Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990

Flash Flood Warning 40, NWS Birmingham, AL

February 16, 1990Clay County, Randolph County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood warning at Feb 16, 1990, 6:36 AM CST for Clay County, Randolph County, Alabama. It was in force for 3 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Feb 16, 1990, 6:36 AM CST (12:36 UTC)
Expired
Feb 16, 1990, 9:45 AM CST
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Whole counties

Counties Clay County, AL, Randolph 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 12:00Z, 0.6 hours before the alert went out and 150 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 12:00Z on 1990-02-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 837 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 12:00Z on 1990-02-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 233 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
837 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-25 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
556 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
64 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
233 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
276 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
4.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KBHM 161237
FFWBHM
ALC015-019-027-029-055-111-121-021-161545-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
636 AM CST FRI FEB 16 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  945 AM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN NORTH ALABAMA
 
   ...CALHOUN COUNTY...CHEROKEE COUNTY...CLAY COUNTY...CLEBURNE COUNTY
   ...ETOWAH COUNTY...RANDOLPH COUNTY...TALLADEGA COUNTY
 
IN SOUTH ALABAMA
 
   ...CHILTON COUNTY
 
AT 632 AM CST WEATHER SERVICE RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW AN AREA OF RAIN.
OF IT HEAVY... MOVING ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
REPORTED WATER COVERING SEVERAL COUNTY ROADS". RAPID RUN-OFF WILL
PRODUCE QUICK RISES ON ALREADY FLOODED OR RAIN SWOLLEN CREEKS AND
RIVERS. PERSONS LINVING IN LOW LYING AREAS NEED TO BE ESPECIALLY ALERT
AND BE READY TO HEAD FOR 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 16, 2:10 AM CST, 4 hours 26 minutes before
ALZALL-161215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
207 AM CST FRI FEB 16 1990

...TORNADO WATCH AND FLASH FLOOD WATCH CANCELLED FOR LAUDERDALE...
COLBERT...FRANKLIN..AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES...

AT 205 AM CST THE THREAT FOR TORNADOES AND MORE HEAVY RAIN HAD ENDED
FOR EXTREME NORTHWEST ALABAMA...
Special weather statement, Feb 16, 3:47 AM CST, 2 hours 49 minutes before
ALZ010-011-012-014-017-018-160910-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
345 AM CST FRI FEB 16 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 44 IN EFFECT FOR  A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA UNTIL 10 AM CST...

AT 335 AM CST MONTGOMERY RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW THUNDERSTORMS WITH
VERY HEAVY RAIN MOVING NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR.
THE MOST ACTIVE THUNDERSTORMS WERE OBSERVED TO BE IN SOUTHERN CHILTON
...AND COOSA COUNTIES. OTHER THUNDERSTOEMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WAS MOVING
INTO SOUTHWEST LOWNDES COUNTY.

NO DAMAGE HAS BEEN REPORTED SO FAR THIS EVENING IN SOUTH ALABAMA...
NEVERTHELESS THIS SITUATION MAY DETERIORATE RAPIDLY. LISTENERS
ARE ADVISED TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO.
Special weather statement, Feb 16, 5:19 AM CST, 1 hour 17 minutes before
ALZ010-011-012-014-017-018-160910-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
515 AM CST FRI FEB 16 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 44 IN EFFECT FOR  A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA UNTIL 10 AM CST...

AT 510 AM CST MONTGOMERY WEATHER RADAR SHOWED LARGE AREAS OF RAIN WITH
THUNDERSTORMS...MANY WITH HEAVY RAIN. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR. THE MOST ACTIVE THUNDERSTORMS WERE
SOUTH OF LAKE MARTIN...JUST SOUTH OF PINE APPLE AND NEAR CHAPMAN AND
IN A BAND THAT WAS MOVING ACROSS WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA TOWARDS DALLAS
AND WILCOX COUNTIES. THIS LATTER LINE SHOULD ARRIVE BEFORE 6AM.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE HAD DAMAGING WINDS. RESIDENTS NEAR THESE AREAS
SHOULD PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST STRONG GUSTY WINDS...LETHAL LIGHTNING
AND TORRENTIAL RAINS.

SNELL
Special weather statement, Feb 16, 6:24 AM CST, 12 minutes before
ALZ010-011-012-014-017-018-160910-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
623 AM CST FRI FEB 16 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 44 IN EFFECT FOR  A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA UNTIL 10 AM CST...

AT 620 AM CST MONTGOMERY WEATHER RADAR SHOWED LARGE AREAS OF RAIN WITH
THUNDERSTORMS...MANY WITH HEAVY RAIN. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR. THE MOST ACTIVE THUNDERSTORM WAS
WEST OF MARION JUNCTION MOVING ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR TOWARD THE WEST.

THIS THUNDERSTORM IS PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS..TORRENTIAL RAIN AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. PERSONS IN MARION JUNCTION AND SELMA SHOULD
EXERCIZE CAUTION. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DO NOT USE ELECTICAL
APPLIANCES DURING A THUNDERSTORM.

SNELL
Special weather statement, Feb 16, 6:27 AM CST, 9 minutes before
ALZ010-011-012-014-017-018-160910-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT--CORRECTED FOR STORM MOVEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
623 AM CST FRI FEB 16 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 44 IN EFFECT FOR  A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA UNTIL 10 AM CST...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF SOUTH ALABAMA...

AT 620 AM CST MONTGOMERY WEATHER RADAR SHOWED LARGE AREAS OF RAIN WITH
THUNDERSTORMS...MANY WITH HEAVY RAIN. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR. THE MOST ACTIVE THUNDERSTORM WAS
WEST OF MARION JUNCTION MOVING ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR TOWARD THE WEST.

THIS THUNDERSTORM IS PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS..TORRENTIAL RAIN AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. PERSONS IN MARION JUNCTION AND SELMA SHOULD
EXERCIZE CAUTION. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DO NOT USE ELECTICAL
APPLIANCES DURING A THUNDERSTORM.

SNELL
Special weather statement, Feb 16, 6:29 AM CST, 7 minutes before
ALZ010-011-012-014-017-018-160910-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT--CORRECTED FOR STORM MOVEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
623 AM CST FRI FEB 16 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 44 IN EFFECT FOR  A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA UNTIL 10 AM CST...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF SOUTH ALABAMA...

AT 620 AM CST MONTGOMERY WEATHER RADAR SHOWED LARGE AREAS OF RAIN WITH
THUNDERSTORMS...MANY WITH HEAVY RAIN. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR. THE MOST ACTIVE THUNDERSTORM WAS
WEST OF MARION JUNCTION MOVING ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR TOWARD THE EAST.

THIS THUNDERSTORM IS PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS..TORRENTIAL RAIN AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. PERSONS IN MARION JUNCTION AND SELMA SHOULD
EXERCIZE CAUTION. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DO NOT USE ELECTICAL
APPLIANCES DURING A THUNDERSTORM.

SNELL

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 15, 6:14 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXTuscaloosa3 hr
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, 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.