Rain changed to snow in northwest Alabama during the evening hours of the 6th as a powerful upper level trough sweeped northeast through the region. The snow tapered off shortly after Midnight on the 7th.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
Rain changed to snow in northwest Alabama during the evening hours of the 6th as a powerful upper level trough sweeped northeast through the region. The snow tapered off shortly after Midnight on the 7th. Snow accumulations of 0.5 to 1.5 inches were reported in far northwest Alabama.
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 Feb 6, 5:45 PM CST, 3 hours 15 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 545 PM CST Thu Feb 6 2020 .UPDATE... For 00Z TAFS. && .NEAR TERM...(Tonight) Issued at 301 PM CST Thu Feb 6 2020 Rain has exited northeast AL leaving a lower overcast and temperatures in the 40s to around 50. Ironically, the main upper level shortwave over east TX and the northwest Gulf will rapidly sweep northeast through the lower MS into the TN valley this evening. This will regenerate precipitation as deeper cold air arrives. Forecast soundings continue to indicate a mix and changeover to snow shower by late this evening. In fact, the NAM soundings show moistening up to -14C, indicating some potential for dendritic flakes to develop. At this point, the ground should be far too warm to support more than minor accumulation on grassy or elevated surfaces. Will include accums of 0.1-0.2 in in northwest AL and southern middle TN in valleys, and near 0.5 inch atop the Plateau including Sewanee TN. We are not expecting widespread travel problems at this point. However, temperatures will dip to 32 degrees briefly around daybreak in northwest AL and southern middle TN valleys, and around 30 atop the Cumberland Plateau in Franklin County TN. Thus, cannot rule out a few slick spots briefly in these areas. .SHORT TERM...(Friday through Saturday night) Issued at 301 PM CST Thu Feb 6 2020 On Friday, snow showers and flurries should end in southern middle TN and far northeast AL. Clouds should decrease or clear during the afternoon hours from west to east. However, a wing of mid-high level clouds associated with the isentropic ascent/warm advection will also develop and swing northeast through the region Friday night. As another weaker shortwave drops southeast from the Plains into the OH/TN valleys Saturday morning, a weak trough/cool front at the surface will also pass through. At this point, the low levels appear to be too dry to support measurable precip with this system, but it will be a close call. If sufficient moistening of low levels can occur, Tw profiles could support a light wintry mix briefly, especially in our eastern counties. On Saturday, with the departing wave and front, a surface high will shift east into KY/TN/north AL by afternoon. Sunshine along with temp advection becoming more neutral to slightly warm, temps should reach the u40s-l50s. .LONG TERM...(Sunday through Wednesday) Issued at 301 PM CST Thu Feb 6 2020 On Sunday, high pressure moves east off the Atlantic coast. Southerly return flow becomes entrenched over the area ahead of a frontal boundary stretching from the Great Lakes region south into central Texas. This should raise dewpoints significantly Sunday afternoon and into Sunday night. With a tightening pressure gradient, winds should remain 5 to 10 mph in most locations overnight. The result should be low temperatures in the upper 40s to lower 50s. Despite some isolated to scattered rain showers in during the evening that should increase in coverage later Sunday night. During the day, continued moisture advection and warmer temperatures should allow for some weak elevated instability to develop. Included isolated thunderstorms in forecast, Monday and Monday night ahead of the front as it moves into southern or central Alabama and stalls. Highs will return to the mid 50s to lower 60s. Models are in more disagreement Tuesday evening on how quickly this front continues to push southeast and a surface high builds into the Tennessee valley behind it. For now kept a blend and high chance pops through Thursday. This could really aggravate river flooding conditions next week. Expect at least 1 to 2 inches of additional rainfall to occur, but maybe more depending on what occurs. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Friday evening) Issued at 545 PM CST Thu Feb 6 2020 IFR conditions will continue this evening due to low stratus around 700-900 ft and potentially some -DZ. NW winds will continue to pick up as an upper-trough swings through the region late tonight into Friday morning. Ceilings will gradually increase to over 1 kft after sunrise and into the MVFR category. A return to VFR conditions can be expected by the afternoon as drier air mixes in and clears out the sky by late in the day. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. TN...NONE. && NEAR TERM...17 SHORT TERM...17 LONG TERM...KTW AVIATION...AMP.24 For more information please visit our website at weather.gov/huntsville.
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Huntsville AL 604 PM CST Thu Feb 6 2020 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-071515- Lauderdale-Colbert-Franklin AL-Lawrence-Limestone-Madison-Morgan- Marshall-Jackson-DeKalb-Cullman-Moore-Lincoln-Franklin TN- 604 PM CST Thu Feb 6 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north Alabama and portions of southern middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Tonight... Widespread flooding will continue to occur along area rivers, creeks, and streams, as well as other low-lying flood prone areas due to runoff from excessive rainfall. Several roads across North Alabama and Southern Middle Tennessee remain closed due to this flooding. Areal Flood Warnings remain in effect over the entire Tennessee Valley to highlight this threat. If you encounter a flooded road, please turn around, don't drown!!! .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday... Runoff from excessive rainfall will result in additional rises along area creeks, rivers and streams through Wednesday. Additional river flooding is expected to continue along the Tennessee River watershed and basin as well. Isolated thunderstorms are also possible on Wednesday, as a storm system moves eastward through the outlook area. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management personnel is not anticipated at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
326 PM CST THU FEB 6 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0607 PM TSTM WND DMG LEXINGTON 34.97N 87.37W
02/05/2020 LAUDERDALE AL EMERGENCY MNGR
LARGE TREE DOWN ACROSS HWY 101N OF CR 613.
TREE DOWN 8880 CR 71. TREE DOWN CR 159 NEAR
CR 136. TREE DOWN 2101 CR 88.
0606 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 E KILLEN 34.86N 87.45W
02/05/2020 LAUDERDALE AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREES/POWERLINES DOWN BETWEEN CR 414/CR 67.
POWERLINES 30 CREEKVIEW DRIVE IN KILLEN.
0601 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 SW LEXINGTON 34.93N 87.40W
02/05/2020 LAUDERDALE AL COUNTY OFFICIAL
TREES KNOCKED DOWN AT THE INTERSECTION OF CR
478 AND CR 71. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
0601 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 WNW LEXINGTON 34.98N 87.43W
02/05/2020 LAUDERDALE AL PUBLIC
TREES SNAPPED AND KNOCKED DOWN AND SHED
DAMAGED ON CR 159. RELAYED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.
0548 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 WNW UNDERWOOD-PETERSV 34.89N 87.73W
02/05/2020 LAUDERDALE AL PUBLIC
A LARGE TREE DOWN BETWEEN CLOVERDALE AND
PETERSVILLE RELAYED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. TIME
ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
0546 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 W FLORENCE 34.83N 87.69W
02/05/2020 LAUDERDALE AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ACROSS FLORENCE,
AL. LOCATIONS INCLUDE: HOUSTON ST. AND
BAYLESS AVE., ON LAWRENCE AVE., CHISHOLM
ROAD AND PARK LANE, AND CREEKWOOD CIRCLE.
TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR.
0545 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 NNE UNDERWOOD-PETERSV 34.96N 87.67W
02/05/2020 LAUDERDALE AL PUBLIC
CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 6
NNE UNDERWOOD-PETERSVILLE. TREE HANGING DOWN
ON POWER LINES ACROSS CR11 BRIDGE N OF
CR118.
0541 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 SW UNDERWOOD-PETERSVI 34.83N 87.76W
02/05/2020 LAUDERDALE AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE DOWN IN OAKLAND ON COUNTY ROAD 19 HALF
A MILE NORTH OF COUNTY ROAD 14. TIME
ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR.
0532 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 WNW UNDERWOOD-PETERSV 34.90N 87.79W
02/05/2020 LAUDERDALE AL EMERGENCY MNGR
MULTIPLE TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ACROSS
CENTRAL LAUDERDALE COUNTY. REPORT LOCATIONS
INCLUDE: CR 6 AND CR 15, CR 6 AND CR 16, AND
HWY 20 AND CR 229.
0758 PM TSTM WND DMG 8 WSW CHEROKEE 34.72N 88.10W
02/05/2020 COLBERT AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE DOWN.
0755 PM TSTM WND DMG 11 SW CHEROKEE 34.66N 88.12W
02/05/2020 COLBERT AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE DOWN.
0718 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NNW SHEFFIELD 34.77N 87.71W
02/05/2020 COLBERT AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE DOWN 1 MI NNW OF SHEFFIELD, AL.
0709 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 N SHEFFIELD 34.77N 87.70W
02/05/2020 COLBERT AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE DOWN.
0709 PM TSTM WND DMG 8 WSW CHEROKEE 34.73N 88.11W
02/05/2020 COLBERT AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE DOWN.
0706 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NNE SHEFFIELD 34.77N 87.70W
02/05/2020 COLBERT AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE DOWN.
0702 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NNE SHEFFIELD 34.77N 87.70W
02/05/2020 COLBERT AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE DOWN. WITH POWER FLASHES NEARBY.
0701 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NNW SHEFFIELD 34.77N 87.71W
02/05/2020 COLBERT AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE DOWN.
0656 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NNE SHEFFIELD 34.77N 87.69W
02/05/2020 COLBERT AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE DOWN.
0651 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NNE SHEFFIELD 34.77N 87.70W
02/05/2020 COLBERT AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREES DOWN.
0650 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 N SHEFFIELD 34.77N 87.70W
02/05/2020 COLBERT AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE DOWN.
0639 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NE CHEROKEE 34.77N 87.96W
02/05/2020 COLBERT AL EMERGENCY MNGR
POWER LINES DOWN IN ROAD.
0604 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 N SHEFFIELD 34.77N 87.70W
02/05/2020 COLBERT AL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE DOWN ENTANGLED WITHIN POWERLINES.
0558 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NNE SHEFFIELD 34.76N 87.70W
02/05/2020 COLBERT AL EMERGENCY MNGR
POWER POLE DOWN.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Snowfall accumulated to 1.5 inches in Russellville.
Snowfall accumulated to 1.2 inches at 8.9 miles southwest of Tuscumbia.
Snowfall accumulated to 0.5 inch at 6.6 miles west-southwest of Cloverdale.
Snowfall accumulated to 0.3 inch at 3.1 miles east-northeast of Moulton.
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, February 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: 878196, 878197, 878198, 878199.