Editing Decatur, Alabama (section)

==Geography==
The Tennessee River has traditionally been the northern border of the city and Morgan County, but a small portion of the city extends across the river into Limestone County between U.S. 31 and I-65. Major bodies of water in the city include [[Wheeler Lake]] on the Tennessee River itself, plus Flint Creek, and Dry Branch,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://adem.alabama.gov/programs/water/wqsurvey/table/2015/2015WHEL-7.pdf|title=Dry Branch Embayment Wheeler Reservoir Intensive Basin Survey 2015|website=Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM)}}</ref> tributaries of the Tennessee River. The city extends to the other side of Flint Creek and the Refuge in the Indian Hills and Burningtree subdivision areas.

The northern portion of Decatur sits on top of a short hill that overlooks the Tennessee River; this creates a very steep drop-off to the river shore at Rhodes Ferry Park. This hill allows the [[Captain William J. Hudson "Steamboat Bill" Memorial Bridges|"Steamboat Bill" Memorial Bridge]] to leave the mainland at grade without any major sloping required to cross the river while not interfering with Decatur's heavy barge traffic. This hill extends from the banks of the river about {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} south to the 14th St./Magnolia St. intersection with 6th Avenue ([[U.S. Route 31 in Alabama|US 31]]).{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

South past the 14th St. and 6th Ave. intersection, land remains flat. South, and also west, past [[State Route 67 (Alabama)|S.R. 67]] there are a few minor ridges that sit within the city limits.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|61.020|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|54.594|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|6.426|sqmi|km2}}, is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023"/> Decatur is {{convert|25|mi}} southwest of Huntsville, {{convert|86|mi}} north of [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]], and {{convert|44|mi}} east of [[Muscle Shoals, Alabama|Muscle Shoals]].

===Climate===
Decatur has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cfa'') with four distinct seasons.

Winters are generally mild, with a January daily average temperature of {{convert|40.6|°F|1}}. On average, the low temperature falls to the freezing mark or below on 59 days a year, and to or below {{convert|20|°F|0}} on 9.2 days.<ref name = NOAA>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00053852&format=pdf |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=Station: Decatur Pryor FLD, AL |work=U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020) |access-date=June 7, 2021}}</ref> Winters usually do not produce much snow; a large amount of snow is rare within the city limits. A small, measurable amount of snow can be experienced a few times each year. In 2011, Decatur received up to {{convert|8|in|cm}} of snow in a single storm. It tied for the most since 1963. {{Citation needed|date=March 2013}}Summers are hot and humid with a July daily average temperature of {{convert|79.6|°F|1}}. There are 51–52 days of {{convert|90|°F|0}}+ highs annually and 1.7 days of {{convert|100|°F|0}}+ highs.<ref name = NOAA/> [[Thunderstorms]] are common during the summer months. The latter part of summer tends to be drier. Autumn, which spans from mid-September to early December, tends to be similar to spring in terms of temperature and precipitation, although it begins relatively dry.

Precipitation averages about 53.4 inches per year and on average, is relatively (and uniformly) heavy from November to July, with December the single wettest month on average; August through October are slightly drier months on average. Occasionally, severe thunderstorms occur. These storms can produce damaging winds and large hail in addition to the usual hazards of lightning and very heavy rain. There is also the risk of [[tornadoes]]. Severe thunderstorms can occur at any time of the year, but are most common during the spring months. A secondary severe weather season peaks in November. Occasionally from July to October, the Decatur area experiences strong winds and/or heavy to excessive rain from tropical disturbances. These commonly make landfall along the Gulf Coast as [[hurricanes]] but lose intensity as they move inland.

The highest recorded temperature was {{convert|108|°F|0}} on July 28, 1952, and August 16, 1954, while the lowest recorded temperature was {{convert|−19|°F|0}} on January 30, 1966.<ref name = NOAA/>

{{Weather box
|location = Decatur, Alabama (1991–2020 normals)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 78
|Feb record high F = 82
|Mar record high F = 87
|Apr record high F = 94
|May record high F = 99
|Jun record high F = 105
|Jul record high F = 108
|Aug record high F = 108
|Sep record high F = 105
|Oct record high F = 97
|Nov record high F = 86
|Dec record high F = 80
|year record high F = 108
|Jan high F = 50.7
|Feb high F = 55.4
|Mar high F = 63.7
|Apr high F = 73.0
|May high F = 80.8
|Jun high F = 87.6
|Jul high F = 89.8
|Aug high F = 89.8
|Sep high F = 85.1
|Oct high F = 74.5
|Nov high F = 62.3
|Dec high F = 53.6
|year high F = 72.2
|Jan mean F = 41.4
|Feb mean F = 45.3
|Mar mean F = 52.7
|Apr mean F = 61.6
|May mean F = 69.9
|Jun mean F = 77.1
|Jul mean F = 79.7
|Aug mean F = 78.8
|Sep mean F = 73.1
|Oct mean F = 62.0
|Nov mean F = 50.8
|Dec mean F = 44.1
|year mean F = 61.4
|Jan low F = 32.0
|Feb low F = 35.2
|Mar low F = 41.7
|Apr low F = 50.1
|May low F = 59.1
|Jun low F = 66.6
|Jul low F = 69.7
|Aug low F = 67.9
|Sep low F = 61.2
|Oct low F = 49.5
|Nov low F = 39.2
|Dec low F = 34.6
|year low F = 50.6
|Jan record low F = −19
|Feb record low F = −4
|Mar record low F = 7
|Apr record low F = 20
|May record low F = 35
|Jun record low F = 42
|Jul record low F = 51
|Aug record low F = 50
|Sep record low F = 36
|Oct record low F = 24
|Nov record low F = 0
|Dec record low F = −5
|year record low F = −19
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 4.64
|Feb precipitation inch = 4.96
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.96
|Apr precipitation inch = 4.50
|May precipitation inch = 4.15
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.66
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.95
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.05
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.21
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.23
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.96
|Dec precipitation inch = 5.20
|year precipitation inch = 49.47
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 9.3
|Feb precipitation days = 12.1
|Mar precipitation days = 11.0
|Apr precipitation days = 11.0
|May precipitation days = 10.8
|Jun precipitation days = 11.4
|Jul precipitation days = 12.4
|Aug precipitation days = 10.6
|Sep precipitation days = 8.3
|Oct precipitation days = 8.6
|Nov precipitation days = 9.7
|Dec precipitation days = 10.8
|year precipitation days = 126.0
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA/> 
|source 2 = The Weather Channel (extremes)<ref name="twc">{{cite web| url = http://www.weather.com/outlook/events/sports/wxclimatology/monthly/35603| title = Monthly Averages for Decatur, AL| publisher = [[The Weather Channel (United States)|The Weather Channel]]| date = June 2011| url-status=dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121023085756/http://www.weather.com/outlook/events/sports/wxclimatology/monthly/35603| archive-date = October 23, 2012}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

===Neighboring cities/towns===
* [[Athens, Alabama|Athens]] (north) - Limestone County
* [[Hartselle, Alabama|Hartselle]] (south) - Morgan County
* [[Hillsboro, Alabama|Hillsboro]] (west) - Lawrence County
* [[Huntsville, Alabama|Huntsville]] (northeast) - Madison/Limestone counties
* [[Madison, Alabama|Madison]] (northeast) - Madison/Limestone counties (however Huntsville completely separates the two)<ref>{{cite web |title=TIGERweb: Decatur, Alabama |url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/tigerweb/ |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=April 26, 2022}}</ref>
* [[Mooresville, Alabama|Mooresville]] (northeast) - Limestone County
* [[Moulton, Alabama|Moulton]] (southwest) - Lawrence County
* [[Priceville, Alabama|Priceville]] (east) - Morgan County
* [[Trinity, Alabama|Trinity]] (west) - Morgan County

===Neighborhoods===
Decatur is divided into four different regions of town (Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, Southwest). Southeast and Northeast Decatur lie east of the CSX Railroad's mainline. North of Lee Street, the dividing line is Bank Street which runs a block east of and parallel to the railroad. Northeast and Southeast and are divided by Moulton Street. Southwest consists of the area west of the CSX Railroad and south of Moulton Street. Northwest is bordered by Moulton Street, the CSX Railroad from Moulton Street to Lee Street and then by Bank Street from Lee Street to the Tennessee River. While there are few major cultural differences between the East and the West, minute differences such as street grid patterns, zoning patterns, and architectural styles are noticeable.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}

====Northwest====
*West Decatur (the portion north of Moulton Street)

====Northeast====
*[[Albany, Alabama|Albany]] (New Decatur)
*Downtown Decatur
*East Acres
*Old Decatur
*Bank Street and Second Avenue (Downtown Shopping District)
*Harborview (Riverfront)
*Irvington (Limestone County)
*Whiteside (Limestone County)

====Southeast====
*Bayside
*[[Brookmeade]]
*Burleson Mountain
*[[Burningtree Mountain, Alabama|Burningtree Mountain]]
*Cedar Lake
*Fairview
*Flint
*Hickory Hills
*Indian Hills
*Point Mallard Estates

====Southwest====
*Autumn Ridge
*Austinville
*Basham
*Braswell
*Cedar Ridge
*Chapel Hill
*Chula Vista
*City View Estates
*Deerfoot Estates
*Dogwood Estates
*Dunbarton
*Flint
*Graystone
*Griffin Addition
*Longleaf Estates
*[[Moulton Heights, Alabama|Moulton Heights]]
*Oak Lea
*Oakworth
*Timberlake
*Russell Village
*Vestavia
*West Decatur (the portion south of Moulton Street)
*Westmeade
*Woodtrail
{{Div col end}}