During the early morning hours on May 7, a wake low developed on the backside of a rain shield and moved eastward across parts of Central Alabama. Numerous trees were blown down, resulting in power outages.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 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.
During the early morning hours on May 7, a wake low developed on the backside of a rain shield and moved eastward across parts of Central Alabama. Numerous trees were blown down, resulting in power outages. Gusts of 44 mph and 45 mph were recorded at Tuscaloosa National Airport and Shelby County Airport, respectively. Counties that were most impacted were Pickens, Tuscaloosa, northern Bibb, southern Jefferson, and Shelby.
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 May 7, 1:48 AM CST, 42 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 248 AM CDT Wed May 7 2025 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM... .SHORT TERM... (Today through Thursday) Issued at 235 AM CDT WED MAY 7 2025 As of writing a broad area of showers and thunderstorms is progressing across much of Central Alabama. This activity is being guided by a H5 shortwave ejecting ahead of longwave trough across the Desert Southwest. A wake low has developed to our northwest along the MS/AL border. Opted to issue a SPS to account for the potential of 30-40 MPH gusts over the next couple of hours...similar to what the 03Z RRFS A is showing. This activity will move east of the CWA by sunrise or shortly after, giving us a brief lull through the remainder of the morning. Convection is likely to redevelop this afternoon as another H5 impulse ejects through the region. Forecast soundings suggest the potential for a few strong thunderstorms as we reach peak heating. CAPEs from 1500-2000 J/kg, ~30-40 knots 0-6km shear, and modest lapse rates would promote small hail and gusty winds. It's likely we see a similar look to the KBMX radar tonight as another shortwave rotates through, bringing along the remaining showers/storm through the area. We continue our wet period on Thursday as the upper low swings additional bouts of energy through the region. Look for the greatest chances during the afternoon hours as we reach peak heating. 95/Castillo && .LONG TERM... (Thursday night through next Tuesday) Issued at 235 AM CDT WED MAY 7 2025 Series of upper level lows in the long term will keep conditions unsettled across central Alabama. Will continue to go with medium to high POPs through most of the period. The waves of rain will have a definite diurnal flavor to them, and we will need to watch each successive batch of showers and storms as storm total rainfall starts to pile up. Temperatures should stay around or just below seasonal normals. /61/ && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1228 AM CDT WED MAY 7 2025 Poor flying conditions are expected through this TAF cycle as showers and thunderstorms spread across the region. Showers will continue through around sunrise with periodic MVFR conditions possible, especially with any heavier showers. There may be a brief lull through the morning hours before activity redevelops this afternoon. Have transitioned to TEMPO groups to capture the timing for TSRA during the afternoon and early evening hours. Reduced vis is likely with any passing storms. Convection begins to wane shortly after 00Z. Outside of gusty winds associated with a passing storm, winds will remain light through the period. 95/Castillo && .FIRE WEATHER... Fire weather elements will stay outside of critical thresholds over the next several days. Increased moisture will keep min RHs in the 50-70% range. Several rounds of showers and storms will affect Central Alabama through the week. Rain totals of 1-4 inches are currently forecast, with the higher end of that range over the southern half of the state. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 76 60 82 58 / 70 50 60 50 Anniston 76 61 80 60 / 70 50 60 60 Birmingham 77 63 81 62 / 60 40 60 60 Tuscaloosa 78 63 81 62 / 60 30 60 50 Calera 77 63 80 62 / 60 40 70 50 Auburn 77 64 78 63 / 70 40 70 60 Montgomery 81 65 81 64 / 70 40 80 50 Troy 81 63 80 63 / 70 40 80 50 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...95/Castillo LONG TERM..../61/ AVIATION...95
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 256 AM CDT Wed May 7 2025 ALZ011>015-017>050-081100- 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- 256 AM CDT Wed May 7 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham. .DAY ONE...Outlook through Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Birmingham AL 223 AM CDT Wed May 7 2025 ALZ011>015-022-023-070930- Marion-Lamar-Fayette-Winston-Walker-Pickens-Tuscaloosa- Including the cities of Hamilton, Sulligent, Vernon, Fayette, Double Springs, Jasper, Carrollton, and Tuscaloosa 223 AM CDT Wed May 7 2025 ...Gusty Winds Over The Next Couple Of Hours... A wake low will produce gusty winds across northwestern portions of Central Alabama. Winds may briefly gust from 30 to 40 MPH over the next couple of hours. If winds look to last longer than anticipated, a Wind Advisory may be warranted. TC
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A wake low brought wind gusts as high as 50-55 mph across Pickens County, resulting in many downed trees and power lines and numerous power outages. One tree fell on a backyard shed.
A wake low resulted in a few downed trees and power outages across the southern part of Lamar County.
A wake low brought wind gusts as high as 45-50 mph across Tuscaloosa County, resulting in numerous downed trees and power outages. One tree fell on a barn and chicken coop in Buhl. Another tree fell into a two-story home in Tuscaloosa. The Tuscaloosa National Airport ASOS gusted to 44 mph at 4:40 am CDT.
A wake low brought wind gusts as high as 45 mph across northern Bibb County, resulting in a few downed trees and power outages in the Woodstock and Eastern Valley areas.
A wake low brought wind gusts as high as 45 mph across southern Jefferson County, resulting in a few downed trees and power outages, especially in the McCalla, Hoover, and Vestavia Hills areas.
A wake low brought wind gusts as high as 45-50 mph across Shelby County, resulting in a numerous downed trees and a few power outages. Most tree and power line damage was reported in the Columbiana, Shelby, Calera, Alabaster, Pelham, Helena, Indian Springs Village, and Meadowbrook areas.
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, May 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: 1241680, 1241702, 1241683, 1241684, 1241686, 1241689.