A quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) moved east across north Alabama during the predawn into the mid-morning hours. This line of thunderstorms was part of a larger outbreak of severe weather and tornadoes which affected the mid South, lower Ohio and Missouri Valleys and Midwest.
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 HUN wrote it up.
A quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) moved east across north Alabama during the predawn into the mid-morning hours. This line of thunderstorms was part of a larger outbreak of severe weather and tornadoes which affected the mid South, lower Ohio and Missouri Valleys and Midwest. Numerous reports of damage, some severe, were received with the activity, particularly in northwest Alabama including the Shoals metro area.
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 Dec 11, 2:36 AM CST, 2 hours 35 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 236 AM CST Sat Dec 11 2021 .NEAR TERM...(Remainder of this morning and today) Issued at 236 AM CST Sat Dec 11 2021 A mid-level shortwave trough will continue to assume a pronounced negative tilt as it lifts northeastward from the Mid-MO Valley into the Upper-MS Valley early this morning, within a broader longwave trough over the central CONUS. At the surface, a deepening low related to this trough will lift rapidly northeastward from northern IL, maintaining a steep pressure gradient and gusty south- southwesterly flow across the local area. Widely scattered light showers will persist across the region early this morning, in the deep warm/moist advection regime to the east of this system, but at this point it still appears as if surface based parcels remain capped by a pronounced inversion rooted in the 4-5 kft layer, with our primary focus on convection to our west. Based on latest trends in high-resolution CAM guidance, thunderstorms currently extending from western TN southwestward into southern AR/northern LA will continue to evolve into a solid QLCS as the cyclone's synoptic cold front overtakes a prefrontal surface trough which served as the original low-level initiating mechanism. We expect this QLCS to enter northwest AL between 10-11Z and advance steadily southeastward, exiting the CWFA between 15-16Z. It appears as if the risk for severe thunderstorms will be tied to the QLCS, as there is little evidence to suggest isolated cellular activity ahead of it. Kinematic and thermodynamic parameters, including boundary layer dewpoints in the mid 60s and a southwesterly low-level jet of 50-60 knots, support damaging winds of 60-70 MPH and brief tornadoes as the main threats with this system. Although we have largely ended probabilities for thunderstorms from NW-to-SE in the wake of the QLCS, trailing shower activity will be possible until the arrival of the cold front, which should not occur until around 15-16Z in northwest AL. In addition to this, strong dynamic ascent to the north of the cold front and east of the mid- level trough could lead to periods of light rain through early afternoon. Outside of convection, we still expect strong gradient winds of 20-25 MPH and gusts of 30-35 MPH (higher in elevated terrain), and the current Wind Advisory will remain in effect until Noon CST. .SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Sunday) Issued at 236 AM CST Sat Dec 11 2021 Any lingering postfrontal rain will be ending in our southeastern counties around or shortly after 00Z, with rapid clearing expected to occur from NW-to-SE by mid/late evening, as the axis of the longwave trough shifts southeastward across the region. Although a light north-northeast wind will keep the boundary layer mixed for much of the night, it does appear as if winds will diminish around sunrise, and a light freeze is expected Sunday morning. Surface high pressure will build eastward into the southern Appalachians on Sunday, with a beautiful/sunny day anticipated, featuring light/variable winds and highs in the l-m 50s. .LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Friday) Issued at 236 AM CST Sat Dec 11 2021 Another cool night is in store for Sunday night, as high pressure remains over the area with northwesterly flow continuing. Flow aloft become more southwesterly and begins to bring some warmer/more moist air into the area on Monday. Highs with abundant sunshine should climb back into the upper 50s to lower 60s as a result. This trend continues into Monday night as the center of the surface high pushes into the Mid-Atlantic region. Models also show some cloud cover moving into northwestern Alabama after midnight as a warm front moves northward towards the area. Warmer overnight lows are expected as a result only dropping into the mid 30s east of the I-65 corridor and into the 40 to 45 degree range further west. There does not appear to be sufficient lift along the front or moisture depth to produce any precipitation at this time. So forecast remains dry. The cloud cover and continued moisture/warm air advection should keep lows in the lower 40s to lower 50s across the area (warmer temperatures in NW AL). Cloud cover overspreads the area Tuesday into Wednesday night, as the warm front waffles around the area. With southwesterly flow continuing as a weak cold front moves into the Midwestern states, temperatures will continue to get warmer (both daytime and overnight temperatures). Highs on Tuesday should climb into the mid to upper 60s and by Wednesday into the upper 60s to lower 70s with some sunshine returning. The cold front makes more progress eastward on Thursday. Isolated to scattered showers look possible ahead of this front into northwestern Alabama Thursday afternoon into Thursday night. Models are very divergent concerning where this front moves on Friday into Friday night. ECMWF keeps it over the area, as deeper moisture and better forcing develop along it, making for a wetter and significantly cooler solution. The GFS moves it further north into central or northern Tennessee, keeping our rain chances much lower and temperatures warmer. That said, have 20 to 40 percent precipitation chances in the forecast. Overall that should make it just a tad cooler than Thursday, but still warm. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Saturday night) Issued at 1048 PM CST Fri Dec 10 2021 Lower ceilings ave exited KMSL and KHSV, but could redevelop at times. For now, kept ceilings at or above 030agl (VFR) until one or more bands of SHRA and TSRA move in after 09-10Z in northwest AL. LLWS is also included as southerly flow persists with gusts over 30kt. The main line of +TSRA with IFR conditions arrives toward 12-14Z at KMSL and 13-15Z at KHSV with the potential of strong to severe wind gusts. The cold front will shift winds to the west- northwest by 16-18Z with gusts of 25-35kt possible with VFR conditions the rest of the period. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...Wind Advisory until noon CST today for ALZ001>010-016. TN...Wind Advisory until noon CST today for TNZ076-096-097. && NEAR TERM...70/DD SHORT TERM...70/DD LONG TERM...KTW AVIATION...17 For more information please visit our website at weather.gov/huntsville.
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Huntsville AL 348 AM CST Sat Dec 11 2021 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-121130- Lauderdale-Colbert-Franklin AL-Lawrence-Limestone-Madison-Morgan- Marshall-Jackson-DeKalb-Cullman-Moore-Lincoln-Franklin TN- 348 AM CST Sat Dec 11 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north Alabama and portions of southern middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight... A line of strong to severe thunderstorms will track eastward across the Tennessee Valley this morning, ahead of a strong cold front. Damaging winds in the 60-70 MPH range and brief tornadoes will be the main hazards with this system, and a Tornado Watch is in effect for the entire outlook area through 11 AM CST. In addition to the risk for severe thunderstorms, strong southerly winds are expected prior to the arrival of the cold front, and a Wind Advisory remains in effect for the entire region through Noon CST. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday... No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management personnel is requested this morning. 70/DD
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 108 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:11 UTC.
56 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Smithsonia Church of Christ and an adjacent mobile home sustained damage along CR 2. The photo of the damage indicated significant damage to the west facing roof and top portion of the underlying brick wall. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down along Old Lee Highway.
A tree was knocked down on Mulberry Lane in Cherokee.
A tree was knocked down on CR 41 at the Forks of Cypress. Time estimated by radar.
Barn damage was reported at 5150 CR 41. Time estimated by radar.
Fencing was damaged along Greenfield Road at Britt Street. Time estimated by radar.
Privacy fences were damaged and shingles were torn off of homes at Wheaton Drive at Cypress Creek Drive. Time estimated by radar.
Trees were knocked down on Augusta Street and Camellia Drive. Time estimated by radar.
Trees were knocked down at Rasch Road at Congress Street. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was snapped at Rasch Road at Lanett Street. Time estimated by radar.
Power lines were knocked down on Rasch Road at Camellia. Time estimated by radar.
Metal was torn off of a barn and trees were knocked down on Chisholm Road at Hensley Home. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down on CR 2 off of Highway 20. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down across the road at 1115 Wildwood Park Road. Time estimated by radar.
A powerline was on fire at 410 Robinwood Lane. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down near the intersection of Guntersville Street and Wilson Dam Avenue.
A tree was knocked down near Savannah Highway and Beverly Avenue.
An electric power pole was knocked down near Hickory Hills Apartments. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down onto a vehicle.
Severe wind damage was reported to two buildings/businesses at 4230 and 4242 Bryson Blvd. The roof of the Global Fire Sprinklers office was blown off allowing much of the office to experience damage. Time estimated by radar.
A tree and power pole were knocked down with a transformer in a yard at CR 65 at Beechwood Drive. Time estimated by radar.
Power lines were knocked down in Tuscumbia.
A tree was knocked down near Little Rock Avenue and West 5th Street in Sheffield. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down on Woodland Hills Drive. Time estimated by radar.
Power lines were knocked down on a residence at Kentucky Road at St. Paul Road. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down onto a residence at 45 CR 57. Time estimated by radar.
Trees were knocked down on CR 30 at the Catholic Church. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down on CR 122 just west of the fire department. Time estimated by radar.
Trees were knocked down on East Lakeshore Drive. Time estimated by radar.
Trees were knocked down at 596 Westmoreland Road. Time estimated by radar.
Trees and power lines were knocked down at the Woodland Hills Mobile Home Park on Woodland Hills Drive. Eight mobile homes were damaged. A media account indicated a tree destroyed at least one trailer with three occupants narrowly escaping injury. Time estimated by radar.
Lauderdale County Emergency Management measured a 59 mph wind gust in downtown Florence.
A tree was knocked down on Frankfurt Road.
A tree was knocked down.
A tree was knocked down.
A tree and electrical lines were knocked down and blocking the road at Cox Cemetery Road at Kentwood Drive.
A tree was knocked down.
A tree was knocked down near the intersection of Avalon Avenue and Cox Blvd.
A tree was knocked down at the intersection of South Blackwell Road and East Wheeler Avenue.
A power pole was knocked down at the Emergency Management Agency office.
A roof was partially lifted off of a structure in downtown Florence.
A tree was knocked down.
A tree was knocked down on Lakewood Drive.
A tree was knocked down near CR 14 and CR 90. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down blocking both lanes of Highway 99 about 3/4 miles east of Highway 207. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down south of Town Creek.
Trees were knocked down in Elkmont near the state line along Highway 127.
Roof damage to a church was reported via social media.
Damage was reported to a barn and fence line near the intersection of Wall Triana and Pulaski Pike.
A tree was knocked down on Orville Smith Road.
A tree was knocked down along Bob Wade Lane in Harvest.
A tree was knocked down at the intersection of Alabama Highway 101 and CR 414.
Power lines were knocked down near Moores Mill Road and Darwin Road.
A tree was knocked down at the intersection of East Willow and Bellemeade Drive in Scottsboro.
A tree was knocked down on CR 27.
A tree was knocked down on CR 27 at the base of Sand Mountain.
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, December 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: 993958, 993956, 993957, 993959, 993960, 993961, 993962, 993963, 993964, 993965, 993966, 993967, 993968, 993969, 993970, 993971, 993972, 993973, 993974, 993975, 993976, 993977, 993978, 993979, 993980, 993981, 993982, 993983, 993984, 993985, 993986, 994003, 993987, 993988, 993989, 993991, 993992, 993994, 993995, 993996, and more.