Thunderstorm Wind in Walker County, Alabama

A tree was downed on Coon Creek Road.

A period of northwesterly flow across Central Alabama aided the formation of a mesoscale convective system (MCS), which moved across the region during the afternoon of June 1. Gaining momentum while passing through the Tennessee Valley in North Alabama, a line of severe thunderstorms matured over Central Alabama as it moved southeastward. Surface-based CAPE values over 4000 J/kg were observed prior to the arrival of the MCS, with compressional heating raising temperatures into the mid 90s in many places. Aided by moist soils from days of rainfall, winds generally up to 60 mph blew down hundreds of trees across nearly every county in Central Alabama. Many trees fell on homes, vehicles, and power lines, or blocked roadways. Power outages were numerous, especially across parts of Jefferson and Shelby counties. The MCS gradually fizzled out as it reached southeastern Alabama.