An abnormally dry spring led to expansion of ongoing drought conditions across Central Alabama during the month of April.
Every event with a place to put it; 9 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.
An abnormally dry spring led to expansion of ongoing drought conditions across Central Alabama during the month of April.
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 31, 11:39 PM CST, 21 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 1239 AM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1236 AM CDT WED APR 1 2026 - Variable chances for showers and thunderstorms are forecast through the weekend. - Seasonably warm temperatures are expected through Saturday. && .DISCUSSION... (Wednesday through next Tuesday) Issued at 1022 PM CDT TUE MAR 31 2026 Scattered showers and thunderstorms will remain in the forecast the next several days, primarily driven by diurnal and sea breeze activity. A pattern we're much more used to seeing during the summer, not spring. However, it still looks like the secondary trough will give the stalled trough a kick in the pants, pushing the cold front through the region into the weekend. This is where more organized rain chances return to the forecast, as a line of showers and storms moves into the region. Thankfully, given the fact that the best forcing is well to the north, and limited instability, severe weather is not currently anticipated with these storms. Just some much needed rainfall. In general, half an inch to an inch of rain will be possible during this timeframe, with temperatures falling behind the front to start the new workweek. /44/ && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1239 AM CDT WED APR 1 2026 Expect VFR conditions to gradually give way to lower clouds at most sites toward daybreak and persisting through mid morning. Clouds will become BKN/SCT toward midday with mentionable chances for showers at most terminals from late morning through much of the afternoon hours. 05 && .FIRE WEATHER... Scattered showers and thunderstorms will remain in the forecast, before more organized rain chances return by the weekend. Given dry fuels, fire weather concerns will remain high, especially given the increased lightning chances the next few days. MinRH values will generally linger in the 40% range, before increasing ahead of the front come Sunday. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 83 59 85 61 / 30 20 10 10 Anniston 84 61 85 62 / 30 20 10 10 Birmingham 83 62 85 65 / 40 20 10 10 Tuscaloosa 83 61 86 63 / 40 10 0 10 Calera 84 61 86 62 / 40 10 10 0 Auburn 83 62 84 62 / 30 20 10 0 Montgomery 86 61 86 62 / 30 20 10 0 Troy 85 60 85 60 / 30 20 10 0 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && DISCUSSION.../44/ AVIATION...05
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
701 PM CDT Tue Mar 31 2026
ALZ029-037-038-047-010030-
Lee AL-Tallapoosa AL-Randolph AL-Chambers AL-
701 PM CDT Tue Mar 31 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN RANDOLPH...
NORTHEASTERN LEE...NORTHEASTERN TALLAPOOSA AND CHAMBERS COUNTIES
THROUGH 730 PM CDT...
At 701 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Jacksons' Gap to Beulah. Movement was
northeast at 20 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...
Opelika, Valley, Lanett, Roanoke, Lafayette, Stroud, La Fayette,
Wadley, Lakeview, Five Points, Cusseta, Malone, Beulah, Post Oak
Forks, Denson, Beans Mill, River View, Amity Park, Sturkie, and
Abanda.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3264 8511 3285 8570 3323 8559 3309 8523
3286 8519 3285 8515 3283 8517 3281 8517
3278 8512 3276 8514 3274 8511 3272 8512
3269 8512 3267 8509
TIME...MOT...LOC 0001Z 223DEG 16KT 3293 8582 3269 8519
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
25/OwenThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
9 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Barbour County began April with Severe (D2) conditions across the western half of the county and Extreme (D3) conditions across the northern and eastern portions. The entire county was upgraded to D3 by mid-month.
Pike County began April with Severe (D2) conditions across the county, which was upgraded to Extreme (D3) by mid-month.
Bullock County began April with Severe (D2) conditions across the southern two thirds and Extreme (D3) conditions across the northern third. The entire county was upgraded to D3 by mid-month.
Extreme (D3) conditions persisted across Russell County through April.
Extreme (D3) conditions persisted across Lee County through April.
Extreme (D3) conditions persisted across Macon County through April.
Montgomery County began April in Severe (D2) drought, with Extreme (D3) conditions introduced across the far southwestern portion. D3 conditions were expanded county-wide by mid to late month.
Lowndes County began April with the southern two-thirds in Severe (D2) drought and Extreme (D3) conditions across the southern quarter. D3 conditions were expanded county-wide by mid to late month.
Chambers County began April with the southern third in Severe (D2) drought. D2 was expanded county-wide by late month, with Extreme (D3) conditions across the southern quarter.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, April 2026
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: 1324307, 1324308, 1324309, 1324310, 1324311, 1324312, 1324314, 1324315, 1324316.