A squall line dropped south-southeast from middle Tennessee through north Alabama during the mid to late afternoon hours of the 18th. One brief tornado was spawned along the line in northern Madison County, and numerous other reports of wind damage were received.
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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.
A squall line dropped south-southeast from middle Tennessee through north Alabama during the mid to late afternoon hours of the 18th. One brief tornado was spawned along the line in northern Madison County, and numerous other reports of wind damage were received.
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 Jul 18, 2:45 PM CST, 1 hour 3 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 345 PM CDT Tue Jul 18 2023 ...New NEAR TERM, SHORT TERM, LONG TERM... .NEAR TERM... (Remainder of today and tonight) Issued at 345 PM CDT Tue Jul 18 2023 The primary feature of interest for the remainder of the afternoon will be a severe MCS located across southwestern KY/northwestern TN as of 19:30Z. There is widespread consensus among both the CAMs and regional-scale/global models that this system will continue to expand and intensify as it accelerates southeastward into southern portions of western/middle TN by 00Z, and we have increased POPs into the likely range for the northwestern third of the HUN CWFA to indicate an anticipated arrival time between 22-24Z. Very unstable conditions exist in the environment downstream from this convective complex, with temps in the l90s and dewpoints in the l-m 70s supporting MLCAPE in the 2500-3000 J/kg range, if not a bit higher in a few locations. These thermodynamic conditions along with northwest flow aloft on the order of 30-40 knots will maintain a risk of severe wind/hail as the MCS progresses southeastward through northern AL/southern TN early this evening. Otherwise, the general synoptic scale pattern is not predicted to change much overnight, as an intense 500-mb high will remain centered across southeastern NM/southwestern TX with the related ridge axis extending east-southeastward into the central Gulf Coast states. The TN Valley will remain situated on the northeastern flank of the ridge, where modest deep-layer warm advection will enhance lift in the vicinity of a trailing outflow boundary to generate additional clusters of thunderstorms to our northwest (southeastern MO into northwestern TN) that will spread southeastward into the local area prior to sunrise. Thus, after a fairly widespread coverage of showers/thunderstorms this evening (followed by a brief period of drier conditions), we expect precipitation coverage to increase once again in the 9-12Z timeframe. Although instability will be weaker with this second round of convection, shear will remain sufficiently strong for storm organization and a risk for severe wind. Locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding may also become a concern. Lows should manage to reach the u60s-l70s, given the amount of convective outflow air that will impact the region. && .SHORT TERM... (Wednesday through Thursday night) Issued at 345 PM CDT Tue Jul 18 2023 Similar to what we mentioned above, 12Z guidance suggests that there will be no significant changes in the broader synoptic scale pattern across the TN Valley during the short term, with the subtropical ridge expected to remain centered across the southern High Plains on Wednesday/Wednesday night, before retrograding on Thursday/Thursday night as a northern stream trough tracks eastward across the Great Lakes. High-resolution models indicate that the second round of overnight convection (discussed in the near term section) will continue to impact our region through the late morning hours and present risks for both strong-severe wind and locally heavy rainfall/flash flooding. This activity is expected to dissipate across northeast AL early tomorrow afternoon, and although redevelopment of afternoon storms on Wednesday (in the wake of this activity) appears unlikely, lingering convective debris clouds and perhaps a few pockets of light rain have resulted in a fairly significant downward trend in afternoon temps, which will negate the need for a Heat Advisory. Present indications are that another mid-level wave in prevailing northwest flow aloft will begin to initiate thunderstorms along an outflow boundary across northern TN/southern KY late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, with this activity expected to also spread southeastward, perhaps impacting our CWFA between 9-15Z. Due to lower confidence in the evolution of this event, we have indicated lower POPs across the board but reserved highest values for the northeastern corner of the CWFA where we are more confident in storms occurring. Presuming that this activity is not as widespread as what we are expecting tomorrow (Wednesday morning) and shifts eastward before Noon, conditions will be marginally favorable for a Heat Advisory Thursday afternoon. Additional clusters of thunderstorms will likely develop in the vicinity of a synoptic scale cold front (related to the Great Lakes trough) late Thursday night or early Friday morning and shift southward into the CWFA prior to sunrise. && .LONG TERM... (Friday through Tuesday) Issued at 345 PM CDT Tue Jul 18 2023 The active convective weather regime that we are about to enter will continue on Friday and Friday night, as multiple clusters of thunderstorms are predicted to evolve in the vicinity of a slow- moving cold front to our north and spread east-southeastward. Although mid-level flow/shear will peak in intensity from Friday afternoon through early Saturday morning (which could potentially raise concern for higher-impact severe thunderstorms) limited airmass recovery between rounds of convection may reduce instability compared to prior days. Regardless, severe wind and locally heavy rainfall will remain concerns with this activity. Global models exhibit reasonable agreement in predicting the cold front to spread southward through the region on Saturday morning, with a notably drier airmass expected to remain in place for the remainder of the period. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 110 PM CDT Tue Jul 18 2023 VFR conditions are expected to continue at both TAF sites through 00Z. Then expect a MCS to move southward towards the terminals between 01Z and 04Z. Strong to severe thunderstorms will likely accompany this activity. For now, only have VRB15G25KT, but adjustments and amendments for higher winds may be needed as this complex approaches the terminals. At least MVFR conditions will occur with this activity and IFR or LIFR conditions may be needed with subsequent issuances. Expect lingering -TSRA to continue after 4Z with MVFR conditions or lower continuing. After 06Z, expect -TSRA activity to lower in coverage. Left PROB30 in for coverage after 6Z. Another round of activity may occur towards 12Z, but left out for now due to uncertainty. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && NEAR TERM...70/DD SHORT TERM...70/DD LONG TERM...70/DD AVIATION...KTW
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 124 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:48 UTC.
29 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was knocked down at this location.
A tree was knocked down at this location.
Trees were knocked down at this location.
Trees were knocked down at this location.
Numerous large trees were knocked down or snapped. Damage to a barn was reported.
Trees were knocked down at this location.
A tree was uprooted and loose construction equipment was blown around at this location.
Trees were knocked down along Cannon Road.
Large trees were knocked down in the Canebrake area on Lindsay Lane near the golf course.
A tree was knocked down at this location.
The tornado touched down near the intersection of Jeff Road and Kelly Spring Road in Northern Madison County. Peak winds were estimated at 80 mph. Large branches and sections of hard and soft wood trees were downed in a neighborhood east of Jeff Road. The tornado continued southeast and caused more tree damage near the Matt Phillips Road and Douglass Road intersection. As the tornado approached the Indian Creek and Blake Bottom Road intersection, several trees were damaged or uprooted along with roof damage to structures off Stoney Lane before dissipating along Blake Bottom Road.
Four to five trees were snapped near this location. Two of them large hardwood trees.
Power lines were knocked down and blocked Wall Triana Highway between Highway 72 and Capshaw Road.
A tree was knocked down near Highways 101 and 194 north of Town Creek.
A tree was knocked down near the intersection of Shelton Road and Malor Circle.
A tree was knocked down near the intersection of Patton Road SW and Drake Avenue SW.
Trees were knocked down in the Ruth area.
Trees were knocked down in the Union Grove area.
Several trees were knocked down in the Baileyton area.
Trees were knocked down in the Arab area.
Trees and a power line down in the Walter area.
Roof was peeled off at a building at City Harbor Suites.
A tree was knocked down on Mockingbird Lane.
A large tree was knocked down into the intersection of CR 52 and Highway 227.
Numerous trees were knocked down in the Boaz area, including one onto a house.
A tree was knocked down on CR 122 off of Highway 75.
A tree was knocked down on CR 494.
A power line was knocked down at this location.
A tree was snapped at the intersection of Slaughter Road and Farrow Road.
A tree was knocked down along Osborn Hill Road and Colburn Mountain Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Alabama, 2023Warnings 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: 1117953, 1117954, 1117955, 1117956, 1117957, 1117958, 1117959, 1117960, 1117961, 1117962, 1117346, 1117963, 1124225, 1124223, 1124227, 1124229, 1124241, 1124242, 1124243, 1124244, 1124246, 1124249, 1124250, 1124253, 1124255, 1124256, 1124259, 1124261, 1124263, 1124265.