Morgan County Storms

I saw a couple of storms today in Decatur, Alabama. I was working, so in order to see them, I had to time my morning break and half-hour lunch break perfectly. An isolated storm moved just north of my location just after 11:30 a.m. while I was on my morning break. Here are two photos of that storm. It was not severe and no warning was in effect.


11:32 a.m.


11:36 a.m.

I timed my lunch perfectly. I was about to walk out the door at 12:14 when my NOAA Weather Radio alarm went off to broadcast a severe thunderstorm warning for Morgan County. I left the office at 12:15 and positioned myself at the southern tip of Decatur on US 31. That was probably the part of the storm with the highest winds. I estimate that the peak winds I witnessed were approximately 50 mph. Initially the winds were out of the southwest as the storm began but they gradually became more westerly and then northwesterly. After the highest winds and heaviest rains subsided there was a brief period of frequent cloud to ground lightning. Several strikes were close with one of the strikes being 50-100 yards behind me in a field. Since I was in my car to stay safe from the lightning and to stay dry, I was unable to get any really good photos of the lightning that were close. I may have captured one strike on video after the storm had passed off to the east. If I can capture that one I will post it later. My friend Jennifer New captured some radar images for me. It was a great way for a weather geek to enjoy a 30 minute lunch!

12:21


12:24 p.m. Hytop Nexrad


12:26 p.m.


12:27 p.m.


12:28 p.m.


12:29 p.m. Hytop Nexrad Velocity


12:29 Hytop Nexrad


12:30 p.m.


13:33 Hytop Nexrad

Short video of part of the storm...



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