Multiple supercell clusters developed in northern Mississippi during the late afternoon hours, which moved east across north Alabama during the early to mid evening hours. An EF-1 tornado was produced by a storm in Colbert County, while other reports of wind damage were received.
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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.
Multiple supercell clusters developed in northern Mississippi during the late afternoon hours, which moved east across north Alabama during the early to mid evening hours. An EF-1 tornado was produced by a storm in Colbert County, while other reports of wind damage were received. Some of the wind damage reports consisted of trees being knocked down. Ten wooden power poles were knocked over onto a road in Limestone County. A few reports of flash flooding were reported. During the past 72 hours, some areas have received 4-6 inches of rainfall. These storms produced a quick 1-1.5 inches which resulted in flash flooding.
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 Mar 24, 6:23 AM CST, 1 hour 6 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 723 AM CDT Tue Mar 24 2020 .UPDATE... For 12Z TAFS. && .NEAR TERM...(Today) Issued at 455 AM CDT Tue Mar 24 2020 A low-amplitude shortwave trough will continue to shift northeastward into southern KS/northern OK early this morning, in the flow to the north of a strong 500-mb ridge centered across northern Mexico. As the surface low related to this feature advances eastward across central OK, a warm front will lift slowly northeastward through the local forecast area, beginning in the southwestern counties between 10-12Z. Elevated convection continues to develop rather quickly in the warm advection regime to the north of the front, with this trend expected to persist throughout the morning, as forecast soundings suggest that a northeastward-spreading EML will temporarily steepen mid-level lapse rates. Based on elevated CAPE perhaps as high as 500-750 J/kg and effective bulk shear in the 35-45 knot range, some organization to the convection is anticipated and this may lead to a risk of severe hail beneath the strongest cores. Near term model consensus still suggests that the parent mid-level trough will track east-northeastward into the lower-OH Valley by 00Z, while the system's surface low shifts eastward across AR and into southwestern TN with little fluctuation in intensity. Although the warm front should continue to push northward into TN early this afternoon under these conditions, there is some concern that a vast amount of rain-cooled air across TN may increase static stability and slow its northward progression. Regardless, we expect a temporary break in precipitation, beginning late this morning in the southwest and for most of the region early this afternoon. It still appears as if thunderstorms will redevelop to our west early this afternoon, as a prefrontal surface trough/remnant dryline extending southward from the low shifts eastward into southeastern AR/northeastern LA/western MS. Additional convection may also develop in the open warm sector across northern MS/AL, especially if a mesoscale boundary is established by precipitation this morning. This activity is expected to rapidly assume supercellular storm structures based on the combination of MLCAPE around 1500 J/kg and bulk shear on the order of 60-65 knots. Although all modes of severe weather will certainly be possible, the threat for significant hail/damaging winds appears to be a bit higher compared to tornadoes, as the low-level jet may tend to veer/weaken a bit by late this afternoon. In addition to potential impacts from severe thunderstorms, we have also elected to issue a Flash Flood Watch for most counties in the forecast area, based on the current flooding situation and average precipitation amounts in the 1-2 inch range expected over the upcoming 24-hour period. .SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Wednesday night) Issued at 455 AM CDT Tue Mar 24 2020 Thunderstorms entering the forecast area late this afternoon will spread eastward and out of the region by 03-04Z, with the passage of the surface trough. A final band of light showers will be possible late this evening and early Wednesday morning, as the cyclone's cold front pushes southeastward through the region, with a mixture of low clouds and drizzle expected to continue for the remainder of the morning. However, postfrontal stratus clouds appear to finally scatter by early afternoon, with temperatures expected to warm into the u60s-l70s as this occurs. Pleasant conditions will continue into Wednesday night, with temperatures dropping into the u40s-l50s in a favorable environment for radiational cooling. .LONG TERM...(Thursday through Monday) Issued at 455 AM CDT Tue Mar 24 2020 Those out there hoping for warm weather and a reprieve from the rain will probably enjoy weather conditions on Thursday and Friday. There is strong global model consensus for a broad upper ridge to build in the Gulf of Mexico during this period in response to upstream trough development in the West CONUS. The surface ridge will be located just off the East Coast with southerly flow dominating across the TN Valley as the polar front retreats into the Northeast and Great Lakes regions. Models indicate clockwise flow around the broad ridge will bring air parcels from portions of Western TX and the Mexican Plateau into our region on Thursday and Friday. 850 mb temperatures may reach up to ~13-14C on Thursday and even higher up to ~18C on Friday. Provided sufficiently deep boundary layer mixing takes place, temperatures may reach well into the 80s, especially on Friday. However, some mid/upper clouds may be present which would inhibit heating to some extent mainly on Friday. Daytime high temperatures could perhaps be higher as some of the MOS is suggesting, but part of the energy expenditure will go to drive evaporation from the very wet soils in place, curbing sensible heating. So, the forecast will tend to lean towards a more conservative estimate of daytime highs for now. With the surface high anchored off the East Coast, southerly flow will continue into Saturday. Streamlines indicate parcel trajectories emanating from the deep GOM and the Caribbean, bringing rather moist air into the region for this time of year. Dew points may climb well into the 60s. Although the West CONUS trough mentioned may become partially closed in the Intermountain West, the largely progressive flow pattern is expected to bring the upper low and associated vorticity into the central CONUS on Saturday. Backing upper flow and moisture advection/convergence ahead of the trough and developing cold front may bring rain and thunderstorms to the area beginning as early as Saturday. An upper jet just to our north appears to be poised to provide broad scale ascent across the region. However, overall dynamic forcing and shear characteristics do not appear overly favorable for severe weather. But, it's quite early to get into too many details yet. In any event, this looks to be a rather quick shot of rain and thunderstorms along and ahead of a cold front. POPs are still a bit spread out across Saturday and into Sunday morning, mainly to account for the remaining uncertainty in timing. A deep, highly amplified trough may give rise to the next bout of precipitation then early next week, but too much run-to-run inconsistency has yet to be resolved for this next system, although it does feature a Gulf surface low and perhaps a chillier rain for the area at this time. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Wednesday morning) Issued at 723 AM CDT Tue Mar 24 2020 A strong warm front will continue to lift northward through the TN Valley this morning, with widespread TSRA and IFR cigs/MVFR reductions expected for roughly the first three hours of the valid TAF period. Conditions will begin to improve by 16Z as the warm front advance further northeastward, with stratocu cigs lifting to arnd 3500 ft AGL by 18Z, as sfc flow veers to SW and increases to 10G18 knots. A second episode of TSRA is expected to impact the terminals beginning late this afternoon, in advance of an eastward moving surface trough. Due to some lingering uncertainties regarding timing of this second event, we have introduced VCTS/CB at 22Z for both terminals, with PROB30 groups for TSRA btwn 22-02Z. The threat for TSRA will diminish by 02Z, with lgt SHRA possible prior to the arrival of a cold front late this evening/early Wednesday morning. Winds will veer to NW by 25/06Z, with MVFR stratus based arnd 1500 ft continuing for the remainder of the period. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...Flash Flood Watch through late tonight for ALZ001>010. TN...Flash Flood Watch through late tonight for TNZ076-096-097. && NEAR TERM...70/DD SHORT TERM...70/DD LONG TERM...KDW AVIATION...70/DD For more information please visit our website at weather.gov/huntsville.
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Huntsville AL 618 AM CDT Tue Mar 24 2020 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-251100- Lauderdale-Colbert-Franklin AL-Lawrence-Limestone-Madison-Morgan- Marshall-Jackson-DeKalb-Cullman-Moore-Lincoln-Franklin TN- 618 AM CDT Tue Mar 24 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north Alabama and portions of southern middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight... Thunderstorms will continue this morning as a warm front moves northward across the area. A few of these storms may be capable of producing hail up to the size of pennies and locally heavy rainfall amounts up to about one inch. A second round of thunderstorms is expected to develop to our west and move into the area this afternoon. Conditions appear favorable for the development of strong to severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes. Storms will shift eastward across the remainder of the Tennessee Valley during the evening, with a continued threat for severe weather. In addition, heavy rainfall from the thunderstorm activity will increase the risk for flash flooding today. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect from 7 AM until 1 AM Wednesday morning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday... Additional thunderstorms are possible across the region on Saturday, although coverage and intensity is expected to be lower at this point. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management personnel is possible this afternoon and evening. KDW
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 68 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:30 UTC.
6 flash flood, 5 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
More than 6 inches of water flowing down Balch Road at the intersection of Browns Ferry Road in Madison. Dog park submerged faster than normal from Mill Creek.
Huntsville PD Twitter picture shows flooding over a bridge on Terry Drake Road. Depth of water unknown.
Huntsville PD tweeted a picture of water over Dug Hill Road near Monte Sano. Depth of water unknown.
The tornado touched down in western Tishomingo County in northeast Mississippi producing EF-1 damage, before crossing into Colbert County, Alabama just north of the Natchez Trace Parkway. As the tornado entered Colbert County, dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted and a single-family home received minor roof damage. The tornado continued on an easterly path, crossing Natchez Trace Parkway and uprooting several more trees. As the tornado reached Mynot Road, a chicken house was destroyed and a few trees were uprooted. The tornado continued to the east-|northeast, uprooting a couple of trees before lifting near White Pike Road.
A tree was knocked down on White Pike.
Flash flooding reported at the intersection of Spring Court and Meadow Hill Road. Depth of water unknown.
Flash flooding reported at 501 W 20th Avenue in Sheffield, AL. Depth of water unknown.
Several trees were knocked down on the south side of Highway 24 entering Decatur. Time estimated by radar. A nearby CWOP station AV155 at 34.63483/-87.08033 measured a wind gust of 56 mph.
Trees were knocked down and blocking the road at James Street and Austinville Road.
Trees and power lines were knocked down near I-565 and Mooresville Road.
A power pole was snapped near Bob Wallace Avenue. Photo relayed through social media.
Flash flooding reported at 3000 Marthaler Lane in Leighton, AL. Depth of water unknown.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Alabama, 2020Warnings in Alabama, March 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: 883230, 883234, 883235, 880714, 880715, 883236, 883237, 880716, 880717, 880718, 880719, 883238.