Scattered thunderstorms developed along and ahead of a cold front during the late afternoon into the mid evening hours. A few of these became strong to severe, with damaging wind and isolated hail.
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.
Scattered thunderstorms developed along and ahead of a cold front during the late afternoon into the mid evening hours. A few of these became strong to severe, with damaging wind and isolated hail.
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 Sep 6, 5:45 PM CST, 15 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 645 PM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023 ...New AVIATION... .NEAR TERM... (Tonight)with Issued at 258 PM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023 A cold front will continue to progress southeast from western and middle Tennessee toward the Tennessee Valley region of northern Alabama. Ahead of the cold front we've destabilized with MLCAPE values of 1000-2000 J/kg per the latest SPC mesoanalysis page and surface observations showing temperatures in the mid to upper 80s. This should be more than sufficient (combined with the forcing from the front -- and 20-30 kts of bulk shear) to generate clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms from the late afternoon through the evening hours as the front pushes in. The main focus of convection appears to be along the front itself as seen by the agitated Cu field across northwest Mississippi and western Tennessee. Expect convection along the front to gradually intensify here in the next 1.0 to 1.5 hours as it approaches northwest Alabama -- before moving across the area during the 22z to 03z timeframe. The main threat with these storms will be damaging straight-line winds, with hail up to the size of a quarter being a lower confidence impact with the strongest activity. Convection will gradually wane as the front sages to the southeast and drier air filters in. Patchy fog may become an issue late tonight into early Thursday morning as cloud cover dissipates, but confidence was too low to mention this at this time. && .SHORT TERM... (Thursday through Saturday) Issued at 258 PM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023 In wake of the cold front that will pass through the region tonight, a cooler, drier air mass will move in by Thursday morning as seen in our dewpoints which will fall from the low/mid 70s into the upper 50s/lower 60s. A secondary shortwave will push through the region, but given the lack of moisture only some passing cloud cover will accompany this as the atmosphere will be too moisture starved to generate any showers/storms. We'll really notice it in the temperatures, however, as highs will peak in the lower 80s on Thursday and the low to mid 80s Friday and Saturday. There will plenty of sunshine to enjoy, especially Friday and Saturday -- so overall some really nice early autumn weather for the 2nd full weekend in December. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday night through Wednesday) Issued at 258 PM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023 The mid/upper-level trough of low pressure over the Southern Appalachians will shift to the east off the Carolinas as high pressure attempts to build back into the are and we re-enter a period of zonal flow aloft early next week. expect plenty of sunshine both Sunday and Monday as highs will once again climb into the mid to upper 80s, with a continued comfortable air mass (RH values between 40-50%). Cloud cover will begin to increase Tuesday into Wednesday as an upper-trough over the Great Lakes will pivot into the Northeast. This feature will drag a cold front toward the Tennessee Valley, potentially giving us our next shot at rainfall sometime mid to late week. Have included low chances for showers and storms both Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon per the NBM, but these values will likely be focus more along when the front will actually make it into the region. Confidence in timing is still quite low 7 days out and have maintained the NBM for now. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 645 PM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023 Showers and thunderstorms will likely impact both terminals over the next couple of hours this evening, with higher confidence over KMSL. For that reason, have kept a TEMPO group for thunderstorms from 00-03z at MSL, and VCTS at HSV where confidence is a little lower. Reductions to MVFR/IFR conditions will be possible during these thunderstorms, but should remain brief through the evening hours. Otherwise, VFR conditions will return overnight and are expected through the remainder of the TAF period with light northwesterly winds and clearing skies. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && NEAR TERM...AMP SHORT TERM....AMP LONG TERM....AMP AVIATION...25
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
535 PM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023
ALZ001-002-062315-
Lauderdale AL-Colbert AL-
535 PM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern
Lauderdale and western Colbert Counties through 615 PM CDT...
At 535 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Glen, or 10 miles southeast of Corinth, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel 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...
Cherokee, Waterloo, Malone, Mynot, Mt Hester, Margerum, Allsboro,
Maud, Riverton, and Wright.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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 3501 8796 3460 8799 3463 8813 3489 8810
3492 8816 3500 8820
TIME...MOT...LOC 2235Z 274DEG 28KT 3482 8841
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
70/DDSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
604 PM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023
ALZ002-003-062345-
Franklin AL-Colbert AL-
604 PM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Colbert
and northeastern Franklin Counties through 645 PM CDT...
At 604 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Tishomingo State Park, moving southeast at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph and penny 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...
Russellville, Littleville, Belgreen, Malone, Posey Loop, Pogo, Mt
Hester, Cedar Creek Reservoir, Srygley Church, and New Bethel.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3479 8811 3461 8761 3435 8777 3456 8815
TIME...MOT...LOC 2304Z 296DEG 43KT 3467 8813
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
70/DDSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
643 PM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023
ALZ002>004-070030-
Lawrence AL-Franklin AL-Colbert AL-
643 PM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of south central
Colbert, eastern Franklin and southwestern Lawrence Counties through
730 PM CDT...
At 642 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Russellville, moving southeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph and penny 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...
Russellville, Moulton, Littleville, Newburg, Mt Hope, Crooked Oak, La
Grange, Tharptown, Isbell, and Rockwood.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3465 8778 3452 8727 3430 8738 3430 8754
3448 8784
TIME...MOT...LOC 2342Z 292DEG 27KT 3454 8776
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
26Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
658 PM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023
ALZ003-004-070030-
Lawrence AL-Franklin AL-
658 PM CDT Wed Sep 6 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern
Franklin and southwestern Lawrence Counties through 730 PM CDT...
At 658 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Phil Campbell, or 9 miles north of Haleyville, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and penny 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...
Phil Campbell and western Bankhead National Forest.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3441 8771 3435 8735 3430 8738 3431 8768
3431 8773
TIME...MOT...LOC 2358Z 292DEG 17KT 3436 8767
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
26The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 104 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:00 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A pole and tornado siren were knocked down near the La Grange Volunteer Fire Department. Time estimated by radar.
A large portion of a tree was snapped at the 700 block of CR 30. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down.
Roof damage of a house reported on Highway 36 at CR 30.
Nickel sized hail was reported at the WAFF TV studios.
One inch diameter hail was reported.
One inch diameter hail was reported.
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, September 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: 1140195, 1140196, 1140194, 1140197, 1140191, 1140192, 1140193.