A series of mini-supercells developed during the late morning into the early afternoon hours. One of the thunderstorms produced a tornado in northeast Cullman County.
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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 series of mini-supercells developed during the late morning into the early afternoon hours. One of the thunderstorms produced a tornado in northeast Cullman County. Repetitive rainfall caused excessive rainfall and flash flooding across parts of Cullman County.
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 May 22, 4:58 AM CST, 5 hours 2 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 558 AM CDT Fri May 22 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 316 AM CDT Fri May 22 2026 - There is a low chance of a few strong to severe thunderstorms today. The primary hazards are gusty to damaging winds and a tornado or two. - Beneficial rainfall is expected over the next 7 days with an additional 2-4 inches of rain forecast for most areas. Therefore, there is a low chance of flooding during this time period. && .NEAR TERM... (Today) Issued at 316 AM CDT Fri May 22 2026 Currently, light to at times moderate showers are ongoing over much of north Alabama into southern middle Tennessee. While there has been some lightning in the storms to our east over the past hour, no lightning has been observed over our local area during this time. This activity will eventually shift to the northeast over the next couple of hours. Current radar trends coincide with Hi-Res guidance suggesting that there will be a bit of a lull in activity through mid-morning. However, by late morning/early afternoon, shower and storm activity is expected (and shown by guidance) to resurge. Overall, not much has changed with regards to the forecast and our thinking for showers and storms today. An upper level shortwave will traverse the Southeast up from the ArkLaMiss region today. A surface boundary is also present to our north, generally over Tennessee. In addition, southerly flow has ushered in plenty of moisture up from the Gulf. In fact, model PWAT values range between 1.7-2.0 inches today, well above the 90th percentile (~1.6 inches) when compared with BMX Sounding Climatology. Therefore, showers and storms will continue to be efficient rainfall producers and heavy rainfall and flooding will be a concern yet again today. In addition, guidance indicates that bulk shear values increase to around 30 knots this afternoon, along with instability values around 1500-2000 J/kg. Models also suggest that instability will become surface-based this afternoon. Thus, there remains a low risk of a few strong to severe storms, generally between 9AM-4PM today. With 0-1km SRH values over 150 m2/s2 and curved hodographs, the low risk of a tornado or two remains plausible during this time as well. Therefore, the main hazards will be gusty to damaging winds, a tornado or two, heavy downpours, as well as frequent lightning. Please stay weather aware today and have multiple ways of receiving warning information! Also, if you encounter flooded roads, Turn Around, Don't Drown! Lastly, with the high rain chances, high temperatures are expected to merely top out in the mid to upper 70s this afternoon. && .SHORT TERM... (Tonight through Sunday) Issued at 950 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026 Yet another round of rainfall is expected Friday night into Saturday with another wave lifting through the TN Valley as we remain stuck in a moisture rich southwesterly flow. These will be capable of producing heavy rainfall, gusty winds and lightning. Not expecting severe storms, and we are not in a convective outlook by SPC for Saturday. Lighter coverage of showers is expected Saturday evening (20-40%) but the roller coaster will persist with higher POP chances (50-80%) returning on Sunday. With the persistent rounds of rainfall, the potential for flooding will be closely monitored. WPC has at least some part of the forecast area in a Marginal ERO through Saturday morning, and again on Sunday. Highs this holiday weekend will be in the lower 80s with sticky dewpoints in the upper 60s to lower 70s. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday night through Thursday) Issued at 950 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026 The relief from the roller coaster of showers and thunderstorms you are looking for won't be found in the Long Term. We will be in a stagnate pattern that will keep medium to high rain chances in through mid week next week. As of right now, no severe weather is expected during this time. With the persistent rounds of rainfall, the potential for flooding will be closely monitored. WPC has at least some part of the forecast area in a Marginal ERO through Tuesday. From a drought perspective, we really needed the rain, but I think we are all ready for the return of some sunshine. High and low temperatures won't fluctuate much, with highs in the lower 80s, and lows in the low to mid 60s throughout the Long Term. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 558 AM CDT Fri May 22 2026 Light showers were ongoing over portions of north Alabama and southern middle Tennessee at issuance. In addition, CIGs at some sites have lowered to MVFR or IFR early this morning - these places were largely the ones who received rainfall last evening and overnight. Although a slight lull in shower/storm activity is anticipated this morning, chances will increase once again come late morning/early afternoon. A rainy and stormy day will then ensue. Expect lower CIGs through the day, but especially in the heavier showers/stronger storms (along with lower VIS). Furthermore, southerly winds are expected to increase by late morning/early afternoon to be roughly 10 knots with gusts to around 20 knots. Shower and storm activity then decreases this evening, along with winds. Although, shower and storm chances increase again later tonight into early Saturday morning. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && NEAR TERM...26 SHORT TERM....JMS LONG TERM....JMS AVIATION...26
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
737 AM CDT Fri May 22 2026
ALZ009-221315-
Jackson AL-
737 AM CDT Fri May 22 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL JACKSON COUNTY
THROUGH 815 AM CDT...
At 735 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Scottsboro, moving northeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts in excess of 30 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Ponding on area roadways and
very localized flash flooding is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Scottsboro, Stevenson, Hollywood, Skyline, Bass, Martintown, Fackler,
and Larkinsville.
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 3460 8603 3469 8618 3499 8598 3499 8595
3490 8575
TIME...MOT...LOC 1235Z 210DEG 19KT 3472 8605
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
KTWPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
1046 AM CDT Fri May 22 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
730 AM Tstm. Wind Damage6 NE Woodville 34.67N 86.19W
05/22/2026 Jackson AL Emergency Manager
TREE FELL AND CAUGHT THE POWER LINES AND
TOOK THE LINES DOWN. ADV LINES ARE SPARKING.
TREE PARTIALLY IN ROADWAY.
&&
GHThe Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 133 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:57 UTC.
19 thunderstorm wind, 5 flash flood, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was knocked down on CR 73 blocking both lanes.
Emergency manager reported a tree down on County Road 114 in Scottsboro blocking both lanes. Time estimated by radar.
A tree was knocked down at 117 CR 1630.
Trees were knocked down and blocking the roadway.
Multiple trees were knocked down on CR 1654.
A tree was knocked down onto CR 925 blocking the roadway.
Trees were knocked down at 500 CR 1375 blocking the roadway.
The tornado touched down just north of U.S. Highway 278 and west of Holly Pond near the intersection of County Roads 1650 and 1682. There, it quickly assumed EF1 status, uprooting a hardwood tree, and causing door damage to small farm outbuildings nearby. The tornado tracked generally northeastward, uprooting and snapping large hardwood trees along County Road 1683. Farther northeast, near the intersection of County Roads 1709, 1710, and 1711, multiple hardwood trees were snapped and uprooted, and in a small neighborhood there, a house experienced roof damage. The tornado continued to track generally northeastward across a mix of open farmland and woodland, with snapped and uprooted hardwood trees again observed along County Road 1716. To the northeast in the Brooklyn community, the tornado uprooted and snapped hardwood trees along County Road 1684, and minor roof damage occurred to a single family dwelling. There were also two cattle deaths due to tree falls off of County Road 1684. The tornado crossed northward on the east side of Brooklyn, and headed farther northeast to the east side of Baileyton, where it occasionally snapped and uprooted hardwood trees along the way. Just to the northeast of Baileyton along County Road 1762, the tornado caused tree damage, with one large tree falling on and damaging a truck. Roof damage also occurred to a nearby house. Farther northeast along County Road 1763, the tornado uprooted hardwood and softwood trees, pushed a mobile home off its foundation, and caused significant roof damage to the dwelling. The tornado began curving slightly westward as it neared the intersections of Highway 67 and 69, causing sporadic tree damage along the way and also along Apple Grove Road. The tornado then tracked north-northwestward, ending on County Road 1589 just west of Highway 67.
A tree was knocked down at the intersection of Highway 69 North and CR 1583 blocking one lane.
A tree was knocked down blocking the roadway.
The road was washed away due to flash flooding at 700 CR 734.
Social media outlet in Cullman County reported photo of flash flooding along CR 1727.
A tree was knocked down blocking the roadway at 1669 CR 1663.
A tree was uprooted at a residence near the intersection of CR 1669 and CR 1699.
A tree was knocked down on CR 1669 near CR 1663.
A tree was knocked down blocking one lane at Highway 69 at CR 1583.
Trees were knocked down on CR 1769. Time based on radar.
A tree was knocked down blocking one lane of the roadway at 200 J Lassalle Lane.
A tree was reported down in the road near 935 Six Mile Creek road.
A tree was knocked down blocking the roadway.
Two large trees were knocked down blocking a driveway.
A tree was knocked down near the intersection of Bean Rock Road and McDermont Road.
Road washed out due to flash flooding along CR 596 north of CR 616.
The Duck River Bridge was flooded along CR 703.
Flood water rising rapidly near 711 CR 1511 causing vehicles to stop and turn around.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Alabama, 2026Warnings in Alabama, May 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: 1336739, 1339851, 1338385, 1338389, 1336732, 1338382, 1338388, 1336731, 1336733, 1336734, 1342351, 1342354, 1338391, 1336746, 1338379, 1338390, 1336735, 1336736, 1340078, 1338386, 1338387, 1336738, 1342379, 1342381, 1342382.