A warm and unstable air mass, and weak stationary front just to Alabama's north, caused several days of isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms. A few of these storms produced large hail and strong winds.
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 BMX wrote it up.
A warm and unstable air mass, and weak stationary front just to Alabama's north, caused several days of isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms. A few of these storms produced large hail and strong winds.
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 Jul 7, 2:01 PM CST, 2 hours 56 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 301 PM CDT THU JUL 7 2011 .DISCUSSION... SCATTERED MOSTLY SMALL...BUT RAINFALL RICH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. HIGH PWS LEADING TO SOME HEAVY DOWNPOURS IN THE AREAS THAT RECEIVE RAINFALL. LOOKING OVER THE SATELLITE IMAGERY...CENTRAL ALABAMA IS BETWEEN AN APPROACHING SHORTWAVE NEAR MISSOURI AND AN UPPER LOW IN THE NORTHERN GULF. PLENTY OF MOISTURE FEEDING NORTHWARD OUT OF THE GULF WHICH SHOULD KEEP US IN A FAVORABLE PATTERN FOR SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH FRIDAY AND PERHAPS SATURDAY AS THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED SHORTWAVE ROTATES THROUGH THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES. THAT SAID...MOST OF THE 12Z MODELS HAVE COME IN A BIT DRIER FOR FRIDAY AS THE TENDENCY WAS TO TAKE MOST OF THE UPPER SUPPORT THROUGH THE OHIO AND UPPER TENNESSEE VALLEYS. FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THE AREA WILL BE COMPLETELY LEFT OUT OF THE SHOWER ACTIVITY SO WILL MAINTAIN AT LEAST A MEDIUM CHANCE POP FOR TOMORROW. WHAT HAPPENS THEREAFTER HAS BECOME SOMEWHAT MUDDLED AS THE MODELS DISAGREE ON THE STRENGTH OF AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE THAT WILL BUILD EASTWARD FROM TEXAS AND OVER THE AREA. THE NAM...SREF...THE OPERATIONAL GFS SHOW PLENTY OF HOLES IN THE RIDGE WITH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CONTINUED AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. THE EURO...UKMET AND CMC ARE MORE SUPPRESSIVE WITH THE RIDGE AND TEND TO ALL BUT ELIMINATE RAINFALL FOR THE NORTHERN TWO-THIRDS OF THE STATE NEXT WEEK. THE GEFS HAS A LEAN TOWARDS THE EURO BUT IS SOMEWHAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TWO GROUPS. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MODEL GROUPS APPEARS TO HINGE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MORE SIGNIFICANT TROUGH ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN THEN TEMPERATURES COULD REALLY PUSH 100 DEGREES THROUGH MUCH OF NEXT WEEK FOR MANY AREAS. FOR NOW...WILL FOLLOW MUCH OF THE GFS ENSEMBLE MEAN AVERAGES BUT AM A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR EXCESSIVE HEAT PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD. && .AVIATION...18Z TAF DISCUSSION. LIGHT SHOWER ACTIVITY POPPING UP ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA DUE TO DIURNAL HEATING EFFECTS. MORE WIDESPREAD SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL BE ACROSS NORTHERN PORTIONS OF MS/AL INTO TN... CLOSER TO AN UPPER SHORTWAVE MOVING ACROSS. HOWEVER...WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH INSTABILITY WITH PLENTY OF HEAT TO REACH OUR CONVECTIVE TEMPERATURE ACROSS MUCH OF THE STATE AS WE HAD PLENTY OF SUNSHINE THIS MORNING. THIS ACTIVITY SHOULD REMAIN UNDER THE WEAK TO MODERATE TSRA ACTIVITY FOR THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA TAFS INTO THE EARLY EVENING. NO TEMPO/S AS PINPOINTING EXACT LOCALES WILL BE DIFFICULT AT BEST. BUT TOWERING CUMULUS AND SOME CB/S DEFINITELY SCATTERED ABOUT. WINDS ARE FAIRLY LIGHT BUT SHOULD TAPER DOWN MORE AFTER SUNSET WITH ONLY MINOR FOG POSSIBLE ACROSS A COUPLE OF NORTHERN SITES...ALL IN ALL VERY TYPICAL SUMMERTIME WEATHER. NOTICE...KEET TAF WILL HAVE (AMD LTD TO VIS WIND AND WX) AMENDED TO THE END OF THE FORECAST UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. THE CEILOMETER DATA WILL BE GOING THROUGH NUMEROUS TESTS AND MONITORED FOR ACCURACY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GADSDEN 67 90 70 93 69 / 30 60 40 20 10 ANNISTON 71 91 72 93 74 / 20 50 40 20 10 BIRMINGHAM 73 91 73 94 74 / 20 60 40 20 10 TUSCALOOSA 72 92 73 94 73 / 20 50 40 20 10 CALERA 71 91 73 94 74 / 20 50 40 20 10 AUBURN 71 93 72 94 73 / 20 40 40 20 20 MONTGOMERY 73 93 74 94 75 / 20 40 40 30 20 TROY 70 93 72 94 73 / 20 40 40 40 20 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && 88/08
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 120 PM CDT THU JUL 7 2011 ALZ011>015-017>050-081115- MARION-LAMAR-FAYETTE-WINSTON-WALKER-BLOUNT-ETOWAH-CALHOUN- CHEROKEE-CLEBURNE-PICKENS-TUSCALOOSA-JEFFERSON-SHELBY-ST. CLAIR- TALLADEGA-CLAY-RANDOLPH-SUMTER-GREENE-HALE-PERRY-BIBB-CHILTON- COOSA-TALLAPOOSA-CHAMBERS-MARENGO-DALLAS-AUTAUGA-LOWNDES-ELMORE- MONTGOMERY-MACON-BULLOCK-LEE-RUSSELL-PIKE-BARBOUR- 120 PM CDT THU JUL 7 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. STRONG HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE IN PLACE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA NEXT WEEK. AS A RESULT...TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 90S TO LOWER 100S ACROSS MOST LOCATIONS ARE POSSIBLE. WHEN FACTORING RELATIVE HUMIDITY...HEAT INDEX VALUES COULD RANGE BETWEEN 105 AND 110 DEGREES DURING THE AFTERNOON. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. 08/MNK
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
428 PM CDT THU JUL 7 2011
ALZ015-072215-
WALKER AL-
428 PM CDT THU JUL 7 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WALKER COUNTY UNTIL 515 PM CDT...
AT 424 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR JASPER...MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH
HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
JASPER...
CORDOVA...
DORA...
PARRISH...
GORGAS...
TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY.
&&
LAT...LON 3395 8710 3390 8708 3389 8704 3366 8707
3366 8709 3363 8709 3362 8717 3359 8720
3355 8719 3356 8732 3359 8732 3360 8742
3369 8743 3370 8749 3394 8741
TIME...MOT...LOC 2128Z 273DEG 8KT 3384 8731
56SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
445 PM CDT THU JUL 7 2011
ALZ034-072230-
BIBB AL-
445 PM CDT THU JUL 7 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BIBB COUNTY UNTIL 530 PM CDT...
AT 442 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR EOLINE...OR 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF BRENT...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
BRENT...
CENTREVILLE...
EOLINE...
WEST CENTREVILLE...
WEST BLOCTON...
TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY.
&&
LAT...LON 3301 8732 3309 8731 3312 8729 3314 8728
3313 8720 3319 8720 3324 8714 3322 8711
3325 8707 3291 8687 3285 8688 3284 8731
3300 8740
TIME...MOT...LOC 2145Z 243DEG 9KT 3299 8728
56SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
504 PM CDT THU JUL 7 2011
ALZ024-072245-
JEFFERSON AL-
504 PM CDT THU JUL 7 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY UNTIL
545 PM CDT...
AT 500 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR GRAYSVILLE...OR 9 MILES WEST OF FULTONDALE...MOVING
EAST AT 5 MPH.
PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
FAIRFIELD...
FULTONDALE...
GARDENDALE...
BIRMINGHAM...
IRONDALE...
THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY.
&&
LAT...LON 3376 8654 3372 8653 3351 8657 3347 8663
3347 8667 3342 8672 3342 8675 3340 8675
3338 8679 3354 8709 3378 8699
TIME...MOT...LOC 2204Z 283DEG 5KT 3363 8694
56The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 53 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:58 UTC.
2 heavy rain, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Approximately 3 to 4 inches of water was reportedly flowing across portions of Centerpoint Pkwy and 20th Ave NE.
A portion of roof was removed from an outbuilding. Several trees were reported down in the same area.
Heavy rainfall caused minor street flooding along several streets in Tuscaloosa, including Skyland Blvd, McFarland Blvd, Hargrove Road, and 15th Street.
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: 336096, 336097, 336098.