A moist and unstable air mass lead to another afternoon of scattered to numerous thunderstorms, some of which were strong to severe. Up to 3000 were without power temporarily in the Athens area as a result of the storms.
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 HUN wrote it up.
A moist and unstable air mass lead to another afternoon of scattered to numerous thunderstorms, some of which were strong to severe. Up to 3000 were without power temporarily in the Athens area as a result of the storms. Very heavy rainfall of 1 to 3 inches in less than an hour resulting in significant ponding of water and isolated brief flash flooding. Many of the storms produced frequent lightning as well sparking a few house fires.
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 18, 11:21 AM CST, 1 hour 54 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 1221 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012 .UPDATE... FOR 18Z TAFS && .DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1030 AM CDT WED JUL 18 2012/ SFC PATTERN REMAINS FAIRLY UNCHANGED THIS WED MORNING...WITH HIGH PRESSURE DRAPED ACROSS NRN MS/AL LEADING INTO ERN TN. WEAK UPPER RIDGE ALSO REMAINS FAIRLY STAGNANT ACROSS THE MIDWEST/LOWER MS VALLEY REGIONS. UPPER WAVES EMBEDDED ALONG THE ERN FRINGE OF THE RIDGE PATTERN/WEAK UPPER TROUGH AXIS ACROSS THE MID ATLANTIC STATES WILL AGAIN PROVIDE THE PRIMARY FOCUS MECH FOR CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT LATER TODAY. THIS ENERGY COUPLED WITH REMNANT OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES FROM LAST NIGHT'S CONVECTION SHOULD ENHANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCT/NUMEROUS SHOWERS/TSTMS THIS AFTERNOON...PROVIDED THE ENERGY FROM THESE PASSING DISTURBANCES ALOFT BECOMES BETTER ORGANIZED. IN ANY CASE...WITH A RELATIVELY LIGHT TRANSPORT/FLOW PATTERN IN PLACE...ANY STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND GUSTY OUTFLOW WINDS. A MARGINAL SVR TSTM/MICROBURST THREAT DOES EXISTS GIVEN A SOMEWHAT INVERTED V THERM PROFILE XCPETD TO EVOLVE LATER TODAY. ANY STRONG/SVR TSTMS THOUGH WILL HAVE TO OVERCOME A SOMEWHAT CAPPED AIRMASS IN PLACE...GIVEN THE LINGERING CLOUD COVER. EARLY MORNING CLOUD COVER THOUGH SHOULD BEGIN TO DIMINISH...AS TOWERING CU FORMS WITH SFC BASED INSTABILITY/BUOYANCY INCREASING. ONGOING FORECAST LOOKS TO HAVE THIS OVERALL TREND WELL IN HAND...WITH AFTERNOON HIGHS CLIMBING INTO THE LOWER/MID 90S RANGE...OR A FEW DEGREES ABOVE SEASONAL TRENDS. 09 && .AVIATION...SCT CONVECTION IS BEGINNING TO DEVELOP ACROSS PARTS OF THE AREA WHERE DIURNAL HEATING IS BETTER ENHANCED. CONVECTION MAY BECOME MORE NUMEROUS DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING HRS. HOWEVER...IT REMAINS DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT EXACTLY WHERE ANY SHOWERS/TSTMS WILL DEVELOP IN RELATION TO THE TWO MAIN TERMINALS. AS SUCH...WILL MAINTAIN PREVAILING VCTS IN THE TAFS THROUGH 01Z THU. AMD/UPDATES THOUGH MAY BE REQUIRED PROVIDED ANY OF THIS ACTIVITY APPROACHES ONE OF THE AIRPORTS...WITH CONDITIONS BRIEFLY LOWERING INTO THE MVFR CAT IN/NEAR THE HEAVIER SHRA/TSRA. OTHERWISE...VFR CONDITIONS ARE GENERALLY XPCTED THROUGH THE PERIOD. ANY CIGS LOOK TO REMAIN NEAR OR ABOVE VFR LEVELS INTO THU. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 352 AM CDT WED JUL 18 2012/ IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS...A SMALL COMPLEX OF THUNDERSTORMS FUELED BY AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY CONTINUES TO SLIDE ACROSS THE SE PORTIONS OF THE CWA. MORE STRATIFORM TRAILING PRECIP ASSOCIATED WITH THE ANVIL OF THE STORM IS ALLOWING FOR PERIODIC LIGHTNING STRIKES ACROSS JACKSON/DEKALB COUNTIES IN AL...WHILE THE MAIN CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING PRODUCERS PUSH ACROSS MARSHALL/MORGAN AND CULLMAN COUNTIES. SOME GUSTY WINDS...HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND VERY SMALL HAIL HAVE BEEN NOTED WITH THE STRONGER CORES OVERNIGHT BUT THE LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING GREATLY REDUCED THE SEVERITY OF STORMS. THE STORMS OVERNIGHT/THIS MORNING DEVELOPED AROUND THE FRINGES OF A WEAK LOW PRESSURE CIRCULATION THAT IS CENTERED OVER THE BEND OF FLORIDA. POCKETS OF POSITIVE VORTICITY THAT ARE ROTATING AROUND THIS SYSTEM HELPED SUPPORT STORM ORGANIZATION IN THE SOUTHEAST YESTERDAY AFTERNOON...AND WE WILL SEE A REPEAT PERFORMANCE TODAY. SHOULD SEE MORE COVERAGE OVER OUR CWA THIS AFTERNOON BECAUSE THE LOW SHOULD SLIDE NORTH EVER SO SLIGHTLY WHILE A WEAK SHORTWAVE IN THE MAIN MIDLEVEL FLOW WILL SLIDE JUST A BIT MORE SOUTHEAST. THE STORMS THAT DO DEVELOP WILL HAVE TO BE MONITORED AGAIN FOR STRONG/SEVERE WIND POTENTIAL (HIGH CAPE VALUES AND MODERATE WINDEX VALUES ASSOC WITH AN INVERTED V TYPE SOUNDING...ALTHOUGH DCAPE VALUES ARE REDUCED COMPARED TO YESTERDAY). HEAVY DOWNPOURS (PWAT VALUES NEAR 2IN) AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING WILL ALSO BE A CONCERN BUT HAIL LESS SO (DUE TO 15+KFT FZG HEIGHTS). THE END OF THE WEEK STILL LOOKS TO BRING INCREASING POP CHANCES AS THE MID LEVEL LONGWAVE TROF DEEPENS AND THE AXIS SLIDES TOWARD THE SE. A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL HELP FOCUS STORM DEVELOPMENT AND POOL MOISTURE AHEAD OF IT LATE THURS-LATE FRI...WITH FROPA EXPECTED DURING THE DAY SAT. THE CLEARING BEHIND THE FRONT SHOULD STILL BE SLOW ENOUGH TO KEEP TEMPS FROM REBOUNDING TOO MUCH ON SATURDAY. FOR THE END OF THE WEEKEND INTO NEXT WEEK...MODELS NOW INDICATE THE RIDGE ACROSS THE CENTRAL CONUS TO BE CENTERED SLIGHTLY FURTHER NORTH WHILE THE ATLANTIC HIGH WILL BE STRONGER. THE MORE SOUTHERLY SOLN SEEN YESTERDAY IN THE MODELS POINTED TO BETTER CHANCES FOR A DRIER/QUIETER PERIOD TO START THE NEXT WORK WEEK...PUSHING THE FRONT TO STALL NEAR THE COAST. BUT THE FRONT MAY NOW STALL FURTHER NW TOWARD OUR AREA SO HAVE HAD TO UP POP CHANCES FOR MONDAY/TUESDAY DUE TO BETTER RETURN FLOW PROGGED TO SETUP ACROSS THE DEEP SOUTH. THE HIGHER CLOUD COVER ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SOLN WILL ALSO KEEP HIGHS CLOSER TO THE 90 DEGREE MARK THROUGH THE EXTENDED. CCC .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. TN...NONE. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/HUNTSVILLE.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 1235 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-191015- LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN- MARSHALL-JACKSON-DEKALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN- 1235 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... NUMEROUS AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE CENTRAL TENNESSEE VALLEY...WITH THE COVERAGE OF STORMS DIMINISHING AFTER MIDNIGHT. A FEW STRONG TO MARGINALLY SEVERE STORMS REMAIN POSSIBLE...WITH THE PRIMARY THREAT COMING FROM DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AROUND 60 MPH. OTHERWISE...GUSTY WINDS...LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE WITH ANY THUNDERSTORMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE LIKELY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS ON BOTH THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. HOWEVER...AS A WEAK COLD FRONT PUSHES SOUTHWARD ON SATURDAY...CHANCES FOR STORMS WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST. THE FRONT IS EXPECTED TO STALL AROUND THE AREA...WITH A LOW CHANCE OF MAINLY AFTERNOON STORMS CONTINUING THROUGH THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER...TIMELY REPORTS OF GUSTY WINDS WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 117 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012 ALZ007-016-181845- CULLMAN-MORGAN- 117 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CULLMAN AND MORGAN COUNTIES UNTIL 145 PM CDT... AT 112 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A CLUSTER OF SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS NEAR BATTLEGROUND...OR 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF HARTSELLE...MOVING SOUTH AROUND 10 MPH. OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS CLUSTER OF STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... WEST POINT. JONES CHAPEL...LOGAN. RAINFALL AMOUNTS AROUND ONE TO TWO INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FROM THESE THUNDERSTORMS. THIS MAY RESULT IN BRIEF RUNOFF PROBLEMS AND PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS. 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 3408 8685 3407 8711 3438 8710 3437 8693 TIME...MOT...LOC 1816Z 003DEG 8KT 3429 8704
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 135 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012 ALZ006-181900- MADISON- 135 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MADISON COUNTY UNTIL 200 PM CDT... AT 135 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT THUNDERSTORMS WERE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING NEAR HUNTSVILLE...MOVING SOUTH AT 15 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... REDSTONE ARSENAL. HAMPTON COVE. FARLEY. SEEK SHELTER AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. && LAT...LON 3459 8643 3459 8666 3479 8667 3479 8645 TIME...MOT...LOC 1835Z 000DEG 12KT 3470 8656 DJN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
145 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012
TNZ076-096-097-181915-
FRANKLIN-LINCOLN-MOORE-
145 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR FRANKLIN...LINCOLN AND MOORE
COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM CDT...
AT 142 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS NEAR LEXIE CROSSROADS...OR 9 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF WINCHESTER...MOVING SOUTH AT 20 MPH.
PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
HUNTLAND...BEANS CREEK.
ELORA...LINCOLN.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS AROUND ONE TO TWO INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FROM THESE
THUNDERSTORMS. THIS MAY RESULT IN BRIEF RUNOFF PROBLEMS AND PONDING
OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS.
IF ON OR NEAR BODIES OF WATER...GET OUT OF THE WATER AND MOVE
INDOORS OR INSIDE A VEHICLE. IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE
ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER NOW. DON'T BE
CAUGHT ON THE WATER IN A THUNDERSTORM!
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 3532 8614 3499 8604 3499 8638 3499 8654
3531 8635
TIME...MOT...LOC 1844Z 005DEG 18KT 3511 8625SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 159 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012 ALZ006-181930- MADISON- 159 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MADISON COUNTY UNTIL 230 PM CDT... AT 159 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT THUNDERSTORMS WERE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING NEAR MAYSVILLE...OR NEAR BROWNSBORO...MOVING SOUTH AT 15 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... GURLEY. HAMPTON COVE. THIS THUNDERSTORM COULD INTENSIFY QUICKLY...SO BE READY TO ACT IF A WARNING IS ISSUED. && LAT...LON 3459 8636 3463 8661 3481 8646 3482 8635 TIME...MOT...LOC 1859Z 016DEG 11KT 3474 8643 DJN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 207 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012 ALZ004-181930- LAWRENCE- 207 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LAWRENCE COUNTY UNTIL 230 PM CDT... AT 207 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES SOUTH OF WREN...OR OVER THE BANKHEAD NATIONAL FOREST...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE... RURAL AREAS OF SOUTHERN LAWRENCE COUNTY NEAR BANKHEAD NATIONAL FOREST. SEEK SHELTER AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. && LAT...LON 3441 8711 3431 8712 3431 8748 3443 8739 TIME...MOT...LOC 1907Z 275DEG 13KT 3433 8729 DJN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
212 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012
ALZ006-009-TNZ096-097-182000-
FRANKLIN-JACKSON-LINCOLN-MADISON-
212 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR FRANKLIN...JACKSON...LINCOLN AND
MADISON COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM CDT...
AT 206 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM BELLEVIEW TO SMITHLAND TO
WINCHESTER...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
FAYETTEVILLE TO 12 MILES EAST OF FAYETTEVILLE TO WINCHESTER...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AROUND 10 MPH.
PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
FLINTVILLE...BELVIDERE.
MAXWELL.
LINCOLN.
BEANS CREEK...HUNTLAND.
FISK...HAZEL GREEN.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS UP TO TWO INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FROM THIS LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS. THIS MAY RESULT IN BRIEF RUNOFF PROBLEMS AND PONDING
OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS.
REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE
STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
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 3499 8592 3489 8623 3486 8662 3510 8665
3515 8637 3512 8636 3515 8635 3513 8635
3512 8632 3514 8631 3515 8633 3517 8632
3524 8612
TIME...MOT...LOC 1910Z 337DEG 8KT 3503 8663 3508 8636
3517 8609The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 37 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:16 UTC.
11 thunderstorm wind, 2 lightning, 2 heavy rain, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree and power line was knocked down on Gurley Pike.
Lightning sparked a house fire in the attic of a home on Edwards Circle in Laceys Spring. The house was a total loss according to firefighters. Thankfully, no injuries occurred.
Multiple trees were knocked down in the Athens area.
A tree and power lines were blown down at Carters Trailer Court.
Multiple trees were knocked down in the Owens community.
Portions of the roof were torn off of Athens Bible School.
Trees were knocked down on north Jefferson street, Lucas Street, and onto a home at Crutcher Circle. Power lines were knocked down on Elm Street.
Flash flooding prompted the temporary closure of Hobbs Street on the campus of Athens State University after a foot of flood water accumulated.
Two trees were knocked down onto power poles at Highway 99 and New Cut Road.
A sign was blown down in the parking lot of a radio station in Athens.
Trees were knocked down on County Road 15 north of Oakland.
Lightning sparked a fire on a roof of a home on Pepper Road at Bab Daly Road.
Runoff from heavy rain resulted in four to six inches of water covering the south bound lanes of Highway 31 in Athens.
A tree was knocked down on Highway 68.
A large tree was knocked down on Riverton Rose Trail.
County Roads 6 and 9 were covered with signficant water ponding and runoff.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, July 2012
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: 399515, 399551, 399520, 399527, 399536, 399537, 399545, 399550, 399529, 399534, 399522, 399546, 399547, 399524, 399538, 399549.