Flash Flooding and Hail in Alabama, July 26, 2010

Name: Flash Flooding and Hail in Alabama, July 26, 2010
Start: 2010-07-26T12:30
End: 2010-07-26T18:20
Location: Alabama

July 26, 2010 · NWS HUN · 11 events in 4 counties and zones

Scattered strong to severe pulse storms developed along an outflow boundary just north of the Tennessee River during peak daytime heating. These storm produced scattered reports of wind damage, isolated flash flooding and one lightning injury.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 1
Property damage: $98,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 11

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS HUN wrote it up.

A severe microburst on the east side of Athens heavily damaged a gas station and nearly uprooted some trees as well.

What forecasters said that day

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 Jul 26, 10:37 AM CST, 1 hour 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 26, 10:37 AM CST, 1 hour 53 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1137 AM CDT MON JUL 26 2010

.UPDATE...ADJUSTED FOR HOURLY TRENDS.
&&

.AVIATION...FOR 18Z TAFS.
TCU/CBS HAVE DVLPD ACROSS SRN TN...AND THIS ACTIVITY WILL EXPAND
INTO NRN AL THIS AFTN.  THE STORMS WILL LIKELY AFFECT AREAS VCNTY OF
KMSL AND KHSV BY 20Z...LASTING THRU ~03Z.  HAVE LEFT TS OUT OF
PREVAILING FCST...BUT HAVE INCLUDED VCTS AT BOTH SITES.  VFR CONDS
SHOULD OCCUR TNGT...UNTIL SOME MVFR VSBYS DUE TO BR DVLP BY 10Z.
&&

.DISCUSSION.../ISSUED AT 1017 AM CDT MON JUL 26 2010/
EARLIER MID/HIGH CLOUDS HAVE DISSIPATED OR MOVED NEWD...LEAVING
PLENTIFUL SUNSHINE THIS MORNING.  AS A RESULT...HEATING IS
GENERATING CU RAPIDLY S OF THE TN RIVER.  GIVEN SUCH LOW LEVEL
BUOYANCY...TCU/CBS ARE XPCTD BY 18Z S OF THE RIVER...SPREADING
SLOWLY N-NEWD THRU THE AFTN PER UPPER LEVEL STEERING FLOW. WE ARE
SEEING VERY SULTRY CONDITIONS ALREADY...WITH DEW POINTS IN THE
M-U70S...AND HI'S IN THE M-U90S. HAVE UPDATED THE HWO TO INCLUDE
HEAT AWARENESS...AND WL CONSIDER AN ADVISORY AS TRENDS EVOLVE. THE
BMX/RSA SOUNDINGS SHOW VERY WET PROFILES THROUGH THE COLUMN WITH
PW'S OF 2-2.2 INCHES.  LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND LIGHTNING APPEAR TO
THE BE MAIN THREATS THIS AFTN/EVNG...BUT WET DOWNBURSTS CANNOT BE
RULED OUT WITH DCAPE VALUES OF AROUND 1200 J/KG.
&&

.CLIMATE...
THE AVERAGE JULY TEMPERATURE FOR HUNTSVILLE NOW STANDS AT 83.5
DEGREES...WHICH IS THE 4TH WARMEST JULY TO DATE ON RECORD.
HOWEVER...IF CURRENT FORECAST TEMPS VERIFY THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF
THE MONTH...THIS JULY WILL ECLIPSE JULY 1930 AS THE WARMEST ON
RECORD.
&&

.HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...NONE.
TN...NONE.
&&

AVIATION...KULA
DISCUSSION...KULA
CLIMATE...KDW

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 26, 10:56 AM CST, 1 hour 34 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1156 AM CDT MON JUL 26 2010

ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-270200-
LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN-
MARSHALL-JACKSON-DEKALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN-
1156 AM CDT MON JUL 26 2010

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS
OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT...

SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP TODAY THROUGH THIS
EVENING.  THE PRIMARY THREATS WILL BE SUDDEN FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND
HEAVY RAIN.  LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY WITH
SLOW MOVING STORMS.  A FEW STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BRIEF
GUSTY WINDS OF 40 MPH OR HIGHER.

OUTSIDE OF THE STORMS...HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THIS
AFTERNOON. DAYTIME TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO BE IN THE LOW TO
MID 90S WITH HEAT INDEX READINGS APPROACHING 105 DEGREES.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED...MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...
THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED EACH DAY. PRIMARY THREATS WITH
STRONGER STORMS WILL BE LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND BRIEF GUSTY WINDS.

OUTSIDE OF THE STORMS...HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL
THROUGH THE WEEKEND. BEYOND TUESDAY...DAYTIME TEMPERATURES ARE
FORECAST TO BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 90S WITH HEAT INDEX READINGS
APPROACHING 105 DEGREES.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS
POSSIBLE ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS.

KULA

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 26, 10:47 AM CST, 1 hour 43 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1147 AM CDT MON JUL 26 2010

ALZ009-261730-
JACKSON-
1147 AM CDT MON JUL 26 2010

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR JACKSON COUNTY UNTIL 1230 PM
CDT...

AT 1147 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
NEAR PRINCETON...OR 15 MILES EAST OF MOORES MILL...MOVING EAST AT 5
MPH.

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...
  LARKIN.
  LARKIN.
  ESTILLFORK...HYTOP.

THE GUSTY WINDS WILL BE CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL TREES...TREE
LIMBS...AND POWERLINES. SEEK SAFE SHELTER UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

&&

LAT...LON 3499 8608 3481 8609 3481 8632 3490 8631
TIME...MOT...LOC 1647Z 258DEG 6KT 3487 8625

KULA

Special weather statement, Jul 26, 11:04 AM CST, 1 hour 26 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1204 PM CDT MON JUL 26 2010

TNZ096-261730-
LINCOLN-
1204 PM CDT MON JUL 26 2010

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL LINCOLN COUNTY UNTIL
1230 PM CDT...

AT 1203 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR CARMARGO...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  BELLEVIEW.
  SKINEM.
  MOLINO...FAYETTEVILLE.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3522 8658 3503 8645 3502 8664 3511 8671
TIME...MOT...LOC 1703Z 263DEG 5KT 3509 8662

20

Special weather statement, Jul 26, 11:15 AM CST, 1 hour 15 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1215 PM CDT MON JUL 26 2010

TNZ097-261745-
FRANKLIN-
1215 PM CDT MON JUL 26 2010

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR FRANKLIN COUNTY UNTIL 1245 PM
CDT...

AT 1210 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR JERICHO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

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...
  KELLER CREEK.
  RURAL LOCATIONS EAST OF HUNTLAND.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3515 8604 3502 8596 3499 8605 3499 8612
      3505 8617
TIME...MOT...LOC 1713Z 240DEG 7KT 3504 8607

20

Special weather statement, Jul 26, 11:32 AM CST, 58 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1232 PM CDT MON JUL 26 2010

TNZ096-261815-
LINCOLN-
1232 PM CDT MON JUL 26 2010

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN LINCOLN COUNTY
UNTIL 115 PM CDT...

AT 1231 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR PETERSBURG...DRIFTING SOUTHWEST AT AROUND
5 MPH.

PENNY SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  PETERSBURG.
  HOWELL.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3537 8653 3536 8652 3517 8664 3527 8680
      3527 8674 3528 8673 3530 8671 3535 8660
      3537 8660 3538 8659
TIME...MOT...LOC 1731Z 029DEG 7KT 3536 8667

20

Special weather statement, Jul 26, 11:35 AM CST, 55 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1235 PM CDT MON JUL 26 2010

ALZ009-261800-
JACKSON-
1235 PM CDT MON JUL 26 2010

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL JACKSON COUNTY UNTIL 100
PM CDT...

AT 1235 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR SKYLINE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

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...
  HYTOP.
  WESTERN PORTIONS OF FACKLER.
  MUD CREEK.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3497 8608 3482 8584 3472 8607 3478 8615
TIME...MOT...LOC 1734Z 212DEG 10KT 3480 8605

20

Special weather statement, Jul 26, 12:18 PM CST, 12 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
118 PM CDT MON JUL 26 2010

TNZ096-261845-
LINCOLN-
118 PM CDT MON JUL 26 2010

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN LINCOLN COUNTY UNTIL
145 PM CDT...

AT 117 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM BETWEEN LINCOLN AND BELLEVIEW. THIS STORM WAS
NEARLY STATIONARY.

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED
WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  EASTERN PORTIONS OF BELLEVIEW.
  WESTERN PORTIONS OF LINCOLN.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3511 8655 3505 8645 3500 8655 3503 8660
TIME...MOT...LOC 1816Z 236DEG 2KT 3505 8653

KTW

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 83 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:31 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood, 1 heavy rain, 1 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Limestone

When: July 26, 12:30 PM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where: Limestone County, Athens
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.800, -86.980

Strong thunderstorms produced 3.15 inches of rainfall in 2.5 hours in portions of Athens.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dekalb

When: July 26, 1:50 PM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where: Dekalb County, 1.14 mi E of Fyffe
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.450, -85.900

Winds damaged a barn near Fyffe.

Hail, Dekalb

When: July 26, 2:03 PM CST to 2:13 PM CST
Where: Dekalb County, 1.49 mi SSW of Lands Xrds
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.460, -85.880

Quarter sized hail was reported near Shiloh.

Thunderstorm Wind, Limestone

When: July 26, 2:05 PM CST to 2:15 PM CST
Where: Limestone County, 2.84 mi E of Athens
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $35,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.800, -86.930

A gas station suffered heavy roof damage. In the vicinity, some trees were nearly uprooted and other large tree limbs were knocked down. There was also minor damage to homes and other small structures.

Lightning, Limestone

When: July 26, 2:15 PM CST
Where: Limestone County, 1.7 mi E of Athens
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.800, -86.950

One female was struck and injured by lightning while on Highway 31 North.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dekalb

When: July 26, 2:20 PM CST to 2:30 PM CST
Where: Dekalb County, 0.64 mi NNE of Ft Payne
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.439, -85.727

Several trees were blown down along Alabama Avenue. Power lines were also knocked down in the area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Marshall

When: July 26, 3:00 PM CST to 3:10 PM CST
Where: Marshall County, 1.46 mi WNW of Guntersville Lake to 8.34 mi NNE of Kirbytown
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $18,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.490, -86.202

Trees and power lines were blown down from Watefront to Preston Island along highway 79.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dekalb

When: July 26, 3:20 PM CST to 3:30 PM CST
Where: Dekalb County, 1.98 mi SW of Fisher Xrds
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.446, -85.689

Several trees were blown down on McCurdy Loop. Powerlines were also reported down across the area.

Flash Flood, Dekalb

When: July 26, 4:00 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Dekalb County, 1.45 mi WNW of Ft Payne to 1.32 mi WNW of Ft Payne
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.439, -85.753

Significant flooding occurred at the intersection of Jordan Road and highway 35.

Flash Flood, Dekalb

When: July 26, 4:00 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Dekalb County, 0.28 mi WNW of Ft Payne
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.432, -85.734

Significant flooding occurred at the intersection of highway 11 and 35.

Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin

When: July 26, 6:10 PM CST to 6:20 PM CST
Where: Franklin County, 0.57 mi E of Halltown
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.450, -88.060

Numerous trees were blown down across the town of Halltown.

What these are

Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alabama in 2010 Every state in 2010 This day in weather history Warnings in Alabama, July 2010

Sources

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: 247944, 247936, 247935, 247934, 247937, 247940, 247938, 247939, 247942, 247943, 247941.