Hail and Damaging Winds in Alabama, July 2 to 5, 2015

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Alabama, July 2 to 5, 2015
Start: 2015-07-02T11:00
End: 2015-07-05T07:40
Location: Alabama

July 2 to 5, 2015 · NWS TAE · 15 events in 5 counties and zones

Scattered afternoon thunderstorms developed in an environment favorable for severe wet microbursts with high Wet Microburst Severity Index values.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $8,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 15

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS TAE wrote it up.

Scattered afternoon thunderstorms developed in an environment favorable for severe wet microbursts with high Wet Microburst Severity Index values.

What forecasters said that day

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 Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 2, 8:41 AM CST, 2 hours 19 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 2, 8:41 AM CST, 2 hours 19 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1041 AM EDT THU JUL 2 2015

.NEAR TERM [THROUGH TODAY]...

THIS MORNING'S ANALYSIS STILL SHOWS UPPER LEVEL RIDGING OVER THE
WESTERN STATES WITH BROAD TROUGHING OVER THE EAST. THE 1000-700 MB
FLOW IS WESTERLY TODAY ON THE 12Z KTAE SOUNDING WITH A DECENT
AMOUNT OF INSTABILITY AND MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES NEAR OR SLIGHTLY
GREATER THAN 6 C/KM. VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS A GOOD BIT OF
SUNSHINE ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING WITH INCREASING CLOUDINESS
OFF TO THE WEST. OVERALL...THE CAM GUIDANCE FORECASTS A FAIRLY
ACTIVE AFTERNOON WITH CONVECTION DEVELOPING EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON
ACROSS THE WEST AND SPREADING EASTWARD ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA
DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON. SEVERAL OF THE MEMBERS HAVE
EXPLICIT WIND GUSTS IN THE 40-50 KNOT RANGE...AND A FEW STRONG TO
SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION [645 AM EDT]...

.SHORT TERM [TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY]...

A RATHER BROAD, WEAK 500 MB TROUGH WILL CONTINUE OVER MUCH OF THE
EASTERN CONUS, WITH THE BASE OF THIS TROUGH (MARKED BY THE 588 DM
LINE) REMAINING OVER CENTRAL AL AND GA. AT THE SURFACE, THE WESTERN
EXTENT OF THE BERMUDA RIDGE WILL CONTINUE ACROSS CENTRAL FL AND THE
EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO. THE WEAK UPPER LEVEL +PV ANOMALY MOVING
THROUGH OUR FORECAST AREA TODAY WILL WEAKEN AND BE EAST OF THE
REGION TONIGHT, WITH ENOUGH MID-UPPER LAYER DRYING ON FRIDAY AND
SATURDAY FOR LOWER POPS. THE POP WILL BE IN THE 30-40 PERCENT RANGE
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, THEN AROUND 30 PERCENT FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY.
THESE VALUES ARE A LITTLE BELOW CLIMO, BUT SLIGHTLY ABOVE MOS
CONSENSUS. WITH THE REDUCED CLOUD COVER COMES WARMER DAYTIME
TEMPERATURES, AND WE EXPECT HIGHS AWAY FROM THE BEACHES IN THE MID
90S. DESPITE THE LOWER POPS, THE FORECAST THERMODYNAMIC PROFILE WILL
BE SUPPORTIVE OF ISOLATED PULSE SEVERE STORMS EACH AFTERNOON. IN
FACT, THE DRIER AIR ALOFT, STEEPER-THAN-AVERAGE MID LAYER LAPSE
RATES, AND RATHER HIGH SURFACE THETA-E VALUES, WOULD SUGGEST AN
INCREASED RISK OF WET MICROBURSTS- THOUGH ISOLATED.

.LONG TERM [SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY]...

THE GFS AND ECMWF SOLUTIONS ARE IN BETTER AGREEMENT THAN 24 HOURS
AGO. A WEAK MID-UPPER TROUGH OVER THE SOUTHEAST WILL TRANSLATE
SLOWLY EASTWARD INTO NEXT WEEK, LEAVING OUR FORECAST AREA PRIMARILY
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A RIDGE BUILDING EASTWARD FROM TX. DESPITE
THIS RIDGING, THE MOS CONSENSUS POPS ARE STILL VERY CLOSE TO
CLIMATOLOGY (AROUND 40 PERCENT EACH AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS
MUCH OF OUR FORECAST AREA), PROBABLY DUE TO THE LACK OF DRYING
ALOFT. IT APPEARS THE 1000-700 MB MEAN WINDS WILL EITHER BE WEAK OR
HAVE AN OFFSHORE COMPONENT, WHICH WOULD INDICATE A LATER START TO
SEABREEZE-GENERATED CONVECTION (AS OPPOSED TO STARTING IN THE
MORNING). THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR WARM HIGH TEMPERATURES, GENERALLY IN
THE MID 90S.

.AVIATION...
[THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY]... THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE WIDESPREAD THIS
AFTERNOON. INCLUDED TEMPO GROUPS FOR GUSTY WINDS AND MVFR
VISIBILITIES IN STORMS BETWEEN 18 AND 22Z AT DHN, ABY, VLD AND
TLH. RAIN CHANCES ARE LOWER AT ECP SO MENTIONED VCTS.

.MARINE...

LIGHT TO MODERATE WEST-SOUTHWEST WINDS ARE LIKELY TO CONTINUE
THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING AS THE COASTAL WATERS REMAIN NORTH OF THE
BERMUDA RIDGE. WINDS WILL BE AT THEIR STRONGEST DURING THE AFTERNOON
AND EVENING HOURS. LIGHTER WINDS ARE EXPECTED THIS WEEKEND.

.FIRE WEATHER...

THERE ARE NO FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.

.HYDROLOGY...

RIVER STAGES REMAINED BELOW THEIR LOCAL ACTION LEVELS, AND THIS IS
LIKELY TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS AS WE DO NOT EXPECT
ORGANIZED HEAVY RAIN.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...

TALLAHASSEE   90  73  93  73  94 /  70  10  30  10  30
PANAMA CITY   86  78  88  78  89 /  50  10  10  10  30
DOTHAN        90  73  93  74  93 /  70  10  20  10  30
ALBANY        90  73  92  73  93 /  70  20  40  20  30
VALDOSTA      91  72  93  73  95 /  70  20  40  10  30
CROSS CITY    92  73  93  72  94 /  40  10  20  10  30
APALACHICOLA  90  77  91  76  91 /  40  10  10  20  30

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...NONE.
GA...NONE.
AL...NONE.
GM...NONE.
&&

NEAR TERM...DVD
SHORT TERM...FOURNIER
LONG TERM...FOURNIER
AVIATION...WESTON
MARINE...FOURNIER
FIRE WEATHER...WESTON
HYDROLOGY...FOURNIER

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 2, 10:19 AM CST, 41 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1219 PM EDT THU JUL 02 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1209 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND APALACHICOLA AIRPORT    29.72N 85.03W
07/02/2015  M51 MPH          FRANKLIN           FL   ASOS

&&

DVD

The radar

The Ft Rucker radar (KEOX), 18 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:57 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dale

When: July 2, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Dale County, 0.59 mi NW of Arguta
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 31.576, -85.597

A tree was blown down across County Road 19.

Thunderstorm Wind, Geneva

When: July 2, 11:07 AM CST
Where: Geneva County, 0.69 mi S of Spears
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 31.130, -85.980

Several trees were blown down between Samson and Coffee Springs. Pea size hail was also reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dale

When: July 2, 11:25 AM CST
Where: Dale County, 0.46 mi W of Pinckard
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 31.309, -85.548

A tree was blown down across Church Street.

Thunderstorm Wind, Houston

When: July 2, 11:57 AM CST
Where: Houston County, Cottonwood
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 31.050, -85.300

A couple of trees were blown down in Cottonwood.

Thunderstorm Wind, Houston

When: July 2, 11:57 AM CST
Where: Houston County, Ashford
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 31.180, -85.230

A couple of trees were blown down in Ashford.

Thunderstorm Wind, Houston

When: July 3, 6:07 PM CST
Where: Houston County, 0.68 mi NNE of Hollis Dairy Rd
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 31.239, -85.546

A large tree was uprooted and fell onto Judge Logue Road, blocking the roadway. A photo of the tree was tweeted by the Dothan Fire Department.

Thunderstorm Wind, Houston

When: July 3, 6:07 PM CST
Where: Houston County, Wicksburg
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 31.200, -85.620

Several trees and power lines were blown down in Wicksburg with reports of pea to marble size hail. Damage was estimated.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dale

When: July 3, 6:20 PM CST
Where: Dale County, Pinckard
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 31.310, -85.540

A tree was blown down in the Pinckard area.

Hail, Dale

When: July 3, 6:22 PM CST
Where: Dale County, 1.37 mi ENE of Midland City
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 31.320, -85.470

Quarter size hail was reported near Wallace College.

Thunderstorm Wind, Coffee

When: July 4, 5:38 PM CST
Where: Coffee County, Elba
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.410, -86.070

Trees were blown down in the city of Elba.

Thunderstorm Wind, Coffee

When: July 4, 5:49 PM CST
Where: Coffee County, 0.82 mi NE of Frisco
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.597, -85.849

Trees were blown down on County Road 110 between Frisco and Roeton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dale

When: July 4, 5:49 PM CST
Where: Dale County, Level Plains
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 31.300, -85.760

A tree was blown down in Level Plains.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dale

When: July 4, 6:05 PM CST to 6:35 PM CST
Where: Dale County, Dill to Echo
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 31.510, -85.650

There were an estimated 15 to 20 reports of trees blown down in Dale county, especially across northern and central sections of the county. One concentrated area was between Ozark and Ariton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Henry

When: July 4, 6:55 PM CST
Where: Henry County, 2.83 mi NNE of Shorterville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 31.610, -85.090

A tree was blown down west of Fort Gaines near the Henry/Clay county border.

Lightning, Houston

When: July 5, 7:40 AM CST
Where: Houston County, 1.48 mi SW of Dothan
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 31.207, -85.410

Lightning struck a transformer near the 1100 block of Valley Forge Road, igniting the transformer on fire. Damage was estimated.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alabama in 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history Warnings in Alabama, July 2015

Sources

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: 594822, 594823, 594824, 594825, 594826, 594827, 594837, 594828, 594829, 594830, 594831, 594832, 594833, 594835, 594836.