Plenty of Cold Air in the Cards

FORECAST:

New Year's Eve (High 58, Low 49): Partly to mostly sunny. Cold and windy.

New Year's Day (High 48, Low 36): Mostly sunny. Cold and breezy.

Thursday (High 50, Low 26): Sunny. Seasonably cold.

EXTENDED OUTLOOK:

Friday (High 50, Low 29): Mostly sunny with a 20% chance of an isolated shower.

Saturday (High 44, Low 25): Sunny.

Sunday (High 48, Low 30): Partly cloudy with a 30% chance of showers.

Monday (High 46, Low 31): Mostly cloudy with a 40% chance of showers.

PRONÓSTICO:

Nochevieja (Máxima 58, Mínima 49): Parcialmente soleado. Frío y ventoso.

Día de Año Nuevo (Máxima 48, Mínima 36): Mayormente soleado. Frío y ventoso.

Jueves (Máxima 50, Mínima 26): Soleado. Frío estacional.

PERSPECTIVA EXTENDIDA:

Viernes (Máxima 50, Mínima 29): Mayormente soleado con un 20 % de probabilidad de algún chaparrón aislado.

Sábado (Máxima 44, Mínima 25): Soleado.

Domingo (Máxima 48, Mínima 30): Parcialmente nublado con un 30 % de probabilidad de chaparrones.

Lunes (Máxima 46, Mínima 31): Mayormente nublado con un 40 % de probabilidad de chaparrones.

NOTES: 

A lot of those Severe Thunderstorm Warnings (and a few Tornado Warnings) did verify Saturday night, including a tornado that hit Athens and damaged some bookstores among other things. Fortunately have not heard of any injuries from Saturday night's storms. Important to note that the tornado in Athens did come out of a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, while a Tornado Watch was in effect, and the National Weather Service had frequently told people that rotation was showing up in the storms at times and that they had a history of producing wind damage. So please remember to take a Severe Thunderstorm Warning seriously too, especially on a night like that. 

Nobody is sure how the middle of this month is going to play out exactly, but it does look bitterly cold beyond this basic seven-day-period, and setups like this have brought on winter storms in some years past. So best advice, keep in eye on it, monitor future forecasts. More importantly, prepare yourself and loved ones for the cold ahead of time, because even if we don't get any snow to worry about, we are not used to prolonged temperatures below freezing around here. I mean where all day and all night is below freezing, that's not usual for us around here. So please make reasonable plans accordingly. 

A lot of times the National Weather Service will tell you to remember all the P's: People, Pets, Plants, Pipes . . . all need protection when we have a serious cold blast that lasts a while. 

DISCUSSION:

After some overcast conditions this morning, it turned out to be mostly a sunny day in the Tennessee Valley. And we had a southerly breeze much of the day. The High in Cullman was 61 with a morning Low of 50. Jasper saw a High of 63 and Low of 45. Haleyville had a High of 61 and Low of 50. 

Huntsville had a High of 62 and Low of 50. Nashville had a High of 63 and a Low of 51. 

We still have a shorwave trough and system of low pressure moving through the Mississippi Valley tonight. The excitement from last night is long gone of course. 

Tomorrow that trough/Low will move up into the Ohio River Valley. 

This odd pattern will actually drag a weak warm front through the Tennessee River Valley tonight a dry cold front moves through the area tomorrow. 

So tonight into the morning we'll see breezy conditions continue, a Low temperature of about 49 or 50 degrees, could even see an isolated shower or two somewhere. 

And then tomorrow, a windy day with gusts up to 30 mph possible, easily gusts up to 15-20 mph much of the day. More sun than clouds overall, the High topping out in the upper 50's, about 58. 

Then Wednesday, first day of the New Year, 2025, we'll really be feeling that influx of Canadian air around here. Or we'll at least feel the beginnings of it, starting the day about 35-37 degrees and only warming to about 47-49 in the afternoon. Could still be a little breezy with wind gusts up to about 10-15 mph. Mostly sunny skies. 

Then Thursday just looks like a calm, sunny day with a High near 50 and a Low in the mid-to-upper-20's. 

Then we get a clipper sort of front on Friday, but it looks like limited moisture with it. Might include a minimal 20% chance of a shower here, but certainly no more than that. Most places stay dry. 

We'll see a High near 50, Low near 30. 

Saturday we'll feel more the effects behind that front, sunny day with a High in the lower 40's, Low in the mid-20's.

The GFS is keeping us dry at midday Sunday. 

And the ECWMF has a wet/stormy look. 

I don't think we'll get nearly warm enough to support any strong storms, but we could see some rain Sunday. For now I'm capping off the chance at 30%. High should get up near 50 or at least upper 40's the Low down near 30 again. 

And for Monday trying to navigate through the model guidance, I'll forecast a 40% chance of showers, a High in the mid-to-upper-40's, a Low of 30 or so. 

A few places could see snow flurries or even some light wintry precipitation Sunday into Monday, especially North of the Tennessee state line. It's too soon to know any specifics, and this might mix in with plain old rain, with the rain winning out over any light amounts of snow or ice that might try to creep in the mix. But it's something to watch in the extended. 

Peeking beyond the standard seven days for a forecast, our pattern looks really cold, some of the coldest air we've seen in a while, with several days we are likely to stay below freezing in a row. This would be a great setup for a winter storm to come along, not saying that's going to happen, just that if these trends verify, it'd be a good possibility around the middle of the month. 

Our rainfall totals over the next seven days should average about one inch. 

If you like reading these weather forecasts and updates and would like to see them more often, please feel free to buy me a coffee. 

CHATTER:

P.S. Forgot to post this originally, but here at 10:49 PM I'd like to throw in a kind word for President Jimmy Carter, who just finished life's long dreary day, as I think the old folk gospel song puts it. I know a lot of people trashed on him and made fun of him, especially for his naive comments to Playboy magazine way back in the day, but I guess I default to the simple old principle that you can judge a tree best by the fruit you see coming from it. And what I saw in his life and the life of his wife who also died recently, Rosalynn Carter, was a sincere desire to help people out, leave the world a better place than they found it. Almost no one actually does anything about the problems our country has with homelessness, and I just felt like saluting this man, not pretending he was perfect or anything, but just saying thank you for what he and his wife did, trying to build homes for people. Just that intention to live a decent life impresses me a lot more than the usual blowhard stuff about how I love JAY-sus more 'n the next feller, or MY JESUS is bigger and better than YORE JESUS! Got way too much of that in the world now, and I don't think it's going to settle down at all any time soon. Just taking a moment to appreciate somebody who as far as I could tell, meant it sincerely. I had an uncle like that who was a very gentle man. And these days I appreciate people like that more. They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but I'm not so sure. I love good intentions when I see them. More often I see obviously screwy intentions that will help create hell on earth, regardless of where the people carrying them out may end up in any afterlife. (I don't feel like I can judge that second part. Although a lot of people do try to.) So when I see good intentions, I don't automatically think it's a road to hell. I just appreciate 'em. 

And I appreciate the short life span of this virus I've had along with some members of my family. I'm not completely over it, but I am mostly. We think it was a covid strain, because one person tested (who was actually throwing up from it) had a faint second line on her home corona test. In the same breath, I got tested for two types of flu and the coronies, and my test showed up negative. Whatever it was, four of us had it with a terrible hacking cough and some fever and just . . . you don't want this crud, whatever it is. It hit us right in time for the Christmas we were trying to celebrate, and now everybody is on the mend. We finally did presents last night and played some card and board games. Which was great. Being back to Salem and Stormy, my feline friends, is also great. 

If you've read all of this, thanks, and may the new year treat you well. 

Early Storm Reports/Surveys From Saturday Night

 571 

NOUS44 KHUN 292000

PNSHUN

ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-300800-

Public Information Statement

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

200 PM CST Sun Dec 29 2024

...NWS Damage Survey for 12/28/2024 Tornado Event...

.Athens Tornado...

Rating:                 EF1

Estimated Peak Wind:    100 mph

Path Length /statute/:  3.87 miles

Path Width /maximum/:   160 yards

Fatalities:             0

Injuries:               0

Start Date:             12/28/2024

Start Time:             11:15 PM CST

Start Location:         1 SW Athens / Limestone County / AL

Start Lat/Lon:          34.7753 / -86.9782

End Date:               12/28/2024

End Time:               11:20 PM CST

End Location:           3 NNW Athens / Limestone County / AL

End Lat/Lon:            34.8303 / -86.965

Survey Summary:

The tornado began by snapping a few large softwood branches on

Sanderfer Road just west of the intersection with Jefferson Street.

From there, the tornado skipped north/northeast, snapping several

larger hardwood trees just south of an apartment complex on

Southwind Drive. The tornado continued racing northward, snapping

softwood branches and a few trees on Commercial Drive, south of

Highway 72. The tornado produced its first building damage at the

KFC at this location, blowing a portion of the roof off and

strewing it across the highway and into the parking lot of the

Taco Bell across the street. From this point northward, the

tornado became more organized and strengthened as it zipped

northward into downtown Athens. Several power poles were snapped

along Madison Street as the tornado moved north/northeastward

along Jeffrey Street. Quite a few large soft and hardwood trees

were snapped and uprooted in this area as well, beginning the

EF1 damage portion of the path. Damage from this point in the

path onward garnered lots of media attention for the amount of

roof damage and debris strewn throughout the square near the

Courthouse in downtown Athens. Several roofs from buildings on

every side of the square had portions of their roof removed,

beginning with the roof completely torn off of the CEI Bookstore

at the intersection of Green Street and Marion Street. From

there, numerous other buildings downtown had at least some form

of roof damage, with debris strewn to the north/northeast one to

two blocks up, between the intersections of Washington and Market

Streets along Marion Street. Though the Limestone County

Courthouse thankfully didn't sustain any damage other than their

weathervane on the dome of the roof being bent, the very large

oak tree beside the staircase wasn't as fortunate; the 100-year

old tree was uprooted. From here, the tornado caused major damage

just north/northeast at the Veterans Memorial Park, downing iron

fencing and hurling a helicopter that was anchored to a metal

pole about 50-60 feet to the west. The worst-looking building

damage occurred just upstream of this location at the

intersection of Monroe and Pryor Streets, where an old warehouse

was completely destroyed. NWS Huntsville and Limestone EMA

representatives analyzed the foundation of the building and it

was determined that no anchor bolts were noted along the base of

the cinderblock walls with the exception of some rebar that was

found near where the overhead doors were located. For this

reason, higher than EF1 tornado damage was not noted at the site

or along any portion further in the path. Winds were the

strongest at 100mph and tornado width was at its widest of

160 yards at the destroyed warehouse location, with additional

roof damage that was seen via ground surveys and drone footage

that occurred and followed the train tracks moving

north/northeast. Several other businesses in this area had 20-50%

(at least) of their roofs destroyed or blown off, strewing tin

and debris upstream along the track as the tornado exited

downtown Athens to the north/northeast. Sporadic softwood trees

were snapped or uprooted from this point onward in the survey,

with the tornado finally roping out and snapping some large

branches on Wilkinson Street just southwest of Airport Road. 

Thanks to Limestone County EMA for their assistance with today's

survey. Drone footage provided to the survey team was beneficial

and increased confidence in damage indicators and their respective 

degrees of damage.

&&

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the

following categories:

EF0.....65 to 85 mph

EF1.....86 to 110 mph

EF2.....111 to 135 mph

EF3.....136 to 165 mph

EF4.....166 to 200 mph

EF5.....>200 mph

NOTE:

The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to

change pending final review of the event and publication in

NWS Storm Data.

$$

AMIN

173

NWUS54 KHUN 302146

LSRHUN

Preliminary Local Storm Report

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

346 PM CST Mon Dec 30 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...

..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

            ..REMARKS..

1131 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     13 SW Fayetteville      35.02N 86.72W

12/28/2024                   Lincoln            TN   NWS Storm Survey

            NWS Storm Survey found large tree branches

            snapped on Church Road north of Jones road.

            Wind estimated near 75 mph.

1131 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     12 SW Fayetteville      35.02N 86.71W

12/28/2024                   Lincoln            TN   NWS Storm Survey

            NWS Storm Survey found small to medium trees

            and branches snapped off of Pepper Road.

            Wind speed estimated between 70 to 75 mph.

1131 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     12 SW Fayetteville      35.02N 86.72W

12/28/2024                   Lincoln            TN   NWS Storm Survey

            Straight line wind damage was discovered

            during a NWS Storm Survey in Taft Tennessee

            between Ardmore Hwy and Henry Thompson Road

            where several large trees were uprooted.

            Winds estimated between 70 and 80 mph.

1132 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     12 SW Fayetteville      35.03N 86.71W

12/28/2024                   Lincoln            TN   NWS Storm Survey

            NWS Storm Survey found significant damage to

            a pole barn near the intersection of Partin

            Road and Robertson Hollow Road. Metal

            roofing was blown off and peeled back with

            some poles snapped. Wind speed estimated at

            80 mph.

1132 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     12 SW Fayetteville      35.03N 86.72W

12/28/2024                   Lincoln            TN   NWS Storm Survey

            NWS Storm Survey resulted in straight line

            wind damage. Several trees were uprooted and

            large branches snapped along Old Railroad

            Bed Rd between Henry Thompson Road and Henry

            Thompson Spur. Winds estimated between 75

            and 80 mph.

&&

$$

233

NWUS54 KHUN 302127

LSRHUN

Preliminary Local Storm Report

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

327 PM CST Mon Dec 30 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...

..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

            ..REMARKS..

1102 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     8 NNE Hillsboro         34.74N 87.12W

12/28/2024                   Limestone          AL   NWS Storm Survey

            NWS Survey found damage to warehouse in S.

            Limestone Co., off Shaw Rd, was caused by

            straight-line winds.

&&

$$

TPB

755

NWUS54 KHUN 302123

LSRHUN

Preliminary Local Storm Report

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

323 PM CST Mon Dec 30 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...

..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

            ..REMARKS..

1048 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     6 NNE Moulton           34.55N 87.23W

12/28/2024                   Lawrence           AL   NWS Storm Survey

            Barn and shed destroyed near Chalybeate

            Springs, east of CR230. Survey concluded

            this damage to be caused by straight-line

            winds.

&&

$$

TPB

614

NWUS54 KHUN 301230

LSRHUN

Preliminary Local Storm Report

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

630 AM CST Mon Dec 30 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...

..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

            ..REMARKS..

1115 PM     Tornado          1 NNW Athens            34.80N 86.97W

12/28/2024                   Limestone          AL   NWS Storm Survey

            Corrects previous tornado report for 1 NNW

            Athens. NWS damage survey finds evidence of

            an EF-1 tornado with peak wind of 100mph,

            peak length 3.87 miles, and max width 160

            yards in downtown Athens . A TDS was also

            noted with this storm from ARMOR radar.

&&

$$

DD

240

NWUS54 KHUN 301223

LSRHUN

Preliminary Local Storm Report

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

623 AM CST Mon Dec 30 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...

..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

            ..REMARKS..

1011 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     7 SSE Cherokee          34.66N 87.92W

12/28/2024                   Colbert            AL   911 Call Center

            Tree down.

&&

$$

715

NWUS54 KHUN 301222

LSRHUN

Preliminary Local Storm Report

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

622 AM CST Mon Dec 30 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...

..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

            ..REMARKS..

1020 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 W Tuscumbia           34.72N 87.80W

12/28/2024                   Colbert            AL   911 Call Center

            Tree down.

&&

$$

264

NWUS54 KHUN 301218

LSRHUN

Preliminary Local Storm Report

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

618 AM CST Mon Dec 30 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...

..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

            ..REMARKS..

1140 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     12 SW Fayetteville      35.02N 86.72W

12/28/2024                   Lincoln            TN   Public

            Several trees uprooted near Old Taft Depot.

&&

$$

803

NWUS54 KHUN 301215

LSRHUN

Preliminary Local Storm Report

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

615 AM CST Mon Dec 30 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...

..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

            ..REMARKS..

1140 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     12 SW Fayetteville      35.03N 86.71W

12/28/2024                   Lincoln            TN   Public

            Loss of metal roof on structure, partial

            collapse of metal structure, and a report of

            several trees down on property.

&&

$$

935

NWUS54 KHUN 301213

LSRHUN

Preliminary Local Storm Report

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

613 AM CST Mon Dec 30 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...

..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

            ..REMARKS..

1116 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 NNW Athens            34.85N 87.00W

12/28/2024                   Limestone          AL   Public

            Structure with estimated 30-40% partial loss

            of metal roof between Elm St and Easter

            Ferry Rd.

&&

$$

981

NWUS54 KHUN 291157

LSRHUN

Preliminary Local Storm Report

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

557 AM CST Sun Dec 29 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...

..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

            ..REMARKS..

1029 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Russellville            34.51N 87.72W

12/28/2024                   Franklin           AL   Emergency Mngr

            Multiple trees down across the county and

            power outages reported in Russellville.

&&

$$

000

NWUS54 KHUN 291152

LSRHUN

Preliminary Local Storm Report

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

552 AM CST Sun Dec 29 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...

..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

            ..REMARKS..

1052 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 E Killen              34.89N 87.47W

12/28/2024                   Lauderdale         AL   Trained Spotter

            Several limbs blown off of trees near Center

            Star.

&&

$$

647

NWUS54 KHUN 291147

LSRHUN

Preliminary Local Storm Report

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

547 AM CST Sun Dec 29 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...

..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

            ..REMARKS..

1116 PM     Tornado          2 NNW Athens            34.81N 86.97W

12/28/2024                   Limestone          AL   Emergency Mngr

            Significant damage to the Alabama Veterans

            Museum. Tree on house on N Clinton St.

&&

$$

644

NWUS54 KHUN 291144

LSRHUN

Preliminary Local Storm Report

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

544 AM CST Sun Dec 29 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...

..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

            ..REMARKS..

1116 PM     Tornado          1 NNW Athens            34.80N 86.97W

12/28/2024                   Limestone          AL   Emergency Mngr

            Corrects time from previous tornado report

            from 1 NNW Athens. EM shared pictures of

            damage which appears to have been inflicted

            by a tornado in downtown Athens, AL. A TDS

            was also noted with this storm from ARMOR

            radar.

&&

567

NWUS54 KHUN 291141

LSRHUN

Preliminary Local Storm Report

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

541 AM CST Sun Dec 29 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...

..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

            ..REMARKS..

1109 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     4 WNW Mooresville       34.65N 86.95W

12/28/2024  M72 MPH          Limestone          AL   ASOS

            ASOS station KDCU Decatur.

849

NWUS54 KHUN 291138

LSRHUN

Preliminary Local Storm Report

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

538 AM CST Sun Dec 29 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...

..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

            ..REMARKS..

1143 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 E Hazel Green         34.92N 86.55W

12/28/2024                   Madison            AL   Emergency Mngr

            Tree down at the intersection of Willow Run

            and Jimmy Fisk.

&&

$$

880

NWUS54 KHUN 291136

LSRHUN

Preliminary Local Storm Report

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

536 AM CST Sun Dec 29 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...

..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

            ..REMARKS..

1155 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 SE Moores Mill        34.81N 86.47W

12/28/2024                   Madison            AL   Emergency Mngr

            Multiple trees down on Bell Factory Rd.

&&

$$

317

NWUS54 KHUN 291132

LSRHUN

Preliminary Local Storm Report

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

532 AM CST Sun Dec 29 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...

..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

            ..REMARKS..

1100 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     7 W Hartselle           34.45N 87.06W

12/28/2024                   Morgan             AL   Emergency Mngr

            Trees down on Craze Rd.

&&

$$

127

NWUS54 KHUN 291130

LSRHUN

Preliminary Local Storm Report

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

530 AM CST Sun Dec 29 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...

..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

            ..REMARKS..

1124 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 WNW Eva               34.35N 86.83W

12/28/2024                   Morgan             AL   Emergency Mngr

            Powerlines down at Wilhite Rd. and E Lacon

            Rd.

&&

$$

301

NOUS44 KBMX 310416

PNSBMX

ALZ011>015-017>050-311630-

Public Information Statement

National Weather Service Birmingham AL

1016 PM CST Mon Dec 30 2024

...NWS Damage Survey for 12/28/24 Tornado Event Update #2 ...

.Update... Storm surveys were conducted today across several

locations in Central Alabama including Shelby, St. Clair, Lowndes,

Montgomery, and Macon Counties. Multiple tornado tracks have been

identified. The details for those can be found below.

Additional storm surveys will be conducted in the next couple

days. Areas of interest include Lamar, Marion, Hale, Shelby,

Chilton, and Randolph Counties.

.Overview... A strong storm system moved across Central Alabama Saturday

night into early Sunday morning. Strong to severe thunderstorms

produced multiple areas of damaging wind gusts and tornadoes along

its path. Many tornadoes, but not all, were short-lived causing

relatively minor damage.

.Tornado #1 (Lamar County)...

Rating:                 EF-1

Estimated Peak Wind:    N/A

Path Length /statute/:  N/A

Path Width /maximum/:   N/A

Fatalities:             N/A

Injuries:               N/A

Start Date:             12/28/2024

Start Time:             9:27 PM CST

Start Location:         N/A

Start Lat/Lon:          N/A

End Date:               N/A

End Time:               N/A

End Location:           N/A

End Lat/Lon:            N/A

Survey Summary:

Additional survey work is pending in Lamar County.

.Tornado #2 El Gezira Rd Tornado (Shelby County)...

Rating:                 EF0

Estimated Peak Wind:    80 mph

Path Length /statute/:  1.53 miles

Path Width /maximum/:   175 yards

Fatalities:             0

Injuries:               0

Start Date:             12/29/2024

Start Time:             12:11 AM CST

Start Location:         2 WNW Harpersville / Shelby County / AL

Start Lat/Lon:          33.3551 / -86.4716

End Date:               12/29/2024

End Time:               12:14 AM CST

End Location:           2 NW Harpersville / Shelby County / AL

End Lat/Lon:            33.3716 / -86.4541

Survey Summary:

NWS Birmingham storm survey has determined a brief EF0 tornado

impacted an area northwest of Harpersville, mainly on El Gezira

Rd north of US Hwy 280. The tornado caused damage to a horse

farm, impacting at least 4 structures. Varying degrees of timber

damage was also observed with trees uprooted and large branches

removed. The tornado caused additional damage near Prince Rd,

dissipating near Highway 83.

.Tornado #3 Knight Place Rd Tornado (Lowndes County)...

Rating:                 EF0

Estimated Peak Wind:    85 mph

Path Length /statute/:  1.71 miles

Path Width /maximum/:   100 yards

Fatalities:             0

Injuries:               0

Start Date:             12/29/2024

Start Time:             12:15 AM CST

Start Location:         2 ENE Clover Hill / Lowndes County / AL

Start Lat/Lon:          32.0121 / -86.6604

End Date:               12/29/2024

End Time:               12:18 AM CST

End Location:           4 ESE Mount Willing / Lowndes County / AL

End Lat/Lon:            32.0311 / -86.6417

Survey Summary:

A tornado began along Knight Place Rd and moved northeastward.

Numerous trees were downed along or just west of the road, mainly

limbs broken or uprooted trunks. A few small trees were snapped

as well, along with downed power lines. A few structures

sustained damage, including minor roof damage to a double wide, a

single wide that was rolled over onto its roof, and a large open

air shed that lost roof panels. The tree damage became less as it

crossed County Road 45, but the path was extended a good bit

northward into a large inaccessible area using RADAR.

.Tornado #4 Coosa Island Rd Tornado (St. Clair County)...

Rating:                 EF0

Estimated Peak Wind:    85 mph

Path Length /statute/:  2.26 miles

Path Width /maximum/:   150 yards

Fatalities:             0

Injuries:               0

Start Date:             12/29/2024

Start Time:             12:25 AM CST

Start Location:         1 SW Coosa Island / St. Clair County / AL

Start Lat/Lon:          33.4609 / -86.3355

End Date:               12/29/2024

End Time:               12:28 AM CST

End Location:           2 NE Coosa Island / St. Clair County / AL

End Lat/Lon:            33.4837 / -86.3075

Survey Summary:

NWS Birmingham storm survey has determined a brief EF0 tornado

impacted areas near Logan Martin Lake in far southern St. Clair

County. The tornado began causing timber damage southwest of

Rivercrest Dr. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, many fell

onto homes near Shady Brook Lane. The tornado crossed the water

and caused additional damaged to timber and residences on Coosa

Island Rd. The tornado continued northeast causing, to a lesser

degree, additional timber damage on Rabbit Branch Rd and Treasure

Island Rd before dissipating.

.Tornado #5 Roberts Mill Pond Rd Tornado (St. Clair County)...

Rating:                 EF1

Estimated Peak Wind:    0 mph

Path Length /statute/:  1.52 miles

Path Width /maximum/:   325 yards

Fatalities:             0

Injuries:               0

Start Date:             12/29/2024

Start Time:             12:30 AM CST

Start Location:         2 SE Chula Vista / St. Clair County / AL

Start Lat/Lon:          33.5678 / -86.3477

End Date:               12/29/2024

End Time:               12:33 AM CST

End Location:           2 SSW Harrisburg / St. Clair County / AL

End Lat/Lon:            33.574 / -86.3225

Survey Summary:

NWS Birmingham storm survey has determined an EF1 tornado

impacted and area southwest of Pell City, mainly on Roberts Mill

Pond Rd. several areas of timber damage occurred, generally

snapping and uprooting of hardwood trees north of Highway 27. A

chicken farm sustained significant damage, with at least

5 structures impacts. Debris was thrown at least 300 yards

downstream. The tornado continued northeast toward Stewart Rd

causing additional, less significant timber damage, dissipating

thereafter.

.Tornado #6 Hargrove Ln Tornado (Lowndes County)...

Rating:                 EF0

Estimated Peak Wind:    70 mph

Path Length /statute/:  0.63 miles

Path Width /maximum/:   75 yards

Fatalities:             0

Injuries:               0

Start Date:             12/29/2024

Start Time:             12:39 AM CST

Start Location:         4 NW Pintlala / Lowndes County / AL

Start Lat/Lon:          32.223 / -86.424

End Date:               12/29/2024

End Time:               12:40 AM CST

End Location:           4 NW Pintlala / Lowndes County / AL

End Lat/Lon:            32.2262 / -86.4139

Survey Summary:

A tornado began along County Road 26, with several cedar limbs down

along the road. Numerous trees were uprooted across Hargrove Ln, and

a few more trees were downed near Rolling Acres Rd.

.Tornado #7 Hope Hull Tornado (Montgomery County)...

Rating:                 EF1

Estimated Peak Wind:    95 mph

Path Length /statute/:  3.93 miles

Path Width /maximum/:   250 yards

Fatalities:             0

Injuries:               0

Start Date:             12/29/2024

Start Time:             12:43 AM CST

Start Location:         1 SW Hope Hull / Montgomery County / AL

Start Lat/Lon:          32.2617 / -86.3715

End Date:               12/29/2024

End Time:               12:48 AM CST

End Location:           1 E Hyundai Motors Of Alabama / Montgomery County / AL

End Lat/Lon:            32.2788 / -86.3083

Survey Summary:

A tornado began along Bill Johnson Pkwy and moved eastward across

Folmar Pkwy and I-65. A few warehouses the intersection of Bill

Joseph and Folmar sustained roof and siding damage, with several

trees down as well. At the end of County Ct adjacent to I-65, two

warehouses sustained major roof loss on a corner of each building

along with a cinder-block wall collapse on one. Several semi

trailers were flipped or tossed as well. After scattering debris

across the interstate, two businesses at the intersection of U.S.

31 and Fischer Rd sustained roof and structural damage, with

several more semi trailer behind the buildings being flipped or

moved. Just south of this location, Hooper Academy had mostly

minor damage to the building and surrounding grounds which was

not directly related to the tornado. Continuing east-northeast,

several trees were uprooted north of Lagos Ln as the tornado

tracked northeastward toward Hyundai Blvd. A newly constructed

greenhouse-type building south of the main Hyundai facility had

much of the covering ripped off. A house and shed at Hyundai Blvd

had roof loss, and across the road a small metal building at the

southeast corner of the Hyundai campus had roofing removed and

blown across a railroad into a tree line. The tornado appeared to

dissipate at this point, just before reaching U.S. 331.

.Tornado #8 Mt. Zion Road Tornado (Montgomery County)...

Rating:                 EF1

Estimated Peak Wind:    100 mph

Path Length /statute/:  10.01 miles

Path Width /maximum/:   500 yards

Fatalities:             0

Injuries:               0

Start Date:             12/29/2024

Start Time:             12:53 AM CST

Start Location:         3 E Sprague / Montgomery County / AL

Start Lat/Lon:          32.1316 / -86.2238

End Date:               12/29/2024

End Time:               01:05 AM CST

End Location:           2 NE Carters Hill / Montgomery County / AL

End Lat/Lon:            32.2174 / -86.0879

Survey Summary:

A tornado began along Hobbie Rd and Hillabee Rd with a few

uprooted trees and broken limbs. Tree damage gradually became more

concentrated as the tornado moved northeastward, with a home south

of Ridgeland Farms Rd having the top of a pine tree fall on it.

Several trees were uprooted across wooded areas before the tornado

arrived at Mt. Zion Rd, where numerous pine trees were snapped or

uprooted, one of which fell into the corner of a double wide.

Significant splatter was observed on the east facing side of the

double wide. A couple sheds nearby sustained damage as well.

Numerous trees were uprooted northeastward across wooded areas and

pastures to Woodley Rd and further to U.S. 231, where the BBQ

Hill business sustained roof damage and had numerous pine trees

snapped or uprooted on the premises. More trees were damaged and

an outbuilding was damaged along Old Carter Hill Rd as the tornado

dissipated.

.Tornado #9 Cecil Tornado (Montgomery County)...

Rating:                 EF0

Estimated Peak Wind:    80 mph

Path Length /statute/:  2.50 miles

Path Width /maximum/:   100 yards

Fatalities:             0

Injuries:               0

Start Date:             12/29/2024

Start Time:             01:11 AM CST

Start Location:         2 SW Cecil / Montgomery County / AL

Start Lat/Lon:          32.283 / -86.0376

End Date:               12/29/2024

End Time:               01:13 AM CST

End Location:           1 SE Cecil / Montgomery County / AL

End Lat/Lon:            32.2921 / -85.9972

Survey Summary:

A tornado was confirmed using aerial and ground surveys.

Convergent tree damage was noted in a wooded area west-southwest

of Split Bark Dr. Several small trees were snapped or uprooted

along Hickory Hollow Cove and a garage sustain partial roof loss.

Further east along Cecil Station Rd, numerous trees were uprooted

and tree limbs were snapped. A concentrated area of tree damage

continued across Flowers Rd and Vaughn Rd, and the tornado

appeared to dissipate just east of Vaughn Rd and Pharr Rd.

.Tornado #10 Jackson Road Tornado (Macon County)...

Rating:                 EF0

Estimated Peak Wind:    75 mph

Path Length /statute/:  1.86 miles

Path Width /maximum/:   175 yards

Fatalities:             0

Injuries:               0

Start Date:             12/29/2024

Start Time:             01:18 AM CST

Start Location:         1 SE Tysonville / Macon County / AL

Start Lat/Lon:          32.3852 / -85.9811

End Date:               12/29/2024

End Time:               01:21 AM CST

End Location:           1 SSW Victoryland / Macon County / AL

End Lat/Lon:            32.4016 / -85.9559

Survey Summary:

A tornado began south of U.S. 80 in a wooded area and moved

northeast. Several trees and tree limbs were downed across

Jackson Rd. Further northeast, numerous limbs were snapped out of

trees along a driveway on the north side of U.S. 80. No other

damage was found past this location. A Tornado Debris Signature

was observed on KMXX RADAR.

.Tornado #11 Shorter Tornado (Macon County)...

Rating:                 EF0

Estimated Peak Wind:    75 mph

Path Length /statute/:  5.55 miles

Path Width /maximum/:   200 yards

Fatalities:             0

Injuries:               0

Start Date:             12/29/2024

Start Time:             01:18 AM CST

Start Location:         2 S Shorter / Macon County / AL

Start Lat/Lon:          32.3759 / -85.9362

End Date:               12/29/2024

End Time:               01:27 AM CST

End Location:           2 ESE Milstead / Macon County / AL

End Lat/Lon:            32.4238 / -85.8663

Survey Summary:

A tornado began over an inaccessible area north of County Road

2 and south of Old Federal Rd. Several trees were uprooted or

limbs were snapped around a couple homes and a church as the

tornado crossed Old Federal Rd and U.S. 80. More trees were

uprooted as the tornado crossed Redland Rd and Cross Keys Rd,

where the most substantial area of tree damage occurred just

north of Deborah Cannon Wolfe School. The damage extent decreased

substantially crossing County Road 30, with small trees and tree

limbs downed. A few more tree limbs were downed along County Road

9 as the tornado track ended.

.Tornado #12 County Road 8 Tornado (Macon County)...

Rating:                 EF0

Estimated Peak Wind:    85 mph

Path Length /statute/:  2.17 miles

Path Width /maximum/:   75 yards

Fatalities:             0

Injuries:               0

Start Date:             12/29/2024

Start Time:             01:30 AM CST

Start Location:         3 SSE Reeves Airport / Macon County / AL

Start Lat/Lon:          32.4729 / -85.8696

End Date:               12/29/2024

End Time:               01:32 AM CST

End Location:           2 WNW Franklin / Macon County / AL

End Lat/Lon:            32.4756 / -85.8327

Survey Summary:

A tornado began near the confluence of Chewacla Creek and the

Tallapoosa River, moving due east just north of County Road 8.

Several trees were snapped or uprooted in a wooded area adjacent

to the railroad. A Tornado Debris Signature was detected by KMXX

RADAR.

.Tornado #13 County Road 56 Tornado (Macon County)...

Rating:                 EF0

Estimated Peak Wind:    60 mph

Path Length /statute/:  0.76 miles

Path Width /maximum/:   50 yards

Fatalities:             0

Injuries:               0

Start Date:             12/29/2024

Start Time:             01:31 AM CST

Start Location:         2 NNE Franklin / Macon County / AL

Start Lat/Lon:          32.4839 / -85.7918

End Date:               12/29/2024

End Time:               01:32 AM CST

End Location:           3 N Franklin / Macon County / AL

End Lat/Lon:            32.4948 / -85.79

Survey Summary:

A weak tornado moved northward across County Road 56, just

southwest of Sharpe Field. Only a few small trees and tree limbs

were downed. A Tornado Debris Signature was detected by KMXX

RADAR.

&&

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the

following categories:

EF0.....65 to 85 mph

EF1.....86 to 110 mph

EF2.....111 to 135 mph

EF3.....136 to 165 mph

EF4.....166 to 200 mph

EF5.....>200 mph

NOTE:

The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to

change pending final review of the events and publication in

NWS Storm Data.

40/Sizemore

$$

Forecast

 Winding up a stormy night, let's look at the week ahead since we're just getting into the wee hours of Sunday morning. 

Most of the rain will be out of here by daybreak. We'll have a blustery day with wind gusts up to 25 mph possible. Skies will gradually become mostly sunny with a High near 62. 

Monday also looks mostly sunny and breezy, High of about 62-63 again, the morning Low about 45, or mid-40's anyway. 

Then we get a reinforcing front, looks mostly dry, and Tuesday (New Year's Eve) looks partly to mostly sunny, High in the upper 50's, Low down near 50. 

New Year's Day, expecting mostly sunny skies with a High near 50 and a Low in the upper 30's. 

Then Thursday looks sunny with a High in the upper 40's, Low in mid-20's.

Friday looks mostly clear with a High near 50 and a Low near 30, maybe just upper 20's for many of us. 

And then another reinforcing shot of cold air, Saturday looks sunny with a High only in the lower 40's, the Low in the lower 20's. 

Special Weather Statement

Any more severe weather tonight is unlikely, but this squall line still hasn't totally cleared the Northeast corner. 

 Special Weather Statement

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

1224 AM CST Sun Dec 29 2024

ALZ008>010-TNZ097-290715-

Marshall AL-DeKalb AL-Jackson AL-Franklin TN-

1224 AM CST Sun Dec 29 2024

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT MARSHALL...JACKSON...SOUTHWESTERN

DEKALB AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES THROUGH 115 AM CST...

At 1223 AM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along

a line extending from near Tullahoma to near Snead. Movement was

northeast at 60 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...

Albertville, Scottsboro, Boaz, Winchester, Guntersville, Rainsville,

Decherd, Estill Springs, Stevenson, and Crossville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead

to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded

roadways.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 400 AM CST for north central

and northeastern Alabama...and Middle Tennessee.

&&

LAT...LON 3534 8603 3528 8591 3522 8586 3499 8586

      3499 8580 3420 8593 3418 8619 3410 8630

      3424 8644 3452 8638 3451 8634 3454 8631

      3457 8633 3459 8630 3463 8636 3494 8628

      3493 8626 3496 8628 3533 8620 3536 8616

TIME...MOT...LOC 0623Z 214DEG 51KT 3539 8614 3414 8634

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

$$

30

Severe T-Storm Warning

11:02 PM - Also important to note the Tornado Watch has been expanded to include the rest of Northeast Alabama. 

11:13 - You can see the Tornado Watch in yellow above. Notice it now does include Huntsville but has been cleared for places like Fayette and Hamilton. 

The severe thunderstorms should be to Madison by Midnight. Folks in Huntsville be getting ready. I still advise treating these warnings with respect - get into a small central room or at least a hallway on the lowest floor of a sturdy house, away from windows. 

11:29 - New severe thunderstorm warning includes Lincoln, Moore, and Franklin Counties in Tennessee. 

11:31 - Here is a radar update.

Squall line is getting close to Huntsville. A friend reports insanely strong winds and rain in Cullman.

11:40 - Severe thunderstorm warning now extended through the rest of Madison County including Huntsville. These storms do have a history of producing wind damage and power outages across several counties tonight. 

11:49 - Lawrence, Lauderdale, Colbert, and Franklin Counties have been cleared from the Tornado Watch now. 

The line does appear to be weakening now, but still if you're in Huntsville or down in Hanceville, in the path of these severe thunderstorms in the squall line, it is still a good idea to be away from windows and electrical stuff at least. 

12:04 AM Sunday - Walker and Winston Counties have been cleared from the tornado watch now. 

Storm damage in Athens… photos from Caleb King pic.twitter.com/plJ2lLeVUI

— James Spann (@spann) December 29, 2024

At 11:09 PM CST, 1 NNW Athens [Limestone Co, AL] Emergency Mngr reports Tornado. EM shared pictures of damage which appears to have been inflicted by a tornado in downtown Athens, AL. A TDS was also noted with this storm from ARMOR radar. #alwx https://t.co/fwztPlUMQ6 pic.twitter.com/BHHcnmOQ38

— IEMBot HUN (@iembot_hun) December 29, 2024

12:12 - What a night. It looks like a tornado produced damage in Athens tonight even though there was "only" a severe thunderstorm warning in effect. 

12:17 - Limestone, Morgan, and Cullman Counties are cleared from the Tornado Watch.

12:19 - We have one severe thunderstorm warning left that stretches down to Arab, affects Madison, Marshall, Jackson, Franklin, Lincoln, and Moore counties there in Northeast Alabama/Southern Middle Tennessee. In this polygon you might want to be in a safe place out of respect for the damage these storms have done tonight. Sometimes they have even produced a tornado without a formal tornado warning, just a severe thunderstorm warning that occurs within a tornado watch, and maybe the severe thunderstorm warning had a tag that reminded you a tornado could develop quickly. 

Better safe than sorry sometimes with these things. 

That goes about another ten minutes. 

12:28 - Actually these storms have weakened below severe limits. Madison County in Alabama has been cleared from the Tornado Watch. So have Lincoln and Moore Counties in Tennessee. 

 244 

WUUS54 KHUN 290454

SVRHUN

ALC043-083-089-103-290600-

/O.NEW.KHUN.SV.W.0142.241229T0454Z-241229T0600Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

National Weather Service Huntsville AL

1054 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024

The National Weather Service in Huntsville Alabama has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

  Western Madison County in north central Alabama...

  Eastern Limestone County in north central Alabama...

  Cullman County in north central Alabama...

  Southeastern Morgan County in north central Alabama...

* Until midnight CST.

* At 1054 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm was located over Nesmith, or 

  7 miles northeast of Arley, moving east at 50 mph. This line of 

  storms has a history of producing wind damage across northwest 

  Alabama.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

  Northwestern Huntsville, Decatur, Madison, Athens, Cullman,

  Hartselle, Redstone Arsenal, Hanceville, Priceville, and Good Hope.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to

flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 400 AM CST for north central

and northwestern Alabama.

&&

LAT...LON 3389 8701 3390 8710 3392 8708 3399 8715

      3399 8711 3431 8711 3432 8694 3499 8693

      3499 8663 3406 8669 3395 8679 3396 8682

      3393 8686 3394 8688 3392 8689 3391 8692

      3387 8693 3386 8699

TIME...MOT...LOC 0454Z 249DEG 46KT 3416 8710 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED

MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

WIND THREAT...OBSERVED

MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

30