Two rounds of heavy rainfall affected Northern Alabama and Southern Middle Tennessee, with the first round producing widespread river flooding across the area. In addition, flash flooding occurred in several locations with the first event, and again with the second event just 48-72 hours later.
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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 HUN wrote it up.
Two rounds of heavy rainfall affected Northern Alabama and Southern Middle Tennessee, with the first round producing widespread river flooding across the area. In addition, flash flooding occurred in several locations with the first event, and again with the second event just 48-72 hours later. While most river gage locations fell back below flood stage by the end of the week, the Tennessee River at Florence lingered above flood stage through February 19th.
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 Feb 12, 5:37 PM CST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 537 PM CST Wed Feb 12 2025 ...New AVIATION... .NEAR TERM... (Remainder of today and tonight) Issued at 303 PM CST Wed Feb 12 2025 There have been no significant changes to the near term portion of the forecast (remainder of today and tonight) since the update earlier this morning. Current thinking is that widespread light- moderate rain will persist across the region for several more hours, with the combination of low stratus clouds and persistent rainfall yielding a statically stable boundary layer across our CWFA. Very late this afternoon/early this evening (23-1Z timeframe), the remnants of scattered warm sector thunderstorms (currently in progress across southern MS) will spread northeastward into the southeastern portion of our forecast area, but should become elevated in doing so as they cross the effective warm front (which may remain situated across central AL for much of the event). Although this activity will not pose a risk for strong-severe thunderstorms, convectively-enhanced rainfall rates may contribute to an increasing threat for both flash and areal flooding. Meanwhile, to the west of the forecast area, there are some indications that a broken band of moderate-heavy showers and a few thunderstorms may evolve along a cold front that will begin to sweep southeastward this evening as the primary synoptic surface cyclone deepens and accelerates north-northeastward away from the region. This activity should enter northwest AL between 0-2Z and may be limited in both coverage and intensity by extensive preceding precipitation to its east, but if a contaminated warm sector airmass (featuring dewpoints in the u50s-l60s) was to arrive in our region, it would likely occur immediately in advance of the cold front (particularly across the southern half of the CWFA). Due to the magnitude of both deep-layer and low- level shear in place across the region this evening (as well as the potential for up to 200-400 J/kg CAPE), we will be monitoring the stronger updrafts in this regime for both damaging winds and perhaps a brief tornado. Present indications are that the risk for strong-severe convection will end in the southeastern portion of the forecast area by 6-8Z (if not sooner). Low-level flow will quickly veer to NW and strengthen in the wake of the cold front, with a colder/drier airmass expected to spread southeastward to encompass the entire region by sunrise on Thursday. Due to the combination of elevated winds and extensive postfrontal stratus, lows will be in the m30s-l40s. && .SHORT TERM... (Thursday through Friday night) Issued at 303 PM CST Wed Feb 12 2025 Mid-level winds will temporarily veer to WNW for a brief period from Thursday-Thursday night as a longwave trough ejects northeastward across the Great Lakes and into eastern Canada. This, along with modest northerly flow at the surface, will provide a dry/stable airmass for the TN Valley, with highs in the m-u 40s tomorrow. As the center of a surface high shifts eastward into the central Appalachians on Thursday night, conditions may become quite favorable for radiational cooling as the boundary layer decouples after Midnight, and we have indicated a hard freeze on Friday morning with lows in the l-m 20s. Light SE return flow will begin Friday as the surface high migrates further eastward into the Mid-Atlantic region and a new surface low develops across eastern CO in response to an amplifying mid-level shortwave trough digging across the southwestern US/northwestern Mexico. Although an increase in mid/high-level clouds can be expected as winds aloft back to WSW once again, highs should reach the l-m 50s. Latest model guidance suggests that the lee cyclone will develop southeastward into southwestern OK/northwest TX on Friday night, along the leading edge of a surging arctic cold front. Rapid return of low-level moisture will begin across our forecast area as a sharpening warm front (arcing northeastward from the low) begins to lift northward and away from the region, with an increasing chance for showers and perhaps a few elevated thunderstorms between 6-12Z Saturday. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday through Tuesday) Issued at 343 AM CST Wed Feb 12 2025 The main focus in the long term will be on Saturday, as a potent storm system brings another round of heavy rain and the potential for severe weather to the Tennessee Valley. A strong upper trough will shift east through the Central Plains on Saturday, taking on a more neutral to slightly negative tilt as it progresses east. This will strengthen both upper and lower level wind fields and will aid in advecting a moisture rich airmass north from the Gulf. Recent trends over the past 24 hours have brought the sfc low more north, putting us deeper into the warm sector and farther displacing us from the axis of heaviest rain, now expected to be closer to the TN/KY state line. A QLCS is expected along a cold front and will make its way through the area overnight Saturday. Digging into the severe threat first, strong upper level divergence will strengthen synoptic lift Saturday afternoon and evening at a time where temperatures are forecast to be in the upper 60s with dewpoints in the upper 50s/lower 60s. Current model soundings seem to be underdoing temps/dewpoints at the sfc, so there is still a considerable amount of uncertainty regarding the thermodynamic environment and whether or not there will be enough support for discrete convection ahead of the main QLCS overnight. If this were to occur, a late afternoon/evening round of supercells could precede the QLCS and pose a higher risk for severe weather. Even if that does not occur, wind fields are strong enough to support bowing segments and embedded rotation within the main line/QLCS. Damaging winds will be the primary concern at this point, with the tornado and hail threat a bit more contingent in how much thermodynamic support is available. Will need to monitor how models trend regarding temps/lapse rates, as this looks to be the main limiting factor as of now. The main window for severe weather will come between 6pm Saturday and 6am Sunday. With the continued trend to the north, the threat for widespread flooding has gone down some. We do still want to stress that multiple rounds of heavy rain earlier on the week have helped to saturate the ground, and it will take less rainfall for runoff to begin than it did earlier in the week. PWATs still look to be at the top end of sounding climatology and will support very heavy rain rates within the QLCS as it moves through Saturday night. High rain chances are expected through most of the day on Saturday especially in northwest AL and southern TN. The current forecast totals range from 3 inches over far NW AL to near 2 inches over NE AL. Will point out that due to very low confidence and relatively no signal from models, this does not account for any discrete convection ahead of the main QLCS, only light to moderate rain earlier in the day as the warm front surges north. The heaviest rain will fall between 6pm Saturday and 6am Sunday with rain chances tapering off Sunday morning as the front shifts to our east. We do expect additional rises on area rivers and streams as well as ponding water in ditches and low lying areas as the QLCS moves through. Will keep an eye on rainfall trends and will communicate any increase in flooding risk as necessary. Dry weather is forecast by Sunday afternoon, and temperatures will quickly plummet overnight. With lows dropping to the lower 20s, any water remaining on area roadways will freeze and result in hazardous travel conditions due to black ice. Cooler temperatures will remain through the beginning of the week, with another shot of potentially heavy rain setting up by the mid-week period. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 536 PM CST Wed Feb 12 2025 Periods of -SHRA (with a few VCTS) will persist this evening and overnight across the Tennessee Valley, resulting in IFR conditions to localized LIFR conditions. AWWs and amendments may be needed during this timeframe. Low ceilings will persist through late Thursday morning/early Thursday afternoon, with ceilings lifting to VFR levels as cloud cover gradually diminishes late in the day. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...Flood Watch until 4 AM CST Thursday for ALZ008>010-016. TN...None. && NEAR TERM...70 SHORT TERM....70 LONG TERM....25 AVIATION...AMP.24
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 95 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:49 UTC.
13 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
CR 1711 between 1727 and Brooklyn Road was reported impassable due to flash flooding. Depth of water estimated to be about 7 or 8 inches deep.
CR 61 at Hwy 71 was reported flooded. Depth of water estimated to be 6-8 inches.
CR 491 south of Hwy 117 near Stevenson was reported flooded. Depth of water about 8-10.
Flash flooding reported on New Cut Road near Massey. Depth of water estimated to be 6-8 inches in depth.
Dekalb County EMA reports a bridge washed out and the road closed on CR 1986.
Portions of Douglas Road reported underwater due to flash flooding. Depth of water was about 6 to 8 inches in depth.
Robinson Creek Road was underwater due to flash flooding. Depth of water was between 8-10 inches.
Barkley Bridge Road between 55 and West Lacon Road was reported flooded. Depth of water about a foot deep.
Flash flooding reported on Six Mile Creek Road near Florette. Depth of water at least 4-6 inches at this time.
Widespread flash flooding on CR 565 between Hanceville to Dodge City reported by Cullman County EMA. Depth of water between 6-10 in some spots.
Portions of Piney Grove Road between Douglas Road and Highway 31 were flooded. Depth of water unknown.
A portion of River Loop Road between Cold Stream Road and McCutcheon Loop Road was reported flooded by Morgan County EMA. Depth of water was about 8-10 inches.
Corrects previous Flash Flood report from 5 ENE South Vinemont. CR 1427 between 1428 and 1422 was flooded and partially damaged by flood waters. Depth of water estimated to be about a foot or more deep.
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: 1229731, 1229732, 1229733, 1229734, 1229736, 1229737, 1229739, 1229740, 1229742, 1229743, 1229744, 1229745, 1229746.