Hail and Damaging Winds in Alabama, April 4, 2011

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Alabama, April 4, 2011
Start: 2011-04-04T18:12
End: 2011-04-04T22:30
Location: Alabama

April 4, 2011 · NWS MOB · 19 events in 5 counties and zones

During the evening of 4 April 2011, a fast moving and intense cold front moved southeast into a very warm, moist and unstable air mass over interior southwest Alabama. Immediately along and ahead of the cold front, a line of severe thunderstorms, already ongoing, moved out of southeast Mississippi during the early evening and progressed across southern Alabama and the extreme western Florida…

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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 19

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 MOB wrote it up.

In total, there were numerous reports of tree and power line damage as the squall line moved through. There were no known deaths or injuries.

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 Mobile, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 4, 5:41 PM CST, 31 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 4, 5:41 PM CST, 31 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
641 PM CDT MON APR 4 2011

...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING OVER
THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE FCST AREA...ROUGHLY ALONG AND NORTH OF
HIGHWAY 84...

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ELSEWHERE ACROSS
THE FCST AREA...

.AVIATION (00Z ISSUANCE)...USED 21Z RUC HRRR FOR TIMING THE
CONVECTIVE LINE APPROACHING FROM THE WEST BASED ON LATEST TRENDS.
WILL HAVE TEMPO GROUPS FROM 01-03Z AT MOB-BFM AND 03-05Z AT PNS WITH
WIND GUSTS TO 35-40 KNOTS AND LIFR CONDITIONS IN THUNDERSTORMS.
NORTHWEST WINDS AT 17-18 KNOTS FOLLOW BY 03Z MOB-BFM AND 05Z PNS
WITH MVFR CEILINGS NEAR 1.5 KFT...THEN VFR CONDITIONS FOLLOW BY 08Z
MOB-BFM AND 10Z PNS WITH GUSTY NORTHERLY WINDS CONTINUING THROUGH
THE REMAINDER OF THE TAF PERIOD. /29

&&

.SHORT TERM (THIS EVENING)...LATEST THINKING ON EVENT TIMING IS THAT
SQUALL LINE WILL MOVE INTO INTERIOR SE MS COUNTIES BETWEEN 6 PM AND
7 PM...PRIOR TO THIS TIME...SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL BE
POSSIBLE OVER THIS AREA PRIOR TO THE ARRIVAL OF THE MAIN
LINE...HOWEVER. LINE TIMING WILL PROGRESS TO I-65 BY 10 PM AND THEN
FROM ROUGHLY GREENVILLE AL TO DESTIN BY MIDNIGHT. THIS IS SUPPORTED
BY FOUR CONSECUTIVE MOB WRF- NMM RUNS (INCLUDING THE NEW RUN WHICH
JUST CAME IN)...LATEST MOB WRF-ARW AND THE RUC HRRR. VSBL SAT
IMAGERY SHOWS HORIZONTAL ROLLS IN BOUNDARY LAYER ATTM...SO PARTIAL
INSOLATION AIDING MLCAPES WSW-ENE AXIS OF 2000 J/KG MLCAPES ALONG
AND JUST N OF I-10 CORRIDOR. ALSO...UPSTREAM 18Z LIX SOUNDING SHOWS
0-6 KM DEEP LAYER SHEAR SUPPORTIVE OF THAT QLCS WITH EMBEDDED LEWPS
AND BOWS.

ONE NOTABLE ITEM IS THE SFC-800 HPA EQUIV POTENTIAL TEMP LAPSE OF 32
K.  DEEP LAYER OF DRY AIR FROM 850-300 HPA WILL ALLOW ALL UPDRAFTS
REACHING INTO THIS LAYER TO HAVE STRONG EVAPORATIONAL COOLING. WBZ
HEIGHTS ~9 KFT...WHICH WILL PORTEND LARGE DIAMETER HAIL THREAT.

LOCAL CONCERN...GIVEN OBSERVED PRE-STORM ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS
AND SHORT-TERM FORECAST FROM LOCAL MODELS...CAN SEE DECENT DAMAGING
WIND AND LARGE HAIL THREAT IN THAT CORRIDOR ALONG AND NORTH OF I-10
WHERE AFOREMENTIONED MLCAPES ARE NOW APPROACHING 2500 J/KG. 60-80
MPH WIND GUSTS WITH BOWS ARE NOT OF THE QUESTION ALONG THIS AXIS.
TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE...BUT LACK OF SELY SFC WINDS ARE TO SOME
DEGREE LIMITING 0-1 KM VWS VALUES SOMEWHAT...ALTHOUGH ISOLATED
TORNADOES REMAIN VERY MUCH POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY ALONG THE LEADING
EDGE OF BOWS AND ANY ISOLATED STORMS THAT FORM AHEAD OF THE LINE
DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.

ONE FINAL NOTE.  BELIEVE WE WILL SEE  CONVECTION INITIATE WELL AHEAD
OF THE SQUALL LINE BY 530 PM FROM COVINGTON COUNTY AND SOUTH INTO
OKALOOSA COUNTY.  AM NOTING NICE AREA OF PERSISTENT 250-800 HPA
DIFFERENTIAL DIVERGENCE. THESE STORMS SHOULD REMAIN BELOW SEVERE
LIMITS AS THEY MOVE OFF QUICKLY TO THE EAST BEFORE SUNSET.

OTHERWISE...EXPECT WINDY CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE THIS EVENING IN
ADVANCE OF THE FRONT AS VWP'S CONTINUE TO SHOW ABOUT 40 KNOT SWLY
WINDS AT AROUND 3KFT. MANY LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN GUSTING TO 30 TO 35
KNOTS AT THE SFC THIS AFTERNOON...AND GUSTS WILL ONLY SLIGHTLY
DIMINISH AFTER SUNSET THIS EVENING. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 10 PM FOR ALL OF THE FCST AREA.

LOW TEMPERATURES TONIGHT WILL BE COOLER THAN LAST NIGHT IN THE WAKE
OF THE FRONT. OVER NORTHWESTERN ZONES SIGNIFICANTLY COOLER
MINS...WITH AREAS ALONG AND NORTH-WEST OF I-65 FALLING INTO THE
LOWER/MIDDLE 40S BY DAYBREAK WEDNESDAY. EAST OF I-65 AND CLOSER TO
THE COAST...OVERNIGHT MIN TEMPS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE LOWER 50S.
23/JMM...12/DS

.(TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT)...HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRING DRIER
AND COOLER AIR TO THE REGION IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT ON TUESDAY.
MOST...IF NOT ALL OF THE PCPN IS EXPECTED TO BE EAST OF THE FCST AREA
BY SUNRISE TUESDAY...WITH DRY AND RAINFREE CONDITIONS THEN EXPECTED
FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SHORT TERM PERIOD. OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPS WILL
BE BELOW NORMAL TUESDAY NIGHT...POSSIBLY APPROACHING THE FREEZING
MARK (AT LEAST INTO THE LOW/MID 30S) OVER NORTHEASTERN ZONES BY
SUNRISE WEDNESDAY. FROST WILL BE POSSIBLE EARLY WEDNESDAY
MORNING...AND TONIGHTS MIDNIGHT SHIFT WILL LIKELY ISSUE A FROST
ADVISORY FOR PARTS OF THE FCST AREA FOR WEDNESDAY MORNING. ON
WEDNESDAY HIGH TEMPS WILL BE IN THE LOW/MID 70S. 12/DS

.LONG TERM (THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY)...NO CHANGES TO MEDIUM/LONGTERM
PACKAGE THIS AFTERNOON. A MODERATING TREND IN TEMPERATURES IS
EXPECTED DURING THE MEDIUM RANGE. HIGH PRES MOVES E AND BECOMES QUITE
EXPANSIVE OVR THE WRN ATLC WITH ITS WESTWARD NOSE EXTENDING BACK INTO
THE CENTRAL GULF. BROAD UPPER LVL HIGH OVR THE GULF WILL KEEP THE
BETTER DEFINED WX SYSTEMS RIDING N AND E FM THE PLAINS INTO THE UPPER
MIDWEST. COULD SEE A SMALL CHC OF SHWRS/TSTMS ON FRI AS TAIL END OF
WEAK MID LVL DISTURBANCES RIDE ENE IN THE HIGH LVL FLOW. LACK OF ANY
SFC BOUNDARY SHOULD KEEP CHC'S BLO 30% FRI AFTN.

UPPER RIDGE STRENGTHENING OVER THE GULF THIS WEEKEND IMPLIES DEEP LYR
SUBSIDENCE AND LITTLE CHC OF RAIN SAT/SUN. WILL ALSO BE FEELING LIKE
SUMMER W/HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID/UPPER 80S BY SAT. NIGHTTIME
MINS WILL LIFTING TO WELL INTO THE 60S BY THE WEEKEND AS WELL. /10

&&

.MARINE...SOUTHERLY WINDS AND SEAS WILL STEADILY INCREASE AHEAD OF A
STRONG COLD FRONT APPROACHING FROM THE NORTHWEST. SEAS WILL BUILD TO
6 TO 8 FEET OUT TO 60 NM THIS EVENING...BUILDING TO 7 TO 9 FEET FROM
20 TO 60 NM OUT WITH THE WIND SHIFT OVERNIGHT. A SOLID LINE OF
STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED AHEAD OF THE COLD
FRONT LATER THIS EVENING. A STRONG NORTHERLY WIND FLOW WILL DEVELOP
IN THE WAKE OF THE COLD FRONT LATE TONIGHT AND CONTINUE THROUGH
EARLY TUESDAY AFTERNOON THEN GRADUALLY DECREASE THROUGH TUESDAY
NIGHT. A LIGHT TO MODERATE SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL REDEVELOP BY
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE
BUILDS OVER THE EASTERN GULF.

A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL MARINE ZONES
THROUGH 7 PM THIS EVENING...UPGRADED TO A GALE WARNING FROM 7 PM
THIS EVENING THROUGH 9 AM TUESDAY MORNING...FOLLOWED BY A SMALL
CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH 2 PM TUESDAY AFTERNOON. 32/EE

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION LATE THIS
AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING...BRINGING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO
THE AREA. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 1 TO 1.5 INCHES WILL BE LIKELY AT MOST
LOCATIONS...WITH ISOLATED HEAVIER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. A MUCH DRIER
AIRMASS WILL WORK INTO THE REGION IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT ON
TUESDAY...WITH DISPERSIONS IN THE 70S AND RELATIVE HUMIDITIES IN THE
MID TO UPPER 20S. A WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE DUE TO
EXPECTED HIGH DISPERSIONS AND RELATIVE HUMIDITIES BELOW 35 PERCENT.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MOBILE      49  68  41  75 /  90  05  00  00
PENSACOLA   53  70  44  72 /  90  05  00  00
DESTIN      54  70  47  71 /  90  05  00  00
EVERGREEN   48  66  33  76 /  90  05  00  00
WAYNESBORO  43  67  36  75 /  80  05  00  00
CAMDEN      45  66  36  77 /  90  05  00  00
CRESTVIEW   53  71  33  75 /  90  05  00  00

&&

.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: LOWER BALDWIN...AND LOWER MOBILE.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     BUTLER...CHOCTAW...CLARKE...CONECUH...COVINGTON...
     CRENSHAW...ESCAMBIA...LOWER BALDWIN...LOWER MOBILE...
     MONROE...UPPER BALDWIN...UPPER MOBILE...WASHINGTON...AND
     WILCOX.

FL...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM 1 PM TUESDAY TO 8 PM TUESDAY FOR THE
     FOLLOWING ZONES: COASTAL ESCAMBIA...COASTAL OKALOOSA...
     COASTAL SANTA ROSA...INLAND ESCAMBIA...INLAND OKALOOSA...
     AND INLAND SANTA ROSA.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     COASTAL ESCAMBIA...COASTAL OKALOOSA...COASTAL SANTA ROSA...
     INLAND ESCAMBIA...INLAND OKALOOSA...AND INLAND SANTA ROSA.

     HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: COASTAL ESCAMBIA...COASTAL OKALOOSA...AND COASTAL
     SANTA ROSA.

MS...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     GEORGE...GREENE...PERRY...STONE...AND WAYNE.

GM...GALE WARNING FROM 7 PM MONDAY TO 9 AM TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL OUT 20
     NM...COASTAL WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS OUT
     20 NM...MOBILE BAY...WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL
     FROM 20 TO 60 NM...AND WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO
     PASCAGOULA MS FROM 20 TO 60 NM.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL OUT 20 NM...
     COASTAL WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS OUT 20
     NM...MOBILE BAY...WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL FROM
     20 TO 60 NM...AND WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS
     FROM 20 TO 60 NM.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 9 AM TUESDAY TO 2 PM TUESDAY FOR THE
     FOLLOWING ZONES: COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL
     OUT 20 NM...COASTAL WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA
     MS OUT 20 NM...MOBILE BAY...WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA
     FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM...AND WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO
     PASCAGOULA MS FROM 20 TO 60 NM.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 4, 3:20 PM CST, 2 hours 52 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
420 PM CDT MON APR 4 2011

ALZ051>064-FLZ001>006-GMZ630-650-655-670-675-MSZ067-075-076-078-
079-051830-
CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW-
ESCAMBIA-COVINGTON-UPPER MOBILE-UPPER BALDWIN-LOWER MOBILE-
LOWER BALDWIN-INLAND ESCAMBIA-COASTAL ESCAMBIA-INLAND SANTA ROSA-
COASTAL SANTA ROSA-INLAND OKALOOSA-COASTAL OKALOOSA-MOBILE BAY-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM-WAYNE-PERRY-
GREENE-STONE-GEORGE-
420 PM CDT MON APR 4 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND
THE COASTAL WATERS OF ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SEVERE WEATHER IS LIKELY AS AN ORGANIZED SQUALL LINE MOVES IN FROM
THE WEST. THERE WILL BE A POTENTIAL OF SEVERE STORMS OVER SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI AND EXTREME PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST ALABAMA BEGINNING
AROUND 6 PM TO 7 PM THIS EVENING AS THE SQUALL LINE MOVES INTO THE
OUTLOOK AREA. THE SQUALL LINE WILL THEN ADVANCE EAST ACROSS THE
ENTIRE OUTLOOK AREA THROUGH 10 PM THIS EVENING...THEN EXIT THE
OUTLOOK AREA BY AROUND MIDNIGHT. THIS SPEED OF MOTION IS SLIGHTLY
FASTER THAN EARLIER INDICATED OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF THE AREA.
DATA STILL SUGGESTS THAT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE LIKELY ALONG
THIS LINE OF STORMS...WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL BEING THE
PRIMARY THREATS. IN ADVANCE OF THE LINE...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM
CELLS MAY DEVELOP...AND SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL ALSO BE CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES.
THERE IS NOW A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING
OVER THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE FCST AREA...ROUGHLY ALONG AND NORTH OF
HIGHWAY 84...WITH A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ELSEWHERE
ACROSS THE FCST AREA. THE SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION FAIRLY
RAPIDLY...AND AS SUCH WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL IS NOT EXPECTED.
RAINFALL TOTALS WILL GENERALLY RANGE FROM 1 TO 1.5 INCHES ACROSS
MOST OF THE REGION...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS.

STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS OVER THE COASTAL WATERS...WITH BUILDING SEAS
IN ADVANCE OF A STRONG COLD FRONT APPROACHING FROM THE NORTHWEST...
FOLLOWED BY A STRONG NORTHERLY WIND FLOW DEVELOPING AROUND MIDNIGHT
AND LASTING THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT. BAYS AND
COASTAL WATERWAYS WILL BE ROUGH...AND SEAS WILL BUILD TO 7 TO 9
FEET. THESE CONDITIONS WILL CREATE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS TO SMALL
CRAFT. A GALE WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE MARINE AREA DURING
THE OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.

A STRONG SOUTHERLY WIND FLOW ALONG WITH INCREASING SWELL AND TIDAL
RANGES WILL RESULT IN HIGH SURF ALONG THE GULF BEACHES...MINOR
COASTAL FLOODING...AND A HIGH RISK OF DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS.

STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 20 TO 25 MPH...WITH FREQUENT GUSTS AS HIGH
AS 35 MPH WILL OCCUR OVER LAND AREAS IN ADVANCE OF AN APPROACHING
COLD FRONT. THESE STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL POSE A HAZARD TO MOTORISTS
DRIVING HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES...AS WELL AS TO OTHERS IN OUTDOOR WIND
SENSITIVE ACTIVITIES. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 10 PM
TONIGHT...PRIMARILY ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

STRONG NORTHERLY WIND FLOW TUESDAY MORNING WILL DECREASING TO 15 TO
20 KNOTS BY EARLY TUESDAY AFTERNOON AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES AWAY FROM
THE AREA. BAYS AND COASTAL WATERWAYS WILL BE ROUGH...AND SEAS OF 7 TO
9 FEET WILL SUBSIDE BELOW 7 FEET EARLY TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THESE
CONDITIONS WILL CREATE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS TO SMALL CRAFT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL FOR
SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE REQUIRED BEGINNING AROUND MID AFTERNOON.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 4, 4:16 PM CST, 1 hour 56 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
516 PM CDT MON APR 04 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0435 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST COFFEEVILLE             31.76N 88.09W
04/04/2011  U0 MPH           CLARKE             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREE DOWN AND BLOCKING BETHAL ROAD IN COFFEEVILLE.

&&

KC

Local storm report, Apr 4, 4:53 PM CST, 1 hour 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
553 PM CDT MON APR 04 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0520 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 E COFFEEVILLE         31.76N 88.06W
04/04/2011  E40 MPH          CLARKE             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREE DOWN ACROSS HIGHWAY 84 NEAR MILE MARKER 41. ROAD IS
            PARTIALLY BLOCKED.

&&

KC

Local storm report, Apr 4, 4:55 PM CST, 1 hour 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
555 PM CDT MON APR 04 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0525 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST ZIMCO                   31.70N 87.88W
04/04/2011  E40 MPH          CLARKE             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREE DOWN ACROSS WAGON WHEEL ROAD WEST OF GROVE HILL.

&&

KC

Local storm report, Apr 4, 4:57 PM CST, 1 hour 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
557 PM CDT MON APR 04 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0540 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST ZIMCO                   31.70N 87.88W
04/04/2011  E40 MPH          CLARKE             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREE DOWN ON MT ZION ROAD NEAR ST LUKES ROAD.

&&

KC

Local storm report, Apr 4, 5:27 PM CST, 45 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
627 PM CDT MON APR 04 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0615 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST ZIMCO                   31.70N 87.88W
04/04/2011  E40 MPH          CLARKE             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREE DOWN ACROSS MT ZION ROAD IN ZIMCO.

&&

KC

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 157 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:12 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

18 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Choctaw

When: April 4, 6:12 PM CST
Where: Choctaw County, 0.69 mi N of Butler
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.090, -88.220

Numerous trees were blown down by severe thunderstorm winds near 60 mph between 612 PM CST and 810 PM CST. Widespread trees were also reported down across the county at this time. Time estimated from radar imagery as the three strongest thunderstorm cells moved out of the county. Events reported by Choctaw County Sheriff's Department.

Thunderstorm Wind, Choctaw

When: April 4, 6:35 PM CST
Where: Choctaw County, 0.91 mi SE of Needham
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 31.970, -88.340

Multiple trees blown down by severe thunderstorm winds near 60 mph in the Needham area. Reported by WTOK Television.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clarke

When: April 4, 7:07 PM CST
Where: Clarke County, 2.38 mi NNW of Salitpa
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.650, -88.040

Numerous trees blown down by severe thunderstorm winds near 60 mph on Highway 69 in Salitpa.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clarke

When: April 4, 7:07 PM CST
Where: Clarke County, 0.91 mi SE of Coffeeville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.740, -88.090

Trees blown down by severe thunderstorm winds near 60 mph on West Bend Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clarke

When: April 4, 7:27 PM CST
Where: Clarke County, 0.91 mi SW of Thomasville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.910, -87.740

Trees blown down and large power lines damaged by severe thunderstorm winds near 60 mph.

Hail, Clarke

When: April 4, 7:30 PM CST
Where: Clarke County, 2.45 mi WSW of Thomasville
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.910, -87.770

Nickel size hail reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clarke

When: April 4, 7:35 PM CST
Where: Clarke County, 0.91 mi SW of Fulton
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.770, -87.740

Near the community of Liberty, halfway between Thomasville and Grove Hill, a large tree was blown down by severe thunderstorm winds near 60 mph and fell across Old Highway 5.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clarke

When: April 4, 7:40 PM CST
Where: Clarke County, 0.69 mi N of Grove Hill
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.710, -87.780

A large tree was blown down by severe thunderstorm winds near 60 mph falling across Highway 43 in Grove Hill near Chilton Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mobile

When: April 4, 7:45 PM CST
Where: Mobile County, 1.78 mi W of Spring Hill
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.700, -88.180

Large tree limbs and large branches blown out of trees by severe thunderstorm winds near 60 mph. Tree blown down by 60 mph winds on the University of South Alabama campus in front of the Administration Building.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clarke

When: April 4, 7:48 PM CST
Where: Clarke County, 0.59 mi W of Whatley
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.650, -87.710

Several trees blown down by 60 mph thunderstorm winds near Whatley.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clarke

When: April 4, 7:48 PM CST
Where: Clarke County, 1.36 mi WNW of Whatley
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.660, -87.720

Tree blown down by severe thunderstorms winds near 60 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clarke

When: April 4, 7:50 PM CST
Where: Clarke County, 0.91 mi SW of Jackson
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.510, -87.890

Trees blown down by severe thunderstorm winds near 60 mph winds in the Jackson area on Depot Road near Elms Street.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mobile

When: April 4, 8:20 PM CST
Where: Mobile County, 0.69 mi N of Navco
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.640, -88.100

Large tree blown down by severe thunderstorm winds near 60 mph on Halls Mill Road and McVay Drive, blocking traffic. Reported by Mobile Police Department.

Thunderstorm Wind, Crenshaw

When: April 4, 8:54 PM CST
Where: Crenshaw County, 2.15 mi SSE of Highland Home
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.920, -86.310

Trees and power lines blown down by severe thunderstorm winds near 60 mph along Highway 331 and County Road 66.

Thunderstorm Wind, Crenshaw

When: April 4, 8:54 PM CST
Where: Crenshaw County, 0.59 mi E of Highland Home
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.950, -86.310

Several trees blown down by severe thunderstorm winds near 60 mph at the intersection of Highway 97 and Highway 331.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clarke

When: April 4, 8:56 PM CST
Where: Clarke County, 0.91 mi SE of Coffeeville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.740, -88.090

Trees blown down by severe thunderstorm winds near 60 mph on West Bend Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Covington

When: April 4, 9:13 PM CST
Where: Covington County, 3.63 mi NW of Gantt
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.440, -86.520

Northwest of the town of Gantt, several areas with trees and power lines blown down by severe thunderstorm winds near 60 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Covington

When: April 4, 10:08 PM CST
Where: Covington County, Florala
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.000, -86.330

Multiple trees and power lines blown down by severe thunderstorm winds near 60 mph in Florala.

Thunderstorm Wind, Covington

When: April 4, 10:30 PM CST
Where: Covington County, 0.91 mi NE of Florala
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.010, -86.320

Numerous medium to large trees and power lines were blown down by severe thunderstorm winds near 60 mph. One home suffered structural damage. Northern part of town was without power for several hours after the event due to downed power lines.

What these are

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alabama in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in Alabama, April 2011

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: 296183, 296185, 296186, 296188, 296189, 296182, 296190, 296191, 296192, 296193, 296194, 296195, 296196, 296197, 296199, 296200, 296201, 296202, 296203.