Alabama, being in the south, is known for harsh summer storms as well as beautiful sunshine. Although the sun can warm things quickly in Alabama, the breeze from the gulf water cools the air so that residents can enjoy time outside. With the heating of the day there are storms that occur in the evening. Some of these thunderstorms can be strong to severe and may include hail, high winds, and even tornadoes. Summer can also bring flooding rains not associated with severe storms. Rivers that have frozen in the winter are being melted and cause flooding all along the shores. Summer heat helps to dry the flood waters quickly.
Tornadoes are the most dangerous weather aspect in Alabama. From a small funnel cloud in the sky to tornadoes that are a mile wide, these storms are not to be messed with. Alabama does not see as many tornadoes as western states, but they do receive their share. Hail up to the size of a softball has been noted with these storms as recently as 2009. Unfortunately, there have been deaths recently recorded with tornadoes in Alabama.
Summer is normally a hot season in Alabama with the occasional rain and typical evening thunderstorms. Overall, weather trends in Alabama are no more different in the summer than in other areas in the south.