A squall line developed over North Mississippi and West Tennessee late in the afternoon on April 3rd ahead of a strong cold front. The atmosphere over North Alabama contained enough instability and shear for an organized QLCS.
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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 BMX wrote it up.
A squall line developed over North Mississippi and West Tennessee late in the afternoon on April 3rd ahead of a strong cold front. The atmosphere over North Alabama contained enough instability and shear for an organized QLCS. The squall line raced quickly eastward across North Alabama during the evening hours, producing sporadic wind damage.
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 Apr 3, 5:47 PM CST, 2 hours 53 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 647 PM CDT Tue Apr 3 2018 .UPDATE... Aviation Discussion. && .SHORT TERM... Through Tonight. Very warm southerly flow today has pushed surface temperatures into the lower 80s across most of Central Alabama. A strong capping inversion has suppressed convection this afternoon with the cumulus not showing much vertical development. A pre-frontal line of convection has developed across western Arkansas and north Texas. A separate area of thunderstorms over east Texas has been expanding northeast. It is likely this cluster of storms will eventually form a line of storms later this afternoon that moves into northwest Alabama this evening. The air mass over west Alabama will be untapped as the squall line moves into the area. CAPE values across northwest Alabama will be near 1500 j/kg with 0-3Km SRH values around 350 k/kg. The northwest counties of central Alabama have been upgraded to an enhanced risk of severe storms, where the tornado threat will also be highest. Straight- line winds will be the primary threat as the line accelerates eastward. A gradual weakening of the line is expected as it approaches the I-59 corridor, but still potent enough for isolated wind damage. Gradient winds ahead the the squall line will be in the 15-20 mph range with gusts to 35 mph at times. 58/rose .LONG TERM... Wednesday through Monday. Behind the front, we'll notice roughly a 20 degree drop in temperatures fairly quickly Wednesday morning as cold air advection pushes into the area. Expect a mild day overall on Wednesday as high pressure builds in across the area. Clear skies and calm winds Wednesday night into Thursday will lead to effective radiational cooling with temperatures dropping into the 30s for most of Central AL. Counties in the north could drop near or below freezing, so will add mention for cold weather impacts in the HWO for Thursday morning. Our frontal passage looks to be Friday evening into Saturday as a cold front slides across the area, increasing our rain chances. Moisture return ahead of the system isn't overly impressive, which will limit the instability and any severe potential for the weekend. Another system approaches for early next week, but models vary substantially on timing, instability, and available moisture. Therefore, will continue monitoring model trends to determine any severe potential, but the significant differences between the GFS and ECMWF lead to too low of confidence to add anything into the HWO for early next week. 25/Owen && .AVIATION... 00Z TAF Discussion. A potent storm system will sweep across the Central Gulf Coast region tonight. South winds 12-22 kts with higher gusts will prevail this evening ahead of a fast-moving squall line. Made minor changes to adjust for arrival timing of the squall line; near a KTCL-KBHM line by 04z, near KEET by 05z, and near KASN-KANB by 06Z. Portions of the line will contain large hail and wind gusts in excess of 50 mph. A gradual weakening trend is expected after 06Z. Widespread MVFR cigs expected behind the squall line, but rapid drying in the low levels will bring clearing skies to the northern TAFS between 09z and 12z. Winds behind the squall line become westerly, then northwesterly just before sunrise, with sustained wind up to 12kts with higher gusts. 14 && .FIRE WEATHER... Scattered showers are possible this afternoon before wetting rains will be possible for tonight into Wednesday with the arrival of the next frontal system. Much colder weather expected Wednesday into Thursday. There are no fire weather concerns at this time. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 47 58 32 67 45 / 90 10 0 0 10 Anniston 49 59 34 68 46 / 90 20 0 0 10 Birmingham 48 60 35 70 48 / 90 10 0 0 10 Tuscaloosa 49 62 36 70 48 / 90 10 0 0 10 Calera 49 60 36 70 48 / 90 20 0 0 10 Auburn 57 62 38 69 46 / 90 40 0 0 10 Montgomery 56 65 37 72 46 / 90 30 0 0 0 Troy 59 64 37 71 45 / 80 50 0 0 0 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES/... None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 1133 AM CDT Tue Apr 3 2018 ALZ011>015-017>050-041945- 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- 1133 AM CDT Tue Apr 3 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Severe storms are possible tonight generally along and north of I-85, with a higher threat for areas north of I-59. Damaging winds, large hail, and a few brief tornadoes are possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Cold weather expected Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Areas in the North Central Alabama could drop to near or below freezing. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management will likely be needed tonight.
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 49 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:41 UTC.
18 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees uprooted in the Shottsville Community near the intersection of County Road 126 and Colburn Road.
Several trees uprooted in the Shiloh Community near the intersection of County Road 73 and County Road 20.
Several trees uprooted on County Road 27 south of Highway 43.
Several trees uprooted in the Whitehouse Community near the intersection of County Road 241 and Highway 278.
Several trees uprooted on Newburg Road in the city of Haleyville.
Several trees uprooted and minor damage to several homes along County Road 3174. Damage also occurred to several boat docks in the area.
Damage to Sears store on Highway 78 in the city of Jasper.
Several trees uprooted along Highway 78.
Several trees uprooted at Graves Gap Road and Holt Circle.
Several power lines downed on Briarwood Road in the city of Blountsville.
Several trees uprooted along Spunky Hollow Road and Holloway Road.
Reports of broken wooden power poles and several trees uprooted near the intersection of Highway 431 and Coal Ridge Road.
Several trees uprooted along Rainbow Drive near the intersection of Interstate 759.
Several trees uprooted and blocking Scenic Highway Road.
Several trees uprooted and power lines downed on Pope Road.
Large tree on home with one injury.
Small outbuilding destroyed and several trees uprooted on County Road 83 near Highway 411.
Power lines downed at the intersection of Cedar Springs Road and Post Oak Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, April 2018
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: 751113, 751114, 751116, 751117, 751118, 751120, 751121, 751122, 751125, 751132, 751127, 751137, 751139, 751141, 751142, 751146, 751150, 751155.