A line of severe thunderstorms ahead of an approaching cold front entered northwest Central Alabama around 11 PM on February 15. Over the next five hours, Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were issued for all 39 counties in Central Alabama as the line moved eastward across the area.
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 BMX wrote it up.
A line of severe thunderstorms ahead of an approaching cold front entered northwest Central Alabama around 11 PM on February 15. Over the next five hours, Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were issued for all 39 counties in Central Alabama as the line moved eastward across the area. Reports of damage were received from nearly all of the 39 counties, and five line-embedded tornadoes were confirmed after storm surveys. The most significant tornadoes, both rated EF1, tracked roughly 18 miles across Hale and Perry counties and approximately 7.5 across Macon County, both causing widespread timber damage and damage to several homes. Montgomery Regional Airport recorded a wind gust of 70 mph as the line passed through just prior to 2:30 AM.
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 15, 10:59 PM CST, 24 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 1059 PM CST Sat Feb 15 2025 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 356 AM CST THU FEB 14 2025 - A fast-moving line of severe storms will move quickly eastward across Central Alabama tonight, with numerous areas of damaging winds and a few tornadoes. - There is a medium to high chance of a hard freeze with low temperatures reaching 15-20 degrees for locations near and north of Interstate 20 Wednesday night. There is also a risk for wind chills as cold as the single digits. - There is a medium to high chance of a hard freeze with low temperatures reaching 15-20 degrees across all of central Alabama Thursday night. This night may feature a long-duration freeze. There is also a risk for wind chills as cold as the single digits. && .MESOSCALE UPDATE FOR SEVERE WEATHER... Issued at 0742 PM CST SAT FEB 15 2025 Several bands of supercells are developing across the ArkLaMiss, which are expected to quickly grow upscale into a squall line as a vigorous shortwave trough swings around to a neutral tilt. Greenville MS recently gusted to 67 mph. A wedge front remains in far northeastern portions of Central Alabama, but the rest of the forecast area remains well into the warm sector with dew points in the lower 60s. Mid to upper 60s dew points are located closer to the coast. A pocket of drier air aloft and some capping will keep us dry the next couple of hours. But low-level moisture will begin to surge ahead in advance of the line as it reaches the stateline shortly after 11 PM. A few experimental Warn on Forecast members indicate some cellular activity ahead of that, so will continue to advertise a start time of 10 PM for the threat. CAMs continue to indicate robust signatures of damaging winds despite relatively low CAPE values due to a very strong 65 to 70 kt 850mb LLJ, strong upper-level forcing/height falls, and strong low- level convergence. This in addition to strong gradient winds ahead of the line. Low-level shear and SRH will also be favorable for quickly developing QLCS tornadoes with 60 kts of 0-3km shear. The most favorable line orientation for QLCS tornado development would be any hint of a NW-SE orientation with outflow surges, though even north-south orientations could be favorable given the magnitude of the 0-3 km shear. Will additionally have a tornado threat with any supercells that develop and merge into the line, and will be watching closely for any development in eastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi in the next couple hours. Highest tornado threat will be in the far western counties and especially the southern counties, where the 65 dew points will be surging in. Make sure you have a way of getting warnings such as a weather radio that will wake you up, keep your phones off Do not Disturb, and consider going to your safe place even for a severe thunderstorm warning. 32/JDavis .SHORT TERM... (This afternoon through Sunday) Issued at 1239 PM CST SAT FEB 15 2025 A broad warm sector is beginning to develop across Central Alabama with the surface low currently deepening to our west over the ArkLaTex. The warm front is well to our north near the Tennessee Valley where the showers are currently located, so rain doesn't look to be much of a hindrance to heating this go around, but there is plenty of cloud cover to keep heating under control, and temperatures aloft are a bit on the warm side. Nonetheless, 60s dewpoints are beginning to advect northward now that surface winds are shifting to the south, and expect a broad pre-frontal zone of 500-800 J/kg of MLCAPE to develop by late this afternoon as the surface low begins to eject across the Midsouth. That doesn't sound like a lot, but wind fields will ramp up significantly this evening as the potent trough moves across the Southern Plains. The line of storms should reach our western counties as early as 9-10 PM as the LLJ increases to around 60-70 kts with eff. bulk shear values of similar magnitude. Forecast sounds indicate elongated, curved hodographs with high eff. SRH values of 400-600 m2/s2. Instability will be the limiting factor tonight but, given the dynamics, will be more than enough to support damaging straight line winds within bowing segments along the length of the line with chances for tornadoes embedded within the line. Some hi-res models are also indicating discrete cellular activity developing over Mississippi which could track into our southwestern counties. That's a bit more uncertain, but we will also be monitoring for that activity. The cold front and associated showers/storms will progress quickly across the area overnight. The total severe window for this event looks to only be around 6 to 8 hours. Severe potential should decrease with eastward extent, especially for locations in the northern half of the area, as instability begins to wane, but the risk looks to continue until the front moves into Georgia early tomorrow morning around 6 AM. The strong low-level flow will also contribute to breezy and gusty conditions overnight, and a Wind Advisory was issued for the entire forecast area until 12Z for non-thunderstorm wind gusts up to 35 mph. Flooding is not expected to be a concern due to the fast motion of this system, and rain amounts look to be around one inch or less. Temperatures may slowly fall during the day tomorrow as northwesterly flow develops behind the front and ushers in a cold airmass. Some locations in the north will hit the high temperature early in the morning before falling into the 40s by the afternoon. Some sprinkles may linger through midday, but expect cloud cover the decrease gradually through the afternoon as the upper-level trough pulls further away to the northeast. 86/Martin && .SHORT TERM... (This afternoon through Sunday) Issued at 1239 PM CST SAT FEB 15 2025 A broad warm sector is beginning to develop across Central Alabama with the surface low currently deepening to our west over the ArkLaTex. The warm front is well to our north near the Tennessee Valley where the showers are currently located, so rain doesn't look to be much of a hindrance to heating this go around, but there is plenty of cloud cover to keep heating under control, and temperatures aloft are a bit on the warm side. Nonetheless, 60s dewpoints are beginning to advect northward now that surface winds are shifting to the south, and expect a broad pre-frontal zone of 500-800 J/kg of MLCAPE to develop by late this afternoon as the surface low begins to eject across the Midsouth. That doesn't sound like a lot, but wind fields will ramp up significantly this evening as the potent trough moves across the Southern Plains. The line of storms should reach our western counties as early as 9-10 PM as the LLJ increases to around 60-70 kts with eff. bulk shear values of similar magnitude. Forecast sounds indicate elongated, curved hodographs with high eff. SRH values of 400-600 m2/s2. Instability will be the limiting factor tonight but, given the dynamics, will be more than enough to support damaging straight line winds within bowing segments along the length of the line with chances for tornadoes embedded within the line. Some hi-res models are also indicating discrete cellular activity developing over Mississippi which could track into our southwestern counties. That's a bit more uncertain, but we will also be monitoring for that activity. The cold front and associated showers/storms will progress quickly across the area overnight. The total severe window for this event looks to only be around 6 to 8 hours. Severe potential should decrease with eastward extent, especially for locations in the northern half of the area, as instability begins to wane, but the risk looks to continue until the front moves into Georgia early tomorrow morning around 6 AM. The strong low-level flow will also contribute to breezy and gusty conditions overnight, and a Wind Advisory was issued for the entire forecast area until 12Z for non-thunderstorm wind gusts up to 35 mph. Flooding is not expected to be a concern due to the fast motion of this system, and rain amounts look to be around one inch or less. Temperatures may slowly fall during the day tomorrow as northwesterly flow develops behind the front and ushers in a cold airmass. Some locations in the north will hit the high temperature early in the morning before falling into the 40s by the afternoon. Some sprinkles may linger through midday, but expect cloud cover the decrease gradually through the afternoon as the upper-level trough pulls further away to the northeast. 86/Martin && .LONG TERM... (Sunday night through next Friday) Issued at 235 PM CST SAT FEB 15 2025 Drier air moves in for the first half of the week across the area ahead of the next front that moves through on Wednesday. Not much dynamically with this front as it will travel in more of a southern pattern. What we need to keep an eye on though will be the track of the gulf low and associated upper low on Wednesday into Thursday morning. Models have back off on the amount of cold air with the precipitation in place over the past run, but there still exists at least a small chance of seeing some wintry precipitation across the far north. Otherwise just a good socking rain can be expected across the area. Behind this system will be a reminder of winter as temperatures will drop down into the teens and low 20s across the north by Thursday morning and much of the area on Friday morning. 16 && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1059 PM CST SAT FEB 15 2025 A line of thunderstorms will move quickly eastward between 6z and 11z, with gusts briefly up to 50kts as the line moves through. Southerly winds ahead of the line will continue to gust to 30-35kts with medium chances of LLWS as well. Cigs will be predominately MVFR tonight and into Sunday, with MVFR lingering for much of the day Sunday behind the cold front. Winds will shift to westerly and eventually northwesterly. 32/JDavis && .FIRE WEATHER... Periodic light showers are forecast later this afternoon, before a squall with heavy rain and thunderstorms sweeps cross the state tonight and into the morning. Ahead of this activity, southerly winds will become increasingly breezy, between 10-15 mph sustained with 25-35 mph gusts. Rain and storms will quickly end early Sunday morning with lingering clouds and winds, still breezy and gusty, switching to the northwest. Fair weather is expected on Monday with lighter northerly winds and a clear sky. The arrival of drier air will nudge afternoon RHs into the 30 percent range across central Alabama with pockets of upper 20s possible. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 48 53 25 50 / 100 30 0 0 Anniston 52 56 27 50 / 100 30 0 0 Birmingham 48 53 28 50 / 100 20 0 0 Tuscaloosa 48 53 28 52 / 100 20 0 0 Calera 50 54 29 51 / 100 20 0 0 Auburn 55 58 30 52 / 100 30 0 0 Montgomery 56 59 30 54 / 100 20 0 0 Troy 57 60 30 55 / 100 30 0 0 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 9 AM CST Sunday for the following counties: Autauga-Barbour-Bibb-Blount-Bullock-Calhoun-Chambers-Cherokee- Chilton-Clay-Cleburne-Coosa-Dallas-Elmore-Etowah-Fayette-Greene- Hale-Jefferson-Lamar-Lee-Lowndes-Macon-Marengo-Marion-Montgomery- Perry-Pickens-Pike-Randolph-Russell-Shelby-St. Clair-Sumter- Talladega-Tallapoosa-Tuscaloosa-Walker-Winston. && SHORT TERM...86 LONG TERM....16 AVIATION...32/JDavis
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 419 AM CST Sat Feb 15 2025 ALZ011>015-017>050-161330- 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- 419 AM CST Sat Feb 15 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham. .DAY ONE...Outlook through Tonight. There is a level 2 to 3 risk, out of 5, for severe storms affecting central Alabama tonight. Threats include tornadoes and damaging, straight-line winds. This threat could begin as early as 9 pm in the western part of the state and end as late as 4 am in the eastern part of the state. .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 needed for tonight.
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 32 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:21 UTC.
58 thunderstorm wind, 6 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was snapped and then fell onto a car along County Road 10 near Millport.
Several trees were downed in the Bear Creek area.
Numerous trees and power lines were downed throughout Fayette County, including along County Road 87 near Hubbertville and on 11th Street SW in Fayette. Trees were blown down damaging two residences along 11th Street SW. Siding was blown off another house on the north side of Fayette.
Power lines were knocked down along 6th Avenue in Haleyville.
Report from social media of a tree down on a home just west of Reform.
Trees were downed on Cranal Rd near the Sipsey Recreation Area.
Trees and power lines were downed across Sumter County.
Trees were downed in Jasper, causing power outages.
A large tree fell onto a manufactured home on Truman Lane in Coker, resulting in an injury.
Trees were downed in the Jones Bluff areas of Epes.
Social media report of trees and a power line down on Pineywoods Sipsey Rd.
Several trees were downed across northern and eastern areas of Tuscaloosa.
Trees were downed across various locations of northern Hale County, including in Moundville. Several homes in Moundville sustained shingle loss. Several trees were uprooted along Ann St and to the west a metal building was blown down behind Restore Physical Therapy near Highway 69. Along Paige Blvd, small trees and limbs were downed and a couple signs were blown over. On County Line Rd, a metal carport was mangled and an adjacent single-wide manufactured home received skirting and siding damage.
A National Weather Service damage survey in Moundville revealed|an EF-0 tornado that occurred early on February 16. The tornado|began in a wooded area near Green Ridge Rd and moved east-|northeastward. Along Power Loop Rd, several pine trees had tops|snapped off or large limbs broken. A few other pines were|uprooted near a residence, and a barn sustained roof damage. A|large tree fell on the backside of a house at 2nd Ave and Maple|Leaf Lane, causing significant damage and resulting in an injury.|Between Maple Leaf Lane and Jamestown Circle, several tree limbs|were snapped and a trampoline was flipped. Tree damage continued|through another wooded area to just west of the Hale County High|School football field, where the path appeared to end just west|of Highway 69. Maximum winds were estimated at 75 mph.
Several trees were downed on Palos Circle.
Trees were downed in the Hayden area.
A tree was blown down onto a house on North Ridge Drive.
Multiple trees were downed in Adamsville, with some blocking roadways.
Trees were downed in various locations across Blount County.
National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in|southern Hale and Perry Counties and determined that the damage|was consistent with a tornado. The start of the tornado was|estimated to be just west of Alabama Highway 69, where tree|damage was observed in an inaccessible area. The tornado|continued eastward, moving parallel to County Road 10. Along the|roadway, numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, along with at|least 40 to 50 power poles snapped. A site built home sustained|roof damage along with farm outbuildings that sustained|significant damage. The tornado gained strength as it moved east|of Alabama Highway 25, where EF-1 damage occurred. Multiple|manufactured homes were severely damaged due to large trees|falling on top of them, while another manufactured home was|destroyed due to tornadic wind gusts estimated around 95mph. |Residents who were inside the homes received the tornado warning|on their mobile phones, and were able to quickly take as much|shelter as they could. A mother and her two kids in one home took|shelter in their bathtub, which ended up being the only room in|the home that did not sustain major damage. Two injuries occurred|where the homes were damaged, and the maximum width was estimated|to be 200 yards at this location. The tornado continued eastward|and crossed Alabama Highway 61 into Perry County. Maximum estimated winds on the Hale County portion were 95 mph. Total path length was 18.37 miles.
Multiple trees were downed in Concord, with some blocking roadways.
An EF1 tornado began in Hale County and and crossed Alabama Highway 61 into Perry County. Minor tree damage was noted along Jenkins Bryant Rd, and farm outbuildings|sustained major damage along Perry County Rd 23. The tornado|lifted along Lakeland Farm Rd, and no further damage was noted to|the east. Damage in Perry County was rated EF-0. Total path length was 18.37 miles.
Trees and power lines were downed on Shades Crest Road on the Shelby County side.
Trees were downed in Shades Crest/Bluff Park, with some blocking roadways.
Trees fell on homes on 16th Ave S in Birmingham and Ewell Ln in Irondale.
A tree was blown onto a house on St. Charles Drive in Helena.
Trees were downed across much of central and southern Shelby County.
Multiple trees were blown down along Cahaba Valley Road in the Indian Springs Village and Meadowbrook areas, as well as other parts of northern Shelby County.
Trees were downed in the Ashville area.
Trees were downed in the Moody area.
Trees and power lines were downed along Scenic Dr.
A tree was blown onto a home on Cansler Ave in Gadsden.
A few trees were downed across Chilton County.
Several trees were downed in the Valley Grande area.
Trees were downed in the Pell City area.
Several trees were blown down across roadways in Cherokee County.
A 70 mph wind gust was measured on a personal weather station in Autaugaville. A social media photo was received showing a tree down on a fence in Autaugaville as well.
The National Weather Service surveyed in northern Coosa County|and determined the damage to be consistent with an EF-0 tornado.|The tornado initially touched down along County Road 55, where a|few softwood trees were downed. The tornado caused significant|tree damage across a wooded area east of CR 55, with many|uprooted trees. Along Prater Rd, several softwood trees sustained|minor damage. From there, the tornado tracked east-northeast|crossing County Road 29, just north of the Weogufka Family|Worship Center. Here, several softwood trees were uprooted along|with several homes that received minor damage. The tornado|continued crossing County Road 41 where additional trees were|uprooted and power lines were damaged due to the tree fall. The|tornado then crossed Hwy 231 and 280, where softwood trees were|both uprooted and snapped, and some additional tin shed damage|was noted. Maximum winds were estimated at 80 mph.
Trees and power lines were downed in Sylacauga.
A 62 mph gust was measured at Sylacauga Municipal Airport.
The City of Anniston reported multiple roads blocked by trees and power lines, including Fairway Drive, 22nd St, Eglin Ave, Castle Ave, and Raemon Ave. A tree was blown down onto a home on Knollwood Drive as well. Anniston Regional Airport gusted as high as 55 mph at 2:06 am.
Trees were downed in the Deatsville area.
A large tree fell onto a home in Prattville.
Trees were downed in the Titus area.
Several pine trees were snapped or uprooted, and the roof was blown off a barn near the intersection of Chapman Rd and Brownsville Loop.
Trees and power lines were downed in the Wetumpka area.
A 70 mph gust was measured at Montgomery Regional Airport/Dannelly Field.
A social media report was received showing a large tree down on a shed in Ashland.
Trees were downed across much of Tallapoosa County. Near Alexander City, a tree was blown down onto a home on Andrew Jackson Road.
Trees were downed in various parts of Montgomery County.
Multiple trees were downed from Eclectic eastward to the Tallapoosa River, including along Double Bridge Ferry Rd, Deer Track Rd, and Red Hill Rd, where a tree fell on a home.
Trees were downed in the Willow Point area.
Multiple trees were downed in the Pike Road area.
National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southern Tallapoosa County and determined that a brief EF-1 tornado occurred within a broad area of straight line wind damage. Additional information was provided by a private property owner as well as satellite analysis for areas that were not accessible by roads. The tornado touched down in a remote area over private property east of Lovelady Road and south of Alabama Highway 50. Approximately halfway between Lovelady Road and Barnesville Loop, an area of significant tree damage including multiple snapped and uprooted pines produced a TDS on KMXX radar. The tornado continued northeastward to Barnesville Loop, where another area of concentrated tree damage consisted of multiple|snapped and uprooted trees. At this point, the tornado interacted with a second circulation that was accelerating in from the northwest, and the path of the tornado turned right as the two circulations interacted. While there was minimal damage along the eastern portion of Barnesville Loop, the circulation re-intensified as it crossed Murphy Dam Road and Murphy Lake. A tree was blown on to a home on East Murphy Lane. From there, the continuing TDS intensified over an area inaccessible to the NWS|survey team, and satellite data is inconclusive with regards to tree damage any farther to the east. The tornado dissipated somewhere between East Murphy Lane and Alabama Highway 49 over private property. Maximum winds were estimated at 90 mph.
Trees were downed and a home was damaged near Wedowee.
Sheet metal was peeled off a building at Macon East Academy.
Trees were downed in various locations across Randolph County.
National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in Macon|County and determined that an EF-1 tornado occurred to the north|of straight line wind damage within a bowing segment. The tornado|began just east of the Macon/Montgomery county line, where a|couple pines were snapped along Barganier Road. It continued|moving eastward, reaching its peak intensity along County Road|2 and Keys Court where numerous hardwoods were snapped and|uprooted a couple hundred yards south of the road. Several homes|and outbuildings suffered roof damage as it paralleled County|Road 20, before the tornado dissipated as it crossed County Road|13. Maximum winds were estimated at 110 mph.
A power line was downed along Stateline Road.
A large tree fell on two cars at a residence north of Lafayette.
Multiple trees were downed, some on homes and vehicles, in the Barron’s Park neighborhood in Auburn.
Trees were downed along Interstate 85 near mile markers 73 and 75.
Trees were downed along Highway 51 in Beauregard.
Trees were downed in various parts of Barbour County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Alabama, 2025Warnings 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: 1228674, 1228675, 1228697, 1228676, 1228677, 1228700, 1228725, 1228727, 1229132, 1228730, 1228733, 1228734, 1228743, 1228653, 1228737, 1228760, 1228761, 1228762, 1228764, 1228654, 1228763, 1228655, 1228766, 1228765, 1228767, 1228768, 1228772, 1228769, 1228770, 1228773, 1228771, 1228774, 1228777, 1228775, 1228776, 1228779, 1228778, 1228664, 1228781, 1228780, and more.