An upper high centered over Texas produced northwest flow aloft over Alabama. A short wave trough moving down the eastern side of the upper high produced a cluster of strong to severe thunderstorms over north central Alabama.
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.
An upper high centered over Texas produced northwest flow aloft over Alabama. A short wave trough moving down the eastern side of the upper high produced a cluster of strong to severe thunderstorms over north central 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 Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 10, 2:20 PM CST, 2 hours 55 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 320 PM CDT MON AUG 10 2015 .DISCUSSION... FIRST ITEM TO NOTE IS THAT THE MODELS APPEARED TO HAVE OVERDONE THE POPS FOR TONIGHT IN CENTRAL ALABAMA. PERHAPS THEY WERE EXPECTING MORE DEVELOPMENT MORE UPSTREAM FROM US...WHICH WOULD GET INTO (OR REMAIN WITHIN) OUR AREA AFTER 00Z. BUT BASED ON LATEST RADAR TRENDS AND VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY...THE AREA NORTH AND WEST OF A LINE FROM HSV TO CBM JUST HAS A MORE STABLE LOOK TO IT. THE ONGOING (AT 20Z) CONVECTION IN THE NORTHEAST SHOULD BE WELL INTO GEORGIA BY 00Z...SO I THINK GOING WITH LIKELY POPS ANYWHERE TONIGHT IS TOO MUCH. I WILL KEEP CHANCE POPS IN FOR THE EVENING HOURS...ANTICIPATING A FEW MORE STORMS TO DEVELOP. BUT I CAN'T SEE THERE BEING MORE THAN 50 PERCENT COVERAGE AFTER 00Z. THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST WILL BE DOMINATED BY THE EBBING AND FLOWING OF THE POSITION AND AMPLIFICATION OF THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE. THAT RIDGE IS FORECAST TO SLIDE A BIT TO THE WEST AND BECOME MORE AMPLIFIED THROUGH THE REST OF THIS WEEK...CAUSING A DEEPER TROUGH TO DEVELOP IN THE EASTERN STATES DOWNSTREAM FROM IT. THIS WILL IN TURN BRING TEMPS BACK DOWN TO A MORE NORMAL KIND OF HEAT LEVEL. IT WILL ALSO (AT LEAST TEMPORARILY) FORCE THE HIGHER DEWPOINTS DOWN TO THE COAST...AND ALLOW SOME LOW LEVEL DRY AIR TO GET IN HERE FROM THE NORTH. BY THE TIME WE REACH THE WEEKEND...THE MODELS SHOW HINT THAT THE EASTERN STATES TROUGH MAY ACTUALLY CLOSE OFF AN UPPER LEVEL LOW ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST...WITH THE INSTABILITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLDER UPPER LEVEL TEMPS CAUSING SOME SHOWERS OR STORMS. /61/ && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF DISCUSSION. ADDED TEMPO TS FOR KANB/KASN THIS AFTERNOON AND TEMPO TS 07Z-12Z MOST SITES WITH MCS DEVELOPMENT OVERNIGHT. OTHERWISE VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED WITH SOME MVFR BKN CIGS POSS WITH AFTERNOON CU 18Z-20Z. SNELSON && .FIRE WEATHER... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD DIMINISH TONIGHT. LOWER DEWPOINTS WILL START TO WORK INTO THE AREA FROM THE NORTH ON TUESDAY...WITH SEVERAL DRY DAYS INDICATED THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GADSDEN 74 90 69 88 64 / 40 30 10 0 0 ANNISTON 73 89 69 88 64 / 40 30 20 0 0 BIRMINGHAM 75 91 71 89 65 / 40 30 20 0 0 TUSCALOOSA 75 94 72 92 66 / 30 30 10 0 0 CALERA 75 91 72 90 66 / 40 30 20 0 0 AUBURN 74 90 72 91 67 / 50 50 40 10 0 MONTGOMERY 76 95 74 93 68 / 40 40 40 10 0 TROY 75 93 74 93 69 / 40 50 40 20 10 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR AUTAUGA-BARBOUR- BIBB-BLOUNT-BULLOCK-CHAMBERS-CHILTON-CLAY-COOSA-DALLAS-ELMORE- FAYETTE-GREENE-HALE-JEFFERSON-LAMAR-LEE-LOWNDES-MACON-MARENGO- MARION-MONTGOMERY-PERRY-PICKENS-PIKE-RUSSELL-SHELBY-ST. CLAIR- SUMTER-TALLADEGA-TALLAPOOSA-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER-WINSTON. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 458 AM CDT MON AUG 10 2015 ALZ011>015-017>050-111300- 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- 458 AM CDT MON AUG 10 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE...OUTLOOK THROUGH TONIGHT. THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL LEAD TO MAXIMUM HEAT INDICES OF 105 TO 109 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...GENERALLY ALONG AND WEST OF A ONEONTA...TALLADEGA...LINEVILLE...AND LAFAYETTE LINE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD TO HEAT INDICES NEAR OR ABOVE 105 DEGREES ON TUESDAY ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTH AND WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
410 PM CDT MON AUG 10 2015
ALZ020-102200-
CHEROKEE AL-
410 PM CDT MON AUG 10 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL CHEROKEE COUNTY UNTIL 500
PM CDT...
AT 409 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
SAND ROCK...OR NEAR LITTLE RIVER CANYON NATIONAL PRESERVE...MOVING
EAST AT 35 MPH.
PEA SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
CEDAR BLUFF...LITTLE RIVER CANYON NATIONAL PRESERVE...LEESBURG...SAND
ROCK...GAYLESVILLE...BLANCHE...CORNWALL FURNACE PARK...EASTERN WEISS
LAKE...LITTLE RIVER FALLS...WESTERN WEISS LAKE...BROOMTOWN...NEW
MOON...CHESNUT BAY RESORT...FULLERTON...WATERHOUSE...YELLOW CREEK
FALLS AND LITTLE RIVER CANYON NP.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3418 8544 3421 8579 3426 8579 3426 8577
3434 8568 3436 8566 3437 8563 3440 8563
3440 8562 3441 8561 3442 8549
TIME...MOT...LOC 2109Z 269DEG 31KT 3430 8570
56SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
434 PM CDT MON AUG 10 2015
ALZ017-018-102230-
BLOUNT AL-ETOWAH AL-
434 PM CDT MON AUG 10 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN BLOUNT AND ETOWAH
COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM CDT...
AT 434 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
MCLARTY...OR 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ALBERTVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 25
MPH.
HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
GADSDEN...RAINBOW CITY...HOKES BLUFF...BLOUNTSVILLE...ATTALLA...
GLENCOE...SARDIS CITY...ALTOONA...SNEAD...SUSAN MOORE...WALNUT
GROVE...REECE CITY...GADSDEN MALL...TABOR ROAD...AURORA...NOCCALULA
FALLS...BROOKSVILLE...STRAWBERRY...MCLARTY AND NEELY HENRY LAKE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3426 8644 3410 8630 3418 8619 3419 8611
3420 8610 3420 8584 3411 8584 3391 8592
3392 8595 3388 8599 3394 8617 3396 8617
3399 8620 3397 8624 3412 8663 3412 8660
3419 8655 3420 8655 3425 8652 3426 8649
TIME...MOT...LOC 2134Z 289DEG 21KT 3416 8638
05/MASPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
529 PM CDT MON AUG 10 2015
ALZ018>020-026-102330-
CALHOUN AL-CHEROKEE AL-ST. CLAIR AL-ETOWAH AL-
529 PM CDT MON AUG 10 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN CHEROKEE...NORTHEASTERN
ST. CLAIR...CALHOUN AND EASTERN ETOWAH COUNTIES UNTIL 630 PM CDT...
AT 529 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR SLACKLAND TO GLENCOE
TO NEAR NEELY HENRY LAKE TO ASHVILLE...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20
MPH.
PEA SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
GADSDEN...ANNISTON...JACKSONVILLE...RAINBOW CITY...PIEDMONT...HOKES
BLUFF...CENTRE...SAKS...CENTRE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT...ATTALLA...
GLENCOE...WEAVER...ASHVILLE...RIVERSIDE...RAGLAND...OHATCHEE...
STEELE...LEESBURG...TABOR ROAD AND BALLPLAY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3414 8545 3388 8562 3388 8564 3379 8568
3370 8583 3365 8603 3367 8605 3367 8616
3370 8618 3370 8620 3368 8620 3366 8618
3362 8617 3360 8622 3388 8636 3390 8634
3396 8615 3403 8599 3420 8594 3421 8584
TIME...MOT...LOC 2229Z 315DEG 16KT 3413 8587 3398 8591 3389 8606 3384
8629
05/MASPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
537 PM CDT MON AUG 10 2015
ALZ017-102330-
BLOUNT AL-
537 PM CDT MON AUG 10 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BLOUNT COUNTY UNTIL 630 PM CDT...
AT 537 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR BLOUNTSVILLE TO NEAR
DODGE CITY...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ONEONTA...BLOUNTSVILLE...CLEVELAND...DALLAS...LOCUST FORK...
ALTOONA...SUSAN MOORE...WALNUT GROVE...TRAFFORD...ALLGOOD...
FAIRVIEW...HAYDEN...NECTAR...ROSA...COUNTY LINE...INLAND LAKE...
BLOUNT SPRINGS...BANGOR...HIGHLAND LAKE AND EASLEY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3409 8631 3399 8633 3394 8637 3393 8632
3389 8634 3382 8643 3380 8657 3377 8658
3377 8665 3384 8676 3384 8682 3391 8693
3397 8677 3403 8670 3406 8671 3405 8668
3409 8669 3409 8668 3412 8663
TIME...MOT...LOC 2237Z 299DEG 19KT 3407 8665 3398 8689
05/MASPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
549 PM CDT MON AUG 10 2015
ALZ017-024-102345-
BLOUNT AL-JEFFERSON AL-
549 PM CDT MON AUG 10 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON AND
SOUTHWESTERN BLOUNT COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM CDT...
AT 549 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
WARRIOR...OR 10 MILES EAST OF SUMITON...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
NORTHEASTERN BIRMINGHAM...TRUSSVILLE...GARDENDALE...CENTER POINT...
CLAY...PINSON...WARRIOR...KIMBERLY...MORRIS...TRAFFORD...COUNTY
LINE...CHALKVILLE...GRAYSON VALLEY...ARKADELPHIA...PARTRIDGE
CROSSROADS...PALMERDALE...RICKWOOD CAVERNS...VILLAGE SPRINGS...SMOKE
RISE AND MOUNT OLIVE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3380 8653 3380 8658 3377 8658 3376 8654
3374 8654 3372 8653 3359 8661 3377 8701
3379 8700 3379 8697 3380 8697 3380 8695
3384 8696 3387 8694 3387 8692 3389 8692
3392 8690
TIME...MOT...LOC 2249Z 292DEG 12KT 3381 8688
05/MASPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
615 PM CDT MON AUG 10 2015
ALZ014-102345-
WINSTON AL-
615 PM CDT MON AUG 10 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WINSTON COUNTY UNTIL 645 PM
CDT...
AT 615 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
WINSTON FREE STATE BARN...OR 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF LYNN...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
PEA SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ARLEY...DOUBLE SPRINGS...FALLS CITY...ASHRIDGE...CAMP MCDOWELL...
CORINTH REC AREA...SMITH LAKE...HOUSTON RECREATIONAL AREA...WINSTON
FREE STATE BARN...POPLAR SPRINGS...HOUSTON...BLACK POND...HULLETT
BRANCH...BEAR BRANCH...CLEAR CREEK...BATTLE BRANCH...CURTIS
CROSSROADS...MAPLE BRANCH...LITTLE DISMAL CREEK AND DEVILS BRANCH.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3411 8711 3399 8711 3399 8715 3400 8717
3400 8719 3398 8720 3399 8722 3399 8727
3400 8741 3411 8759 3427 8747
TIME...MOT...LOC 2315Z 303DEG 19KT 3416 8746
05/MAThe Birmingham radar (KBMX), 105 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:12 UTC.
8 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous trees uprooted and power lines downed in the city of Anniston.
Pines lines downed near the Pinehill Golf Club.
Several trees uprooted along County Road 10.
Several trees uprooted along Bagley Road.
Several trees uprooted along Alliance Road.
Several trees uprooted in and around the city of Bessemer.
Several trees uprooted and power lines downed in the Southern Hills Subdivision off Highway 22.
Several trees uprooted near the intersection of Appling Drive and County Road 43.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, August 2015
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: 598428, 598429, 598430, 600466, 600467, 600468, 600472, 600473.