A very warm and moist air mass developed over Central Alabama on Monday, December 16th. Afternoon temperatures warmed into the lower and middle 70s, which was 15 to 20 degrees above normal for the middle of December.
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 very warm and moist air mass developed over Central Alabama on Monday, December 16th. Afternoon temperatures warmed into the lower and middle 70s, which was 15 to 20 degrees above normal for the middle of December. A surface low tracked north of Alabama Monday night and pushed a strong cold across the state. Several bands of strong to severe storms developed across Mississippi during the afternoon and moved into west Alabama that evening. Most of the severe weather damage across Central Alabama was associated with a long track supercell that started in Mississippi and tracked into southwest Alabama. The supercell entered southern Sumter County and tracked northeast to Shelby 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 Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 16, 6:48 PM CST, 1 hour 8 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 648 PM CST Mon Dec 16 2019 .UPDATE... Mesoscale Update and 00Z Aviation. && .SHORT TERM... /Updated at 0556 PM CST Mon Dec 16 2019/ Two areas of tornadic develop have developed near Central Alabama. One area was associated with a bookend vortices/rotating comma head that just missed Marion County and traveled through the Tennessee Valley. An additional area was across south central Mississippi where a few more tornadoes have been confirmed. Radar extrapolation and the latest Hi-Res suite continue to indicate that the activity in south Mississippi merges into the broken convective to its north and west. This activity will enter into west central Alabama around 9 pm or so. MLCAPE values are 500-1000 across west central Alabama with SRH values at least 300. Bulk shear vectors are in a favorable orientation. STP over southern Mississippi is 3-4 and forecast to slightly decrease with time. Mid level lapse rates are good in the 7.5 range. This is a typical winter scenario where the main dynamics lift northward, and a delicate balance between shear and instability will need to be realized. There certainly is a threat of tornadoes and other modes of severe weather and will continue the watch for most locations. The challenge remains how far east will the favorable atmosphere gets to. The activity is almost out of Marion and Lamar, so once this moves through, the threat there should be over. Precipitable water values increase to 1.5 inch range or better as the system moves through. Some areas will receive 1 to 2 inches of rain with most closer to 1 inch. Due to rain rates, some ponding of the water on roadways is possible but widespread flooding is not anticipated. 75 Previous short-term discussion: The clouds and fog that blanketed central Alabama earlier burned off by 10 CST, leaving mainly cirrus. The filtered sunshine has pushed temperatures into the lower to middle 70s for areas north of I-85. Surface dewpoints are also rising, with readings in the lower 60s west of I-65. An inversion aloft and lack of any organized lift has suppressed shower development so far today, and this trend will likely continue through the afternoon. The more significant instability and shear is currently near the Mississippi River. There have been several reports of significant tornadoes across west Mississippi and Louisiana where 0-3Km EHI values are running 3-5. Earlier discrete cells have now merged into a convective line from just east of Memphis extending southwest into northern Louisiana. The more discrete cells over east-central Louisiana will likely be the ones that impact west Alabama later today. Hi-res models bring the leading edge of the organized line over northwest Mississippi into Marion/Lamar counties between 5 pm and 6 pm CST. 0-3Km values are forecast to hold in the 3-5 range across the enhanced risk area, so threat for strong tornadoes will exist this evening, mainly across areas south of I-20 and west of I-85. Elsewhere, outside the enhanced area, damaging straight line winds will the the main threat. It will take robust updrafts for production of large hail, so any hail threat will be associated with discrete supercells. 58/rose .LONG TERM... /Updated at 336 AM CST Mon Dec 16 2019/ Tuesday night through Sunday. Cool and dry conditions are expected Tuesday night through Thursday night due to east coast troughing and a deep upper low sinking into the northeast CONUS. A 1032 mb high across much of the eastern CONUS will maintain northerly winds. Most areas will be near or below freezing Tuesday night and Thursday night with most areas in the 20s Wednesday night. The next trough moves in on Friday with some spread in the guidance regarding whether an upper low will close off in the southern stream. Either way, moisture return looks limited, and will just maintain small chances of showers Friday night through Sunday for now. Ridging builds into much of the central/eastern CONUS by the end of the period. 32/Davis && .AVIATION... 00Z TAF Discussion. Patchy fog and patchy MVFR ceilings were present over east Alabama at this writing. These conditions should improve the hour or so and a brief mention if anything here. Showers and thunderstorms will move into Central Alabama this evening and move across the area into early Tuesday. Precipitation, restrictive ceilings, restrictive vis will develop near and ahead of the activity and last through much of the day Tuesday. The best chance for thunderstorms from around 02z west until 10z south. Did mention a tempo group at these locations. Winds will be south to southeast ahead of the activity at 10kts or so and a few gusts to 20-25kts. As the line/front approaches, winds will veer to the west and eventually to the north northwest. Winds remain around 10kts will some gusts 20-25kts possible. 75 && .FIRE WEATHER... Rain and storms will move across Central Alabama through early Tuesday, some of which may be severe. Breezy northwesterly winds are expected on Tuesday, easing overnight. Rain free weather is expected for Wednesday and Thursday, with the next system bringing increased cloudiness for Friday and a chance of showers by Saturday. Afternoon relative humidity values drop into the 30s by Wednesday and Thursday. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 47 53 28 46 25 / 100 30 0 0 0 Anniston 49 54 29 48 26 / 100 50 0 0 0 Birmingham 46 52 30 48 28 / 100 20 0 0 0 Tuscaloosa 45 51 29 50 28 / 100 10 0 0 0 Calera 46 53 30 48 27 / 100 20 0 0 0 Auburn 55 58 32 48 28 / 100 80 0 0 0 Montgomery 53 58 32 51 28 / 100 50 0 0 0 Troy 56 61 33 50 28 / 100 70 0 0 0 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES/... None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 319 PM CST Mon Dec 16 2019 ALZ011>015-017>050-180030- 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- 319 PM CST Mon Dec 16 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham. .DAY ONE...Outlook through Tonight. There is a risk of severe storms for all of Central Alabama from 5 PM this afternoon until 7 AM Tuesday. Damaging straight line winds are likely with isolated tornadoes. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management will be needed late this afternoon through early Tuesday morning.
The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 153 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:55 UTC.
6 tornado, 5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees uprooted in the community of Whitfield, along County Road 42.
National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in extreme northwest Marengo County and determined that it was consistent with an EF2 tornado, with maximum sustained winds near 120 mph.
The tornado first touched down along County Road 28 where minor tree damage was noted on the east side of the road. The tornado tracked northeast over mainly forested areas of Marengo County for several miles producing sporadic tree damage. The tornado widened and strengthened rapidly as it continued northeast toward Highway 80. The tornado reached its widest point near Highway 80. Substantial tree damage was noted on both the north and south sides of Highway 80 along and near the intersection of County Road 57. A home sustained roof damage along County Road 57. On the north side of Highway 80, property and structural damage was extensive. Several homes sustained roof and structural damage. One brick home sustained complete roof loss and partial wall collapse.
Just east of that location, a single-wide and double-wide manufactured home on the same property were completely destroyed with the undercarriage of both blown a substantial distance. Inspection of both dwellings indicated little to no anchorage of the structures. Three people were reported injured at this location with one being airlifted for more serious injuries. Tree damage in this area was extensive with large old growth hardwoods snapped. The combination of the damage to the conventional brick home, along with the tree damage and manufactured home destruction, prompted the maximum wind rating of 120 mph. The tornado continued its northeast movement damaging additional structures north of Highway 80 before narrowing and weakening south of the Sumter County line, just west of downtown Demopolis.
National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in eastern Hale County and determined that it was consistent with an EF0 tornado, with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph.
The tornado touched down along County Road 32 in eastern Hale County where a few pine trees were uprooted. The tornado tracked northeast and crossed into Perry County about one-half mile south of Massengale Road.
National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northwest Perry County and determined that it was consistent with an EF0 tornado, with maximum sustained winds near 80 mph.
This is a continuation of a tornado path that began in Hale County. The tornado entered Perry County about one-half mile south of Massengale Road. The tornado tracked northeast across Fellowship Cemetery Road and Little Brush Creek and dissipated just east of County Road 29. At least one hundred trees were snapped or uprooted along the path.
National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in east central Bibb County and determined that it was consistent with an EF0 tornado, with maximum sustained winds near 70 mph.
The tornado began northeast of the city of Centreville in an inaccessible area east of Gary Springs Loop Road, where a well-defined tornado debris signature was observed by the KBMX radar. The tornado tracked eastward and crossed County Road 57 and Pine Tree Road before dissipating near Tucker Road. A few trees were uprooted along the path.
Several trees uprooted in the town of Maplesville.
National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in east Bibb County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum sustained winds near 90 mph.
The tornado began on the eastern edge of Brierfield Ironworks Park where several trees were uprooted. The tornado continued eastward and crossed State Route 139. At this location, dozens of trees were snapped and uprooted in the immediate vicinity of Mahan Creek. The tornado tracked eastward and damaged a barn on the Bridlewood Farms property before dissipating just west of County Road 1053.
Several trees uprooted in the town of Jemison.
National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southwest Shelby County near the town of Montevallo and determined that it was consistent with an EF0 tornado, with maximum sustained winds near 80 mph.
The tornado began on the southeast side of Montevallo along Clay Pit Road, where an outbuilding was destroyed and two manufactured homes suffered minor damage. As the tornado tracked northeast crossing State Route 155, a deputy sheriff observed the tornado and was blown off the road in his vehicle. There were also dozens of trees uprooted or snapped, and one house suffered minor roof damage. The tornado continued northeast and produced additional tree damage as it crossed State Highway 25. The tornado dissipated shortly after crossing County Road 23.
Several trees uprooted and power lines downed near County Road 56 and Marble Valley Road.
Several trees uprooted and power lines downed along Horseshoe Bend Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Alabama, 2019Warnings in Alabama, December 2019
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: 869163, 869157, 869158, 869159, 869160, 869165, 869161, 869164, 869162, 869166, 869167.