Abnormally dry weather from October through November for much of Central Alabama continued into December. Although rainfall totals began increasing during the month, some areas remained in Severe (D2) to Extreme (D3) drought conditions.
Every event with a place to put it; 22 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 BMX wrote it up.
Abnormally dry weather from October through November for much of Central Alabama continued into December. Although rainfall totals began increasing during the month, some areas remained in Severe (D2) to Extreme (D3) drought conditions.
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 Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 30, 10:50 PM CST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 1050 PM CST Thu Nov 30 2023 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (Tonight through Friday) Issued at 809 PM CST THU NOV 30 2023 The dry air over Alabama is winning out as the rain over Mississippi is evaporating as it crosses the state line. PWAT's are still low with values near one-half inch. It will take awhile for the air mass to moisten enough for the rain to make it the surface. Expect a round of showers to finally reach west Alabama around midnight, then spreading into east Alabama before sunrise. Temperatures will stay steady overnight as a strong low level southerly jet develops. Cooler air near the surface will keep the higher winds aloft, but may see some gusts of 20-25 mph across north Alabama. 58/rose Previous short-term discussion: (This evening through Friday) Issued at 123 PM CST THU NOV 30 2023 The short-term forecast through Friday evening remains in pretty good shape. High cirrus clouds have delayed the diurnal curve just a bit across the southern half of the area, but we're expecting temperatures to catch back up as we go into the afternoon and rise to near 60 degrees. Radar returns remain well off to our west in Mississippi and are having a tough time pushing eastward due to dry air currently in place. Eventually, the atmospheric column will finally moisten as the shortwave trough to our west moves eastward. Showers are expected to develop and move northeastward across much of the area after midnight tonight through Friday morning, moving into eastern and southeastern Alabama by Friday afternoon. We're seeing a bit of an indication based on the latest high-res guidance runs that the activity may be more scattered in nature than previously indicated. As a result, I've started to trend PoPs downward a bit, but still expecting good coverage of showers and perhaps a storm or two through the day on Friday. Guidance trends continue to indicate a small chance of a few strong to possibly severe storms across far southern Alabama starting Friday afternoon and evening. Surface based instability is currently projected to increase as a warm front lifts northward, but uncertainty still exists as to how much instability will be available during the peak heating hours. In addition, coastal convective development remains a possibility that could essentially prevent the most unstable air from moving northward. On this afternoon's update, we're going to decrease the area of the Marginal Risk further south to include folks along the U.S 80/I-85 corridor and points southward. Following the passage of the warm front, most locations should easily warm into the upper 60s to lower 70s by Friday afternoon. Breezy southerly winds can be expected as the pressure gradient ramps up ahead of the approaching slow-moving cold front to our northwest. 56/GDG && .LONG TERM... (Friday night through next Wednesday) Issued at 241 PM CST THU NOV 30 2023 As the initial shortwave lifts to the northeast Friday night, moist southwesterly flow will persist over the area, keeping the chance for rain and a few thunderstorms in the forecast. Ahead of a second shortwave/surface low, the warm sector will move northward Friday night and Saturday. With widespread rainfall across the north, the better instabilities will be confined to far south Central Alabama. The marginal risk area has been pulled southward slightly to reflect that. Threats remain the same, as wind shear parameters remain supportive of severe storms. Made some refinements to rain chances and temperatures for the weekend, but overall no significant chances were needed. Drier air arrives through the day Sunday, with most of the area rain free by mid afternoon. 14 && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1039 PM CST THU NOV 30 2023 Light rain will spread eastward across Central Alabama overnight, with vsbys aoa 5 miles thru 12Z. The rain will moisten the air mass with MVFR cigs already developing over eastern MS. The MVFR cigs will expand eastward and reach most central AL TAF sites by 12Z. IFR cigs will develop with 3-4 hours after onset of MVFR, mainly north of I-85. The rainfall intensity towards 12Z, with vsbys lowering to 3-5 miles in rain and fog, but improving above 5 miles by 18Z. A few TSRA possible after 15Z, mainly south of I-20. A strengthening low level jet will produce south winds 40-45 kts thru 15Z, and low level wind shear included at all TAF sites. 58/rose && .FIRE WEATHER... Rain spreads back into the area tonight, with widespread light rain expected through Friday. Minimum RH values will remain well above critical thresholds through the weekend, as a wet and unsettled pattern persists. 20ft winds will increase from the south to southeast tonight, at 12-15 mph through Friday, before gradually becoming southwesterly Saturday. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 45 66 56 67 / 60 100 80 90 Anniston 46 67 59 69 / 50 90 80 90 Birmingham 49 66 60 68 / 70 90 80 90 Tuscaloosa 49 71 61 69 / 80 80 80 90 Calera 47 68 62 69 / 70 80 80 90 Auburn 46 66 62 68 / 30 80 80 100 Montgomery 46 71 64 72 / 40 80 80 100 Troy 47 72 66 73 / 30 80 80 100 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...58 LONG TERM....14 AVIATION...58/rose
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 315 PM CST Thu Nov 30 2023 ALZ011>015-017>050-020015- Marion-Lamar-Fayette-Winston-Walker-Blount-Etowah-Calhoun-Cherokee- Cleburne-Pickens-Tuscaloosa-Jefferson-Shelby-St. Clair-Talladega- Clay-Randolph-Sumter-Greene-Hale-Perry-Bibb-Chilton-Coosa-Tallapoosa- Chambers-Marengo-Dallas-Autauga-Lowndes-Elmore-Montgomery-Macon- Bullock-Lee-Russell-Pike-Barbour- 315 PM CST Thu Nov 30 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham. .DAY ONE...Outlook through Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Several rounds of showers with some thunderstorm activity will affect Central Alabama from Friday through Sunday. A few thunderstorms Friday evening into Saturday generally south of Interstate 85 may become capable of producing isolated damaging wind gusts along with the potential of a brief tornado. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management may be needed from Friday evening into Saturday.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
22 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Drought severity decreased from extreme (D3) to severe (D2) in early December.
Drought severity decreased from extreme (D3) to severe (D2) in early December.
Drought severity decreased from extreme (D3) to severe (D2) in early December.
Drought severity decreased from extreme (D3) to severe (D2) in mid December.
Drought severity decreased from extreme (D3) to severe (D2) in mid December.
Drought severity decreased from extreme (D3) to severe (D2) in mid December.
Drought severity decreased from extreme (D3) to severe (D2) in mid December.
Drought severity decreased from extreme (D3) to severe (D2) in late December.
Drought severity decreased from extreme (D3) to severe (D2) in late December.
Drought severity remained at extreme (D3) throughout December.
Drought severity remained at extreme (D3) throughout December.
Drought severity remained at extreme (D3) throughout December.
Drought severity remained at extreme (D3) throughout December.
Drought severity remained at extreme (D3) throughout December.
Drought severity remained at severe (D2) throughout December.
Drought severity remained at severe (D2) throughout December.
Drought severity remained at severe (D2) throughout December.
Drought severity remained at severe (D2) throughout December.
Drought severity decreased below severe (D2) in late December.
Drought severity increased from severe (D2) to extreme (D3) in mid December.
Drought severity increased from severe (D2) to extreme (D3) in mid December.
Drought severity increased to severe (D2) in early December.
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, December 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: 1146263, 1146264, 1146265, 1146266, 1146267, 1146268, 1146269, 1146270, 1146271, 1146272, 1146273, 1146274, 1146275, 1146276, 1146277, 1146278, 1146279, 1146280, 1146281, 1146282, 1146283, 1146284.