Flash Flooding and Hail in Alabama, May 28 to 30, 2010

Name: Flash Flooding and Hail in Alabama, May 28 to 30, 2010
Start: 2010-05-28T13:34
End: 2010-05-30T16:37
Location: Alabama

May 28 to 30, 2010 · NWS BMX · 27 events in 13 counties and zones

A warm and unstable air mass, combined with a slow moving upper level disturbance, led to the formation of numerous thunderstorms across Central Alabama over a three day period. Many of the storms produced damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall.

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: 0
Property damage: $86,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 27

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 BMX wrote it up.

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 Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 28, 11:45 AM CST, 1 hour 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 28, 11:45 AM CST, 1 hour 49 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1245 PM CDT FRI MAY 28 2010

.UPDATE...MESOSCALE AND AVIATION DISCUSSIONS.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

UPPER LEVEL LOW IS VERY EVIDENT ON WATER VAPOR IMAGERY ALONG THE
ARKANSAS AND TENNESSEE STATE LINE.  THE LOW IS MOVING SOUTH AND DOES
CONTAIN A POCKET OF COLDER AIR (-12C @ 500MB).  THIS IS THE REASON
THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS PLACED NORTH ALABAMA UNDER A SLIGHT
RISK OF SEVERE STORMS FOR THIS AFTERNOON.  THE STORM MOTION VECTORS
ARE SMALL AND ANY THUNDERSTORM WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL DUE TO SLOW STORM MOVEMENTS. SBCAPES ARE
ALREADY NEAR 3000 J/KG OVER AREAS NORTH OF I-20 SO LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING DOWNBURSTS ARE POSSIBLE.  THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK HAS
BEEN UPDATED TO INCLUDE SEVERE STORMS ACROSS NORTH ALABAMA FOR THIS
AFTERNOON.  SURFACE TEMPERATURES ARE ALSO RUNNING A FEW DEGREES
WARMER FOR AREAS SOUTH OF I-20 AND RAISED HIGHS A DEGREE OR TWO.

58/ROSE

&&

.AVIATION...18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO DEVELOP
ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA EARLY THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL
CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. COVERAGE IS EXPECTED TO BE
GREATER TODAY THAN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS...SO KEPT MENTION OF VCTS
IN AT ALL TERMINALS. SOME STORMS COULD BE STRONG TO SEVERE...WITH
THE GREATEST CHANCE OF SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS THE NORTHERN
SITES...WHERE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE.
ACTIVITY SHOULD WEAKEN AND DISSIPATE OVERNIGHT. THERE IS A SLIGHT
POSSIBILITY THAT SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS MIGHT REMAIN DURING THE
OVERNIGHT PERIOD...BUT CONFIDENCE IS TOO LOW TO MENTION AT THIS TIME.

PATCHY FOG WAS OBSERVED AT MOST SITES LAST NIGHT AND EXPECT FOG TO
DEVELOP ONCE AGAIN TONIGHT ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA. DID NOT GO LOWER
THAN MVFR VIS FOR NOW...BUT THIS COULD BE LOWERED WITH FUTURE
FORECASTS.

NORTHERLY WINDS OF AROUND 5 KNOTS SHOULD PERSIST THROUGH THE
EVENING...WITH WINDS BECOMING EASTERLY BY SATURDAY MORNING.

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY ONCE AGAIN ON
SATURDAY...BUT MOST OF THE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD HOLD OFF UNTIL LATE
MORNING OR EARLY AFTERNOON.

NOTICE...KEET TAF WILL HAVE (AMD LTD TO VIS WIND AND WX) AMENDED TO
THE END OF THE FORECAST UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE WHILE CEILOMETER DATA
IS BEING MONITORED FOR ACCURACY.

19

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, May 28, 10:53 AM CST, 2 hours 41 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1153 AM CDT FRI MAY 28 2010

ALZ011>015-017>050-291653-
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-
1153 AM CDT FRI MAY 28 2010

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AS
A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES CLOSER TO CENTRAL ALABAMA. SOME STORMS
COULD BE STRONG TO SEVERE THROUGH 8 PM THIS EVENING. THE BEST CHANCE
FOR SEVERE STORMS WILL GENERALLY BE ALONG AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM
CARROLLTON..TO CALERA...TO ROANOKE. THE MAIN THREATS IN THIS AREA
WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.

STRONG STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA...WITH WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL BEING THE
MAIN THREATS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

STRONG STORMS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY FROM NOON TO 8 PM.
THE MAIN THREATS WILL AGAIN BE WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH AND SMALL
HAIL.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS NOT
EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 28, 12:44 PM CST, 50 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
144 PM CDT FRI MAY 28 2010

ALZ027-281915-
TALLADEGA-
144 PM CDT FRI MAY 28 2010

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR TALLADEGA COUNTY UNTIL 215 PM CDT...

AT 142 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR TALLADEGA. THIS STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY.

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

REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE
STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

61

Special weather statement, May 28, 12:56 PM CST, 38 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
156 PM CDT FRI MAY 28 2010

ALZ020-281930-
CHEROKEE-
156 PM CDT FRI MAY 28 2010

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR CHEROKEE COUNTY UNTIL 230 PM CDT...

AT 151 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CAVE SPRING...OR 10 MILES WEST OF
CEDARTOWN...MOVING WEST AT 10 MPH.

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

PEOPLE IN SOUTHEASTERN CHEROKEE COUNTY...SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER
SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO
TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN.

THIS THUNDERSTORM COULD INTENSIFY QUICKLY...SO BE READY TO ACT IF A
WARNING IS ISSUED.

61

Special weather statement, May 28, 1:06 PM CST, 28 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
206 PM CDT FRI MAY 28 2010

ALZ013-281930-
FAYETTE-
206 PM CDT FRI MAY 28 2010

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FAYETTE COUNTY UNTIL 230 PM CDT...

AT 204 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR BERRY...OR 12 MILES EAST OF FAYETTE...MOVING SOUTH
AT 10 MPH.

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

REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE
STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

61

Special weather statement, May 28, 1:30 PM CST, 4 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
230 PM CDT FRI MAY 28 2010

ALZ020-282000-
CHEROKEE-
230 PM CDT FRI MAY 28 2010

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR CHEROKEE COUNTY UNTIL 300 PM CDT...

AT 227 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF PIEDMONT...MOVING WEST AT 15 MPH.

DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

THIS THUNDERSTORM COULD INTENSIFY QUICKLY...SO BE READY TO ACT IF A
WARNING IS ISSUED.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT FRIDAY
EVENING FOR NORTHEASTERN ALABAMA.

61

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 44 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:34 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

16 thunderstorm wind, 9 hail, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Lamar

When: May 28, 1:34 PM CST
Where: Lamar County, 0.69 mi S of Millport
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 33.560, -88.080

Thunderstorm Wind, Cherokee

When: May 28, 1:45 PM CST
Where: Cherokee County, 3.31 mi ENE of Gnatville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.000, -85.618

Trees and power lines were blown down on CR-9, north of Piedmont. One tree fell onto a house.

Hail, Calhoun

When: May 28, 1:50 PM CST to 1:51 PM CST
Where: Calhoun County, 1.39 mi SW of Hobson City to 2.02 mi S of Eulaton
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 33.615, -85.836

Hail, Calhoun

When: May 28, 1:52 PM CST
Where: Calhoun County, 1.86 mi WNW of West End Anniston
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 33.660, -85.880

Hail, Calhoun

When: May 28, 2:05 PM CST
Where: Calhoun County, 1.75 mi SSE of Saks
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.695, -85.824

Hail, Lamar

When: May 28, 2:35 PM CST
Where: Lamar County, 1.09 mi ENE of Vernon
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 33.753, -88.101

Thunderstorm Wind, Cherokee

When: May 28, 2:58 PM CST
Where: Cherokee County, 1.86 mi W of Lawrence
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.231, -85.553

A 68 mph wind gust was measured by a firefighter. Trees were blown down onto power lines on AL-9 east of Cedar Bluff.

Thunderstorm Wind, Etowah

When: May 28, 3:25 PM CST
Where: Etowah County, 0.57 mi W of Attalla
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $4,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.020, -86.090

Trees and power lines were blown down at several locations in the city of Attalla, including the intersection of US-278 and US-431, Gallant Road, California Street and South 11th Street.

Thunderstorm Wind, Etowah

When: May 28, 3:35 PM CST
Where: Etowah County, 0.9 mi NW of Ivalee
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.040, -86.130

Trees were blown down near the Ivalee Community School, west of Attalla.

Thunderstorm Wind, Blount

When: May 28, 4:05 PM CST to 4:10 PM CST
Where: Blount County, 4.44 mi SE of Champion to 1.49 mi S of Oneonta Robbins Arpt
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $4,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.881, -86.380

Trees were blown down at several locations in Blount County, west of Oneonta, including Putman Road, CR-20, and Robin Hill Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hale

When: May 28, 4:10 PM CST
Where: Hale County, 0.58 mi W of Powers
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.970, -87.640

Several trees were blown down near the Moundville Airport.

Hail, Hale

When: May 28, 4:15 PM CST
Where: Hale County, 0.37 mi S of Havana
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.895, -87.620

Thunderstorm Wind, Hale

When: May 28, 4:15 PM CST
Where: Hale County, 0.36 mi S of Havana
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.895, -87.621

Several trees were blown down near the Havana and Stewart communities.

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When: May 28, 4:15 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, 2.5 mi N of Pinedale
Measured: 40 kt (46 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 32.336, -86.222

A few small pine trees and Bradford pears were blown down in the Cara Villa subdivision, in east Montgomery.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hale

When: May 28, 4:55 PM CST
Where: Hale County, 2.98 mi WNW of Wedgeworth
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 32.810, -87.800

Several trees were blown down on Clear Creek Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Walker

When: May 28, 4:58 PM CST
Where: Walker County, 2.87 mi SSW of Marietta
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.663, -87.423

Several trees were blown down on Bluewater Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Walker

When: May 28, 4:59 PM CST
Where: Walker County, 3.93 mi S of Marietta
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.643, -87.400

Several trees were blown down on Bethel Road.

Hail, Tuscaloosa

When: May 28, 5:17 PM CST
Where: Tuscaloosa County, 6.83 mi E of Sterling
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.533, -87.463

Hail, Tallapoosa

When: May 28, 5:38 PM CST
Where: Tallapoosa County, 1.89 mi SE of Hamlet
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.978, -85.731

Thunderstorm Wind, Tallapoosa

When: May 28, 5:40 PM CST
Where: Tallapoosa County, 0.9 mi SE of Carrville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.540, -85.860

Several trees and power lines were blown down on the east side of Tallassee, in Tallapoosa County.

Hail, Shelby

When: May 28, 7:11 PM CST
Where: Shelby County, 1.7 mi S of Shelby
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.096, -86.583

Quarter sized hail was 3 to 4 inches deep, and damaged the roof of a home, near the intersection of CR-99 and CR-47.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When: May 29, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Lee County, 2.23 mi SE of Pepperell
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.610, -85.370

A single tree was blown down onto a mobile home, destroying the home.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hale

When: May 29, 3:30 PM CST
Where: Hale County, 2.98 mi ESE of New Prospect
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.820, -87.680

A few trees were blown down between Greensboro and Akron.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hale

When: May 29, 3:35 PM CST
Where: Hale County, 2.48 mi E of Greensboro Muni Arpt
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.677, -87.627

Several trees were blown down onto AL-69, near the airport.

Flash Flood, Hale

When: May 29, 4:30 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Hale County, 2.71 mi WSW of Greensboro to 2.68 mi WSW of Greensboro
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.680, -87.620

A creek along AL-69 southwest of Greensboro rose out of its banks, causing two car accidents.

Flash Flood, Elmore

When: May 30, 2:25 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Elmore County, Millbrook to 1.1 mi S of Millbrook
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.480, -86.370

Several roads around the city of Millbrook became flooded due to heavy rainfall.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cherokee

When: May 30, 4:37 PM CST
Where: Cherokee County, 0.57 mi W of Fullerton
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.300, -85.490

Power lines were blown down near the Fullerton community.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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, May 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: 236184, 236183, 236185, 236186, 236187, 236188, 236189, 236190, 236191, 236192, 236193, 236195, 236196, 236200, 236201, 236202, 236203, 236204, 236206, 236207, 236209, 236211, 236213, 236212, 236215, 236216, 236217.