A storm system moving across the southeastern states brought rain and thunderstorms to Central Alabama. A portion of the thunderstorms formed into a line, which produced isolated wind damage.
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 storm system moving across the southeastern states brought rain and thunderstorms to Central Alabama. A portion of the thunderstorms formed into a line, which produced isolated wind damage.
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 Jan 21, 5:31 AM CST, 10 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 531 AM CST THU JAN 21 2010 .UPDATE...FOR 12Z AVIATION. && .DISCUSSION... BANDS OF TSTM ACTIVITY ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS MS/AL EARLY THIS AM. THIS ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH PERTURBATIONS ROTATING AROUND OUR UPPER LOW CURRENTLY DIGGING ESEWD ACROSS OK/AR. TO ADD TO THE MIX...A BOUNDARY ALONG THE COAST WILL THROW A WRENCH IN THE MIX FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG TSTMS...A FEW OF WHICH COULD HAVE ROTATION EARLY THIS AM. AS WE MOVE INTO THE DAYTIME HRS...SOME DRYING OCCURS IN THE MID LEVELS...WITH OUR 1ST BOUNDARY MOVING THROUGH HOWEVER...SOME PESKY SHALLOW LOW LEVEL MOISTURE COULD MAKE IT A CHALLENGE FOR PORTIONS OF C AL TO DESTABILIZE ONCE AGAIN. MODELS SHOW BETTER CLEARING FURTHER W/S. IF WE GET ENOUGH CLEARING TO DESTABILIZE THEN A FEW ISOLATED STRONG STORMS ARE STILL POSSIBLE. SYSTEM AND ANY STORMS ASSOCIATED WITH IT MOVE OUT OF C AL BY LATE AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING. THEN WE WILL HAVE A BREAK FOR FRI AND THE DAYTIME ON SAT BEFORE OUR NEXT FRONT AND POSSIBLE ASSOCIATED WARM FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS AL. HOWEVER...WARM FRONT IS EXPECTED FOR THE MOST PART TO STAY TO THE S AND TEMPERATURES LOOK TO BE A LITTLE COOLER WITH THIS WEEKEND/S SYSTEM THAN FOR OUR PRESENT ONE. AS WITH PREVIOUS RUNS...ONSET WILL BE SLOW WITH A FEW EARLY SCATTERED STORMS COULD ARRIVE SAT AFTERNOON. HOWEVER...MOST OF THE ACTIVITY SHOULD HOLD OFF UNTIL NIGHTTIME INTO EARLY SUN...NOT POSSIBLY LIKE OUR TIMING WITH THIS SYSTEM. HIGH PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO BUILD BEHIND THIS 2ND FRONTAL SYSTEM FOR THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK WITH AN EXIT OF THE ABOVE NORM MILD TEMPERATURES AND A RETURN TO MORE SEASONABLE JAN CONDITIONS. 08/MNK && .AVIATION...12Z TAF DISCUSSION. SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO PUSH ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA AT ISSUANCE TIME. THESE TS ARE BECOMING LESS INTENSE AND SHOULD DIMINISH TO JUST SHRA BY 13Z. RAINFALL IS COMING TO AN END ACROSS EXTREME WESTERN COUNTIES...AND THIS SHOULD SPREAD EASTWARD AS WELL THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS. CIGS AND VIS ARE JUMPING BETWEEN IFR TO MVFR TO VFR...WITH IFR CIGS AROUND THE HEAVIEST BATCHES OF RAIN. AS THE RAINFALL DRIES UP ON THE BACKSIDE...SKIES WILL GO VFR FOR THE MOST PART...12-13Z AT TCL...14-15Z AT BHM/EET/MGM/TOI...AND 16Z AT ANB. A LOW SCT DECK WILL BE POSSIBLE BUT SHOULD REMAIN VFR. THAT'S FOR THE RAIN SHIELD. FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON... THERE WILL BE A CHANCE FOR ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS...ESPECIALLY FOR AREAS THAT SEE SIGNIFICANT CLEARING. COVERAGE SHOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TO PREVAIL TS AT ANY SITE...BUT BE AWARE THEY WILL BE POSSIBLE. 27 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...TORNADO WATCH 004 IN EFFECT FOR SW PORTIONS OF C AL UNTIL 9 AM CST ALONG AND S OF A LINE FROM REFORM ...TO SAMANTHA...TO CLANTON...TO TROY. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 229 AM CST THU JAN 21 2010 ALZ011>015-017>050-220830- 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- 229 AM CST THU JAN 21 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE SOUTHWESTERN COUNTIES OF CENTRAL ALABAMA OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS THAT WILL PRESENT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ISOLATED TORNADOES...AS WELL AS WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH AND HAIL. FOR THIS REASON...TORNADO WATCH 004 HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR AREAS SOUTH OF A LINE FROM REFORM...TO SAMANTHA...TO CLANTON...TO TROY...UNTIL 9 AM CST. ONE TO TWO INCH RAINFALL AMOUNTS CAN BE EXPECTED OVERNIGHT AREA WIDE. ISOLATED LOCATIONS MAY RECEIVE HIGHER TOTALS. THESE RAINS MAY PRODUCE SOME MINOR FLOODING MAINLY IN URBANIZED AREAS...LOW LYING AREAS OR IN POOR DRAINAGE ZONES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE GENERALLY SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20 THROUGH 9 AM. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL. A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE AGAIN IN THE AFTERNOON...GENERALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 20. THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG WIND GUSTS AND HAIL. DUE TO THE EXPECTED RAINFALL THROUGH THURSDAY...SOME MINOR RIVER FLOODING CAN BE EXPECTED. THIS WILL MAINLY AFFECT THE TOMBIGBEE RIVER BASIN FROM THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. YET ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM AFFECTS CENTRAL ALABAMA SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. THERE WILL BE A SMALL CHANCE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH A SQUALL LINE MOVING ACROSS THE AREA FROM WEST TO EAST. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. JUST AHEAD OF THE FRONT...BREEZY CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA WITH A FEW GUSTS TO 25 MPH POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL MAY BE NEEDED EARLY MORNING THURSDAY. 27
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 324 AM CST THU JAN 21 2010 ALZ030-211015- SUMTER- 324 AM CST THU JAN 21 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR SUMTER COUNTY UNTIL 415 AM CST... AT 322 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 14 MILES WEST OF CUBA...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. LESS THAN ONE INCH DIAMETER HAIL...WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... CUBA. PAYNEVILLE. WARD. BELLAMY. LILITA. COATOPA. THE GUSTY WINDS WILL BE CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL TREES...TREE LIMBS...AND POWERLINES. SEEK SAFE SHELTER UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 AM CST THURSDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHERN ALABAMA. 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 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 419 AM CST THU JAN 21 2010 ALZ030>033-039-211045- GREENE-HALE-MARENGO-PERRY-SUMTER- 419 AM CST THU JAN 21 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR GREENE...HALE...MARENGO...PERRY AND SUMTER COUNTIES UNTIL 445 AM CST... AT 419 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM EUTAW TO DUFFYS BEND TO MYRTLEWOOD...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM EUTAW TO 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF DEMOPOLIS TO 12 MILES WEST OF LINDEN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... DEMOPOLIS. AKRON. OLD SPRING HILL. MOUNDVILLE AIRPORT. LANEVILLE. MORGAN SPRINGS. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 AM CST THURSDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHERN ALABAMA. 75
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 456 AM CST THU JAN 21 2010 ALZ011>015-211145- FAYETTE-LAMAR-MARION-WALKER-WINSTON- 456 AM CST THU JAN 21 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FAYETTE...LAMAR...MARION...WALKER AND WINSTON COUNTIES UNTIL 545 AM CST... AT 454 AM CST...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED ON THE BACK EDGE OF THE RAIN AREA. THIS RAIN AREA WILL MOVE EASTWARD AROUND 50 MPH. * LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE... DETROIT. STAR. WESTON. RANKIN FITE AIRPORT. PEA RIDGE. WINFIELD. 75
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 457 AM CST THU JAN 21 2010 ALZ033>035-040>042-211145- AUTAUGA-BIBB-CHILTON-DALLAS-LOWNDES-PERRY- 457 AM CST THU JAN 21 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR AUTAUGA...BIBB...CHILTON...DALLAS... LOWNDES AND PERRY COUNTIES UNTIL 545 AM CST... AT 457 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM MERTZ TO 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF MARION TO MARION JUNCTION...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 9 MILES WEST OF BRENT TO 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF MARION TO 9 MILES EAST OF UNIONTOWN...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... MARION. EOLINE. SUTTLE. BRENT. BIBB COUNTY AIRPORT. SIX MILE. THE GUSTY WINDS WILL BE CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL TREES...TREE LIMBS...AND POWERLINES. SEEK SAFE SHELTER UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 AM CST THURSDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHERN ALABAMA. 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 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 539 AM CST THU JAN 21 2010 ALZ023>025-034-211230- BIBB-JEFFERSON-SHELBY-TUSCALOOSA- 539 AM CST THU JAN 21 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR BIBB...JEFFERSON...SHELBY AND TUSCALOOSA COUNTIES UNTIL 630 AM CST... AT 538 AM CST...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED ON THE BACK EDGE OF THE RAIN AREA. THIS RAIN AREA WILL MOVE WEST TO EAST AROUND 50 MPH AND EFFECT THE ADVISORY AREA THROUGH 630 AM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... FLATWOODS. WINDHAM SPRINGS. PETERSON. PEARSON. WOODSTOCK JUNCTION. WEST BLOCTON. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION. 75
The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 33 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:41 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Winds estimated around 45 mph caused a portion of a roof of a mobile home to be blown off, near the Collins Chapel community.
In the Buffalo community, the equipment barn of a farm had its metal roof blown off and scattered into an adjacent pasture. Winds were estimated around 45 mph.
Several large trees were blown down south of Roanoke.
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, January 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: 213122, 213126, 213079.