Several clusters of thunderstorms developed during peak afternoon heating across north Alabama. These formed in an environment favorable for downbursts capable of 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 HUN wrote it up.
Several clusters of thunderstorms developed during peak afternoon heating across north Alabama. These formed in an environment favorable for downbursts capable of damaging winds. Small hail was also reported.
Several of the thunderstorms produced intense downpours in a short period of time, including 1-2 inches in less than an hour. This resulted in short-term flash flooding in the north side of Huntsville just north of downtown. In this area, up to two feet of flood water closed a heavily traveled street in north Huntsville, while several others experienced short term flooding of 3-6 inches depth.
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 Sep 10, 1:50 PM CST, 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 250 PM CDT Tue Sep 10 2019 .NEAR TERM...(Tonight) Issued at 230 PM CDT Tue Sep 10 2019 Temperatures have reached the lower to mid 90s in many locations near and east of I-65. This and dewpoints in the upper 60s to lower 70s have setup quite an unstable atmosphere this afternoon. SBCAPE values between 3000 and 4000 J/KG are showing up in meso-analysis at this time. With a weak boundary and convergence over northern Alabama, isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms have developed this afternoon. Expect this activity to continue into the early evening hours. With DCAPE values between 800 and 1000 J/KG and decent mid/low level lapse rates, strong storms look like a good bet this afternoon. The main threats with these storms will be locally heavy rainfall, wind gusts around 55 mph, and small hail. Cannot rule out a severe thunderstorm or two, but these should be the overall exception rather than the rule. By midnight, believe that this activity should dissipated as we lose daytime heating and the atmosphere is stabilized by ongoing convection. Clear skies after midnight should allow temperatures to drop into the upper 60s/lower 70s. However, the cloud cover in the evening should keep fog from forming, despite some light winds. .SHORT TERM...(Wednesday through Thursday) Issued at 230 PM CDT Tue Sep 10 2019 This weak convergence boundary moves north into Kentucky and Tennessee on Wednesday, so left out precipitation chances on Wednesday. Overall, high temperatures should remain in the mid 90s, with some afternoon cumulus development expected. However, it still looks very humid with afternoon dewpoints values remaining in the lower 70s primarily. So heat index values look to remain between 100 and 104 degrees. Could see a few 105 values, but not enough to warrant a heat advisory at this time. Not much change in the overnight conditions Wednesday night, with a humid airmass still in place and lows only drop into the upper 60s/lower 70s. Several models forecast the upper ridge to strengthen more right over the Tennessee Valley on Thursday. 925 mb temperatures also climb a bit higher to between 25 and 27 degrees again. Believe that a return to highs in the mid to upper 90s will be the result over northern Alabama. It looks as though enough mixing of drier air will occur to keep dewpoints a bit lower and keep heat index values between 100 and 104 degrees on Thursday. .LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Monday) Issued at 230 PM CDT Tue Sep 10 2019 Lows around 70 degrees are expected Thursday night. Friday looks very similar and may be a tad hotter but drier. Wouldn't be surprised to see a 99 high or two. Again heat index values in the afternoon will be close to advisory criteria but likely still between 100 and 104. Friday night into the weekend, a frontal boundary and boundary ahead of it push southeast and into northern Alabama. How much moisture that ends up along the front is a bit uncertain, but kept a 20 to 30 percent pop in Friday night into Saturday. The cloud cover and any precipitation should keep highs a bit lower in the lower to mid 90s. Drier and cooler air is expected to move into the area behind the front Saturday night into Sunday. Lows in the mid 60s to lower 70s are expected. A return to a wetter pattern may occur next week, but models are very divergent. For now went with low scattered chances of showers and precipitation. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Wednesday afternoon) Issued at 1238 PM CDT Tue Sep 10 2019 Though VFR conditions will prevail at both TAF sites through the period, a few showers or storms may directly impact the sites through 00Z this evening. Aside from that, clouds will clear out after sunset this evening, with SKC likely after midnight. Some patchy fog is possible at the terminals Wednesday morning, though it shouldn't be dense enough to warrant conditions below VFR. Will monitor this trend and formally include fog should rain impact the terminals this aftn. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. TN...NONE. && NEAR TERM...KTW SHORT TERM...KTW LONG TERM...KTW AVIATION...12 For more information please visit our website at weather.gov/huntsville.
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Huntsville AL 152 PM CDT Tue Sep 10 2019 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-111000- Lauderdale-Colbert-Franklin AL-Lawrence-Limestone-Madison-Morgan- Marshall-Jackson-DeKalb-Cullman-Moore-Lincoln-Franklin TN- 152 PM CDT Tue Sep 10 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north Alabama and portions of southern middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Tonight... Scattered thunderstorms are possible across the Tennessee Valley this afternoon and evening. A few of these storms may be capable of producing brief heavy rainfall, gusty winds around 55 mph, and small hail. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday... Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible on Friday and into the weekend, mainly during the afternoon and early evening periods. A few of these storms may again be capable of producing brief heavy rainfall and gusty winds. Additional scattered thunderstorms are possible next week. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management personnel is not anticipated at this time. 20
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
146 PM CDT Tue Sep 10 2019
ALZ001-002-004-101915-
Lawrence AL-Lauderdale AL-Colbert AL-
146 PM CDT Tue Sep 10 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN LAUDERDALE...EAST
CENTRAL COLBERT AND NORTHWESTERN LAWRENCE COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM
CDT...
At 146 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Town Creek, or 15 miles east of Muscle Shoals, moving north at 5 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Rogersville, Town Creek, Courtland, North Courtland, Center Star,
Oliver, Red Bank and Elgin.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Very heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3484 8721 3481 8722 3478 8728 3476 8726
3476 8722 3464 8732 3471 8753 3493 8748
TIME...MOT...LOC 1846Z 201DEG 6KT 3475 8740
12Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
211 PM CDT Tue Sep 10 2019
ALZ001-004-005-102000-
Lawrence AL-Lauderdale AL-Limestone AL-
211 PM CDT Tue Sep 10 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN LAUDERDALE...NORTHWESTERN
LIMESTONE AND NORTHEASTERN LAWRENCE COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM CDT...
At 209 PM CDT, doppler radar indicated strong thunderstorms along a
line extending from near Killen to near Rogersville. Movement was
northeast at 10 mph. Dime sized hail was reported with this cluster
of thunderstorms in Town Creek at 150 PM CDT.
Penny size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Rogersville, Killen, Lexington, Elkmont, Anderson, Good Springs,
Cartwright, Coxey, Oliver and Mt Rozell.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3500 8719 3493 8695 3468 8720 3475 8743
3477 8742 3478 8743 3480 8743 3481 8748
3483 8752 3483 8755 3500 8749
TIME...MOT...LOC 1909Z 207DEG 8KT 3483 8744 3477 8725
12PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
224 PM CDT TUE SEP 10 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0147 PM HAIL 1 N TOWN CREEK 34.68N 87.41W
09/10/2019 M0.70 INCH LAWRENCE AL EMERGENCY MNGR
&&
12Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
238 PM CDT Tue Sep 10 2019
ALZ002-102015-
Colbert AL-
238 PM CDT Tue Sep 10 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL COLBERT COUNTY UNTIL
315 PM CDT...
At 238 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Leighton, or 8 miles east of Muscle Shoals, moving northeast at 10
mph.
Penny size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Muscle Shoals, Leighton, Whiteoak, Ford City and Northwest Alabama
Regional Airport.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3481 8759 3482 8759 3483 8753 3481 8748
3480 8743 3478 8743 3477 8742 3474 8742
3474 8743 3471 8743 3464 8752 3479 8764
TIME...MOT...LOC 1938Z 235DEG 9KT 3476 8751
12The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 113 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:58 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds damaged a roof to a barn and houses in the area along CR 309. Time estimated by radar.
Thunderstorm winds produced severe roof damage to a building in the Mount Hope area. Time estimated by radar.
Bradford pear trees were knocked down near the intersection of CR 134 at CR 712.
Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down in north Huntsville, including the Moores Mill area.
Trees and power lines were knocked down on Baywood Drive and Johnson Drive. Time estimated by radar.
Trees were knocked down at the 4400 block of Millvale Drive. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down on Normandale Road. Time estimated by radar.
A large tree was knocked down onto an apartment building causing severe damage on Hood Road.
Trees were knocked down along Blue Spring Road at Winchester Road. Time estimated by radar.
A power line was snapped on Helena Drive NW with transformers hanging off the ground.
Two feet of water reported at Washington Street and Max Luther Drive. The road has been closed. Other reports of more minor flooding ongoing in North Huntsville at this time.
A large tree was knocked down onto a car and carport on Lakeview Drive. Time estimated by radar.
A tree and power line was knocked down in Cherokee.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, September 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: 851585, 851586, 851587, 851588, 851589, 851590, 851591, 851601, 851592, 851593, 851676, 851594, 851595.