A strong storm system brought a potent cold front through the Mississippi Valley and across northern Alabama after midnight on Thursday.  A line of strong to severe thunderstorms developed along and ahead of the front, producing numerous reports of large hail, particularly in northeastern Alabama.  Some locations in DeKalb and Marshall counties had hail reported to be up to 8 inches deep and up 2 inches in diameter.

Hail in CULLMAN, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 05:25:00 to 12-MAR-10 05:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: TRIMBLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Quarter size hail was reported near Lewis Smith Lake.

Hail in FRANKLIN, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 02:30:00 to 12-MAR-10 02:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: NIX
Magnitude: 1.00 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Quarter size hail was reported five miles west of Phil Campbell.

Hail in MADISON, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 05:30:00 to 12-MAR-10 05:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: MADISON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Quarter size hail was reported in Madison.

Hail in LIMESTONE, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 05:33:00 to 12-MAR-10 05:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: ATHENS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Penny size hail was reported in Athens.

Hail in LIMESTONE, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 05:33:00 to 12-MAR-10 05:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: ATHENS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Penny size hail was reported in Athens.

Hail in MADISON, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 05:40:00 to 12-MAR-10 05:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: MADISON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Penny size hail was reported in Madison.

Hail in MADISON, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 04:55:00 to 12-MAR-10 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MONROVIA
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Penny hail was reported covering the ground in the Monrovia area.

Hail in DEKALB, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 09:37:00 to 12-MAR-10 09:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: GERALDINE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The line of thunderstorms that produced large hail in portions of Marshall county continued to move northeast from Marshall county into Dekalb county.  Near Geraldine, nickel to quarter sized hail was reported to the depth of 8 inches on highway 75.  Alabama Department of Transportation crews were called in to clear the hail off a bridge on highway 75.  Numerous accidents were reported due to the slick roads caused by the accumulated hail.

Hail in DEKALB, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 10:25:00 to 12-MAR-10 10:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: RIVER PARK
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

A line of thunderstorms produced penny (0.75 inch) to golfball size (1.75 inch) hail along a continuous path from portions of Desoto State park to just east of Mentone. The largest hail to the size of golfballs (1.75 inch) occurred just east of Mentone. Quarter size hail was also reported in Valley Head.

Lightning in COLBERT, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 02:00:00 to 12-MAR-10 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: OLD BETHEL
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Lightning struck a storage shed at a residence and set it on fire.

Hail in LIMESTONE, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 03:45:00 to 12-MAR-10 03:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAWNGATE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind gusts to 35 mph and quarter size hail was reported.

Hail in LIMESTONE, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 03:52:00 to 12-MAR-10 03:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAWNGATE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Quarter size hail and wind gusts to 40 mph were reported in Ripley.

Hail in LIMESTONE, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 04:11:00 to 12-MAR-10 04:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: ATHENS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Penny size hail was reported in Athens.

Hail in CULLMAN, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 04:58:00 to 12-MAR-10 05:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: JONES CHAPEL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A thunderstorm moved northeast from near Logan to the West Point area producing nickel to quarter size hail along it's path.

Hail in CULLMAN, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 05:24:00 to 12-MAR-10 05:29:00 (CST-6)
Location: CULLMAN
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Penny size hail was reported in Cullman.

Hail in COLBERT, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 02:40:00 to 12-MAR-10 02:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: SPRING VLY
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Nickel hail was reported near Spring Valley.

Hail in FRANKLIN, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 02:43:00 to 12-MAR-10 02:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHESTNUT RIDGE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Penny to golf ball size hail was reported 5 miles east of Phil Campbell.

Hail in LAWRENCE, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 03:02:00 to 12-MAR-10 03:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: HATTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Quarter size hail was reported near Hatton.

Hail in LAWRENCE, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 03:35:00 to 12-MAR-10 03:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: HILLSBORO
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Golfball size hail was reported 5 miles west of Trinity.

Hail in LAWRENCE, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 03:40:00 to 12-MAR-10 03:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: MOULTON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Penny size hail was reported in Moulton.

Hail in CULLMAN, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 06:05:00 to 12-MAR-10 06:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: FAIRVIEW
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Penny size hail was reported in Fairview.

Hail in CULLMAN, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 06:11:00 to 12-MAR-10 06:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: COUNTY LINE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Penny size hail was reported northeast of Cullman.

Hail in CULLMAN, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 05:43:00 to 12-MAR-10 05:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: CULLMAN
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Penny size hail was reported in Cullman.

Hail in MARSHALL, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 09:25:00 to 12-MAR-10 09:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARTLING
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Golfball hail was reported at the Guntersville State park.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARSHALL, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 09:25:00 to 12-MAR-10 09:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARTLING
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 6.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Trees were blown down at the Guntersville State Park.

Lightning in LAWRENCE, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 03:30:00 to 12-MAR-10 03:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: COURTLAND AIRFIELD
Property damage: 120.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Lightning started a fire in the attic of one of the buidings at the Courtland Village Apartments. This fire quickly spread to all the units while firefighters from the area battled the fire for 2 hours. Tragically, the building was a total loss and eight families were displaced by the fire after the blaze was extinguished.

Lightning in FRANKLIN, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 02:35:00 to 12-MAR-10 02:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: RUSSELLVILLE
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Lightning struck the top of a water tower which then fell 75 feet onto a home in Russellville.

Thunderstorm Wind in DEKALB, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 10:00:00 to 12-MAR-10 10:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: RAINSVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 13.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A tin roof was ripped off a barn on Rainbow Avenue in Rainsville.

Hail in DEKALB, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 09:55:00 to 12-MAR-10 10:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: RAINSVILLE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A thunderstorm began producing confirmed half dollar (1.25 inches in diameter) to golfball (1.75 inches in diameter) sized hail just southwest of the Rainsville community.  There are radar indications this path of large hail could have started even further to the southwest. As it pushed through Rainsville, the large hail significantly damaged 19 buildings, tearing up siding, awnings, and damaging some automobiles. Hail accumulation of at least one to three inches was reported.
This storm then continued moving northeast and produced hail up to the size of hen eggs (2.00 inches in diameter) as it passed through the Slyvania community, where some damage also occurred. This storm continued to produce golfball sized hail as it moved over the eastern side of the Henagar community, before weakening.

Hail in LIMESTONE, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 03:42:00 to 12-MAR-10 03:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: WHEELER LAKE NORTH
Magnitude: 1.00 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Quarter size hail was reported 12 miles west of Athens near CR 15.

Hail in LIMESTONE, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 04:00:00 to 12-MAR-10 04:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELKMONT
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Penny size hail was reported in Elkmont.

Hail in MARSHALL, ALABAMA
From 12-MAR-10 09:09:00 to 12-MAR-10 09:14:00 (CST-6)
Location: GUNTERSVILLE MUNI AR
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Penny size hail up to 2 inches in depth was reported at the Marshall County Courthouse.