Scattered thunderstorms developed during the afternoon hours, and dissipated shortly after sunset. A couple of the thunderstorms were strong to severe.
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 during the afternoon hours, and dissipated shortly after sunset. A couple of the thunderstorms were strong to severe. One storm knocked down power lines and leaned power poles in northern Madison County, resulting a power outage of about 700 residents.
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 30, 1:38 PM CST, 1 hour 17 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 238 PM CDT Fri Aug 30 2024 ...New NEAR TERM, SHORT TERM... .NEAR TERM... (Remainder of the afternoon and tonight) Issued at 238 PM CDT Fri Aug 30 2024 There have been no significant adjustments to the forecast for the remainder of the afternoon since the update earlier this morning, as current trends in radar data suggest that the coverage of afternoon showers and storms will remain most concentrated across both northwest and northeast AL (with a comparatively lower coverage through the central portion of the CWFA). As a result, temperatures will be warmest in locations that do not experience cloudiness or other impacts from convective precipitation, and may reach or exceed 100F in the Huntsville/Decatur areas once again. A consensus of guidance from the 12Z global models suggests that the 500-mb anticyclone (centered to our immediate east) will begin to weaken overnight in response to gradual amplification of a northern stream trough over the Upper MS Valley, and this will allow for a modest increase in both SW flow aloft and a southerly jet in the low-levels. Outflow-initiated showers and thunderstorms in our region may persist a bit longer into the evening hours under these conditions, and we have maintained a 20-40% POP through 6Z in line with high-res model solutions. Present indications are that lingering evening convection will gradually dissipate after Midnight, with development of patchy fog possible (especially in locations that receive measurable rainfall) between 6-12Z as temps descend into the u60s-l70s. && .SHORT TERM... (Saturday through Monday night) Issued at 238 PM CDT Fri Aug 30 2024 It still appears as if the general synoptic environment will become more conducive for the development of showers and thunderstorms tomorrow, as the subtropical ridge to our east weakens further and gradually migrates toward the southeastern Atlantic Coast. Based on this (and the presence of a moist and sufficiently unstable airmass across the region), we have indicated a medium-high (60-80%) POP tomorrow afternoon, with expectations that initial development will occur a bit earlier than today (16-18Z). Forecast soundings depict thermodynamic profiles similar to the past few days, featuring MLCAPE of 1000-2000 J/kg and steep lapse rates in the low-levels (presuming that temperatures warm quickly into the lower 90s late tomorrow morning). Thus, a few of the stronger afternoon cells will be capable of producing locally damaging microburst winds up to 50-60 MPH. In light of the more favorable synoptic environment, we expect showers and thunderstorms to persist into the evening hours before gradually dissipating early Sunday morning as temps fall into the u60s-l70s. During the day on Sunday, a surface trough/prefrontal wind shift axis is predicted to track southward through the TN Valley and may initiate another round of showers and thunderstorms from late morning into the afternoon hours. Both coverage and intensity of this convection may be muted by widespread morning cloud cover, but we have maintained a 50-60% POP nonetheless, with highest values south of the TN River. Lingering thunderstorm activity south of the TN River will dissipate rather quickly after sunset Sunday evening as a slightly drier airmass begins to spread southward into the region, with temps falling into the m-u 60s for most of the area by Monday morning. It appears as if the leading edge of the true cooler/drier (modified North Pacific) airmass in the wake of the front will not penetrate as far south as our forecast area either Monday or Monday night, and we will retain a low POP for showers and storms across the southeastern portion of the forecast area during this timeframe. && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday through Friday) Issued at 118 AM CDT Fri Aug 30 2024 Shower/storm chances will increase Tuesday as the front stalls south of us. A secondary frontal boundary is forecast to set up north of us Tuesday, bringing increased chances of storms (40-60%) by Tuesday afternoon with the assistance of diurnal heating. This unsettled pattern will continue through the work week, with daily chances (30-60%) of showers/storms. High temperatures during this time are forecast to peak in the mid 80s to low 90s with heat indices in the 90s. Low temperatures are forecast to drop into the 60s to 70s. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1225 PM CDT Fri Aug 30 2024 Diurnal convection has begun to develop across portions of the TN Valley early this aftn, but present indications are that storm coverage later today will be highest across the far northwestern and northeastern portions of the forecast area. Thus, with low confidence in impacts at either HSV or MSL, we have not included any TEMPO groups in the 18Z TAFs. However, similar to yesterday, amendments and AWWs (for lightning/wind gusts) may be required on short notice. Away from storms, VFR conditions will exist with few-sct high-based Cu and an increasing coverage of Ci. A few outflow-driven showers and storms may linger beyond 0Z and into the late evening hours, but a general trend of decreasing coverage is anticipated overnight. Patchy BR/FG may also develop in a few locations btwn 6-13Z (particularly those that receive rainfall), but vsby reductions have not been introduced at this point. Lgt SSW flow will resume by 15Z, with redevelopment of a few SHRA/TSRA possible prior to the end of the valid TAF period. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && NEAR TERM...70/DD SHORT TERM...70/DD LONG TERM...HC AVIATION...70/DD
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
333 PM CDT Fri Aug 30 2024
ALZ003-302100-
Franklin AL-
333 PM CDT Fri Aug 30 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY
THROUGH 400 PM CDT...
At 333 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Belgreen, or 12 miles southwest of Russellville, moving southeast at
5 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...
Hodges, Duketon, Spruce Pine, Atwood, and Little Bear Creek
Reservoir.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3447 8791 3441 8770 3431 8776 3431 8799
3436 8804
TIME...MOT...LOC 2033Z 308DEG 6KT 3440 8791
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
RADSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
335 PM CDT Fri Aug 30 2024
ALZ001-002-302115-
Lauderdale AL-Colbert AL-
335 PM CDT Fri Aug 30 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL LAUDERDALE AND
SOUTHWESTERN COLBERT COUNTIES THROUGH 415 PM CDT...
At 335 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Cherokee, or 10 miles west of Tuscumbia, moving southeast at 5 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...
Sheffield, Tuscumbia, Cherokee, Red Rock, Posey Loop, Pride Landing,
New Bethel, Crooked Oak, Colbert Heights, and Barton.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3483 8784 3468 8762 3457 8780 3457 8786
3458 8791 3470 8803
TIME...MOT...LOC 2035Z 308DEG 6KT 3468 8789
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
RADSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
348 PM CDT Fri Aug 30 2024
ALZ003-302115-
Franklin AL-
348 PM CDT Fri Aug 30 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY
THROUGH 415 PM CDT...
At 348 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles south of Red Bay, moving north at 10 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...
Red Bay, Vina, and Halltown.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3437 8817 3447 8815 3447 8805 3432 8800
3432 8817
TIME...MOT...LOC 2048Z 176DEG 7KT 3433 8813
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
RADThe Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 102 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:53 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A power pole was knocked over at 8895 Mt. Mills Street. Time was estimated from radar.
Lots of power line down or leaning in Hazel Green.
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: 1212659, 1212658.