A long-lived complex of strong to severe thunderstorms pushed through the mid South during the late morning and through north Alabama during the early to mid afternoon hours. The main hazard was gusty and damaging winds of 50 to 60 mph.
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 long-lived complex of strong to severe thunderstorms pushed through the mid South during the late morning and through north Alabama during the early to mid afternoon hours. The main hazard was gusty and damaging winds of 50 to 60 mph.
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 9, 1:15 PM CST, 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 215 PM CDT Wed Aug 9 2023 ...New NEAR TERM, SHORT TERM, LONG TERM... .NEAR TERM... (Tonight) Issued at 215 PM CDT Wed Aug 9 2023 Overall, the forecast and timing has not changed too much. Hi-Res guidance indicates that the first round of showers and storms will persist into this evening, likely ending around 7-8 PM. All modes of severe weather will be possible - damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes. A lull in severe weather activity is then anticipated through from mid to late evening before another potential round later tonight (around 12-1 AM). An upper shortwave is forecast to traverse the Tennessee Valley overnight into early Thursday morning, along with a surface warm front which will continue to advance north overnight. Instability will be plentiful, with models suggesting values ranging between 2500-3500 J/kg. Shear will continue to be abundant as well, with between 55-65 knots of bulk shear over the entire local area. Model 700-500mb lapse rates range between 6-7 C/km along with 0-1 km SRH between 200-250 m2/s2 or so. Storm mode looks to be in the form of a QLCS moving from northwest to southeast over the region. Overall, all modes of severe weather will again be possible with this second round of severe weather tonight (damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes). Furthermore, with PWATs at or over 2 inches, storms will be efficient rainfall producers. Flash flooding will be an additional concern tonight, especially for areas that receive heavy rain this afternoon and for storms that move over the same locations. As was stated earlier, please make sure to be weather aware this evening and overnight and have multiple ways to receive warnings (especially ones that will wake you up)! && .SHORT TERM... (Thursday through Saturday Night) Issued at 215 PM CDT Wed Aug 9 2023 As the aforementioned upper shortwave progresses over the region, a surface low will continue to scoot eastward over the Mississippi and lower Ohio Valley. The cold front associated with this low is then slated to move over the local area through the day on Thursday. Models indicate that the bulk of the shear will decrease through the day, although instability will persist. As stated above, timing with the second system has not changed, with the majority of the severe weather forecast to decrease through mid- morning (8-9 AM). Although, thunderstorm activity will likely persist through the rest of the day but remain sub-severe. The main concern for the afternoon will therefore be flooding, as showers and storms will continue to be efficient rainfall producers due to persistent elevated moisture. A series of upper shortwaves along with a lingering surface boundary will keep at least low to medium (15-40%) chances of showers and storms in the forecast through Saturday. However, these are expected to be sub-severe. High temperatures will hover around the mid 80s to lower 90s, with lows in the upper 60s to mid 70s through the period. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday through Wednesday) Issued at 215 PM CDT Wed Aug 9 2023 The unsettled pattern is likely to continue into early next week as a surface low develops over the Mississippi Valley and northeastward up into the Ohio Valley. Low to medium (20-50%) chances of showers and storms are forecast, especially during the day both Sunday and Monday. High temperatures will remain in the upper 80s to lower 90s, with lows in the upper 60s to mid 70s during this time. Precipitation chances then look to decrease into midweek as surface high pressure builds into the region after frontal passage. At this time, guidance indicates that slightly cooler temperatures (mid to upper 80s) could take hold by this time as well. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1122 AM CDT Wed Aug 9 2023 An active day of weather is expected across the Tennessee Valley as multiple rounds of SHRA/TSRA are forecast to impact the region, resulting in localized MVFR/IFR conditions due to reduced visibilities and ceilings mid/late afternoon/evening and again late tonight into early Thursday morning. The MVFR conditions will continue through Thursday morning and into the afternoon due to low ceilings and -SHRA. AWWs and amendments are likely during the aforementioned windows when storms impact the TAF sites. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && NEAR TERM...26 SHORT TERM....26 LONG TERM....26 AVIATION...AMP
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 132 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:39 UTC.
20 thunderstorm wind, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was knocked down blocking the road at CR 7 at CR 139. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down onto the road at the intersection of CR 299 and CR 8. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down at 1700 CR 344. Time estimated by radar.
Powerlines were knocked down at the dead end of CR 345. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down into powerlines at 353 Spring Cove Road. Time estimated by radar.
A tree limb was knocked down onto power lines on Alabama Highway 64, about two miles east of U.S. Highway 43. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down and blocking the road at 1249 CR 479. Time estimated by radar.
A large tree was snapped.
A tree was knocked down at 610 North Poplar Street. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down at 604 North Wood Avenue. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down onto a house and road at 731 Prospect Street. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down across the street at 233 North Royal Avenue. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down into the road along CR 57. Time estimated by radar.
Power lines were knocked down at 429 Oneal Street. Time estimated by radar.
Three to four inches of water across East Huntsville Road in Florence.
A tree was knocked down across the road on U.S. Highway 72 west of the Elk River Bridge.
Powerlines and a transformer were knocked down.
A tree was knocked down in the 3500 block of CR 265.
A tree was knocked down across CR 380.
A tree was knocked down across the road on CR 89 near Mentone.
A tree was knocked down at 281 Industrial Lane in Sylvania.
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: 1130491, 1130473, 1130472, 1130490, 1130489, 1130483, 1130492, 1127421, 1130474, 1130476, 1130478, 1130485, 1130488, 1130471, 1137306, 1127422, 1127423, 1127424, 1127425, 1127426, 1127427.