An upper level disturbance enhanced convective activity along a stalled out cold front near the I-85 corridor. The storms produced periods very heavy rainfall, damaging winds, and frequent lightning across Montgomery County.
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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 BMX wrote it up.
An upper level disturbance enhanced convective activity along a stalled out cold front near the I-85 corridor. The storms produced periods very heavy rainfall, damaging winds, and frequent lightning across Montgomery County.
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 Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 2, 2:00 PM CST, 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 300 PM CDT Mon Aug 2 2021 .SHORT TERM... /Updated at 100 PM CDT Mon Aug 02 2021/ Today through Tuesday. Features of Interest. A broad trough across much of the Midwest into the Ohio River Valley while ridging is located over Northern Mexico into the Desert Southwest. In the mid levels, a shortwave trough was analyzed from sounding data over Central Arkansas with shortwave ridging over the Central Tennessee Valley. A more subtle shortwave was indicated across Northern Mississippi. The lower levels show the persistent ridging off the Southeast U.S. Coast with the most defined troughing along the Northeast and Mid Atlantic regions. Toward the surface, a cold front extended across the southern third of the forecast area while an area of low pressure was analyzed across northern Louisiana. A mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) was depicted in satellite and radar imagery over East- Central Mississippi and was moving east, associated with showers and some thunderstorms that continue to move east across our western and central counties. Heavy rain and thunderstorms continue to move east across our Southwest Counties. This area is most favorable due to the highest low-level instability values residing in this area. Hazard Assessment. The wet microburst assessment yields a moderate risk across the forecast area. This is primarily due to residual dry air aloft, though the magnitude is less compared to yesterday. Conditions aloft yesterday ended up greatly limiting convective development. Today the magnitude of drier air is less and should permit more development across the area. Heavy rainfall may produce localized flooding in urban and poor drainage areas with rain rates over one inch an hour. Storm motions of around 30 mph will help to reduce this risk from any one storm, but training situations where one location experiences repeat activity will be a concern to monitor for. Near Term. A decaying mesoscale convective vortex over East-Central Mississippi will continue to move east with time. Rain showers will continue to move east from West-Central Alabama into the Birmingham Metro area shortly. Heavy rain and persistent thunderstorms continue to move east across our Southwest Counties, generally along the U.S. Highway 80 corridor. This area is most favorable for continued deep convection as instability values are the highest in this area in the vicinity of a weak front stretched from west to east across the forecast area. Expect this activity to affect Selma shortly, then affecting Montgomery by mid afternoon and Troy by late afternoon as it continues to move east with time. Today. The front will remain across the southern third of the forecast area. Highest instability values will remain across the southern third of the area. Expect partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered showers and thunderstorms. The best potential for heavy rain and thunderstorms will be across the southern third of the forecast area. Highs will range from the lower 80s northwest to the low 90s southeast. Winds will be out of the north to northeast 5-10 mph. Tonight. The front will drift just south of the forecast area overnight with the best chances across these areas. Slightly drier air will remain across the far northern counties. Expect mostly cloudy skies tonight with scattered showers with a few thunderstorms lingering through the evening, best chances across the southern half of the forecast area. Lows will range from the mid 60s northwest to the low 70s south. Winds will be light from the northeast 3-6 mph. Tuesday. The front will remain just south of the forecast area into Tuesday while a shortwave trough moves over the area during the day. The result will be the front moving further southeast with time, into Southern Georgia and into the Central Florida Panhandle later in the day. Expect partly to mostly cloudy skies Tuesday with scattered showers and thunderstorms across the southeastern half of the forecast area with lower chances northwest. Highs will be in the mid 80s areawide. Winds will be out of the northeast 5-10 mph. 05 .LONG TERM... /Updated at 0257 PM CDT Mon Aug 02 2021/ Tuesday night through Sunday... What has seemed like a semi-permanent feature, the upper trough remains anchored over the state on Tuesday night. Cyclonic flow covers most of the eastern United States. In the big picture, the heights begin rising on Wednesday as the trough temporarily breaks down on Thursday. The trough re-loads by Friday but will stay progressive as upper ridging returns by Sunday. This overall trend is very similar to what has been advertised the past few days. Backdoor front/inverted trough still moves through the region Wednesday night into Thursday. The main quasi-stationary front looks to remain south of the area throughout before dissipating on Saturday. Therefore, the highest rain chances will stay east and south and generally scattered in nature at best. Took a mix of the previous forecast and current ensembles for temperatures. Highs will be slightly below normal and lows will be at or below normal. 75 Previous long-term discussion: /Updated at 0318 AM CDT Mon Aug 02 2021/ Tuesday night through Sunday. Central Alabama will remain under cyclonic flow aloft around the base of an amplified trough over the eastern CONUS Tuesday night through Wednesday, with some guidance indicating a closed low developing over Kentucky. Isolated to scattered showers and storms will probably be ongoing early Tuesday evening, weakening with the loss of daytime heating. An inverted trough will move in from the east ahead of a weak back door wedge front Tuesday night. A small increase in winds and dew points could keep lows a little milder in the eastern counties than would otherwise occur, but still much more pleasant than recent nights. Will also keep a slight chance of showers going overnight in the east with weak convergence. On Wednesday, another shortwave rounds the base of the trough with a continued convergence zone across the area. However models continue to differ regarding how far west sufficient moisture for convective development will make it into the area as waves of low pressure ride along the stalled front to our southeast. Highest rain chances will be in the southeast. The eastern CONUS trough lifts out of the area Thursday with weak shortwave ridging developing ahead of another shortwave over the central CONUS. Chances of showers and storms will continue to depend on how far west the axis of deep layer moisture along the stalled front and possible weak surface low makes it, with relatively highest chances southeast. A mid-level trough moves through the area Friday and Saturday. Moisture with the actual trough is limited with rain chances dependent on its interaction with the moisture axis to our southeast. By Sunday the Bermuda high begins to strengthen over the southeast CONUS with hot and humid conditions returning. There will be some weaknesses in the ridge with enough moisture for more typical scattered diurnal convection to return. 32/Davis && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF Discussion. A weak cold front remains extended from west to east across the southern third of our forecast area. Heavy rain and thunderstorms continue to move east from our southwest counties and will likely impact MGM before 20z and TOI before 22z. Will carry TSRA at both of these sites over the next few hours as a convective complex pushes east across these areas. Further to the north, a decaying MCV over East-Central Mississippi is supporting rain showers at TCL, soon to move into BHM, EET and later affecting ASN and ANB. For these sites, will advertise RA but will include a TEMPO from 21z to 00z for thunderstorm potential, though chances are lower with these areas residing north of the weak front with more cloud cover contributing to decreased low-level instability. Expect unsettled conditions to persist across MGM/TOI into the evening hours as rain and storm chances remain scattered overnight into early Tuesday morning. The northern sites should see isolated shower potential through the evening with any thunderstorm potential too low to mention beyond 00z. Low-level winds will remain out of the north to northeast 4-8 kts, becoming light overnight. Cloud bases will remain in the MVFR category through this cycle with IFR conditions expected near and in convection. 05 && .FIRE WEATHER... Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will develop over Central Alabama this afternoon with the highest chances in the south. An overall decrease in rain chances can be expected Tuesday through Friday, with the highest chances in the southeast and very limited chances in the northwest. Some RH drop is expected the remainder of the week but only into the 40s. As is typical of the summer pattern, transport winds remain rather light. 75 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 68 86 65 86 66 / 40 30 10 30 10 Anniston 69 86 67 86 67 / 50 40 10 30 10 Birmingham 70 87 67 88 68 / 50 30 10 20 10 Tuscaloosa 69 87 67 88 68 / 50 30 10 10 0 Calera 69 86 68 86 68 / 50 40 10 20 10 Auburn 70 83 69 84 69 / 80 60 30 40 20 Montgomery 71 86 70 88 70 / 80 60 20 40 10 Troy 71 86 70 88 70 / 90 60 40 60 20 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES/... None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 319 AM CDT Mon Aug 2 2021 ALZ011>015-017>050-031130- Marion-Lamar-Fayette-Winston-Walker-Blount-Etowah-Calhoun-Cherokee- Cleburne-Pickens-Tuscaloosa-Jefferson-Shelby-St. Clair-Talladega- Clay-Randolph-Sumter-Greene-Hale-Perry-Bibb-Chilton-Coosa-Tallapoosa- Chambers-Marengo-Dallas-Autauga-Lowndes-Elmore-Montgomery-Macon- Bullock-Lee-Russell-Pike-Barbour- 319 AM CDT Mon Aug 2 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham. .DAY ONE...Outlook through Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1137 AM CDT Mon Aug 2 2021
ALZ030>032-039-021715-
Greene AL-Hale AL-Sumter AL-Marengo AL-
1137 AM CDT Mon Aug 2 2021
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN MARENGO...SOUTHEASTERN
GREENE...SOUTHWESTERN HALE AND SOUTHEASTERN SUMTER COUNTIES UNTIL
1215 PM CDT...
At 1136 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Demopolis, moving northeast at 15 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Demopolis, Linden, Jefferson, Forkland, Faunsdale, Pin Hook, Duffys
Bend, Arcola, Dug Hill, Chickasaw State Park, U.S. 80 and AL 28, Old
Spring Hill, Belmont, Demopolis Lock And Dam, Gallion, McDowell,
Whitfield, Birdine, Cedarville and Laneville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential 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 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3269 8784 3255 8752 3247 8752 3229 8778
3237 8817
TIME...MOT...LOC 1636Z 222DEG 13KT 3246 8788
86/MartinSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
152 PM CDT Mon Aug 2 2021
ALZ046-021930-
Bullock AL-
152 PM CDT Mon Aug 2 2021
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL BULLOCK COUNTY UNTIL 230
PM CDT...
At 151 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Aberfoil, or 7 miles south of Union Springs, moving east at 15 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Pickett, Aberfoil and Three Notch.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential 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 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3197 8575 3211 8575 3213 8555 3200 8555
3200 8559 3198 8559 3197 8560
TIME...MOT...LOC 1851Z 270DEG 11KT 3204 8570
86/MartinSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
256 PM CDT Mon Aug 2 2021
ALZ044-022030-
Montgomery AL-
256 PM CDT Mon Aug 2 2021
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY
UNTIL 330 PM CDT...
At 255 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Hunter to near Dannelly Field to near
Pintlala. Movement was east at 20 mph.
Pea size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these
storms.
Locations impacted include...
Montgomery, Hunter, Montgomery Zoo, Boylston, Hyundai Motors Of
Alabama, Alabama State University, Hope Hull, Woodcrest, Dannelly
Field, Maxwell Air Force Base, Snowdoun, Montgomery Riverwalk
Stadium, Pinedale, Lagoon Park, Gunter Air Force Base and Alabama
State Capitol.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3224 8641 3227 8645 3227 8648 3229 8649
3233 8647 3234 8648 3238 8646 3241 8646
3240 8643 3241 8640 3243 8640 3243 8634
3241 8631 3244 8631 3244 8622 3221 8619
3217 8641
TIME...MOT...LOC 1955Z 268DEG 16KT 3242 8643 3232 8645 3222 8641
JD/02Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
313 PM CDT Mon Aug 2 2021
ALZ043>046-022045-
Montgomery AL-Macon AL-Bullock AL-Elmore AL-
313 PM CDT Mon Aug 2 2021
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN ELMORE...
NORTHWESTERN BULLOCK...SOUTHWESTERN MACON AND EASTERN MONTGOMERY
COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM CDT...
At 312 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Bob Woodruff Lake to near Pinedale to
Meadville. Movement was east at 35 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Eastern Montgomery, Wetumpka, Tallassee, Milstead, Meadville, Pike
Road, Shorter, Pine Level, Auburn University In Montgomery, Franklin
Field, Emerald Mountain, Shopton, Waugh, Hardaway, Mount Meigs,
Eastdale Mall, Tysonville, Victoryland, Blue Ridge and Mitylene.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3206 8617 3256 8624 3259 8589 3250 8589
3249 8585 3223 8575 3206 8575
TIME...MOT...LOC 2012Z 273DEG 29KT 3248 8627 3226 8618 3207 8617
JD/02The Maxwell AFB radar (KMXX), 35 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:26 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A thunderstorm downburst developed over eastern Montgomery County near the intersection of I-85 and Highway 110. The damaging winds spread eastward along the I-85 corridor for approximately 5 miles. The damage consisted of mostly snapped and uprooted trees.
A merger of thunderstorms over eastern portions of the Montgomery area produced intense rainfall rates and resulted in flash flooding. The flooding caused water to enter several homes and water boat rescues of persons trapped in vehicles. Some of the flooded roads include Glynnwood Drive, Breckenridge Drive, and Vaughn Road.
Lightning caused a fire at the Elevate 5050 Apartment Complex. Twelve units were destroyed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, August 2021
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: 981035, 981037, 981033.