Lingering dry conditions across southern and southwestern parts of Central Alabama led to the introduction of Severe (D2) drought conditions in several counties by February 11. This lasted roughly a week, as 4-6 inches of rainfall fell across the Demopolis, Selma, Clanton, and Alexander City areas between February 12 and February 16.
Every event with a place to put it; 7 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.
Lingering dry conditions across southern and southwestern parts of Central Alabama led to the introduction of Severe (D2) drought conditions in several counties by February 11. This lasted roughly a week, as 4-6 inches of rainfall fell across the Demopolis, Selma, Clanton, and Alexander City areas between February 12 and February 16. This led to a removal of Severe (D2) drought conditions in all counties by February 18.
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 Feb 10, 11:00 PM CST, 1 hour earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 1100 PM CST Mon Feb 10 2025 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 210 AM CST MON FEB 10 2025 - A period of wet weather is forecast to develop from Tuesday through Thursday, resulting in 2 to 4 inches of rainfall accumulation with some risk for flooding. This risk is greatest for locations along and north of I-20. - There is a low risk for a few strong to severe storms Wednesday night across western and southwestern portions of the area. Threats include damaging 60 mph wind gusts and perhaps a brief tornado or two. - There is a 30-40% chance of minor river flooding for points along the Tombigbee and Black Warrior River basins late this week into early next week. && .SHORT TERM... (This afternoon through Tuesday) Issued at 126 PM CST MON FEB 10 2025 Widespread clouds remain overhead across much of the Southeast with mid and upper level westerly flow prevailing across much of the southern CONUS. The cold front has moved as far south as the Alabama and Florida Panhandle coastlines. Northerly to northeasterly surface flow is present over Central Alabama this afternoon with high pressure centered across the Ohio Valley. With just enough lift and moisture aloft, we're seeing a few sprinkles at times move across the area but no measurable rain is expected today. Although a few peeks of sunshine will occur through the midlevel cloud cover this afternoon, we'll maintain mostly cloudy skies in the forecast with a fairly large gradient of temperatures from northwest to southeast. Haleyville should remain in the lower 50s, while Eufaula will rise into lower 70s. As the upper trough begins to take shape to our west, the front to our south will return north as a warm front overnight tonight. Temperatures will remain nearly steady or increase as a result between midnight and sunrise Tuesday morning as surface winds become southeasterly. In addition, we'll actually see an easterly wedge move in from Georgia into eastern Alabama after midnight. The wedge is expected to serve as an additional lifting mechanism in the low levels and develop scattered showers during the early morning hours on Tuesday as well. Widespread rains will develop to the north and west Tuesday morning as the front seesaws back to the southeast. Low level flow will overrun the front as it moves southeast toward the I-59 corridor Tuesday afternoon, with the most widespread rains expected to be post-frontal. Aided by synoptic lift due to upper level shortwave activity, soaking rains should be ongoing across the northwest half of Central Alabama through 6pm Tuesday. Before the front and widespread rains arrive, temperatures should be able to warm into the 70s across the U.S. 80 and I-85 corridors Tuesday afternoon, while temperatures should drop along and north of the I-59 corridor between midday and 4pm as soaking rains and cooler air arrives. 56/GDG && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday night through next Sunday) Issued at 126 PM CST MON FEB 10 2025 Moderate to heavy rainfall will likely be ongoing at the start of the long term as a frontal boundary remains stalled across the state. A ~30 knot LLJ will help usher Gulf moisture inland across the state with PWATs climbing to near 1.5-1.7". Several rounds of H5 energy will eject through the region as upper level flow turns more southwesterly. Increased upper level support, plentiful moisture, and enhanced low level moisture convergence will allow for a continued threat of heavy rainfall. Forecast soundings characterized by a nearly fully saturated profile, a deep warm cloud layer, and tall skinny CAPE support this threat for heavy rainfall. Therefore, much of the CWA has been included in a Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall Wednesday and Thursday. The greatest threat will be for those north of Highway 80 where 2-4" of rainfall is expected. There is a 20-30% chance a few spots across our northern counties could see over 4". Opted to hold off on a Flood Watch for now as we should be able to handle this first round of water as our soils are fairly dry. However, high rain rates can still lead to isolated flash flooding episodes, especially around urban areas. Another cold front will push through the state late Wednesday into Thursday as a H5 shortwave moves across the Southern Plains. Meanwhile, instability is expected to trend up, leading to a Marginal Risk for strong to severe thunderstorms. Our west and southwest areas will have the greatest risk as instability gradient looks to drop off rather quickly the further north and east you go. With that said, CAPE values around 1000 J/kg and ~40 knot of 0-6km shear would support a few strong to severe thunderstorms Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Rain chances will diminish through the day Thursday as the front moves to the south of us. After a quick dry spell on Friday, chances for showers and thunderstorms return as we head into the weekend. A stout trough looks to dig across the Southern Plains over the weekend with an associated surface low deepening around the ArkLaTex region. A moist southerly flow will allow for moisture to surge back into the region ahead of another cold front Saturday night into Sunday. Increased forcing and instability will lead to another round of strong to potentially severe thunderstorms. Details will be worked out over the coming days. To quickly touch on temperatures, we will warm up nicely each afternoon through the middle of the week with highs in the mid 60s to upper 70s. A few spots across our southern counties could see 80 degrees on Wednesday. Thursday's cold front cools us back down with highs in the 50s/60s Thursday and Friday and lows in the 30s Friday morning. A brief warming trend kicks back in as we head into the weekend but we quickly cool back off behind Saturday night's cold front. 95/Castillo && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1055 PM CST MON FEB 10 2025 Conditions will continue to deteriorate overnight as MVFR and then IFR and below in spots spread across C AL tonight into Tue as a boundary moves NWD as a warm front. Currently the radar is only indicating very light sprinkles/-RA, that will change overnight as well as scattered areas of rain spread into the area. Rain will become more widespread during the day on Tue as a result of the surface boundary along with help from upper shortwave activity. Some reduced vsbys may occur with heavier areas of rain. 08 && .FIRE WEATHER... Most of the area will remain dry today with min RH in the 40 to 50% range this afternoon. However, a warm front will lift northward into the area tomorrow, initiating a multi-day period of elevated moisture and rain chances through mid week. There will be light north-northeasterly 20ft winds today which will shift to the south by Tuesday afternoon and increase to around 5 to 10 mph. Winds will remain from the south through Wednesday with widespread showers expected by that point. Rainfall may be heavy at times. A cold front will move through Thursday morning, leading to a northerly wind and drier conditions through Friday. Rain chances return on Saturday. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 47 59 49 69 / 50 90 100 100 Anniston 50 63 53 72 / 50 90 100 90 Birmingham 51 64 54 70 / 50 90 100 100 Tuscaloosa 51 66 54 74 / 30 90 100 100 Calera 53 66 57 74 / 40 90 100 90 Auburn 54 65 59 75 / 30 60 70 80 Montgomery 58 71 61 79 / 30 70 70 80 Troy 57 71 61 79 / 20 50 60 70 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...56/GDG LONG TERM....95/Castillo AVIATION...08
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 209 PM CST Mon Feb 10 2025 ALZ011>015-017>050-112315- 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- 209 PM CST Mon Feb 10 2025 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 prolonged period of heavy rainfall is expected to develop from Tuesday through Thursday. Rainfall accumulations of 3 to 5 inches may result in minor flooding of low-lying and poor drainage areas with a low risk of isolated flash flooding for points generally along and north of Interstate 20. There is a low to moderate risk for a few strong to severe storms Wednesday night across western and southwestern portions of Central Alabama. Threats include damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph and a brief tornado or two. There is a low risk for a few strong to severe storms Saturday night into Sunday morning across Central Alabama. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management may be needed from Tuesday through Thursday.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
The county elevated to Severe (D2) drought on February 11 but dropped back to Moderate (D1) by February 18.
The county elevated to Severe (D2) drought on February 11 but dropped back to Moderate (D1) by February 18.
The county elevated to Severe (D2) drought on February 11 but dropped back to Moderate (D1) by February 18.
The county elevated to Severe (D2) drought on February 11 but dropped back to Moderate (D1) by February 18.
The county elevated to Severe (D2) drought on February 11 but dropped back to Moderate (D1) by February 18.
The western half of the county elevated to Severe (D2) drought on February 11 but dropped back to Moderate (D1) by February 18.
The southeastern half of the county elevated to Severe (D2) drought on February 11 but dropped back to Moderate (D1) by February 18.
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, February 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: 1228294, 1228295, 1228296, 1228297, 1228298, 1228300, 1228301.