Strong Wind in Alabama, January 8 to 9, 2024

Name: Strong Wind in Alabama, January 8 to 9, 2024
Start: 2024-01-08T19:00
End: 2024-01-09T04:00
Location: Alabama

January 8 to 9, 2024 · NWS HUN · 6 events in 5 counties and zones

Strong and gusty southeast non-thunderstorm or pressure gradient winds developed as a wave of showers and thunderstorms moved through the region. Frequent gusts of 40 to 50 mph were observed, resulting in numerous trees being knocked down in a few areas of north Alabama.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $140,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS HUN wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

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 Jan 8, 5:53 PM CST, 1 hour 7 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 8, 5:53 PM CST, 1 hour 7 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
553 PM CST Mon Jan 8 2024

...New AVIATION...

.NEAR TERM...
(Tonight)
Issued at 111 PM CST Mon Jan 8 2024

Dry low levels continues to thwart precipitation as upper level
diffluence increases over the lower MS and TN valleys. However, as
UVVs continue to increase and southerly flow advects deeper
moisture northward, rain showers are expected to expand and
overspread the area this evening from southwest to northeast. The
pressure gradient and forecast low level winds all point to a
widespread wind event overnight. Gusts of 40-50 mph are likely to
occur, especially in the higher elevations. A few of the highest
Plateau elevations in northeast AL and Franklin County TN could
reach 55 mph. The other mesoscale feature to watch here will be
the fact that the winds will be southeasterly, which cut across
our terrain which may locally enhance downslope gusts in our
valleys (i.e. Sand Valley, TN Valley, downslope of the Cumberland
Plateau in TN and north AL, and other smaller coves/valleys). We
will be monitoring these trends closely for a possible upgrade to
a High Wind Warning. Concerns for excessive rainfall are not
terribly high given the latest QPF of 1-1.5 inches over much of
the northwest half of our forecast area. The heaviest rain
corridor has been forecast over our southeast counties and points
southeast where 2-3 inches are expected. The progressive nature of
the cold front should push the heaviest precipitation out of our
central and western counties before daybreak.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Tuesday through Thursday)
Issued at 111 PM CST Mon Jan 8 2024

Lingering post frontal stratiform or showers will exit our eastern
counties by 16-17Z. After a brief lull in windy conditions, mixing
will elevate winds/gusts again Tuesday midday into the afternoon
hours. These winds will not be nearly as strong as tonight, but
gusts of 30-35 mph look attainable. Strong cold advection will
steepen low level lapse rates to support wraparound precipitation
development by late Tuesday afternoon and evening. A few wet
snowflakes will mix in, but air and ground temperatures will not
support accumulations. This system will be very transient and will
not have a deep lasting cold intrusion. Thus, temperatures will
modify quickly Wednesday (highs in the 40s) and especially on
Thursday (highs in the 50s). Just in time for the next southwest
U.S. winter storm to take shape and start advancing into the
region.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Thursday night through Sunday)
Issued at 348 AM CST Mon Jan 8 2024

Our next storm system and chance for precipitation will come
quickly as a fast-moving upper-trough swings from the ArkLaTex
Thursday night into the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys Friday
and Friday night. High chances (70-90%) for rain showers and some
thunderstorms are in the forecast once again during this timeframe.
Given the recent heavy rainfall, additional rises on rivers,
creeks, and streams may occur due to moderate to locally heavy
rainfall from this system. Depending on the timing and evolution
of this system, the environment could favor a few strong storms.
This is something we will watch in the coming days. We will dry
out Friday night into Saturday as a modified arctic air mass
arrives in wake of the front passage. This will mean cooler
weather for the upcoming weekend with highs in the low to mid 40s
and lows in the low to mid 20s.

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 553 PM CST Mon Jan 8 2024

Less than ideal conditions for aviation are expected over the next
24 hours. A strong storm system will bring heavy rain, embedded
thunderstorms, and strong winds to the area beginning now through
the end of the TAF period. Southeasterly wind gusts as high as
40kts cannot be ruled out during the overnight period, and winds
will stay elevated as they veer to the southwest on Tuesday.
Reductions to IFR to LIFR conditions will become likely by 06-09z
and persist through the early morning hours before cigs slowly
rise back to MVFR and vsbys from heavy rain improve. Amendments
may be needed as this is an evolving forecast.

&&

.HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...Wind Advisory until midnight CST Tuesday night for ALZ001>010-
     016.

TN...Wind Advisory until midnight CST Tuesday night for TNZ076-096-
     097.

&&

NEAR TERM...17
SHORT TERM....17
LONG TERM....AMP
AVIATION...25

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Jackson

When: January 8, 7:00 PM CST to January 9, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.779, -85.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong and gusty southeast winds, with frequents gusts over 40 mph and at times near 50 mph, resulted in trees being knocked down or uprooted in at least 12 different locations in central and western Jackson County. There were also two reports of power lines being knocked down, which resulted in power outages in some of these areas.

Strong Wind, Lauderdale

When: January 8, 8:00 PM CST to January 9, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Lauderdale forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 34.901, -87.654 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong and gusty southeast winds, with frequents gusts over 40 mph and at times near 50 mph, resulted in trees being knocked down in at least 12 different locations in the county. Several of these trees were blocking roadways and at least one also brought down power lines.

Strong Wind, Jackson

When: January 8, 8:00 PM CST to January 9, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.779, -85.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong and gusty southeast winds, with frequents gusts over 35 mph and at times near 50 mph, resulted in a few reports of metal roof damage of outbuildings or barns, and roof damage of a few residences.

Strong Wind, Colbert

When: January 8, 9:00 PM CST to January 9, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Colbert forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $40,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 34.700, -87.805 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong and gusty southeast winds, with frequents gusts over 40 mph and at times near 50 mph, resulted in trees being knocked down in at least 15 different locations in the county. There were reports of 4 power poles leaned over or knocked down and at least one location where power lines were also knocked down. A non-specified number of power outages were reported.

Strong Wind, Morgan

When: January 8, 9:00 PM CST to January 9, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Morgan forecast zone
Measured: 48 kt (55 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $35,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 34.454, -86.853 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A large tree noted as 65 years old was uprooted onto a home at the 1100 block of Pleasant County Road in Falkville. The tree heavily damaged the home's roof over the kitchen area.

Strong Wind, Madison

When: January 8, 9:00 PM CST to January 9, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Measured: 49 kt (56 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 34.763, -86.550 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A large tree was uprooted and landed onto a home on Allison Drive Southeast. Based upon a photo, the home sustained significant damage to the roof and home on its northeast side facing the tree.

What these are

Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alabama in 2024 Every state in 2024 This day in weather history Warnings in Alabama, January 2024

Sources

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: 1159306, 1159285, 1159308, 1159275, 1159295, 1159302.