Severe Drought (D2) Conditions were introduced this week for portions of Northeastern Alabama, but were removed the following week thanks to beneficial rainfall.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 HUN wrote it up.
Severe Drought (D2) Conditions were introduced this week for portions of Northeastern Alabama, but were removed the following week thanks to beneficial rainfall.
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 Jan 5, 10:05 PM CST, 1 hour 55 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 1005 PM CST Mon Jan 5 2026 ...New NEAR TERM, SHORT TERM, LONG TERM... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1005 PM CST Mon Jan 5 2026 - Temperatures will be on the rise this week, with highs reaching the upper 60s to lower 70s by Thursday. - Low-medium rain and thunderstorm chances (40-70%) return Thursday and Friday. - We are monitoring the Friday system with some indications that there will be a low chance for a few strong to marginally severe storms. && .NEAR TERM... (Rest of tonight and Tuesday) Issued at 1005 PM CST Mon Jan 5 2026 Under the influence of sfc high pressure to our east, southerly to southwesterly winds are forecast to continue advecting moisture and subsequent cloud cover into the TN Valley through Tuesday. Overnight, fog should be discouraged from the cloud cover as well as elevated winds (gusts up to 15-20 mph at times). Low temperatures are forecast to remain relatively warmer due to the ongoing cloud cover, only dropping into the mid 40s to low 50s. Zonal flow aloft will continue this pattern into Tuesday, during which highs are forecast to reach the low to mid 60s under continued cloud cover. A weak disturbance will allow a low chance (less than 20%) of drizzle, primarily along and east of I-65 during the afternoon hours. && .SHORT TERM... (Tuesday night through Thursday) Issued at 1005 PM CST Mon Jan 5 2026 As upper level ridging begins to build into the area from the west, above normal highs continue through mid week with temperatures in the mid to upper 60s on Wednesday. This is around 20 degrees above normal for this time of year. As a sfc low transitions southeast into the Mississippi Valley, a weak cold front is forecast to move through our area from the northwest. No significant rainfall or change in temperature is expected with this. However, winds will shift to be northeasterly for a brief window before becoming SSE overnight into Thursday morning. On Thursday, highs will once again reach the upper 60s (with several spots forecast to reach 70). Our primary role in the short term will be keeping up with trends of an upper level low forecast to shift northeasterly out of the Baja California region. There is still disagreement on the speed of this system (as well as subsequent threats/rainfall amounts), however, a cold front will likely move through the TN Valley in the long term period. Ahead of this, a ~50 kt LLJ will influence the region on Thursday. This will cause gusty, southerly winds up to 20-30 mph that will persist through Friday. && .LONG TERM... (Thursday night through Monday) Issued at 1005 PM CST Mon Jan 5 2026 Our primary concern in the long term period will be the aforementioned cold front, forecast to swing through the area Friday night into Saturday morning. This front will bring medium to high chances (60-80%) of showers and thunderstorms. At this time, threats include heavy rainfall/flooding, gusty to damaging winds, and a very low tornado threat. PWATs on Friday are forecast to reach 1.2-1.4" throughout the area, which is above the 90th percentile per BMX sounding climatology. Despite a disagreement in models on the amount of rainfall, these storms will likely be efficient rainfall producers and cause ponding of water in low lying areas. We will be monitoring the potential for flash flooding and rises in creeks, rivers, and streams as we continue through the week and models fall more in agreement. As far as the severe threat goes, instability and lapse rates continue to look relatively meager. Shear, however, continues to support at least a gusty wind threat and the potential for organized convection. SPC has outlooked portions of NW AL in a Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) for severe weather on Friday into Saturday morning. Recent ensembles have supported this threat to potentially be expanded southeastward. We will continue to monitor trends through the week, and we encourage all to check back in for updates. Saturday, low rain chances (less than 20%) remain possible within blended guidance due to the disagreement on what time the front will officially clear the area. Post-frontal conditions are forecast to be dry with CAA moving into the area. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 526 PM CST Mon Jan 5 2026 VFR conditions are forecast to transition to MVFR overnight as cloud ceilings lower. MVFR conditions will persist through the end of the TAF period, accompanied by gusty SW winds up to 17 kts beginning Tuesday afternoon. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && NEAR TERM...HC SHORT TERM....HC LONG TERM....HC AVIATION...HC
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe Drought (D2) Conditions were introduced this week for portions of Northeastern Alabama, but were removed the following week thanks to beneficial rainfall.
Severe Drought (D2) Conditions were introduced this week for portions of Northeastern Alabama, but were removed the following week thanks to beneficial rainfall.
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, January 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: 1315674, 1315676.