An area of low pressure and trailing cold front moved across the southeastern states. A very warm and moist air mass developed ahead of this system and allowed strong to severe storms to develop.
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 MOB wrote it up.
An area of low pressure and trailing cold front moved across the southeastern states. A very warm and moist air mass developed ahead of this system and allowed strong to severe storms to develop. The thunderstorms produced several reports of wind damage across southwest and south central 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 Mobile, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 31, 6:09 AM CST, 1 hour 16 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Mobile AL
709 AM CDT Tue Mar 31 2020
.AVIATION...
12Z issuance...Line of convection is beginning to enter the
northwest tier of zones moving rapidly east at 35 to 40 kts.
Additional convective development to occur this morning with
activity spreading east fairly rapidly. In addition to lower cigs
and impacts from strong to perhaps severe tsra, gusty southwest
to westerly winds away from storms will also bring impacts today
for approaches and departures. Wind shift with frontal passage
occurs mid to late afternoon. /10
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 535 AM CDT Tue Mar 31 2020/
UPDATE...Considering the strengthening west to southwest flow
over the beaches and long period swell moving up into the surf
zone today, the marginal risk of rip currents has been upgraded
to a high risk. Zones will be updated to reflect these headlines.
/10
PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 403 AM CDT Tue Mar 31 2020/
NEAR TERM UPDATE /Now Through Wednesday/...A sharpening mid-level
storm system trough axis was advancing eastward over the Red River
Valley of TX/OK with a diffluent high level flow spreading over
the deep south. At the surface, quasi-stationary front was draped
from the southeast US to near the central Gulf coast merging into
a surface wave of frontal low pressure that has become better
defined over northern LA with approach of concentrated height
falls aloft. South and southwest of the low, warm sector was
characterized by excellent instability for the pre-dawn hours with
most unstable CAPE values ranging 800-1200 J/KG over southern LA
and the upper TX coast. Low pressure tracks east to the central
AL/MS state borders by around daybreak advancing quickly into
southern GA by early afternoon. As the low moves by to our north,
the coastal boundary will also quickly surge northward bringing
better moisture across our area as dewpoints climb into the mid to
upper 60s. With approach of better forcing, the high resolution
convection allowing models shows a band of showers and storms
likely to develop across southeastern Mississippi during the early
morning hours, translating quickly east to the I-65 corridor mid-
morning continue to race eastward and could conceivably be out of
the area by around noon. Given short range ensembles showing back
edge of precipitation a little slower moving out, will maintain
better PoPs over the far eastern zones through mid-afternoon
before scaling back by the close of the afternoon.
Given the fast eastward progression of the surface low, the
potential for strong to severe storms looks to be more focused
through this morning. Much of the area remains outlooked for a
slight risk. Damaging winds appear to be the primary threat, hail
up to quarter size and a tornado cannot be ruled out. There will
be ample shear with 0-1 KM effective bulk shear values of around
45 knots on average and models are hinting at around 400 to 800
J/KG of MLCape this morning. MLCape increasing to about 1000 J/KG
by mid to late morning over the southern zones. It is important to
note that the HRRR has been slightly quicker with each run but
also trending slowly upward with cape. The local environment would
be supportive of organized convection with potential bowing
segments and maybe a supercell or two. Storms that may tend to
remain more discrete could produce large hail. The tornado threat
appears minimal due to quickly veering surface winds. Hodographs
are mostly straight line, lacking overall low-level curvature,
except further north closer to the surface low and warm front
where surface winds will remain southerly for longer. A tornado
cannot be ruled out in this area but overall the threat appears
low.
With the close proximity of the surface low and daytime heating,
winds will be gusty out of the south to southwest. Some gusts up
to around 30 mph will be possible and a wind advisory remains in
effect through the day mostly along and south of a line from
Wiggins, MS to Andalusia AL.
The cold front clears our area paving the way for "cooler" and
drier weather tonight and Wednesday.
Daytime highs upper 70s to low 80s before cooling off behind the
front. Lows tonight much cooler in the mid to upper 40s except
lower 50s near the coast. More seasonable Wednesday with highs in
the upper 60s to lower 70s. /10/03
SHORT TERM /Wednesday night Through Thursday night/...The dry
northwest flow pattern aloft will persist as the upper level
trough moves eastward over the western Atlantic, and an upper
ridge builds overhead Wednesday night into Thursday. The ridge
will flatten slightly Thursday night as a weak shortwave impulse
moves into southern Mississippi. Northerly surface winds will
otherwise remain as surface high pressure builds across the
Mississippi Valley region. The surface ridge will continue to
advance eastward over the area Wednesday and Wednesday night,
before shifting along the Eastern Seaboard by Thursday night.
Mostly clear and dry conditions will prevail across our forecast
area through Thursday night. Overnight low temperatures Wednesday
night will be in the mid 40s to low 50s, with mid 50s at the
beaches. Highs on Thursday will be in the mid to upper 70s,
followed by lows Thursday might in the mid 50s to lower 60s. /22
EXTENDED TERM /Friday Through Monday/...Zonal mid level flow
generally continues across the forecast area Friday and Saturday.
Deep layer moisture remains fairly limited on Friday, but there
could be enough weak ascent for isolated showers, mainly across
western portions of the CWA. A shortwave impulse in the zonal flow
pattern may support a better chance of rain showers across the
region by Saturday. Embedded impulses in the flow aloft may
continue to move across the region Sunday into Monday on the
northern periphery of a ridge building across the Gulf of Mexico.
We will maintain a chance of showers and a few thunderstorms late
this weekend into early next week. Temperatures will likely be
above normal through the extended period. /21
MARINE...Main impacts to commercial and recreational boating
interests comes today and tonight. A moderate to strong southwest
to westerly flow and building seas to develop on today south of a
low pressure system that tracks quickly east over central AL.
Winds, waves and seas locally higher in and near storms Tuesday.
A moderate to strong offshore flow sets up tonight in the wake of
the frontal passage with seas continuing to build. Small craft
advisories remain in effect for southern Mobile Bay, adjacent MS
Sound waters and over the open Gulf waters Tuesday through Mid-
morning Wednesday morning. /10
&&
.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for ALZ059-060-261>266.
High Rip Current Risk until 6 PM CDT this evening for ALZ265-266.
FL...Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for FLZ201>206.
High Rip Current Risk until 6 PM CDT this evening for FLZ202-204-
206.
MS...Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for MSZ078-079.
GM...Small Craft Advisory until 10 AM CDT Wednesday for GMZ631-632-
650-655-670-675.
Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for GMZ630-
633>636.
&&
This product is also available on the web at:
http://weather.gov/mobHazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Mobile AL 813 AM CDT Tue Mar 31 2020 ALZ265-266-FLZ202-204-206-011315- Mobile Coastal-Baldwin Coastal-Escambia Coastal-Santa Rosa Coastal- Okaloosa Coastal- 813 AM CDT Tue Mar 31 2020 ...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Alabama and northwest Florida. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/mob (see Fast Access Product Section) for more information about the following hazards. High Rip Current Risk. Wind Advisory. A few strong to briefly severe storms are possible this morning into perhaps early afternoon. The severe weather threat is expected to end by mid to late afternoon. Damaging wind gusts in excess of 60 mph are the primary threats in severe storms. Forecasters cannot rule out an instance of quarter size hail and perhaps a tornado. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the National Weather Service while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines. ALZ059-060-261>264-FLZ201-203-205-MSZ078-079-011315- Escambia-Covington-Mobile Inland-Baldwin Inland-Mobile Central- Baldwin Central-Escambia Inland-Santa Rosa Inland-Okaloosa Inland- Stone-George- 813 AM CDT Tue Mar 31 2020 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Alabama, southwest Alabama, northwest Florida and southeast Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/mob (see Fast Access Product Section) for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. A few strong to briefly severe storms are possible this morning spreading east to Interstate 65 mid to late morning and exiting the eastern zones by early afternoon. The severe weather threat is expected to end by mid to late afternoon. Damaging wind gusts in excess of 60 mph are the primary threats in severe storms. Forecasters cannot rule out an instance of quarter size hail and perhaps a tornado. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the National Weather Service while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines. ALZ051>058-MSZ067-075-076-011315- Choctaw-Washington-Clarke-Wilcox-Monroe-Conecuh-Butler-Crenshaw- Wayne-Perry-Greene- 813 AM CDT Tue Mar 31 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Alabama, southwest Alabama and southeast Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. A few strong to briefly severe storms are possible this morning over the northwest zones, spreading east to Interstate 65 mid to late morning and exiting the eastern zones by early afternoon. The severe weather threat is expected to end by mid to late afternoon. Damaging wind gusts in excess of 60 mph are the primary threats in severe storms. Forecasters cannot rule out an instance of quarter size hail and perhaps a tornado. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the National Weather Service while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines. GMZ630-633>636-011315- Northern Mobile Bay-Perdido Bay-Pensacola Bay System- Western Choctawhatchee Bay-Eastern Choctawhatchee Bay- 813 AM CDT Tue Mar 31 2020 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the coastal waters of Alabama and northwest Florida. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/mob (see Fast Access Product Section) for more information about the following hazards. Small Craft Advisory. Winds and waves locally higher in and near storms today. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. GMZ631-632-650-655-670-675-011315- Southern Mobile Bay-Mississippi Sound- Coastal waters from Pensacola FL to Pascagoula MS out 20 NM- Coastal waters from Okaloosa Walton County Line FL to Pensacola FL out 20 NM-Waters from Pensacola FL to Pascagoula MS from 20 to 60 NM- Waters from Okaloosa Walton County Line FL to Pensacola FL from 20 to 60 NM- 813 AM CDT Tue Mar 31 2020 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CDT WEDNESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the coastal waters of Alabama and northwest Florida. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/mob (see Fast Access Product Section) for more information about the following hazards. Small Craft Advisory. Winds, waves and seas locally higher in and near storms today. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/mob (see Fast Access Product Section) for more information about the following hazards. Small Craft Advisory.
The Mobile radar (KMOB), 146 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:24 UTC.
11 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Straight line winds caused significant damage to trees and power lines in Thomasville.
Straight line wind damage was surveyed beginning approximately 1 mile |north of Oak Hill, where numerous large trees were snapped and uprooted. |Much of this damage was observed along Hwy. 21. The damage continued |east for approximately 6 miles, ending along Freedom Farm Road, where |there were additional snapped and uprooted trees. Winds were estimated|at between 75 and 80 mph. No tornado damage was observed.
High winds downed trees on Armstrong Road.
High winds downed trees on Bowden Road.
High winds downed trees on Pouncy Road.
High winds downed trees on Bee Creek Road.
High winds downed trees on Lapine Road.
High winds downed trees on Rummy Road.
High winds downed trees on Mt. Ida Road.
High winds downed trees.
High winds snapped trees in the Gateswood community.
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, 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: 883122, 880608, 883123, 883134, 883135, 883138, 883140, 883141, 883143, 883144, 883146.