Clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms developed during the afternoon hours producing large hail and isolated damaging winds. Late in the evening, a squall line of strong to severe thunderstorms dropped southeast from Tennessee producing isolated severe weather.
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 HUN wrote it up.
Clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms developed during the afternoon hours producing large hail and isolated damaging winds. Late in the evening, a squall line of strong to severe thunderstorms dropped southeast from Tennessee producing isolated severe weather.
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 Mar 27, 11:42 AM CST, 1 hour 53 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 1242 PM CDT Mon Mar 27 2017 .UPDATE... For 18Z TAFS. && .NEAR TERM...(Rest of Today) Issued at 1115 AM CDT Mon Mar 27 2017 A potentially busy afternoon and evening, with scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could become strong to severe in intensity, with large hail, damaging wind gusts, and a few tornadoes (mainly west of Interstate 65). High pressure off of the east coast was bringing a persistent southerly flow, bringing deeper Gulf moisture across the area. Surface dewpoints have been trending a bit higher than GFS LAMP and NAM guidance has been suggesting - into the lower 60s vs near 60. This will result in a more unstable atmosphere at the get go; with further daytime heating providing higher instability a good possibility later today and this evening. Out to our west, a surface low was heading eastward across NW Arkansas, with a warm front extending eastward across southern Kentucky. The approach of this low with its lift, along with daytime heating provided greater instability should lead to thunderstorm development this afternoon and evening. Short term model output was in reasonably good agreement bringing convection across far NW Alabama in the early afternoon, progressing it eastward into the evening. Given highest CAPE and shear values in the afternoon, the strongest storms should be across NW Alabama in the early to mid afternoon. The storm threat will progress eastward into the early evening, with somewhat lower odds of the strong/severe as one moves further east. That being said, CAPE values lessen by the early evening (becoming more elevated). This keeps a threat of damaging wind gusts and/or hail for locations further east during the evening. Update wise, made appropriate changes to the dewpoints and winds (higher). Also increased timing of T+ for our eastern areas a bit earlier this afternoon. The rest of the forecast looks to be in fine shape at this time. .SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Wednesday) Issued at 540 AM CDT Mon Mar 27 2017 The threat for severe tstms will continue into the evening hrs, as the upper disturbance translates further into the OH Valley and the shear axis becomes more linear across the region. The threat for strong/svr tstms should then come to an end heading into the late evening period, as buoyancy/instability weaken and the shear axis begins to diminish. Parent sfc low associated with the passing upper trough to the ne should then help the stalled frontal boundary just to the w to finally begin moving ewd through the area Tue morning, with lingering showers and perhaps a few tstms coming to an end. Quiet wx is then xpcted Tue night into Wed, although this latest frontal passage doesn't look to result in much of a cool down given that sfc flow quickly turns back to the e/se by mid week. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Sunday) Issued at 540 AM CDT Mon Mar 27 2017 The extended will start off on a dry and mild note ~60 degrees Wed night before the next system moves in on Thurs with highs in the upper 70s. On Thursday, a trough in the S Plains will start to swing NE towards the Great Lakes. Even though there is more model consistency now between the GFS and ECMWF, there is still some resolving to do before Thurs Night/Friday. While the ECMWF was more progressive with the upper level trough before, it became more linear and the GFS now holds on to the better upper level dynamics...which is a complete flip from 24 hrs ago. The GFS sfc low is tracking farther north than prev runs, not far behind the ECMWF track, however the ECMWF is showing an additional weak sfc low along the Gulf. The sfc low near the Gulf could limit or block off our moisture and instability. As it looks for right now, with strong shear (0-6km of 40-60kts and 0- 1km of 20-30kts), decent mid-level lapse rates and instability up to 500 J/kg could not rule out some strong to severe storms. Higher instability will remain to our southwest. Main hazards would be damaging winds at this time, however this could change with further models runs and additional model consistency. As the trough lifts NE, a few disturbances will round the backside keeping the chance of a few showers and thunderstorms in the forecast on Friday. However, as the cold front pushes through Friday afternoon/evening, it will pull in slightly cooler but drier air ending any lingering precip. A ridge will keep conditions dry and a few degrees warmer, lower 70s, this weekend. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Tuesday afternoon) Issued at 1242 PM CDT Mon Mar 27 2017 Scattered to numerous showers/thunderstorms will affect the area this afternoon and evening. Some of the storms could become strong to severe in intensity, with large hail, damaging winds, and a tornado or two possible (the strongest storms occur in areas west of I-65). Started prevailing convection at KMSL at 27/1900Z and KHSV an hour later, with erratic wind gusts and lowered CIG/VIS values into MVFR. Even lower minimums are possible in the strongest showers/storms. Shower activity should wind down as the activity progresses in a NW- SE manner this evening. Winds should remain high enough to keep fog formation minimized late tonight. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. TN...NONE. && NEAR TERM...RSB SHORT TERM...09 LONG TERM...JMS AVIATION...RSB For more information please visit our website at weather.gov/huntsville.
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Huntsville AL 450 AM CDT Mon Mar 27 2017 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-281000- Lauderdale-Colbert-Franklin AL-Lawrence-Limestone-Madison-Morgan- Marshall-Jackson-De Kalb-Cullman-Moore-Lincoln-Franklin TN- 450 AM CDT Mon Mar 27 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north Alabama and portions of southern middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight... Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected to develop later today in response to a passing upper level disturbance. Some of these storms may be strong to severe in nature this afternoon and this evening, and will be capable of producing large hail and damaging winds. A low tornado threat cannot be ruled as well in some of the stronger clusters of storms. The threat for strong to severe thunderstorms will then come to an end heading into the overnight hours. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday... A few lingering thunderstorms are possible Tuesday morning as a cold front moves eastward across the outlook area. Another storm system approaching from the west may bring additional thunderstorms to the outlook area Thursday into Friday. A few storms may be strong to severe but the exact details and timing remain uncertain at this point. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management personnel is likely this afternoon and evening.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
133 PM CDT MON MAR 27 2017
ALZ001-002-271900-
Lauderdale AL-Colbert AL-
133 PM CDT MON MAR 27 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN LAUDERDALE AND
NORTHWESTERN COLBERT COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM CDT...
At 132 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms over Tishomingo moving northeast at 55 mph.
Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, Cherokee, Waterloo,
Malone, Allsboro, Wright and Riverton.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike several miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a
safe shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3489 8810 3490 8810 3501 8786 3500 8782
3475 8765 3460 8814
TIME...MOT...LOC 1832Z 240DEG 49KT 3466 8827
15Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Huntsville AL 157 PM CDT MON MAR 27 2017 ALZ002-003-271930- Franklin AL-Colbert AL- 157 PM CDT MON MAR 27 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN COLBERT AND WESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL 230 PM CDT... At 156 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7 miles northeast of Red Bay, moving northeast at 35 mph. Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Red Bay, Belgreen, Posey Loop, Allsboro, Red Rock, Dempsey, Crooked Oak, Colbert Heights, Pogo and Cedar Creek Reservoir. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike several miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. && LAT...LON 3472 8812 3470 8765 3436 8786 3442 8816 TIME...MOT...LOC 1856Z 221DEG 32KT 3452 8807 15
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
204 PM CDT MON MAR 27 2017
ALZ008-271930-
Marshall AL-
204 PM CDT MON MAR 27 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN MARSHALL COUNTY UNTIL
230 PM CDT...
At 204 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Susan Moore, or 8 miles east of Blountsville, moving northeast at 40
mph.
Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Albertville, Boaz, Guntersville, Arab, Douglas, Union Grove, High
Point, Rabbit Town, McVille and Horton.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
LAT...LON 3421 8642 3426 8644 3426 8646 3429 8646
3429 8648 3430 8648 3430 8650 3444 8647
3430 8611 3419 8610 3418 8619 3410 8630
TIME...MOT...LOC 1904Z 216DEG 33KT 3409 8642
12Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
226 PM CDT MON MAR 27 2017
ALZ008-272015-
Marshall AL-
226 PM CDT MON MAR 27 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL MARSHALL COUNTY UNTIL 315
PM CDT...
At 225 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Albertville, moving northeast at 35 mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Albertville, Guntersville, Grant, Douglas, High Point, Horton,
Columbus City, Lake Guntersville St Park, Hustleville and Rabbit
Town.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
LAT...LON 3423 8643 3460 8627 3460 8619 3457 8615
3452 8615 3453 8613 3452 8610 3451 8611
3447 8609 3447 8607 3443 8611 3440 8612
3434 8611 3415 8627
TIME...MOT...LOC 1925Z 206DEG 29KT 3425 8633
73The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 121 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:35 UTC.
19 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
Nickel sized hail was reported on Patsy DRive in the Forrest Hills subdivision in Florence.
Hail up to half dollar sized was reported on Spring Creek Drive in Guntersville.
Golf ball sized hail was reported on the east side of Guntersville.
A funnel cloud descended from a wall cloud.
Quarter sized hail was measured at the Franklin County EOC in Belgreen.
Quarter sized hail was reported at the intersection of CR 23 and Alabama Highway 19 in Vina.
Quarter sized hail was reported.
Quarter sized hail was reported.
Quarter sized hail was reported at Little Bear Creek Reservoir at Highway 184 and William Hollow Road in Spruce Pine.
Quarter sized hail was reported.
Quarter sized hail was reported.
Half dollar sized hail was reported.
Quarter sized hail was reported.
Power lines and trees were knocked down.
A barn was damaged near Hendrexville.
Nickel sized hail was reported.
Several trees were knocked down.
Quarter sized hail was reported near Boaz.
A tree was knocked down across the road at the intersection of CR 118 and CR 11.
Golf ball sized hail was reported.
Quarter sized hail was reported.
Quarter sized hail was estimated near Cherokee.
Nickel sized hail was reported.
A tree was knocked down on the road at the intersection of CR 2 and Natchez Trace Parkway. Trees were also knocked down on Natchez Track Parkway in Cherokee.
Quarter sized hail was reported.
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, March 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: 678913, 678914, 678915, 678916, 678917, 678918, 678919, 678920, 678921, 678922, 678923, 678924, 678925, 678926, 678927, 678928, 678929, 678930, 678931, 678932, 678933, 678934, 678935, 678936, 678937.