A unseasonably cold core upper low was centered over the Ohio Valley States. Northwest flow aloft pushed several fast moving short wave troughs through East Alabama on July 21st and July 22nd.  The combination of cold air aloft and moist low levels of the atmosphere produced very unstable conditions across east Alabama with CAPE values 4000-5000 J/kg each afternoon.

Hail in CLAY, ALABAMA
From 21-JUL-18 15:22:00 to 21-JUL-18 15:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: DELTA
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Tennis ball sized hail reported in far northeast Clay County.

Hail in CLEBURNE, ALABAMA
From 21-JUL-18 15:30:00 to 21-JUL-18 15:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: EDWARDSVILLE
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in CLEBURNE, ALABAMA
From 21-JUL-18 15:32:00 to 21-JUL-18 15:34:00 (CST-6)
Location: OAK LEVEL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Large hail covering the ground.

Hail in RANDOLPH, ALABAMA
From 21-JUL-18 16:25:00 to 21-JUL-18 16:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: PINE TUCKEY
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Baseball sized hail reported near the Morrison Crossroads Community.

Hail in RANDOLPH, ALABAMA
From 21-JUL-18 15:48:00 to 21-JUL-18 15:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: WOODLAND
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Quarter sized hail reported near the town of Woodland.

Hail in RANDOLPH, ALABAMA
From 21-JUL-18 15:48:00 to 21-JUL-18 15:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: WEDOWEE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Golf ball sized hail reported near the town of Wedowee.

Hail in RANDOLPH, ALABAMA
From 21-JUL-18 16:10:00 to 21-JUL-18 16:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: WHITE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in LEE, ALABAMA
From 21-JUL-18 16:35:00 to 21-JUL-18 16:37:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHEWACLA
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Golf ball sized hail reported east of the town of Opelika.

Thunderstorm Wind in RUSSELL, ALABAMA
From 21-JUL-18 17:14:00 to 21-JUL-18 17:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: CRAWFORD
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Several trees uprooted along Highway 80 east of the town of Crawford.

Hail in RUSSELL, ALABAMA
From 21-JUL-18 17:20:00 to 21-JUL-18 17:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: LADONIA
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Golf ball sized hail and winds estimated near 60 mph in the town of Ladonia.

Hail in RUSSELL, ALABAMA
From 21-JUL-18 17:28:00 to 21-JUL-18 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: SANDFORT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in RUSSELL, ALABAMA
From 21-JUL-18 17:28:00 to 21-JUL-18 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: NUCKOLS
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Golf ball sized hail reported along Highway 431 near the Fireworks Outlet.

Thunderstorm Wind in RUSSELL, ALABAMA
From 21-JUL-18 17:52:00 to 21-JUL-18 17:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: CRAWFORD
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Several trees uprooted near Kirkland Road.

Hail in CLEBURNE, ALABAMA
From 21-JUL-18 15:15:00 to 21-JUL-18 15:17:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOLLIS XRDS
Magnitude: 3.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Tea Cup sized hail reported in the Hollis Crossroads Community.

Tornado in LEE, ALABAMA
From 21-JUL-18 16:43:00 to 21-JUL-18 17:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: OPELIKA
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in central Lee County and determined that it was consistent with an EF0 tornado, with maximum sustained winds near 85 mph. The tornado touched down in the city of Opelika near the intersection of South 3rd Street and Avenue D.  The tornado tracked south and snapped or uprooted many trees before crossing Interstate 85.  It then shifted towards the southeast as it crossed Chewacla Road, where it continued to snap or uproot trees. The tornado shifted back to a southerly track and crossed Highway 69 and Royal Drive. It then took a southwest track before lifting near Stringfellow Road.

Hail in LOWNDES, ALABAMA
From 22-JUL-18 12:05:00 to 22-JUL-18 12:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: DAVENPORT
Magnitude: 3.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Large hail ranging in size from 1 inch to 3.5 inches near the town of Letohatchee.