Lightning Strike in Alabama, July 23, 2015

Name: Lightning Strike in Alabama, July 23, 2015
Start: 2015-07-23T14:55
End: 2015-07-23T14:55
Location: Alabama

July 23, 2015 · NWS BMX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A thunderstorm developed during the afternoon over Elmore County.

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: 1
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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 BMX wrote it up.

A thunderstorm developed during the afternoon over Elmore County.

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 Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 23, 1:08 PM CST, 1 hour 47 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 23, 1:08 PM CST, 1 hour 47 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
208 PM CDT THU JUL 23 2015

.DISCUSSION...

NUMEROUS TO WIDESPREAD CONVECTION ONGOING ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA
THANKS TO SOME UPPER LEVEL IMPULSES MOVING EAST ACROSS THE REGION.
SOUNDINGS SHOW FAIRLY SATURATED PROFILES WHICH IS EVIDENCED BY THE
RAINFALL EFFICIENCY OF THE STORMS. ALTHOUGH AN ISOLATED DAMAGING
WIND GUST CAN'T BE RULED OUT THE SEVERE THREAT SHOULD BE MUCH
LESS TODAY AS COMPARED TO YESTERDAY. WIND GUSTS OF 40-60 MPH WILL
REMAIN POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGER STORMS...AS WELL AS HEAVY
RAINFALL AND FREQUENT CG LIGHTNING. SOME LOCALIZED MINOR FLOODING
IS POSSIBLE IN POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. SOME CONVECTION WILL LIKELY
LINGER THROUGH THE EVENING AND POTENTIALLY INTO THE OVERNIGHT
PERIOD AS YET ANOTHER IMPULSE COULD TRAVERSE THE AREA.

TROUGHING DEVELOPS ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST ON FRIDAY AND PUSHES
THE RIDGE A BIT TO THE WEST. RAIN CHANCES WILL BEGIN TO DECREASE
BUT SCATTERED SHOWERS/STORMS WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE. SOME STRONG
STORMS WILL STILL BE A POSSIBILITY ON FRIDAY WITH THE MAIN THREAT
ONCE AGAIN STRONG WIND GUSTS. ALTHOUGH IT WILL HOT AND HUMID NO
HEAT ADVISORIES ARE CURRENTLY IN EFFECT. TEMPS WILL BE IN THE LOW/MID 90S IN
MOST LOCATIONS BUT HEAT INDICES SHOULD REMAIN BELOW 105 DEGREES.

DRIER CONDITIONS ARE IN STORE OVER THE WEEKEND AND INTO MONDAY.
SFC RIDGING WILL DEVELOP ALONG THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS AND
WILL FINALLY PUSH THE QUASISTATIONARY FRONT...THAT'S BEEN HANGING
AROUND TO OUR NORTH...TO OUR SOUTHWEST. TEMPS WILL STILL RISE INTO
THE LOW/MID 90S BUT THE DRIER AIR WILL HELP KEEP HEAT INDICES
BELOW CRITICAL LEVELS. RAIN CHANCES WILL GRADUALLY INCREASE BACK
TO CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMS BY MID WEEK.

19

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

LINE OF STORMS FROM TCL TO ANB WILL CONTINUE TO DRIFT SOUTHWARD.
MAIN CONCERN OVER THE NEXT 2 HOURS WILL BE TCL...EET...ANB...AND
ASN FOR WINDS OF 25 TO 30KTS AND LIGHTNING. TOI IS CURRENTLY
SEEING A THUNDERSTORM WORK JUST TO THE SOUTH OF THE AREA BUT CLOSE
ENOUGH TO INCLUDE A THUNDERSTORM AT THIS TIME. MGM WILL SEE SOME
INCREASE IN ACTIVITY AFTER 19Z. RAIN MAY REMAIN IN THE AREA BUT BE
MORE OF THE SHOWER VARIETY AFTER 6Z AND 9Z SOUTH. WILL NEED TO
MONITOR UNTIL THEN FOR ANY ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS AS ANOTHER
DISTURBANCE WILL TRY TO SLIDE THROUGH. AFTER 15 THE MAJORITY OF
TAF SITES WILL IMPROVE WITH HIGHEST CHANCES AT SEEING ANY
PRECIPITATION AT TCL. AMENDMENT ARE LIKELY AS THE STORMS SLIDE
THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

16

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

NUMEROUS TO WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO
THE EVENING HOURS. DRIER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SATURDAY THROUGH
TUESDAY. MEAN LAYER WINDS ARE NOT TOO HIGH WHICH LEADS TO SOMEWHAT
LOWER DISPERSION VALUES.

75

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     73  91  72  92  71 /  50  30  20  20  10
ANNISTON    73  91  72  92  71 /  50  30  20  20  10
BIRMINGHAM  75  92  74  94  73 /  50  30  20  20  10
TUSCALOOSA  75  93  75  96  74 /  50  40  30  20  10
CALERA      74  92  73  94  72 /  50  30  20  20  10
AUBURN      74  91  74  92  72 /  50  30  30  20  10
MONTGOMERY  76  94  76  95  73 /  50  40  30  20  10
TROY        75  94  74  95  73 /  50  50  30  20  10

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 23, 4:03 AM CST, 10 hours 52 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
503 AM CDT THU JUL 23 2015

ALZ011>015-017>050-241315-
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-
503 AM CDT THU JUL 23 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM.

.DAY ONE...OUTLOOK THROUGH TONIGHT.

ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TODAY AND TONIGHT ACROSS
ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS UP TO 60MPH WILL
BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY STRONGER STORM THAT DEVELOPS. DEADLY CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING WILL ALSO BE A PRIMARY THREAT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BECOME
NECESSARY TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 23, 10:55 AM CST, 4 hours before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1155 AM CDT THU JUL 23 2015

ALZ026-027-231730-
TALLADEGA AL-ST. CLAIR AL-
1155 AM CDT THU JUL 23 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL TALLADEGA AND SOUTH
CENTRAL ST. CLAIR COUNTIES UNTIL 1230 PM CDT...

AT 1155 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
NEAR ALPINE...OR NEAR TALLADEGA...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
OXFORD...TALLADEGA...PELL CITY...LINCOLN...VINCENT...MUNFORD...
WALDO...LOGAN MARTIN DAM...TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY...TALLADEGA
MUNICIPAL AIRPORT...COOSA ISLAND...LOGAN MARTIN LAKE...ALPINE...GRANT
TOWN...ALPINE BAY RESORT...WINTERBORO...HONDA MANUFACTURING OF
ALABAMA...JENIFER...CHANDLER SPRINGS AND HOWELLS COVE.

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.

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

&&

LAT...LON 3353 8581 3350 8585 3350 8590 3345 8592
      3340 8592 3338 8598 3330 8598 3329 8612
      3337 8635 3339 8638 3351 8637 3354 8619
      3358 8622 3359 8618 3361 8620 3364 8603
      3360 8602 3359 8599 3358 8580 3354 8580
TIME...MOT...LOC 1655Z 284DEG 15KT 3340 8619

Special weather statement, Jul 23, 11:04 AM CST, 3 hours 51 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1204 PM CDT THU JUL 23 2015

ALZ025-231730-
SHELBY AL-
1204 PM CDT THU JUL 23 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN SHELBY COUNTY UNTIL
1230 PM CDT...

AT 1203 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
OVER HIGHLAND LAKES...OR NEAR CHELSEA...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HOOVER...PELHAM...CHELSEA...CHILDERSBURG...WILSONVILLE...INDIAN
SPRINGS VILLAGE...VINCENT...HARPERSVILLE...WESTOVER...MOUNT LAUREL...
VANDIVER...LAKE PURDY...GREYSTONE...BROOK HIGHLAND...MEADOWBROOK...
OAK MOUNTAIN STATE PARK...FOWLER LAKE...HIGHLAND LAKES...SHOAL CREEK
AND GASTON STEAM PLANT.

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 3339 8638 3338 8636 3334 8637 3329 8636
      3327 8641 3328 8643 3326 8642 3324 8644
      3324 8646 3321 8646 3330 8680 3342 8673
      3343 8670 3347 8667 3347 8661 3350 8658
      3350 8638
TIME...MOT...LOC 1703Z 284DEG 22KT 3338 8662

16

Special weather statement, Jul 23, 11:18 AM CST, 3 hours 37 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1218 PM CDT THU JUL 23 2015

ALZ023-231800-
TUSCALOOSA AL-
1218 PM CDT THU JUL 23 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY
UNTIL 100 PM CDT...

AT 1218 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
NEAR COKER...OR 9 MILES EAST OF GORDO...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
TUSCALOOSA...NORTHPORT...HOLT...BROOKWOOD...COALING...COKER...
TUSCALOOSA AMPHITHEATER...LAKE WILDWOOD...UNIVERSITY MALL...DEERLICK
CREEK CAMPGROUNDS...TUSCALOOSA REGIONAL AIRPORT...BRYANT DENNY
STADIUM...SHELTON STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE...MCFARLAND MALL...LAKE
LURLEEN STATE PARK...OLIVER LOCK AND DAM...FOSTERS BOAT LANDING...
STILLMAN COLLEGE...FLATWOODS AND BUHL.

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

LAT...LON 3338 8778 3326 8732 3301 8745 3320 8784
      3328 8784
TIME...MOT...LOC 1718Z 293DEG 19KT 3328 8775

17/KLAWS

Special weather statement, Jul 23, 12:27 PM CST, 2 hours 28 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
127 PM CDT THU JUL 23 2015

ALZ023-032-034-231900-
TUSCALOOSA AL-BIBB AL-HALE AL-
127 PM CDT THU JUL 23 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN HALE...SOUTHWESTERN
BIBB AND SOUTH CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM CDT...

AT 126 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7
MILES SOUTHEAST OF SHELTON STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE...OR 12 MILES
SOUTH OF TUSCALOOSA...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MOUNDVILLE...EOLINE...LOW GAP...MERTZ...PEARSON...DUNCANVILLE...
HULL...HAGLER...HARMON...MAXWELL...LITTLE SANDY...ENGLEWOOD AND
PHIPPS.

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.

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

&&

LAT...LON 3314 8754 3305 8717 3283 8728 3283 8732
      3287 8732 3287 8741 3288 8742 3286 8742
      3297 8763
TIME...MOT...LOC 1826Z 293DEG 18KT 3303 8751

17/KLAWS

Local storm report, Jul 23, 1:30 PM CST, 1 hour 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
230 PM CDT THU JUL 23 2015

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

0250 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 WNW SYLACAUGA         33.19N 86.30W
07/22/2015                   TALLADEGA          AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            *** 1 INJ *** TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ALONG OLD
            BIRMINGHAM HWY NEAR INTERSECTION WITH GANTTS JUNCTION RD.
            ONE TREE ON A HOUSE WITH ONE PERSON SUSTAINING MINOR
            INJURIES. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

&&

TGOGGINS

Special weather statement, Jul 23, 1:47 PM CST, 1 hour 8 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
247 PM CDT THU JUL 23 2015

ALZ024-232015-
JEFFERSON AL-
247 PM CDT THU JUL 23 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY UNTIL
315 PM CDT...

AT 247 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
SYLVAN SPRINGS...OR 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF HUEYTOWN...MOVING EAST AT
30 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BIRMINGHAM...HOOVER...VESTAVIA HILLS...BESSEMER...HOMEWOOD...MOUNTAIN
BROOK...HUEYTOWN...IRONDALE...LEEDS...FAIRFIELD...FULTONDALE...
PLEASANT GROVE...TARRANT...MIDFIELD...ADAMSVILLE...BRIGHTON...
LIPSCOMB...GRAYSVILLE...SYLVAN SPRINGS AND BROOKSIDE.

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

LAT...LON 3358 8659 3342 8672 3342 8675 3339 8676
      3339 8678 3337 8678 3336 8683 3333 8683
      3333 8688 3330 8691 3349 8721 3361 8716
      3361 8715 3363 8714 3363 8710 3365 8709
TIME...MOT...LOC 1947Z 288DEG 28KT 3356 8710

17/KLAWS

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 74 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:54 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Elmore

When: July 23, 2:55 PM CST
Where: Elmore County, 13.98 mi W of Robinson Spgs
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.520, -86.620

A 73 female died when she was struck by lightning while picking blueberries near her home.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Lightning, Elmore	2015-07-23	73	Female	Outside/Open Areas	Direct

What these are

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: 597275.