Severe Weather Awareness

Safety & Preparedness

Don't wait until severe weather is happening to have a plan! Take the time to prepare NOW! Know the difference between a Watch and a Warning, and know what to when/if one is issued for your location! Always have more than one way to receive potentially life-saving weather information! Make sure you have fresh batteries in your NOAA Weather Radio, too! Have a plan in place, and know where to take shelter at home, work, church, or any other venue you frequent! Injuries and deaths due to severe weather can be prevented through proper safety and preparedness measures!

The following graphics cover important safety and preparedness information for all of the hazards that may occur in the fall. 

Past Events

Here are just some of severe weather events that occurred in the National Weather Service Huntsville area:

• November 18, 2017: A line of severe thunderstorms moved across the area and produced several reports of damaging straight-line winds, along with two tornadoes. 
• April 30, 2017: A line of severe thunderstorms raced across the area and produced several reports of damaging straight-line winds and an EF-0 tornado. 
• March 9, 2017: An MCS moved through the area and produced damaging straight line winds and an isolated weak tornado. 
• March 1, 2017: A QLCS developed ahead of a slow moving cold front and moved through the TN Valley, producing damaging straight-line winds and several instances of large hail. 
• November 29-30, 2016: An unstable environment combined with strong lift and wind shear to produce isolated supercells across portions of Alabama and Tennessee. A total of 10 tornadoes impacted the NWS Huntsville County Warning Area. 
• March 31, 2016: A strong upper level system swept through the southeastern U.S. on March 31st, producing several tornadoes in Mississippi and Alabama, including the Priceville EF-2 tornado. 
• July 14, 2015: A rare set-up produced 6 tornadoes across the TN Valley during the middle of July.
• April 28, 2014:  A strong system developed to our west on April 27th and moved through the TN Valley on April 28. Several rounds of severe thunderstorms occurred, producing 13 tornadoes in northern Alabama and southern middle Tennessee. 
• April 27, 2011: A power storm system produced a record number of tornadoes within the state of Alabama and elsewhere. A total 382 tornadoes were confirmed across 21 states from April 25 through April 28th; 62 of those tornado occurring in the state of Alabama. 
• October 25, 2010: During the late evening hours of October 24th and early morning of October 25th, 2010, severe thunderstorms moved across northern Alabama, and southern middle Tennessee, producing 5 tornadoes across eastern portion of the area.
• October 18, 2004: Isolated tornadoes occurred over the northwest portion of the state.
• 2002 Veteran's Day Outbreak: Isolated tornadoes, hail and wind damage occurred over portions of the southeast.
• December 16, 2000: A cold front moved through the southeastern U.S. producing severe thunderstorms across the TN Valley.
• The Airport Road Tornado on November 15, 1989: A cold front moved through the area on November 15, 1989. Several reports of hail and damaging straight line winds occurred across the TN Valley. Additionally, 2 tornadoes touched down in the area, included the F-4 Airport Road tornado.
• April 3-4, 1974 Super Outbreak: One of the worst tornado outbreaks of record in the Tennessee and Ohio River Valleys occurred over the two day period of April 3rd and 4th in 1974. Over 100 tornadoes were documented over 13 states, including 10 in Alabama. Of those 10 tornadoes in Alabama, 6 were rated F3 or higher.

To view more severe weather events across the TN Valley, click here.

Additional Information

• NWS Huntsville Hazard Climatology Interactive story map showing the hazard climatology for each county within the Huntsville County Warning Area.

• Tornado Safety in Schools Brochure (PDF) - Tips and suggestions for keeping students safe in the event of a tornado, including a poster you can fill out with local safety information.

• NOAA Weather/All-Hazards Radio | Brochure (PDF) - Details on transmitters and SAME codes that you can use to set your NOAA Weather/All-Hazards Radio.

• Lightning | Brochure (PDF) - Information on the dangers of lightning, including facts and statistics specific to the Tennessee Valley.

• Flash Floods and River Floods - While tornadoes are a big threat to the area, flash flooding kills more people per year than any other weather hazard. Find out more through this brochure.

• Tennessee Valley Tornado Tracks Database - See previous tornado tracks across the TN Valley.