Flash Flood and Hail in Alabama, July 3 to 4, 2015

Name: Flash Flood and Hail in Alabama, July 3 to 4, 2015
Start: 2015-07-03T15:43
End: 2015-07-04T16:57
Location: Alabama

July 3 to 4, 2015 · NWS BMX · 8 events in 7 counties and zones

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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 8

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 cluster of severe thunderstorms formed just south of the I-20 corridor during the afternoon of July 3rd. The thunderstorms produced large hail and damaging winds during the afternoon and evening hours as the storms tracked eastward towards Georgia. A line of slow moving thunderstorms developed across north Alabama during the early morning hours on July 4th, producing flash flooding.

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 3, 2:07 PM CST, 1 hour 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 3, 2:07 PM CST, 1 hour 36 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
307 PM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015

.DISCUSSION...

AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY FROM EARLIER CONVECTION HAS PUSHED TO NEAR A
TUSCALOOSA...CALERA...ASHLAND LINE. THIS BOUNDARY WILL ACT AS A
FOCUS FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING HOURS.
THE MAIN BAND OF RAIN HAS PUSHED INTO FAR NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND
ALABAMA. THERE WILL LIKELY BE ANOTHER ROUND OF HEAVY RAINFALL
ACROSS NORTH ALABAMA LATER TONIGHT AS AN UPPER LEVEL IMPULSE
ROTATES THROUGH THE BASE OF THE LONG WAVE TROF. THE HEAVIEST
RAINFALL THE PAST 12 HOURS HAS BEEN CONFINED TO MAINLY MARION AND
WINSTON COUNTIES...WITH 2 T 4 INCHES OF RAIN. FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE
VALUES ARE STILL IN THE 2-2.5 INCH PER HOUR ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL
ALABAMA...AND BELIEVE THE GROUND WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE FORECAST
RAINFALL TOTALS TONIGHT WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...AND WILL
NOT ISSUE ANY WATCH AT THIS TIME.

THE SHORT WAVE TROF WILL CONTINUE TO SLOWLY PIVOT EASTWARD THIS
WEEKEND WITH THE TROF AXIS FINALLY SHIFTING EAST OF ALABAMA BY
SUNDAY NIGHT. UNTIL THIS HAPPENS...UNSETTLED WEATHER WILL CONTINUE
WITH NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA.
THE MODELS ARE TRENDING WARMER AND LESS CONVECTIVE NEXT WEEK AS AN
UPPER RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE SOUTHEAST STATES. THE GFS CONTINUES TO
SHOW MORE DIURNAL CONVECTION ACROSS ALABAMA THAN THE ECMWF AND
CANADIAN MODELS...AND WILL KEEP RAIN CHANCES IN THE 30-35 PERCENT
RANGE FOR NOW...BUT COULD REDUCE POPS IN LATER FORECASTS IF THE
GFS TRENDS DRIER.

58/ROSE

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

SOUTHWARD MOVING OUTFLOW BOUNDARY HAS SURE CREATED A DIFFICULT
FORECAST FROM AN AVIATION PERSPECTIVE FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. MUCH
OF THE COMPUTER MODEL GUIDANCE IS NEXT TO USELESS...AS IT SHOWS
RAIN CHANCES AS WAY TOO LOW FOR PLACES LIKE BHM AND ANB THROUGH
THE REMAINDER OF THIS AFTERNOON. SHOWERS AND STORMS HAVE INDEED
STARTED TO REFORM RIGHT ALONG THE OUTFLOW BOUNDARY...VERY NEAR BHM
OVER TO ANB/ASN. THE GENERAL TREND SHOULD BE FOR THAT BOUNDARY TO
CONTINUE TO PUSH SOUTHWARD...WITH ADDITIONAL CONVECTION FIRING UP
ALONG IT...EVENTUALLY AFFECTING TCL AND EET ALONG WITH THE
AFOREMENTIONED TERMINALS. HARD TO GET A GRASP UP HOW FAR SOUTH THE
RAIN WILL EVENTUALLY GET...HOWEVER. I INCLUDED A VCSH AT MGM TO AT
LEAST SHOW THE POSSIBILITY THERE. LEFT IT OUT AT TOI DUE TO EVEN
MORE UNCERTAINTY. EVEN OUTSIDE OF RAIN AREAS...CEILINGS ARE A BIT
UNCERTAIN AS WELL.

/61/

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

HIGH HUMIDITY VALUES AND ABOVE NORMAL RAIN CHANCES WILL CONTINUE
FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THERE ARE NO FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     69  82  69  83  68 /  80  80  50  60  30
ANNISTON    70  84  69  83  68 /  70  70  60  60  30
BIRMINGHAM  71  83  70  84  70 /  80  80  60  60  30
TUSCALOOSA  71  85  71  87  70 /  70  80  60  60  30
CALERA      70  85  70  85  70 /  60  70  60  60  30
AUBURN      71  86  70  85  70 /  20  50  60  50  30
MONTGOMERY  73  90  72  87  71 /  20  60  60  60  30
TROY        72  90  71  88  70 /  20  50  60  50  30

&&

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

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 3, 10:10 AM CST, 5 hours 33 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1110 AM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015

ALZ011>015-017>050-041915-
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-
1110 AM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

A SLOW MOVING BOUNDARY WILL PUSH SOUTHWARD THROUGH TONIGHT ACROSS
THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL
TRACK EASTWARD ALONG AND NORTH OF THE BOUNDARY. ANY STORMS THAT
TRAIN OVER THE SAME AREAS WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL AND COULD
RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING.

IN ADDITION TO THE FLOODING...AN ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
IS POSSIBLE SOUTH OF A MILLPORT...TO WARRIOR...TO JACKSONVILLE
LINE THROUGH 8 PM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BE
NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 3, 12:06 PM CST, 3 hours 37 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
106 PM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015

ALZ025>027-031845-
TALLADEGA AL-ST. CLAIR AL-SHELBY AL-
106 PM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL TALLADEGA...NORTHEASTERN
SHELBY AND SOUTHWESTERN ST. CLAIR COUNTIES UNTIL 145 PM CDT...

AT 105 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
NEAR COOSA ISLAND...OR 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PELL CITY...MOVING EAST
SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
TALLADEGA...PELL CITY...VINCENT...MUNFORD...WALDO...LOGAN MARTIN
DAM...COOSA ISLAND...LOGAN MARTIN LAKE...ALPINE...ALPINE BAY
RESORT...WINTERBORO...CHANDLER SPRINGS...HOWELLS COVE...CAMP MAC...
CAMP WINNATASKA...IRONATON AND COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES.

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 3350 8585 3350 8590 3346 8590 3345 8592
      3340 8592 3340 8594 3338 8594 3338 8598
      3330 8598 3330 8612 3329 8612 3339 8649
      3357 8645
TIME...MOT...LOC 1805Z 280DEG 24KT 3347 8638

56

Special weather statement, Jul 3, 12:47 PM CST, 2 hours 56 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
147 PM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015

ALZ027-028-031930-
TALLADEGA AL-CLAY AL-
147 PM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL TALLADEGA AND
NORTHERN CLAY COUNTIES UNTIL 230 PM CDT...

AT 147 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
WALDO...OR 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF TALLADEGA...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
LINEVILLE...ASHLAND...WALDO...BARFIELD...IRONATON...GUNTHERTOWN...
CRAGFORD...MELLOW VALLEY AND CHANDLER SPRINGS.

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 3315 8565 3329 8608 3347 8602 3341 8564
      3333 8565 3332 8564 3332 8565
TIME...MOT...LOC 1847Z 286DEG 33KT 3337 8597

56

Local storm report, Jul 3, 1:16 PM CST, 2 hours 27 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
216 PM CDT FRI JUL 03 2015

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

0130 PM     HAIL             TALLADEGA               33.43N 86.10W
07/03/2015  M0.50 INCH       TALLADEGA          AL   PUBLIC

            DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN TALLADEGA.

&&

GGOGGINS

Special weather statement, Jul 3, 2:24 PM CST, 1 hour 19 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
324 PM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015

ALZ023-032115-
TUSCALOOSA AL-
324 PM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY UNTIL
415 PM CDT...

AT 324 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
NEAR SHELTON STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE...OR 9 MILES SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN
TUSCALOOSA...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

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

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SOUTHEASTERN TUSCALOOSA...MOUNDVILLE...BROOKWOOD...COALING...VANCE...
LAKE WILDWOOD...MCFARLAND MALL...MERCEDES BENZ OF ALABAMA...SHELTON
STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE...NORTH BIBB...PEARSON...DUNCANVILLE...
HULL...FOSTERS BOAT LANDING...I 20 REST AREA NEAR TUSCALOOSA...
HAGLER...CEDAR COVE...CAMP HORNE B.S.A....CAFFEE JUNCTION AND LITTLE
SANDY.

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 3326 8713 3324 8714 3319 8720 3313 8720
      3313 8728 3309 8731 3301 8732 3301 8766
      3315 8767
TIME...MOT...LOC 2024Z 266DEG 14KT 3307 8757

56

Special weather statement, Jul 3, 3:05 PM CST, 38 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
405 PM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015

ALZ023-034-032145-
TUSCALOOSA AL-BIBB AL-
405 PM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BIBB AND SOUTHEASTERN TUSCALOOSA
COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM CDT...

AT 405 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
LOW GAP...OR 14 MILES NORTHWEST OF BRENT...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BRENT...CENTREVILLE...VANCE...WEST BLOCTON...BRIERFIELD IRONWORKS
PARK...WEST CENTREVILLE...EOLINE...LOW GAP...ASHBY...PEARSON...
DUNCANVILLE...HEBRON...BIBB COUNTY AIRPORT...SIX MILE...HAGLER...
HARMON...MARVEL AND TRIO.

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 3310 8748 3318 8703 3317 8703 3316 8697
      3310 8697 3310 8695 3308 8695 3308 8694
      3306 8693 3306 8690 3304 8688 3291 8688
      3292 8742 3300 8742 3300 8747
TIME...MOT...LOC 2105Z 266DEG 14KT 3302 8739

56

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 40 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:44 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Bibb

When: July 3, 3:43 PM CST
Where: Bibb County, 1.38 mi N of Centerville
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.970, -87.130

Large hail reported in the town of Jemison.

Hail, Chilton

When: July 3, 4:35 PM CST
Where: Chilton County, 0.69 mi N of Jemison
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 32.960, -86.750

Thunderstorm Wind, Chambers

When: July 3, 8:30 PM CST to 8:35 PM CST
Where: Chambers County, 2.98 mi ESE of Lafayette
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 32.890, -85.330

Numerous trees uprooted across the eastern portion of the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Russell

When: July 3, 8:32 PM CST to 8:34 PM CST
Where: Russell County, 2.71 mi NW of Phenix City
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 32.500, -85.030

Several trees uprooted in the northern portions of Phenix City. A home weather station reported a wind gust near 60 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tallapoosa

When: July 3, 11:05 PM CST to 11:06 PM CST
Where: Tallapoosa County, 0.69 mi N of Sessions
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.940, -85.750

Several trees uprooted in the Eagle Creek Community.

Flash Flood, Lamar

When: July 4, 5:00 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where: Lamar County, 2.78 mi WNW of Molloy to 1.75 mi NW of Molloy
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.743, -88.246

Several roads under water with a depth of 6-10 inches, in the city of Vernon and across the western part of the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Elmore

When: July 4, 4:30 PM CST
Where: Elmore County, 5.08 mi SSW of Claud
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.511, -86.111

Trees uprooted and power lines downed on Price Road north of Redland Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Elmore

When: July 4, 4:56 PM CST to 4:57 PM CST
Where: Elmore County, 2.23 mi NE of Floyd
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.620, -85.990

Structural damage to a home on Claud Fleahop Road. Garage door blown in causing roof to collapse on a vehicle. Vinyl siding partially removed and porch flipped over. Several trees next to the house uprooted.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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: 596414, 596415, 596417, 596422, 596419, 596421, 596426, 596427.