A thunderstorm moving through northwest Alabama produced lightning that struck a tree, with the lightning moving over to a well house and igniting a fire that produced extensive damage to a home.
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The episode as NWS HUN wrote it up.
A thunderstorm moving through northwest Alabama produced lightning that struck a tree, with the lightning moving over to a well house and igniting a fire that produced extensive damage to a home.
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 Sep 5, 7:53 PM CST, 1 hour 22 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 853 PM CDT WED SEP 5 2012 .UPDATE... INCREASED POPS AND DROPPED OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPS IN THE WEST && .DISCUSSION... OPTED TO INCREASE POPS IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA AND IN SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE WHERE WEAKENING THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING INTO THE AREA. WITH THE GUST FRONT QUICKLY OUTPACING THE ACTUAL STORMS...EXPECT THE WEAKENING TREND TO CONTINUE...THOUGH COULD STILL SEE GUSTY WINDS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. OTHERWISE...OPTED TO DECREASE TEMPERATURES...ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHWEST WHERE UPSTREAM OBS INDICATE RAIN-COOLED AIR HAS DROPPED TEMPERATURES INTO THE LOW 70S. OTHERWISE...MADE A FEW TWEAKS TO THE DEWPOINTS TO LINE UP TRENDS...AND UPDATED ZONES ALREADY SENT. JLL && .AVIATION... /ISSUED 722 PM CDT WED SEP 5 2012/ FOR 00Z TAFS... THERE ARE TWO MAIN CONCERNS FOR THIS TAF PACKAGE. THE FIRST CENTERS AROUND TSRA/SHRA POTENTIAL FROM TS APPROACHING FROM NW. INDICATED A VCSH AT MSL DUE TO UNCERTAINTY IN HOW THIS COMPLEX WILL HOLD TOGETHER...BUT AMDS MAY BE NEEDED TO EITHER TERMINAL THIS EVENING IF COMPLEX CONTINUES WITH CURRENT INTENSITY. THE TSRA CHANCES WILL ALSO IMPACT FOG POTENTIAL FOR TONIGHT...SO HAVE MAINTAINED THE PREVIOUS FORECAST IN TACT ATTM...BUT CHANGES WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED WITH 06Z TAFS. JLL && .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 722 PM CDT WED SEP 5 2012 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-061000- LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN- MARSHALL-JACKSON-DEKALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN- 722 PM CDT WED SEP 5 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... A COMPLEX OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE TENNESSEE VALLEY THIS EVENING...AND SOME OF THE STORMS ACROSS NORTHWEST ALABAMA MAY BE STRONG OR MARGINALLY SEVERE...WITH GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL. IN ADDITION...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL MAY LEAD TO PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... A LOW CHANCE OF MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EVENING STORMS WILL CONTINUE ON THURSDAY. MORE WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL OCCUR WITH THE PASSAGE OF A STRONG COLD FRONT FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY. AT THIS TIME...IT APPEARS A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE COLD FRONT. THE MAIN RISKS WILL BE STRONG WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME...HOWEVER TIMELY REPORTS OF WIND...HAIL...OR LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
829 PM CDT WED SEP 5 2012
TNZ076-096-097-060200-
MOORE TN-LINCOLN TN-FRANKLIN TN-
829 PM CDT WED SEP 5 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MOORE...NORTHEASTERN LINCOLN
AND SOUTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL 900 PM CDT...
AT 829 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR LYNCHBURG...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WINCHESTER...LYNCHBURG AND HUNTLAND.
LAT...LON 3537 8626 3537 8627 3536 8624 3534 8624
3534 8623 3499 8586 3501 8627 3529 8647
3535 8638 3536 8633 3537 8633 3539 8630
3540 8629
TIME...MOT...LOC 0129Z 324DEG 45KT 3530 8634
SSHUMWAYSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
833 PM CDT WED SEP 5 2012
ALZ001>004-060200-
LAUDERDALE AL-LAWRENCE AL-COLBERT AL-FRANKLIN AL-
833 PM CDT WED SEP 5 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LAUDERDALE...NORTH CENTRAL
LAWRENCE...COLBERT AND NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL 900 PM
CDT...
AT 829 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF COLLINWOOD TO IUKA MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
FLORENCE...MUSCLE SHOALS...SHEFFIELD...TUSCUMBIA...UNDERWOOD-
PETERSVILLE...CHEROKEE...ROGERSVILLE...KILLEN...LEXINGTON...
ANDERSON...SAINT FLORIAN AND WATERLOO.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
HEAVY RAINFALL OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS MAY LEAD TO MINOR
FLOODING ON ROADS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR
VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 3500 8795 3500 8735 3490 8721 3483 8722
3450 8804 3463 8813 3489 8810 3492 8815
TIME...MOT...LOC 0129Z 320DEG 27KT 3510 8762 3486 8818
SSHUMWAYSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
900 PM CDT WED SEP 5 2012
ALZ001>004-060300-
LAUDERDALE AL-LAWRENCE AL-COLBERT AL-FRANKLIN AL-
900 PM CDT WED SEP 5 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN LAUDERDALE...
NORTHWESTERN LAWRENCE...COLBERT AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL 1000
PM CDT...
AT 857 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM LEXINGTON
TO 7 MILES EAST OF TISHOMINGO...MOVING SOUTH AT 20 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
FLORENCE...MUSCLE SHOALS...SHEFFIELD...RUSSELLVILLE...TUSCUMBIA...
RED BAY...TOWN CREEK...ROGERSVILLE...KILLEN...PHIL CAMPBELL...
LITTLEVILLE...LEIGHTON...LEXINGTON...NORTH COURTLAND...COURTLAND...
VINA...SAINT FLORIAN AND HODGES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
HEAVY RAINFALL OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS MAY LEAD TO MINOR
FLOODING ON ROADS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR
VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 3467 8813 3501 8741 3500 8733 3479 8725
3477 8728 3476 8726 3476 8724 3459 8717
3431 8777 3432 8817 3438 8817
TIME...MOT...LOC 0157Z 351DEG 17KT 3495 8741 3462 8810
SSHUMWAYSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 907 PM CDT WED SEP 5 2012 ALZ006-009-TNZ076-096-097-060300- MADISON AL-JACKSON AL-MOORE TN-LINCOLN TN-FRANKLIN TN- 907 PM CDT WED SEP 5 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN MADISON... NORTHWESTERN JACKSON...SOUTH CENTRAL MOORE...EASTERN LINCOLN AND SOUTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL 1000 PM CDT... AT 906 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR HUNTLAND...OR 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WINCHESTER...MOVING SOUTH AT 25 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... HUNTLAND AND SKYLINE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... HEAVY RAINFALL OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM MAY LEAD TO MINOR FLOODING ON ROADS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. && LAT...LON 3522 8617 3476 8592 3467 8623 3523 8651 TIME...MOT...LOC 0206Z 340DEG 20KT 3512 8625 SSHUMWAY
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
931 PM CDT WED SEP 5 2012
ALZ001-005-060300-
LAUDERDALE AL-LIMESTONE AL-
931 PM CDT WED SEP 5 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL LAUDERDALE AND
LIMESTONE COUNTIES UNTIL 1000 PM CDT...
AT 929 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF ROGERSVILLE...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ATHENS...ELKMONT...LESTER AND MOORESVILLE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
HEAVY RAINFALL OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM MAY LEAD TO MINOR
FLOODING ON ROADS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR
VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 3499 8707 3500 8698 3498 8680 3457 8683
3486 8727 3500 8714
TIME...MOT...LOC 0229Z 309DEG 14KT 3490 8714
SSHUMWAYSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 958 PM CDT WED SEP 5 2012 ALZ004>007-TNZ096-060400- MADISON AL-MORGAN AL-LAWRENCE AL-LIMESTONE AL-LINCOLN TN- 958 PM CDT WED SEP 5 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MADISON...MORGAN... SOUTHEASTERN LAWRENCE...SOUTHEASTERN LIMESTONE AND SOUTHWESTERN LINCOLN COUNTIES UNTIL 1100 PM CDT... AT 956 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FAYETTEVILLE TO 11 MILES NORTH OF DOUBLE SPRINGS...MOVING SOUTH AT 25 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... HUNTSVILLE...DECATUR...MADISON...ATHENS...HARTSELLE...MOORES MILL... MERIDIANVILLE...REDSTONE ARSENAL...HAZEL GREEN...HARVEST...TRINITY... PRICEVILLE...FALKVILLE...FLINT CITY...TRIANA...SOMERVILLE AND MOORESVILLE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... HEAVY RAINFALL OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS MAY LEAD TO MINOR FLOODING ON ROADS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. && LAT...LON 3517 8658 3465 8641 3431 8697 3432 8744 TIME...MOT...LOC 0256Z 350DEG 23KT 3506 8663 3432 8738 SSHUMWAY
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:15 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning struck a tree and moved over to a well house, which caused a surge of power into a home, igniting a fire. The lightning strike occurred about five miles south of highway 72 near the Alabama and Mississippi state line near Allsboro.
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, September 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: 408466.