A wake low developed behind a large complex of thunderstorms that moved through earlier in the overnight hours. This produced rapid barometric pressure falls and gusty winds, but no damage reports that could be discerned.
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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 wake low developed behind a large complex of thunderstorms that moved through earlier in the overnight hours. This produced rapid barometric pressure falls and gusty winds, but no damage reports that could be discerned. Additional isolated strong thunderstorms developed shortly after in northwest into north central Alabama, which produced small hail and locally strong and gusty winds which knocked down a couple of trees.
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 Apr 29, 2:40 AM CST, 17 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 340 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026 ...New NEAR TERM... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 340 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026 - Rain and thunderstorms will continue this morning, with the primary hazards being hail, locally heavy rainfall, and flash flooding. - Additional episodes of light rain will be possible across the southern portion of the forecast area Wednesday night and across most of the region Friday afternoon-early Saturday morning. && .NEAR TERM... (Today) Issued at 340 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026 After an eventful overnight period that consisted of an area wide stratiform rain shield with embedded thunderstorms get scoured out from west to east thanks to a wake low. Earlier this morning, gusts associated with the wake low reached 30-40 mph across NW AL and around 20-30 mph just east of the I-65 corridor. Latest obs have not shown much in strong gusts, but the back edge of the precip is quickly moving eastward across NE AL. However, a new line of thunderstorms has developed across N MS and are slowly moving east into N AL along what appears to be a remnant outflow boundary. These storms have shown some impressive cores aloft with hail being the main concern given these cells appear elevated. Hires CAMs have depicted a west to east line of storms stretching from MS into AL this morning that eventually drifts further to the south. Another thing to watch is for flooding this morning as this line moves across Franklin, Lawrence, and Cullman counties. This area has received 2-4 inches of rainfall over the last 24 hrs and if any training occurs flooding is expected. Lingering isolated showers should continue until a cold front, currently located west of Memphis swings through the local forecast area. Between cloud cover and the frontal passage afternoon temperatures only rise into the mid to upper 70s. && .SHORT TERM... (Wednesday night through Friday night) Issued at 905 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026 Over the course of the short term period a positive-tilt northern stream trough (initially across Ontario) will deepen into a closed mid/upper-level cyclone that will drift very slowly eastward into western Quebec by Friday night. This configuration will maintain a belt of strong (45-55 knot) westerly flow aloft across much of the southern CONUS, with a subtle disturbance embedded within this flow predicted to result in a broad axis of surface pressure falls from south TX into the Lower MS Valley tomorrow. Anafrontal rain on the cool side of the trough (and convective precipitation to its south) will likely remain focused across the central Gulf Coast on Wednesday night. However, current model guidance suggests that patches of light rain may occur across the southern portion of our forecast area (south of the TN River) from late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning, as a deepening layer of NNE flow and cool/dry advection will significantly reduce the risk for measurable precipitation further to the north. Periods of broken mid and high-level clouds and dry conditions will exist on Thursday and Thursday night as a surface ridge migrates southeastward into the TN Valley from the central Plains, resulting in lighter surface winds. During the period from Friday into Friday night, the remnant vorticity lobe (associated with a cutoff low currently over the eastern North Pacific) will shift east-northeastward from northern Mexico into the Lower MS Valley, forcing the development of a stronger frontal wave across the Lower Rio Grande Valley (that will lift quickly northeastward into the southeastern CONUS by 12Z Saturday). As this occurs, anafrontal precipitation (initially occurring in an upslope flow regime across the southern High Plains) will expand quickly eastward into the Lower MS Valley and central Gulf Coast, perhaps bringing a round of light-moderate stratiform rain to the region Friday afternoon and Friday night. Overnight lows in the l-m 50s on Thursday morning will fall into the m-u 40s by Saturday morning as a stronger/reinforcing high builds into the northern Plains. Highs will fall more notably into the u60s-l70s on Thursday and further into the m-u 60s on Friday as skies become overcast. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday through Tuesday) Issued at 905 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026 Global models suggest that cool rain on the northwestern flank of a surface low (across the southeastern CONUS) will end across the region late Saturday morning, with dry conditions expected for the remainder of the weekend. As a surface high builds southward through the Great Plains, winds will become light/variable Saturday night and this along with clearing skies will promote efficient radiational cooling and lows in the u30s-l40s (followed by sunny skies and pleasantly warm temps in the m60s-l70s later on Sunday). Southwesterly return flow will begin on Sunday night and continue through the end of the extended period, resulting in a warming trend with highs returning to the m-u 70s by Tuesday. Low- level moisture return will initially be limited in this regime, but should increase a bit by Tuesday, warranting very low chances for showers. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1213 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026 Showers with embedded thunderstorms will continue at the start of the TAF period. These will lower visibility and keep cloud heights below fuel alternate. Thunderstorms will move off to the east over the next few hours leaving in its wake light rain, but the low stratus will remain until after sunrise. NBM guidance is giving a low chance (20-30%) of IFR ceilings during the early morning hours, but confidence is too low to include at this time. The cold front should slide south of the terminals during the morning hours scattering out the MVFR ceilings. Winds will then veer to the NW with gusts as high 15 to 20 kts. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && NEAR TERM...GH SHORT TERM....70 LONG TERM....70 AVIATION...GH
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
201 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0130 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 E Muscle Shoals 34.75N 87.61W
04/29/2026 M38 MPH Colbert AL Public
Peak wind gust of 38 mph measured at KMSL
ASOS.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
211 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0121 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 S Saint Florian 34.84N 87.62W
04/29/2026 Lauderdale AL 911 Call Center
Tree down on County Road 61 and Hough Road,
down to one lane open. Time estimated based
on radar and nearby surface observations.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
212 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0142 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 7 W Rogersville 34.82N 87.41W
04/29/2026 Lauderdale AL 911 Call Center
Tree down blocking the road at 181 Bluewater
Drive. Time estimated based on radar.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
302 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026
ALZ003-290845-
Franklin AL-
302 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT FRANKLIN COUNTY THROUGH 345 AM
CDT...
At 301 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Red Bay, moving east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts in excess of 30 mph and accumulating large
amounts of penny 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...
Russellville, Red Bay, Phil Campbell, Littleville, Belgreen, Vina,
Pogo, Cedar Creek Reservoir, Tharptown, and Duketon.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3458 8814 3457 8753 3435 8753 3437 8817
TIME...MOT...LOC 0801Z 267DEG 43KT 3446 8819
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
30Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
348 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026
ALZ003-004-007-290930-
Lawrence AL-Morgan AL-Franklin AL-
348 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN MORGAN...EAST
CENTRAL FRANKLIN AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES THROUGH 430 AM CDT...
At 348 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles northeast of Phil Campbell, or 12 miles southeast of
Russellville, moving east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel 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...
Decatur, Hartselle, Moulton, Trinity, Mt Hope, Chalybeate Springs,
Speake, Ne Smith, Caddo, and Basham.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3434 8758 3457 8753 3457 8752 3458 8752
3458 8751 3461 8751 3458 8696 3431 8695
TIME...MOT...LOC 0848Z 272DEG 43KT 3443 8752
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
30Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
355 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026
ALZ002-003-290930-
Franklin AL-Colbert AL-
355 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL COLBERT AND
FRANKLIN COUNTIES THROUGH 430 AM CDT...
At 355 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Belgreen, or 8 miles southwest of Russellville, moving east at 55
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel 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...
Russellville, Phil Campbell, Littleville, Belgreen, Hodges, Cedar
Creek Reservoir, Atwood, Srygley Church, La Grange, and Tharptown.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3464 8794 3461 8751 3458 8751 3457 8752
3457 8753 3430 8753 3434 8802
TIME...MOT...LOC 0855Z 272DEG 48KT 3445 8786
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
30The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 59 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 08:54 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was knocked down on Highway 19 in the Vina area.
A tree was knocked down on Highway 524 in the Belgreen community.
Nickel-sized hail was reported in Danville.
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: 1326691, 1326692, 1326693.