A narrow fast-moving line of showers and a few embedded thunderstorms produced numerous reports of wind damage and two tornadoes.
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.
A narrow fast-moving line of showers and a few embedded thunderstorms produced numerous reports of wind damage and two tornadoes.
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 Nov 18, 3:12 PM CST, 1 hour 18 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 312 PM CST Sat Nov 18 2017 .NEAR TERM...(Tonight) Issued at 312 PM CST Sat Nov 18 2017 A powerful storm system continued developing as it moved to the northeast across northern Ohio, with its surface low now in the upper 980s mb intensity. A tightening pressure gradient around this system, and high pressure east of the Carolina's coast, was creating windy conditions across the Tennessee Valley. Southwest winds have been averaging in the 20-30 mph range, with gusts over 40 mph in the higher and more exposed terrain. The strong southerly flow has drawn deeper Gulf moisture well inland, raising area dewpoints into the upper 50s and lower 60s, and real air temperatures has warm as the lower 70s. A few passing light showers or drizzle have affected some locations, especially downwind of up sloping terrain. The main event - a strong cold front was moving across the Mississippi River region, extending from SW Indiana, to east of Memphis, and near Greenville MS. A line of showers and thunderstorms was accompanying this frontal boundary as it heads rapidly eastward. A quick timing of convection south of Memphis suggests it will reach far NW Alabama in the next 2-3 hours or 5-6 PM. A concern with that convection is that the area is modestly unstable, with strong lower level shear also in place. However, the strongest shear in the 1 and 3km was displaced to the north and east of the region. Also, point soundings indicated an inversion aloft, that flattens just as the line of convection moves in. Thus there exists a very narrow window for severe storms to occur. A strong and severe convective threat will end as one moves further east - mainly from a loss of daytime heating/instability and the shear being displaced even further to the east of the region. Much cooler air will filter in behind the cold front. Low temperatures towards daybreak Sunday will chill into the mid/upper 30s. A wind of 5-10 mph will be sufficient to keep frosting concerns minimized. .SHORT TERM...(Sunday through Monday) Issued at 312 PM CST Sat Nov 18 2017 Skies will become sunny to begin a new week Sunday. But with much colder air invading from the NW, High temperatures on Sunday will struggle into the upper 40s, a good 20-25 degrees cooler than today. Sunday night, a real good chance for an area wide hard freeze is still in the forecast, as cold air continues flowing across the region. Nighttime lows will chill into the mid/upper 20s in most spots. Only locations near large bodies of water may be spared freezing temperatures, or at least will "only" cool to around 32 degrees. A tad warmer is expected on Monday with highs in the mid 50s. Not as cool Monday night with lows in the mid/upper 30s under generally clear skies. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday through Friday) Issued at 240 PM CST Sat Nov 18 2017 Early Tuesday, a broad trough will be present across the East CONUS, with the axis extending southward generally along/near the Miss River. Although short waves will be rotating through the base of the trough across the region, a lack of sufficient moisture along zones of lift will prevent rain/showers from developing in our area. Instead, the greatest height falls and thus low pressure development is expected to take place in the NE Gulf during the day. Moisture advection in concert with the best lift will take place well to our SE-E as the area of low pressure likely strengthens and moves to the NE across the FL peninsula and into the W Atlantic. A secondary upper wave will push into the base of the trough (and across the TN Valley) by late on Wednesday and help with this process. Cold advection and deepening northerly flow in association with the reinforcing upper trough will lead to cold advection and cooler temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday. A freeze may again occur in many locations on Thursday and Friday mornings, but conditions will likely remain dry for Thanksgiving and Friday. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday afternoon) Issued at 1201 PM CST Sat Nov 18 2017 A widespread MVFR (1800-2500 ft AGL) CIGs persisted across the greater Tennessee Valley, as a powerful storm system moves from Indiana to Lake Erie. It will bring a strong cold front across this area in the very late afternoon and evening. This boundary should reach the KMSL terminal around 6 PM, with SW winds becoming W, then NW - still in the 20-30kt range. The boundary should reach KHSV around 7 PM, with a similar wind direction change. Numerous showers, along with isolated/scattered t-storms will briefly precede, accompany the front. Post frontal showers are expected after frontal passage, which should taper off a few hours later from west to east, along with wind speeds. CIG/VIS values could briefly lower to into the IFR range with the front. Timing of this fast moving front precluded including that in the TAF. MVFR CIGs otherwise should improve into the VFR range after midnight, continuing for Sunday morning. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...Wind Advisory until 9 PM CST this evening for ALZ001>010-016. TN...Wind Advisory until 9 PM CST this evening for TNZ076-096-097. && NEAR TERM...RSB SHORT TERM...RSB LONG TERM...KDW AVIATION...RSB For more information please visit our website at weather.gov/huntsville.
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Huntsville AL 839 AM CST Sat Nov 18 2017 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-190030- Lauderdale-Colbert-Franklin AL-Lawrence-Limestone-Madison-Morgan- Marshall-Jackson-De Kalb-Cullman-Moore-Lincoln-Franklin TN- 839 AM CST Sat Nov 18 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north Alabama and portions of southern middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight... A strong cold front will move across the region this afternoon and evening, accompanied by a fast moving band of numerous showers and scattered thunderstorms. Some of these storms could become strong to severe in intensity, with damaging wind gusts to 60 MPH the primary impact. A brief spin-up tornado cannot be ruled out within the heavier showers and/or stronger storms. Tornado formation is possible over Southern Middle Tennessee, and portions of Northwest and North Central Alabama - mainly north of the Tennessee River and west of the Interstate 65 corridor. Outside of any heavier shower and thunderstorm activity, sustained southerly winds will increase to between 20 and 25 MPH, with gusts up to 35 to 40 MPH, especially in the higher terrain locations of Northeastern Alabama and Southern Middle Tennessee. As the front shifts across the region late this afternoon and early evening, winds will become westerly in the evening. Please consult the Wind Advisory that is in effect for more information. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday... The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. Conditions will be favorable for a hard freeze Monday morning, with lows forecast to reach the mid to upper 20s. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management personnel may be requested for the afternoon and early evening.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
421 PM CST SAT NOV 18 2017
ALZ001-002-182245-
Lauderdale AL-Colbert AL-
421 PM CST SAT NOV 18 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN LAUDERDALE AND WESTERN
COLBERT COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM CST...
At 421 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Walnut Grove to near Burton in
Mississippi. Movement was east at 40 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
J P Coleman State Park, Cherokee, Waterloo, Malone, Posey Loop,
Allsboro, Wright, Riverton, Oakland and Red Rock.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3500 8767 3459 8787 3458 8798 3458 8814
3489 8810 3492 8816 3501 8820
TIME...MOT...LOC 2221Z 263DEG 47KT 3508 8807 3458 8835
LNThe Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 117 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:31 UTC.
44 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree reported down along CR 14 and CR 87 in the Waterloo area.
Power poles and power lines were knocked down across the Natchez Trace Access Road.
A tree was knocked down on Frankfort Road.
A tree was knocked down on CR 247 about 5 miles west of U.S. Highway 72.
Numerous trees were knocked down in and near the intersection of Legon Springs Road and Cook Creek Road and south to the Franklin County Line.
Widespread trees were knocked down in and along Cave Hollow Road and in several locations north of this area up to the Colbert County line. Some power power lines were knocked down.
A power pole was knocked down on County Farm Road.
A tree was knocked down on 33rd Street near Hatch Blvd.
A tin rood was torn off of the Advanced Auto Parts store along Cloverdale Road in Florence. Several windows were damaged.
A pecan tree was uprooted with large limbs snapped. A tin roof was torn off of a barn along Kasmeier Road in the Saint Florian area.
The tornado touched down in the vicinity of Ligon Springs Road, about half a mile north of where Ligon Springs Road turns east. Multiple trees in this area were uprooted. The tornado then tracked almost due east. Where the tornado intersected Cook Creek Road, there were numerous trees uprooted and smaller trunks snapped. A house was also damaged on Cook Creek Road. The garage attached to the house was almost completely collapsed and was pulled away from the main house. The house also had some shingle and siding damage as well as the porch supports blown out. Multiple trees behind the home were uprooted and smaller trunks were snapped. The tornado continued to track east and cross the eastern portion of Ligon Springs Road. On this road, a small barn was mostly collapsed along with a few trees uprooted and lying|across the road. No additional damage was found farther east.
A tree was knocked down near the intersection of U.S. Highway 43 and Ligon Springs Road.
Trees were knocked down near the intersection of Gate 6 Road and 2nd Street.
A tree was knocked down onto a vehicle.
Structural damage at the Killen Drug Store and the Tire Center.
A tree and power lines were knocked down at McCormack Lane and County Line Road.
Trees were knocked down near the intersection of Piney Woods Road and Aycock Bridge Road.
A tree was knocked down on Turkey Farm Road.
A tree was knocked down at LaGrange Road west of Witt Store Road.
A power pole was knocked down near the corner of Hatton School Road and East 2nd Street.
A tornado touched down on CR-140 and along a forested area just west of where CR-140 and AL Highway 157 intersect. Just east of Highway 157, a house had significant damage. The tin roof was peeled away from its wooden supports, some of which were broken. Large trees were snapped and uprooted and were laying in multiple directions. A well constructed sturdy barn with metal supports was completely mangled and collapsed. Debris from the barn and the house was tossed into the woods behind it|and wrapped around trees. The tornado then tracked east, with a swath of damage bordering and along CR-140. The houses all along this road had shingle damage, as well as a few holes through the wood of the roof. Another house had an east facing door blown in with a back porch pulled away from another. One house in particular, along with roof damage, had a roof completely removed from a large car port with its supports pulled from the concrete. A trailer was also picked up and placed on top of a tractor. This house also had a row of trees completely snapped near the center of the tree. All along the road there were very large trees uprooted and trunks snapped. The tornado moved east through forested areas before impacting more houses along CR-449. One house had a window blown out and an interior door was twisted along with a small outbuilding collapsed. Next door, a mobile home had the tin peeled off and twisted and some thrown around trees. Siding on the back side was peeled off and the undercarriage was blown out in a few places. A standalone garage port was slightly|shifted off its foundation with the doors blown in. Multiple trees were uprooted and snapped as well. The tornado crossed AL-101 uprooting trees. A mobile home had a few shingles missing along with a few trees uprooted and snapped were found near CR-256 and Broad Hollow Road. No damage was found east of this point.
Trees and power lines were knocked down at the intersection of Cedar Avenue and Upper Fort Hampton Road.
Trees were knocked down along Highway 20 in Trinity.
Trees were knocked down and roofs were torn off of houses along CR 140, CR 150 and CR 159 in the Moulton area.
Trees and power lines were knocked down at the intersection of Newby Road and U.S. Highway 72.
Trees and power lines were knocked down at the intersection of McKee Road and Highway 251.
Trees were knocked down along Mill Road and Old Highway 31.
A tree was knocked down on a house with sparks coming from the home along Longbow Drive in the Decatur area.
Trees and power lines were knocked down at the intersection of Garret Road and Mooresville Road.
Trees and power lines were knocked down near the intersection of Wooley Springs Road and Holt Road.
Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down across the county.
FAA representatives reported damage to 5 aircraft and 1 helicopter in two hangers. Three inch diameter ropes were broken that tied the vertical blades down. Time estimated by HSV ASOS wind report and radar.
The ASOS at the Huntsville International Airport (KHSV) recorded a wind gust of 58 mph.
Several trees and power lines were knocked down along Highway 117 and CR 134 in the Ider area.
Trees were knocked down in the Arab area.
Power lines were knocked down along Water Tank Road and Mountain View Road in Union Grove.
Large tree limbs and debris blocking CR 39 east of Skyline.
Trees were knocked down in the Grant area.
Power poles were knocked down along north Broad Street in the Scottsboro area.
A power line was knocked down onto a vehicle with entrapment along Rock Hill Road at Scoles Road southwest of Guntersville.
Power lines were knocked down with roof damage in the middle of the road along Highway 69 at Warrenton Road west of Guntersville.
Trees were knocked down in the Pine Island Circle area with road blockage.
Trees were knocked down along Langston Road and Cemetary Road in the Langston area making them impassible.
Several trees and power lines were knocked down along Highway 75 and CR 482 northwest of Crossville.
Several trees and power lines were knocked down along Highway 117 and CR 134 in the Ider area.
A tree was knocked down across Highway 71 at CR 78 northwest of Henagar. A vehicle hit the tree that was in the road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Alabama, 2017Warnings in Alabama, November 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: 726091, 727519, 727520, 727521, 727523, 727524, 727525, 727526, 727527, 727528, 722663, 727529, 727530, 727531, 727532, 727533, 727534, 727535, 727536, 727537, 722664, 727538, 727540, 727541, 727542, 727543, 727544, 727545, 727546, 727547, 727548, 727549, 727564, 727550, 727551, 727552, 727559, 727554, 727555, 727556, and more.