Afternoon heating and abundant moisture resulted in the development of thunderstorms that produced damaging wind.
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.
Afternoon heating and abundant moisture resulted in the development of thunderstorms that produced damaging wind.
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 Jul 24, 2:13 PM CST, 17 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 313 PM CDT SAT JUL 24 2010 .DISCUSSION... SCATTERED CONVECTION IS ONGOING THIS AFTERNOON ALONG AND NEAR AN INVERTED TROUGH THAT STRETCHES FROM NEAR MERIDIAN NORTHEASTWARD TO NEAR ATLANTA. CU FIELD HAS DEVELOPED ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA...BUT SKIES REMAIN CLEAR IN THE SOUTHEAST MOST LIKELY DUE TO SUBSIDENCE ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE SFC TROUGH. CONVECTION SHOULD CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS BEFORE DIMINISHING. WILL KEEP MENTION OF STRONG STORMS IN THE HWO AS SBCAPE VALUES REMAIN NEAR 3500 J/KG...WITH DOWNDRAFT CAPE OF AROUND 1000 J/KG ALONG THE TROUGH AXIS. THE TROUGH WILL SLIDE OUT OF THE AREA BY SUNDAY...SO ONLY LEFTOVER OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES FROM TODAY'S ACTIVITY COULD BE THE FOCUS OF CONVECTIVE INITIATION TOMORROW. EXPECT COVERAGE TO BE GREATER AS MOISTURE WILL INCREASE AS SFC FLOW BECOMES MORE SOUTHERLY. BUMPED POPS UP SLIGHTLY ACROSS THE ENTIRE CWA. THE HEAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE BIG STORY OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND EXTEND THE HEAT ADVISORY THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY EVENING. TEMPS SHOULD BE A FEW DEGREES COOLER THAN THE PAST COUPLE DAYS...BUT HUMIDITIES WILL RISE SLIGHTLY DUE TO INCREASED MOISTURE. THEREFORE...HEAT INDICES COULD STILL MAKE IT INTO THE 103-108 DEGREE RANGE FOR A FEW HOURS SUNDAY AFTERNOON. LOWS TONIGHT WILL ONCE AGAIN BE IN THE MID 70S IN MOST LOCATIONS. HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE INTO MONDAY AND TUESDAY...SO WILL CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT HEAT IN THE HWO FOR BOTH DAYS BUT WILL HOLD OFF ON ISSUING ANY HEAT-RELATED PRODUCTS. THE HIGH PRESSURE AREA THAT HAS BEEN CENTERED OVER THE SOUTHEAST WILL SLOWLY SLIDE OFF TO THE WEST NEXT WEEK. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS/STORMS WILL REMAIN IN THE FORECAST EACH AFTERNOON/EVENING...WITH TEMPS HOLDING STEADY IN THE MID 90S DURING THE DAY AND MID 70S AT NIGHT. HOWEVER...HIGHS COULD RISE BACK INTO THE UPPER 90S BY THE WEEKEND. 19 && .AVIATION...18Z TAF DISCUSSION. A SURFACE TROUGH WAS LOCATED ALONG INTERSTATE 59. THIS BOUNDARY WILL PROVIDE A FICUS FOR SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. ADDED MENTION OF VCSH AND CB TO TCL/EET/BHM/ANB FOR THE FIRST FEW HOURS OF THE TERMINAL FORECAST AS THERE SHOULD BE AN EVENTUAL MOVEMENT TO THE NORTHWEST. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY LASTING LONGER IS POSSIBLE BUT DROPPED MENTION TO CB AFTER A FEW HOURS. FOR MGM/TOI...CUMULUS FIELD WAS JUST BEGINNING TO DEVELOP. DELAYED THE MENTION OF VCSH CB HERE FOR A FEW HOURS BUT HIGH MOISTURE CONTENT AND HEATING SHOULD PROVIDE SOME DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF WIND GUSTS TO 40KTS BUT ENTIRELY TOO LOCALIZED FOR MENTION. IF ANY CUMULUS CEILINGS DEVELOP...THEY WILL REMAIN VFR AND GENERALLY LAST ONLY A FEW HOURS. DID MENTION THE TEMPO MVFR FOG AT ALL SPOTS EXCEPT BHM AND WILL MONITOR WHERE THE RAIN FALLS THIS AFTERNOON FOR HIGHER PROBABILITIES OF OCCURRENCE. WHAT IS LEFT OF TROPICAL SYSTEM BONNIE REMAINS OUT OVER THE CENTRAL GULF. WILL MONITOR THE PRESSURE GRADIENT AND WINDS JUST ABOVE THE SURFACE AS A FEW WIND GUSTS MAY BECOME POSSIBLE AT MGM/TOI...BUT NOTHING OVER 20 KTS OR SO. PREVAILING WIND DIRECTION WILL BE SOUTHEAST GENERALLY LESS THAN 7 KTS. 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. 75 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GADSDEN 74 98 74 95 74 / 20 30 20 40 20 ANNISTON 74 97 74 96 74 / 20 30 20 30 20 BIRMINGHAM 77 98 77 97 77 / 20 30 20 30 20 TUSCALOOSA 75 98 74 98 75 / 20 30 20 30 20 CALERA 75 97 76 95 76 / 20 30 20 30 20 AUBURN 75 96 74 96 74 / 20 30 20 30 20 MONTGOMERY 75 96 76 97 76 / 20 40 20 30 20 TROY 75 95 74 95 73 / 20 50 20 30 20 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT SUNDAY FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. && 19/75
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 200 PM CDT SAT JUL 24 2010 ALZ011>015-017>050-251130- 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- 200 PM CDT SAT JUL 24 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 HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA THROUGH 7 PM. AFTERNOON HIGHS WILL BE AROUND 100 DEGREES WITH HEAT INDICES BETWEEN 105 AND 110 DEGREES. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER IF OUTDOORS FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME THIS AFTERNOON. A FEW STRONG STORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. HIGH TEMPERATURES THE NEXT FEW DAYS ARE EXPECTED TO BE A FEW DEGREES LOWER DUE TO CLOUD COVER AND LOW LEVEL MOISTURE CONTENT. THE HEAT INDICES WILL BE AROUND 105 DEGREES EACH AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY. LOW TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN BALMY AROUND 75 DEGREES. THERE IS A SMALL CHANCE THE HEAT ADVISORY MAY NEED TO BE EXTENDED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. 75
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1204 PM CDT SAT JUL 24 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0635 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 E EMERALD MOUNTAIN 32.45N 86.07W
07/23/2010 ELMORE AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREES DOWN ON RIFLE RANGE RD NEAR LAPRADE RD.
&&
GOLDENSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 139 PM CDT SAT JUL 24 2010 ALZ021-029-241930- CLEBURNE AL-RANDOLPH AL- 139 PM CDT SAT JUL 24 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN CLEBURNE AND NORTHEASTERN RANDOLPH COUNTIES UNTIL 230 PM CDT... AT 138 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF MORRISON CROSS ROADS...OR 12 MILES NORTH OF WEDOWEE...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 5 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING STRIKES AND BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS. LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... RANBURNE... ABERNATHY... I 20 WELCOME CENTER... IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. 75
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 241 PM CDT SAT JUL 24 2010 ALZ023-031-032-242030- GREENE AL-HALE AL-TUSCALOOSA AL- 241 PM CDT SAT JUL 24 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN TUSCALOOSA... NORTHEASTERN GREENE AND NORTHEASTERN HALE COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM CDT... AT 240 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES WEST OF LOW GAP...OR 18 MILES WEST OF BRENT... MOVING NORTHWEST 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... MOUNDVILLE... KNOXVILLE... MAXWELL... HULL... ELLIOTS CREEK... IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. 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. 75
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 309 PM CDT SAT JUL 24 2010 ALZ025-034-035-242100- BIBB AL-CHILTON AL-SHELBY AL- 309 PM CDT SAT JUL 24 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN SHELBY...EASTERN BIBB AND NORTHERN CHILTON COUNTIES UNTIL 400 PM CDT... AT 309 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR BRIERFIELD IRONWORKS PARK...OR NEAR MONTEVALLO... MOVING WEST 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... CENTREVILLE... BRIERFIELD IRONWORKS PARK... ASHBY... SIX MILE... BIBB COUNTY AIRPORT... 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. 75
The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 109 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:28 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A few trees were blown down near the intersection of Duke Road and Websters Road. In addition, one outbuilding was overturned in the same area.
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, July 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: 253394.