASS OVER TAF LOCATIONS...EXPECT RAPIDLY CHANGING WINDS AND VISIBILITES IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I HAVE DECIDED TO GO PREVAILING TSRA FOR TOI...AS THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALREADY DEVELOPING AREAWIDE ACROSS SOUTHEAST ALABAMA. DECIDED TO ALSO INCLUDE LOW STRATUS FOR ALL LOCATIONS OVERNIGHT TONIGHT...AS MOISTURE LEVELS WILL CONTINUE TO BE HIGH...AND WE COULD SEE ENOUGH COOLING TO LOWER CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES TO IFR CONDITIONS. NOTICE...KEET TAF WILL HAVE (AMD LTD TO VIS WIND AND WX) AMENDED TO THE END OF THE FORECAST THROUGH THE END OF 2010. THE CEILOMETER DATA WILL BE GOING THROUGH NUMEROUS TESTS AND MONITORED FOR ACCURACY. 56/GOGGINS && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GADSDEN 73 94 73 93 72 / 40 30 20 40 30 ANNISTON 74 93 73 93 74 / 30 30 30 40 30 BIRMINGHAM 76 94 76 93 76 / 40 30 20 40 30 TUSCALOOSA 75 97 75 95 75 / 40 30 20 40 30 CALERA 75 94 74 92 74 / 40 30 30 40 30 AUBURN 73 91 73 93 74 / 40 50 30 30 30 MONTGOMERY 75 93 74 93 75 / 40 50 30 30 30 TROY 74 92 73 92 74 / 50 50 30 30 30 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES: BIBB...DALLAS...FAYETTE...GREENE...HALE...LAMAR...MARENGO... MARION...PERRY...PICKENS...SUMTER...TUSCALOOSA...WALKER... WINSTON. && 75/75/56
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1158 AM CDT SUN AUG 15 2010 ALZ011>015-017>050-161130- 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- 1158 AM CDT SUN AUG 15 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THE COMBINATION OF HIGH TEMPERATURES AND HUMIDITY WILL LEAD TO HEAT INDEX VALUES OF 105 TO 110 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON...FOR AREAS THAT ARE GENERALLY WEST OF INTERSTATE 65 AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 20. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE AGAIN WITH ANY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. ONE TO TWO INCHES OF RAIN MAY OCCUR IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME POTENTIALLY PRODUCING MINOR FLOODING. STRONG STORMS ARE POSSIBLE FROM NOON UNTIL 10 PM...GENERALLY NEAR AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 59. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. HEAT INDICES WILL APPROACH 105 DEGREES ON MONDAY AFTERNOON WEST OF INTERSTATE 65. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 224 PM CDT SUN AUG 15 2010 ALZ023-031-032-152015- GREENE AL-HALE AL-TUSCALOOSA AL- 224 PM CDT SUN AUG 15 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN TUSCALOOSA...GREENE AND NORTHWESTERN HALE COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM CDT... AT 220 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR KNOXVILLE...OR 16 MILES NORTHEAST OF EUTAW...MOVING SOUTH AT 15 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... EUTAW... KNOXVILLE... UNION... AKRON... EVANSVILLE... TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED ROADWAY. 27
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 405 PM CDT SUN AUG 15 2010 ALZ015-024-152145- JEFFERSON AL-WALKER AL- 405 PM CDT SUN AUG 15 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN WALKER AND NORTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM CDT... AT 400 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR SIPSEY...OR 8 MILES NORTH OF SUMITON...MOVING SOUTH AT 10 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... DORA... SUMITON... CORDOVA... SIPSEY... LYNNS PARK... TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED ROADWAY. 27
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 424 PM CDT SUN AUG 15 2010 ALZ017-024-152215- BLOUNT AL-JEFFERSON AL- 424 PM CDT SUN AUG 15 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN BLOUNT AND NORTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM CDT... AT 418 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR HAYDEN...OR 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CLEVELAND... MOVING SOUTH AT 10 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... GARDENDALE... PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE... DALLAS... ARKADELPHIA... COUNTY LINE... TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED ROADWAY. 27
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 442 PM CDT SUN AUG 15 2010 ALZ015-023-024-152230- JEFFERSON AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-WALKER AL- 442 PM CDT SUN AUG 15 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN WALKER...WESTERN JEFFERSON AND NORTHEASTERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM CDT... AT 437 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES SOUTH OF GORGAS STEAM PLANT...OR 13 MILES SOUTH OF CORDOVA...MOVING SOUTH AT 5 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... BULL CITY... OAK GROVE... BANKHEAD LOCK AND DAM... LITTLE SHOAL... TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED ROADWAY. 27
The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 38 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:09 UTC.
13 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree fell onto power lines along Fan Road resulting in widespread power outages.
One tree fell onto a vehicle and another fell across County Road 1.
A tree fell across the road near the intersection of Country Estates Drive and Rosedale Circle.
Several trees down along State Highway 17.
Trees and power lines down just West of town along Highway 278.
Numerous trees and power lines knocked down in and around Jasper.
Numerous trees were knocked down across the southern half of the County.
Trees were knocked down along County Road 47.
Trees down along County Road 30.
A tree fell onto a house along County Road 170.
Trees were knocked down along and across Interstate 20 and 59, Highway 14, County Road 131 and Highway 20.
A tree was knocked down on Highway 17 South of York.
Several trees were knocked down along County Road 16.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, August 2010
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: 254605, 254606, 254608, 254607, 254609, 254610, 254611, 254612, 254613, 254614, 254615, 254616, 254617.