Showing that severe weather doesn't obey a calendar, supercell thunderstorms hit northwest Alabama on October 18, 2004. Two tornadoes were confirmed in Colbert and Lauderdale counties, ranging from F0 to F1 damage. (For more information on this storm, check out our Storm Surveys page)

The National Weather Service Office in Huntsville is conducting a Severe Weather Awareness Day on Wednesday, October 15, 2008. The purpose of this day is to call attention to the secondary peak severe weather season that begins in the late fall. November historically has been a very active month for severe weather and tornadoes. Some of the recent fall severe weather events include:

• In 2007, severe thunderstorms caused considerable straight-line wind damage across Northwest Alabama on October 18th. An EF-1 tornado tracked into southern Lawrence County, downing several trees in Bankhead National Forest.
• 2004 saw the severe weather peak occur in October, not November. Tornadoes struck Lauderdale and Colbert Counties on October 18 (check out the storm survey here).
• 2003: A significant line of thunderstorms plowed through the Tennessee Valley on November 18, resulting in significant straight-line wind damage. Damaging wind gusts can be just as destructive as tornadoes, if not more so.
• The infamous Veteran's Day Tornado Outbreak of 2002 brought an F3 tornado to Cullman County, which damaged more than 150 structures (check out the storm survey here).
• Six of the eight tornadoes that hit Northern Alabama in 2001 occurred with the November 24, 2001 outbreak. This outbreak broke a record for the number of tornadoes that occurred during a 24-hour period in the state of Alabama.
• Of course, the infamous 1989 Huntsville tornado occurred in November as well. This F4 tornado (207-260 mph winds) tore through south Huntsville on November 15, 1989, touching down on Redstone Arsenal at 4:30pm. The tornado eventually killed 21 people, injured more than 460 people, and caused more than $250 million in damages.

This the perfect time of the year to check your preparedness plans. Make sure your NOAA Weather Radio has fresh batteries in it. Make sure you have a means of receiving severe weather information. Make sure you know what you should do if threatening weather approaches.

The routine weekly test on NOAA Weather Radio will be conducted on Severe Weather Awareness Day. Media outlets will be working with the National Weather Service to publicize weather safety as well.

• Tennessee Valley Tornado Database - Check out details on the tornadoes that have hit the area since 1874--including those that have struck during the fall months.
• NOAA Weather Radio - Details on transmitters and SAME codes that you can use to set your NOAA Weather Radio.
• Lightning - A locally-developed brochure explaining how lightning works and how dangerous lightning can be.
• Flash Floods and River Floods - While tornadoes are a big threat to the area, flash flooding kills more people per year than any other weather hazard. Find out more through this brochure.