Thunderstorms developed atop the Cumberland Plateau of northeast Alabama and eastern portions of southern Tennessee, and across northwest Alabama. The storms developed during peak afternoon heating on the 6th when the air mass was quite unstable, but with minimal deep layer wind shear.
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.
Thunderstorms developed atop the Cumberland Plateau of northeast Alabama and eastern portions of southern Tennessee, and across northwest Alabama. The storms developed during peak afternoon heating on the 6th when the air mass was quite unstable, but with minimal deep layer wind shear. The storms moved southwest and westward producing hail, frequent lightning and locally heavy rainfall. Outflow boundaries from thunderstorms ignited additional storms during the late evening hours in northwest 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 Huntsville, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 6, 1:10 PM CST, 1 hour 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 210 PM CDT SUN MAY 6 2012 .DISCUSSION... AIR MASS ACROSS MUCH OF THE TN VALLEY REMAINS FAIRLY CAPPED THIS AFTERNOON...DESPITE MOST OF THE CLOUD COVER CLEARING OR MOVING SWD INTO CNTRL/SRN AL. A FEW SHOWERS/TSTMS ARE TRYING TO DEVELOP ACROSS PARTS OF SRN MID TN INVOF A WEAK EMBEDDED VORT MAX. CU FIELD TRYING TO FORM ACROSS THE ERN PLATEAU MAY ALSO SUGGEST THE CAP WEAKENING A BIT...AS TEMPS ACROSS MOST OF THE CWA CLIMB INTO THE 80S RANGE. LATEST MODEL RUNS ARE HINTING AT SOME ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY DEVELOPING LATE THIS AFTERNOON/TONIGHT...AS FURTHER DISTURBANCES ALOFT TRAVERSE SEWD EMBEDDED WITHIN A WEAK NW FLOW PATTERN. WITH BULK SHEAR ACROSS THE REGION ALMOST NIL...MOST OF THE CONVECTION WILL LIKELY TREND MORE PULSE IN NATURE BEFORE TURNING A BIT MORE LINEAR THIS EVENING/OVERNIGHT...PROVIDED THE MODELS ARE CLOSE WITH ADDITIONAL MCS LIKE FEATURES DEVELOPING UPSTREAM. UNSEASONABLY WARM WX CONDITIONS ARE XPCTED TO CONTINUE INTO THE NEW WORK WEEK...AS AFTERNOON TEMPS ONCE AGAIN FIND THEIR WAY INTO THE MID/UPPER 80S. THE ONE CAVEAT TO THIS MAY BE CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT INCREASING A BIT ON MON...AS THE FLOW PATTERN BECOMES MORE ZONAL AND A WEAK COLD FRONT OUT OF THE PLAINS STATES TRANSLATES EWD INTO THE MIDWEST/LOWER MS VALLEY REGIONS. STRONG EMBEDDED/UPPER SHEAR AXIS LOOKS TO ACCOMPANY THE SFC FRONT...AS IT PROGRESSES EWD INTO THE AFTERNOON/EVENING PERIOD MON. WITH THE THERMO PROFILE ACROSS THE REGION XPCTED TO BE QUITE IMPRESSIVE...WITH ABUNDANT CAPE/STEEP LAPSE RATES IN PLACE...SOME STRONG TO LOCALLY SEVERE TSTMS ARE POSSIBLE LATE MON/INTO TUE ALONG/WELL AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING BOUNDARY. BRIEF DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL LOOK TO BE THE PRIMARY WX THREATS WITH THE STRONGER STORMS...TO GO ALONG WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. THE MODELS ARE IN GENERALLY GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THE COLD FRONT MOVING INTO THE TN VALLEY ON TUE...WITH ADDITIONAL SHOWERS/TSTMS DEVELOPING. EXTENSIVE CLOUD COVER THOUGH ACCOMPANYING THE FRONT MAY INHIBIT MUCH IN THE WAY OF FURTHER AIR MASS DESTABILIZATION...TO GO ALONG WITH A WEAKENING LOW LEVEL CONVERGENT PATTERN. THIS CERTAINLY DOESN'T RULE OUT THE POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL STRONG/LOCALLY SEVERE TSTMS TUE...ALTHOUGH THE PROB IS LOWER COMPARED TO LATE MON AT THIS POINT. THE FRONT IS THEN XPCTED TO EXIT THE AREA TO THE E TUE NIGHT INTO WED MORNING...WITH PERHAPS A BIT MORE COOLER/DRIER AIR...OR MORE SEASONAL LIKE CONDITIONS IN TOW AS A STRONG AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS EWD ACROSS THE MIDWEST/OH VALLEY REGIONS. 09 && .AVIATION... /ISSUED 1146 AM CDT SUN MAY 6 2012/ FOR 18Z TAFS... PREVAILING VFR CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST DURING THE PERIOD. ISOLD/SCT TSRA ARE PSBL THIS AFTN AND EARLY EVENING...BUT CHCS ARE TOO LOW TO INCLUDE IN KMSL/KHSV TAFS. CONDS COULD DECLINE TO MVFR/IFR WITHIN THUNDERSTORMS...WITH VARIBABLE AND GUSTY OUTFLOW WINDS PSBL IN THE VCNTY OF THUNDERSTORMS. PATCHY BR DVLPMT LATE TNGT MAY OCCUR...ESPECIALLY IN AREAS THAT RECEIVE RAINFALL THIS AFTN OR EVENING. HAVE INCLUDED A TEMPO 5SM GROUP FROM 09-13Z AT KMSL. KULA && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... HUNTSVILLE 65 86 65 84 61 / 30 50 60 50 30 SHOALS 64 88 65 83 60 / 30 50 60 50 30 VINEMONT 66 84 64 82 61 / 30 40 60 60 30 FAYETTEVILLE 62 83 63 82 58 / 30 50 60 50 30 ALBERTVILLE 65 84 64 82 61 / 30 40 60 60 30 FORT PAYNE 62 84 62 82 59 / 30 40 60 60 30 && .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 1244 PM CDT SUN MAY 6 2012 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-071000- LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN- MARSHALL-JACKSON-DEKALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN- 1244 PM CDT SUN MAY 6 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...THROUGH TONIGHT... REDEVELOPMENT OF ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED ACROSS SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE AND FAR NORTHERN ALABAMA BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT. THESE STORMS COULD BE STRONG TO SEVERE...PRODUCING HAIL TO UP TO QUARTER SIZE...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY... MULTIPLE PERIODS OF THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. THE MOST FAVORABLE TIME PERIOD FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON AND MONDAY EVENING...AND AGAIN WITH A COLD FRONT TUESDAY. ONCE AGAIN...SOME STORMS MAY BE STRONG TO SEVERE...WITH LARGE HAIL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... AREA WIDE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS NOT ANTICIPATED...BUT A FEW SPOTTER GROUPS MAY BE NEEDED TO RELAY REPORTS OF LOCAL SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. KULA
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1226 PM CDT SUN MAY 06 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0638 PM HAIL 3 WSW DECATUR 34.59N 87.04W
05/05/2012 E0.50 INCH MORGAN AL TRAINED SPOTTER
DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF
BELTLINE ROAD AND HIGHWAY 24.
0718 PM HAIL TRINITY 34.61N 87.09W
05/05/2012 E1.00 INCH MORGAN AL AMATEUR RADIO
QUARTER SIZED HAIL WAS REPORTED IN THE TOWN OF TRINITY.
0725 PM HAIL 4 W DECATUR 34.60N 87.05W
05/05/2012 E0.75 INCH MORGAN AL AMATEUR RADIO
DIME TO PENNY SIZED HAIL WAS REPORTED ON HIGHWAY 24 ABOUT
4 MILES WEST OF DECATUR.
1245 AM HAIL 4 NW MADISON 34.74N 86.80W
05/06/2012 E0.88 INCH LIMESTONE AL TRAINED SPOTTER
DIME TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL REPORTED...TAPERING OFF TO PEA
SIZE.
0600 AM HAIL 2 SE HUNTSVILLE 34.71N 86.56W
05/06/2012 E0.88 INCH MADISON AL PUBLIC
0602 AM HAIL 6 E HUNTSVILLE 34.72N 86.53W
05/06/2012 E1.00 INCH MADISON AL PUBLIC
QUARTER SIZED HAIL WAS REPORTED COVERING THE GROUND ON
OWENS DRIVE IN HUNTSVILLE. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR AND
OTHER NEARBY REPORTS OF HAIL.
0604 AM HAIL HUNTSVILLE 34.73N 86.59W
05/06/2012 E0.75 INCH MADISON AL TRAINED SPOTTER
0610 AM HAIL 1 W HAMPTON COVE 34.67N 86.49W
05/06/2012 E0.50 INCH MADISON AL COCORAHS
&&
KULAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
320 PM CDT SUN MAY 06 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0600 AM HAIL 2 SE HUNTSVILLE 34.71N 86.56W
05/06/2012 E0.88 INCH MADISON AL PUBLIC
0602 AM HAIL 6 E HUNTSVILLE 34.72N 86.53W
05/06/2012 E1.00 INCH MADISON AL PUBLIC
QUARTER SIZED HAIL WAS REPORTED COVERING THE GROUND ON
OWENS DRIVE IN HUNTSVILLE. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR AND
OTHER NEARBY REPORTS OF HAIL.
0602 AM HAIL HUNTSVILLE 34.73N 86.59W
05/06/2012 E0.88 INCH MADISON AL PUBLIC
NICKEL SIZE HAIL REPORTED AROUND THE INTERSECTION OF
DRAKE AVE SE AND GRANADA AVE.
0604 AM HAIL HUNTSVILLE 34.73N 86.59W
05/06/2012 E0.75 INCH MADISON AL TRAINED SPOTTER
0610 AM HAIL 1 W HAMPTON COVE 34.67N 86.49W
05/06/2012 E0.50 INCH MADISON AL COCORAHS
&&SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
321 PM CDT SUN MAY 6 2012
ALZ009-062100-
JACKSON-
321 PM CDT SUN MAY 6 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR JACKSON COUNTY UNTIL 400 PM
CDT...
AT 318 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
THAT A THUNDERSTORM WAS RAPIDLY STRENGTHENING NEAR
BRIDGEPORT...MOVING SOUTH AT 5 MPH.
NICKEL SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
HIGDON...FABIUS.
THIS THUNDERSTORM COULD INTENSIFY QUICKLY...SO BE READY TO ACT IF A
WARNING IS ISSUED.
&&
LAT...LON 3486 8559 3483 8563 3480 8563 3478 8564
3477 8580 3499 8580 3500 8577 3499 8562
3486 8558
TIME...MOT...LOC 2020Z 347DEG 6KT 3491 8572PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
323 PM CDT SUN MAY 06 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0638 PM HAIL 3 WSW DECATUR 34.59N 87.04W
05/05/2012 E0.50 INCH MORGAN AL TRAINED SPOTTER
DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF
BELTLINE ROAD AND HIGHWAY 24.
0718 PM HAIL TRINITY 34.61N 87.09W
05/05/2012 E1.00 INCH MORGAN AL AMATEUR RADIO
QUARTER SIZED HAIL WAS REPORTED IN THE TOWN OF TRINITY.
0725 PM HAIL 4 W DECATUR 34.60N 87.05W
05/05/2012 E0.75 INCH MORGAN AL AMATEUR RADIO
DIME TO PENNY SIZED HAIL WAS REPORTED ON HIGHWAY 24 ABOUT
4 MILES WEST OF DECATUR.
1245 AM HAIL 4 NW MADISON 34.74N 86.80W
05/06/2012 E0.88 INCH LIMESTONE AL TRAINED SPOTTER
DIME TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL REPORTED...TAPERING OFF TO PEA
SIZE.
0600 AM HAIL 2 SE HUNTSVILLE 34.71N 86.56W
05/06/2012 E0.88 INCH MADISON AL PUBLIC
0602 AM HAIL HUNTSVILLE 34.73N 86.59W
05/06/2012 E0.88 INCH MADISON AL PUBLIC
NICKEL SIZE HAIL REPORTED AROUND THE INTERSECTION OF
DRAKE AVE SE AND GRANADA AVE.
0602 AM HAIL 6 E HUNTSVILLE 34.72N 86.53W
05/06/2012 E1.00 INCH MADISON AL PUBLIC
QUARTER SIZED HAIL WAS REPORTED COVERING THE GROUND ON
OWENS DRIVE IN HUNTSVILLE. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR AND
OTHER NEARBY REPORTS OF HAIL.
0604 AM HAIL HUNTSVILLE 34.73N 86.59W
05/06/2012 E0.75 INCH MADISON AL TRAINED SPOTTER
0610 AM HAIL 1 W HAMPTON COVE 34.67N 86.49W
05/06/2012 E0.50 INCH MADISON AL COCORAHS
&&SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
325 PM CDT SUN MAY 6 2012
ALZ010-062115-
DE KALB-
325 PM CDT SUN MAY 6 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR DEKALB COUNTY UNTIL 415 PM CDT...
AT 323 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR FORT PAYNE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH.
NICKEL SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
ADAMSBURG.
DOG TOWN.
SEEK SHELTER AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.
THIS THUNDERSTORM COULD INTENSIFY QUICKLY...SO BE READY TO ACT IF A
WARNING IS ISSUED.
&&
LAT...LON 3439 8562 3437 8562 3436 8564 3436 8566
3431 8571 3426 8577 3443 8582 3450 8562
3443 8557
TIME...MOT...LOC 2025Z 327DEG 4KT 3441 8570
SLThe Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 63 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:37 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind, 4 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Nickel size hail was reported near the intersection of Interstate 59 and Glenn Boulevard.
Penny size hail was reported 6 miles north of Phil Campbell along Highway 13.
Nickel size hail was reported in Phil Campbell.
Nickel size hail was reported on Highway 79. 50 mph winds were estimated at this location as well.
Multiple trees and limbs were knocked down along the 300 block of 4th Avenue in Rainsville.
A tree was knocked down 4519 County Road 22 in Spruce Pine.
A tree was knocked down causing a power outage at the intersection of Scout Hollow Road and Wilson Road. Event time estimated by radar when a gust front moved through this area.
Power was knocked out at the 911 center in Belgreen, likely due to trees blown down onto power lines.
A tree was knocked down at 1044 County Road 624.
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, May 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: 369353, 369355, 369356, 369357, 384032, 369358, 369359, 369361, 369362.