National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Very Large Hail &Tornadoes - April 10, 2009


Event Summary for Central Alabama

A strong upper level disturbance moved across Central Alabama during the early morning hours of April 10, 2009. Severe thunderstorms developed in association with this feature. The storms produced large hail and damaging winds generally north of Interstate 20 through 630 am.

As the cloud cover from the previous nights storms partially cleared, very unstable conditions developed across much of Central Alabama by noon. Surface temperatures rose into the 70s and 80s while surface dew points were in the 60s. The pressure gradient between low pressure to the west and high pressure to the east produced strong winds at the surface through several thousand feet. These winds allowed even more moisture to stream northward from the Gulf of Mexico. A strong upper level low and its associated surface cold front approached Central Alabama during the afternoon hours, providing a focus and lifting mechanism for severe thunderstorm development.

Central Alabama received severe thunderstorms and gradient winds from around 2 pm Friday afternoon through 10 pm Friday evening. Numerous persistently rotating thunderstorms, called supercells, developed in north central Alabama and moved roughly across the northeastern two thirds of the area. This type of thunderstorm can produce all types of severe weather including tornadoes and very large hail. In fact, that is exactly what these storms ended up doing. Numerous reports of very large hail, up to the size of softballs, were received. The hail even collected up to a depth of several feet and was on the ground for more than 18 hours. At least 8 tornadoes occurred. Straight line wind damage was reported in a few counties. Even before the storms arrived, gradient winds knocked some trees down. The strong cold front moved through Central Alabama Friday evening ending the severe weather threat.

The overall scope of this severe weather event was much larger. Tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds were reported in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and West Virginia. This system also brought severe weather and tornadoes on Thursday April to areas farther west. Our thoughts will be with all those whose lives were impacted by these storms.

The potential weather threat was first introduced into the Hazardous Weather Outlook on the afternoon of April 3, 2009.
Tornado Watch 130 was in effect from 140 am CDT until 900 am CDT for parts of west and north central Alabama.
Tornado Watch 132 was in effect from 1125 am CDT until 700 pm CDT for much of Central Alabama.
Tornado Watch 134 was in effect from 240 pm CDT until 900 pm CDT for much of east and south Central Alabama.

 

Location/Clickable Detailed Summary Link
Damage Rating/Estimated Maximum Wind Speeds
Injuries/Fatalities
Damage Path Length/Width
Starting Point/Time
Ending Point/Time
EF-1
90 mph
None
10.15 miles
250 yards
32.6648/-85.8538
712 pm
32.6257/-85.6858
725 pm
EF-1
100 mph
None
5.50 miles
300 yards
32.6114/-85.6293
730 pm
32.5936/-85.5372
737 pm
EF-1
95 mph
None
2.25 miles
100 yards
32.5294/-85.3882
751 pm
32.5148/-85.3548
755 pm
EF-1
95 mph
None
6.00 miles
150 yards
32.4621/-85.2669
804 pm
32.4467/-85.1671
813 pm
EF-1
90 mph
2
1.00 miles
50 yards
32.4175/-85.0924
819 pm
32.4273/-85.0800
820 pm
EF-1
100 mph
None
25.25 miles
440 yards
32.5940/-85.7640
826 pm
32.4388/-85.3666
904 pm
EF-1
100-110 mph
None
26.06 miles
440 yards
32.3367/-86.2167
848 pm
32.2628/-85.7792
929 pm
EF-1
95-105 mph
1
0.50 miles
100 yards
32.3099/-85.1076
927 pm
32.3086/-85.0994
927 pm

Hail Swath Coosa County to Russell County
Randolph County Hail
Cherokee County Hail

Preliminary Local Storm Reports
Public Information Statement

Additional Storm Assessments:

NWS Huntsville, AL
NWS Jackson, MS
NWS Nashville, TN


Severe Weather Episode Data

 
 

 

 

Surface Analysis 4/2 7 am
Surface Analysis
Apr. 10th 7 am
500 mb Chart 4/2 7 am
500 mb Chart
Apr. 10th 7 am
Day 3 Severe Weather Outlook
Day 3 Severe Weather Outlook
Issued Apr. 8th
Day 3 Severe Weather Probabilistic
Day 3 Probabilistic Outlook
Issued Apr. 8th
Day 2 Severe Weather Outlook
Day 2 Severe Weather Outlook
Issued Apr. 9th
Day 2 Severe Weather Probabilistic
Day 2 Probabilistic Outlook
Issued Apr. 9th
Day 1 Severe Weather Outlook
Day 1 Severe Weather Outlook
Issued Apr. 10th
Day 1 Severe Weather Probabilistic
Day 1 ProbabilisticOutlook
Issued Apr. 10th
Severe Weather Reports
Severe Weather Reports
Apr.10th
Central Alabama Severe Weather Reports
Severe Weather Reports & Warnings
Apr. 10th
Raob
11/00z BMX Raob
Apr.10th