A weak short wave trough dropped southward into north Alabama and moisture gradient set-up along and just west of the I-65 corridor. Isolated severe storms developed along this moisture axis and produced damaging winds.
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 BMX wrote it up.
A weak short wave trough dropped southward into north Alabama and moisture gradient set-up along and just west of the I-65 corridor. Isolated severe storms developed along this moisture axis and produced damaging winds.
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 Jun 9, 5:54 PM CST, 18 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 654 PM CDT Sat Jun 9 2018 .UPDATE... Evening Update and 00Z Aviation. && .SHORT TERM... Increased rain chances early this evening along axis from just west of Selma, to east of Tuscaloosa, to the western BHM metro, to Oneonta. A rather substantial outflow boundary has set up in the vicinity of this axis. It also is collocated near the wet/dry interface. Therefore, thunderstorms may develop along this axis for a few hours before slowly diminishing. Due to the numerous boundaries and instability this afternoon, left mention of some activity until 1 am. A strong wind gust is possible with this activity. Otherwise, changes based on where rain fell. There will most likely be some patchy fog overnight, but visibilities will remain greater than 3 miles in most spots. 75 Previous short-term discussion:Through Tonight. Afternoon convection has been confined to areas mainly south of I-20, with more organized storms along and south of I-85 where deeper moisture is present. Highest base velocity winds off radars have been in the 20-30 mph range, but likely some wind gusts to 40 mph in a few places. Activity will diminish through the early evening hours with loss of daytime heating, with rain free conditions for most areas by 9 or 10 pm. 58/rose .LONG TERM... Sunday through Friday. Central Alabama will remain in a typical weak flow summertime pattern for much of the forecast period, within an overall weakness in the subtropical ridge, and well south of any meaningful influence from a blocky/amplified northern stream pattern. This will result in daily chances of mainly diurnally driven scattered convection. The upper low will continue to drift over the eastern Gulf and Florida, generally opening up into more of a trough axis. Meanwhile weak shortwaves/possible MCVs will drift southward towards the Lower Mississippi Valley around the upper-level ridge over the Southern Plains/northern Mexico, merging into the eastern Gulf trough. Low-level ridging extending westward from the Bermuda high over the northern Gulf will result in a westerly component to the low-level flow over Central Alabama, preventing significant Gulf moisture return. This will result in warm temperatures and small lowering of dew points via afternoon mixing, keeping heat index values below advisory criteria. MLCAPE values of around 1500 J/kg and pockets of high DCAPE will allow for some strong storms with gusty winds practically each day, but lack of stronger instability, weak mid- level lapse rates, and weak flow do not appear supportive of any appreciable severe storm/high microburst potential. 1000-500mb and 850-700mb mean RH values and PWATs combined with weak flow do not appear supportive of more than 40% PoP coverage at this time for Sunday/Monday. Locally higher coverage will be possible near outflow boundaries from previous day's convection and any MCVs/weak waves but predictability of any of these features is low. Tuesday and especially Wednesday currently look like the days with the highest PoPs/convective coverage with a little bit more moisture aloft, and the ECMWF also shows passage of a weak shortwave on Wednesday which could enhance rain chances as well. The GFS remains consistent but an outlier in spinning up an area of probably spurious low pressure from convection over Central America and lifting it northward into the Gulf. Without any support from the ECMWF or the European ensembles, and nothing in NHC's outlook, will stick close to the ECMWF forecast for the end of the week with an upper-level ridge building in from the west. 32/Davis && .AVIATION... 00Z TAF Discussion. Convection remains ongoing near TCL/BHM/EET. This activity will slowly diminish through the evening but not vanish until after midnight. Most areas remain VFR outside of thunderstorm areas. The one wrinkle will be the patchy fog. There will be some development again tonight. It appears to be very short lived and mainly MVFR. Sunday will be another warm and unstable day, leading to afternoon thunderstorm development. Started off with another PROB30 but will be changed to VCTS or tempo the next time out. Skies mainly have daytime cumulus, thunder remnants and cirrus. Winds light and variable to calm overnight and south southwest around 5kts daytime. 75 && .FIRE WEATHER... Isolated to scattered showers and storms are expected through Sunday, with the best coverage each afternoon. Cannot rule out at least isolated coverage during the overnight hours both nights. Light fog is possible each morning, and most likely will be near locations that receive rainfall the previous day. RH values remain above critical values. There are no fire weather concerns at this time. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 69 90 68 89 69 / 30 40 30 40 30 Anniston 71 90 69 89 69 / 20 40 30 40 30 Birmingham 71 91 71 90 71 / 30 40 20 40 30 Tuscaloosa 69 92 70 92 71 / 30 40 20 40 30 Calera 69 89 69 89 70 / 30 40 20 40 30 Auburn 68 88 69 88 70 / 30 40 30 40 30 Montgomery 71 91 71 90 71 / 30 40 20 40 30 Troy 69 90 70 89 70 / 30 40 30 40 30 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES/... None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 520 AM CDT Sat Jun 9 2018 ALZ011>015-017>050-101330- 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- 520 AM CDT Sat Jun 9 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham. .DAY ONE...Outlook through Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
430 PM CDT SAT JUN 9 2018
ALZ045-046-048-092200-
Macon AL-Bullock AL-Russell AL-
430 PM CDT SAT JUN 9 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN BULLOCK...
SOUTHEASTERN MACON AND SOUTHWESTERN RUSSELL COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM
CDT...
At 429 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Hurtsboro, moving east at 25 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Tuskegee, Union Springs, Hurtsboro, Midway, Uchee, Guerryton,
Davisville, Warriorstand, Sedgefield, Fort Davis, Creek Stand,
Rutherford, Three Notch and Hatchechubbe.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3215 8528 3215 8539 3214 8543 3202 8543
3201 8544 3226 8587 3248 8561 3225 8515
TIME...MOT...LOC 2129Z 288DEG 22KT 3224 8545
75Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
451 PM CDT SAT JUN 9 2018
ALZ047-048-092215-
Lee AL-Russell AL-
451 PM CDT SAT JUN 9 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN LEE AND NORTHERN
RUSSELL COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM CDT...
At 451 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Ladonia, or near Smiths, moving south at 10 mph.
Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Phenix City, Smiths, Smiths Station, Russell County Sports Complex,
Seale, Ladonia, Bibb City, Monterey Heights, Uchee Creek, Fort
Mitchell, Ladonia Sports Complex, Marvyn, Fort Mitchell Activity
Center, Phenix Drag Strip and Parkmanville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Birmingham.
&&
LAT...LON 3225 8516 3239 8544 3242 8543 3258 8506
3252 8501 3249 8499 3246 8500 3244 8497
3242 8496 3241 8498 3239 8497 3238 8499
3238 8497 3237 8499 3236 8498 3233 8501
3230 8494 3228 8492
TIME...MOT...LOC 2151Z 000DEG 10KT 3248 8510
75Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Birmingham AL 518 PM CDT SAT JUN 9 2018 ALZ046-049-050-092245- Pike AL-Bullock AL-Barbour AL- 518 PM CDT SAT JUN 9 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN PIKE...SOUTHERN BULLOCK AND WEST CENTRAL BARBOUR COUNTIES UNTIL 545 PM CDT... At 518 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Boot Hill, or 13 miles southwest of Midway, moving east at 20 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Clayton, Louisville, Banks, Pickett, Gaino, Barbour County Public Lake Dam, Linwood, Boot Hill, Tanyard, Millers Ford, Clayton Municipal Airport, Monticello, Perote, Josie, Sandfield and Mount Andrew. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. && LAT...LON 3175 8586 3200 8587 3201 8536 3174 8533 TIME...MOT...LOC 2218Z 275DEG 18KT 3190 8561 75
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
533 PM CDT SAT JUN 9 2018
ALZ034-092300-
Bibb AL-
533 PM CDT SAT JUN 9 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN BIBB COUNTY UNTIL
600 PM CDT...
At 533 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Ashby, or near Montevallo. This storm was nearly stationary.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Brierfield Ironworks Park, Ashby, Trio and Six Mile.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Birmingham.
&&
LAT...LON 3314 8708 3314 8697 3310 8697 3310 8695
3308 8695 3308 8693 3306 8693 3305 8688
3293 8688 3287 8703
TIME...MOT...LOC 2233Z 080DEG 2KT 3303 8692
75Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
705 PM CDT SAT JUN 9 2018
ALZ040-042-100030-
Lowndes AL-Dallas AL-
705 PM CDT SAT JUN 9 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN LOWNDES AND DALLAS
COUNTIES UNTIL 730 PM CDT...
At 704 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Dallas Lake, or 14 miles south of Selmont-West Selmont, moving
southeast at 10 mph.
Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Selma, Valley Grande, Selmont-West Selmont, Orrville, Benton, Bogue
Chitto, Gardner Island, Tyler, Old Cahaba Park, Dannelly Reservoir,
Dallas County Horse Arena, Belknap, Paul M Grist State Park, Dallas
Lake, Memorial Stadium, Marion Junction, Burnsville, Potter Station,
Carlowville and Safford.
LAT...LON 3200 8686 3205 8686 3205 8718 3208 8719
3212 8726 3214 8725 3215 8728 3220 8732
3220 8737 3239 8742 3248 8742 3249 8711
3254 8708 3257 8708 3260 8704 3266 8703
3266 8692 3254 8691 3246 8686 3200 8673
TIME...MOT...LOC 0004Z 313DEG 8KT 3218 8708
75Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
707 PM CDT SAT JUN 9 2018
ALZ024-025-100030-
Jefferson AL-Shelby AL-
707 PM CDT SAT JUN 9 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL SHELBY AND SOUTH
CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTIES UNTIL 730 PM CDT...
At 707 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
southwestern Birmingham, moving south at 5 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Southwestern Birmingham, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Alabaster, Bessemer,
Homewood, Pelham, Helena, Hueytown, Fairfield, Pleasant Grove,
Midfield, Brighton, Indian Springs Village, Lipscomb, North Johns,
Bluff Park, Oak Mountain Amphitheater, Samford University and Splash
Adventure.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Birmingham.
&&
LAT...LON 3348 8678 3325 8675 3324 8703 3325 8703
3325 8706 3328 8707 3328 8709 3329 8709
3329 8712 3331 8714 3349 8713
TIME...MOT...LOC 0007Z 000DEG 6KT 3341 8689
75The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 56 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:09 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees uprooted and blocking Tyler Loop Road.
Several trees uprooted along Johns Road in the city of Bessemer.
Several trees uprooted along Airport Highway near the city of Oneonta.
Several trees uprooted along Hopewell Road in the city of Bessemer.
Several trees uprooted and power lines downed along Headrick Road in the city of Bessemer.
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, June 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: 767215, 767211, 772385, 767213, 767214.