Gusty winds developed behind a cold front during the afternoon hours of the 11th. Wind gusts of 35-40 mph were observed, and resulted in at least one tree being knocked down, and at least one power pole/lines being knocked over.
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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.
Gusty winds developed behind a cold front during the afternoon hours of the 11th. Wind gusts of 35-40 mph were observed, and resulted in at least one tree being knocked down, and at least one power pole/lines being knocked over.
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 Apr 11, 9:46 AM CST, 1 hour 14 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 1046 AM CDT Thu Apr 11 2024 ...New NEAR TERM... .NEAR TERM... (Rest of Today) Issued at 1046 AM CDT Thu Apr 11 2024 A shearing mid-level vort max will lift rapidly north- northeastward from the western TN Valley into the Upper OH Valley over the course of the day, in the flow ahead of an amplifying northern stream trough digging into the Upper MS Valley. As this occurs, a well-defined surface low (initially positioned near the TN River in western/middle TN) will deepen and progress northeastward into eastern KY by 18Z and northern OH by 0Z. A developing surface trough extending southward from the low will shift quickly eastward across the local CWFA (exiting our region by 16Z), with low-level flow veering sharply to WSW in the wake of the trough axis. The synoptic cold front attached to the surface low will likely arrive in NW AL around 17Z and should advance eastward, exiting our region around 22Z. Showers and a few thunderstorms will persist in the moist and weakly unstable prefrontal environment (characterized by MUCAPE up to 300-500 J/kg), but should merely pose a risk for occasional lightning and brief heavy rainfall due to the weak nature of instability. A broad region of light, postfrontal stratiform rain may also clip the northwestern portion of the CWFA early this afternoon, before eroding in coverage from SW-to-NE later today. Regarding the Wind Advisory, although current surface observations suggest that most of the region is below criteria, gradient winds are expected to increase considerably (sustained 25 MPH/gusts 35 MPH) immediately ahead of the synoptic cold front (and will remain strong for several hours in its wake). Thus, we will not make any changes to the advisory at this time. High temperatures in the m-u 60s will occur late this morning, before cold advection begins later this afternoon. && .SHORT TERM... (Tonight through Sunday) Issued at 324 AM CDT Thu Apr 11 2024 Dry air is forecast to move in after the cold front, bringing a return of clear skies and dry weather to the Tennessee Valley to begin the weekend. Lows tonight are forecast to drop into the 40s with breezy, westerly winds up to 20 mph. Gusts pick up Friday afternoon as a 50 kt LLJ on the back side of the upper level trough influences the area. During this time, gusts are forecast to reach around 30 mph, which is below Wind Advisory criteria (35 mph gusts). A warming trend begins as highs go from the 60s today and Friday to the upper 70s on Saturday under the influence of upper level ridging and sfc high pressure. Dry weather is forecast to persist through this time period with mostly clear skies. Overnight lows are forecast to be in the 40s to 50s. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday night through Wednesday) Issued at 324 AM CDT Thu Apr 11 2024 Upper level troughing over SE Canada into the eastern seaboard will continue the process of heading more to east, as upper ridging over the central Great Plains amplifies somewhat. Surface high pressure situated over the Deep South Sunday morning, will gradually build to the east, reaching the southeast coast on Monday. Thus another sunny day starting the new week, with rises in height and thickness values will bring even warmer conditions across the Tennessee Valley. After lows in the mid/upper 50s, high temperatures Sunday under sunny skies should warm into the lower 80s. A tad warmer Sun night with lows mainly in the lower 60s. A southerly flow gradually returning moisture to the region will start bringing more clouds as we go into the new week. Highs Monday under partly cloudy skies should warm once again into the lower 80s. Enough moisture should result in more clouds than sky Tuesday onward. Daytime heating and lift should return to bring lower end shower and thunderstorm chances over our more NW locations Tue afternoon and evening. Similar lower end rain chances are expected, again more over the west and north portions of the area Wednesday and Thursday. But with a warmer southerly flow, and despite the clouds and rain chances, daily high temperatures in the Tue/Wed/Thu timeframe should rise into the lower 80s each day. Lows should range mainly in the lower 60s. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 622 AM CDT Thu Apr 11 2024 As medium-high chances of showers continue to impact the TN Valley through the afternoon/early evening, periods of MVFR to IFR conditions will continue at both KMSL and KHSV. There is a low chance ceilings lowering to LIFR this afternoon at KHSV. Otherwise, winds should increase this morning to gusts around 18-19 kts and continue to gust through the day from the west. These will vary in direction from SW to NW as a front moves through the area. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...Wind Advisory until 5 PM CDT this afternoon for ALZ001>010-016. TN...Wind Advisory until 5 PM CDT this afternoon for TNZ076-096-097. && NEAR TERM...70/DD SHORT TERM...HC LONG TERM...RSB AVIATION...HC
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
At least one report of a tree being knocked over and one power pole/lines being knocked over were received.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, April 2024
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: 1173670.