Widespread clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms, some with intense rainfall in a short period of time, developed during the early to mid afternoon hours. The thunderstorms moved slowly south to southwest, merging in some areas to produce very heavy rainfall.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 HUN wrote it up.
Widespread clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms, some with intense rainfall in a short period of time, developed during the early to mid afternoon hours. The thunderstorms moved slowly south to southwest, merging in some areas to produce very heavy rainfall. Excessive rainfall resulted in brief isolated flash flooding in Dekalb and Madison Counties.
Flash Flooding in DeKalb.|Flash Flooding of Sparkman Drive in front of NSSTC.|Wind Damage.
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 Aug 20, 10:01 AM CST, 2 hours 23 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 1101 AM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025 ...New AVIATION... .NEAR TERM... (Rest of Today and Tonight) Issued at 1002 AM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025 The surface map indicates a cold front has dropped south into KY through southern MO near the position of a weak 5h trough. There is also a weak wedge front lining the lower Appalachians through central GA. Daytime heating will advance instability rather quickly once again today, and expect thunderstorms to develop by midday into early afternoon, especially closer to the frontal boundary to our north, then drop south through the afternoon. Additional development will occur along the higher terrain and perhaps near the wedge front as well, although this boundary is rather diffuse. Gusty to perhaps damaging winds and locally excessive rainfall remain the primary hazards later today. Thunderstorms should dissipate fairly quickly after sunset, although gust front outflows may sustain a few thunderstorms into mid evening. Depending on where the rain falls, patchy dense fog is expected to develop later tonight. && .SHORT TERM... (Thursday through Friday night) Issued at 1002 AM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025 The 5h trough and cold front will slowly drop south into the TN Valley Thursday into Thursday night. This will shift the greatest shower and thunderstorm chances to our south and southeast. But the proximity of the front will maintain low chances in our southeast counties Thursday and again on Friday. Consequently, high temperatures will be slightly cooler in the middle to upper 80s due to more clouds and potential showers and thunderstorms. In northwest AL, highs will be in the lower 90s. With dew points still in the upper 60s to around 70, overnight lows will be close to those values. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday through Tuesday) Issued at 934 PM CDT Tue Aug 19 2025 Through the extended forecast, there will be a daily chance for showers and thunderstorms that give way to lower temperatures. The TN Valley will be stuck in weak troughing at the end of the week into the weekend. A trough axis drifting through the TN Valley will keep low to medium (20-50%) chances for showers and thunderstorms on Saturday. On Saturday, a cold front will slide into the Midwest and Mid MS Valley and on Sunday it will bring one more low end chance (15-30%) of showers and storms as the front moves in. With weak steering flow and elevated PWATS (1.5-1.9"), storms Saturday could produce gusty winds and heavy rainfall that could create localized flooding concerns. Behind this frontal passage, drier air will filter in, bringing a break in the humidity, and rainfall as Monday and Tuesday will be dry. We will see a steady decline in temperatures through the extended, starting with highs in the upper 80s-lower 90s on Saturday and only reaching the lower 80s on Tuesday. By Monday night, lows will only reach the upper 50s to lower 60s, really making it feel like Fall! && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1101 AM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025 Scattered TSRA are expected to develop after 18Z, some with +RA and brief gusty winds up to 40kt. The TSRA should dissipate by 01Z with VFR conditions otherwise. Patchy BR/FG may reduce visibility to 5SM or less (MVFR) and perhaps less than 3SM (IFR) in a few areas. Additional ceilings of 020-025agl (MVFR) may develop near a cold front passage after 14Z. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && NEAR TERM...17 SHORT TERM....17 LONG TERM....JMS AVIATION...17
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
1030 AM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0940 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SSE Underwood-Petersv 34.86N 87.69W
08/19/2025 Lauderdale AL 911 Call Center
At least two trees were knocked down
blocking Rasch Road east of Cloverdale Road.
Time estimated by radar.
0940 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SSE Underwood-Petersv 34.86N 87.69W
08/19/2025 Lauderdale AL 911 Call Center
A tree limb was knocked down blocking one
lane of Rasch Road between Cloverdale Road
and Taylor Road. Time estimated by radar.
1105 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 E Saint Florian 34.87N 87.58W
08/19/2025 Lauderdale AL 911 Call Center
A tree was knocked down across the road at
the intersection of CR 27 and North Shore
Drive. Time estimated by radar.
1154 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NNE Florence 34.84N 87.66W
08/19/2025 Lauderdale AL 911 Call Center
A tree was knocked down onto Cox Creek
Parkway at the intersection with Mars Hill
Road. Time estimated by radar and mesonet
observation.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
107 PM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025
ALZ006-201900-
Madison AL-
107 PM CDT Wed Aug 20 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN MADISON COUNTY THROUGH
200 PM CDT...
At 107 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Moores Mill, moving southeast at 5 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and pea 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...
Huntsville, Moores Mill, Meridianville, Hazel Green, Alabama A And M
University, New Market, University Of Alabama In Huntsville, Harvest,
Maysville, and Fisk.
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.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3483 8633 3481 8635 3479 8633 3478 8634
3466 8660 3488 8673 3499 8652 3499 8650
TIME...MOT...LOC 1807Z 329DEG 6KT 3483 8655
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
HCThe Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 49 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:23 UTC.
21 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was knocked down at 2502 Rochell Drive NW. Time estimated by radar.
Flood water covered all of the southbound lanes of Sparkman Drive on the UAH campus. Estimated 6 inch depth in spots based on social media photo. Area notoriously known for poor drainage during heavy rainfall.
A tree was knocked down at Oakwood Road and Bethany Lane.
A tree was knocked down at 990 Discovery Drive. Time estimated by nearby mesonet site.
A tree was knocked down blocking the roadway on Highway 117 in Bass. Time estimated by radar.
Trees and power lines were knocked down at 464 Lowery Road. Time estimated by radar.
Multiple trees were knocked down on I-59 close to the Hammondville exit. Time estimated by radar.
A tree and power line were knocked down at 300 George Wallace Drive. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down at 6600 CR 121. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down blocking one lane of I-59 at MM 226. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down at 2700 CR 494. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down blocking both lanes of the road at 572 CR 531. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down blocking one lane of traffic at 3500 CR 156 which is 1 mile west of CR 155. Time estimated by radar.
Power lines were knocked down at 3400 CR 97 in Pine Ridge. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down at the intersection of Alabama Highway 68 and CR 57. Time estimated by radar.
Corrects previous flood report from 4 NNE Pine Ridge. Road washed out at CR 27 and 494.
Road washed out at CR 27 and CR 494.
A tree and power lines were knocked down onto the roadway at the intersection of CR 7 and CR 639. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down blocking both lanes of the road at the intersection of CR 7 and CR 6 at Shadowbrook Drive. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down and blocking both lanes at the intersection of CR 14 and CR 19. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down blocking the roadway on CR 23 at CR 2.
A large tree limb was knocked down blocking all lanes of the roadway at 2251 CR 22. Time estimated by radar.
Two large bamboo trees were knocked down into the roadway blocking one lane at the intersection of CR 25 and CR 144. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down blocking both lanes of the roadway at the intersection of CR 54 and CR 14. Time estimated by radar.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, August 2025
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: 1288436, 1288676, 1288437, 1288438, 1288439, 1288440, 1288441, 1288444, 1288445, 1288446, 1288447, 1288448, 1288449, 1288450, 1288451, 1288677, 1288678, 1288452, 1288453, 1288454, 1288455, 1288456, 1288457, 1288458.