A very unstable airmass resulted in a few thunderstorms during the mid afternoon hours in northwest Alabama. One of the storms produced nickel sized hail.
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The episode as NWS HUN wrote it up.
A very unstable airmass resulted in a few thunderstorms during the mid afternoon hours in northwest Alabama. One of the storms produced nickel sized hail.
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 Jun 5, 12:40 PM CST, 2 hours 15 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 140 PM CDT Fri Jun 5 2020 .NEAR TERM...(Tonight) Issued at 139 PM CDT Fri Jun 5 2020 With one small MCS dropping southeast of our area, another one is moving into western TN and northern MS. This is moving into a favorable CAPE plume of 3500-4500 j/Kg. A pronounced circular outflow was noted on GOES imagery over northwest AL from the previous MCS cluster now exiting north AL. This may yet help to produce additional redevelopment late this afternoon into early this evening. However, mean wind/storm motion vectors would support the centroid of the MCS in southwest TN to move mainly west of north AL through northern MS. We will keep a low PoP in from northwest AL through our southern counties. Fog may actually become more of an issue later tonight with a very moist boundary layer and light flow with a clearing sky. Have gone with patchy to areas of fog in most locations. .SHORT TERM...(Saturday through Sunday) Issued at 139 PM CDT Fri Jun 5 2020 An upper ridge over the central Plains begins to build an axis southeast through the TN valley Saturday. With low level convergence shifting into central AL, it appears Saturday will remain dry over our forecast area. Highs will be in the u80s-l90s as a result. The upper ridge will become a bit stronger over MO southeast into the TN valley on Sunday as TC Cristobal approaches the central Gulf Coast. This combo results in good subsidence over the TN valley and another hot afternoon with highs in the l90s in most valley locations. Will leave forecast dry on Sunday, although there are hints at possibly terrain forced isolated convection in east TN and north GA that could inch into our eastern counties. Will let future shifts reassess this before adding precip to the forecast. .LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Thursday) Issued at 139 PM CDT Fri Jun 5 2020 As alluded to in previous discussions, the latter part of the forecast period turns to the tropics where TS Cristobal is xpcted to be approaching the wrn/cntrl Gulf Coast. Latest forecast/guidance as this tropical system making landfall near south cntrl LA Sun night into Mon morning. Much of the moisture/rainfall associated with this system will initially spread more to the SW/W of the TN Valley, as Cristobal lifts nwd into the Arklatex region. This system will then begin to be picked up by an upper trough axis swinging ewd thru the Plains states into the day Tue. As this occurs, outer bands/squalls may begin to spread more into the area late Mon night into Tue. Energy/moisture associated with the remnants of the system will then deflect more to the NE Tue night into Wed, as a cold front approaches the region from the west. Any threat for gusty winds/heavy rainfall will develop during the day Tue, although this is still somewhat uncertain given the time period in question. Any break from the rainfall associated with the departing tropical system is likely to be short lived, as additional showers/tstms develop along/ahead of this next front heading into mid week, before rainfall begins to taper off late in the forecast period with the passage of the front. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Saturday afternoon) Issued at 1128 AM CDT Fri Jun 5 2020 Isolated to scattered TS are expected this afternoon into the early evening, mainly south of KMSL-KHSV-K4A9. Thus, confidence is too low to include in either KMSL or KHSV TAFs. A convective complex entering western TN and northern MS may clip far northwest AL this evening and overnight, so may need to add a mention to KMSL later tonight if confidence increases. Later tonight, patchy BR/FG is expected which may lower VSBYs to 1-3SM after 08Z. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. TN...NONE. && NEAR TERM...17 SHORT TERM...17 LONG TERM...09 AVIATION...17 For more information please visit our website at weather.gov/huntsville.
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Huntsville AL 132 PM CDT Fri Jun 5 2020 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-061000- Lauderdale-Colbert-Franklin AL-Lawrence-Limestone-Madison-Morgan- Marshall-Jackson-DeKalb-Cullman-Moore-Lincoln-Franklin TN- 132 PM CDT Fri Jun 5 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north central Alabama, northeast Alabama, northwest Alabama and southern middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon into the evening hours, mainly over northwest Alabama. There is marginal risk of severe weather, including hail up to quarter sized and winds up to 60 mph. Additional thunderstorms are possible later tonight in far northwest Alabama. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Additional thunderstorms are expected early next week with the greatest chances on Tuesday into Wednesday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management personnel is not anticipated at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
320 PM CDT Fri Jun 5 2020
ALZ002-003-052045-
Franklin AL-Colbert AL-
320 PM CDT Fri Jun 5 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN COLBERT AND WESTERN
FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM CDT...
At 320 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Belmont, or near Tishomingo State Park, moving south at 15 mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Red Bay, Vina, Pleasant Site, Pogo, Atwood and Halltown.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Strong gusty winds will be capable of knocking down small tree limbs
along with other small unsecured items. Seek safe shelter until this
storm has passed.
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 8816 3450 8815 3453 8815 3460 8814
3462 8806 3434 8792 3432 8817
TIME...MOT...LOC 2020Z 345DEG 11KT 3454 8813
RSBSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
341 PM CDT Fri Jun 5 2020
ALZ003-052130-
Franklin AL-
341 PM CDT Fri Jun 5 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY UNTIL 430
PM CDT...
At 341 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Red Bay, moving south at 10 mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Red Bay, Vina, Pleasant Site, Atwood and Halltown.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Strong gusty winds will be capable of knocking down small tree limbs
along with other small unsecured items. Seek safe shelter until this
storm has passed.
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 3437 8817 3454 8814 3455 8803 3431 8794
3432 8817
TIME...MOT...LOC 2041Z 353DEG 7KT 3447 8814
RSBThe Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 110 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:54 UTC.
1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Nickel sized hail was reported in the southeast side of Muscle Shoals. Report was relayed via social media.
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, June 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: 902003.