1. The Drought
In May, rainfall amounts were well below normal, and deficits were growing across Central Alabama. Most areas received less than one half inch in May, with some locations picking up less than one tenth of an inch. Rainfall deficits were approaching 10-20 inches for the year in many communities. Severe to extreme drought conditions were becoming widespread. Water authorities implemented extreme conservation measures and area reservoirs were well below normal full summer pool. Many rivers were at historically low streamflow levels. Agriculture was beginning to be impacted severely. In June, rainfall amounts averaged 1-3 inches, and all or portions of twenty four Alabama counties were placed in the Exceptional Drought (D4) category. In July, a small increase in the frequency and amounts of rainfall across Central Alabama slowed the growth of the historic drought, but severe (D2) to exceptional (D4) drought conditions continued. The Tennessee Valley received more widespread relief. By August, 90 percent of Central Alabama was in the exceptional (D4) drought category. Navigation on area rivers was becoming a problem and recreational boating nearly impossible on area lakes. Water restrictions and surcharges were in place. Not much improvement was seen in the fall and much of the Central part of Alabama remained in an exceptional drought at years end.
2. August Heat Wave
A strong ridge of high pressure in August produced a record setting heat wave. The sizzling heat began in earnest on August 4th, when several observationa stations hit the century mark or higher. The heat would reach its peak between the 10th and 15th with multiple high temperature marks between 105F and 109F. Daily temperature records were broken or tied on 11 days in Anniston, 10 days in Birmingham, 12 days in Montgomery and 14 days in Tuscaloosa. All four stations broke or tied their all-time August record highs. The 107F at Pinson on the 15th is the hottest ever there. It reached 109F at Hamilton on the 15th. 107F at Muscle Shoals on the 15th is their hottest ever. The mercury hit 100F at Birmingham for ten consecutive days between the 7th and 16th. The mercury reached 100F or higher on 14 days during the month, tying for second all time in Birmingham and just one short of the all time record set in 1925. A total of 14 people died in Alabama as a result of the heat wave. It was the hottest month ever recorded in Birmingham (86.9F.)
3. March tornadoes
Just after 1 p.m. on March 1, 2007, a tornado touched down near the airport in Enterprise. It intensified as it moved northeast into the city limits of Enterprise. It severely damaged the high school, which is located just north of downtown. Administrators followed procedure and had student sin designated shelter areas, but tragedy occurred when walls collapsed on interior hallways. Eight students were killed. Another fifty people were injured. Another woman was killed when her living room window was shattered as she stood in front of it. The football stadium was destroyed and a nearby elementary school was heavily damaged. The tornado was rated as an EF4. Another EF4 tornado killed one man in Wilcox County near the Millers Ferry Dam.
4. Mobile Downburst /Gustnado
A severe thunderstorm downburst and gustnado struck a Wal Mart on I-65 in Mobile on July 3rd, removing much of the roof. Five people were injured in the parking low when debris pelted their minivan and winds nearly overturned it. Three more people were injured in the store.
5. October Hale County Tornadoes
Late evening tornadoes injured four people near Faunsdale and Newbern in Hale County on October 22nd.
6. Late season freeze
A late season cold snap produced subfreezing temperatures as far south as Wetumpka and temperatures in the middle 20s as far south as Chilton County on April 7th and 8th. Fruit crops from the Tennessee Valley to Central Alabama were severely damaged or destroyed.
7. Fort Payne flooding
A thunderstorm complex produced up to four inches of rain in Fort Payne on July 1st. The Big Willis Creek experienced its fourth highest crest on record as the stream reached 11.47 feet. Water backed up into businesses and several automobiles were submerged. Damage totaled $200,000.
8. Mine fire triggered by lightning
Lightning struck a drilling rig at the Shoal Creek Mine in western Jefferson County on June 27th, igniting methane gas in the mine. Six miners were injured in the fire.
9. Central Alabama Dust Devil
A dust devil developed near Eastwood Mall in Birmingham on August 4th. It extended to a height of 250 feet and persisted for several minutes.
10. Quiet Fall Tornado Season in Alabama
Despite the deadly tornadoes on March 1 across South Alabama, the tornado season was fairly normal in 2007 Forty three tornadoes had been reported through December 25th. There were ten fatalities. Brian Peters statistics indicate that the average number of tornadoes in a year is 23. The greatest number of tornadoes in a single year was 55 in 2001. The average number of deaths is seven. Interestingly, the fall tornado season was quiet, with no tornadoes in Alabama in November.
