One to three inches of rain produced quick runoff, some water overflowing ditches and brief flash flooding at one intersection in the town of Hartselle in Morgan County.
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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 HUN wrote it up.
One to three inches of rain produced quick runoff, some water overflowing ditches and brief flash flooding at one intersection in the town of Hartselle in Morgan County.
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 30, 5:56 PM CST, 1 hour 24 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 656 PM CDT SAT JUL 30 2011 .UPDATE... UPDATE FOR 31/00Z AVIATION FORECAST. && .AVIATION... WSR-88D DATA INDICATES THAT SHRA/TSRA THREAT WILL PERSIST FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS AFTER 31/00Z AT BOTH HSV/MSL...AND WILL INCLUDE VCTS/CB AS PREVAILING CONDITION. CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY SHOULD DIMINISH BEYOND THIS POINT...WITH FOCUS SHIFTING TO POTENTIAL FOG/STRATUS EVENT EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. FORECAST SOUNDINGS APPEAR A BIT MORE FAVORABLE FOR STRATUS THAN WIDESPREAD FOG...AND WILL INDICATE VSBY DETERIORATING BEGINNING AROUND 31/05Z...WITH PREVAILING MVFR CIG/VSBY IN STRATUS AND LIGHT BR BTWN 31/07-13Z. WITH LOW-LEVEL WINDS ALREADY EXPECTED TO BE NNW AROUND DAWN AND LITTLE IN THE WAY OF LOW-LEVEL CONVERGENCE OR UPPER-LEVEL FORCING...AM VERY UNCERTAIN ABOUT CHANCES FOR SHRA/TSRA TOMORROW...AT LEAST THRU THE END OF THIS FORECAST PERIOD. WILL NOT MENTION VCTS/CB AT THIS POINT...WITH STORM CHANCES POSSIBLY INCREASING A BIT TOMORROW EVENING AS ACTIVITY SPREADS IN FROM THE NORTH. LGT/VRBL WINDS OVERNIGHT WILL INCREASE TO 5-10 KNOTS FROM THE NNW/N AFTER SUNRISE. 70/DD && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 122 PM CDT SAT JUL 30 2011/ FINALLY SOME ACTIVITY TO SPEAK OF ON THE RADAR THIS AFTN. HIGH PWAT VALUES (IN EXCESS OF 2 INCHES) AND MODEST CAPE VALUES HAVE LED TO SCATTERED/NUMEROUS SHRA/TSRA DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE REGION. ACTIVITY MAY ALSO BE AIDED BY A WEAK UPPER LEVEL IMPULSE NOTED ON WATER VAPOR IMAGERY AND DETAILED IN 12Z RUC/WRF ANALYSES. HAVE SEEN FAIRLY EFFICIENT RAIN PRODUCERS WITH WARM CORE/LOW TOP STORMS TODAY...WITH RAIN RATES EXCEEDING 4-5"/HR AT TIMES. FORTUNATELY ..THERE IS ENOUGH SE COMPONENT TO THE FLOW TO KEEP THINGS FROM REALLY GETTING OUT OF HAND. IN THE SHORT TERM...EXPECT CONVECTION TO LINGER FOR A BIT DUE TO WEAK UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT. HARD TO REALLY DISCERN ANY SIGNIFICANT SFC FEATURES TO BE HONEST IN THE VICINITY. WIND AND THERMAL FIELDS ARE VERY OUTFLOW DOMINATED AT THIS POINT. THERE IS A MORE NOTABLE SFC FRONT WELL TO THE NORTH ACROSS SRN KY AND THE MO BOOTHEEL. THIS FRONT IS PROGGED TO PUSH SOUTH AND/OR GENERALLY DISSIPATE OVER THE NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS. FOR TONIGHT...EXPECT GENERALLY CLEARING AS THE AIRMASS STABILIZES. WOULD EXPECT PATCHY FOG DEVELOPMENT...ESPECIALLY CENTRAL AND EASTERN AREAS DUE TO TODAY'S RAINFALL AND WILL INCLUDE IN OVERNIGHT FORECAST. TOMORROW/SUNDAY MAY ACTUALLY BE THE TRICKIEST DAY OF THE 7 DAY FORECAST. THE NAM/GFS DIFFER ON THE PLACEMENT OF THE SURFACE AND UPPER LEVEL FEATURES (ALBEIT SUBTLE FEATURES)...AND THE RESULT IS A WIDE VARIATION IN BOTH THE TEMPS AND POPS FROM THE MOS GUIDANCE. I AM NOT SOLD ON THE AFOREMENTIONED FRONT SOLIDLY PUSHING ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND SUBSTANTIALLY DRIER AND MORE SUBSIDENT FLOW MAKING ITS WAY IN BY MIDDAY SUNDAY. THUS...WILL TREND TOWARD THE SLIGHTLY WETTER GFS SOLUTION. WE MAY WANT TO ENJOY SUNDAY THOUGH AS THE FURNACE REALLY STARTS TO GET CRANKED BACK UP AS WE HEAD INTO THE UPCOMING WORK WEEK. THE BROAD SURFACE RIDGE CENTERED ACROSS THE NATION'S MIDSECTION WILL BUILD EASTWARD AND AMPLIFY WITH TIME IN THE 3-6 DAY PERIOD. THIS WILL BRING ANOTHER ROUND OF OPPRESSIVE HEAT AND DRY WEATHER TO THE TENNESSEE VALLEY REGION. ENSEMBLE OF EXTENDED GUIDANCE SUGGESTS MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES RUNNING IN THE UPPER 90S IN MOST AREAS IN THE TUE THROUGH FRI TIME PERIOD WITH HEAT INDICES ONCE AGAIN REACHING ADVISORY CRITERIA FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE REGION. WE COULD SEE EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING CRITERIA IN A FEW AREAS AS WELL. WITH THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE IN PLACE...SUBSIDENCE SHOULD PREVENT APPRECIABLE CONVECTION UNTIL LATER IN THE WORK WEEK AND EVEN THEN AREAL COVERAGE LOOKS PALTRY AT BEST. PREVIOUS FORECAST HAD THIS HANDLED FAIRLY WELL AND HAVE NOT MADE ANY MAJOR CHANGES TO THE EXTENDED PERIOD WITH DURING THIS FORECAST CYCLE. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. TN...NONE. && AVIATION...70/DD PREV DISCUSSION...15/CBD
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 253 PM CDT SAT JUL 30 2011 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-310400- LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN- MARSHALL-JACKSON-DEKALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN- 253 PM CDT SAT JUL 30 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... ISOLATED TO WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PERSIST INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS ACROSS THE REGION. BRIEF GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL ARE POSSIBLE WITH ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP THROUGH EVENING. HOWEVER...MANY AREAS WILL NOT SEE ADDITIONAL RAINFALL THROUGH SUNSET. ANY LINGERING SHOWERS OR STORMS SHOULD DISSIPATE DURING THE EVENING HOURS. PATCHY...LOCALLY DENSE...FOG MAY FORM OVERNIGHT ESPECIALLY WHERE SUBSTANTIAL RAINFALL WAS OBSERVED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE SUNDAY AS THE WEAK FRONT STALLS JUST SOUTH OF THE AREA. AFTER A DRY EARLY WEEK PERIOD...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE AGAIN IN THE THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY TIME FRAME. GUSTY WINDS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGER STORMS. DANGEROUS HEAT LEVELS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO DEVELOP BY TUESDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY. HEAT INDEX READINGS AROUND 105 TO 110 DEGREES ARE POSSIBLE STARTING TUESDAY. CAUTION IS ADVISED WHEN CONDUCTING ANY OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
627 PM CDT SAT JUL 30 2011
ALZ007-310000-
MORGAN-
627 PM CDT SAT JUL 30 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MORGAN COUNTY UNTIL 700 PM CDT...
AT 621 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
THAT A THUNDERSTORM WAS RAPIDLY DEVELOPING NEAR SOMERVILLE MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED
WITH THE STORM.
* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
SOMERVILLE.
VALHERMOSO SPRINGS...COLE SPRINGS.
FLORETTE.
SEEK SHELTER AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.
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 3433 8684 3449 8696 3456 8682 3455 8677
3446 8656
TIME...MOT...LOC 2326Z 315DEG 9KT 3449 8682
SLSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
636 PM CDT SAT JUL 30 2011
ALZ004-310000-
LAWRENCE-
636 PM CDT SAT JUL 30 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LAWRENCE COUNTY UNTIL 700 PM
CDT...
AT 630 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR WHEELER...OR 12 MILES NORTH OF MOULTON...
MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED
WITH THIS STORM.
* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
HILLSBORO.
CHALYBEATE SPRINGS...CADDO.
SEEK SHELTER AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.
&&
LAT...LON 3460 8739 3475 8729 3476 8728 3469 8711
3444 8711
TIME...MOT...LOC 2335Z 296DEG 9KT 3465 8726
SLSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
658 PM CDT SAT JUL 30 2011
ALZ004-310030-
LAWRENCE-
658 PM CDT SAT JUL 30 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LAWRENCE COUNTY UNTIL 730 PM
CDT...
AT 658 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR CHALYBEATE SPRINGS...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15
MPH.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED
WITH THIS STORM.
* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
MOULTON.
SEEK SHELTER AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.
&&
LAT...LON 3460 8734 3472 8718 3461 8710 3447 8711
3445 8728
TIME...MOT...LOC 2358Z 333DEG 12KT 3455 8720
SLSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 708 PM CDT SAT JUL 30 2011 ALZ007-016-310045- CULLMAN-MORGAN- 708 PM CDT SAT JUL 30 2011 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CULLMAN AND MORGAN COUNTIES UNTIL 745 PM CDT... AT 707 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR LACON...OR 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF CULLMAN... MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... COLE SPRINGS. BALDWIN. SOUTH VINEMONT. CULLMAN. SEEK SHELTER AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. && LAT...LON 3427 8670 3413 8685 3428 8707 3442 8693 TIME...MOT...LOC 0008Z 298DEG 8KT 3428 8691 SL
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
734 PM CDT SAT JUL 30 2011
ALZ016-310100-
CULLMAN-
734 PM CDT SAT JUL 30 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CULLMAN COUNTY UNTIL 800 PM
CDT...
AT 734 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR CULLMAN...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED
WITH THIS STORM.
* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
CULLMAN.
PHELAN...GOOD HOPE.
SEEK SHELTER AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.
&&
LAT...LON 3424 8705 3432 8694 3431 8677 3419 8663
3407 8687
TIME...MOT...LOC 0034Z 321DEG 12KT 3421 8684
SLSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
753 PM CDT SAT JUL 30 2011
ALZ007-016-310130-
CULLMAN-MORGAN-
753 PM CDT SAT JUL 30 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CULLMAN AND MORGAN COUNTIES UNTIL
830 PM CDT...
AT 748 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR MASSEY...OR 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
HARTSELLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
PEA SIZE HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY
DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
BATTLEGROUND.
LACON.
JONES CHAPEL.
WEST POINT.
SOUTH VINEMONT.
BALDWIN.
SEEK SHELTER AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.
&&
LAT...LON 3430 8712 3440 8711 3449 8701 3420 8674
3407 8696
TIME...MOT...LOC 0053Z 325DEG 15KT 3433 8701
SLThe Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 97 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:21 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A spotter reported at least six inches of flood water over the roadway at the intersection of Mitwede Street and Plumtree Drive.
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, July 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: 337912.