An widespread area of showers and thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall of 2-4 inches in a short period of time during the morning that resulted in flash flooding and some downed trees in Cullman county. Isolated strong storms occurred in the afternoon hours as well.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
An widespread area of showers and thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall of 2-4 inches in a short period of time during the morning that resulted in flash flooding and some downed trees in Cullman county. Isolated strong storms occurred in the afternoon hours as well. One storm downed a tree in Morgan county, Alabama.
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 24, 7:43 AM CST, 1 hour 22 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 843 AM CDT Sun May 24 2026 ...New NEAR TERM, SHORT TERM... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 843 AM CDT Sat May 23 2026 - A wet weather pattern will continue for the next seven days. - Low risk of excessive rain and flash flooding during this period. - Gusty winds and lightning will be the other hazards associated with thunderstorms. && .NEAR TERM... (Rest of Today and Tonight) Issued at 843 AM CDT Sun May 24 2026 An MCV was lifting northeast into southwest AL this morning. northwest of the center, a persistent band of deep layer convergence was generating showers and embedded thunderstorms from southeast MS into north AL. The lightning activity has been limited thus far, but with daytime heating, this will tend to pick up. Locally heavy rainfall will occur in this persistent band as it lifts northeast into the north and northeast AL. There may be a break in the activity this afternoon as this band shifts further east this afternoon as the MCV departs. Then, added heating should generate additional isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms. CAMS show a relative minima after daytime heating ceases this evening, so PoPs become lower overnight. Afternoon highs will be in the upper 70s to lower 80s followed by lows in the 60s tonight. && .SHORT TERM... (Monday through Tuesday) Issued at 843 AM CDT Sun May 24 2026 Deep layer southerly flow will persist through the southeast and TN Valley on Monday into Tuesday between a weak 5h low over the ARKLATEX region and a Bermuda high. The western low lifts north- northwest as a trough digs into the Rockies. Southerly flow increases to 20-25kt in the 8-5h layer with general confluent flow persisting in a high PW/theta-E airmass. Thus, a continued risk of locally excessive rainfall is expected. High temperatures will be similar both days in the upper 70s to lower 80s with lows in the 60s. && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday night through Saturday) Issued at 1059 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026 Unsettled weather will continue for the remainder of next week, with daily chances of showers and thunderstorms. The circulation rounding surface high pressure off of the east coast will continue bringing deep moisture from the Gulf region well inland. Rain chances however will begin to take on a more diurnal trend as we go into the latter portion of the week, with the highest chances in the afternoon and early evening. Daily high temperatures should range in the low/mid 80s and lows in the mid 60s. A frontal boundary is forecast to move across the area on Saturday from the north. Depending upon far south it moves, rain chances next week may indeed become lower. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 626 AM CDT Sun May 24 2026 MVFR to VFR conditions were reported across north Alabama at issuance. Medium to high chances (50-90%) of showers and storms will be the theme today, with the highest chances in the afternoon. Expecting CIGs to waffle between MVFR and VFR through the day, with conditions dropping to potentially IFR in the heavier showers/storms. Shower and storm chances then decrease this evening, but are forecast to increase once again by daybreak Monday morning. Light winds this morning are expected to become southwesterly and increase to be around 5 knots or so through the day (outside of thunderstorms). By this evening, light to calm winds will take hold and persist through the overnight. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && NEAR TERM...17 SHORT TERM....17 LONG TERM....RSB AVIATION...26
The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 97 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:06 UTC.
9 thunderstorm wind, 6 flash flood, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was reported down at the intersection of CR 223 & highway 69.
A tree was reported down at 5680 CR 223.
Powerlines were reported down near the intersection of CR 562 and CR 565.
A tree was reported down on 316 CR 576.
One tree was reported down near the intersection of Day Gap road and CR 447.
A tree was reported down at the intersection of CR 282 and CR 272.
A tree was reported down in the roadway near 250 Kaylee Loop road.
Flash flooding reported on Hart Drive. Depth of water unknown.
At least 6 inches of flowing water over Megan Lane near a Dollar General Store by a digital media entity.
At least 6 inches of water was reported flowing over Oliver road by a digital media entity on Oliver road.
Three to four inches of standing water was reported at 1889 CR 31.
Reports of flooding on County Road 223 with at least 6 inches of water flowing across it.
Several reports of flooding around the Cross Creek Golf Course. About 1.5 ft of water was flowing across CR 490 with water up to the bumpers of cars just south of the golf course. There is another report of water flowing over CR 437 and a video.
CR 437 and Beechgrove Road in Good Hope is covered with 6 inches of moving water.
A tree was reported down nea rthe intersection of CR 87 and CR 166.
A tree was reported down near highway 157 and CR 10.
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: 1339870, 1339875, 1339879, 1339868, 1339876, 1339874, 1339861, 1342383, 1342384, 1342386, 1342395, 1342387, 1342393, 1342394, 1339896, 1339895.