After much needed rainfall came across Central Alabama in late July and early August, another dry spell across Central Alabama again worsened drought conditions, with Severe (D2) conditions re-emerging by early September. Abundant rainfall associated with the remnants of Hurricane Francine on September 11-15 brought conditions below D2 status in most counties by September 17.
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.
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.
After much needed rainfall came across Central Alabama in late July and early August, another dry spell across Central Alabama again worsened drought conditions, with Severe (D2) conditions re-emerging by early September. Abundant rainfall associated with the remnants of Hurricane Francine on September 11-15 brought conditions below D2 status in most counties by September 17. However, D2 conditions persisted across Lamar and Pickens counties through the end of the month.
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 Aug 31, 11:48 PM CST, 12 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 1248 AM CDT Sun Sep 1 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (Tonight through Monday) Issued at 706 PM CDT SAT AUG 31 2024 Showers and storms got an early start today as convection developed along yesterdays outflows. The instability was just enough to overcome weak high pressure and get storms going in most locations. The convection has subsequently stabilized the lower levels. Therefore, only small chances of rain the next few hours as residual boundaries interact with spotty pockets of instability. The main surface boundary will remain north of Alabama into Sunday. But a remnant surface boundary/trough will enter northern areas overnight into Sunday an then weakens. Moisture pools in the northwest two thirds of the area on Sunday bringing scattered to numerous convection there by afternoon. No changes planned to the ongoing forecast. 75 Previous short-term discussion: (This evening through Sunday) Issued at 120 PM CDT SAT AUG 31 2024 Scattered to widespread activity will continue to move through area through the evening, with a few models keeping activity through the early night. PW values are max for this time of year, a little over 2 inches, with higher values in the western half of the area. Decent instabilities and light shear across the entire area will allow these storms to be more pulse type, slow moving, heavy rain producers, with a risk for frequent lightning and damaging downburst winds. DCAPE values are higher in the southeastern quarter of the area where drier mid level air can be seen in the soundings, with a greater risk for downburst winds in any storms that can strengthen. Localized flooding could be a factor in poor drainage areas with these storms producing several inches an hour. Overnight, light scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms could continue through the early night, though all activity is expected to weaken and move east by midnight. A frontal boundary will approach the northwestern counties by sunrise, with this boundary moving southeast through the day Sunday. Instabilities will be between 1500 to 2500 J/kg with DCAPE values similar to today with higher values in the southeast. Scattered convection could start developing as early as mid morning in the northwest, with activity expected area wide by the early afternoon. Strong storms are possible with downburst winds the main threat. 24 && .LONG TERM... (Sunday night through next Friday) Issued at 308 PM CDT SAT AUG 31 2024 A front should be draped across the Tennessee Valley on Monday, resulting in a north-south moisture gradient. While upper-level lift looks to be displaced from our area, at least isolated afternoon to evening showers and storms are forecast. Through the rest of the week, regional flow will vary in relation to upstream troughing and downstream ridging. This will cause periods of increased moisture for much of central Alabama along with occasional surges of lower dewpoint air for east/northeast Alabama. In all, spells of showers and thunderstorms are expected through the end of the 7-day forecast/Friday. Increased cloudiness and precipitation will temper high temperatures after Monday. 89^GSatterwhite && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1245 AM CDT SUN SEP 1 2024 Most of the lingering storms have dissipated. Will watch out for some patchy fog right around sunrise. Models have indicated this for the past few days where it has not occurred, but did continue a small MVFR period at a few sites. Winds will be calm to light and variable through the morning and north to northwest around 5 to 7 kts by the afternoon. Look for more isolated to scattered showers/storms this afternoon at TAF sites, generally around 20z to 02z. Better rain chances will be north of the area. NOTE: NIL TAF at KANB until further notice due to large comms issue and missing obs. 16 && .FIRE WEATHER... Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected over the coming days alongside RH values remaining above critical thresholds. 20-foot winds should switch from southerly on Saturday to northerly on Sunday, though there may be some variability at times, especially in and near showers and thunderstorms. Wind speeds will average less than 10 mph, except higher in and near showers and thunderstorms. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 92 68 91 67 / 60 30 20 10 Anniston 91 69 91 70 / 50 30 30 10 Birmingham 92 70 92 71 / 60 30 20 10 Tuscaloosa 92 70 93 71 / 50 30 20 10 Calera 92 71 92 72 / 50 30 20 10 Auburn 94 72 93 72 / 30 20 40 30 Montgomery 96 72 96 73 / 30 20 40 20 Troy 94 70 95 71 / 20 10 40 30 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...75 LONG TERM....89^GSatterwhite AVIATION...16
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 244 AM CDT Sat Aug 31 2024 ALZ011>015-017>050-011045- 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- 244 AM CDT Sat Aug 31 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham. .DAY ONE...Outlook through Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management is not expected at this time.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
716 PM CDT Sat Aug 31 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0307 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 ENE Twin 34.01N 87.84W
08/30/2024 Marion AL Public
The general manager of the Holiday Inn hotel
shared images of damage to the building
involving the cornice. A section of the
cornice was blown apart.
&&
GMSThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Drought level began September at Severe (D2) and persisted through the end of the month.
Drought level began September at Severe (D2) before moisture from Hurricane Francine improved conditions.
Drought level increased to Severe (D2) in early September before moisture from Hurricane Francine improved conditions.
Drought level increased to Severe (D2) in early September before moisture from Hurricane Francine improved conditions.
Drought level increased to Severe (D2) in early September before moisture from Hurricane Francine improved conditions.
Drought level increased to Severe (D2) in early September before moisture from Hurricane Francine improved conditions.
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, September 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: 1200551, 1200552, 1200553, 1200554, 1200555, 1200556.