Scattered to numerous thunderstorms, some of which were supercells, moved across northwest Alabama into southern middle Tennessee. A few of these produced strong and damaging wind gusts and some hail.
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.
Scattered to numerous thunderstorms, some of which were supercells, moved across northwest Alabama into southern middle Tennessee. A few of these produced strong and damaging wind gusts and some hail.
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 Dec 9, 2:06 PM CST, 3 hours 33 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 206 PM CST Sat Dec 9 2023 ...New NEAR TERM, SHORT TERM... .NEAR TERM... (Tonight) Issued at 206 PM CST Sat Dec 9 2023 Discrete tstm cells are beginning to come together across west TN into NW MS, as a cold front approaches the MS River from the west. These cells are moving parallel to the mean flow, as an upper trough axis drops into the southern Plains. So the surge eastward will likely take a few hrs before these storms reach NW AL late this afternoon. Convection over the Mid South region is becoming more sfc based, as these cells trend more super-cellular in nature. As such, a Tornado Watch is in effect thru 7PM for locations north/west of the TN Valley, although a new Tornado Watch is likely for most/if not all of the area by late this afternoon, as developing convection becomes more sfc based over the central TN Valley. Discrete cells ahead of the main cold front will certainly have the potential for brief damaging wind gusts, along with large hail and short-lived tornadoes. A QLCS line of strong/severe tstms is then expected to form along/just ahead of the approaching cold front, as the sfc boundary moves closer to NW AL late this afternoon/evening. While SBCAPE values this evening struggle to climb past 500 J/kg, Sfc-6km Bulk Shear numbers look to surpass 60kt, which should translate into a threat for strong/severe tstms, as the cold front begins to cross into NW/north central AL. Dynamic forcing/lift will also become more enhanced over the TN Valley, as the upper trough axis traverses eastward into the Midwest/lower MS Valley. Damaging winds embedded within bowing segments will become the primary storm threat, along with brief tornadoes/locally heavy rainfall. Total rainfall amounts near 1-2 inches may also result in a minor/localized flooding threat, mainly on some roadways and in lying areas. Showers/tstms will then begin to taper off to the east going into the early morning hrs Sun following the passage of the cold front. Colder air will also filter into the area late tonight in the wake of the front, with lows falling well into the upper 30s/lower 40s. && .SHORT TERM... (Sunday through Tuesday) Issued at 206 PM CST Sat Dec 9 2023 Lingering showers/tstms will continue to taper off to the east Sun morning, as a large dome of high pressure out of the Plains states builds eastward into much of the SE region. This should translate into clearing skies/unseasonably cooler temps, as highs into the new week struggle to climb past the upper 40s/near 50F while lows thru early Tue fall well into the mid/upper 20s. A slight warming trend will then develop on Tue, as the sfc high begins to move east of the region, with highs Tue afternoon more in the mid 50s. && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday through Friday) Issued at 336 AM CST Sat Dec 9 2023 Surface high pressure situated over the region will continue bringing cool conditions across the greater Tennessee Valley. After another chilly night with lows in the mid 20s to around 30, highs later in the day Tuesday under mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies should warm into mid 50s, which is actually close to seasonable norms. The high should gradually build eastward, reaching the Mid Atlantic coastal region on Thu/Fri. A slow warming trend is forecast, with highs rising into the upper 50s by Friday. Lows should trend at or below seasonable norms in the mid 30s in the latter half of next week. Another system should form over northern Gulf region later next week. This system should begin spreading moisture inland, resulting in an increase in clouds from SW to NE on Friday. Showers from this system should not begin until Friday evening. Stayed with a slower blend solution; not as quick as the GFS returning shower activity. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1205 PM CST Sat Dec 9 2023 MVFR cigs are spreading NE into NW AL ahead of a cold front to the west. These lower cigs should continue to spread eastward heading into the afternoon hrs this Sat, as iso/sct shra/tsra develop well ahead of the oncoming front. As the front begins to cross into the area this evening, a line of tsra is expected to develop along the front, with brief IFR cigs/vis possible in/near the heavier precip and a PROB30 group has been maintained later tonight. Precip will begin to taper off to the east Sun morning following the passage of the cold front, although MVFR cigs look to persist thru the remainder of the TAF period. South winds near 12kt with higher gusts will also turn SW later tonight, before turning more to the NW Sun morning. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && NEAR TERM...09 SHORT TERM....09 LONG TERM....RSB AVIATION...09
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
511 PM CST Sat Dec 9 2023
ALZ002-003-100000-
Franklin AL-Colbert AL-
511 PM CST Sat Dec 9 2023
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WESTERN COLBERT AND NORTHWESTERN
FRANKLIN COUNTIES THROUGH 600 PM CST...
At 511 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Tishomingo State Park, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 40-50 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Cherokee, Pleasant Site, Malone, Pogo, Mynot, Mt Hester, Margerum,
Srygley Church, Allsboro, and Maud.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CST for northwestern
Alabama.
&&
LAT...LON 3476 8812 3484 8797 3460 8782 3449 8815
TIME...MOT...LOC 2311Z 241DEG 27KT 3457 8825
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
70/DDThe Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 100 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:38 UTC.
9 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was knocked down at the intersection of Highway 72 and the Natchez Trace Access Road. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down and partially blocking the roadway at the intersection of Keller Quarry Road and Bluff Ct. Time estimated by radar.
An mPING report of 0.75 inch hail was reported.
Quarter sized hail was reported on CR 92 north of Elgin.
A large tree branch was blown down and partially blocking the roadway at the 6400 block of Highway 31. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down and blocking the road at 900 Mill Creek Road.
A tree was knocked down along the roadway at Holcomb Road and Welcome Falls Road. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down blocking the road at 62 River Loop Road. Time estimated by radar.
A power line was knocked down in front of Merchants Bank in Fairview. Time estimated from radar.
A tree was knocked down at CR 109 and CR 30 in Scottsboro.
A tree was knocked down on CR 67 in Langston.
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: 1152083, 1152085, 1152094, 1152082, 1152086, 1152095, 1152087, 1152089, 1152091, 1152092, 1152093.