Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990
Flash Flood Warning 40, NWS Birmingham, AL
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.
- 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
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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 15, 6:14 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Tuscaloosa | 3 hr |
| Feb 15, 6:14 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Shelby | 3 hr |
| Feb 15, 6:21 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | DeKalb, Jackson, Marshall | 6 hr |
| Feb 15, 6:22 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Bibb, Perry | 58 min |
| Feb 15, 7:03 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Talladega | 42 min |
| Feb 15, 7:15 PM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Winston | 30 min |
| Feb 15, 7:50 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Calhoun, St. Clair | 3 hr |
| Feb 15, 8:25 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan | 4 hr |
| Feb 15, 8:25 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Marshall | 4 hr |
| Feb 15, 8:42 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Colbert, Lauderdale | 63 min |
| Feb 15, 8:55 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Talladega | 5 hr |
| Feb 15, 8:55 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Hale | 5 hr |
| Feb 15, 9:02 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Greene, Tuscaloosa | 3 hr |
| Feb 15, 9:02 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Walker | 3 hr |
| Feb 15, 9:34 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Tuscaloosa | 41 min |
| Feb 15, 9:40 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Jefferson | 3 hr |
| Feb 15, 10:43 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Bibb, St. Clair, Shelby | 3 hr |
| Feb 15, 11:46 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Etowah | 29 min |
| Feb 16, 12:04 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Etowah | 3 hr |
| Feb 16, 12:04 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Walker | 3 hr |
| Feb 16, 12:32 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | DeKalb, Jackson, Marshall | 4 hr |
| Feb 16, 12:35 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Blount, Cullman | 4 hr |
| Feb 16, 1:50 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Bibb, Perry, Shelby | 4 hr |
| Feb 16, 1:50 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | St. Clair | 4 hr |
| Feb 16, 2:48 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Clay, Cleburne, Randolph | 4 hr |
| Feb 16, 2:48 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Chilton | 4 hr |
| Feb 16, 2:48 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Etowah, Talladega | 4 hr |
| Feb 16, 2:48 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Walker | 4 hr |
| Feb 16, 3:07 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Cherokee | 4 hr |
| Feb 16, 4:22 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Greene, Hale, Tuscaloosa | 4 hr |
| Feb 16, 5:06 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | DeKalb, Jackson, Marshall | 4 hr |
| Feb 16, 5:29 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Bibb, Jefferson, Perry, Shelby | 3 hr |
| Feb 16, 5:29 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | St. Clair | 3 hr |
| Feb 16, 6:36 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah, Talladega | 3 hr |
| Feb 16, 7:03 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Hale | 42 min |
| Feb 16, 8:13 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Randolph | 47 min |
| Feb 16, 8:54 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | DeKalb, Jackson, Marshall | 4 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.