Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990

Flash Flood Warning 12, NWS Birmingham, AL

February 15, 1990Tuscaloosa County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood warning at Feb 15, 1990, 6:14 PM CST for Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. It was in force for 3 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Feb 15, 1990, 6:14 PM CST (00:14 UTC)
Expired
Feb 15, 1990, 9:15 PM CST
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Whole counties

County Tuscaloosa County, AL

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Centreville/Bibb, AL (KCKL), launched 00:00Z, 0.2 hours before the alert went out and 53 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Centreville/Bibb, AL at 00:00Z on 1990-02-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Centreville/Bibb, AL at 00:00Z on 1990-02-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 143 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-65 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
598 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
55 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
143 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
239 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KBHM 160016
FFWBHM
ALC117-125-160315-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
614 PM CST THU FEB 15 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  915 PM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN NORTH ALABAMA
 
   ...SHELBY COUNTY...TUSCALOOSA COUNTY
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS EXTENDED THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR
TUSCALOOSA AND SHELBY COUNTIES. FLOODING WAS OCCURRING IN SHELBY
COUNTY ALONG VALLEYDALE ROAD NEAR INTERSTATE 65 AND ALSO NEAR
BRIARWOOD SCHOOL ON ROUTE 119. IN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY FLOODING WAS
BEING REPORTED IN THE NORTHPORT AREA AND ALSO ALONG UNIVERSITY
ROAD AND GREENSBORO ROAD IN THE CITY OF TUSCALOOSA.
 
RAIN WILL CONTINUE TO FALL THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS AND LOCALLY HEAVY
RAINFALL REMAINS POSSIBLE AS THUNDERSTORMS OVER MISSISSIPPI MOVE INTO
CENTRAL ALABAMA THIS EVENING.
 
 
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS
IMMINENT.  MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.  DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO CROSS BRIDGES...DIPS...OR LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS
THE ROADWAY.  NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL
ONE...ON FOOT.  TO ESCAPE RISIWNG WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Feb 15, 12:55 PM CST, 5 hours 19 minutes before
ALZ004-006-008-005-009-152000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1256 PM CST THU FEB 15 1990

AT 1255 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS
EXTENDING FROM NORTHWESTERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY SOUTHWESTWARD INTO
SOUTHERN GREENE COUNTY. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST
AT 40 MPH. THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD AFFECT THE CITIES OF
TUSCALOOSA...MELTON AND MOUNTSVILLE BY 200 PM.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS...
BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLE HAIL.
PERSONS ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA ARE ENCOURAGED TO MONITOR NOAA WEATHER
RADIO OR LOCAL NEW OUTLETS AS THE WEATHER MAY CHANGE RA[PIDLY
THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON HOURS.
Special weather statement, Feb 15, 1:31 PM CST, 4 hours 43 minutes before
ALZ004-006-008-005-009-152030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
130 PM CST THU FEB 15 1990

AT 125 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS
EXTENDING FROM JUST SOUTH OF TUSCALOOSA SOUTHWESTWARD INTO GREENE
COUNTY. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD AFFECT THE CITY OF GREENSBORO BY 2 PM.
POLICE AND TROOPER REPORTS INDICATE THESE STORMS ARE PRODUCING VERY
HEAVY DOWNPOURS. WITH THESE STORMS LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING...ESPECIALLY
IN LOW LYING AREAS...MAY OCCUR.

THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING
AND POSSIBLE HAIL. PERSONS ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA ARE ENCOURAGED TO
MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL NEW OUTLETS AS THE WEATHER MAY
CHANGE RAPIDLY THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON HOURS.
Special weather statement, Feb 15, 2:13 PM CST, 4 hours 1 minute before
ALZ004-006-008-005-009-152130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
213 PM CST THU FEB 15 1990

AT 213 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS
EXTENDING FROM JUST WEST OF OAK GROVE IN WESTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY
SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE CITIES OF BROOKWOOD...GREENSBORO...TO DEMOPOLIS.
THESE STORMS ARE PRODUCING VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS. WITH THESE STORMS
LOCALIZED FLOODING...ESPECIALLY IN LOW LYING AREAS...MAY OCCUR.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP IN SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI.
NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER AND POSSIBLE TORNDAOES IN MISSISSIPPI
HAVE BEEN RECIEVED AT THE WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH
WILL BE ISSUED LATER THIS AFTERNOON FOR MUCH OF NORTHERN HALF OF ALABAMA.

RESIDENTS IN CENTRAL ALABAMA ARE ENCOURAGED TO MONITOR NOAA WEATHER
RADIO OR LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS AS THE WEATHER MAY CHANGE RAPIDLY THROUGHOUT
THE AFTERNOON HOURS.
Special weather statement, Feb 15, 4:21 PM CST, 1 hour 53 minutes before
ALZ010-011-012-014-017-018-101600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
420 PM CST THU FEB 15 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 38 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF
CENTRAL ALABAMA AND PARTS OF SOUTH ALABAMA...

WEATHER RADAR AT MONTGOMERY SHOWED NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
OVER PARTS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA INTO EAST MISSISSIPPI. STRONGEST STORMS
WERE IN A LINE FROM NEAR TUSCALOOSA SOUTHWESTWARD INTO MISSISSIPPI
NEAR MERIDIAN. THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TOWARD THE
NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 40 MPH.

ELSWHERE LIGHT TO MODERATE SHOWERS WERE OCCURRING  OVER SCATTERED
AREAS OF SOUTH ALABAMA.

THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS HIGH FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT SO PERSONS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH ALABAMA SHOULD KEEP ABREAST
OF THE LATEST WEATHER BULLETINS FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES.
Special weather statement, Feb 15, 4:46 PM CST, 1 hour 28 minutes before
ALZ010-011-012-014-017-018-160020-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
420 PM CST THU FEB 15 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 38 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF
CENTRAL ALABAMA AND PARTS OF SOUTH ALABAMA...

WEATHER RADAR AT MONTGOMERY SHOWED NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
OVER PARTS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA INTO EAST MISSISSIPPI. STRONGEST STORMS
WERE IN A LINE FROM NEAR TUSCALOOSA SOUTHWESTWARD INTO MISSISSIPPI
NEAR MERIDIAN. THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TOWARD THE
NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 40 MPH.

ELSWHERE LIGHT TO MODERATE SHOWERS WERE OCCURRING  OVER SCATTERED
AREAS OF SOUTH ALABAMA.

THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS HIGH FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT SO PERSONS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH ALABAMA SHOULD KEEP ABREAST
OF THE LATEST WEATHER BULLETINS FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES.
Special weather statement, Feb 15, 5:31 PM CST, 43 minutes before
ALZ010-011-012-014-017-018-160145-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
530 PM CST THU FEB 15 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 38 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CHAMBERS...LEE...
TALLAPOOSA...COOSA...ELMORE...AUTAUGA AND DALLAS COUNTIES OF SOUTH
ALABAMA...

WEATHER RADAR AT MONTGOMERY SHOWED RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS FROM NEAR
ANNISTON SOUTHWESTWARD TO NEAR DEMOPOLIS. SCATTERED LIGHT TO MODERATE
SHOWERS WERE SCATTERED OVER THE REMAINDER OF SOUTH ALABAMA.

THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST AT
ABOUT 40MPH.  ALTHOUGH THERE HAS BEEN NO SEVERE WEATHER REPORTED OVER
SOUTH ALABAMA...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE OVER PARTS OF MISSISSIPPI
AND THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY MOVE INTO SOUTH ALABAMA LATER TONIGHT.

PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN ON THE ALERT AND PERSONS
OUTSIDE THE WATCH IN SOUTH ALABAMA SHOULD KEEP ABREAST OF THE
LATEST WEATHER ALSO AS WATCHES MAY BE REQUIRED FOR OTHER AREAS
OF SOUTH ALABAMA LATER TONIGHT.
PETTIT

The office that day

Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 15, 6:14 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXShelby3 hr
Feb 15, 6:21 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXDeKalb, Jackson, Marshall6 hr
Feb 15, 6:22 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Perry58 min
Feb 15, 7:03 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTalladega42 min
Feb 15, 7:15 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXWinston30 min
Feb 15, 7:50 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXCalhoun, St. Clair3 hr
Feb 15, 8:25 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXLauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan4 hr
Feb 15, 8:25 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXMarshall4 hr
Feb 15, 8:42 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXColbert, Lauderdale63 min
Feb 15, 8:55 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXTalladega5 hr
Feb 15, 8:55 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXHale5 hr
Feb 15, 9:02 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXGreene, Tuscaloosa3 hr
Feb 15, 9:02 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXWalker3 hr
Feb 15, 9:34 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTuscaloosa41 min
Feb 15, 9:40 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXJefferson3 hr
Feb 15, 10:43 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXBibb, St. Clair, Shelby3 hr
Feb 15, 11:46 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Etowah29 min
Feb 16, 12:04 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXEtowah3 hr
Feb 16, 12:04 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXWalker3 hr
Feb 16, 12:32 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXDeKalb, Jackson, Marshall4 hr
Feb 16, 12:35 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXBlount, Cullman4 hr
Feb 16, 1:50 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXBibb, Perry, Shelby4 hr
Feb 16, 1:50 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXSt. Clair4 hr
Feb 16, 2:48 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXClay, Cleburne, Randolph4 hr
Feb 16, 2:48 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXChilton4 hr
Feb 16, 2:48 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXCalhoun, Etowah, Talladega4 hr
Feb 16, 2:48 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXWalker4 hr
Feb 16, 3:07 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXCherokee4 hr
Feb 16, 4:22 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Tuscaloosa4 hr
Feb 16, 5:06 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXDeKalb, Jackson, Marshall4 hr
Feb 16, 5:29 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXBibb, Jefferson, Perry, Shelby3 hr
Feb 16, 5:29 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXSt. Clair3 hr
Feb 16, 6:36 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXCalhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah, Talladega3 hr
Feb 16, 6:36 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXClay, Randolph3 hr
Feb 16, 7:03 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXHale42 min
Feb 16, 8:13 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXRandolph47 min
Feb 16, 8:54 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXDeKalb, Jackson, Marshall4 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Alabama, 1990Every flash flood warning in 1990

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.