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 to mid 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; 9 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 to mid 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 Sep 9, 11:35 PM CST, 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 1235 AM CDT Tue Sep 10 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (This afternoon through Tuesday) Issued at 1117 AM CDT MON SEP 9 2024 The post-frontal airmass remains in place across Central Alabama with easterly surface flow and a large region of high pressure centered over the Midwest. Temperature profiles will begin warming slightly today as heights rise behind the departing mid-level trough over the Northeastern CONUS. Expect deeper moisture content to remain well south of the area through at least mid-week. Mostly sunny skies expected both today and tomorrow with increasing mid to high-level cloud cover across our south late tomorrow in advance of developing TS Francine over the western Gulf of Mexico. Highs will range from the upper 80s to lower 90s with afternoon dewpoints in the 50/60s. Comfortable tonight with lows in the lower 60s north to upper 60s south. 86/Martin && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday night through next Sunday) Issued at 228 PM CDT MON SEP 9 2024 Models continue to show Tropical Storm Francine moving northward in the far western Gulf and making landfall along the Louisiana coast Wednesday. For Central Alabama, the impacts laid out below are still expected as the system moves northward through Mississippi River Valley. Did increase rain chances Wed night and Thursday, and nudged winds closer to the higher end of guidance, with gusts of 30mph possible. 14 Previous long-term discussion: (Tuesday night through next Sunday) Issued at 355 AM CDT MON SEP 9 2024 The main weather headline for the long-term forecast period is PTC6, which is forecast by the NHC to make landfall along the Louisiana coast as a category 1 hurricane (presumably named Francine) early Wednesday evening. It's forecast track brings it up the Mississippi River Valley Wednesday night into Thursday. As such, PoPs make an increase from south to north Thursday morning as moisture advection and isentropic ascent occur over our antecedent dry airmass and easterly low-level flow. By Thursday afternoon, conditions will deteriorate across Central Alabama as an increasing low-level winds and embedded thunderstorms move into the area. Current forecast impacts: * Flooding: Locally heavy rainfall will be possible with any convective bands that form, and these could pose a threat for isolated flash flooding. Main areas of concern are along and west of I-65 on Thursday, especially urban zones where lower flash flood guidance resides. Otherwise, we're relatively dry and area streamflows remain well below normal in some cases. 2-3" of storm total rainfall is currently forecast along/west of I-65, Wednesday night through Friday morning. Locally higher amounts could occur with training thunderstorms on Thursday. (Good news: this is beneficial rain for the drought.) * Severe: Being on the receiving end (right half) of this tropical system opens the door for a non-zero severe, or tornado threat, as is not uncommon . However, progged instability parameters are displaced from the best kinematics, and there's indication that our dry, easterly flow will eat into CAPE potential as the system moves inland Thursday. Better instability is currently predicted on Friday, but we'll be well into the dry slot by then as the system takes on extratropical characteristics. We'll get a better look to any favorable mesoscale conditions for severe weather in a couple days. * Wind: Gusts up to ~30 mph are forecast on Thursday. This shouldn't cause any major impacts, unless higher convective gusts occur. As mentioned earlier, the system is expected to make an extratropical transition as it continues north on Friday. We'll get a dry slot Friday morning, with best PoPs displacing to our north and east with the remaining low-level jet. The system is forecast to occlude thereafter. Its meandering presence in the region, with lingering moisture, will lead to isolated to scattered diurnal convection this weekend. 40/Sizemore && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1229 AM CDT TUE SEP 10 2024 VFR conditions will prevail through the period. But changes are coming Wednesday. Until then, surface high pressure centered to our northeast will continue to provide easterly winds. These winds will be light through the morning and near 10 kts by the afternoon. High clouds will begin to increase and lower across the south after 00z. NOTE: NIL TAF continues for KANB until further notice due to large comms issue and missing obs. 16 && .FIRE WEATHER... Rain-free conditions expected through Tuesday, before rain chances return south to north on Wednesday with the arrival of tropical moisture. Minimum RH values will range from 30-45% across the area Tuesday. Easterly 20 ft winds of 5-10 mph will continue through Tuesday morning, before turning to the southeast. Moisture returns to the area Wednesday, with southeasterly 20ft winds at 10-15mph. Widespread rain chances move into the area Wednesday night through Thursday in association with a tropical system. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 90 62 84 63 / 0 0 10 50 Anniston 89 64 83 66 / 0 0 20 50 Birmingham 90 67 83 66 / 0 0 20 60 Tuscaloosa 89 67 83 66 / 0 10 40 70 Calera 89 67 83 67 / 0 10 40 70 Auburn 87 67 81 66 / 0 10 40 70 Montgomery 90 70 82 69 / 0 10 60 80 Troy 86 68 78 68 / 0 20 60 80 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...86 LONG TERM....14 AVIATION...16
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 358 AM CDT Mon Sep 9 2024 ALZ011>015-017>050-101200- 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- 358 AM CDT Mon Sep 9 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...Tuesday through Sunday. A tropical system is forecast to move into the lower Mississippi Valley Wednesday night into Thursday. This will lead to increasing chances of showers and thunderstorms across Central Alabama on Thursday. These could pose a threat for locally heavy rainfall and isolated flooding, generally along and west of Interstate 65. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management may be needed on Thursday and Thursday night.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
9 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Drought level increased to Severe (D2) in mid September before moisture from Hurricane Francine improved conditions.
Drought level increased to Severe (D2) in mid September before moisture from Hurricane Francine improved conditions.
Drought level increased to Severe (D2) in mid September and persisted through the end of the month.
Drought level increased to Severe (D2) in mid September before moisture from Hurricane Francine improved conditions.
Drought level increased to Severe (D2) in mid September before moisture from Hurricane Francine improved conditions.
Drought level increased to Severe (D2) in mid September before moisture from Hurricane Francine improved conditions.
Drought level increased to Severe (D2) in mid September before moisture from Hurricane Francine improved conditions.
Drought level increased to Severe (D2) in mid September before moisture from Hurricane Francine improved conditions.
Drought level increased to Severe (D2) in mid 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: 1203029, 1203030, 1203032, 1203033, 1203034, 1203035, 1203036, 1203037, 1203038.