Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms developed along and ahead of a boundary moving east across northern Alabama and southern middle Tennessee. Some of these storms produced sporadic wind damage in Morgan county, AL along with a funnel cloud in southwestern Limestone county.
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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 strong to severe thunderstorms developed along and ahead of a boundary moving east across northern Alabama and southern middle Tennessee. Some of these storms produced sporadic wind damage in Morgan county, AL along with a funnel cloud in southwestern Limestone county.
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 Jul 21, 7:55 AM CST, 3 hours 20 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 855 AM CDT Sun Jul 21 2024 ...New NEAR TERM... .NEAR TERM... (Rest of Today) Issued at 855 AM CDT Sun Jul 21 2024 A generally unsettled wx pattern will continue across the central TN Valley thru the afternoon hrs this Sun, as a broad upper trough axis drops southward into the Mid South region and a weak frontal boundary located over mid TN SW into the lower MS Valley drifts SE into NW AL. While deep layer shear remains minimal, the persistent influx of Gulf moisture into the local area will help maintain sct showers/tstms in the forecast later today. Identifying specific locations for rainfall development remains uncertain, although PWs near 1.50in coupled with SBCAPE values near 2K J/kg may allow for some efficient rain with the heavier showers/tstms. Given the spread of rainfall/associated cloud cover, afternoon temps may struggle to surpass the upper 80s/near 90F. && .SHORT TERM... (Tonight through Tuesday Night) Issued at 144 AM CDT Sun Jul 21 2024 Expect another diurnal decline in showers and thunderstorms this evening with loss of daytime heating. The weather pattern does not change much over the next few days. So similarly, will keep medium chances going Monday with highs again in the middle 80s to around 90. The models indicate an incoming shortwave and 8h and 5h flow increasing a bit by Tuesday. Thus, coverage of showers and thunderstorms will go up over the area, especially during peak heating. Thus, have kept the categorical/high chances in for Tuesday. Some training of showers and thunderstorms may occur on Tuesday as well with unidirectional flow, which could elevate the risk of excessive rain in some cases. Temperatures will also be tempered a bit by more expansive rain and cloud cover, so have kept highs in the lower to middle 80s. && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday through Saturday) Issued at 144 AM CDT Sun Jul 21 2024 A lower level southerly flow from the Gulf of Mexico will continue to feed deep lower level moisture across much of the SE CONUS this week. This moisture and precipitable water amounts staying around 2", will help continue an unsettled weather pattern. Daytime heating of this moist atmosphere will produce higher instability values, especially in the afternoon, and lead to showers and thunderstorms. Have stayed with a similar forecast as the past couple of days, with the higher rain chances in the afternoon and evening. But have also trimmed PoPs that are too high for convection without a focus for development or a more organized system. PoPs that were categorical (75-100%) were lowered into the likely (55-74%) range. Overall storm strength with weak focusing areas should remain "general", with the usual gusty outflow winds, heavy downpours, and lightning. In the past, have seen electrically active storms in such moist environments. With more clouds than sun and a moist atmosphere, daily high temperatures for the period should remain below seasonable norms. Highs on Wed/Thu should only warm into the low/mid 80s, mid/upper 80s Fri, and upper 80s near 90 on Sat. Lows will cool into the upper 60s to lower 70s. For reference, normal high/low temperatures for this period are around 92/71 degrees. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 627 AM CDT Sun Jul 21 2024 For the start of this TAF, VFR weather prevailed over/near KMSL, while IFR (500-1000 ft AGL) CIGS were over KHSV and most points east. These low clouds should slowly mix, with CIGS becoming MVFR in a couple hours, then VFR before noon. Mixing and heating of this moist environment will result in greater instability, and bring sct SHRA/TSRA mainly this afternoon. Given the track of upper disturbances from the SW, have kept in a mention of showers for KHSV, with points west staying drier. Shower activity that forms should dissipate this evening. Some of the guidance was suggesting low clouds and/or fog forming late in the TAF. Confidence was not high enough to include it in this issuance. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && NEAR TERM...09 SHORT TERM....17 LONG TERM....RSB AVIATION...RSB
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 105 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:13 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
A funnel cloud was photographed at Lucy's Branch Marina. From the photograph, it looked like it was possibly over Wheeler Reservoir.
A tree was reported down across the roadway at this location.
A tree was reported down across the road at West Chapel Hill Road and Old Moulton Road.
A tree was knocked down and blocking the roadway on Sharp Ford Road at this location. Time was estimated by 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, July 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: 1208164, 1202331, 1202337, 1202335.