A line of thunderstorms moved through the state of Alabama on the morning of March 9th. Along with heavy rainfall that caused flash flooding in areas, these storms produced strong winds causing tree and structure damage.
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 line of thunderstorms moved through the state of Alabama on the morning of March 9th. Along with heavy rainfall that caused flash flooding in areas, these storms produced strong winds causing tree and structure damage.
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 Mar 8, 11:52 PM CST, 3 hours 3 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1152 PM CST TUE MAR 8 2011 .UPDATE...FOR 06Z AVIATION. && .DISCUSSION... SHOWERS AND ELEVATED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE INVADING CENTRAL ALABAMA FROM THE SOUTHWEST. RADAR ESTIMATES 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN HAS ALREADY FALLEN WEST OF INTERSTATE 65 AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 59. A FEW AREAS HAVE EXPERIENCED MINOR NUISANCE FLOODING. THE LATEST WATER VAPOR IMAGERY DEPICTS THE DEVELOPING STORM SYSTEM OVER THE MIDWEST WITH A FEW SHORT WAVE TROFS WRAPPING AROUND THE LOW. ADDITIONALLY... A SPLIT JET STRUCTURE WAS NOTED. SURFACE OBSERVATIONS INDICATE A SURFACE WARM FRONT FROM NORTHERN LOUISIANA TO NEAR MOB LATE THIS EVENING AND THIS FRONT HAS BEEN SLOW TO MOVE NORTHWARD NEAR ALABAMA. THIS WAS DUE TO A MUCH DRIER SURFACE AIRMASS IN PLACE...BUT IT IS MODIFYING. THE RAIN THAT HAS FALLEN INTO THIS DRIER AIRMASS WILL FURTHER HAMPER THE MODIFICATION AND MAKE IT A BIT TOUGHER FOR THE UNSTABLE AIR TO MAKE TO MUCH OF AN INROAD INTO CENTRAL ALABAMA...AT LEAST FOR SEVERAL HOURS. JAN-DGX RADAR VWP HAS 50KT WINDS AT 6KFT AND THESE WINDS WILL ONLY LOWER THROUGH OUT THE NIGHT AS THE LOW LEVEL JET INCREASES. SEVERAL SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN NOTED NEAR THE WARM FRONT. THEY HAVE DECIDEDLY GONE FROM AN EASTWARD MOTION TO A NORTHEAST MOTION...IE FARTHER NORTH OF THE FRONT. FOR THE REMAINDER OF TONIGHT...AS SYSTEM COMES TOGETHER WEST...LARGE MASS OF THUNDERSTORMS IN MS WILL TRANSLATE EASTWARD. RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE AFTER MIDNIGHT WITH FLOODING POSSIBLE. SOME STORMS MAY BE STRONG...BUT AS THE SURFACE DEW POINTS INCREASE TOWARD MORNING...A TORNADO THREAT WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR SOUTHWEST AREAS. THIS THREAT WILL EXPAND TO MUCH OF SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA AFTER SUNRISE. GUSTY SURFACE WINDS MAY REACH 40 TO 45 MPH IN ISOLATED LOCATIONS OUTSIDE THE THUNDERSTORM AREAS. STAY TUNED TO FURTHER UPDATES REGARDING THIS DEVELOPING SITUATION. && .AVIATION...06Z TAF DISCUSSION. HEAVY RAIN CONTINUES OVER WESTERN ALABAMA THIS EVENING. THIS RAINFALL WILL SLOWLY WORK EASTWARD WITH TIME AND AFFECT THE NORTHERN TAF SITES BEFORE 12Z. ALTHOUGH A FEW BREAKS IN THE RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED AT TIMES...THE PREVAILING CONDITIONS WILL FEATURE MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL WITH VCTS...WHICH WILL CAUSE MVFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES. IFR CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS. THE SOUTHERN TAF LOCATIONS WILL DETERIORATE GENERALLY AFTER 12Z WITH REGARDS TO WEATHER ALTHOUGH LOWER CEILINGS ARE PROBABLE BEFORE THEN. WINDS WILL REMAIN STEADY THROUGH THE PERIOD FROM THE SOUTHEAST AROUND 08-12 KTS...WITH HIGHER GUSTS UP TO 25 KTS. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE WEST NORTHWEST TOMORROW EVENING. NOTICE...KEET TAF WILL HAVE (AMD LTD TO VIS WIND AND WX) AMENDED TO THE END OF THE FORECAST THROUGH THE END OF THE 2010/2011 WINTER SEASON. THE CEILOMETER DATA WILL BE GOING THROUGH NUMEROUS TESTS AND MONITORED FOR ACCURACY. && .HYDROLOGY... LATEST TRENDS HAVE STORM TOTAL RAINFALL OF GENERALLY 2 TO 5 INCHES THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY...WITH ISOLATED LOCALLY GREATER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST. SOILS HAVE MOISTENED FOLLOWING THE PAST WEEKENDS RAINFALL AND CENTRAL ALABAMA STREAMS AND RIVERS ARE RUNNING AT OR ABOVE NORMAL LEVELS. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY COULD RESULT IN RISES ALONG RIVERS AND STREAMS AGAIN...AND AT THIS TIME SOME MINOR RIVER FLOODING COULD DEVELOP...ESPECIALLY ON PARTS OF THE TOMBIGBEE AND LOWER WARRIOR RIVERS. IN ADDITION TO RIVER FLOODING...FLASH FLOODING WILL MOSTLY LIKELY BECOME A CONCERN. WITH GROUND MOISTURE VALUES FAIRLY HIGH AND HEAVY RAINFALL EXPECTED...EXCESSIVE RUNOFF COULD RESULT IN SOME LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING ON WEDNESDAY. THUS A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. WIND ADVISORY THROUGH 6 PM CST WEDNESDAY FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. && 75/88/75
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 745 PM CST TUE MAR 8 2011 ALZ011>015-017>050-100147- 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- 745 PM CST TUE MAR 8 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. HEAVY RAINFALL IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ACROSS WESTERN COUNTIES AS A SIGNIFICANT STORM SYSTEM DEVELOPS WEST OF ALABAMA. THIS HEAVY RAIN WILL LIKELY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING IN AREAS ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM UNIONTOWN...TO BIRMINGHAM...TO ONEONTA. WINDS OUT AHEAD OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS COULD INCREASE TO 25 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ISOLATED TORNADO THREAT WILL BEGIN AFTER MIDNIGHT IN THE EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN COUNTIES OF CENTRAL ALABAMA NEAR LINDEN AND LIVINGSTON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. MODERATE TO LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO SLOWLY MOVE AND DEVELOP EASTWARD ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA DURING THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY. STORM TOTAL RAINFALL OF TWO TO FIVE INCHES...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS...WILL LIKELY PRODUCE AREAS OF FLASH FLOODING AND MINOR RIVER FLOODING. THERE IS A HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE OF THE FLOODING THREAT. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...INCLUDING THE THREAT FOR DAMAGING WINDS... SMALL HAIL...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA ON WEDNESDAY. THERE IS A SMALL RISK FOR THESE STORMS TO DEVELOP AS FAR NORTH AS THE INTERSTATE 20 CORRIDOR... HOWEVER...THE GREATEST RISK WILL GENERALLY BE ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM ALICEVILLE TO AUBURN. FINALLY...BREEZY CONDITIONS ARE TO CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY BOTH AHEAD AND BEHIND THE FRONT. SUSTAINED WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY DUE TO THE THREAT OF FLOODING AND SEVERE WEATHER. 73
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1155 PM CST TUE MAR 8 2011
ALZ033-040-090645-
DALLAS AL-PERRY AL-
1155 PM CST TUE MAR 8 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PERRY AND DALLAS COUNTIES UNTIL
1245 AM CST...
AT 1155 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM VALDEN TO CAMDEN...AND
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
MARION...
SELMA...
VALLEY GRANDE...
VALDEN...
BOGUE CHITTO...
&&
LAT...LON 3209 8719 3211 8723 3215 8726 3220 8733
3220 8735 3257 8750 3288 8740 3270 8702
3266 8701 3266 8695 3265 8691 3205 8716
TIME...MOT...LOC 0555Z 208DEG 40KT 3257 8741 3205 8721
75SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
115 AM CST WED MAR 9 2011
ALZ039-090745-
MARENGO AL-
115 AM CST WED MAR 9 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MARENGO COUNTY UNTIL 145 AM
CST...
AT 108 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR LINDEN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
THOMASTON...
DAYTON...
CONSUL...
FAUNSDALE...
OLD SPRING HILL...
&&
LAT...LON 3252 8779 3248 8772 3249 8752 3215 8753
3210 8787 3231 8794
TIME...MOT...LOC 0715Z 229DEG 44KT 3232 8774SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
137 AM CST WED MAR 9 2011
ALZ033-039-040-090815-
DALLAS AL-MARENGO AL-PERRY AL-
137 AM CST WED MAR 9 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN PERRY...DALLAS AND
NORTHEASTERN MARENGO COUNTIES UNTIL 215 AM CST...
AT 132 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM FAUNSDALE TO DAYTON TO
THOMASTON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN.
LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
UNIONTOWN...
SELMONT-WEST SELMONT...
SELMA...
VALLEY GRANDE...
CONSUL...
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 3214 8760 3249 8757 3249 8752 3257 8752
3260 8696 3218 8693 3216 8728 3220 8733
3220 8736 3223 8738 3224 8741 3227 8744
3226 8751 3214 8752
TIME...MOT...LOC 0736Z 218DEG 43KT 3252 8753 3237 8754
3224 8760SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
247 AM CST WED MAR 9 2011
ALZ032-033-039-040-090930-
DALLAS AL-HALE AL-MARENGO AL-PERRY AL-
247 AM CST WED MAR 9 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN HALE...PERRY...WESTERN
DALLAS AND NORTHEASTERN MARENGO COUNTIES UNTIL 330 AM CST...
AT 246 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM GREENSBORO TO THOMASTON...
AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH
HEAVY RAIN.
LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
GREENSBORO...
UNIONTOWN...
MARION...
THOMASTON...
FAUNSDALE...
IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.
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 3219 8772 3271 8764 3280 8742 3282 8703
3238 8710 3227 8747 3227 8750 3225 8751
TIME...MOT...LOC 0847Z 240DEG 48KT 3267 8755 3227 8763The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 106 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 08:55 UTC.
22 flash flood, 5 thunderstorm wind, 3 lightning, 1 heavy rain, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Scattered trees and powerlines were downed in Uniontown.
Two feet of water was reported across Highway 96 just west of Millport.
A few trees were blown down in extreme southeastern Sumter County.
Several streets were flooding in they Fayette area.
At least 6 roads were closed due to flooding in Jasper.
Over one foot of water was reported across County Road 19, County Road 4, and Batesmill Road in Greensboro. As a result, multiple minor traffic accidents occurred.
As a result of heavy rainfall, 8 homes in the Moundville area were flooded. Three of these homes were on Lock 9 Road and 5 of these homes were in the Old Lock 5 area.
State Route 28 was closed from US Highway 80 to Lindon because of flooding.
Portions of Highway 118 and Dogtown Road were closed due to flooding.
US Highway 82 from State Route 219 to State Route 6 was closed due to flooding. Stallings Road was also closed.
Interstate 59 northbound lanes closed at 31st street due to flooding.
A tree fell through the roof of a home.
Several Roads were closed due to flooding in Marion. Four homes were also flooded.
Multiple roads were flooded across the county.
The intersection of CR 115 and CR 21 was closed due to flooding.
Several Roads in Tuscaloosa county were closed due to flooding; including Cypress Creek Road, Commerce Dr., Riverbend Road, and Maxwell Loop Road North.
Part of Sweeney Hollow Road was closed due to flooding.
A mobile home was flooded on highway 9 as a result of flash flooding. Post Oak Road was also flooded.
A house on Pine Crest Street in Prattville was damaged after it was struck by lightning.
A house on Hwy 31 N in Pine Level was damaged after it was struck by lightning.
Swift water was reported over the roadway along Renfro and Plant Roads, just west of Talladega.
A resident reported water in their home on 8th Avenue SW.
Water was reported across multiple roads across the county, causing the roads to be closed.
Flooding was reported on Highway 78 North in Eastaboga near Mudd Street.
Multiple roads flooded in the city of Gadsden, including 11th Street, 6th Street, Furman Road, and College Parkway.
County Road 56 and County Road 16 were flooded on Weogufka Creek.
Lightning struck a house, causing a fire and leaving minor structure damage.
Six inches of water was covering a 100 foot section of Main Street in the town of Sycamore.
Three feet of water was reported on Rock Springs Road.
Sporadic wind damage occurred from near Spring Hill to near Hamilton Crossroads. Several trees and powerlines were downed and minor structure damage occurred.
Numerous trees and powerlines were downed.
What began as flash flooding, resulted in long term flooding across a part of Talladega County during the morning of May 9th. Several Roads were closed in the southern part of the County, with the hardest hit areas being Childersburg and Alpine. In addition to flowing water covering roadways, several mobile homes and wood frame homes had 3 to 5 feet of flowing water as well. Two roads were closed the following day.
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, March 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: 293592, 295210, 293593, 295253, 295252, 295233, 295454, 295459, 295254, 295451, 295255, 293594, 295250, 295395, 295456, 295462, 295399, 295426, 295452, 295453, 295402, 295405, 295418, 295415, 295230, 295455, 295460, 295414, 295434, 293596, 293598, 295433.