A narrow band of thunderstorms developed along an outflow boundary over eastern Lee County.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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 narrow band of thunderstorms developed along an outflow boundary over eastern Lee 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 Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 21, 5:47 PM CST, 1 hour 26 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 647 PM CDT Fri Jul 21 2017 .UPDATE... 00Z Aviation Discussion. && .SHORT TERM... The combination of temperatures and humidity values were too close to that danger zone and decided to go ahead an issue a Heat Advisory through 7 pm. The morning BMX raob and model soundings indicate some mixing will occur but that surface dew points will generally stay 70-71 degrees for minimum levels, with a few outliers in the 60s possible. Therefore, most heat indices will reach the 105-106 degree range and generally last only a few hours in the south and west. Please take the proper precautions when conditions are so hot. A combination of outflow boundaries from the north and south kicked off some showers and thunderstorms over southwest areas near Selma and Demopolis early this morning. This activity has shifted south of the area at mid day. The clouds associated with this activity have produced a differential heating boundary east west generally from Livingston to Clanton to Alexander City. Additionally, there is a low level convergence zone in the same general area. The highest mean moisture and instability reside in the Black Belt region which also closely co-located. Expect some showers and storms to develop in this region and drift southwestward into the evening hours. Elsewhere, activity will be more isolated. The mid to upper level ridge produces an easterly flow aloft and a few subtle waves ride through the flow overnight. There could be an isolated storm until midnight, and dont expect too much thereafter. But with the low level moisture in place, will have to monitor for activity that lingers or redevelops overnight. For Saturday, a bit more moisture below 5k feet over Central Alabama. This could mean more cloudiness. 1000-850mb thicknesses also drop slightly. Therefore, high temperatures a degree or two lower than today appear reasonable. With the slight increase in the moisture, mixing as we move through the day will have a lesser impact on surface dew points. So, we will be ever so close to the Heat Advisory Criteria of 105-109 degrees again. This would be for the same area outlined today with an emphasis on west central and northwest areas. Will not issue an extension of the advisory at this time, but we may need to by later this afternoon or tonight. Rain chances for Saturday appear more randomly scattered. 75 Previous short-term discussion:Today and tonight. Another hot summer day with convection expected once again this afternoon with afternoon highs in the mid to approaching upper 90s in the west and south. Focus for the afternoon convection will be across the south as boundaries from yesterday will be in place over the area. Storms could be on the stronger side as there will be plenty of instability to deal with like yesterday. Continued with isolated to scattered showers through Midnight as outflows from the late afternoon storms will still interact with some warmer air as they slide north and south. If we get the overall coverage as expected we may see some patchy fog in the south, so will add in for these areas after Midnight. Outside of the scattered showers and thunderstorms we will flirt with heat advisory criteria in the western and southern counties once again. Not enough confidence to issue an advisory at this time but will need to be re-evaluated this morning with the update to see if we are going to mix out before the warmest temperatures make it into the region. Will continue to mention in the HWO for a low confidence. 16 .LONG TERM... Saturday through Thursday. Weak height falls will signal a gradual increase in daily convective activity from Saturday into the upcoming week. The highest rain chances could come on Monday/Tuesday with 50-60 POPs areawide. Temperatures should accordingly trend downward to near or just below normal for the heart of summer. 87/Grantham && .AVIATION... 00Z TAF Discussion. Clusters of storms continue at forecast time, with activity near and/or affecting EET, MGM, and TOI. Expect heavy rainfall to bring significant reductions in vis, with wind gusts up to 35kts in any stronger storms. This activity will diminish through the evening hours, with skies clearing and winds becoming calm. Have included vis reductions to MVFR at this time for most terminals. Given the trends over the last couple of nights and rainfall that has occurred today, it is possible visibilities/ceilings could drop below MVFR overnight. Confidence is low at this time though. Expect another day of scattered showers and storms tomorrow afternoon, and have included VCTS for now. 14 && .FIRE WEATHER... Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected for the next several days. There are no fire weather concerns at this time. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 73 92 73 89 72 / 20 40 20 50 40 Anniston 73 91 74 89 73 / 20 40 20 50 30 Birmingham 74 92 76 90 75 / 20 40 20 50 30 Tuscaloosa 75 94 75 92 75 / 20 40 20 50 30 Calera 74 91 74 90 75 / 20 40 20 50 30 Auburn 73 91 73 89 73 / 30 30 20 40 30 Montgomery 74 93 75 92 75 / 40 30 20 50 30 Troy 72 92 73 90 73 / 30 30 20 50 20 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES/... Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for the following counties: Autauga...Barbour...Bibb...Bullock...Chilton... Dallas...Elmore...Fayette...Greene...Hale...Jefferson...Lamar... Lowndes...Macon...Marengo...Marion...Montgomery...Perry... Pickens...Pike...Russell...Shelby...Sumter...Tuscaloosa... Walker...Winston. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 332 AM CDT Fri Jul 21 2017 ALZ011>015-017>050-221145- 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- 332 AM CDT Fri Jul 21 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham. .DAY ONE...Outlook through Tonight. High temperatures are forecast to be in the middle 90s this afternoon. Heat indices could reach 105 or slightly higher across isolated areas of western and southern Alabama during the afternoon. Confidence remains low at this time. .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 is not expected at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
545 PM CDT FRI JUL 21 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0521 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 E CUBA 32.44N 88.34W
07/21/2017 SUMTER AL FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
TREE DOWN ALONG HWY 80. WINDS EST AT 50MPH.
&&
HAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
546 PM CDT FRI JUL 21 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0446 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 S BOYD 32.61N 88.31W
07/21/2017 SUMTER AL FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
TREES DOWN ON HWY 17, 3 MILES SOUTH OF CR
12. ADDITIONAL TREES DOWN ON CR 12. WINDS
ESTIMATED AT 45MPH. *CORRECTED FOR SOURCE.
&&
HASpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Birmingham AL 548 PM CDT FRI JUL 21 2017 ALZ044-212315- Montgomery AL- 548 PM CDT FRI JUL 21 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL MONTGOMERY COUNTY UNTIL 615 PM CDT... At 547 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Snowdoun to near Pintlala. Movement was north at 5 mph. Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Montgomery, Pinedale, Snowdoun and Pintlala. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. && LAT...LON 3231 8623 3225 8641 3208 8640 3217 8619 TIME...MOT...LOC 2247Z 158DEG 4KT 3222 8622 3213 8641 89^GSatterwhite
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
607 PM CDT FRI JUL 21 2017
ALZ042-044-212345-
Lowndes AL-Montgomery AL-
607 PM CDT FRI JUL 21 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LOWNDES AND NORTHWESTERN
MONTGOMERY COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM CDT...
At 607 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Snowdoun to near Beechwood. Movement was
northwest at 10 mph.
Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Montgomery, Mosses, Hayneville, Coosada, Gordonville, Lowndesboro,
Montgomery Zoo, Boylston, Hyundai Motors Of Alabama, Beechwood, Bob
Woodruff Lake, Woodcrest, Maxwell Air Force Base, Snowdoun, Lagoon
Park, Cantelous, Pintlala, Hunter, Alabama State University and Hope
Hull.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3208 8686 3220 8679 3235 8654 3234 8654
3234 8649 3241 8646 3240 8643 3241 8640
3243 8640 3243 8635 3241 8631 3244 8632
3249 8631 3247 8629 3250 8625 3245 8618
3216 8623 3196 8671 3196 8686
TIME...MOT...LOC 2307Z 157DEG 10KT 3224 8626 3205 8670
89^GSatterwhiteSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
634 PM CDT FRI JUL 21 2017
ALZ041-043-220015-
Autauga AL-Elmore AL-
634 PM CDT FRI JUL 21 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN AUTAUGA AND
SOUTHWESTERN ELMORE COUNTIES UNTIL 715 PM CDT...
At 633 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Bob Woodruff Lake to near Cantelous. Movement
was northwest at 15 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms. A wind
gust to 40 mph was recently measured at the Montgomery airport.
Locations impacted include...
Prattville, Millbrook, Elmore, Coosada, Deatsville, Autaugaville,
Booth, Autauga County Airport, Bob Woodruff Lake, Blue Ridge,
Wetumpka Municipal Airport and Speigner.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3237 8655 3237 8659 3241 8662 3240 8664
3245 8672 3265 8640 3248 8619 3247 8622
3250 8624 3250 8626 3249 8626 3247 8629
3249 8631 3244 8632 3242 8631 3243 8637
3240 8643 3241 8646 3235 8649 3234 8652
TIME...MOT...LOC 2333Z 141DEG 12KT 3247 8629 3228 8646
89^GSatterwhiteSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Birmingham AL 644 PM CDT FRI JUL 21 2017 ALZ045-220015- Macon AL- 644 PM CDT FRI JUL 21 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL MACON COUNTY UNTIL 715 PM CDT... At 644 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Society Hill, or 11 miles north of Hurtsboro, moving west at 20 mph. Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Society Hill and Tuskegee National Forest. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. && LAT...LON 3235 8544 3236 8566 3250 8560 3244 8543 TIME...MOT...LOC 2344Z 095DEG 18KT 3240 8545 89^GSatterwhite
The Maxwell AFB radar (KMXX), 65 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:13 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A 34 year old male died when he was struck by lightning while boating on Lake Harding.
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, Lee | 2017-07-21 | 34 | Male | Boating | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, July 2017
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: 716063.