Alabama, 2023

Excessive Heat and Heat in Alabama, August 21 to 26, 2023

August 21 to 26, 2023 · NWS HUN · 19 events in 11 counties and zones

Heat index values reached 105-109 on successive days, peaking at 110 or better on the 23rd, 24th and 25th. On the 21st, four high school football players were treated for heat illnesses in Huntsville.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 19 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
19

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS HUN wrote it up.

Heat index values reached 105-109 on successive days, peaking at 110 or better on the 23rd, 24th and 25th.

On the 21st, four high school football players were treated for heat illnesses in Huntsville. Two were taken to the hospital and two were treated on the scene at a football practice. Overnight lows were in the 70s. Dew points reached 80 degrees or higher at times, creating extremely humid conditions.

What forecasters said that day

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 21, 11:00 AM CST, 2 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 21, 11:00 AM CST, 2 hours before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
1200 PM CDT Mon Aug 21 2023

...New AVIATION...

.NEAR TERM...
(Rest of Today)
Issued at 822 AM CDT Mon Aug 21 2023

The 12Z sounding at BMX with mixing suggests temperatures in the
lower to middle 90s this afternoon for highs. Low level mixing
will tend to keep dew points in the u60s to n70, thus heat index
values may be lower than the NBM suggests. Will maintain the Heat
Advisory in our western counties, but most areas will likely stay
below 105 heat index values. Otherwise, just a few cumulus
expected with light and variable wind flow given the surface ridge
axis in place.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Tonight through Thursday)
Issued at 325 AM CDT Mon Aug 21 2023

The stout upper ridge will largely continue to dominate through
the near term period, continuing the warming pattern and no rain
chances. The exception may be when a backdoor surface cold front
tries to make its way west over the Appalachians towards the
Tennessee Valley Wednesday into Thursday. However, it remains to
be seen if this will have much of an effect on the overall weather
pattern. It could bring a very low chance of some showers if it
gets close enough; but, for now, stuck close to the NBM guidance
with no precipitation forecast.

High temperatures are expected to reach the mid to upper 90s on
Tuesday, then warm further into the upper 90s to around 100
degrees by Wednesday and Thursday. Dew points Tuesday and
Wednesday are expected to be in the lower to mid 70s, with some
areas east of I-65 perhaps seeing dew points in the upper 60s to
lower 70s. By Thursday, dew points could hover in the lower 70s.
Forecast heat indices are therefore in the 100-107 degree range on
Tuesday and 100-110 degrees on Wednesday. It will continue to be
hot into Thursday as well, with heat indices in the 100-108 degree
range. We will continue to keep an eye on the moisture levels
this week, as they will have a large pull on heat index values.
Lastly, low temperatures are expected to merely drop into the
lower to mid 70s each night and will offer little relief from the
heat. Heat Advisories will likely be needed throughout the week.

Regardless of exact values, it will be HOT. As stated above,
please remember heat safety in these conditions! Make sure to
drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks in the share if
working or playing outside. Wear light-colored and lose-fitting
clothing. Furthermore, never leave people or pets in vehicles!

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Thursday night through Sunday)
Issued at 325 AM CDT Mon Aug 21 2023

The center of the ridge will slide ever so slightly back to the
west Friday into Saturday as it begins to flatten. This will have
little impact on the weather across our area, however, as any
frontal boundaries will still be displaced well to our north over
the Ohio Valley. Due to ample sunshine and southerly flow, high
temperatures will likely peak in the 95 to 100 degree range, with
peak heat index values likely between 105 to 110 degrees.
Overnight lows will also be uncomfortably warm as many locations
may not drop below 75 degrees. For this reason, we'll likely need
a Heat Advisory through at least Saturday. Long range ensemble
guidance continues to show the ridge breaking down by early next
week. This will swing a weak front into the area sometime Sunday
into Monday of next week -- bringing some relief from the
excessive heat. Additionally, depending on the timing of this
feature, low chances of showers/storms returned to the forecast
beginning Sunday afternoon. Still quite a bit of uncertainty with
the timing of the front and any prospects for convection.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1159 AM CDT Mon Aug 21 2023

VFR flight weather conditions are forecast.

&&

.HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for ALZ001>003.

TN...None.
&&

NEAR TERM...17
SHORT TERM....26
LONG TERM....AMP
AVIATION...17

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 heat, 8 excessive heat. Local standard time, as filed.

Heat, Madison

When
August 21, 1:00 PM CST to August 26, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Madison forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
34.763, -86.550 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A long heat wave occurred for several days producing excessive heat index values of 105 to 109 on successive days from the 21st through the 26th.

On the 21st, four high school football players were treated for heat illnesses in Huntsville. Two were taken to the hospital and two were treated on the scene at a football practice.

Heat, Morgan

When
August 21, 1:00 PM CST to August 26, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Morgan forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
34.454, -86.853 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A long heat wave occurred for several days producing excessive heat index values of 105 to 109 on successive days from the 21st through the 26th.

Heat, Limestone

When
August 21, 1:00 PM CST to August 26, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Limestone forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
34.810, -86.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A long heat wave occurred for several days producing excessive heat index values of 105 to 109 on successive days from the 21st through the 26th.

Heat, Colbert

When
August 22, 1:00 PM CST to August 26, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Colbert forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
34.700, -87.805 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A long heat wave occurred for several days producing excessive heat index values of 105 to 109 on successive days from the 22nd through the 26th.

Heat, Lauderdale

When
August 22, 1:00 PM CST to August 26, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Lauderdale forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
34.901, -87.654 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A long heat wave occurred for several days producing excessive heat index values of 105 to 109 on successive days from the 22nd through the 26th.

Heat, Franklin

When
August 22, 1:00 PM CST to August 26, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Franklin forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
34.442, -87.844 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A long heat wave occurred for several days producing excessive heat index values of 105 to 109 on successive days from the 22nd through the 26th.

Heat, Lawrence

When
August 22, 1:00 PM CST to August 26, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Lawrence forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
34.522, -87.311 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A long heat wave occurred for several days producing excessive heat index values of 105 to 109 on successive days from the 22nd through the 26th.

Heat, Cullman

When
August 22, 2:00 PM CST to August 26, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Cullman forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
34.132, -86.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A long heat wave occurred for several days producing excessive heat index values of 105 to 109 on successive days from the 22nd through the 26th.

Excessive Heat, Madison

When
August 23, 12:00 PM CST to August 25, 5:00 PM CST
Where
Madison forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
34.763, -86.550 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The heat index peaked at 110 on the 23rd, 113 on the 24th, and 111 on the 25th.

Excessive Heat, Limestone

When
August 23, 12:00 PM CST to August 25, 5:00 PM CST
Where
Limestone forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
34.810, -86.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The heat index peaked at 110 on the 23rd, 111 on the 24th and 25th.

Excessive Heat, Morgan

When
August 23, 12:00 PM CST to August 25, 5:00 PM CST
Where
Morgan forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
34.454, -86.853 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The heat index peaked at 110 on the 23rd, 111 on the 24th and 25th.

Heat, Dekalb

When
August 23, 1:00 PM CST to August 24, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Dekalb forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
34.460, -85.804 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive heat index values of 105 to 109 were experienced on the 23rd and 24th.

Heat, Marshall

When
August 23, 1:00 PM CST to August 24, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Marshall forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
34.367, -86.307 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive heat index values of 105 to 109 were experienced on the 23rd and 24th.

Heat, Jackson

When
August 23, 1:00 PM CST to August 24, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Jackson forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
34.779, -85.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Excessive heat index values of 105 to 109 were experienced on the 23rd and 24th.

Excessive Heat, Cullman

When
August 23, 3:00 PM CST to August 25, 7:00 PM CST
Where
Cullman forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
34.132, -86.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The heat index peaked at 111 on the 23rd, 110 on the 24th, and 111 on the 25th.

Excessive Heat, Colbert

When
August 24, 3:00 PM CST to August 25, 7:00 PM CST
Where
Colbert forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
34.700, -87.805 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The heat index peaked at 111 on the 24th and 110 on the 25th.

Excessive Heat, Lauderdale

When
August 24, 3:00 PM CST to August 25, 7:00 PM CST
Where
Lauderdale forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
34.901, -87.654 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The heat index peaked at 111 on the 24th and 110 on the 25th.

Excessive Heat, Franklin

When
August 24, 3:00 PM CST to August 25, 7:00 PM CST
Where
Franklin forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
34.442, -87.844 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The heat index peaked at 111 on the 24th and 110 on the 25th.

Excessive Heat, Lawrence

When
August 24, 3:00 PM CST to August 25, 7:00 PM CST
Where
Lawrence forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
34.522, -87.311 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The heat index peaked at 111 on the 24th and 110 on the 25th.

What these are

Heat
Heat below excessive heat criteria that still caused deaths, injuries or significant impacts.
Excessive Heat
Heat at or above the local excessive heat warning criteria, or heat that caused deaths.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Alabama in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, August 2023

Sources

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: 1131963, 1132033, 1132034, 1132018, 1132019, 1132021, 1132022, 1132045, 1131965, 1132038, 1132039, 1132050, 1132051, 1132052, 1132048, 1132027, 1132028, 1132029, 1132030.