Scattered thunderstorms erupted during the mid afternoon hours in north central Alabama, which moved southeast and formed into a broken line of strong to severe thunderstorms into the late afternoon hours across northeastern Alabama. Some of the thunderstorms became severe, producing damaging wind and small 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 erupted during the mid afternoon hours in north central Alabama, which moved southeast and formed into a broken line of strong to severe thunderstorms into the late afternoon hours across northeastern Alabama. Some of the thunderstorms became severe, producing damaging wind and small hail. Portions of Dekalb county were hit the hardest with fairly widespread damaging winds near and north of the Fort Payne area.
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 Aug 16, 12:07 PM CST, 3 hours 27 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 107 PM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024 ...New NEAR TERM, SHORT TERM... .NEAR TERM... (Tonight) Issued at 106 PM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024 Active afternoon of weather is on tap for the Tennessee Valley as a cold front approaches the area from the north and west. This feature will serve as a lifting mechanism for showers and thunderstorms later this afternoon and into the early portions of the evening hours. Good heating this morning has warmed temperatures into the low to mid 90s as of 18z and they will continue to climb another 2-4 degrees this afternoon. SBCAPE values of 2500-3500 J/kg have evolved, with no capping inversion. Mid-level dry air and an inverted-v sounding profile would favor an environment favorable wet microbursts or line segments (though bulk and effective shear values remain fairly modest and around 20-30 kts at most). Main timing of this still appears to be 19-01z this evening, with PoPs generally in the medium category (40-60%) through 01-02z. Precipitation chances will wane quickly with the setting sun, but would think that cloud cover may be slower to clear this evening, resulting in a mostly cloudy sky. Some partial clearing may allow for localized patchy fog in areas that see locally heavier downpours. Otherwise, it'll just be a warm/humid night with lows in the mid 70s. && .SHORT TERM... (Saturday through Monday) Issued at 106 PM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024 We remain in an active pattern as the cold front will be slow to move across the Tennessee Valley and another shortwave rotates around the parent low over the meandering over Great Lakes. Hi-Res guidance continues to highlight the next impulse and associated convection to move through the region mid/late morning into the early afternoon (14-18z). Instability parameters won't be quite as high given the morning cloud cover, but would anticipate at least 1000-2000 J/kg of SBCAPE to go along with 20-30 kts of bulk shear, allowing for a marginal threat for a few strong to severe storms. Low confidence in an additional round of convection late Saturday afternoon and evening -- all dependent on the timing of the first round and how quickly we can recover. The aforementioned boundary will sag further to the south into central Alabama on Sunday, but with yet another shortwave traversing the area, low to medium chances (20-40%) for afternoon showers and storms seemed warranted once again. A few of these storms could be locally strong to severe during the peak heating of the afternoon. The upper trough will pivot into the central Appalachians and Mid Atlantic on Monday, with northerly flow ushering in a cooler and drier air mass bringing an end to the rain chances and a break from 90s temperatures as highs Monday will only peak in the mid to upper 80s. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday through Thursday) Issued at 357 AM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024 Consensus guidance from the 16/00Z suite of global models suggests that a mid-level longwave trough will become established across eastern North America early in the period, with moderately strong NNW flow aloft predicted to remain in place across the TN Valley through the middle of next week. At the surface, an area of low pressure will shift east-northeastward across southern Quebec and into western New England on Sunday/Sunday night, with the trailing cold front expected to cross the CWFA at some point Sunday afternoon. Thus, a low-medium (20-40%) chance for showers and a few thunderstorms has been maintained in the grids through late Sunday morning. Although some wrap-around stratus clouds may impact the northeastern portion of the region on Sunday night/Monday (in the wake of the departing cyclone), probabilities for any light rain showers or sprinkles remain very low (5-10%). Light-moderate N-NE flow will advect a cooler/drier continental airmass southward early next week, with highs falling into the m-u 80s for most of the region beginning Monday, and lows dropping into the u50s-l60s Tuesday morning (and perhaps m-u 50s Wednesday morning). Present indications are that low- level ESE flow will return Wednesday night as a subtle surface trough retrogrades westward across the region, and this will allow for a minor increase in both low-level moisture and chances for showers on Thursday. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1202 PM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024 A front will bring SHRA/TSRA to the area this afternoon which may result in MVFR to localized IFR conditions between 19-00z (have handled this with a TEMPO mention for now). AWWs and amendments may be needed during this timeframe. Convection will wane after sunset, but MVFR ceilings may persist for much of the night. Saturday morning, a second round of TSRA may push through the area and have added a PROB30 to account for this. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...Heat Advisory until 5 PM CDT this afternoon for ALZ001>007-016. TN...Heat Advisory until 5 PM CDT this afternoon for TNZ096. && NEAR TERM...AMP SHORT TERM....AMP LONG TERM....70 AVIATION...AMP
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
328 PM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024
TNZ097-162115-
Franklin TN-
328 PM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL FRANKLIN COUNTY
THROUGH 415 PM CDT...
At 328 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles south of Monteagle, or 11 miles west of Jasper, moving
southeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts in excess of 30 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Decherd, Cowan, Sewanee, St. Andrews, and Sherwood.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3522 8587 3522 8586 3501 8587 3520 8607
3528 8593 3528 8591
TIME...MOT...LOC 2028Z 302DEG 15KT 3512 8581
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
RADSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
334 PM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024
ALZ009-TNZ097-162100-
Jackson AL-Franklin TN-
334 PM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL JACKSON AND
SOUTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES THROUGH 400 PM CDT...
At 334 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles southeast of Cowan, or 13 miles southeast of Winchester, moving
east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Winchester, Cowan, Anderson, Bass, and Sherwood.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3513 8587 3499 8586 3499 8583 3488 8587
3505 8612 3520 8611
TIME...MOT...LOC 2034Z 267DEG 16KT 3505 8595
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
RADSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
339 PM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024
ALZ006-009-162130-
Madison AL-Jackson AL-
339 PM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN JACKSON AND
NORTHEASTERN MADISON COUNTIES THROUGH 430 PM CDT...
At 339 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles southeast of New Market, or 12 miles east of Moores Mill,
moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Scottsboro, Skyline, Pleasant Groves, Hytop, Princeton, Trenton, and
Hollytree.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3467 8605 3477 8634 3479 8639 3491 8639
3491 8634 3490 8604
TIME...MOT...LOC 2039Z 286DEG 18KT 3484 8631
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
HCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
345 PM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024
ALZ006-009-TNZ096-097-162130-
Madison AL-Jackson AL-Franklin TN-Lincoln TN-
345 PM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN JACKSON...
NORTHEASTERN MADISON...SOUTHEASTERN LINCOLN AND SOUTHWESTERN FRANKLIN
COUNTIES THROUGH 430 PM CDT...
At 345 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Huntland, or 15 miles northeast of Moores Mill, moving southeast at
15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Huntland, New Market, Lincoln, Plevna, Jericho, Elora, Belleview,
Maxwell, Larkin, and Smithland.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3512 8633 3513 8631 3500 8596 3484 8641
3507 8664 3513 8637 3512 8636 3514 8635
TIME...MOT...LOC 2045Z 297DEG 14KT 3501 8633
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
RADSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
359 PM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024
ALZ009-TNZ097-162145-
Jackson AL-Franklin TN-
359 PM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL JACKSON AND
SOUTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES THROUGH 445 PM CDT...
At 359 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles south of Cowan, or 14 miles west of Bridgeport, moving
southeast at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Bridgeport, Skyline, Anderson, Hytop, Bass, Jericho, Russell Cave
National Monument, and Sherwood.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3482 8611 3502 8618 3516 8587 3515 8586
3499 8586 3499 8572 3494 8568
TIME...MOT...LOC 2059Z 317DEG 8KT 3500 8597
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
RADSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
410 PM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024
ALZ006-009-162145-
Madison AL-Jackson AL-
410 PM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL JACKSON AND EAST
CENTRAL MADISON COUNTIES THROUGH 445 PM CDT...
At 410 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Gurley, or 9 miles southeast of Moores Mill, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Huntsville, Gurley, Woodville, Pleasant Groves, Paint Rock,
Maysville, Trenton, Garth, Ryland, and Hampton Cove.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3460 8625 3460 8631 3459 8630 3458 8631
3465 8653 3483 8648 3484 8641 3475 8619
TIME...MOT...LOC 2110Z 281DEG 14KT 3474 8642
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
HCThe Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 34 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:34 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was reported down on CR 101 at this location.
Trees were blown down near CR 114 and CR 85 in Henagar.
Trees were reported dwon near CR 610 and CR 85 near the bottom of Sand Mountain.
Trees were reported down near Pine Ridge.
Trees were reported down near Fyffe. Time was estimated from radar.
Trees were reported twisted and snapped with power lines entragled on CR 329 between highway 75 and 227. Time was estimated from radar.
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: 1208920, 1208913, 1208921, 1208917, 1208919, 1208918.