Strong Wind — Sumter, Alabama

2025-03-04 · Sumter, Alabama

Event narrative

Several trees and a few power lines were downed across the county due to gradient winds up to 40 mph. Trees on power lines started brush fires near County Road 9 near the Sumter/Choctaw county line, along County Road 1 near a power substation near Cuba, and along St. Johns Road at County Road 35 near Panola.

Wider weather episode

A deepening occluded surface low moved from Oklahoma northeastward to Iowa on March 4, with a warm front lifting northward from the Gulf Coast through Alabama during the day. The tight pressure gradient produced gusty winds up to 40-50 mph at times, leading to numerous reports of downed trees and power lines across Central Alabama. A few small wildfires resulted from sparking power lines. Meanwhile, an associated cold front advanced into Alabama from the west, with a line of severe thunderstorms intensifying into the late evening hours as a result of a strengthening nocturnal low level jet. The line entered west Alabama around 7 PM CST, gradually becoming better organized. In addition to numerous gradient wind damage reports ahead of the line, more reports were received of thunderstorm wind damage before the line exited into Georgia around 12:30 AM on March 5.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1231194. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.