An isolated severe thunderstorm developed during the evening hours over Franklin County Alabama in the city of Russellville. The storm produced quarter sized hail and knocked down multiple trees.
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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 HUN wrote it up.
An isolated severe thunderstorm developed during the evening hours over Franklin County Alabama in the city of Russellville. The storm produced quarter sized hail and knocked down multiple trees. The storm produced additional hail in northeast Franklin County.
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 Huntsville, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 13, 4:58 PM CST, 1 hour 19 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Huntsville AL 558 PM CDT WED JUL 13 2016 .UPDATE... For 00Z TAFs. && .DISCUSSION... (Issued 301 PM CDT WED JUL 13 2016) Latest water vapor imagery shows an upper level low spinning across south central Canada, while somewhat weak upper level ridging was situated along the eastern seaboard. At the surface, high pressure extends across much of the southeastern CONUS, with the center of the high just to the southeast of the forecast area. Partly cloudy skies were observed across the TN Valley, with temps at 19Z in the upper 80s to lower 90s. Area radars do show isolated showers developing along a convergence axis, and this trend may continue through the remainder of the afternoon hours, though expect the coverage to remain isolated, with the greater chances across the east. Any storms that do develop will quickly dissipate after sunset, as the main forcing shifts to the east and instability decreases with the loss of heating. Given the instability currently in place, an isolated storm may produce wind gusts up to 40 mph. The upper low will shift to the east overnight, with the associated surface low moving across northern Canada. A cold front trailing south of this low will move into the Mississippi Valley on Thursday. Meanwhile, several shortwaves are expected to move through the TN Valley Thursday and Thursday night, providing what could be multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms. Uncertainty remains high as to when/where the best chances will be and chance pops were kept in the forecast. By Friday, a cold front trailing south of the associated surface low over Canada will move into the area, while another upper wave shifts east. A greater coverage of thunderstorms will develop ahead and along the weakening front, with rain chances increasing during the afternoon. Given the relatively weak front, widespread severe storms are not anticipated, however strong storms will be possible. The front will stall over the area on Saturday and generally dissipate just to our south. The chance for scattered thunderstorms will continue through the weekend as the front remains in the vicinity of the forecast area, and the weak upper flow allows shortwaves to continue to move through the area. Rain chances will then decrease on Sunday, as weak upper ridging begins to build into the area. Temperatures through the first half of the forecast period will be a little cooler to what we observed today and yesterday given the increased cloud cover and potential chances for rain. By Sunday the hot temps rebound and approach the mid to upper 90s through the extended period. Heat indices will range from the lower 90s to lower 100s, with the hottest day expected to be on Monday. 73 && .AVIATION... For 00Z TAFs: Isolated showers and thunderstorms this evening should dissipate before 06Z. Low clouds are forecast to redevelop again late tonight with CIGs of ~015agl expected (MVFR) from 10-15Z. These clouds should lift above 030agl (VFR) and become scattered by ~15Z. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are once again possible Thursday afternoon, but have left out of forecast due to uncertainty exact location of development. && .HUN Watches/Warnings/Advisories... AL...NONE. TN...NONE. && For more information please visit our website at weather.gov/huntsville.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 403 PM CDT WED JUL 13 2016 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-141100- LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN- MARSHALL-JACKSON-DE KALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN- 403 PM CDT WED JUL 13 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. ISOLATED TO WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN POSSIBLE INTO THE EVENING HOURS. BRIEF WIND GUSTS OF UP TO 40 MPH...LIGHTNING AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL OCCUR WITH THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... HEAT INDEX READINGS WILL REACH THE 100 TO 105 DEGREE RANGE FOR MOST OF THE AREA ONCE AGAIN THURSDAY. A GREATER COVERAGE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED FOR ALL AREAS DURING THE PERIOD FROM THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, WHEN A SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL INTERACT WITH A FRONTAL BOUNDARY STALLED NEAR THE REGION. ALTHOUGH A FEW AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING STORMS WILL STILL BE POSSIBLE EARLY NEXT WEEK, OVERALL COVERAGE WILL DECREASE AS A STRONG RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE DEVELOPS OVER THE TENNESSEE VALLEY. HEAT INDEX READINGS WILL RETURN TO THE 100 TO 105 DEGREE RANGE FOR MOST OF THE AREA DURING THIS PERIOD. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
611 PM CDT WED JUL 13 2016
ALZ005-140000-
LIMESTONE AL-
611 PM CDT WED JUL 13 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL LIMESTONE COUNTY UNTIL
700 PM CDT...
AT 611 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
TANNER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ATHENS...TANNER...COXEY...RIPLEY AND CARTWRIGHT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE SEVERAL MILES AWAY FROM THE PARENT THUNDERSTORM.
SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3482 8682 3465 8703 3465 8706 3471 8714
3473 8715 3477 8721 3493 8708
TIME...MOT...LOC 2311Z 218DEG 7KT 3476 8708SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
613 PM CDT WED JUL 13 2016
ALZ003-140000-
FRANKLIN AL-
613 PM CDT WED JUL 13 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY
UNTIL 700 PM CDT...
AT 613 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 10
MILES SOUTHEAST OF RED BAY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
VINA...HODGES...HALLTOWN...ATWOOD AND LITTLE BEAR CREEK RESERVOIR.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE SEVERAL MILES AWAY FROM THE PARENT THUNDERSTORM.
SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3450 8806 3444 8776 3431 8790 3432 8813
3432 8814 3434 8816
TIME...MOT...LOC 2313Z 228DEG 7KT 3433 8802SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
628 PM CDT WED JUL 13 2016
ALZ003-140015-
FRANKLIN AL-
628 PM CDT WED JUL 13 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL FRANKLIN COUNTY UNTIL 715
PM CDT...
AT 628 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9
MILES NORTHWEST OF HACKLEBURG...OR 11 MILES SOUTHEAST OF RED BAY.
THIS STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
RUSSELLVILLE...BELGREEN...VINA...HODGES...ATWOOD...DEMPSEY...
LITTLE BEAR CREEK RESERVOIR...DUKETON...ROCKWOOD AND ISBELL.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL BE CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL TREE
LIMBS...ALONG WITH OTHER SMALL UNSECURED ITEMS. SEEK SAFE SHELTER
UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE SEVERAL MILES AWAY FROM THE PARENT THUNDERSTORM.
SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3440 8809 3452 8800 3450 8769 3431 8782
3432 8811
TIME...MOT...LOC 2328Z 255DEG 2KT 3433 8798SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
706 PM CDT WED JUL 13 2016
ALZ003-140045-
FRANKLIN AL-
706 PM CDT WED JUL 13 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL FRANKLIN COUNTY UNTIL 745
PM CDT...
AT 706 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
RUSSELLVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
RUSSELLVILLE...PHIL CAMPBELL...LITTLEVILLE...BELGREEN...HODGES...
LITTLE BEAR CREEK RESERVOIR...SPRUCE PINE...DUKETON...
PLEASANT RIDGE AND THARPTOWN.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL BE CAPABLE OF KNOCKING DOWN SMALL TREE
LIMBS...ALONG WITH OTHER SMALL UNSECURED ITEMS. SEEK SAFE SHELTER
UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED.
&&
LAT...LON 3458 8793 3457 8760 3456 8756 3431 8765
3432 8797
TIME...MOT...LOC 0006Z 250DEG 10KT 3450 8777The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 89 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:17 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees down in the Russellville area.
Franklin EMA reports quarter size hail near Russellville.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, July 2016
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: 647130, 647131.