A small complex of strong to severe thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon hours and moved east across north Alabama. The storms produced a few reports of damage in northwest into north central Alabama and southern middle Tennessee.
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 small complex of strong to severe thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon hours and moved east across north Alabama. The storms produced a few reports of damage in northwest into north central Alabama and southern middle Tennessee.
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 Aug 18, 5:00 AM CST, 1 hour 47 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 600 AM CDT Wed Aug 18 2021 .UPDATE... For 12Z TAFS. && .NEAR TERM...(Today and Tonight) Issued at 255 AM CDT Wed Aug 18 2021 Quite a different picture across the Southeast this morning compared to yesterday. A much more tranquil picture as the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred have pushed far to the north over VA. In its wake, clear skies over northern Alabama and southern middle Tennessee. The only exception is across northeast Alabama where rain fell yesterday and patchy dense fog has developed. The fog should mix out shortly after sunrise. It will most certainly feel like a summertime August day outside today with afternoon highs in the lower 90s with heat indices near 100. Expect diurnally driven thunderstorms to develop once we reach our convective temps later this afternoon. Greater coverage of storms is anticipated across northwest Alabama along a slow moving trough axis that is just to the west of the forecast area this morning. Not expecting severe storms today, but a few strong storms may produce gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall. Storms should diminish after sunset. Patchy fog is once again possible tonight, but have left out of the current forecast package given the uncertainty of where the rain falls today. .SHORT TERM...(Thursday and Friday) Issued at 255 AM CDT Wed Aug 18 2021 More of the same for the end of the work week, with hot and humid conditions expected with diurnally driven thunderstorms. Thursday appears the most likely day for widespread storms given that the aformentioned trough centers itself across the forecast area. By Friday, the trough axis shifts farther east, but with northwest flow weak disturbances move along the base of the trough which will keep the coverage of storms Friday afternoon pretty high as well. While we are once again not forecasting severe storms Thursday and Friday, a few strong storms may develop that will be capable of gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall. .LONG TERM...(Saturday through Tuesday) Issued at 255 AM CDT Wed Aug 18 2021 Upper level ridging starts to amplify across the southeast by this weekend. This will finally reduce our chances for thunderstorms. But, with less thunderstorms and less cloud cover its going to start to get quite hot. Afternoon highs by Sunday warm up back into the 90s and perhaps mid 90s on Tuesday. Heat indices Sunday through Tuesday will be nearing advisory criteria of 105 degrees. While chances for storms are lower, we cannot fully rule out some isolated to scattered storms each day of the long term period. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Thursday morning) Issued at 600 AM CDT Wed Aug 18 2021 Prevailing VFR conditions are expected to continue through the morning hours. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon and spread from west to east. Still some uncertainty in timing and coverage so left as PROB 30 group. If thunderstorms do occur over the terminals, expect a brief change to MVFR visibilities and ceilings. After sunset any lingering showers and storms will diminish and a return to VFR conditions is expected. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. TN...NONE. && NEAR TERM...GH SHORT TERM...GH LONG TERM...GH AVIATION...GH For more information please visit our website at weather.gov/huntsville.
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Huntsville AL 257 AM CDT Wed Aug 18 2021 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-182300- Lauderdale-Colbert-Franklin AL-Lawrence-Limestone-Madison-Morgan- Marshall-Jackson-DeKalb-Cullman-Moore-Lincoln-Franklin TN- 257 AM CDT Wed Aug 18 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north Alabama and portions of southern middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight... Chances for showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Main concerns with any stronger storms will be locally heavy rainfall and gusty winds. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday... Chances for showers and thunderstorms each afternoon and evening Thursday through Tuesday. Main concerns with any stronger storms will be locally heavy rainfall and gusty winds. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management personnel is not anticipated at this time.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Huntsville AL 747 AM CDT Wed Aug 18 2021 ALZ008>010-181500- Marshall-Jackson-DeKalb- Including the cities of Albertville, Boaz, Guntersville, Arab, Scottsboro, Fort Payne, and Rainsville 747 AM CDT Wed Aug 18 2021 ...Patchy Dense Fog in River and Lake Valleys through 10 AM... Patchy Dense Fog has developed in river and lake valleys of Jackson, DeKalb and Marshall counties with visibility dropping to 1/4 mile or less. This includes the U.S. Highway 72 and Interstate 59 corridors. Motorists are urged to drive with extreme caution, as visibilities will vary significantly given the patchy nature of the fog. Use low beams, reduce driving speed, and allow for plenty of room between you and other cars. The fog should begin to burn off by 9 to 10 AM.
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 34 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:46 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was knocked down on Flintville School Road. Time estimated by radar.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, 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: 978835.