A line of thunderstorms produced strong winds in a few locations during the early morning hours. A tree was knocked down in Madison County, blocking a road, and resulted in a vehicle running into it.
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 line of thunderstorms produced strong winds in a few locations during the early morning hours. A tree was knocked down in Madison County, blocking a road, and resulted in a vehicle running into it.
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 10, 11:03 PM CST, 2 hours 55 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 1203 AM CDT Fri Aug 11 2023 ...New AVIATION... .NEAR TERM... (Rest of tonight) Issued at 939 PM CDT Thu Aug 10 2023 A flat subtropical ridge will remain centered across the northern Gulf of Mexico overnight, resulting in WNW flow of 20-30 knots across the TN Valley. Satellite data in conjunction with short term model guidance confirm the presence of a couple of waves embedded within this regime, with lift related to the first (and weaker disturbance) responsible for persistent thunderstorm activity across northern MS and a gradually increasing coverage of showers across northern AL/southern TN. Present indications are that a second and slightly more pronounced wave will begin to approach the region from the west during the early morning hours, and should enhance vertical motions already in place due to a 15-20 knot west-southwesterly low-level jet atop a diffuse frontal zone (oriented from NW-to-SE) that will remain stationary across the southwestern portion of the CWFA. Thus, we expect the spatial coverage of showers and embedded thunderstorms to increase considerably after 6Z, especially across the southeastern portion of the local area (which may get clipped by the northern edge of a developing MCS across central AL). Forecast soundings depict the position of the front fairly well, and suggest that updrafts to the north/east of the boundary will remain slightly elevated but may still tap into sufficient elevated CAPE (1000-1500 J/kg) to produce quite a bit of lightning. Although surface-based convection may occur to the south/west of the front, deep-layer shear has decreased substantially since last night, and only a brief strong wind gust up to 40 MPH may occur with the stronger cells. Given the amount of rainfall over the last 24 hours, flooding may once again become a concern, especially for our southeastern zones. Lows will be in the u60-l70s due to the presence of low stratus clouds, with fog possible in areas that receive rainfall. && .SHORT TERM... (Friday through Monday) Issued at 252 PM CDT Thu Aug 10 2023 If fog forms in the overnight to morning hours, fog is expected to dissipate shortly after sunrise. Through the weekend and into the beginning of the work week, the main concern will be heat. High temperatures are forecast to begin a warming trend Friday as they begin to climb into the low 90s. By Saturday, highs are forecast to reach the low to mid 90s and will continue to be in that range through Monday. Max heat indices Saturday through Monday are forecast to be between 105-109 degrees. We will be monitoring these temperatures closely throughout the next few days and there will be a potential for heat products to be issued, especially for NW AL. However, there will be a potential for this to be mitigated among cloud cover and showers/storms. Each day beginning Friday, there is a low chance (15-30%) of diurnally-driven storms potentially impacting the TN Valley. With these storms, lightning and gusty winds will be medium threats. && .LONG TERM... (Monday night through Thursday) Issued at 252 PM CDT Thu Aug 10 2023 Early next week, an upper level trough is forecast to move eastward across the northern Ohio Valley. A sfc low resulting from this has the potential to bring a cold front through our area from the NNW sometime Monday night through Tuesday, however, confidence in timing is low due to model disagreement on placement of the potential low pressure system and speed (as it continues trending later with newer model runs). Whenever it does move through, there is a potential for high pressure to follow and relatively cooler, drier air to move into the TN Valley. Highs are forecast to remain below 90, only reaching the mid to upper 80s through the remainder of the long term period. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1203 AM CDT Fri Aug 11 2023 There have been no changes to previous aviation forecast reasoning, as the coverage of SHRA and lower/MVFR stratus will continue to expand and increase from W-to-E to the north/east of a diffuse frontal boundary. Thus, we have indicated VCSH, with TEMPO groups for SHRA btwn 6-8Z/MSL and 6-10Z/HSV, when MVFR vsby reductions may arise and cigs could descend to arnd 1500 ft. A period of IFR conds is also possible btwn 10-15Z. At this time, it appears as if the greatest risk for TSRA will remain south/west of the front, but AMDs and AWWs may be needed if warranted by radar data. Conditions should improve from NW-to-SE late tomorrow morning as the upper air disturbance shifts east-southeastward, with sct VFR clouds and a lgt W wind expected tomorrow aftn. Aside from a few high clouds, skies will be generally clear Friday evening, with potential development of fog toward the end of the period. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && NEAR TERM...70/DD SHORT TERM...HC LONG TERM...HC AVIATION...70/DD
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
212 AM CDT Fri Aug 11 2023
ALZ016-110800-
Cullman AL-
212 AM CDT Fri Aug 11 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of western Cullman
County through 300 AM CDT...
At 211 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Curry, or 7 miles southeast of Arley, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Cullman, Hanceville, Good Hope, Dodge City, Garden City, Colony,
Phelan, Walter, Wilburn and Black Bottom.
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 3396 8711 3399 8715 3399 8711 3413 8711
3424 8669 3410 8665 3408 8670 3405 8668
3406 8671 3403 8670 3403 8672 3395 8679
3396 8682 3393 8686 3394 8688 3392 8689
3390 8708
TIME...MOT...LOC 0711Z 259DEG 27KT 3399 8716
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
RSBSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
239 AM CDT Fri Aug 11 2023
ALZ005-006-009-110830-
Madison AL-Limestone AL-Jackson AL-
239 AM CDT Fri Aug 11 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern
Jackson, northern Madison and northeastern Limestone Counties through
330 AM CDT...
At 238 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Harvest, or 7 miles west of Meridianville, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Northern Huntsville, Madison, Moores Mill, Meridianville, Hazel
Green, Gurley, Alabama A And M University, Harvest, New Market and
University Of Alabama In Huntsville.
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 3471 8624 3474 8683 3498 8683 3499 8626
TIME...MOT...LOC 0738Z 265DEG 21KT 3483 8670
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
RSBSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
258 AM CDT Fri Aug 11 2023
ALZ016-110830-
Cullman AL-
258 AM CDT Fri Aug 11 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Cullman
County through 330 AM CDT...
At 257 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Arkadelphia, or 15 miles north of Sumiton, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Hanceville, Good Hope, Dodge City, Garden City, Colony, Wilburn,
Bremen, Arkadelphia, Black Bottom and Smith Lake.
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 3389 8701 3389 8706 3399 8715 3399 8711
3406 8711 3411 8665 3409 8667 3408 8670
3406 8669 3395 8679 3396 8682 3394 8682
3395 8684 3393 8686 3394 8688 3391 8692
3387 8693 3386 8699
TIME...MOT...LOC 0757Z 274DEG 13KT 3396 8697
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
RSBThe Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 48 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:57 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down a very large tree across powerlines and onto Mt. Lebanon Road. Later, a vehicle drove into the tree during the predawn hours. Thankfully, the occupant was not injured.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, August 2023
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: 1130738.