Showers and thunderstorms developed across Northwest Alabama, repeatedly moving across portions of Lauderdale, Colbert, and Limestone Counties. Flash flooding occurred on the 5th, with several roadways impacted by the floodwaters.
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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.
Showers and thunderstorms developed across Northwest Alabama, repeatedly moving across portions of Lauderdale, Colbert, and Limestone Counties. Flash flooding occurred on the 5th, with several roadways impacted by the floodwaters.
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 Oct 5, 3:28 PM CST, 1 hour 6 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 428 PM CDT Tue Oct 5 2021 .NEAR TERM...(Tonight) Issued at 259 PM CDT Tue Oct 5 2021 Numerous showers and embedded thunderstorms have formed over north central AL and will continue tracking northwest through the afternoon. Coverage over northeast AL as been more isolated, as the better diurnal heating and sfc moisture remains over the western portion of the area. Expect this trend to continue through the evening hours as a shortwave impulse continues to track north around the upper low positioned to our west, over the ArkLaMiss region. An additional 0.75-1" of rainfall is forecast overnight, and dense cloud cover should keep lows on the mild side, only dropping to the mid 60s. Some isolated flooding could develop overnight, especially in low lying and poor drainage areas. A Flash Flood Watch will continue through the overnight hours for the entire forecast area. .SHORT TERM...(Wednesday through Thursday night) Issued at 259 PM CDT Tue Oct 5 2021 The stacked upper low will begin to track north on Wednesday, bringing additional waves of showers and storms northeast. Believe much of the area will see a brief break in the morning hours, before diurnal heating and better forcing settles in over the afternoon. With veering vertical flow and afternoon CAPE values in the 1500-2000 J/kg range, SPC has introduced a marginal risk for severe thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon and evening. The primary threat will be strong winds, but will have to watch for the potential of a tornado as well given the shear in place. In addition to the severe threat, will also continue monitoring for the potential for flash flooding as additional rounds of heavy rainfall are likely tomorrow afternoon and evening. For now, it looks like the better convergence will be over northeast AL tomorrow, so will have to watch for terrain influences especially in low lying and other flood prone areas. The upper low will begin to track northeast on Thursday, and slightly drier air should begin to filter into northwest AL during the morning hours. Models diverge a bit concerning exactly when this clearing will occur, and we may be slow to clear especially over northeast AL. Some showers could linger over northeast AL through Friday morning, but the heaviest activity should come to an end Thursday morning. Highs will be in the upper 70s Wednesday and near 80 on Thursday, with lows in the mid 60s. .LONG TERM...(Friday through Monday) Issued at 259 PM CDT Tue Oct 5 2021 A stacked low pressure system that in part helped produce widespread shower activity the past few days; towards the end of the week should continue weakening as it becomes a trough-like feature over the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley. This feature should head further to the east away from the region. Short amplitude upper ridging should build across the region, bringing dry weather, and mild to warm conditions for the middle of October. Depending upon how much rain does fall beforehand, hydrological issues such as higher than normal river/stream flows could be still on-going. Shower activity at the beginning of the period should wind down over our eastern half of the Tennessee Valley on Friday. A dry trend should return for the weekend. Troughing remaining east of the area (mainly along the Atlantic seaboard) could bring a temperature gradient (cooler to the east) over the weekend. Highs should range from the mid/upper 70s east, with lower 80s for our more western areas. Low temperatures should range in the low/mid 60s. Another storm system forming to our west this weekend will advance to the east, and bring more clouds and showers to the Valley next Monday. Stayed thunder-free this go around, but sufficient shear and more instability could justify adding it in future forecasts. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Wednesday afternoon) Issued at 1231 PM CDT Tue Oct 5 2021 SHRA and TS will remain a threat for both terminals through the TAF period. Have seen reductions to LIFR cigs and IFR vsbys at KMSL with heavier rain and thunder. MVFR cigs have been intermittent at KHSV, and reductions to IFR conditions will be possible, especially overnight. Believe the best chances for rain will come late this evening and overnight. Amendments may be needed as these showers and storms evolve. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...Flash Flood Watch through late Wednesday night for ALZ001>010-016. TN...Flash Flood Watch through late Wednesday night for TNZ076-096-097. && NEAR TERM...25 SHORT TERM...25 LONG TERM...RSB AVIATION...25 For more information please visit our website at weather.gov/huntsville.
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Huntsville AL 259 PM CDT Tue Oct 5 2021 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-061100- Lauderdale-Colbert-Franklin AL-Lawrence-Limestone-Madison-Morgan- Marshall-Jackson-DeKalb-Cullman-Moore-Lincoln-Franklin TN- 259 PM CDT Tue Oct 5 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north Alabama and portions of southern middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Tonight... Scattered thunderstorms are anticipated across the Tennessee Valley tonight, within more widespread showers. A few strong thunderstorms are possible this evening, with wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph, and frequent lightning. Otherwise, locally heavy rainfall and flooding will be the primary hazard. A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for all counties in the outlook area through late Wednesday evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday... Widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms will continue across the region on Wednesday and Wednesday night, before gradually ending from southwest to northeast on Thursday and Thursday evening. Conditions will be favorable for some of the storms to become strong to marginally severe during Wednesday, with the main threat strong to damaging wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph and frequent lightning. Flash flooding risks will continue, with rainfall totals of four to five inches possible. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management personnel is not anticipated at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
213 PM CDT Tue Oct 5 2021
ALZ002-051945-
Colbert AL-
213 PM CDT Tue Oct 5 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of western Colbert
County through 245 PM CDT...
At 212 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Cherokee, or 11 miles southeast of Iuka, moving northwest at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Cherokee, Malone, Mynot, Mt Hester, Margerum, Allsboro and Barton.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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 3472 8812 3489 8810 3475 8788 3461 8801
3466 8813
TIME...MOT...LOC 1912Z 125DEG 15KT 3473 8802
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
RSBThe Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 128 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:32 UTC.
4 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Approximately two feet of water covering Cousins Gas Station along Highway 72 just east of Killen.
About a foot of flowing water was reported along the intersection of County Road 33 and Highway 72 just east of Killen.
Water backing up into the backyards of some homes along Hickory Park Road in Killen. Spillway has also been blocked by debris. Depth of water unknown.
Water was blocking the lanes along River Road southeast of Killen. Depth of water unknown.
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, October 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: 989401, 989403, 989404, 989405.