A slow-moving storm system brought several inches of rainfall to most of Central Alabama from early morning on February 11 through the evening of February 12. While most areas saw at least 1-2 inches of rain, parts of southern and southeastern Central Alabama recorded as much as 8 inches, especially across parts of Lee, Macon, and Russell counties.
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 BMX wrote it up.
A slow-moving storm system brought several inches of rainfall to most of Central Alabama from early morning on February 11 through the evening of February 12. While most areas saw at least 1-2 inches of rain, parts of southern and southeastern Central Alabama recorded as much as 8 inches, especially across parts of Lee, Macon, and Russell counties. Waves of heavy rainfall resulted in flooding along the Interstate 85 corridor during the afternoon of February 11 and again during the early morning of February 12. More storms formed in western and central parts of the area around midday February 12, ahead of an approaching cold front. A few of these storms produced hail up to penny to quarter size, notably around Tuscaloosa and Hoover, along with sporadic tree damage. After the frontal passage, flooding of large streams and creeks in Russell and Macon counties continued into February 13.
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 Feb 11, 3:23 PM CST, 1 hour 7 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 323 PM CST Sun Feb 11 2024 ...New LONG TERM... .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Monday) Issued at 102 PM CST SUN FEB 11 2024 A deep positively-tilted longwave trough extended from over Wisconsin southwest t over far Northwest Texas. Broad ridging is centered over the Western Caribbean Sea with a broad southwest flow prevailing aloft across the area. A stationary surface boundary extends roughly parallel just southeast of the Interstate 59 corridor from Southern Mississippi northeast into Northern Georgia. This afternoon. A Jet max aloft will move northeast over the Lower Mississippi River Valley Region to our southwest later this afternoon, supporting widespread shower and thunderstorm activity while a closed mid-level low becomes more defined over West-Central Texas. Several shortwave impulses will also arrive from the west, further supporting convective activity. An outflow boundary has pushed south across much of our west and central counties and the boundary is analyzed roughly to the south of the U.S. Highway 80 corridor whereas convergence is indicated between Hattiesburg, MS and Meridian, MS and this convergence zone likely exists extending northwest across our far southwest counties where it becomes rather diffuse near Selma. We are watching some storms across interior Southwest Alabama to the south of our forecast area as they move northeast within the warm sector. Though instability is temporarily reduced across our west and most of our southwest counties at this time, the surface boundary is expected to return northward through the rest of the afternoon, resulting in low- level instability returning in earnest. Heavier convective activity is ongoing to the west over portions of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi and is moving east toward the area, meanwhile activity is developing across the Interior part of Southwest Alabama ahead of that complex of storms. Though initially the Southwest Alabama storms will help to limit southerly flow in the lower levels into our southwest, the activity looks to continue to lift northward, eventually interacting/merging with the convection approaching from the west. Sufficient wind shear exists for storm organization and forcing aloft will support eastward motion. A primary limiting factor will be more marginal instability due to clouds and a cold pool from morning activity, however, as addressed above, this airmass is gradually eroding away at this time across our far southwest with increasing instability expected to expand northeast with time. All severe weather hazards will be possible with best potential west and southwest through the rest of the afternoon. Expect chances for showers and thunderstorms to increase through the afternoon from the southwest, expanding to the north and east through sunset. Though winds are largely out of the north to northwest early this afternoon, southeast flow persists across our southeast counties and will redevelop across much of the area through mid to late afternoon. Highs will range from near 60 far northwest to the mid 70s far south. Tonight. Continued increases in the jet stream aloft with the approaching upper low over the Central Texas/Oklahoma border overnight with more shortwave s moving northeast over the area will support widespread rain with some lingering thunderstorms overnight. Surface low pressure will become more defined and organized to our southwest across Northern Louisiana through the evening and will move northeast along the stalled front paralleling the Interstate 59 corridor. Wind shear will remain sufficient for organized storms with all modes of severe weather possible given sufficient instability, which will remain the limiting factor. Surface convergence along the boundary with the approach of the low pressure system will further promote uplift and may result in locally heavy rainfall in vicinity of the front. A flood watch has been issued for portions of our Central, Eastern and Northeast Counties to account for this potential which will be maximized in urbanized, low-lying and poor-drainage areas. Winds overnight will be from the southeast, eventually converging toward the approaching surface low, with speeds from 5-10 mph. Low temperatures will reflect a thermal gradient along the stationary front with readings in the mid 40s far north while far south areas will experience lows in the mid 60s. Monday. Strong jet dynamics aloft will lift northeast over the area during the day Monday as the upper low moves east over Arkansas through the day. Surface low pressure will move northeast, becoming centered over South-Central Tennessee by midday while a cold front arrives from the west. Areas generally near and south of the Interstate 59 corridor will become warm-sectored after midnight and through much of the morning hours before more stable air pushes in from the west through the area by mid afternoon. A continued risk for heavy rainfall and localized flooding will exist across our East-Central and Northeast Counties through the morning with a continued risk for some severe storms generally near and south of the Interstate 59 corridor, becoming confined to areas east of Interstate 65 by late morning. All modes of severe weather will be possible due to strong wind shear with sufficient instability across this area. Expect widespread showers and some thunderstorms to start the day with the heaviest activity pushing east of the Interstate 65 corridor towards noon and becoming increasingly confined to our eastern counties through the afternoon hours. Lingering showers will remain possible west with persistent clouds expected. Surface winds will shift out of the west and will increase with the cold front's arrival with speeds from 6-12 mph with gusts toward 20 mph possible during the afternoon. High temperatures will range from the low 60s far northwest to the low 70s far southeast. 05 && .LONG TERM... (Monday night through next Saturday) Issued at 307 PM CST SUN FEB 11 2024 Long term forecast is on track this afternoon, with high pressure bringing drier conditions through much of the week. Rain returns last in the week. 14 Previous long-term discussion: (Monday night through next Saturday) Issued at 326 AM CST SUN FEB 11 2024 High pressure builds in across the Gulf States Monday night and will persist through at least Friday morning with generally zonal flow aloft. This should lead to rain-free conditions and mostly clear to partly cloudy skies. Rain chances being to increase again Friday evening through Saturday as our next trough approaches from the west. This next system is expected to ride along the Gulf Coast, which should result in largely stratiform rain, so we have not added mention of thunderstorms in the forecast for next weekend. 25/Owen && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1142 AM CST SUN FEB 11 2024 Expect mid to low clouds to persist over the area with scattered to numerous showers with some thunderstorm activity through this cycle. Cloud bases will be generally between MVFR and IFR criteria mostly while rain showers will affect all terminals. The better potential for isolated thunderstorms will be in vicinity of TCL for the remainder of the afternoon, followed by expanding eastward to include KBHM/KEET overnight into Monday morning, potential is highest in these areas but remains too low to include for this issuance. Thunderstorm potential looks to be higher on Monday across our southern sites of MGM/TOI but that period exists beyond the time range of this cycle. 05 && .FIRE WEATHER... Widespread soaking rains and a few thunderstorms are possible through tomorrow. Afternoon minimum RH values remain above 50 percent tomorrow afternoon. Southerly 20ft winds will be at or less than 10mph today, becoming southwesterly Monday and increasing to 10-15mph. High pressure will bring dry weather back on Tuesday through the end of the forecast period. Minimum RH values will be above 35 percent each afternoon. 20ft winds from the northwest remain elevated at 8-12mph Tuesday, before diminishing Wednesday. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 56 67 36 55 / 90 100 20 0 Anniston 59 69 38 56 / 90 100 20 0 Birmingham 60 68 38 55 / 90 100 20 0 Tuscaloosa 61 67 38 59 / 100 90 10 0 Calera 61 69 38 56 / 90 100 10 0 Auburn 62 70 40 57 / 90 100 10 0 Montgomery 65 72 40 57 / 90 100 10 0 Troy 65 73 40 58 / 90 100 10 0 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch through Monday afternoon for the following counties: Bibb-Blount-Calhoun-Chambers-Cherokee-Chilton-Clay-Cleburne- Coosa-Etowah-Jefferson-Randolph-Shelby-St. Clair-Talladega- Tallapoosa-Tuscaloosa. && SHORT TERM...05 LONG TERM....14 AVIATION...05
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 339 AM CST Sun Feb 11 2024 ALZ011>015-017>050-121245- 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- 339 AM CST Sun Feb 11 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham. .DAY ONE...Outlook through Tonight. There is a risk of heavy rain that could lead to isolated flooding today, especially for areas north of Interstate 20. Strong to severe storms are possible across most of Central AL this evening and through the overnight hours. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Strong to severe storms are possible through Monday morning across all of Central Alabama. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Limited activation of storm spotters and emergency management may be needed today and tomorrow.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
320 PM CST Sun Feb 11 2024
ALZ042-044-112145-
Lowndes AL-Montgomery AL-
320 PM CST Sun Feb 11 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN LOWNDES AND
SOUTHERN MONTGOMERY COUNTIES THROUGH 345 PM CST...
At 319 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Davenport, or 9 miles southeast of Hayneville, moving east at 50 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...
Meadville, Pike Road, Pine Level, Sprague, Sellers, Strata, Dublin,
Davenport, Ramer, Pintlala, Carters Hill, and Letohatchee.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3201 8650 3219 8653 3231 8596 3228 8592
3227 8598 3225 8599 3225 8600 3204 8600
3202 8630 3205 8631 3205 8641 3204 8640
3202 8640
TIME...MOT...LOC 2119Z 261DEG 45KT 3212 8643
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
87/GranthamThe Maxwell AFB radar (KMXX), 26 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:32 UTC.
5 flash flood, 3 flood, 2 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rainfall of up to 3 inches across much of Montgomery County resulted in numerous flooded roadways across Montgomery, Rolling Hills, Pike Road, and Cecil.
Homes along US Highway 80 had water in them after a period of heavy rainfall.
Roads around Smiths Station became impassable after heavy rainfall.
A second round of heavy rainfall overnight resulted in numerous impassable roadways around Beauregard, Auburn, and Opelika.
Numerous county roadways were flooded and impassable after several inches of rainfall overnight.
A thunderstorm produced several reports of penny-size hail around the city of Tuscaloosa. Some of the hail had cylindrical formations, as opposed to spherical.
A fast-moving thunderstorm produced up to just over quarter-size hail across the Shades Mountain area of Hoover.
Several trees were uprooted into roadways in Jefferson County, especially in the Mountain Brook area, where Overton Rd, Cherokee Rd, and Old Leeds Rd were blocked. ASOS station KBHM measured a gust of 40 mph at 3:29 PM CST.
Several trees were uprooted into roadways in Pell City and to the northwest of town, including along Mount Moriah Rd, Trent Ln, Eden Acres, Cogswell Ave, Avondale Dr, and Dickey Dr.
Numerous roadways across the county remained impassable the day after up to eight inches of rain fell in northern Russell County, mainly along flooded creeks and streams.
Montgomery Fire/Rescue performed evacuations of homes surrounded by floodwater along Harmony St and Dumas St. A portion of Hayneville Rd was inaccessible by vehicle. Nearby Catoma Creek crested in moderate flood stage at 26.1 ft around 6 AM CST.
Macon County EMA informed local media about a person requiring a water rescue from a submerged vehicle that entered floodwaters of Uphapee Creek after the driver moved and drove around barricades on Wire Road/Macon County Road 53 at approximately 2:00 AM CST. A river gauge just downstream indicated the creek crested at 27.6 ft around this time.
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, February 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: 1152075, 1152076, 1152081, 1152104, 1152155, 1151853, 1151863, 1151977, 1151976, 1152167, 1152170, 1152156.