Thunderstorms developed during the afternoon over northwest Alabama and formed a band that moved east-southeast and lasted into the early evening hours. A couple of the thunderstorms produced wind damage and hail.
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.
Thunderstorms developed during the afternoon over northwest Alabama and formed a band that moved east-southeast and lasted into the early evening hours. A couple of the thunderstorms produced wind damage and hail.
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 Aug 16, 2:01 PM CST, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 301 PM CDT Thu Aug 16 2018 .NEAR TERM...(Tonight) Issued at 300 PM CDT Thu Aug 16 2018 Latest water vapor imagery shows an upper low over the Upper Mississippi Valley, with upper ridging over the Intermountain West. At the surface, high pressure was encompassing much of the southeastern US, with low pressure over the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys. Latest radar trends show isolated to scattered thunderstorms developing over central Mississippi, as well as middle Tennessee. Some convection was trying to maintain itself over the local area, however storms have had a difficult time persisting. Forecast soundings indicate slightly weaker lapse rates over northwest Alabama, perhaps limiting the robust instability that is in place elsewhere. This is preventing the overall development and coverage of thunderstorms across the TN Valley. However, we could see a slight uptick in activity over the next couple of hours, as our instability increases and outflows from ongoing activity to our north and west move into the area. Any storms that are able to maintain their updrafts will be capable of producing strong gusty winds. Any thunderstorms that do develop will quickly diminish after sunset, as we lose our daytime heating. Cloud cover is expected to persist through the overnight hours, and limit temps from dropping below the lower 70s. .SHORT TERM...(Friday through Saturday night) Issued at 300 PM CDT Thu Aug 16 2018 The upper low over the Upper Mississippi Valley will slowly dig southward through the overnight hours and move into the Ohio Valley by Friday morning. As this system moves eastward, the upper flow pattern will become more southwesterly once again, with deep layer moisture advecting into the region. Meanwhile, a shortwave moving around the base of the trough will strengthen during the day, with a weak low level jet moving over the lower Ohio Valley. As the synoptic forcing increases Friday morning, numerous showers and thunderstorms will develop to our north and move southward during the late morning through afternoon hours. Extensive cloud cover will limit the diurnal heating during the day, however low level lapse rates will still be steep enough to provide us with ample instability. We'll have to watch exactly where the low level jet sets up, as this could provide us with at least some modest deep layer shear. If this were to occur, organized thunderstorms will be a possibility, some of these becoming strong to marginally severe. The threat at this point is low, and would generally be limited to gusty winds. But, if the low level jet pushes further south than currently forecast, we could see the potential for a more organized threat. Thunderstorms may linger through the early evening hours on Friday, become coverage diminishes during the late evening hours. The axis of the upper trough will swing into the TN Valley Saturday morning, and provide the upper level support to keep scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms through the day on Saturday. Models indicated a weak frontal boundary moving southward during the day, but stall the boundary to our north. So, surface based forcing looks limited this far south, and precip chances look to be more diurnally drive. Thus, activity will diminish during the late evening through overnight hours. High temps in the short term period will be a tad below normal, as widespread cloud cover and numerous thunderstorms limit heating. We'll still be able to warm into the lower to mid 80s, but it may feel a little nicer. Overnight lows will be mild, with temps only falling into the lower 70s. .LONG TERM...(Sunday through Wednesday) Issued at 300 PM CDT Thu Aug 16 2018 The more active pattern will continue through the extended period, as guidance is in agreement on several disturbances traversing the region. To start the period, the previously mentioned upper trough will move east of the region, with zonal flow taking over on Sunday. Several disturbances will likely move eastward through this zonal flow, and aid in diurnally driven thunderstorms during the day Sunday. Brief ridging will set up on Sunday night, limiting convection overnight. A fairly strong upper trough will develop and dig southward early Monday morning and then move eastward through the day. A trailing cold front from the parent surface low will shift eastward as well, reaching the Mississippi Valley by Monday night. Prior to this, southwesterly flow will increase over the area. The front doesn't look to move through until Tuesday, though there are some slight timing differences among the models. So pops will remain between 50% and 70% through Tuesday. Behind the front, a welcome relief to the heat looks to be in store. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Friday afternoon) Issued at 1226 PM CDT Thu Aug 16 2018 VFR conditions are expected through much of the period at the KMSL and KHSV terminals. Winds will generally remain from the south- southwest through the period, and weaken overnight. There may be a few isolated thunderstorms during the afternoon through early evening hours, however coverage is too low to include in the forecast at this time. Additionally, guidance is hinting at lower cigs after 12Z Friday, with cigs around 2000 feet possible. Given lower confidence, will wait for future issuances before including MVFR cigs in the forecast. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. TN...NONE. && NEAR TERM...73 SHORT TERM...73 LONG TERM...73 AVIATION...73 For more information please visit our website at weather.gov/huntsville.
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Huntsville AL 324 PM CDT Thu Aug 16 2018 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-171100- Lauderdale-Colbert-Franklin AL-Lawrence-Limestone-Madison-Morgan- Marshall-Jackson-DeKalb-Cullman-Moore-Lincoln-Franklin TN- 324 PM CDT Thu Aug 16 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north Alabama and portions of southern middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Tonight... Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are forecast to affect the TN Valley through the late evening hours. Storms should dissipate by midnight tonight. Some of the storms this evening could become strong to marginally severe, with strong winds the primary threat. Heavy downpours, gusty winds, and frequent lightning will also accompany the stronger storms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday... Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are forecast to impact the Tennessee Valley during the Friday through Tuesday time frame. The best chances for thunderstorms are Friday through Saturday, as greater moisture and instability are realized across the region. Some of the storms Friday could become strong to marginally severe, with strong winds the primary threat. The approach of a cold front will also bring more numerous storms on Monday. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management personnel is not anticipated at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
412 PM CDT THU AUG 16 2018
ALZ010-162145-
DeKalb AL-
412 PM CDT THU AUG 16 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN DEKALB COUNTY UNTIL
445 PM CDT...
At 411 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Sylvania, or near Rainsville, moving east at 10 mph.
Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Fort Payne, Rainsville, Henagar, Sylvania, Fyffe, Powell, Ider,
Valley Head, Hammondville and Mentone.
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
storm has passed.
&&
LAT...LON 3448 8558 3446 8558 3446 8591 3453 8593
3463 8578 3471 8572 3478 8557 3453 8551
TIME...MOT...LOC 2111Z 257DEG 8KT 3456 8578
AMPSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
420 PM CDT THU AUG 16 2018
ALZ002-003-162215-
Franklin AL-Colbert AL-
420 PM CDT THU AUG 16 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN COLBERT AND FRANKLIN
COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM CDT...
At 419 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Belmont to 6 miles southeast of Fairview.
Movement was east at 15 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Russellville, Red Bay, Phil Campbell, Cherokee, Belgreen, Vina,
Hodges, Malone, Posey Loop and Atwood.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Very heavy rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3475 8812 3485 8795 3432 8759 3431 8768
3432 8817
TIME...MOT...LOC 2119Z 247DEG 12KT 3451 8827 3433 8822
JMSThe Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 101 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:46 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple trees were knocked down along CR 99. Time estimated by radar.
Multiple trees were knocked down along Highway 20 and blocking lanes of traffic near Town Creek. Time estimated by radar.
Multiple trees were knocked down on Danville Road. Time estimated by radar.
Multiple trees were knocked down on Highwya 36. Time estimated by radar.
Multiple trees down in Danville, and at least one tree was knocked down onto a vehicle. No injuries.
Multiple trees were knocked down on CR 1422.
Multiple trees were knocked down on CR 1486 and 1488.
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, August 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: 765753, 765754, 765756, 765757, 765762, 765759, 765760.