An extremely moist and unstable summertime air mass was in place across Alabama on July 1st through July 2nd with excessive heat warnings and heat advisories in effect. PWAT's were also high with values near 2 inches, which produced high values for microburst potential.
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 BMX wrote it up.
An extremely moist and unstable summertime air mass was in place across Alabama on July 1st through July 2nd with excessive heat warnings and heat advisories in effect. PWAT's were also high with values near 2 inches, which produced high values for microburst potential. Several upper short wave troughs rotated around the north side of an upper ridge centered along the Gulf Coast, and triggered numerous strong to severe thunderstorms.
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 Jul 1, 12:14 PM CST, 1 hour 31 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 114 PM CDT Sat Jul 1 2023 ...New SHORT TERM... .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Sunday) Issued at 114 PM CDT SAT JUL 1 2023 Elongated ridging extended from over the Western Gulf of Mexico northeast to over the Southern Appalachians while a longwave trough was over the Central Plains. Surface high pressure extended from the Eastern Ohio River Valley south to the Northern Gulf of Mexico. A stationary front extended from Northwest Missouri southeast into Northern Alabama. The wet microburst risk is high today with the best potential across the north and west. Most storms will produce gusty winds with some damaging winds possible from the heavier activity. This afternoon. Broad mid level ridging will remain in place over the area this afternoon, though a shortwave analyzed by RAP mesoanalysis continues to move east over much of Tennessee and Northern Alabama. This weakness aloft is continuing to support the development of thunderstorm activity with more organized heavy activity to the north. Our northeast counties, generally east of Interstate 65 and north of Interstate 20 have the greater potential to experience heavy thunderstorms this afternoon. Outside of more organized activity north and northeast, isolated showers/thunderstorms will develop across portions of our central counties due to the high instability values despite strong subsidence from ridging aloft. Damaging winds and some hail will be possible from the heavier activity with best chances across the northeast counties. Heat index values will continue to exceed 105 degrees across most areas this afternoon as high temperatures reach the upper 90s with dew points remaining in the mid to upper 70s. Winds will be from the west to northwest at 4-8 mph outside of convection. Tonight. The flow pattern aloft will gradually become more zonal with time overnight as the ridging flattens to our east while the longwave trough moves east, becoming extended from over the Great Lakes southwest to over the Central Plains. Surface high pressure will become positioned further to the south and southeast of the area while a surface front pushes southeast across the Central and Southern Plains while a surface trough remains positioned across the northern portion of the area. Lingering shower and thunderstorm activity will continue through the evening while gradually decreasing overnight. Balmy conditions will persist overnight with lows ranging from the low 70s north to the mid 70s south and central. Winds will be light from the south at 3-6 mph. Sunday. Mid-level ridging will move over the Southeastern Atlantic Coast while the positive longwave trough will extend from over the Eastern Great Lakes south to over the Mid-South Region. Surface high pressure will move further southeast of the area while a front will continue to advance southeast across the Midwest into the Southern Plains. With the ridge flattening aloft along with existing outflow boundaries from convection today, there will be an overall slight increase in shower and storm chances across the area on Sunday. A few of the storms may be strong to severe due to continued high amounts of low-level instability. Heat index values will continue to exceed 105 degrees areawide, resulting in continued heat stress concerns. High temperatures will range from the mid 90s north and east to the upper 90s south and central. Winds will be from the southwest from 5-10 mph. 05 && .LONG TERM... (Monday through Friday) Issued at 336 AM CDT SAT JUL 1 2023 The overall synoptic pattern doesn't change much during the upcoming week. The now flattened ridge remains to our south as a longwave trough is stretched through much of the Midwest just to our north. We'll have ample moisture advection each day with the southerly flow and the proximity of the trough to our north will support scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms each day, with the greatest coverage in the afternoons. A few of these storms could be strong to severe. Along with the thunderstorms each day, we're also still looking at the potential for heat impacts Monday through at least Wednesday. Temperatures will certainly be lower compared to the past few days, but humidity remains elevated leading to higher heat indices. Any convection should limit the extreme heat; however, in locations that don't see rainfall, or see rainfall after peak heating, heat indices could still reach into the 100-105 degree range. There's still a good amount of uncertainty for the high temperatures and heat index for Monday through Wednesday because of the expected thunderstorm coverage, but given the extended period of this current heat wave, I'll continue mentioning heat impacts in the hazardous weather outlook through at least mid- week. 25/Owen && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1237 PM CDT SAT JUL 1 2023 Expect VFR conditions across the southern sites with some vicinity TS activity expected between 20z and 00z across the northern sites. Heavier activity is moving east to our north but some of this has a tendency to work a bit further south and could clip portions of our northeast counties through mid afternoon into the evening hours. Activity will gradually decrease through the night followed by cumulus development toward late morning on Sunday with at least some activity developing by early afternoon. 05 && .FIRE WEATHER... Hot and humid conditions through the weekend and early next week. Isolated to scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms are expected each day. Min RH values on Saturday near 45 percent with afternoon heat indices 105-112F. Light 20 foot winds tonight becoming southwest 5-7 mph on Saturday. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 72 96 72 93 / 30 40 30 50 Anniston 73 95 74 92 / 30 40 30 50 Birmingham 75 98 75 94 / 30 40 30 50 Tuscaloosa 75 98 75 94 / 20 40 30 50 Calera 74 96 74 92 / 30 40 30 50 Auburn 74 94 74 91 / 20 40 30 50 Montgomery 75 97 75 95 / 20 40 30 50 Troy 75 97 74 95 / 20 40 20 50 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Excessive Heat Warning until 9 PM CDT this evening for the following counties: Autauga-Bibb-Blount-Chilton-Dallas-Fayette- Greene-Hale-Jefferson-Lamar-Lowndes-Marengo-Marion-Perry-Pickens- Shelby-Sumter-Tuscaloosa-Walker-Winston. Heat Advisory from 9 PM this evening to 9 PM CDT Sunday for the following counties: Autauga-Bibb-Blount-Chilton-Dallas-Fayette- Greene-Hale-Jefferson-Lamar-Lowndes-Marengo-Marion-Perry-Pickens- Shelby-Sumter-Tuscaloosa-Walker-Winston. Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT Sunday for the following counties: Barbour-Bullock-Calhoun-Chambers-Cherokee-Clay-Cleburne-Coosa- Elmore-Etowah-Lee-Macon-Montgomery-Pike-Randolph-Russell-St. Clair-Talladega-Tallapoosa. && SHORT TERM...05 LONG TERM....25 AVIATION...05
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 402 AM CDT Sat Jul 1 2023 ALZ011>015-017>050-021215- 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- 402 AM CDT Sat Jul 1 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham. .DAY ONE...Outlook through Tonight. Dangerously high heat and humidity is forecast across much of central Alabama today. Heat index values during this time will most likely climb to near 105 degrees, with some areas reach or exceeding 110 degrees. A few strong to marginally severe storms may develop late afternoon in the east and continue through 12 AM Midnight in the west. Damaging winds and large hail will be the main threats. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Dangerously hot and humid conditions are expected to continue through midweek. Heat index values are likely to be near or exceed 105 degrees. Heat exhaustion or heat stroke could occur for those exposed to the heat for too long. Severe storms are possible Sunday and Monday afternoons and evenings for all of Central Alabama. Threats include damaging winds and large hail. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management may be needed on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1009 AM CDT Sat Jul 1 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1236 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 SSE Howell's Crossroa 34.14N 85.53W
06/30/2023 Cherokee AL Emergency Mngr
Tree down blocking County Rd 155.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1135 AM CDT Sat Jul 1 2023
ALZ026-011715-
St. Clair AL-
1135 AM CDT Sat Jul 1 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern St.
Clair County through 1215 PM CDT...
At 1135 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Ashville, or 9 miles southwest of Rainbow City, moving east at 10
mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Rainbow City, Ashville, Ragland, Steele, Neely Henry Lake, Alabama
International Dragway and Neely Henry Dam.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3395 8617 3393 8617 3392 8615 3390 8614
3390 8611 3386 8610 3387 8607 3385 8605
3384 8607 3382 8605 3381 8607 3377 8605
3373 8611 3371 8613 3372 8625 3387 8630
TIME...MOT...LOC 1635Z 248DEG 8KT 3383 8620
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
56Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
230 PM CDT Sat Jul 1 2023
ALZ020-012030-
Cherokee AL-
230 PM CDT Sat Jul 1 2023
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of central Cherokee
County through 330 PM CDT...
At 229 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Blanche to Crossville. Movement was east
at 10 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...
Centre, Cedar Bluff, Centre Municipal Airport, Little River Canyon
National Preserve, Leesburg, Sand Rock, Gaylesville, Cherokee Rock
Village, Cornwall Furnace Park, Western Weiss Lake, Blanche, Eastern
Weiss Lake, Little River Falls, Weiss Dam, Fullerton, New Moon,
Yellow Creek Falls, Chesnut Bay Resort, Broomtown and Howells
Crossroads.
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.
If on or near Weiss 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 Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for
northeastern Alabama.
&&
LAT...LON 3415 8543 3413 8584 3424 8584 3424 8581
3426 8581 3426 8577 3436 8566 3437 8563
3439 8562 3440 8563 3440 8561 3444 8558
3446 8558 3448 8550
TIME...MOT...LOC 1929Z 288DEG 10KT 3435 8551 3430 8597
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
89^GSatterwhiteSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
239 PM CDT Sat Jul 1 2023
ALZ011-012-012030-
Marion AL-Lamar AL-
239 PM CDT Sat Jul 1 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Marion
and northeastern Lamar Counties through 330 PM CDT...
At 239 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Detroit, or 8 miles southwest of Hamilton, moving east at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Hamilton, Guin, Detroit, Henson Springs, Byrd, Marion County Public
Lake, Rankin Fite Airport and Pikeville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3401 8818 3417 8813 3414 8787 3395 8791
TIME...MOT...LOC 1939Z 277DEG 10KT 3407 8811
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
89^GSatterwhiteThe Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:43 UTC.
15 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees uprooted between County Roads 46 and 99.
Several trees uprooted in Glencoe.
Several trees uprooted in Hokes Bluff.
Several trees uprooted between I-20 and Highway 78, west of Chula Vista.
Several trees uprooted near Markeeta Road.
Several trees uprooted on Yellow Creek Road.
Penny size hail reported along Highway 195.
Half-dollar size hail reported on Victor Road.
Several trees uprooted and power lines downed in Sumiton.
Numerous trees uprooted around the city of Gadsden.
Several trees uprooted and power lines downed in Riverside.
Multiple roads flooded in Pell City. Water entered eight residential homes on Fox Run Circle.
Several trees uprooted on Center Point Road.
Several large trees uprooted and blocking County Road 88.
Multiple trees uprooted on the east side of Wedowee.
A wind gust of 58 mph recorded at Dannelly Field Airport. Numerous trees uprooted across the city of Montgomery.
Several trees uprooted and power lines downed in Wetumpka.
Several trees uprooted and power lines downed north of Wallsboro.
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, July 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: 1120165, 1120167, 1120169, 1120178, 1120181, 1120187, 1120196, 1120197, 1120198, 1120199, 1120200, 1120202, 1120201, 1120203, 1120204, 1120205, 1120206, 1120207.