Showers and thunderstorms erupted across the Tennessee Valley on October 6th, repeatedly moving across Marshall County, which caused widespread flash flooding. Numerous roadways were washed out across Arab, and sadly, 2 fatalities occurred during this flood event (one of which was a child swept away in a vehicle).
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.
Showers and thunderstorms erupted across the Tennessee Valley on October 6th, repeatedly moving across Marshall County, which caused widespread flash flooding. Numerous roadways were washed out across Arab, and sadly, 2 fatalities occurred during this flood event (one of which was a child swept away in a vehicle).
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 6, 2:16 PM CST, 41 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 316 PM CDT Wed Oct 6 2021 .NEAR TERM...(Tonight) Issued at 316 PM CDT Wed Oct 6 2021 The threat for flash flooding and strong to severe storms will continue into the evening hours, as a stacked low pressure system continues shifting north northwest, keeping a moist airmass over southern middle Tennessee and north central and northeast AL. Breaks in cloud cover have aided in destabilization early this afternoon, with current MLCAPE values between 1500-2000 J/kg. This, combined with increasing bulk shear between 30-35kts could result in a few strong to severe storms later this afternoon and evening. Damaging winds and a few tornadoes will be the primary hazards, but quarter- sized hail will also be possible. Believe the severe threat will gradually taper off shortly after sunset with the loss of daytime heating, and flash flooding will become the primary concern over NE AL. This will become especially hazardous overnight as flooding on roadways and low lying areas will become more difficult to see. With drier air wrapping around the southeast side of the low, believe northwest AL will dry out overnight and the majority of showers and storms will be confined to areas east of I-65. If clearing occurs over northwest AL, some patchy fog could develop during the early morning hours, but did not feel confident enough to include in the afternoon update. .SHORT TERM...(Thursday through Friday) Issued at 316 PM CDT Wed Oct 6 2021 As the upper low begins to shift northeast toward the Great Lakes region, drier air will continue to filter into the area from the southwest. This should keep shower and storm activity confined to areas east of I-65. Coverage remains a bit more uncertain tomorrow, as guidance has trended a little more aggressive with the drier air intrusion. That being said, any rainfall over northeast AL could fall as runoff depending on the rainfall amounts received later today and tonight. For now, additional QPF not expected to exceed 0.5" on Thursday. High temps will climb into the upper 70s to perhaps lower 80s Thursday afternoon, then into the lower 80s on Friday. Did maintain a mention of isolated thunderstorms Friday afternoon along the AL/GA state line, but believe the area will largely stay dry. Overnight lows will be in the lower 60s, and some patchy fog development will be possible during the early morning hours. .LONG TERM...(Friday night through Tuesday) Issued at 316 PM CDT Wed Oct 6 2021 A beautiful but warm fall weekend is on tap for the Tennessee Valley, as northwest flow settles in aloft and an upper ridge begins building east over the ArkLaTex region. This will keep dry and warm conditions in place over the weekend, with highs in the low to mid 80s. Overnight lows will be in the low to mid 60s through the extended period. A pacific front will dive over the central and southern Plains early next week, but confidence is decreasing on that front making it into the Tennessee Valley before being held up by a building ridge over the central Gulf. For that reason, only mentioned slight chance PoPs Tuesday and even that might be overdone. High temps will remain slightly above seasonal norms through the extended forecast period. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Thursday afternoon) Issued at 1238 PM CDT Wed Oct 6 2021 Showers and thunderstorms will continue to impact the KHSV TAF site through the evening hours, as multiple rounds of heavy rain are expected. Coverage should remain more isolated at KMSL, but brief periods of SHRA/TSRA are possible. Reductions to MVFR/IFR cigs/vsbys will be possible within these storms, and reductions to LIFR cigs and could occur if low stratus occurs overnight. If clearing occurs over NW AL overnight, some fog formation will be possible. Confidence was not high enough to include fog in this TAF issuance. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...Flash Flood Watch until 1 AM CDT Thursday for ALZ001>010-016. TN...Flash Flood Watch until 1 AM CDT Thursday for TNZ076-096-097. && NEAR TERM...25 SHORT TERM...25 LONG TERM...25 AVIATION...25 For more information please visit our website at weather.gov/huntsville.
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Huntsville AL 257 PM CDT Wed Oct 6 2021 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-071100- Lauderdale-Colbert-Franklin AL-Lawrence-Limestone-Madison-Morgan- Marshall-Jackson-DeKalb-Cullman-Moore-Lincoln-Franklin TN- 257 PM CDT Wed Oct 6 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north Alabama and portions of southern middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Tonight... Heavy rain and thunderstorms remain possible well into the evening hours, as an upper disturbance remains in place west of the area. A few of these storms may be strong to severe, with the potential for damaging wind gusts, small hail and brief tornadoes, mainly for locations along and east of the Interstate 65 corridor. The threat for localized flash flooding also remains in place and a Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through 1 AM CDT tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday... Lingering thunderstorms remain possible for areas along and east of Interstate 65 Thursday before the thunderstorm threat diminishes Thursday evening. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management personnel is possible late this afternoon and this evening.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
211 PM CDT Wed Oct 6 2021
ALZ016-062000-
Cullman AL-
211 PM CDT Wed Oct 6 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of western Cullman
County through 300 PM CDT...
At 211 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Dodge City, or 13 miles southeast of Arley, moving northeast at 30
mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Cullman, Hanceville, Good Hope, Dodge City, Baldwin, Vinemont,
Baileyton, West Point, Colony and Phelan.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
If on or near Smith Lake, get out of the water and move indoors or
inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles
from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not
be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.
&&
LAT...LON 3389 8694 3398 8709 3430 8704 3425 8660
TIME...MOT...LOC 1911Z 208DEG 27KT 3401 8699
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
30The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 82 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:58 UTC.
12 flash flood, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A few trees were knocked down near Eva. Time estimated by radar.
Trees were knocked down on CR 3 on Putnam Mountain near Princeton. Time estimated by radar.
Flash Flooding was reported in the Owens Cross Roads community.
Flooding reported along Little Cove Road.
Creek over the road at Cave Spring Road and Highway 431.
Flooding in the Bristol Creek Subdivision in Owens Cross Roads.
Road washed out at 8th Avenue and Arab-Thompson Road NE.
Two feet of water over Eddy Scant Road.
Multiple reports of numerous roadways flooded across the city of Arab.
Flash flood fatality occurred on Haynes Road in Arab. Vehicle swept away with child inside. 2 other occupants were able to escape.
Flash flood fatality occurred on Friendship Road. A woman's vehicle was swept away in the flood waters and her body was found the next morning.
Hobbs Island under 4 feet of water near Vann Road.
Water flooded into a restaurant. Several cars in the area are flooded too.
Flash flooding overnight on October 6th caused enough damage to a culvert to make it unstable. This partially collapsed the road on the 3400 block of Old Highway 431 in the Owens Cross Roads area. This road was closed this morning for public safety.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood, Marshall | 2021-10-06 | 4 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| Flash Flood, Marshall | 2021-10-06 | 18 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
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: 989275, 989276, 989340, 989341, 989342, 989343, 989344, 989345, 989348, 989399, 989400, 989349, 989351, 989352.