Dry conditions across north and central Alabama from June into early July led to the onset of Severe (D2) and even Extreme (D3) drought during the latter half of July. However, an increase in rainfall area-wide resulted in marked improvements in drought conditions by the first week of August.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
Dry conditions across north and central Alabama from June into early July led to the onset of Severe (D2) and even Extreme (D3) drought during the latter half of July. However, an increase in rainfall area-wide resulted in marked improvements in drought conditions by the first week of August.
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 31, 11:39 PM CST, 21 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 1239 AM CDT Thu Aug 1 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Thursday) Issued at 1214 PM CDT WED JUL 31 2024 High pressure will remain across the northern Gulf through the short term with west to southwesterly flow across the state. PW values will be near the 90th percentile with instabilities between 3500 and 4500 J/kg. Shear will be slightly higher in the east, though winds across the state won't allow for quick storm motion today. Expect scattered activity, mainly across the southeastern half of the state today where instability is strongest. High temperatures will be in the mid to upper 90s, and with the high moisture, heat indices are expected to be around or slightly above 105 this afternoon. Overnight, activity should weaken after sunset with little to no convection expected by sunrise. Lows overnight will be in the mid to upper 70s, so little relief from the daytime high temps. Thursday, diurnal activity is again expected with the most coverage across the south and east where instabilities will again be stronger. Heat indices will be the same if not slightly higher around 105 -109 degrees, so will keep a Heat Advisory going today through Thursday afternoon at least. With heat indices as high as expected, will need to monitor for a possible upgrade of the advisory today and tomorrow. 24 && .LONG TERM... (Thursday night through next Tuesday) Issued at 343 PM CDT WED JUL 31 2024 The upper ridge will hold on one more day on Friday before moving westward over the Rocky Mountain States. Heat indices will once again rise between 101 and 107 degrees. Isolated to scattered showers and storms will remain possible during the afternoon as an upper trough axis digs southward over the eastern CONUS. A surface front will move southward into the region by Saturday, which will help to trigger additional afternoon showers and storms along and ahead of the front mainly across the southern half of the forecast area. As the front loses upper level support, it should gradually wash out and become less pronounced with time going into the day on Sunday. All attention will then turn toward the Florida Peninsula and the Bahamas Sunday and into early next week. NHC is highlighting that region for possible tropical development as a disturbance moves northwestward. Global guidance solutions are still having a tough time resolving potential tropical development and where a developing system might happen to track. Still many details to iron out, but certainly something for us to keep an eye on through the end of the forecast period. 56/GDG && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1239 AM CDT THU AUG 1 2024 VFR conditions expected for the next 24 hours. A shower or storm is possible this afternoon but too low to mention as it will be more of the typical hit and miss variety. Otherwise look for generally fair weather cumulus with heating. Winds will be light/variable to near calm overnight with light westerly winds 4 to 7 kts in the afternoon. 16 && .FIRE WEATHER... Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible each day with the hot/humid air mass remaining in place through the remainder of the week and into the weekend. We could see a broad/diffuse frontal boundary push southward into our area on Saturday. Otherwise, generally light winds are expected for the next several days with min RHs well above critical values. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 96 73 97 73 / 20 10 30 30 Anniston 93 74 94 74 / 20 10 30 30 Birmingham 96 76 97 75 / 10 10 30 30 Tuscaloosa 97 75 98 76 / 10 10 30 20 Calera 95 75 96 75 / 10 10 30 20 Auburn 94 75 95 75 / 20 10 20 20 Montgomery 97 76 98 77 / 20 10 20 20 Troy 95 74 96 75 / 30 20 20 20 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for the following counties: Autauga-Barbour-Bibb-Blount-Bullock-Calhoun-Chambers- Cherokee-Chilton-Clay-Cleburne-Coosa-Dallas-Elmore-Etowah- Fayette-Greene-Hale-Jefferson-Lamar-Lee-Lowndes-Macon-Marengo- Marion-Montgomery-Perry-Pickens-Pike-Randolph-Russell-Shelby-St. Clair-Sumter-Talladega-Tallapoosa-Tuscaloosa-Walker-Winston. && SHORT TERM...24 LONG TERM....56 AVIATION...16
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 341 AM CDT Wed Jul 31 2024 ALZ011>015-017>050-011145- 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- 341 AM CDT Wed Jul 31 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham. .DAY ONE...Outlook through Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management is not expected at this time.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Dry conditions from June and early July improved by early August, with the county falling below Severe (D2) drought by the second week of the month.
Dry conditions from June and early July improved by early August, with the county falling below Severe (D2) drought by the second week of the month.
Dry conditions from June and early July improved by early August, with the county falling below Severe (D2) drought by the second week of the month.
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, August 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: 1190708, 1190709, 1190710.