A solid line of thunderstorms moved into west Alabama during the early morning hours of Wednesday, November 18th. A bow echo formed on the convective line and produced wind damage across Pickens County, Alabama.
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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.
A solid line of thunderstorms moved into west Alabama during the early morning hours of Wednesday, November 18th. A bow echo formed on the convective line and produced wind damage across Pickens County, 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 Nov 18, 4:22 AM CST, 33 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 422 AM CST WED NOV 18 2015 .DISCUSSION... THIS WILL BE SOMEWHAT SHORT THIS MORNING DUE TO THE ONGOING WEATHER. A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR A FEW SOUTHWEST COUNTIES FOR A FEW HOURS THIS MORNING. CONDITIONS WERE MUCH BETTER FOR SOME TORNADO DEVELOPMENT WEST AND SOUTH OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...BUT THE AREA MOVING TO NEAR THE MISSISSIPPI STATE LINE AT THIS WRITING HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DAMAGE. WIND SHEAR IS VERY HIGH BUT OVERALL INSTABILITY IS LACKING...BUT HIGHLY FORCED. THIS AREA IS ALSO NEAR A TRIPLE POINT BETWEEN AN AREA OF SLIGHTLY HIGHER DEW POINTS IN A PSEUDO-WARM SECTOR SOUTHWEST. THIS AREA GETS PINCHED OFF AS IT MOVES EASTWARD TODAY...BUT THE MODEL TREND OF HAVING A BIT MORE INSTABILITY AVAILABLE CONTINUES. THEREFORE...WILL KEEP A LIMITED SEVERE WEATHER THREAT...INCLUDING TORNADOES...FOR THE FAR SOUTHERN TIER OF COUNTIES INTO THIS AFTERNOON. MOST ISOLATED STORMS WILL REMAIN IN SOUTH ALABAMA BUT SPINUPS ALONG THE LINE WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED AS THE MESOSCALE INSTABILITY INCREASES AFTER SUN UP. WIND GUSTS HAVE BEEN OVER 40 MPH OVERNIGHT...ESPECIALLY NEAR AND NORTH OF I-20 AND WEST OF I-65. A FEW TREES HAVE BEEN BLOWN DOWN IN THIS GRADIENT WIND. WENT AHEAD AND EXPANDED AND EXTENDED THE WIND ADVISORY. THE WIND THREAT WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE HEAVIEST RAIN/THUNDER LINE MOVES EAST OF YOUR AREA. WIND GUSTS TO 40-45 NORTH OF I-20...30-TO 35 MPH SOUTH. 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN STILL IN CARDS FOR CENTRAL ALABAMA. WILL CONTINUE THE MINDSET THAT A MAJORITY OF THE AREA CAN HANDLE THIS RAIN AMOUNTS AND NOT GO WITH A WATCH. SOME MINOR FLOODING STILL POSSIBLE IN FLOOD PRONE ZONES AND DUE TO TREE AND LEAF DEBRIS. AT THIS TIME...WILL KEEP THE TREND GOING INTO EXTENDED PACKAGE ADVERTISING DRY. THE MEDIUM RANGE MODEL GUIDANCE CONTINUES ADVERTISING A ZONAL MID TO UPPER LEVEL FLOW UNTIL THE WEEKEND. THIS WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES VERY CLOSE TO NORMAL... GENERALLY HIGHS IN THE 60S AND LOWS IN THE 40S. THE NEXT MUCH WEAKER MID TO UPPER TROUGH WILL PUSH ANOTHER COLD FRONT THROUGH ON SATURDAY. THE MODELS DISAGREE WITH THE AVAILABLE LIFT AND MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM. WILL KEEP POPS OUT FOR NOW BUT COLDER CONDITIONS ARE ANTICIPATED BY SUNDAY AND MONDAY MORNING. FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE POSSIBLE FOR SOME LOCATIONS IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA. 75 && .AVIATION... 06Z TAF DISCUSSION. HAD TO ADJUST THE TIMING OF THE ARRIVAL OF MAIN BAND OF HEAVIER RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH UPCOMING COLD FRONT PASSAGE OVER THE NEXT 6-18 HOURS. SOME LOWER CLOUDS HAVE BEGUN TO FORM...AND I STILL THINK THAT THERE WILL BE A GENERAL LOWERING TREND OF CEILINGS RIGHT UP UNTIL THE POINT THAT THE RAIN ARRIVES. I AM FAIRLY CONFIDENT THAT THE TIMING OF THE RAIN'S ARRIVAL IS ACCURATE TO WITHIN AN HOUR OR TWO NOW...AS WE'VE GOT A PRETTY CONSISTENT MOVEMENT WITH THE LINE OVER THE LAST 4-6 HOURS. I'M NOT AS CONFIDENT WITH CEILINGS AND VISIBILITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE RAIN WHEN IT DOES ARRIVE. BUT FROM UPSTREAM CONDITIONS...IT LOOKS LIKE THE DOWNPOURS COULD TAKE VISIBILITIES DOWN BELOW 3 MILES. THE WIND SHIFT ASSOCIATED WITH FRONTAL PASSAGE (FROM SOUTHEAST TO EVENTUALLY NORTHWEST) WILL BE MORE GRADUAL THAN TYPICAL AS WELL. /61/ && .FIRE WEATHER... SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BE GUSTY TODAY AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT...AND WEAKEN CONSIDERABLY BEHIND THE MAIN LINE. 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED AREAWIDE...SO NO FIRE WEATEHR CONCERNS ARE ANTICIPATED. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GADSDEN 68 48 65 41 62 / 100 20 10 0 0 ANNISTON 69 50 67 43 63 / 100 40 10 0 0 BIRMINGHAM 68 48 68 44 64 / 100 20 10 0 0 TUSCALOOSA 66 45 68 44 66 / 100 10 10 0 0 CALERA 68 50 67 45 64 / 100 20 10 0 0 AUBURN 73 53 68 47 65 / 100 70 10 0 0 MONTGOMERY 72 54 70 45 68 / 100 30 10 0 0 TROY 72 54 69 46 68 / 100 60 10 0 0 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WIND ADVISORY UNTIL NOON CST TODAY FOR AUTAUGA-BARBOUR-BLOUNT- BULLOCK-CALHOUN-CHAMBERS-CHEROKEE-CHILTON-CLAY-CLEBURNE-COOSA- DALLAS-ELMORE-ETOWAH-LEE-LOWNDES-MACON-MONTGOMERY-PIKE-RANDOLPH- RUSSELL-ST. CLAIR-TALLADEGA-TALLAPOOSA. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 AM CST THIS MORNING FOR BIBB-FAYETTE- GREENE-HALE-JEFFERSON-LAMAR-MARENGO-MARION-PERRY-PICKENS-SHELBY- SUMTER-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER-WINSTON. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 346 PM CST TUE NOV 17 2015 ALZ011>015-017>050-190100- 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- 346 PM CST TUE NOV 17 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE...THROUGH TONIGHT. BREEZY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING STORM SYSTEM. SUSTAINED SOUTHERLY WINDS HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF REACHING THE 15 TO 25 MPH RANGE WITH GUSTS INTO THE 30 TO 35 MPH RANGE. THESE WINDS WILL BE AHEAD OF A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. RAIN AMOUNTS TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY WILL BE 1 TO 3 INCHES AREA WIDE. ALTHOUGH A WIDESPREAD FLOOD THREAT IS NOT ANTICIPATED...SOME NUISANCE FLOODING MAY OCCUR IN FLOOD PRONE AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. ADDITIONALLY...LEAF DEBRIS WILL POTENTIALLY HAMPER THE DRAINAGE AND CAUSE SOME MINOR FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM DEMOPOLIS...TO PRATTVILLE...TO AUBURN. ISOLATED TORNADOES AND DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREATS. THE SEVERE THREAT WILL BEGIN ACROSS SOUTHWEST ALABAMA BETWEEN 5 AND 8 AM...PUSHING EASTWARD TO THE I-65 CORRIDOR AND THE MONTGOMERY AREA BETWEEN 8 AM AND 11 AM...AND FINALLY IMPACTING SOUTHEAST COUNTIES BETWEEN 11AM AND 3PM. NEAR FREEZING CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE SUNDAY MORNING AND AGAIN ON MONDAY MORNING AFTER A STRONG COLD FRONT PUSHES THROUGH CENTRAL ALABAMA SATURDAY EVENING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 319 AM CST WED NOV 18 2015 ALZ011>013-022-181015- PICKENS AL-MARION AL-LAMAR AL-FAYETTE AL- 319 AM CST WED NOV 18 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN PICKENS...WESTERN FAYETTE...LAMAR AND MARION COUNTIES UNTIL 415 AM CST... AT 318 AM CST...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A LINE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR TREMONT TO NEAR CRAWFORD...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH LINE OF CONCVECTION. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... HAMILTON...WINFIELD...FAYETTE...VERNON...SULLIGENT...MILLPORT... GUIN...HACKLEBURG...KENNEDY...DETROIT...BELK...BEAVERTON...GU-WIN... ETHELSVILLE...BLOOMING GROVE...CREWS...LAMAR COUNTY AIRPORT... ASHCRAFT CORNER...BLUFF AND BEDFORD. LAT...LON 3432 8818 3431 8780 3354 8784 3338 8829 TIME...MOT...LOC 0918Z 218DEG 42KT 3419 8829 3336 8859 75
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 324 AM CST WED NOV 18 2015 ALZ022-030-031-181030- PICKENS AL-GREENE AL-SUMTER AL- 324 AM CST WED NOV 18 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PICKENS...NORTHWESTERN SUMTER AND NORTHWESTERN GREENE COUNTIES UNTIL 430 AM CST... AT 323 AM CST...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A LINE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR KOLOLA SPRINGS TO 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF BLACKWATER...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... ALICEVILLE...GORDO...REFORM...CARROLLTON...PICKENSVILLE...UNION... GAINESVILLE...ETHELSVILLE...EMELLE...MCMULLEN...NEW WEST GREENE... BEVILL LOCK AND DAM...PANOLA...BENEVOLA...MANTUA...JOHNSTON LAKE... GARDEN...WEST GREENE...GEIGER AND GAINESVILLE LAKE CAMPGROUND. LAT...LON 3353 8828 3352 8784 3288 8791 3268 8837 TIME...MOT...LOC 0923Z 208DEG 89KT 3361 8840 3266 8858 75
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 421 AM CST WED NOV 18 2015 ALZ011-012-022-030-031-181130- PICKENS AL-MARION AL-GREENE AL-SUMTER AL-LAMAR AL- 421 AM CST WED NOV 18 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PICKENS...LAMAR...NORTHWESTERN SUMTER...WESTERN MARION AND NORTHWESTERN GREENE COUNTIES UNTIL 530 AM CST... AT 421 AM CST...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES WEST OF SULLIGENT TO NEAR PORTERVILLE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... HAMILTON...LIVINGSTON...ALICEVILLE...VERNON...SULLIGENT...REFORM... MILLPORT...CARROLLTON...PICKENSVILLE...GUIN...KENNEDY...DETROIT... GAINESVILLE...BEAVERTON...EPES...ETHELSVILLE...EMELLE...MCMULLEN... BEVILL LOCK AND DAM AND THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA. THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 20 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 17 AND 23. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. && LAT...LON 3432 8818 3431 8787 3258 8813 3255 8839 TIME...MOT...LOC 1021Z 215DEG 33KT 3392 8831 3266 8849 19
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 84 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:57 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous trees were uprooted and snapped along a path beginning along County Road 78 northwest of the town of Aliceville, and ending at Franconia Road.
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, November 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: 608525.