A broken line of showers and strong to severe thunderstorms (a few exhibiting embedded supercell structures) pushed east into northwestern Alabama during the early evening hours. This line became more organized and stronger as it pushed quickly east as it approached the I-65 corridor.
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.
A broken line of showers and strong to severe thunderstorms (a few exhibiting embedded supercell structures) pushed east into northwestern Alabama during the early evening hours. This line became more organized and stronger as it pushed quickly east as it approached the I-65 corridor. producing more widespread 50 to 70 mph wind gusts. The winds resulted in trees and power lines being knocked down at numerous locations and several thousand without power.
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 Dec 18, 5:52 PM CST, 1 hour 41 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 552 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1006 AM CST Thu Dec 18 2025 - Widespread rain is forecast today with a low chance for strong to severe storms this evening, with higher confidence west of I-65. - A cold front will drop temperatures near or just below the freezing mark tonight with cooler conditions through Friday night. - Temps warm over the weekend with low rain chances returning Saturday night. && .NEAR TERM... (Tonight) Issued at 312 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025 Increasing southerly flow has helped bring temperatures and dewpoints up into the mid 50s to low 60s across the region ahead of an approaching cold front currently pushing into eastern Arkansas. Ahead of this, a prefrontal convergence axis has resulted in a band of showers over north central MS. This band has yet to produce much lightning but satellite trends indicate this could soon change as these showers tap into better instability into northeast MS. SPC has placed the entire area in a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) for damaging winds and tornadoes through the evening hours. A few things we will be watching for this afternoon/evening, each introducing its own sources of uncertainty: 1. Breaks in the cloud cover over the next hour or two that could help temperatures warm by a few degrees. Higher temps/dewpoints will lead to greater instability thus increasing the severe risk this evening. 2. Shear profiles are more than sufficient for severe storms, so monitoring how storms to our west begin to organize in this environment will provide insight into how they may evolve later this evening. If storms organize and gain intensity over the next 1-2 hours, expect that to continue across northwest AL this evening. 3. Model hodographs in the pre-frontal environment indicate strong directional shear in the lowest 3km combined with deep layer shear between 50-60kts. This supports the risk for a few supercells ahead of a more linear segment of storms along the cold front. Any supercells that are able to form ahead of the front will carry the risk for damaging winds and a tornado. 4. A line of storms is expected to form along the cold front. With a SW to NE line orientation parallel to forecast surface winds ahead of it, resultant horizontal shearing instability will continue the risk for rapidly forming tornadoes this evening along the line, but will be more difficult to detect on radar due the relatively shallow depth of directional shear. Any surges, kinks, and breaks in the line will need to be monitored carefully this evening, particularly in areas with poor radar coverage. Bowing segments within the line would also introduce a localized damaging wind threat. The cold front should exit the area between 10-11pm, ending the severe threat and colder temperatures will follow. With temps near or just below freezing tomorrow morning, be sure to bundle up when headed out for the morning commute! && .SHORT TERM... (Friday through Saturday night) Issued at 1006 AM CST Thu Dec 18 2025 Cooler temperatures will follow in the wake of the cold front on Friday with highs in the low to mid 40s. Winds will gradually slacken through the day as gradient flow broadens out as sfc high pressure moves in from the west. We will maintain a dry forecast Friday through the day on Saturday with low temps dipping below the freezing mark Friday night. We will see a shift back to southerly winds on Saturday ahead of a broad upper trough that will shift east over the Great Lakes over the weekend. Moisture will increase ahead of an approaching cold front late Saturday bringing low to medium chances for rain back into the forecast Saturday night. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday through Wednesday) Issued at 904 PM CST Wed Dec 17 2025 On Sunday, a trough up in the Great Lakes region will push a cold front into the Southeast. This will spark off a few showers (20%) and the cooler northerly flow will keep daytime highs in the 50s. Overnight lows will remain above freezing. The front will try to lift back northward on Monday, providing another low chance (10-20%) of showers across the TN Valley. Sfc high pressure in the OH Valley will slide over to the Mid Atlantic coast by Tuesday, providing not only dry conditions into mid week, but warmer temps too. We will reach the lower 60s on Tuesday, and wait for this...reach the low to mid 60s on Christmas Eve/Wednesday! && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 552 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025 A N-S oriented line of showers and thunderstorms was moving east at 35kt across far NW AL. There is a risk for strong/severe storms from east of Huntsville and points west early this evening. Thus, prevailing MVFR CIGs will be reduced to IFR, and at times briefly lower with erratic wind gusts over 30kt with the stronger storms, as they traverse the area. Shower activity should wane quickly from west to east in the mid/late evening with the passage of a frontal boundary. VFR conditions should return in late evening from west to east. A strong wind field aloft has resulted in Low- Level Wind Shear for the terminals into the late evening, with winds diminishing in the overnight. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && NEAR TERM...25 SHORT TERM....25 LONG TERM....JMS AVIATION...RSB
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
513 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025
ALZ001-182345-
Lauderdale AL-
513 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN LAUDERDALE COUNTY
THROUGH 545 PM CST...
At 513 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
J P Coleman State Park, moving east at 50 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...
Waterloo, Wright, and Threet.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CST for northwestern
Alabama.
&&
LAT...LON 3501 8772 3493 8768 3488 8797 3491 8804
3491 8805 3490 8807 3489 8810 3492 8816
3496 8817 3500 8820 3501 8820
TIME...MOT...LOC 2313Z 252DEG 43KT 3495 8820
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
AMPSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
543 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025
ALZ003-190030-
Franklin AL-
543 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT FRANKLIN COUNTY THROUGH 630 PM
CST...
At 543 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Tremont, or 9 miles east of Fulton, moving northeast at 40 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...
Russellville, Red Bay, Belgreen, Vina, Hodges, Pogo, Cedar Creek
Reservoir, Atwood, Duketon, and Rockwood.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CST for northwestern
Alabama.
&&
LAT...LON 3458 8814 3457 8764 3432 8781 3431 8783
3432 8817
TIME...MOT...LOC 2343Z 233DEG 35KT 3426 8824
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
AMPSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
625 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025
ALZ001-190115-
Lauderdale AL-
625 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EASTERN LAUDERDALE COUNTY
THROUGH 715 PM CST...
At 625 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
St. Florian, or 8 miles northeast of Florence, moving east at 25 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...
Florence, Killen, Lexington, St. Florian, Underwood-Petersville,
Anderson, Green Hill, Zip City, Kingtown, and Oakland.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CST for north central
and northwestern Alabama.
&&
LAT...LON 3501 8780 3500 8721 3494 8721 3478 8780
3500 8782
TIME...MOT...LOC 0025Z 250DEG 23KT 3494 8759
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
AMPPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
633 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0613 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 5 NE Skyline 34.85N 86.05W
12/18/2025 Jackson AL Emergency Mngr
Tree down blocking the roadway at
intersection of CR200 and CR33 in the Crow
Mountain Area.
&&
12Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
655 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0646 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 SSW Florence 34.81N 87.68W
12/18/2025 M51 MPH Lauderdale AL Mesonet
Measured at UNA.
&&
12Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
659 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0647 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 8 S Town Creek 34.56N 87.42W
12/18/2025 Lawrence AL Emergency Mngr
Trees down in Hatton on CR236.
&&
12The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 70 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:34 UTC.
23 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was reported down at Vanzant road and MCBURG Dellrose road.
A tree was reported down near the intersection of Barnes Hollow road and Brady road.
A tree was reported down at 224 Curtis Road. This may be gradient wind event if report time was as early as what is in LSR tracker (6:58 PM).
A tree was reported down along 12 Old Schoolhouse road.
A tree was reported down near the intersection of Lewisburg highway and Davis Hallow road.
A tree was reported down near the intersection of Shelbyville highway and Wiley Hollow road.
A tree was reported down across the road at 131 McDeal road.
A tree was reported down at 372 Ardmore highway.
A tree was reported down on the road near the intersection of Ardmore highway and Wells Hill road.
A tree was reported down at 39 Diemer road.
A tree was reported down at 78 Louse Creek road.
Trees were reported down near the intersection of County Line road and highway 82.
Trees were reported down near the intersection of Cobb Hollow road and Price Hollow road.
A tree was reported down at Wells Hill Park and 92 Wells Hill road.
Trees were reported down at the intersection of Damron road and Tanyard Hill Road.
Trees were reported down on N Cumberland Springs road.
A tree was reported down at 58 S Crystal Ridge Road.
Large limbs were reported down at 138 Champ road. Need to re-enter this in Moore county.
Trees were reported down on Andy Anderson road.
Trees were reported down on Lost Creek road.
Trees were reported down on Marble Hill road near a campsite.
Trees were reported down near the intersection of Hurricane Creek road and Shelton road.
A tree was reported down at 78 Arnold Holllow road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, December 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: 1304098, 1304103, 1304101, 1304104, 1304112, 1304125, 1304100, 1304109, 1304122, 1304123, 1304143, 1304208, 1304207, 1304135, 1304189, 1304206, 1304142, 1304188, 1304221, 1304219, 1304220, 1304256, 1304102.