Clusters of thunderstorms erupted during the midday into the afternoon hours over north central and northeast Alabama. Gusty winds knocked down a few trees and power lines in Jackson County, especially in and near the town of Section.
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.
Clusters of thunderstorms erupted during the midday into the afternoon hours over north central and northeast Alabama. Gusty winds knocked down a few trees and power lines in Jackson County, especially in and near the town of Section.
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 31, 12:54 PM CST, 2 hours 26 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 154 PM CDT Thu Jul 31 2025 ...New NEAR TERM... .NEAR TERM... (Rest of Today and Tonight) Issued at 154 PM CDT Thu Jul 31 2025 There have been no significant changes to the near term forecast since the update earlier this morning, with development of showers and thunderstorms expected to continue throughout the afternoon. Although convection is currently initiating near a prefrontal surface trough across northwest AL, additional formation is anticipated in the vicinity of several small outflow boundaries across the eastern half of the CWFA, as well. Individual cells will travel slowly east-southeastward before dissipating around sunset, but with some risk for frontal convection to spread southeastward into the region this evening, we will retain a low (15-25%) POP through 6Z. As we mentioned earlier, the main impacts from the stronger storms will be brief downburst winds (up to 50-60 MPH), frequent lightning and locally heavy rainfall. With most valley locations expected to at least briefly achieve a HI of 105F prior to the onset of convective impacts, we will leave the Heat Advisory intact at the current time. Previous Discussion: In the mid/upper-levels, a broad weakness in the subtropical ridge currently extends from the western Gulf northeastward into northern portions of MS/AL (between two distinct highs centered across the FL Peninsula and northern Mexico). At the surface, a well-defined cold front stretches from the Red River Valley northeastward through the Mid-South/Upper OH Valley and into the northern Mid-Atlantic states, with a prefrontal surface trough/wind shift axis to NNW expected to spread gradually southeastward into the northwestern portion of our forecast area this afternoon. Present indications are that showers and thunderstorms today will be most concentrated in the vicinity of the cold front to our northwest, although some convection will begin to develop between 16-18Z as the prefrontal trough enters our region and begins to interact with the preexisting warm/moist airmass. Although an abundant coverage of mid/high-level stratiform clouds within the weakness in the subtropical ridge may tend to limit buoyancy and delay convective development by a few hours, it appears as if storm coverage will be highest across the southeastern corner of the CWFA, as cells should spread east-southeastward with time. Presuming that sufficient breaks in the cloud cover aloft occur this afternoon to permit temps to reach the l-m 90s, dewpoints in the mid 70s will support CAPE of 2000-2500 J/kg and an attendant threat for downburst winds up to 50-60 MPH with the most intense cells. Otherwise, locally heavy rainfall and flooding will also be a concern given the combination of PWAT values in the 1.9-2.1" range and weak steering currents. Due to the temperatures and dewpoints mentioned earlier, HI will likely reach the 105-109F range for many locations in the lower terrain, and a Heat Advisory remains in effect through 9 PM. Although convection related to the prefrontal trough will exhibit a diurnal weakening/dissipation trend with sunset this evening, we will need to keep an eye out to the northwest, as thunderstorms occurring in the vicinity of the cold front may persist for much of the evening. As an area of low pressure (which will evolve across eastern VA over the course of the day today) begins to shift northeastward and off the Mid-Atlantic Coast, the front will make steady southeastward progress overnight, and this could potentially result in a continuation of at least scattered thunderstorms in our forecast area this evening. With the cold front not expected to reach the local region until Friday, it will be another warm/muggy night, with development of low stratus clouds expected prior to sunrise as temps fall into the l-m 70s. && .SHORT TERM... (Friday through Saturday night) Issued at 1111 AM CDT Thu Jul 31 2025 Latest model guidance suggests that a cold front will track slowly southward across the TN Valley during the day on Friday in response to amplification of a mid/upper-level longwave trough across eastern Canada. This will allow the leading/modified edge of a cooler/drier continental airmass (centered over the Upper MS Valley) to be advected southward into the region, with dewpoints expected to fall from the mid 70s into the u60s-l70s north of the TN River by late afternoon. Low-level forcing for ascent along the cold front will result in another high coverage of showers and thunderstorms from late tomorrow morning through the afternoon, with the greatest spatial concentration of convection expected to occur along an south of the TN River. Aside from a minor increase in WNW flow aloft within the southern portion of the amplifying longwave trough, there will be little change in the kinematic environment tomorrow, and with thermodynamic parameters expected to be similar to today, storm impacts will remain unchanged. Thunderstorms will progress southward in conjunction with the cold front Friday afternoon/evening, likely exiting our region shortly after sunset (if not sooner). Light NNE winds in the boundary layer will continue to advect drier air into the region throughout the night, with dewpoints ranging from the l60s (N) to u60s (S) and lows by Saturday morning falling into the 65-70F range. During the period from Saturday-Saturday night, a weak frontal wave is predicted to develop across southern GA/northern FL before retrograding slowly westward along the central Gulf Coast. As this occurs, a surface trough extending northward from the low will track northwestward across our region, with a modest increase in E-SE flow in the wake of the trough allowing dewpoints to climb back up into the u60s-l70s. This will yield an increase in showers/thunderstorms across the southeastern portion of the forecast area Saturday afternoon, with this regime expected to expand northwestward to encompass the entire region Saturday evening. The combination of cooler surface temperatures and weaker low/mid-level lapse rates will contribute to lower CAPE, with general thunderstorm activity expected at this time. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday through Wednesday) Issued at 958 PM CDT Wed Jul 30 2025 An upper trough with a few shortwaves moving along it will persist over the eastern US through the long term period. In fact, guidance indicates that the trough will further amplify by Wednesday and become positively tilted. At the surface, an inverted trough feature will set up by late weekend, with a stalled front to the south near the Gulf coast. This front will meander over the coast for a couple of days then possibly shift back north on Wednesday as a warm front. How far north this front gets will be something we'll need to keep an eye on. Moisture levels increase through midweek, with model PWATs increasing from 1.3-1.4 inches Sunday and Monday to 1.6-1.8 Tuesday and Wednesday. Overall, daily chances of showers and storms will be the theme as we head into the first week of school for many, peaking during the afternoon and evening hours. Confidence in any severe weather is low due to bulk shear below 30 knots each day. Although, as temperatures increase from the lower to mid 80s on Sunday into the upper 80s to around 90 degrees by Wednesday, the better instability may be realized Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons compared with earlier in the week. Thus, with better moisture and instability, a few stronger storms may be possible Tuesday and especially Wednesday during the afternoon and evening hours that could bring heavy downpours, frequent lightning, and some gusty winds. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors! && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1252 PM CDT Thu Jul 31 2025 Scattered TSRA have begun to develop across portions of northern AL/southern TN where breaks in the early morning mid/high-level cloud canopy have enabled stronger destabilization of the boundary layer. This activity will spread east-southeastward in conjunction with a prefrontal trough, and should weaken/dissipate around or shortly after sunset. However, until that point, we have included a TEMPO for MVFR conds at both terminals from 18-22Z. Although additional showers and storms (related to a cold front approaching the region from the NW) may impact portions of the forecast area this evening (until 5-6Z), uncertainty in storm coverage is too high to include additional PROB30 groups in the TAFs attm. As the front begins to sag southward into the region, low stratus clouds are likely to develop as moisture pools ahead of the boundary, with a period of MVFR cigs anticipated btwn 10-14Z. Convection will likely begin to redevelop invof the cold front by 16-18Z Friday, but until the location of the front can be determined, we will refrain from mentioning this in the forecast. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for ALZ001>010-016. TN...Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for TNZ076-096-097. && NEAR TERM...70/DD SHORT TERM...70/DD LONG TERM...26 AVIATION...70/DD
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
307 PM CDT Thu Jul 31 2025
ALZ004-005-007-312045-
Lawrence AL-Morgan AL-Limestone AL-
307 PM CDT Thu Jul 31 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL LIMESTONE...NORTHWESTERN
MORGAN AND EAST CENTRAL LAWRENCE COUNTIES THROUGH 345 PM CDT...
At 306 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Tanner, or 8 miles southwest of Athens, moving east at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 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...
Decatur, Athens, Hartselle, Priceville, Trinity, Tanner, Harvest,
Hillsboro, Mooresville, and Belle Mina.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3486 8678 3473 8679 3443 8698 3461 8722
3490 8709
TIME...MOT...LOC 2006Z 279DEG 9KT 3470 8705
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
RADSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
326 PM CDT Thu Jul 31 2025
ALZ009-010-312115-
DeKalb AL-Jackson AL-
326 PM CDT Thu Jul 31 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN JACKSON AND CENTRAL
DEKALB COUNTIES THROUGH 415 PM CDT...
At 326 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Pisgah, or 8 miles east of Scottsboro, moving southeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 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...
Scottsboro, Rainsville, Henagar, Sylvania, Hollywood, Powell,
Section, Pisgah, Dutton, and Rosalie.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3467 8604 3477 8587 3462 8561 3447 8594
TIME...MOT...LOC 2026Z 315DEG 11KT 3465 8589
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
RADSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
335 PM CDT Thu Jul 31 2025
ALZ004>007-016-312115-
Lawrence AL-Madison AL-Morgan AL-Limestone AL-Cullman AL-
335 PM CDT Thu Jul 31 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN MADISON...
SOUTHEASTERN LIMESTONE...NORTHWESTERN CULLMAN...MORGAN AND
SOUTHEASTERN LAWRENCE COUNTIES THROUGH 415 PM CDT...
At 335 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Decatur, moving southeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 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...
Decatur, Athens, Hartselle, Redstone Arsenal, Priceville, Trinity,
Falkville, Triana, Huntsville International Airport, and Tanner.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3427 8711 3430 8711 3430 8717 3434 8730
3478 8705 3464 8677 3456 8655 3423 8698
TIME...MOT...LOC 2035Z 315DEG 11KT 3454 8704
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
RADSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
338 PM CDT Thu Jul 31 2025
ALZ016-312115-
Cullman AL-
338 PM CDT Thu Jul 31 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN CULLMAN COUNTY
THROUGH 415 PM CDT...
At 337 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Blountsville, moving northeast at 5 mph.
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...
Hanceville, Holly Pond, Garden City, and Walter.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3396 8681 3420 8664 3423 8653 3420 8655
3419 8655 3415 8659 3412 8661 3412 8663
3409 8666 3408 8669 3409 8669 3406 8671
3403 8670 3403 8672 3395 8680
TIME...MOT...LOC 2037Z 206DEG 6KT 3413 8657
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
RADSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
358 PM CDT Thu Jul 31 2025
ALZ008-312145-
Marshall AL-
358 PM CDT Thu Jul 31 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL MARSHALL COUNTY THROUGH
445 PM CDT...
At 358 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Strawberry, or near Arab. This thunderstorm was nearly stationary.
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...
Albertville, Guntersville, Arab, High Point, Rabbit Town, Mountain
View, and Hyatt.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3424 8644 3426 8644 3426 8646 3427 8645
3427 8646 3429 8646 3429 8648 3430 8648
3430 8651 3447 8633 3426 8616 3420 8640
TIME...MOT...LOC 2058Z 245DEG 3KT 3428 8642
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
26Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
417 PM CDT Thu Jul 31 2025
ALZ009-010-312200-
DeKalb AL-Jackson AL-
417 PM CDT Thu Jul 31 2025
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN JACKSON AND CENTRAL
DEKALB COUNTIES THROUGH 500 PM CDT...
At 416 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms over
Scottsboro. This thunderstorm was nearly stationary.
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...
Scottsboro, Fort Payne, Rainsville, Henagar, Sylvania, Fyffe,
Hollywood, Powell, Geraldine, and Section.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3450 8555 3450 8556 3449 8556 3448 8558
3444 8558 3436 8607 3445 8609 3446 8608
3447 8609 3464 8612 3474 8598 3463 8553
3453 8551
TIME...MOT...LOC 2116Z 320DEG 4KT 3463 8601
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
26The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 37 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:17 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A power line was knocked down near the intersection of Goosepond Drive and Berry Road. Time estimated from radar.
A tree was knocked down at the intersection of Main Street and Tammy Little Drive in Section.
A tree was knocked down along CR 626 southeast of Section.
A tree was knocked down along CR 391 southeast of Section.
A tree was knocked down at 500 CR 62 in Section.
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: 1287874, 1287873, 1287875, 1287876, 1287878.