Isolated strong thunderstorms developed during the midday into the early afternoon hours in northeast Alabama producing gusty winds. Later in the afternoon and early evening, a complex of thunderstorms dropped south from middle Tennessee into north Alabama.
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.
Isolated strong thunderstorms developed during the midday into the early afternoon hours in northeast Alabama producing gusty winds. Later in the afternoon and early evening, a complex of thunderstorms dropped south from middle Tennessee into north Alabama. A strong gust front surged south of the thunderstorms producing wind damage at a few locations in Colbert County in northwest Alabama.
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 26, 11:26 AM CST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 1226 PM CDT Sat Aug 26 2023 ...New AVIATION... .NEAR TERM... (Rest of Today) Issued at 853 AM CDT Sat Aug 26 2023 Valley fog across northeast Alabama is gradually mixing out this morning as our temperatures begin their ascent back into the mid to upper 90s. Locations near northwest AL may reach triple digits yet again. Fully entrenched in a moist, unstable air mass underneath a still present (but weakening!) upper level ridge, heat index values peak at 105-110 this afternoon. For more information, please see the Heat Advisory that remains in effect until 7 PM this evening. While today may be no different heat-wise, this will be our first day with mentionable chances for rain (20-30% north of the TN river) all week. For the most part, these showers will be moreso the result of an approaching remnant outflow boundary than the weakening subsidence from the persistent ridging. While the remnant outflow will not be directly bringing showers and storms into our region, this will act as a localized forcing mechanism for greater convective coverage if it does not "wash out" from diurnal heating. The other feature to monitor later today is the development of convection along an MCV evident in satellite imagery over the Kansas City metro this morning. While any storm development from this system should stay north of our area, steering flow around the receding ridge may cause it to take a more southerly track late tonight. Inverted-v soundings indicate localized damaging wind gusts as the primary threat with the conditional presence of any strong to severe storms this afternoon and evening. && .SHORT TERM... (Tonight through Tuesday) Issued at 346 AM CDT Sat Aug 26 2023 Will keep low chances (20-30%) for showers and storms overnight as the aforementioned front gets closer, but the better chances (50-60%) will come Sunday afternoon as the front pushes into and eventually stalls over the local area. Temperatures will definitely feel cooler by the end of the weekend, but how cool depends on where exactly the front stalls. Guidance has trended slightly warmer with temperatures than in previous forecasts due to a northwestward shift with the sfc front, keeping the cooler air slightly farther to our north. This is likely due to uncertainty in the evolution of a tropical disturbance currently being monitored for development over the Gulf, but more on this later. For now, will feel reasonably confident that temperatures will be near or below seasonal norms with highs in the mid 80s and lows near 70 degrees. Showers and storms will remain in the forecast through Tuesday, with the highest chances (50-70%) along and southeast of the front stalled over north central or northeast AL. && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday night through Friday) Issued at 346 AM CDT Sat Aug 26 2023 What was once a dry forecast 24 hours ago has become a bit more uncertain due to shifts in model guidance regarding the tropical disturbance over the southern Gulf. It looks increasingly likely that this system will become a tropical cyclone that will impact the eastern Gulf Coast near the mid-week period. Where exactly this system will track becomes a lot less certain at this time frame, so have stuck with blended guidance for PoPs and temps until better agreement is reached with time. For now, the consensus is that this would only result in a few showers/storms for the local area at best as trends generally favor a track to our southeast. The exception to this would be the GFS which brings the center much closer to the forecast area, and would keep us on the warmer/more active side of the front. Not taking much stock in this for now, as the GFS has been the least consistent with the tropical system so far. The good news is that temps will remain below normal, with daily highs in the low to mid 80s and overnight lows in the low to mid 60s. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1226 PM CDT Sat Aug 26 2023 Cumulus field should stay VFR this afternoon, but isolated storms will develop heading into the evening hours. Lower confidence on impacting terminals, but wanted to include a TEMPO to highlight the gusty to damaging wind threat with any thunderstorms that do develop. AWWs and amendments may be needed. Patchy fog returns tonight but should be confined to the valleys. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for ALZ001>010-016. TN...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for TNZ076-096-097. && NEAR TERM...30 SHORT TERM....25 LONG TERM....25 AVIATION...30
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 33 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:36 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A detached garage of a home was destroyed, toppling metal sheeting onto a parked vehicle. Several tree branches were also snapped. Time of gust front/outflow was estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down by gust front winds at 744 Lakewood Drive. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down by gust front winds at 805 Austin Avenue. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down by gust front winds at Keller Lane at West Moore Street. Time estimated by radar.
A power pole was knocked down or leaning at 555 Allen Lane due to gust front winds. Time estimated by radar.
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: 1130712, 1127038, 1127045, 1127039, 1127040.