Windy conditions developed during the overnight hours as a weakening area of showers moved east across the area. A wake low developed at the back edge of the eroding precipitation area, resulting in very gusty winds and a few damage reports.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 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 HUN wrote it up.
Windy conditions developed during the overnight hours as a weakening area of showers moved east across the area. A wake low developed at the back edge of the eroding precipitation area, resulting in very gusty winds and a few damage reports. Wind gusts of 40-50 mph were common. In fact, peak wind gusts of 59 mph and 53 mph were recorded at Pryor Field near Decatur and at Northwest Alabama Regional Airport in Muscle Shoals respectively. A 48 mph wind gust was recorded at the Albertville Municipal Airport.
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 8, 11:00 PM CST, 2 hours earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 1100 PM CST Wed Feb 8 2023 ...New AVIATION... .NEAR TERM... (Rest of tonight) Issued at 939 PM CST Wed Feb 8 2023 Have seen an increase in cloud cover this evening, and winds are starting to pick up thanks to an increasing low level pressure gradient ahead of a cold front. The cold front can be seen tracking east through central AR and LA, soon to approach the western MS state line. Rich WAA has persisted through this evening, with current temps in the mid/upper 60s and dewpoints in the mid/upper 50s. A broken line of strong to severe thunderstorms currently encompass the I-55 corridor across MS and into western TN, where the best overlap of shear and instability exists. Expect low level winds to continue increasing through the morning hours as a sfc low deepens while it tracks into SW IL. This will be our primary concern heading into the morning hours, as gradient winds increase to the 20-30mph range for sustained winds, with gusts as high as 45mph possible in areas of higher terrain especially. As the cold front continues to track through MS, expect a drop off of low level moisture and in turn instability with the loss of diurnal heating. This will greatly diminish the severe threat as storms enter NW AL around midnight, but a narrow window of favorable conditions for severe storms could develop over far NW AL around midnight. Overall, rainfall amounts have changed little over the past 24 hours with totals ranging from 0.50-0.75". Widespread flooding is not expected overnight, but small rises on area streams and creeks are possible. Again, the greatest threat will be from non-thunderstorm wind gusts as high as 40-45mph, which could down small trees and cause isolated power outages. Overnight lows will only fall to the mid to upper 50s thanks to strong southerly flow and dense cloud cover. Expect rain to slowly shift east across the forecast area through sunrise. && .SHORT TERM... (Thursday through Saturday night) Issued at 255 PM CST Wed Feb 8 2023 The aforementioned line of storms will race eastward and clear the area into GA by late Thursday morning as a cooler and drier air mass pushes in. After temperatures peak in the lower 60s during the day Thursday, they will drop off quickly Thursday night and bottom out in the upper 30s in most locations by early Friday morning. Expect a mainly dry day on Friday, but we'll have to watch closely a second deepening trough of low pressure that will drop south from the central Plains into the Deep South Friday night into Saturday. Pockets of light to moderate rain will be possible during this window underneath some dense low cloud cover and Saturday can be summarized as a cool day with some widely scattered (20-40%) rain showers. Guidance has trended a little bit warmer with temperatures and for this reason precipitation type is expected to be all rain. However, as cold air moves in Saturday night, it's not unreasonable to think that a few snowflakes will be possible on the backside of the departing system -- though no impacts are expected. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday through Tuesday) Issued at 255 PM CST Wed Feb 8 2023 The aforementioned low pressure system will depart the area on Sunday, with a cooler but dry day expected. A brief bout of ridging will build into the area Sunday night into Monday as temperatures warm back into the 60s by Monday afternoon. We have another system to watch Tuesday into Wednesday of next week as southerly winds attempt to advect in a warmer and more moist air mass. Showers and thunderstorms will be possible at some point during this timeframe, along with some gusty gradient winds. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1100 PM CST Wed Feb 8 2023 VFR flight conditions have prevailed over the TAF area this evening, but lower cigs are expected as light to moderate rain is moving into northwest AL. Gusty southerly winds will continue to increase, with gusts as high as 35kts at times. Showers are likely through the morning hours, bringing periods of IFR to perhaps LIFR cigs and vsbys at times. Wind shear up to 50kts has been added to this TAF update. Lightning cannot be ruled out overnight, especially near the MSL terminal. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...Wind Advisory until 9 AM CST Thursday for ALZ001>010-016. TN...Wind Advisory until 9 AM CST Thursday for TNZ076-096-097. && NEAR TERM...25 SHORT TERM....70 LONG TERM....70 AVIATION...25
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 strong wind, 2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A peak gust of 53 mph was recorded at Northwest Alabama Regional Airport in Muscle Shoals. A tree was knocked down on Riverton Rose Trail.
At least seven reports of trees being knocked down were received in Lauderdale County. Several blocked area roads and at least one large tree was knocked down onto a home.
A peak gust of 59 mph was recorded at Pryor Field. Multiple trees were snapped or knocked down in the Athens area. Power outages were reported.
A peak gust of 59 mph was recorded at Pryor Field. Multiple trees were snapped or knocked down in the Athens area. Power lines were knocked down along Highway 20, which backed up morning commute traffic significantly.
A large tree was knocked down onto a vehicle in Douglas. Multiple trees were knocked down in the Double, Nixon Chapel and Horton areas, blocking some roads.
|A 48 mph wind gust was measured at the Albertville Municipal Airport during this time period.
A sign was heavily damaged at a bank in Rainsville. Also, a large canopy was blown over in this area.
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: 1080936, 1080938, 1080941, 1081136, 1081131, 1081130.