An upper-level shortwave moving southward across the South along with an associated surface cold front instigated an outbreak of severe weather across Tennessee and North Alabama. This activity reached Central Alabama by the morning of May 9 in the form of a Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) which affected portions of the state east of I-65 with numerous reports of tree damage.
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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 BMX wrote it up.
An upper-level shortwave moving southward across the South along with an associated surface cold front instigated an outbreak of severe weather across Tennessee and North Alabama. This activity reached Central Alabama by the morning of May 9 in the form of a Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) which affected portions of the state east of I-65 with numerous reports of tree damage. A second wave of activity during the afternoon saw several developing supercells over the central and western part of the state, producing several instances of wind damage, hail, and flooding. Up to 4-inch hail fell in the Blount County community of Holly Springs. This activity congealed into a bow echo which heavily affected portions of Elmore, Tallapoosa, Macon, and Barbour counties with many trees and power lines downed. Another MCS passed through southern portions of Central Alabama overnight, resulting in more tree damage in Marengo and Barbour counties.
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 May 9, 6:02 AM CST, 1 hour 6 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 702 AM CDT Thu May 9 2024 ...New AVIATION... .MESOSCALE UPDATE FOR SEVERE WEATHER THROUGH LATE MORNING... Issued at 418 AM CDT THU MAY 9 2024 A Mesoscale Convective System was moving southeast across Northern Mississippi and much of Southern Tennessee. The overall storm motion was southeast around 30 mph with a quick storm track projecting arrival times near 6:30 am for Gadsden, 7:00 am for Birmingham and 7:30 am for the Anniston metro areas. Further west, the arrival times for activity is more uncertain as activity is moving more eastward over the Mid-South Region. Locally, showers have rapidly developed over the past 30 minutes, likely in response to the arrival of 100 kt winds at 200 mb progged by the RAP 13 km model currently. This activity is expected to continue to develop and move east-northeast in the established low-level flow from the southwest in the 700 mb - 925 mb layer. A defined shortwave trough at 500 mb was analyzed by mesoscale modeling over North-Central Louisiana and is progged to move northeast over the area later this morning, further supporting additional convective activity. The environment is very supportive of continued convective activity as the 09/00z BMX sounding from last night contained nearly 3500 J/kg of SBCAPE that fed the intense storms over the Tennessee Valley Region. Mesoscale data suggests current instability values are a bit lower, typical for this time of day with the forecast low temperatures occurring, with values from 1600-2000 across the west and northwest portions of the area while lower instability values found across the far east/southeast. 0-6 km Bulk Shear values range from around 40 kts over North Alabama to near 50 kts over the southern portion of the area. These values are sufficient to support storm organization and persistence, of which already a few heavier showers ahead of the heavy convection moving southeast are exhibiting deviant storm motions with a storm split that recently occurred over Northeast Marshall County. Through late morning, we will be monitoring the progress of the MCS as it continues to move generally southeast into the forecast area. We will be closely watching shower activity that is expected to continue to develop and move northeast. This activity will have the potential to further develop into thunderstorms as it traverses the unstable and sufficiently sheared environment. Discrete mature convection ahead of the MCS will have the best potential of producing tornado activity along with damaging winds being a secondary risk. The MCS itself will have the best potential for producing damaging winds, though an embedded tornado or two will remain possible. 05 && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Friday) Issued at 115 AM CDT THU MAY 9 2024 Key Messages: - A Mesoscale Convective System dives southeast into the area before sunrise and push southeast through the morning and into the afternoon hours. While gradually weakening in the morning, it may re-intensify before it exists our southeast counties late morning into the afternoon. Damaging winds will be the primary risk, with large hail and a few tornadoes being possible as well. - Some thunderstorms may redevelop across North-Central Alabama late afternoon into the early evening that will have large hail potential, this risk will decrease in the evening as another MCS approaches our south-central counties from the west. - The second MCS appears to track a touch to the north of the previous forecast, so the severe chances have increased across the southern areas. Damaging winds will be the primary risk, with large hail and a few tornadoes being possible as well. We will be watching a MCS that is currently across western TN. This MCS should dive southeast into the area before sunrise and push southeast through the morning and into the afternoon hours. While gradually weakening in the morning, it may re-intensify before it exists our southeast counties late morning into the afternoon. There may be a line of showers and storms that develops as well and will merge with this first area. Highest confidence right now would be with the MCS to or northwest moving down and then spreading out. Damaging winds will be the primary risk, with large hail and a few tornadoes being possible as well, especially if there is a merge of lines. There will be a brief lull before the next system moves in. Conditions are shaping up for a secondary round of strong to severe thunderstorms late tonight through Friday morning. This activity will likely develop along the cold front which will be nearly parallel to I-20 as a mid-level shortwave quickly moves east across the area. The airmass will still be very warm and unstable south of the front with dewpoints in the lower to mid 70s and steep 7.5-8 C/km lapse rates leading to large CAPE profiles (MLCAPE ~3500 J/kg). Shear values will be amplified by the mid- level speedmax/shortwave which will result in eff. bulk shear values around 60 kts. This environment will foster intense convection to our west which will rapidly grow into a large MCS with damaging wind potential maximized along embedded bowing segments as the system moves east, across the southern portions of Central Alabama early Friday morning. There are questions regarding how far north the threat extends given the uncertain position of the front and remnant cold pool from the line of convection this morning/afternoon which could suppress the greatest risk to the southern third of the area. Anything that develops south of the cold front will have the potential to become severe given the moist, unstable environment. Damaging winds are by far the primary threat, but intense updrafts may lead to large hail in the Enhanced risk area. The cluster of storms will begin to exit the area around 7 AM Friday morning as the cold front continues to push south through the area, bringing a much more pleasant airmass to the region. && .LONG TERM... (Friday night through next Wednesday) Issued at 245 AM CDT THU MAY 9 2024 Dry conditions return Friday night as the system exits to our east. Humidity will be lower on Saturday with highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s under sunny skies. A mid-level ridge will move across the area over the weekend as an upper-level low transitions from the Four Corners to the Central Plains. Deep moisture returns on Monday, with an increasing potential for another period of rainy and stormy conditions through the early part of next week as a warm front lifts north across the region. 16 && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 702 AM CDT THU MAY 9 2024 Almost all sites have already dropped to MVFR ahead of the next round of showers/storms. We may briefly see sites drop to IFR before the band gets in, especially at TOI. The biggest impact should be the storms as they move into the northern TAF sites within the next hour or two. This round will slide south of the northern sites by 16 to 18z and out of the southern sites by 19 to 21z. Conditions will improve to VFR for most of the rest of the cycle, but begin to decrease at TCL by 3z ahead of the next round of showers and storms along a cold front. Looks like the main impact here will be between 6 and 12z. 16 && .FIRE WEATHER... Multiple rounds of showers and storms are expected to affect the area through Friday morning. Rainfall amounts will generally range from 1 to 2 inches. A drier airmass will return on Friday as a cold front passes through the area with min RH of 35 to 40 percent on Saturday. 20ft winds will be out of the south- southeast at 8 to 10 kts. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 86 61 78 49 / 100 30 20 0 Anniston 85 64 79 52 / 100 50 30 0 Birmingham 86 64 79 54 / 100 50 20 0 Tuscaloosa 87 66 81 55 / 100 60 20 0 Calera 85 66 80 55 / 100 60 30 0 Auburn 82 69 81 57 / 90 80 50 0 Montgomery 86 69 84 57 / 90 80 50 0 Troy 86 68 83 57 / 90 80 60 0 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...05 LONG TERM....16 AVIATION...16
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 344 AM CDT Thu May 9 2024 ALZ011>015-017>050-101145- 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- 344 AM CDT Thu May 9 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham. .DAY ONE...Outlook through Tonight. Multiple rounds of showers and storms will move through Central Alabama. The first will move through this morning into the afternoon. The second round will move through tonight into the overnight hours ahead of a cold front. Severe storms will be possible with threats including damaging winds up to 60 mph, large hail, and a tornado or two. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management may be needed through early Friday morning.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
643 AM CDT Thu May 9 2024
ALZ011-091230-
Marion AL-
643 AM CDT Thu May 9 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT MARION COUNTY THROUGH 730 AM
CDT...
At 642 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 7 miles southeast of Red Bay to near Tremont to
near Evergreen. Movement was southeast at 35 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...
Hamilton, Haleyville, Hackleburg, Brinn, Weston, Lake Buttahatchee,
Bear Creek, Tessner, Shottsville, Pearces Mill, Rankin Fite Airport,
Upper Bear Creek Reservoir, Byrd, Bexar, Pigeye, Marion County Public
Lake, and Pikeville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for northwestern
and west central Alabama.
&&
LAT...LON 3430 8763 3413 8764 3402 8795 3402 8799
3405 8799 3406 8821 3432 8817
TIME...MOT...LOC 1142Z 314DEG 30KT 3438 8803 3421 8827 3412 8858
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
56Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
704 AM CDT Thu May 9 2024
ALZ028-029-091245-
Clay AL-Randolph AL-
704 AM CDT Thu May 9 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN RANDOLPH AND
SOUTHEASTERN CLAY COUNTIES THROUGH 745 AM CDT...
At 703 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Malone, or 7 miles south of Lake Wedowee, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny 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...
Roanoke, Wedowee, Wadley, Malone, Crystal Lake, Dickert, R.L. Harris
Dam, Napoleon, Tennant, Rock Mills, Big Springs, Motley, Paran,
Roanoke Municipal Airport, Mellow Valley, and Rock Stand.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for east central
Alabama.
&&
LAT...LON 3311 8532 3311 8574 3322 8577 3336 8528
3312 8523
TIME...MOT...LOC 1203Z 257DEG 32KT 3318 8561
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
56Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
718 AM CDT Thu May 9 2024
ALZ014-091300-
Winston AL-
718 AM CDT Thu May 9 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WINSTON COUNTY THROUGH 800 AM
CDT...
At 718 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Ashridge to near Lake Buttahatchee.
Movement was southeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny 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...
Haleyville, Lynn, Arley, Double Springs, Addison, Nauvoo, Houston
Recreational Area, Camp McDowell, Nesmith, Ashbank, Brushy Lake,
Poplar Springs, Ashridge, Falls City, Moreland, Smith Lake, Helicon,
Inmanfield, Sardis, and Corinth Rec Area.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for central and
northwestern Alabama.
&&
LAT...LON 3430 8711 3399 8711 3400 8717 3400 8719
3398 8720 3399 8722 3400 8764 3431 8763
TIME...MOT...LOC 1218Z 299DEG 19KT 3426 8744 3412 8777
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
56Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
732 AM CDT Thu May 9 2024
ALZ036-037-043-091315-
Tallapoosa AL-Coosa AL-Elmore AL-
732 AM CDT Thu May 9 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN ELMORE...CENTRAL
TALLAPOOSA AND SOUTHEASTERN COOSA COUNTIES THROUGH 815 AM CDT...
At 731 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Ten Cedar Estates, or 7 miles southwest of Equality, moving east at
40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny 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...
Alexander City, Dadeville, Camp Hill, Equality, Eclectic, Jacksons'
Gap, Pentonville, Martin Dam, Santuck, Cottage Grove, Titus, Welona,
Ten Cedar Estates, Nixburg, Southern Lake Martin, Dexter, Speed,
Eastern Lake Martin, Western Lake Martin, and Weoka Mills.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3273 8560 3273 8561 3271 8561 3271 8568
3270 8568 3270 8570 3262 8570 3261 8631
3284 8635 3296 8559
TIME...MOT...LOC 1231Z 262DEG 34KT 3271 8622
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
56Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
736 AM CDT Thu May 9 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0611 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 N Leesburg 34.20N 85.77W
05/09/2024 Cherokee AL Emergency Mngr
Tree fell across Ewing Gap Road just north
of Leesburg, blocking the road. Time
estimated by radar.
&&
JHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
748 AM CDT Thu May 9 2024
ALZ029-091330-
Randolph AL-
748 AM CDT Thu May 9 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN RANDOLPH COUNTY
THROUGH 830 AM CDT...
At 748 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Crystal Lake, or over Roanoke, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny 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...
Roanoke, Crystal Lake, Dickert, Rock Mills, Big Springs, Paran,
Roanoke Municipal Airport, and Rock Stand.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for east central
Alabama.
&&
LAT...LON 3311 8553 3324 8555 3331 8527 3311 8523
TIME...MOT...LOC 1248Z 261DEG 19KT 3317 8540
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
56The Maxwell AFB radar (KMXX), 28 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:05 UTC.
23 thunderstorm wind, 14 hail, 4 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Golf ball size hail was reported by real estate management personnel along Lake Martin.
Several trees were downed in the Hayden, Smoke Rise, and Blountsville areas. A fallen tree near Highway 79 and Martin Rd in Blountsville resulted in a traffic accident.
A few trees were downed in the Argo area of Walker County.
Several trees were downed along Markham Dr, N Lake Dr, and Roper Rd in the Clay and Trussville areas.
A few trees were uprooted along I-59, Chandler Mtn Rd, and Mosley Rd in northern St. Clair County.
A few trees were blown down along Ewing Gap Road.
Several trees were downed around Pell City and along I-20 near Leeds. Along Highway 231 south of Pell City, a storage building at a business had metal torn off and wrapped around power lines.
Several trees and a couple power lines were downed in the Lincoln, Munford, and Talladega areas along Patton Chapel Rd, Motes Rd, E Damon Ave, Turner Rd, Watts Rd, and Saddleridge Rd. KASN recorded a gust of 43 mph at 9:25 am CDT.
Several trees were downed around Lineville, some of which were larger in size.
A line of thunderstorms passing northwest to southeast across the county resulted in numerous trees and several power lines being downed across the county. Along County Road 61, a vehicle drove into a downed tree, resulting in an accident.
A couple reports of flooding were received from Sylacauga, including water covering N Norton Ave and an adjacent parking lot at Blue Bell Creameries, which was impeding traffic.
A couple trees were uprooted along Country Road 26 near Wildwood Chapel.
Social media images showed quarter-size hail near Ethelsville.
Social media image of quarter-size hail near the Mississippi state line.
Penny-size hail reported west of Geiger and Panola.
Social media report of quarter-size hail in Carrollton.
Hail covered the ground in the Millport area with the largest hailstones estimated at golf ball size.
A photo of baseball size hail near Kennedy was relayed via social media.
Social media photos were received of large hail at least hen egg size.
A tree fell on a house on 41st St, another tree fell across Woodland Hills Dr, and numerous other trees were downed around the city of Tuscaloosa.
Nickel-size hail was reported in the Cottondale area.
The Highway 31 and Highway 150/Lorna Rd intersection in Hoover was flooded by several inches of water and temporarily closed.
Highway 51 and other secondary roads in the Chelsea area were flooded, with some temporarily impassable.
Several reports of ping pong to golf ball size hail in the Center Point and Clay areas.
Trees were knocked down along Bear Creek Rd in Brent.
Several trees were uprooted along Highway 191.
Hail up to hen egg size was observed in areas of St. Clair County west of Springville.
Social media images from two locations approximately one mile apart showed measured hailstones of 4 to 4.5 inches in diameter in the Holly Springs community.
Several trees were downed in the Fayetteville area.
A 76 mph wind gust was measured on a home weather station along County Road 68. Several lengths of fencing were downed at this location.
Several trees and a few power lines were downed in the Deatsville and Wetumpka areas.
Several trees and a few power lines were downed around the Eclectic and Tallassee areas, one of which fell on a large storage container near Kent. A roof was blown off a building on Sistrunk St in Tallassee as well.
At least two dozen trees were downed and blocking roadways across southern Tallapoosa County, including Cobb Rd, Elkins Rd, and Macedonia Rd. Along Bama Park Rd, a tree fell on a house.
Numerous trees and several power lines were downed in Tuskegee and other parts of Macon County. The front entrance of Tuskegee University along Old Montgomery Rd was damaged by uprooted trees.
Numerous roadways in Auburn and Opelika were flooded. Cars were trapped by floodwater along West Magnolia Ave in Auburn.
Trees were uprooted along Highway 51 and CR 43 in the Clayton area and along Cheneyhatchee Dr and Cottonhill Rd just west of Eufaula.
Ping pong ball-size hail reported near Elmore County EMA office.
Numerous trees were uprooted, resulting in widespread power outages around the Sweet Water area. US 43 near the Marengo/Clarke county line was blocked by trees.
A social media photo confirmed that tennis ball size hail fell along Highway 14 west of Tallassee.
A 62 mph gust was measured at Troy Municipal Airport ASOS station (KTOI) at 3:07 AM CDT.
Numerous trees and power lines were downed in the Eufaula and Clayton areas. A tree fell on an apartment building along Paul Lee Parkway in Eufaula, causing roof and structural damage.
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, May 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: 1167196, 1167194, 1167195, 1167197, 1167198, 1167207, 1167199, 1167202, 1167203, 1167204, 1167205, 1167206, 1167208, 1167210, 1167211, 1167209, 1167213, 1167214, 1167215, 1167221, 1167212, 1167223, 1167224, 1167225, 1167220, 1167226, 1167227, 1167229, 1167228, 1167717, 1167718, 1167719, 1167720, 1167722, 1167723, 1167724, 1167729, 1167725, 1167726, 1167727, and more.