Severe thunderstorm activity occurred across southern portions of Central Alabama from the evening of May 6 into the overnight hours of May 7. Most of the severe weather occurred in the form of wind damage and hail from three distinct supercells across parts of Montgomery, Macon, Greene, Hale, and Sumter counties.
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 BMX wrote it up.
Severe thunderstorm activity occurred across southern portions of Central Alabama from the evening of May 6 into the overnight hours of May 7. Most of the severe weather occurred in the form of wind damage and hail from three distinct supercells across parts of Montgomery, Macon, Greene, Hale, and Sumter counties. Large hail, up to baseball size, was observed just east of downtown Montgomery and later near Forkland in Greene County. As training thunderstorms resulted in 3 to 5 inches of rain falling, several instances of flash flooding occurred in parts of Montgomery, Elmore, Autauga, Marengo, and Sumter counties.
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 Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 6, 12:04 PM CST, 1 hour 21 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 104 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026 ...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 102 PM CDT WED MAY 6 2026 - An enhanced risk (levels 3 out of 5) for severe thunderstorms is in effect for Wednesday into early Thursday. Threats include isolated, brief tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, and large hail. - There is a Moderate Risk (level 3 of 4) of flash flooding with the thunderstorm activity Wednesday evening through Thursday morning, especially in urban or poor drainage areas. && .DISCUSSION... (This afternoon through Tuesday) Issued at 102 PM CDT WED MAY 6 2026 A cold front will continue to move into the area through the rest of the night into Thursday morning. Timing is generally around 1 pm in the far northwest, with a slow progression of the line of storms towards the south and southeast. CAMs have been coming into better agreement with timing, and show isolated storms moving ahead of the main line. Instability is between 1500- 2500 J/kg with these initial storms, and 0-1 km shear is mild, though 0-6 km shear is enough to support strong storms. These isolated storms could easily rotate and produce damaging winds and a tornado, though the threat may be slightly lower than the storms through the late afternoon and early evening. With strong southerly flow, PW values will be around 2 inches or higher today through the morning. This is much greater than max for this time of year climatologically, and with the steering flow parallel to the boundary, storms are likely to train over the same areas, producing high rain rates and high rainfall accumulations. The highest totals look to be in the southeast where the greatest concentration of training storms is expected. Values of 4-5 inches are expected, with locally higher amounts in any stronger storms. Any storm will likely produce rain rates enough to reduce visibilities so driving could become hazardous. Flooding is a concern through the night, especially in those training storms. As the line moves south and east, individual storms are expected to move along that line. Low LCLs, enough instability, and an increase in 0-1 km shear to 40-50 kts will support an increased tornado threat. Mid level winds increase from a strong mid level jet, which causes that increase in low level shear, and will also support stronger updraft and longer lived storms. CAMs have that line moving into the I85 area after midnight, with a concentration of weather in the southeast through the early morning. Instability is slightly weaker in the southeast, values topping around 1000-1500 j/kg, but shear will remain strong, with damaging winds and an isolated tornado threat continuing. Thursday morning, the front will continue to the south and east, and should push all activity south of the area by sunrise. Northerly flow will settle over the area, bringing drier and slightly cooler air, as high pressure continues to build over the southeast. By Friday evening, a shortwave approaches from the south and west, bringing the next chance for rain through the night Friday into Saturday. A low pressure system will move across the Ohio Valley through the latter half of the weekend, with a frontal boundary bringing widespread activity through Sunday. Instability will be higher on Sunday, and shear will be moderate, allowing for strong atoms to develop, though potential for any severe storms remains low at this time. The front will push south and east through night, with rain decreasing through Monday morning, and northwest flow bringing drier air to the state through the beginning of the work week. 24 && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 102 PM CDT WED MAY 6 2026 Isolated thunderstorms will move into areas north of I85 through the afternoon and early evening, ahead of a main line of storms. Any storm moving over a TAF site will produce high rain rates to drop visibilities to IFR or LIFR, and enough low level moisture will be available for IFR ceilings overnight. Thunderstorms should move south with rain lingering over each TAF site through the early morning, before northerly flow brings dry air and a decrease in rain through mid morning Thursday. AMD NOT SKED will continue for TCL due to intermittent observations. 24 && .FIRE WEATHER... Scattered to widespread showers and thunderstorms will bring plenty of rain through the state tonight and Thursday morning. In total, some locations are likely to see 2-4 inches of rain during this timeframe, with 4-5 inches possible in the southeast. After a brief break in rain Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon, rain returns through the weekend. Given the higher MinRH values and upcoming rain, fire weather concerns remain little to none at this time. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 56 72 45 73 / 100 20 0 0 Anniston 60 72 48 73 / 100 40 0 0 Birmingham 60 72 51 74 / 100 20 0 0 Tuscaloosa 60 75 51 75 / 100 10 0 0 Calera 61 75 51 75 / 100 30 0 0 Auburn 66 77 55 73 / 100 80 0 10 Montgomery 66 77 54 74 / 90 70 0 20 Troy 67 78 56 74 / 80 80 10 20 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch through Thursday morning for the following counties: Autauga-Barbour-Bibb-Blount-Bullock-Calhoun-Chambers-Cherokee- Chilton-Clay-Cleburne-Coosa-Dallas-Elmore-Etowah-Greene-Hale- Jefferson-Lee-Lowndes-Macon-Marengo-Montgomery-Perry-Pickens- Pike-Randolph-Russell-Shelby-St. Clair-Sumter-Talladega- Tallapoosa-Tuscaloosa. && DISCUSSION...24 AVIATION...24
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
144 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
ALZ030-039-061930-
Sumter AL-Marengo AL-
144 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN MARENGO AND
SOUTHEASTERN SUMTER COUNTIES THROUGH 230 PM CDT...
At 144 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles east of Kinterbish, or 13 miles southeast of York, moving
northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea 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...
Demopolis, Jefferson, Faunsdale, Pin Hook, Coatopa, Dug Hill,
Kinterbish, U.S. 80 and AL 28, Old Spring Hill, Belmont, Demopolis
Lock And Dam, McDowell, Bellamy, Whitfield, and Demopolis Municipal
Airport.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
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 3263 8792 3262 8791 3262 8788 3261 8784
3259 8786 3260 8786 3260 8790 3253 8786
3255 8783 3254 8782 3252 8782 3252 8773
3248 8773 3248 8761 3244 8757 3231 8799
3231 8834
TIME...MOT...LOC 1844Z 233DEG 27KT 3233 8816
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
56The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
11 hail, 9 thunderstorm wind, 6 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were downed on Highway 69 south of Gallion.
Numerous trees were downed around downtown Montgomery, including along West Blvd and West Wareingwood Dr. Over 3300 power outages were reported.
A gust of 58 mph was recorded at Montgomery Dannelly Field at 4:55 pm CDT.
Up to tennis ball-size hail was reported along Taylor Rd near the Eastchase shopping center.
Trees were downed along Snowdoun Chambers Rd southeast of Montgomery.
Trees were downed, with some on power lines, near Trotman Rd, west of Pike Road.
A portion of a tree fell on a car near Pike Road close to U.S. 231.
Quarter-size hail was reported at the Mellow Mushroom along Vaughn Rd.
Baseball-size hail was reported along Interstate 85 at Exit 10 by a trained spotter.
Quarter-size hail was reported in the Pike Road area.
Quarter-size hail was reported in and just north of Fort Davis along U.S. 29.
Flash flooding occurred in downtown Montgomery following heavy rainfall. Numerous streets were flooded, also affecting some buildings. Specific reports of flooding that were received included the Alabama State Capitol building, Atlanta Highway near Eastern Blvd, and along Perry Hill Rd.
Video was received of ping pong ball-size hail in Boligee.
Several reports of ping ping ball to golf ball-size hail were received in and around Forkland, resulting in property damage.
A social media photo was received showing baseball-size hail along U.S. Highway 43 between Forkland and Demopolis.
Trees were downed and a camper was blown onto its side in the Lock Five community.
At least ping pong ball-size hail was reported near the Lock Five community.
Many trees were downed and some power poles were snapped across southern Hale County, resulting in many power outages.
Up to golf ball-size hail was reported west of Newbern.
Flash flooding occurred around the Millbrook and Coosada areas, with a video received of flooding at Pineleaf Dr and Dogwood Cir.
Numerous trees were downed in the Belmont area.
Reports of street flooding along U.S. Highway 80 in Demopolis.
Numerous instances of flooding around Prattville following 4 to 5 inches of rain. Reports of flooding included Golson Road and U.S. Highway 82 Bypass, Briarwood St, near Summer Hill Rd and Doster Rd, Sheila Blvd and Tara Dr, Sydney Dr and Kendrick Way, North Chestnut St and West 5th St, Cooters Pond Rd, and the entrance to White Oak Ct.
Part of Sumter County Road 22 was washed out near Belmont following heavy rainfall totals of 3 to 4 inches across the area.
Flooding was reported along Harris Rd and Hogan Rd following 4 to 5 inches of rainfall.
Hail up to nickel-size was reported six miles south of Demopolis, with most hail measuring around a half inch.
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: 1325243, 1329240, 1329241, 1329242, 1329243, 1329244, 1329245, 1329246, 1329247, 1329248, 1329249, 1329250, 1329251, 1329252, 1329253, 1329254, 1329255, 1329256, 1329257, 1329258, 1329259, 1329261, 1329260, 1329262, 1329263, 1329264.