Multiple lines of thunderstorms produced several reports of wind damage, particularly in northwest Alabama where winds were measured at or above 75 mph in a couple locations. Trees were either uprooted and toppled over in several locations.
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.
Multiple lines of thunderstorms produced several reports of wind damage, particularly in northwest Alabama where winds were measured at or above 75 mph in a couple locations. Trees were either uprooted and toppled over in several locations. Large trees were uprooted and dropped onto at least three homes in Cullman 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 May 27, 7:07 PM CST, 2 hours 3 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 807 PM CDT Sat May 27 2017 .NEAR TERM...(Tonight) Issued at 807 PM CDT Sat May 27 2017 Updated mainly concerning development and evolution of convection to our north. This convection was basically along the I-40 corridor from Jackson to south of Nashville to west of Cookeville. Even with somewhat cooler conditions nearing dusk, very unstable conditions continued with mixed layer and surface CAPE values in the 2000-3000 J/kg range. Also noticed lower level shear values increasing to our north as the convection nears. The HRRR continues a trend of bringing the showers across the area in the 04-05Z timeframe. But looking at the current radar and storm movement, think they will be here an hour or so earlier. Strong to damaging wind gusts and large hail are the main threats. Higher shear values keeps the possibility of a brief tornado in the picture too. At this time, think the convection will affect mainly our southern middle Tennessee and far northeast Alabama counties first, then the remainder of the area in a NNW-SSE manner in the late evening and overnight. Update wise, sped up arrival of likely rain chances for our northern areas a few hours earlier. Left temperatures and the remaining parameters as is for now. .SHORT TERM...(Sunday through Monday) Issued at 250 PM CDT Sat May 27 2017 If the MCS does move through tonight much of the hires guidance has it through the area shortly after sunrise Sunday. However, the cold front will still be lingering off the NW and should spark another round of convection that will drop S/SE through the area Sunday afternoon/night. Timing again is very uncertain with the MCS potentially limiting activity as we may be too worked over. Plus, the main synoptic forcing with the front will be off to the NE. CAPE and shear parameters are a bit lower on Sunday and the mid-level dry air we have over the area today will be gone. So, the potential for the stronger damaging winds may not be as great. But hail and some stronger wind gusts are still possible with storms along the front. The forecast uses more of a blend because of the lingering uncertainty but if we don't have the MCS come through we could end up with some severe storms on Sunday with the front. With the front losing it's main forcing it begins to slow down as it moves through the area Sunday into Monday. This could shift the threat from severe to more of a heavy rain and flooding threat on Monday. Did stick to a blend of guidance for PoPs on Monday and kept 50 to 60 PoPs for much of the area during the day. Thunderstorm chances begin to decrease as we lose heating Monday evening. With the increased rain chances and cloud cover temps will be a little "cooler" on Monday compared to today and Sunday. Hoping to see some more consistency in the guidance in the next few runs. .LONG TERM...(Monday night through Friday) Issued at 250 PM CDT Sat May 27 2017 A broad upper trough remains over N. MN at 00z Monday with a cold front that will essentially be stalled across N. AL. The upper low remains wedged between strong high pressure over the N. Atlantic and the N. Pacific with all the energy well to our north. Locally, a mid level ridge anchored off the SE coast will allow short waves to ride along it SW to NE across N. AL. Continued SW flow at the surface will keep ushering moisture into the area as well. The upper low finally opens up and meanders eastward on Friday. At the same time, a weak upper low develops over the midwest and will track eastward. What this all means is that isolated to scattered thunderstorms will essentially stay in the forecast for the entire long term period, Monday night through Saturday night. The highest coverages will be in the afternoon but isolated showers/storms will probably linger each evening. Shear is non existent most of the week so would expected convectively induced showers and maybe a strong storm possible each afternoon. The dynamics for the weekend look stronger with greater instability so we'll watch that more in coming forecasts. Temperatures for the week will be near normal with highs in the lower 80s and lows in the lower to mid 60s. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Sunday evening) Issued at 632 PM CDT Sat May 27 2017 Unsettled weather this TAF, as a series of convective systems move NW to SE across the region. Even in the short term, there is low confidence regarding timing of these systems. One of the models is forecasting thunderstorm complexes now across the KY/TN border and SE MO should move across this area in the late evening. Other output has those systems impacting the region during the overnight. Stayed with the quicker solution this issuance. Given an unstable atmosphere across the region, strong erratic wind gusts are expected as storm complex traverses the region. Have lowered VIS/CIG values into the lower MVFR range, with IFR or lower values possible. MVFR CIGs should continue to after sunrise Sunday, with scattered convection into the early morning. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. TN...NONE. && NEAR TERM...RSB SHORT TERM...Stumpf LONG TERM...LN AVIATION...RSB For more information please visit our website at weather.gov/huntsville.
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Huntsville AL 637 PM CDT Sat May 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- 637 PM CDT Sat May 27 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north Alabama and portions of southern middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Tonight... More numerous thunderstorms will impact the region late this evening and overnight. Some of these storms will be strong to severe, with the main threats damaging wind gusts over 60 mph and large hail. A few tornadoes cannot be ruled out within the strongest storms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday... Thunderstorms may still be ongoing across portions of the outlook area Sunday morning, although the coverage should diminish during the afternoon. Regardless of coverage, conditions may be favorable for the redevelopment of strong to severe thunderstorms Sunday afternoon. A slow moving cold front will bring more widespread storms Sunday night and Monday. Although a few strong to marginally severe storms will be possible, the greatest threat will come from locally heavy rainfall. The cold front is expected to stall near or just south of the region, with generally low to moderate chances for storms continuing through Friday. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management personnel is likely tonight. BCC
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
1004 PM CDT SAT MAY 27 2017
ALZ001-002-005-280330-
Lauderdale AL-Limestone AL-Colbert AL-
1004 PM CDT SAT MAY 27 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LAUDERDALE...LIMESTONE AND
NORTHERN COLBERT COUNTIES UNTIL 1030 PM CDT...
At 1004 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Pickwick Landing State Park to Ardmore.
Movement was south at 15 mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Florence, Athens, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, J P Coleman State Park,
Rogersville, Ardmore, Killen, Lexington and St. Florian.
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
line of storms has passed.
These storms 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 3499 8678 3475 8679 3477 8732 3480 8736
3480 8742 3477 8743 3479 8811 3489 8810
3492 8816 3501 8820
TIME...MOT...LOC 0304Z 341DEG 13KT 3505 8819 3500 8687
BCCThe Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 7 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:10 UTC.
50 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees were knocked down at this location near Hurricane Creek.
A tree was knocked down in the roadway near the landfill at 5896 Highway 157.
A tree was knocked down on JB Walker Road near New Market.
A tree was knocked down on the roadway on CR 113 just north of CR 586.
A large tree was knocked down in Rosalie on CR 78.
A tree was knocked down near the intersection of Cherry Tree Road and Berkley.
A tree was knocked down near the intersection of Dug Hill Road and Stacey Circle.
A large tree was knocked down onto a power line on Greenbriar Drive.
Multiple trees were knocked down on Highway 117 on Lookout Mountain.
A tree was knocked down across the roadway at 3673 CR 158.
Trees were knocked down in the Riverton Rose Park area.
A home weather station measured a wind gust of 75 mph in the Pogo community before power was lost.
A large tree was knocked down on Woodland Road south of CR 204.
A tree was knocked down on CR 224 between the railroad tracks and CR 309.
A tree was knocked down on CR 223 off of CR 2.
A tree was knocked down onto a home and vehicle on Howell Street.
Widespread trees were knocked down along CR 23 south of Vina.
A tree was knocked down on Lingerlost Road at Willoughby Lane.
A tree was knocked down at CR 170 off of CR 71.
A tree was knocked down on Jackson Highway in Littleville.
A tree was knocked down by thunderstorm winds at CR 73 and CR 71.
A tree was knocked down by thunderstorm winds at CR 76 at CR 33.
Trees were knocked down in the eastern portions of the Hatton community.
Trees were knocked down behind the Walmart in Russellville.
A tree was knocked down near 600 Twinkingham Road.
A tree was knocked down at this location.
A tree was knocked down onto CR 55 near Nugent Branch.
A tree was knocked down at CR 70 and Tipton Road.
Spotter estimated winds of at least 60 mph, possibly higher, in spruce pine. Time adjusted based on radar.
A tree was knocked down at Highway 207 at CR 52.
A tree and power pole were knocked down at 126 South Orleans Street.
A tree was knocked down at CR 49 at Highway 207.
Trees were knocked down in the Speake community.
A tree was knocked down near Market Street and Byler Road.
Quarter sized hail was reported in Mount Hope.
Power lines were knocked down and debris in the road along CR 14 in front of the Rock Wall.
A tree was knocked down at 1100 Andrews Road.
A tree was knocked down at Singleton and Ironman Roads.
A tree was knocked down at 132 Forrest Chapel Road.
A tree was knocked down at 1100 Natural Bridge Road.
A tree was knocked down at 1190 Old Highway 31.
A tree was knocked down at 1100 Mill Creek Road.
A tree was knocked down at Highway 55 East at Wilhite Road.
A tree was knocked down on a house on CR 1374 in the Vinemont area.
A tree was knocked down across the road at CR 1344.
A tree was knocked down across CR 1371.
A tree was knocked down at Nelson Hollow Road at NE Turnery Road.
A tree was knocked down at 187 Mack Brown Road.
A tree was knocked down at 485 Oz Davis Road.
Spotter estimated 60-65 mph gusts in Eva. Time estimated from radar.
A spotter measured a 78 mph wind gust and reported dime sized hail near Vinemont. Equipment not verified.
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, May 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: 694080, 694081, 694082, 694083, 694084, 694085, 694086, 694087, 694088, 694089, 694090, 694091, 694092, 694093, 694094, 694095, 694096, 694097, 694098, 694099, 694100, 694101, 694346, 694347, 694348, 694349, 694350, 694351, 696489, 694352, 694353, 694354, 694357, 694361, 694364, 694373, 694375, 694376, 694377, 694378, and more.