Extended dry periods in August and September with minimal relief promoted the introduction of Severe (D2) drought into counties in southwestern Central Alabama by late month.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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.
Extended dry periods in August and September with minimal relief promoted the introduction of Severe (D2) drought into counties in southwestern Central Alabama by late month.
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 Sep 22, 11:37 PM CST, 23 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 1237 AM CDT Tue Sep 23 2025 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Tuesday) Issued at 1243 PM CDT MON SEP 22 2025 The southern humidity has mostly returned that we're used to during this time of the year, as southeasterly flow and moisture advection have increased dewpoints into the upper 60s and lower 70s at midday. A weak easterly wedge was still present over Central Georgia, but is weakening overall as the surface ridge begins to retreat to the north and east from the Carolinas. An upper level shortwave along with 500mb trough axis is currently moving east and will traverse the Ohio River Valley through the rest of the day today. Widespread coverage of showers and storms will remain off to our north as a result, but isolated to scattered storms will remain in the forecast for a good portion of our forecast area. CAMs are indicating best coverage across western and northwestern counties through this afternoon, and PoPs have been updated into the chance category as a result. Elsewhere, isolated development is forecast as temperatures rise into the lower 90s with additional humidity to factor in. What will be a bit of a change today compared to the past several days will include fairly breezy southerly winds as a pressure gradient sets up across the region. We can expect prevailing winds around 10mph with a few gusts up to 20mph, especially for counties along the U.S. Highway 278 corridor. Following another mild night in the 60s as winds diminish overall, the upper trough axis will lift to the north and east, keeping our area mostly dry, except for a few isolated to scattered showers and storms during the afternoon on Tuesday. Surface ridging will broaden westward from the southwest Atlantic, keeping much of the central Gulf Coast dry and hot. A pocket of dry air aloft will also keep a lid on convective development despite southerly surface flow. Temperatures could be a degree or so warmer overall, topping out in the lower 90s with a few pockets of mid 90s. 56/GDG && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday night through next Sunday) Issued at 205 AM CDT MON SEP 22 2025 Next big weather maker for central Alabama comes in the form of an upper level trough that is forecast to dig into the eastern CONUS the middle to end of this week, and an associated surface cold front passage. These features should bring some much needed rain to our area. Time period for highest chances of showers and storms will be from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday night. Looks like just about all of central Alabama will get some rain during that time frame, with average amounts expected to be around an inch to an inch and a half. Will need to watch details on mesoscale features, especially in the Wednesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon time frame. There's obviously bound to be some instability around. If the upper trough can muster a strong enough surface low to enhance shear levels, then there's a non-zero chance of some severe storms. Temperatures behind the front will still be slightly above seasonal averages, rather than significantly above like we've seen recently. /61/ && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1231 AM CDT TUE SEP 23 2025 Another 24 hours of VFR conditions on tap for central Alabama terminals. Just a mixture of high clouds (at or above 12K ft), and scattered cumulus. Any showers or storms today should stay well north of the northernmost of our TAF sites. Winds at or below 7 kts. /61/ && .FIRE WEATHER... Mostly dry weather is forecast for central Alabama today, with MinRH values expected to stay above 30 percent. An approaching cold front will enhanced rain chances to the area starting Wednesday afternoon, but especially Wednesday night through Thursday afternoon. A return to dry weather is forecast as high pressure builds back in over the weekend. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 90 67 91 68 / 10 10 30 70 Anniston 90 70 91 70 / 0 0 20 50 Birmingham 92 72 92 70 / 0 0 30 70 Tuscaloosa 93 71 91 70 / 0 0 40 70 Calera 93 70 93 70 / 0 0 20 60 Auburn 91 70 91 70 / 0 0 0 20 Montgomery 93 70 94 71 / 0 0 10 30 Troy 92 68 92 70 / 0 0 0 20 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...56 LONG TERM....02 AVIATION.../61/
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 246 PM CDT Mon Sep 22 2025 ALZ011>015-017>050-232300- 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- 246 PM CDT Mon Sep 22 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...Tuesday through Sunday. A Marginal (Level 1 of 5) risk for severe thunderstorms is forecast Wednesday evening into Wednesday night. Damaging wind gusts to 60 mph are the primary hazard. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management may be needed Wednesday evening into Wednesday night.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
The western half of the county was upgraded to Severe (D2) drought conditions in late September.
The county was upgraded to Severe (D2) drought conditions in late September.
Much of the county was upgraded to Severe (D2) drought conditions in late September. The eastern half was upgraded to Severe (D2) and the western half to Extreme (D3) at the end of the month.
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, September 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: 1287765, 1287766, 1287767.