A line of strong thunderstorms formed along an outflow boundary that moved northeast from Mississippi across northern Alabama during the evening hours on the 11th. Winds gusted to between 40 and 50 mph in some stronger thunderstorms.
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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 line of strong thunderstorms formed along an outflow boundary that moved northeast from Mississippi across northern Alabama during the evening hours on the 11th. Winds gusted to between 40 and 50 mph in some stronger thunderstorms. A few storms became severe and downed trees in the Waterloo and northeast of the Littleville areas.
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 May 11, 12:04 PM CST, 4 hours 58 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 104 PM CDT Thu May 11 2023 ...New NEAR TERM, SHORT TERM, LONG TERM... .NEAR TERM... (Tonight) Issued at 104 PM CDT Thu May 11 2023 An initial band/wave of showers and thunderstorms was lifting north into middle TN from north central and northeast AL. This is associated with a weak MCV within the moist and unstable airmass. Additional showers and thunderstorms are possible this afternoon into this evening as heating continues to produce unstable air. The greater chance of additional showers and thunderstorms will occur this evening into the overnight as an MCS and shortwave over AR and LA advance east and northeast tonight. Various CAMS indicate an arc of convection associated with outflow from the parent MCS arriving from 00-03Z this evening. Whether this maintains a bit more continuity and coverage is unclear, but PoPs will remain in the chance to likely category through tonight, but with a weakening trend expected possible due to loss of heating. && .SHORT TERM... (Friday through Sunday) Issued at 104 PM CDT Thu May 11 2023 The shortwave will be over middle TN through eastern AL on Friday morning through midday. Thus, a resurgence of convective clusters is likely to occur in this area as daytime heating commences through the morning into the midday hours. With mid to upper level heights building during the afternoon in the wake of the departing wave, coverage of any convection during the afternoon is a bit uncertain. Overall, PoPs should decrease considerably, especially in our western counties. The 8h and 5h anticyclones will be over directly over the area on Saturday into Sunday. Despite this, the moist and unstable airmass is yielding convection at times over the area. This may be a bit overdone, but for now stuck with chance to likely PoPs Saturday. This drops to chance levels on Sunday. Highs may reach 90 in a few spots on Sunday. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday night through Thursday) Issued at 104 PM CDT Thu May 11 2023 As has been noted in previous forecasts, the upper ridge will break down as large scale height falls occur over the eastern U.S. Depending on the model, an initial stronger shortwave and cold front drops southeast thru the OH and TN valley as early as Sunday night into Monday per the ECMWF, but Monday night into Tuesday per the GFS. Given these differences, the forecast in this period will remain variable and will likely see updates in the coming days. Have stuck close to suggested model blends which seem to lean toward Monday night into Tuesday. A secondary shortwave trough axis builds southeast through the mean larger scale trough during the middle of next week. Behind the cold front, a slightly cooler and drier airmass will arrive, with highs kept in the 70s to around 80 on Wednesday, before warming a bit Thursday again. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1114 AM CDT Thu May 11 2023 Ceilings of 030-035agl (VFR) are expected this afternoon, but a few pockets ~025agl (MVFR) remain possible, especially in and near SHRA/TSRA. Coverage of SHRA and TSRA should tend to increase through the afternoon, but exact timing and locations remain uncertain at KMSL and KHSV. Ceilings will gradually lower below 020agl (MVFR) by 06Z if not earlier, and remain at or below 025agl through the rest of the period. Additional clusters of SHRA and TSRA will be possible through tonight, before diminishing by 12/15Z if not sooner. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && NEAR TERM...17 SHORT TERM....17 LONG TERM....17 AVIATION...17
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 103 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:04 UTC.
9 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was reported down at this location on Beacon Light Road.
Trees were blown down at Waterloo High School.
A tree was reported down on Frankfort road.
A tree was blown down off of Sherrod Lane.
A tree was blown down on Spring Valley Road.
A pole was partially pushed over and leaning on Circle Lane.
A tree was uprooted on Vandiver Hollow Road at this location.
A shed was heavily damaged at this location.
At least 3 trees were knocked down. Some were uprooted. One of these was uprooted and between 2 and 3 feet in diameter. Some large branches were also snapped off nearby pine trees.
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, May 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: 1102493, 1099747, 1102496, 1102491, 1102624, 1102495, 1102486, 1102519, 1102548.