5-4 fell over the course of a few hours on the evening of February 16th. Widespread flooding occurred across portions of Cullman, Marshall, and into portions of Jackson and Dekalb Counties.
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.
Rainfall amounts of 2.5-4 fell over the course of a few hours on the evening of February 16th. Widespread flooding occurred across portions of Cullman, Marshall, and into portions of Jackson and Dekalb Counties. Parts of I-65 were shut down, and several water rescues occurred in Cullman County that evening thanks to thunderstorms repeatedly moving across these areas in a very warm and moist airmass for mid-February.
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 Feb 16, 2:42 PM CST, 2 hours 28 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 242 PM CST Thu Feb 16 2023 ...New NEAR TERM, SHORT TERM, LONG TERM... .NEAR TERM... (Remainder of today and tonight) Issued at 242 PM CST Thu Feb 16 2023 There have been no significant changes to forecast reasoning for the remainder of the afternoon since the earlier morning update, with the risk for severe thunderstorms expected to increase from W-to-E over the next 1-3 hours. Although open warm sector supercells currently tracking from southeastern MS into central AL may ultimately reduce the risk for development of discrete cellular convection prior to the arrival of a cold front in our region, we still anticipate a broken QLCS featuring organized multicell clusters and embedded supercells (capable of all severe hazards) to accompany the front as it shifts eastward into the local area later this afternoon. Latest model guidance continues to indicate that the aforementioned cold front will begin to decelerate considerably as it crosses the I-65 corridor around 00Z, with the boundary not expected to exit the southeastern portion of our CWFA until perhaps as late as 4-5Z this evening. Although this may warrant a local extension of Tornado Watch 39 to include our three northeast AL counties, widespread convective overturning and loss of diurnal destabilization should reduce the overall risk for severe convection in these zones. What will become more of a concern in this region (as well as the remainder of the CWFA) is flooding. At this point, the risk for flash flooding appears highest across northeast AL, where echo training of moderate-heavy convective cores may occur for several hours this evening until the cold front finally clears the region. However, as deep-layer ascent begins to strengthen downstream from a positively-tilted mid-level trough crossing the Mid-MS Valley, widespread light-moderate postfrontal rain will occur for several hours in the wake of the wind shift, with areal flooding possible elsewhere. In spite of strengthening cold advection in the wake of the front, low stratus clouds will limit cooling, with lows predicted to be in the m-u 30s. && .SHORT TERM... (Friday through Saturday night) Issued at 242 PM CST Thu Feb 16 2023 Strong synoptic scale forcing for ascent will continue throughout much of the day tomorrow, until the axis of the positively-tilted mid-level trough (discussed above) begins to cross the region during the late afternoon/early evening hours. Thus, we expect a regime featuring low stratus clouds and isolated light showers or sprinkles, which could be mixed with a few snow flurries at times. Given the combination of strong cold advection and low clouds, highs will struggle to reach the u30s-l40s. Mid-level flow will quickly transition to a zonal orientation late Friday night, to the north of a flat subtropical ridge centered across the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. Thus, we expect skies to clear rapidly and support optimal radiational cooling conditions early Saturday morning as a surface ridge builds northeastward into the TN Valley. A hard freeze will occur this period, with lows in the l-m 20s. Highs will rebound into the l-m 50s on Saturday, as the low-level ridge translates eastward, inducing light south-southeasterly return flow. Mid/high-level cloudiness will begin to increase late in the day as a weak disturbance ejects northeastward from the southern Plains into the OH Valley by 12Z Sunday, and this will lead to milder temps in the m-u 30s Sunday morning. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday through Thursday) Issued at 242 PM CST Thu Feb 16 2023 Extended range models still indicate that a pronounced northern stream trough will shift eastward from northern Plains on Sunday into the New England vicinity on Monday. A weak cold front related to this trough is expected to drift southward into the region at some point on Monday, but low-level moisture return should be inadequate to support any meaningful chance for precipitation. By late Monday night, we expect to see a partially modified maritime airmass return northward across the TN Valley in response to surface cyclogenesis in the lee of the southern Rockies. Isolated to widely scattered showers and perhaps a few thunderstorms will be possible at times from Monday night-Wednesday, but coverage and intensity will be dictated by the precise location of a slow- moving warm front. It appears as if a stronger mid-level trough and accompanying surface low may bring a more widespread coverage of showers and a few storms to the region Wednesday evening, but due to uncertainty in the timing and track of this system, we have kept POPs in the chance range. One thing that appears more certain is that temperatures throughout the extended portion of the forecast will be influenced by strengthening and amplification of the subtropical ridge to our southeast, with highs in the l-m 70s Tuesday-Thursday and lows in the u50s-l60s. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1210 PM CST Thu Feb 16 2023 Visible satellite data and sfc observations indicate that ceilings have risen into the high-MVFR (2500-3000 ft.) range at both HSV/MSL, and this will likely persist until the arrival of a cold front and broken band of convection later this aftn. Although the following time ranges may be a bit wide, we have included TEMPO groups for +TSRA from 20-24Z/MSL and 22-02Z/HSV, when AWWs may be warranted for lightning, convective wind gusts, hail and tornadoes. SSW flow in the 14G24 knot range will abruptly veer to NW in the wake of a cold front that will end the risk for TSRA early this evening. However, a broad swath of postfrontal RA and IFR cigs should persist for much of the night, with pcpn expected to end at MSL/7Z and HSV/9Z. Although the cold air stratus layer will slowly lift with time thru 18Z Friday, cigs will remain MVFR with brisk NNW winds of 10G20 knots. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && NEAR TERM...70/DD SHORT TERM...70/DD LONG TERM...70/DD AVIATION...70/DD
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
300 PM CST Thu Feb 16 2023
ALZ001-162145-
Lauderdale AL-
300 PM CST Thu Feb 16 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern
Lauderdale County through 345 PM CST...
At 259 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Waterloo or near Pickwick Lake, moving northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Waterloo, Threet and Zip City.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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.
If on or near Pickwick Lake, get out of the water and move indoors
or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles
from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not
be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CST for northwestern
Alabama.
&&
LAT...LON 3500 8759 3497 8759 3490 8803 3491 8805
3489 8807 3489 8810 3492 8816 3501 8820
TIME...MOT...LOC 2059Z 260DEG 32KT 3497 8807
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
AMPSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
329 PM CST Thu Feb 16 2023
ALZ001-002-162215-
Lauderdale AL-Colbert AL-
329 PM CST Thu Feb 16 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Lauderdale
and northern Colbert Counties through 415 PM CST...
At 328 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Midway, or near Iuka, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, Killen, Cherokee, St.
Florian, Underwood-Petersville, Waterloo and Malone.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CST for northwestern
Alabama.
&&
LAT...LON 3499 8758 3476 8750 3469 8812 3489 8810
3491 8815
TIME...MOT...LOC 2128Z 250DEG 39KT 3477 8824
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
HCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
410 PM CST Thu Feb 16 2023
ALZ001-002-162300-
Lauderdale AL-Colbert AL-
410 PM CST Thu Feb 16 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Lauderdale and
northern Colbert Counties through 500 PM CST...
At 408 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles north of Cherokee, or 14 miles west of Florence, moving east at
50 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, Killen, Cherokee,
Lexington, St. Florian, Underwood-Petersville and Waterloo.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CST for northwestern
Alabama.
&&
LAT...LON 3501 8806 3500 8729 3481 8731 3480 8742
3478 8743 3462 8813 3489 8810 3493 8816
TIME...MOT...LOC 2208Z 248DEG 41KT 3487 8792
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
HCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
455 PM CST Thu Feb 16 2023
ALZ001-005-162330-
Lauderdale AL-Limestone AL-
455 PM CST Thu Feb 16 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northern Limestone
and northeastern Lauderdale Counties through 530 PM CST...
At 455 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Lexington, or 16 miles south of Lawrenceburg, moving east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Ardmore, Lexington, Elkmont, Anderson, Lester, Good Springs,
Kingtown, Holland Gin, Mt Rozell and Leggtown.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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 700 PM CST for north central
and northwestern Alabama.
&&
LAT...LON 3499 8683 3489 8684 3490 8745 3500 8748
TIME...MOT...LOC 2255Z 259DEG 35KT 3501 8737
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
AMPSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
510 PM CST Thu Feb 16 2023
TNZ076-096-170000-
Moore TN-Lincoln TN-
510 PM CST Thu Feb 16 2023
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northern Moore and
northern Lincoln Counties through 600 PM CST...
At 510 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Shelbyville to Petersburg to 8 miles east
of Pulaski. Movement was east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Lynchburg, Petersburg, Chestnut Ridge, Howell, Belleville, Mcburg,
Mimosa, Booneville and Boonshill.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
These storms 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 700 PM CST for Middle
Tennessee.
&&
LAT...LON 3541 8625 3539 8628 3538 8625 3537 8627
3535 8624 3533 8626 3516 8665 3517 8683
3526 8683 3525 8675 3531 8668 3533 8660
3537 8660 3536 8649 3533 8646 3532 8642
3535 8641 3536 8633 3541 8629
TIME...MOT...LOC 2310Z 261DEG 33KT 3548 8653 3533 8667 3522 8690
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
AMPThe Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 123 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:07 UTC.
4 flood, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Report of flooding on Hwy 157 and County Road 57. Report relayed by EMA.
Flooding was reported at the intersection of Dover Avenue and 2nd Street. Depth of water unknown.
Flash flooding along Hogjaw Road near Arab. Water covering the road, rising up to vehicle doors in some areas.
Water covering several roadways and ditches overflowing in and around Downtown Arab.
Deep moving water reported over the roadway on the 2300 Block of County Road 47.
Both North and Southbound lanes of I-65 shut down near MM 308 due to flash flooding. About a foot of water over the roadway. Numerous other roads are flooded in Cullman County.
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, February 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: 1081464, 1081465, 1081462, 1081466, 1081463, 1081467.