Lightning strikes from thunderstorms produced damage in parts of southwest Alabama.
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 MOB wrote it up.
Lightning strikes from thunderstorms produced damage in parts of southwest Alabama.
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 Aug 8, 2:54 PM CST, 2 hours 6 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 354 PM CDT MON AUG 8 2011 .SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT)...SCATTERED CONVECTION DEVELOPING THIS AFTERNOON IN THE PRESENCE OF MLCAPES OF 3000-3500 J/KG. THE LATEST MICROBURST THREAT CAME OUT IN THE HIGH CATEGORY... SUGGESTING PULSE SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON. EVEN IF STORMS DON'T BECOME SEVERE...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...VERY HEAVY RAIN...AND WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH ARE LIKELY IN THE STRONGER CONVECTION. EXPECT THIS ACTIVITY TO WANE BY 03Z AS THE ATMOSPHERE BEGINS TO DESTABILIZE. WILL MAINTAIN 20-30 POPS ALONG THE COAST AND OFFSHORE OVERNIGHT AS THE REDEVELOPMENT OF STORMS IS POSSIBLE...SIMILAR TO THIS MORNING. OTHERWISE...THE W/NW LOW TO MID LEVEL FLOW STRENGTHENS TOMORROW AS THE 700-500 MB TROUGH AMPLIFIES SLIGHTLY OVER THE EASTERN STATES WITH RIDGING STAYING WELL WEST OVER TEXAS. THIS SERVES TO ADVECT SOME SLIGHTLY DRIER MID LEVEL AIR INTO THE WESTERN ZONES (SE MS) TOMORROW AFTERNOON...ACTUALLY DROPPING PRECIP WATERS TO AROUND 1.75 INCHES. MEANWHILE...PW'S OVER 2 INCHES WILL PREVAIL FURTHER EAST. THEREFORE...WILL SHOW A GRADIENT IN POPS...SHOWING THE BEST COVERAGE OVER S CENTRAL AL AND THE FL PANHANDLE WITH ONLY ISOLATED CONVECTION FURTHER EAST ACROSS THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE. THE THREAT FOR STRONG TO A FEW PULSE SEVERE STORMS WILL CONTINUE...ESPECIALLY OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF THE CWA WITH MLCAPES AGAIN CLIMBING TO AROUND 3000 J/KG. STRONGER DEEP LAYER WESTERLY WINDS WILL RESULT IN FASTER STORM MOTIONS...REDUCING THE THREAT OF PROLONGED HEAVY RAINFALL. LITTLE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURES WITH HIGHS IN THE LOW TO MID 90S AND LOWS IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S. AFTERNOON HEAT INDICES TUESDAY WILL MAX OUT AT 104 TO 107 DEGREES. 34/JFB .LONG TERM (WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY)...THE 700 MB TROUGH BEGINS TO SHIFT FURTHER EAST ON WEDNESDAY WITH RIDGING BUILDING BACK IN FROM THE WEST. THIS TURNS THE MID LEVEL FLOW MORE TO THE NORTH AND ADVECTS IN EVEN DRIER MID LEVEL AIR INTO THE FORECAST AREA. THIS SHOULD SERVE TO HELP DEWPOINTS MIX OUT A LITTLE MORE IN THE AFTERNOON AND REDUCE INSTABILITY VALUES. THEREFORE...WILL LOWER POPS TO 20-30 PERCENT ACROSS THE AREA. ANY STORMS THAT CAN DEVELOP WILL STILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS...AIDED BY THE MID LEVEL DRY AIR ADVECTION. STRONGER MID LEVEL RIDGING WILL BE PRESENT FOR THU-FRI...WITH THE HEART OF THE 700 MB RIDGE PROGGED TO BE ACROSS OUR REGION. THIS STRONGER RIDGING WILL KEEP A SOUTHWARD MOVING COLD FRONT WELL NORTH OF OUR REGION...SIMILAR TO THE IDEA THE ECMWF HAS DEPICTED FOR THE PAST SEVERAL RUNS. GIVEN THE BUILDING UPPER LEVEL HEIGHTS AND INCREASE IN SUBSIDENCE...WILL MAINTAIN ONLY 20-30 POPS THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. AN INCREASE IN HIGH TEMPERATURES IS ALSO EXPECTED MID TO LATE WEEK WITH HIGHS CLIMBING BACK TO THE MID AND UPPER 90S. AFTERNOON HEAT INDICES STAY FAIRLY STEADY IN THE 104 TO 108 DEGREE RANGE. THE RIDGING WILL AGAIN GIVE WAY TO AN AMPLIFYING TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN STATES THIS WEEKEND...HOWEVER THIS TROUGH IS FORECAST TO BE A SIGNIFICANTLY DEEPER THAN THE TROUGH EARLY THIS WEEK. THIS MAKES SENSE GIVEN THE HIGHLY NEGATIVE NAO VALUES CURRENTLY OBSERVED...WITH THE PERSISTENT DROUGHT AND HEAT OVER THE PLAINS AIDING THE CENTER OF THE MID LEVEL RIDGE WELL TO OUR WEST. MODEL GUIDANCE IS IN GOOD AGREEMENT ON A COLD FRONT PUSHING INTO THE AREA BY SUNDAY... POTENTIALLY REACHING THE COAST OR PUSHING OFFSHORE BY MONDAY MORNING. WHILE THIS IS RARE FOR AUGUST...THE DEEP NATURE OF THE TROUGH MAKES THIS A REALISITC POSSIBILITY. RAIN CHANCES WILL INCREASE AHEAD OF THE FRONT ON SUNDAY...BUT LOWER SIGNIFICANTLY BY MONDAY GIVEN THE FORECAST POSITION OF THE FRONT. THE FRONT WILL ALSO SERVE TO BRING TEMPS BACK TO NEAR NORMAL WITH MUCH WELCOMED LOWER HUMIDITY VALUES. 34/JFB && .AVIATION (18Z-00Z ISSUANCE)...VFR TO MVFR CONDITIONS THROUGH 03Z TUE. LOWER CEILINGS WILL RANGE FROM 1K TO 3K FT THROUGH 03Z TUE MOSTLY IN AND AROUND SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. HEAVY RAINFALL AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL ACCOMPANY THE HEAVIER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH 03Z MON. WINDS WILL BE MOSTLY SOUTHWEST AT 5 TO 10 KNOTS BECOMING VARIABLE AT TIMES WITH GUSTS TO 40 KNOTS IN AND AROUND SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH 03Z TUE. FOR TUE VFR CONDITIONS WITH INCREASING LOW TO MID CLOUDS RANGING FROM 3 TO 10K FT AFTER 15Z. FOR TUE AFTERNOON MVFR CONDITIONS POSSIBLE WITH CEILINGS RANGING FROM 1 TO 3K FT IN AND AROUND SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. WINDS WILL BE WEST TO SOUTHWEST AT 5 TO 10 KNOTS EARLY TUE BECOMING SOUTHWEST INCREASING TO 12 TO 15 KNOTS AND GUSTY BY LATE TUE AFTERNOON...BECOMING VARIABLE WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 KNOTS AT TIMES IN AND AROUND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS. 32/EE && .MARINE...HIGH PRESSURE OVER MUCH OF THE NORTHERN GULF WILL SHIFT SOUTH THROUGH MIDWEEK IN RESPONSE TO A SFC TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE MOVING SOUTH OVER MUCH OF THE EASTERN CONUS. AS A RESULT A MODERATE TO STRONG WEST TO SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL CONTINUE OVER THE MARINE AREA THROUGH EARLY AS THE TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE SHIFTS SOUTHWARD AND INTERACTS WITH THE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE FURTHER SOUTH OVER THE MIDDLE AND LOWER GULF. SEAS FROM NEAR SHORE OUT TO 60 NM WILL BUILD TO 3 TO 5 FEET THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY WITH CHOPPY TO ROUGH CONDITIONS OVER INLAND BAYS AND SOUNDS. WINDS WILL DIMINISH TO 10 TO 15 KNOTS LATE WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...THEN AROUND 10 WINDS ON FRIDAY...REMAINING MOSTLY FROM SOUTHWEST TO WEST. WINDS AND SEAS WILL CONTINUE TO BE HIGHER NEAR ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH MUCH OF THE WEEK. 32/EE && .FIRE WEATHER...A CHANCE OF SCATTERED AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ON TUESDAY...WITH SLIGHTLY LESSER COVERAGES EXPECTED BY WEDNESDAY. LIGHT PATCHY FOG IS POSSIBLE AWAY FROM THE COAST DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. DEEP MIXING HEIGHTS AND INCREASING WESTERLY TRANSPORT WINDS WILL YIELD HIGH AFTERNOON DISPERSIONS THROUGH MIDWEEK. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL STAY WELL ABOVE CRITICAL THRESHOLDS. 34/JFB && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... MOBILE 77 94 78 95 / 20 40 20 30 PENSACOLA 79 93 79 95 / 20 40 20 30 DESTIN 81 92 81 92 / 30 50 20 30 EVERGREEN 76 95 75 96 / 20 50 20 20 WAYNESBORO 76 96 75 97 / 20 30 10 20 CAMDEN 76 96 74 97 / 20 50 20 20 CRESTVIEW 76 95 76 96 / 20 50 20 30 && .MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. FL...NONE. MS...NONE. GM...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 535 PM CDT MON AUG 8 2011 ALZ051>064-FLZ001>006-GMZ630-650-655-670-675-MSZ067-075-076-078- 079-092300- 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- 535 PM CDT MON AUG 8 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF INTERIOR SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND THE ADJACENT GULF COASTAL WATERS OF ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT ANY OF THE STRONGER ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING COULD PRODUCE BRIEF STRONG WIND GUSTS FROM 40 TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY HEAVY RAINS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON HEAT INDICES WILL RISE TO 104 TO 107 IN MANY LOCATIONS EACH AFTERNOON. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP EACH DAY MAINLY IN THE AFTERNOONS WITH LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS...GUSTY WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING WITH THE STRONGER STORMS POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF SKYWARN SEVERE STORM SPOTTER NETWORKS IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH SUNDAY.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 250 PM CDT MON AUG 8 2011 ALZ059-060-FLZ001>006-082100- COVINGTON AL-ESCAMBIA AL-INLAND OKALOOSA FL-INLAND SANTA ROSA FL- INLAND ESCAMBIA FL-COASTAL ESCAMBIA FL-COASTAL OKALOOSA FL- SANTA ROSA FL- 250 PM CDT MON AUG 8 2011 ...A LARGE AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT COVINGTON AND ESCAMBIA COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...OKALOOSA...SANTA ROSA AND NORTHEASTERN ESCAMBIA COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA...THROUGH 400 PM CDT... AT 244 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER INLAND AREAS OF SOUTHWEST ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA...GENERALLY FROM ATMORE ALABAMA TO CRESTVIEW FLORIDA...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THESE STORMS ARE WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG COULD BLOW OFF TREE LIMBS AND ALSO BLOW AROUND SMALL UNSECURED OBJECTS. SEEK SHELTER UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED. FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS. IF OUTDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF POSSIBLE. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. UNPLUG UNNECESSARY ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THESE STORMS APPROACH. THESE STORMS MAY CONTINUE TO INTENSIFY AND A WARNING MAY SOON BE NEEDED. PLEASE CONTINUE TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO OR TV FOR FURTHER NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPDATES OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS. &&
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 325 PM CDT MON AUG 8 2011 ALZ061-063-MSZ076-079-082130- GREENE MS-GEORGE MS-UPPER MOBILE AL-LOWER MOBILE AL- 325 PM CDT MON AUG 8 2011 ...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN GREENE AND EASTERN GEORGE COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...MOBILE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...THROUGH 430 PM CDT... AT 321 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM CITRONELLE TO ESCATAWPA...AND MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THESE STORMS ARE WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG COULD BLOW OFF TREE LIMBS AND ALSO BLOW AROUND SMALL UNSECURED OBJECTS. SEEK SHELTER UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED. FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS. IF OUTDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF POSSIBLE. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. UNPLUG UNNECESSARY ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THESE STORMS APPROACH. THESE STORMS MAY CONTINUE TO INTENSIFY AND A WARNING MAY SOON BE NEEDED. PLEASE CONTINUE TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO OR TV FOR FURTHER NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPDATES OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS. &&
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 356 PM CDT MON AUG 8 2011 ALZ062-064-FLZ001-082200- INLAND ESCAMBIA FL-UPPER BALDWIN AL- 356 PM CDT MON AUG 8 2011 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL BALDWIN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...NORTHWESTERN ESCAMBIA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA...THROUGH 500 PM CDT... AT 353 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR BAY MINETTE...OR NEAR STAPLETON...AND MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THIS STORM ARE WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG COULD BLOW OFF TREE LIMBS AND ALSO BLOW AROUND SMALL UNSECURED OBJECTS. SEEK SHELTER UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED. FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF POSSIBLE. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. UNPLUG UNNECESSARY ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THIS STORM APPROACHES. &&
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 446 PM CDT MON AUG 8 2011 ALZ057-058-082200- BUTLER AL-CRENSHAW AL- 446 PM CDT MON AUG 8 2011 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL BUTLER AND WESTERN CRENSHAW COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...THROUGH 500 PM CDT... AT 446 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES SOUTH OF GREENVILLE...OR 6 MILES EAST OF CHAPMAN...AND MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... HALSO MILL...GLASGOW...SARDIS...PIGEON CREEK AROUND 500 PM CDT... THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THIS STORM ARE WIND GUSTS OF 35 TO 45 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG COULD BLOW OFF TREE LIMBS AND ALSO BLOW AROUND SMALL UNSECURED OBJECTS. SEEK SHELTER UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED. FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF POSSIBLE. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. UNPLUG UNNECESSARY ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THIS STORM APPROACHES. &&
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 526 PM CDT MON AUG 8 2011 ALZ064-082315- LOWER BALDWIN AL- 526 PM CDT MON AUG 8 2011 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN BALDWIN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...THROUGH 615 PM CDT... AT 521 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR POINT CLEAR...OR 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF THE MOUTH OF WEEKS BAY...AND MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... SILVERHILL AROUND 540 PM CDT... SUMMERDALE...ROBERTSDALE AROUND 545 PM CDT... THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THIS STORM ARE WIND GUSTS OF 35 TO 45 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG COULD BLOW OFF TREE LIMBS AND ALSO BLOW AROUND SMALL UNSECURED OBJECTS. SEEK SHELTER UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED. FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF POSSIBLE. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. UNPLUG UNNECESSARY ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THIS STORM APPROACHES. &&
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning struck the Butler County Courthouse and knocked out phone and electric service.
The Georgiana police chief's home was struck by lightning which caused a house fire.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, August 2011
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: 343787, 343788.