Thunderstorms produced minor wind damage and small hail in a few locations.
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 produced minor wind damage and small hail in a few locations.
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 12, 1:28 PM CST, 22 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 228 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2020 .NEAR TERM...(Tonight) Issued at 228 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2020 Deep pulse convection will tend to diminish in coverage early this evening. CAMS indicate most activity will be from western and middle TN through north AL. Meanwhile, the trough axis over southeast MO and south along the MS River valley will advance eastward into western TN and northern MS. This should spawn an MCS which will produce very heavy rainfall just to our west late tonight. Areas of fog are likely over north AL and southern middle TN late tonight, especially in areas that receive a good amount of rainfall this afternoon and early evening. Some of the fog may be dense. .SHORT TERM...(Thursday through Friday) Issued at 228 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2020 The shortwave and MCS will slowly advance into northwest AL and southern middle TN Thursday morning. It may tend to weaken late tonight into early Thursday morning, thus, there is some uncertainty on mode/timing/intensity Thursday. Outflow or differential heating further east along the eastern periphery of the denser cloud shield may be where initial redevelopment occurs on Thursday. Thus, not too keen on categorical PoPs that were in the suggested blend. Will continue to go "likely" areawide on Thursday, and we can adjust upward as trends present themselves. Temperatures may be held in the 80s in northwest AL, but should rapidly jump into the l90s further east before storms move in. Given high PW values and the possibility of repetitive rainfall through Thursday night and Friday, locally excessive rainfall is not out of the question. We certainly could use the rain, but there could be a risk of flash flooding in spots. The initial shortwave will be shifting east into eastern TN and north GA late Thursday night into Friday morning. As the main upper low over the OH valley pushes east on Friday, a secondary trough axis will swing through the TN valley. This will bring additional thunderstorm clusters through the region. The associated frontal boundary may be the focus Friday afternoon and evening with this wave as the NAM indicates. Area wide QPF will be in the 1-2 inch range, but as stated before, locally higher amounts are likely. .LONG TERM...(Friday night through Tuesday) Issued at 228 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2020 In general, the upper-level pattern has an amplifying upper-level wave remaining fairly stationary over the CONUS, with an amplifying ridge over the West and a deepening trough over the East. While the cooler air likely won't make it this far south, we may see drier air intrude into the Tennessee Valley going into early next week, which is reflected in cooler overnight temperatures and lesser chances for afternoon and evening thunderstorms, mainly confined to the mountains of NE Alabama. There are some model discrepancies in how much dry air makes it into the Tennessee Valley, which will determine how many showers we actually see over the weekend into early next week. We may see a cold front try and push through closer to midweek associated with the deepening trough, but models are not in agreement on how far south the cold front will get. More likely, it stays north and we continue to see seasonable, diurnally-driven convection. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Thursday afternoon) Issued at 1145 AM CDT Wed Aug 12 2020 SHRA and TSRA will become scattered to numerous by 21Z. Gusty winds, +RA reducing visibility into the IFR temporarily, and frequent lightning can be expected with TS this afternoon into early evening. The activity should diminish in coverage after 00Z. Areas of FG are likely to develop late tonight (after 09Z) and have included tempo periods from 10-13Z of 3/4SM BR (IFR) at both KMSL and KHSV. After the fog dissipates, VFR conditions are forecast. There will be increasing SHRA and TSRA again after 16Z, but have left out of the TAFs at this time. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. TN...NONE. && NEAR TERM...17 SHORT TERM...17 LONG TERM...McCoy AVIATION...17 For more information please visit our website at weather.gov/huntsville.
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Huntsville AL 445 AM CDT Wed Aug 12 2020 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-130000- Lauderdale-Colbert-Franklin AL-Lawrence-Limestone-Madison-Morgan- Marshall-Jackson-DeKalb-Cullman-Moore-Lincoln-Franklin TN- 445 AM CDT Wed Aug 12 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north Alabama and portions of southern middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight... Scattered to numerous thunderstorms should develop across the Tennessee Valley, mainly this afternoon and evening. Some of the storms will create brief gusty outflow winds, frequent lightning, and locally heavy rainfall. This activity should diminish in coverage in the evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday... Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected across the outlook area from during Thursday and Friday, as an upper level system slowly tracks across the region. Scattered thunderstorms will remain in the forecast through the weekend and early next week. Coverage will be more limited, with most activity occurring in the afternoon hours. .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
1121 AM CDT Wed Aug 12 2020
ALZ008-010-121645-
Marshall AL-DeKalb AL-
1121 AM CDT Wed Aug 12 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MARSHALL AND
SOUTHWESTERN DEKALB COUNTIES UNTIL 1145 AM CDT...
At 1121 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Boaz. This storm was nearly stationary.
Penny size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Albertville, Boaz, Guntersville, Douglas, McVille, High Point,
Horton, Arona, Painter and Kilpatrick.
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.
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 3421 8642 3424 8644 3426 8644 3426 8646
3427 8646 3440 8608 3420 8599 3420 8611
3419 8611 3418 8619 3410 8630
TIME...MOT...LOC 1621Z 249DEG 2KT 3419 8623
30Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Huntsville AL 1145 AM CDT Wed Aug 12 2020 ALZ008>010-121715- Marshall AL-DeKalb AL-Jackson AL- 1145 AM CDT Wed Aug 12 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL JACKSON... NORTHEASTERN MARSHALL AND WEST CENTRAL DEKALB COUNTIES UNTIL 1215 PM CDT... At 1144 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Powell, or near Rainsville. This storm was nearly stationary. Penny size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Scottsboro, Rainsville, Sylvania, Fyffe, Powell, Section, Pisgah, Dutton and Langston. 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 3452 8573 3438 8607 3454 8620 3471 8585 TIME...MOT...LOC 1644Z 145DEG 0KT 3453 8594 30
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Huntsville AL 1255 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2020 ALZ008>010-121830- Marshall AL-DeKalb AL-Jackson AL- 1255 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL JACKSON... NORTHEASTERN MARSHALL AND WEST CENTRAL DEKALB COUNTIES UNTIL 130 PM CDT... At 1254 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8 miles southeast of Grant, or 12 miles northeast of Guntersville, moving northwest at 5 mph. Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Fyffe, Section, Langston and Lake Guntersville St Park. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike several miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. 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 3443 8590 3436 8616 3451 8625 3460 8601 TIME...MOT...LOC 1754Z 150DEG 5KT 3447 8612 30
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Huntsville AL 207 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2020 ALZ006-008-009-121945- Marshall AL-Madison AL-Jackson AL- 207 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL JACKSON...NORTH CENTRAL MARSHALL AND SOUTHEASTERN MADISON COUNTIES UNTIL 245 PM CDT... At 207 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Owens Cross Roads, or 15 miles north of Guntersville. This storm was nearly stationary. Penny size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Owens Cross Roads, Grant, Woodville, Paint Rock and Hampton Cove. 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. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike several miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. && LAT...LON 3450 8647 3468 8646 3467 8623 3448 8626 TIME...MOT...LOC 1907Z 284DEG 3KT 3458 8636 30
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Huntsville AL 238 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2020 ALZ006-122015- Madison AL- 238 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL MADISON COUNTY UNTIL 315 PM CDT... At 238 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over northeastern Huntsville. This storm was nearly stationary. Penny size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Huntsville, Madison, Moores Mill, Redstone Arsenal, Meridianville, Alabama A And M University, University Of Alabama In Huntsville, Marshall Space Flight Center, Harvest and Maysville. 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. 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 3461 8649 3469 8677 3490 8669 3482 8639 TIME...MOT...LOC 1938Z 201DEG 2KT 3474 8659 30
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Huntsville AL 242 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2020 ALZ005>007-122015- Madison AL-Morgan AL-Limestone AL- 242 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN MADISON... SOUTHEASTERN LIMESTONE AND SOUTHERN MORGAN COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM CDT... At 242 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Priceville, or near Hartselle. This storm was nearly stationary. Pea size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Hartselle, Redstone Arsenal, Priceville, Falkville, Triana, Somerville, Eva, Lacon, Valhermoso Springs and Florette. 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. 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 3434 8703 3463 8682 3457 8660 3430 8678 TIME...MOT...LOC 1942Z 237DEG 3KT 3446 8683 30
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 56 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:50 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was knocked down adjacent to the National Weather Service office at the Univeisity of Alabama in Huntsville.
A tree was knocked down onto a power line at Beard Street and Fairbanks Street.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, August 2020
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: 918024, 918025.