A deepening occluded surface low moved from Oklahoma northeastward to Iowa on March 4, with a warm front lifting northward from the Gulf Coast through Alabama during the day. The tight pressure gradient produced gusty winds up to 40-50 mph at times, leading to numerous reports of downed trees and power lines across Central Alabama.
Every event with a place to put it; 18 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.
A deepening occluded surface low moved from Oklahoma northeastward to Iowa on March 4, with a warm front lifting northward from the Gulf Coast through Alabama during the day. The tight pressure gradient produced gusty winds up to 40-50 mph at times, leading to numerous reports of downed trees and power lines across Central Alabama. A few small wildfires resulted from sparking power lines. Meanwhile, an associated cold front advanced into Alabama from the west, with a line of severe thunderstorms intensifying into the late evening hours as a result of a strengthening nocturnal low level jet. The line entered west Alabama around 7 PM CST, gradually becoming better organized. In addition to numerous gradient wind damage reports ahead of the line, more reports were received of thunderstorm wind damage before the line exited into Georgia around 12:30 AM on March 5.
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 Mar 4, 6:35 AM CST, 5 hours 25 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 635 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 338 AM CST MON MAR 4 2025 - A Wind Advisory is in effect for all of Central Alabama from 12 pm this afternoon to 3 pm Wednesday. Sustained winds of 15-30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph are likely. - There is a level 2 out of 5 risk for severe storms 5 pm this evening to around 3 am early Wednesday morning for all of Central Alabama. Threats include damaging straight-line winds and a few tornadoes. && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Wednesday) Issued at 338 AM CST TUE MAR 4 2025 This AM, satellite is indicating lots of mid/upper moisture/cloud cover across C AL. Surface high pressure is moving off of the E Coast into the Atlantic ahead of an approaching low pressure over KS with a front extending into OK/TX. This front is expected to swing across the Gulf Coast States as the main low moves ENE toward the Great Lakes by Wed morning. In the upper levels, we presently have an upper low over KS as well with tight SW flow into AL and overall a stacked system. The upper low should dig some and strengthen as it swings NEWD toward the Great Lakes by Wed morning with decent shortwave activity moving around the base swinging into AL tonight. Low level moisture will increase today ahead of our next system. Winds will start out from the SE this morning becoming more SRLY during the afternoon. This will help to increase our dew points. Pressure gradients will increase allowing for elevated winds and gusts well ahead/outside of any approaching storms. Will continue with a wind advisory starting at 18z today continuing through the event. Not planning on any time changes for the advisory, but did see guidance wind values coming in a tad higher during the advisory time frame and have trended slightly upward from yesterday. While higher dew points are needed to decrease the fire danger, the increased gusty winds will work against us for any fires out there. A lot of recovery will be needed to moisten up the column ahead of the approaching frontal system. Much of the day should be rain free as a result. By the middle of the afternoon, storms will be approaching/developing in the WRN counties with the heat of the day assisting. The front will still be off to our W in MS. The latest guidance brings this storms associated with the system through at a good clip and should move through a large portion (NW 2/3) of the area by midnight and the remainder of the area by 3 am. Severe thinking remains similar to previous runs with severe timing starting around 5 pm in the W and ending around 3 am in the E. Only made a slight tweak to the timing graphic to the window in the far E to start an hour earlier ~ 10 pm to give a better buffer with guidance hinting maybe a tad faster arrival there. We have another high shear and low CAPE environment expected with a line of storms to move through ahead of the front. With the fast moving nature of this system, damaging straight line winds are a likely and the primary threat, but will also have the threat of some tornadoes along the line as well. In addition, a few cells may also develop ahead of the line to watch out for severe/tornadic potential. Although these storms will have heavy rainfall and cannot rule out isolated flooding, the progression of the storms/line should alleviate the threat for any widespread flooding. Elevated winds continue behind the frontal passage into the day on Wednesday. Will continue the wind advisory through 21z Wed to account for this. Did add some isolated rain showers behind the front on Wed in the N with wrap around activity possible. Any amounts with this post frontal precip will be light. Finally, WRLY winds behind the front will usher in cooler air. That in conjunction with some wrap around clouds will help to keep highs down in the NRN counties for Wed. 08 && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday night through next Monday) Issued at 338 AM CST TUE MAR 4 2025 We'll see a return to drier weather for the later part of the week as northwesterly flow builds in behind the departing upper level trough. High pressure builds across the region through Friday leading to a slight warming trend as we head into the weekend. The upper level pattern transitions to a more zonal flow Saturday as a shortwave slides through the Ohio Valley and pushes a frontal boundary southward into Central AL by Saturday morning and afternoon. Forcing is pretty weak with this boundary, so rain probabilities have trended lower initially. By Saturday night, however, a deeper trough and stronger low pressure system is expected to move through the region. The previous frontal boundary becomes an effective warm front. Wherever the boundary sets up will mark determine if any thunderstorm chances. A more southerly placement of the boundary will mean mostly rain with some elevated thunderstorms across Central AL, while a more northerly placement could support more instability across our southern counties. There's far too much variability in the guidance on where this system tracks to mention any specific severe threat at this time. 25/Owen && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 630 AM CST TUE MAR 4 2025 Some non-convective LLWS will be present to start before surface winds kick up. Surface pressure gradients will increase ahead of a cold front that will move through tonight into Wednesday. Winds will pick up by mid morning along with higher gusts. Directions will start from the SE becoming SRLY during the afternoon. MVFR cigs/vsbys will be possible with the line of TSRA. Behind the front tonight, winds will become WRLY. Behind the storms more N-C LLWS is possible even though the surface will be elevated, much higher winds will be present just aloft. 08 && .FIRE WEATHER... Dry and windy conditions expected again today with a wind advisory in effect. Sustained winds 15-25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph are expected from noon today through 3 PM Wednesday. Moisture increases later today ahead of an approaching cold front. Winds shift more southwesterly to westerly tonight through tomorrow behind the frontal boundary. Min RHs drop again Thursday with another dry air mass building into the region. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 73 48 59 31 / 10 100 20 0 Anniston 73 51 60 32 / 10 100 20 0 Birmingham 74 51 57 34 / 20 100 20 0 Tuscaloosa 76 48 58 33 / 50 100 10 0 Calera 75 52 59 35 / 20 100 10 0 Auburn 73 55 63 36 / 0 100 0 0 Montgomery 78 53 65 37 / 10 100 0 0 Troy 78 53 66 37 / 0 100 0 0 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory from noon today to 3 PM CST Wednesday 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...08 LONG TERM....25/Owen AVIATION...08
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 415 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025 ALZ011>015-017>050-051315- 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- 415 AM CST Tue Mar 4 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 out of 5 risk for severe storms this evening into early Wednesday morning across all of central Alabama. Threats include damaging straight-line winds and a few tornadoes. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management will be needed Tuesday evening into early Wednesday morning.
The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:01 UTC.
25 thunderstorm wind, 18 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees and a few power lines were downed and at least one home was damaged in the county due to gradient winds up to 40 mph. This resulted in a couple small brush fires, one near Cleveland and one near Bangor.
Several trees were downed across roadways in the county due to gradient winds up to 40 mph. One tree fell on power lines, causing a small grass fire.
Several trees and a few power lines were downed across the county due to gradient winds generally up to 40 mph. A couple small fires started near Vernon and Malloy due to downed power lines.
Several trees and a few power lines were downed across the county due to gradient winds generally up to 45 mph. A few small fires started in the county mainly due to downed power lines.
Several trees and a few power lines were downed across the county due to gradient winds up to 40 mph. Trees on power lines started brush fires near County Road 9 near the Sumter/Choctaw county line, along County Road 1 near a power substation near Cuba, and along St. Johns Road at County Road 35 near Panola.
Several trees were downed across the county due to gradient winds up to 45 mph.
Several trees and a few power lines were downed across the county due to gradient winds up to 40 mph. Downed lines started brush fires along Dye Rd just southeast of the city of Talladega and near Cheaha Rd along the Clay County line.
Several trees were downed across the county and metal roofing peeled off a church in Coaling due to gradient winds up to 40 mph.
Numerous trees were downed across the county due to gradient winds up to 40 mph.
Several trees and a few power lines were downed across the county due to gradient winds generally up to 45 mph. A tree fell on a house near Haleyville.
Numerous trees were downed across the county due to gradient winds up to 45 mph.
Numerous trees and a few power lines were downed across the county due to gradient winds generally up to 40 mph. A few gusts around 50 mph were recorded at times.
A few trees and a couple power lines were downed in the county due to gradient winds up to 45 mph.
Several trees were downed across the county due to gradient winds up to 40 mph.
A few trees were downed across the county due to gradient winds up to 40 mph.
A few trees and power lines were downed across the county due to gradient winds up to 40 mph. Downed lines started a brush fire just south of Ashville, and a home along a ridge top near Holly Springs sustained significant roof damage.
Several trees were downed across the county due to gradient winds up to 40 mph.
Several trees were downed across roadways in the county due to gradient winds up to 45 mph.
Trees and power lines were downed on Lakeview Dr in Hamilton, and more trees were downed along County Highway 29 just north of town.
Several trees were downed across Sumter County, including in York, along McElroy Rd, on New Bethel Rd near Gainesville, and on Mundy Rd near Coatopa.
Trees were downed on Redmill Saragossa Rd and on Smith Lake Dam Rd north of Jasper.
Trees were downed on Tutwiler Rd, on Highway 269 at Gorgas Rd, at Bryan Rd and Ball Park Rd, on Horse Creek Blvd, and on Sipsey Rd.
Multiple trees were downed with power outages around Marion and Sprott.
Trees on Interstate 65 near exit 287, resulting in a crash. Another tree was downed at Red Hill School Rd and County Highway 5.
Numerous trees and power lines were downed along roadways in the Hayden, Locust Fork, Pine Mountain, Oneonta, Blountsville, and Altoona areas.
Multiple reports of trees down including Cecil Jackson Bypass, River Road, and County Road 304.
Trees were downed across the county.
Powerlines were downed on Helena Rd.
A large tree fell on power lines and blocked Shades Crest Rd near Erwin Cir, and large trees also fell and blocked Old Leeds Rd near Irondale. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (KBHM) gusted to 49 mph at approximately 9:20 PM CST.
Multiple trees down in the vicinity of Columbiana, including Kewaw Drive, Atchison Trace, Highway 47, McMahon Highlands, and Chelsea Rd.
Trees were downed at County Road 24 and County Road 21 and near County Road 57 and County Road 40.
Numerous trees and power lines were downed in the Argo, Odenville, and Ashville areas. Notably, Roulain Rd near Argo was blocked by fallen trees and power lines, and Liberty Rd near Odenville was blocked by trees, with a vehicle accident occurring.
Tree were downed at Cove Spring Rd and Little Cove Rd and on Bristow Cove Rd.
Multiple trees and power lines were downed across Talladega County.
A few trees were downed in various locations across the county.
A concentrated area of tree and power line damage occurred near Salt Creek Falls near the Clay County line, resulting in power outages.
Trees were downed across County Road 70 west of Leesburg, blocking both lanes.
Multiple trees were downed, blocking roadways in the southern part of Calhoun County near Oxford.
A home sustained minor roof damage in Weaver, and a tree was downed across Iron Mountain Rd.
Multiple trees were downed across northern Cherokee County, with multiple callouts to Broomtown VFD to help clear trees from roadways.
A couple trees were downed on Highway 281 near Highway 49.
A tree was downed at Highway 78 and County Road 49, and another tree was downed on County Road 49 near Interstate 20.
Trees and power lines were downed at the White Oak Campground and along White Oak Creek.
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, March 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: 1231145, 1231148, 1231157, 1231161, 1231194, 1231164, 1231199, 1231204, 1231207, 1231466, 1231151, 1231153, 1231146, 1231149, 1231178, 1231180, 1231150, 1231147, 1231470, 1231467, 1231468, 1231469, 1231540, 1231485, 1231538, 1231541, 1232042, 1232038, 1232043, 1232040, 1231542, 1232048, 1231543, 1232050, 1232091, 1232052, 1232080, 1232061, 1232060, 1232082, and more.