Clusters of strong thunderstorms developed in the late afternoon hours across central into north central Alabama. The storms produced gusty winds knocking down a few trees in Morgan 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.
Clusters of strong thunderstorms developed in the late afternoon hours across central into north central Alabama. The storms produced gusty winds knocking down a few trees in Morgan 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 23, 4:55 AM CST, 4 hours 50 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 555 AM CDT Sat May 23 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 338 AM CDT Sat May 23 2026 - A wet weather pattern will continue for the next seven days with an additional 2.5-4 inches of rain expected. Thus, there is at least a low risk of flooding into next week. - We are monitoring the potential for a few strong storms on Monday, but confidence is low. We are not currently outlooked for severe weather by The Storm Prediction Center. && .NEAR TERM... (Today) Issued at 338 AM CDT Sat May 23 2026 Light to at times moderate showers with a few embedded storms are currently ongoing over northwest Alabama. Some light returns were seen over northeast Alabama and into southern middle Tennessee as well. Overall, not expecting too much more in the way of shower and storm activity over the next several hours. In fact, Hi-Res model guidance suggests that coverage of showers and storms will be less today compared to recent days. Model PWATs are also slightly lower, ranging between 1.4-1.7 inches (~1.6 inches is the 90th percentile when compared with BMX Sounding Climatology). Therefore, mainly medium chances (40-60%) of showers and storms are forecast today. Not anticipating severe weather today either, due to bulk shear values shown by guidance only reaching between 20-25 knots even with sufficient instability (1500-2300 J/kg). Even so, it will be important to remain weather aware if you have outdoor activities, since heavy downpours and frequent lightning will continue to be impacts with any showers/storms. When thunder roars, go indoors! See a flash, dash inside! Lastly, highs this afternoon are forecast to top out in the upper 70s to lower 80s. && .SHORT TERM... (Saturday night through Monday) Issued at 1032 PM CDT Fri May 22 2026 With a loss of daytime heating, isolated to scattered shower chances are forecast Saturday night, with lows in the mid 60s. Deeper moisture however will return for the start of the new week. Precip water amounts will rise into the 1.7 to 1.8", or higher than the 90th percentile for this time of year. Daytime heating with highs rising into the lower 80s will produce higher instability, with numerous showers and storms forming in the afternoon and evening. Rainfall totals of 0.5 to 1 inch are expected, with locally higher amounts. Shower activity should wind down Sunday evening with a loss of daytime produced instability. An almost repeat performance is forecast for Memorial Day, with numerous showers and storms forming in the afternoon and evening. Overall storm intensity should be "general" on Sunday, with rather high instability due to high moisture content but weak shear. Monday on the other hand has elevated instability, as well as higher shear values; thus we cannot rule out a stronger storm potential. && .LONG TERM... (Monday night through Friday) Issued at 1032 PM CDT Fri May 22 2026 Unsettled weather will continue for the rest of the week. A larger scale upper troughing west and ridging east big picture pattern is expected. A deep southerly lower level flow will also persist. This flow bringing moisture from the Gulf further inland will keep daily chances of showers and thunderstorms in the forecast. The convection should be on a diurnal trend - mainly in the afternoon to early evening hours each day. As such, daily high temperatures should rise into the low/mid 80s, and nighttime lows mainly in the mid 60s. Precipitable water amount in the 1.6 to 1.8 inch range will produce a risk of locally heavy rainfall, with some risks for flooding and at times elevated water levels within area creeks, streams, and rivers. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 555 AM CDT Sat May 23 2026 A mix of VFR and MVFR conditions were observed over north Alabama at issuance. For the terminals, anticipating low CIGs (mainly MVFR with perhaps instances of IFR) through this morning. Additionally, low to medium chances (30-60%) of showers and storms will prevail through much of the day, with chances decreasing this evening. Expect lower CIGs and VIS in the heavier showers. Otherwise, VFR conditions should largely return this afternoon. Although, conditions are forecast to drop once again late tonight to at least MVFR with rain chances increasing as well. Southerly winds around 5 knots or so will become southwesterly through this morning. Light to calm winds are then anticipated to take hold this evening and continue overnight. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && NEAR TERM...26 SHORT TERM....RSB LONG TERM....RSB AVIATION...26
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
1013 AM CDT Sat May 23 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1258 PM Flash Flood 5 N Hanceville 34.14N 86.75W
05/22/2026 Cullman AL 911 Call Center
The road was washed away due to flash
flooding at 700 CR 734.
1258 PM Flash Flood 2 NNE Holly Pond 34.20N 86.60W
05/22/2026 Cullman AL Newspaper
Social media outlet in Cullman County
reported photo of flash flooding along CR
1727.
0156 PM Flash Flood 3 NW Hanceville 34.09N 86.80W
05/22/2026 Cullman AL 911 Call Center
Road washed out due to flash flooding along
CR 596 north of CR 616.
0229 PM Flash Flood 6 NE Hanceville 34.13N 86.70W
05/22/2026 Cullman AL 911 Call Center
The Duck River Bridge was flooded along CR
703.
0242 PM Flash Flood 2 NNE Holly Pond 34.21N 86.60W
05/22/2026 Cullman AL 911 Call Center
Flood water rising rapidly near 1511 CR 711
causing vehicles to stop and turn around.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
1038 AM CDT Sat May 23 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0200 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 5 NNW Killen 34.93N 87.55W
05/22/2026 Lauderdale AL Emergency Mngr
Trees were knocked down at the intersection
of CR 63 and CR 73 blocking both lanes of CR
73.
&&The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:43 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was knocked down onto the roadway with complete blockage near the intersection of East Upper River Road and Mussle Camp Road. Time estimated.
A tree was knocked down onto the roadway near the intersection of Iron Man Road and Pine Hill Lane. Time estimated.
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, 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: 1338375, 1338374.