A small cluster of strong thunderstorms dropped south-southeast through far northeast Alabama during the mid evening hours. Gusty outflow winds knocked down a tree near Henegar in Jackson County.
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The episode as NWS HUN wrote it up.
A small cluster of strong thunderstorms dropped south-southeast through far northeast Alabama during the mid evening hours. Gusty outflow winds knocked down a tree near Henegar in Jackson County.
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 Jul 21, 6:18 PM CST, 1 hour 48 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 718 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025 ...New AVIATION... .NEAR TERM... (Tonight) Issued at 343 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025 Storms are currently building along a thetaE ridge throughout middle Tennessee and will continue to work southward through the evening hours, moving into southern middle Tennessee and northeastern AL around 00-02Z. With the loss of peak diurnal heating, storms are forecast to remain sub severe. However, gusty winds up to 30-40 mph will be a threat along with lightning and heavy rainfall/flooding. Flooding will be the primary threat as backbuilding of storms is likely with cordifi upshear vectors from the north around 0-5 kts. Additionally, PWATs are forecast to be around 1.8-1.9", which is near the 90th percentile of sounding climatology per OHX. After storms continue SSE, dry conditions are forecast overnight. However, a few CAMs are hinting at the potential for redevelopment of thunderstorms around daybreak through portions of north central AL and northwest AL. If this occurs, heavy downpours and flooding will continue to be monitored as primary threats. Otherwise, patchy fog development is likely in areas of clearing cloud cover overnight. Widespread fog formation is not likely due to lingering cloud cover through portions of the area. A Heat Advisory remains in effect overnight as low temperatures drop into the low to mid 70s- not providing much relief from the daytime highs/heat indices. && .SHORT TERM... (Tuesday through Thursday) Issued at 141 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025 Heat continues to be our primary concern through the short term period as the upper level ridge amplifies over the southeastern U.S. A Heat Advisory continues to be in effect through 9 PM Tuesday as high temperatures climb into the low to mid 90s with heat indices up to 107. Overnight lows will not provide much relief as they drop into the low to mid 70s. We will continue to advertise remaining hydrated, avoid strenuous outdoor activities during the afternoon hours, and wear light-colored/lightweight clothing. Otherwise, daily thunderstorm chances continue on Wednesday as the sfc high pressure system moves along the Carolina coast and allows easterly winds to fuel a differential heating boundary just east of the I-65 corridor. Any storms that form will be capable of gusty winds, heavy rainfall, and frequent lightning. Storm chances remain greater along and east of I-65, which will allow some relief from the heat. Along and west of I-65 will continue to near or exceed Heat Advisory criteria, therefore, additional heat products are likely in the future forecast updates. && .LONG TERM... (Thursday through Sunday) Issued at 1053 PM CDT Sun Jul 20 2025 Global models continue to suggest that an easterly wave will disrupt the strong mid-level high responsible for the brutal heat earlier in the week as we get into the Thursday/late week period. High pressure will begin to build over the western Atlantic and will bring an end to a very short period of slightly less humid air by the end of the work week. This pattern puts the Tennessee Valley between a stacked high to our east and a low pressure system that will shift west through the Gulf Friday/Saturday. Although temperatures will remain on the hot side during this period, it looks less likely that we will meet Heat Advisory criteria of 105 degrees on Thursday and Friday. Thunderstorm chances also appear to be lower at least on Thursday (topping out at 20-30%) before the bulk of better moisture stemming from low pressure over the Gulf arrives late Friday into the weekend. The threat for both thunderstorms and dangerous heat will increase over the weekend as high pressure continues to build into the Southeast, bringing afternoon heat indices back into the 102-107 degree range by Sunday. Medium chances (40-60%) for rain and thunderstorms will exist, peaking during the afternoon and evening when daytime heating effects are higher. With PWATs climbing into the 2-2.3" range, we will have to monitor the potential for intense downpours and flooding. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 718 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025 VFR conditions are currently observed at the HSV/MSL terminals, featuring few-sct Cu beneath a bkn layer of Ci and WNW winds of 5-10 kts. However, to our immediate north, an extensive outflow boundary continues to generate convection across Middle TN early this evening. Although present indications are that the outflow boundary will continue to drift southward with time, individual cell motions are to the southeast, and for this reason it is unclear if either terminal will be directly impacted by convection later this evening. Thus, we have not indicated TEMPO groups at the present time, but amendments may be warranted if supported by radar data. In the wake of any evening convection, partial clearing and lgt/vrbl winds may support development of patchy BR/FG early Tuesday morning. Otherwise, convection is expected to redevelop shortly after sunrise across Middle TN and should spread southwestward over the course of the day in conjunction with a backdoor cold front. PROB30 groups have been included btwn 14-20Z to address the potential for storms, with improving conds expected late in the period as winds shift to NE. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT Tuesday for ALZ001>007-016. TN...Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT Tuesday for TNZ076-096-097. && NEAR TERM...HC SHORT TERM...HC LONG TERM...25 AVIATION...70/DD
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
334 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0332 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 SW Anderson 34.89N 87.31W
07/20/2025 Lauderdale AL 911 Call Center
Tree down in roadway causing full blockage.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
712 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025
ALZ006-009-TNZ076-096-097-220100-
Madison AL-Jackson AL-Franklin TN-Moore TN-Lincoln TN-
712 PM CDT Mon Jul 21 2025
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN JACKSON...
NORTHEASTERN MADISON...MOORE...LINCOLN AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES THROUGH
800 PM CDT...
At 710 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Petersburg to near Tims Ford Lake to near
Decherd. Movement was south at 20 mph. A wind gust of 35 mph was
observed at the Tullahoma Regional Airport.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Winchester, Fayetteville, Lynchburg, Decherd, Estill Springs, Cowan,
Huntland, Petersburg, Tims Ford Lake, and Sewanee.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3536 8626 3533 8620 3536 8616 3534 8603
3531 8600 3529 8592 3522 8586 3499 8586
3498 8577 3492 8622 3501 8668 3531 8667
3533 8660 3537 8659 3536 8649 3532 8645
3538 8633
TIME...MOT...LOC 0010Z 351DEG 20KT 3526 8658 3520 8629 3524 8602
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
25The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 40 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:06 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was knocked down on CR 382.
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, July 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: 1287755.