Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990
Flash Flood Warning 75, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood warning at Dec 22, 1990, 10:30 AM CST for Limestone County, Morgan County, Alabama. It was in force for 4 hr.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Dec 22, 1990, 10:30 AM CST (16:30 UTC)
- Expired
- Dec 22, 1990, 2:30 PM CST
- In force
- 4 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Limestone County, AL, Morgan 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
Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 4.5 hours before the alert went out and 169 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
- 35 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -66 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 553 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 49 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 177 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 182 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KHSV 221631 FFWHSV ALC033-059-071-077-079-083-089-095-103-222030- BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED FLASH FLOOD WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 1030 AM CST SAT DEC 22 1990 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 230 PM CST IN NORTH ALABAMA ...COLBERT COUNTY...FRANKLIN COUNTY...JACKSON COUNTY ...LAUDERDALE COUNTY...LAWRENCE COUNTY...LIMESTONE COUNTY...MADISON ...MARSHALL COUNTY...MORGAN COUNTY AT 1020 THIS MORNING HUNTSVILLE RADAR INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN COVERING MOST OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY REGION OF ALABAMA. THIS RAIN WILL CONTINUE OVER THE REGION FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. OVER 6 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN ON MUCH OF THIS AREA SINCE FRIDAY EVENING AND FLOODING IS ALREADY OCCURING IN MANY LOCATIONS. WITH THE ADDITIONAL RAINFALL TODAY CURRENT FLOODING PROBLEMS WILL LIKELY WORSEN AND ADDITIONAL AREAS WILL BECOME FLOODED. ALSO THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING LATER TODAY. RESIDENTS OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER IF NECESSARY. NUMEROUS ROADS ARE ALREADY CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER AND OR DAMAGE TO THE ROADWAYS...ESPECIALLY IN LAUDERDALE COUNTY WHERE NUMEROUS VEHICLES HAVE BEEN ABANDONED. TRAVEL TODAY SHOULD BE LIMITED TO THAT WHICH IS NECESSARY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS SAFELY. VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND. 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 RISING 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, Dec 22, 5:06 AM CST, 5 hours 24 minutes before
ALZ001>009-011-221230-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
505 AM CST SAT DEC 22 1990
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR WINSTON...MARION...NORTHERN LAMAR
COUNTIES IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 AM CST...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHERN ALABAMA TODAY...
AT 505 AM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING MARION...WINSTON...WALKER...FAYETTE...
LAMAR AND CULLMAN COUNTIES. RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
NORTHEAST AROUND 35 MILES AN HOUR.
STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WIND...
LIGHTNING...AND SMALL HAIL WERE INDICATED IN MARION COUNTY AROUND
HAMILTON AND IN NORTHWEST CULLMAN COUNTY BETWEEN CULLMAN...JONES
CHAPEL...AND BAILEYTON.
RAIN CONTINUES TO FALL ACROSS MARION AND WINSTON COUNTIES
WHERE FLOODING HAS BECOME SERIOUS. AS MUCH AS 3 TO 4 INCHES OF
RAIN HAS FALLEN ACROSS THESE TWO COUNTIES IN THE LAST SIX HOURS
OR SO. NUMEROUS ROADS ARE CLOSED ACCORDING TO REPORTS FROM THE
MARION COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.
MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN DRIVING
INTO AREAS OF HEAVY RAIN. IF WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY...DON'T
EVENTURE INTO THE FLOODED AREA WHERE WATER IS AT AN UNKNOWN DEPTH...
FIND ALTERNATIVE ROUTES OR DELAY TRAVEL.Special weather statement, Dec 22, 5:39 AM CST, 4 hours 51 minutes before
ALZ001>009-011-221300-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
538 AM CST SAT DEC 22 1990
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR WINSTON...MARION...NORTHERN LAMAR
COUNTIES IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 AM CST...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHERN ALABAMA TODAY...
AT 538 AM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING MARION...WINSTON...CULLMAN...LAMAR...
FAYETTE...AND WALKER COUNTIES. RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
NORTHEAST AROUND 35 MILES AN HOUR.
STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WIND...
LIGHTNING...AND SMALL HAIL WERE INDICATED IN MARION COUNTY AROUND
HAMILTON. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN WAS INDICATED IN EASTERN MISSISSIPPI
AND SHOULD MOVE INTO LAMAR AND NORTHERN PICKENS COUNTY DURING THE NEXT
HOUR.
FLOODING HAS BECOME SERIOUS IN WINSTON AND MARION COUNTIES
WHERE AS MUCH AS 3 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN IN THE LAST
SIX HOURS OR SO. NUMEROUS ROADS ARE REPORTED CLOSED ACCORDING TO
THE MARION COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.
MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN DRIVING
INTO AREAS OF HEAVY RAIN. IF WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY...DON'T
VENTURE INTO THE FLOODED AREA WHERE WATER IS AT AN UNKNOWN DEPTH...
FIND ALTERNATIVE ROUTES OR DELAY TRAVEL.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN IN THE FORECAST FOR MUCH OF NORTHERN
AND CENTRAL ALABAMA TODAY AS A STRONG COLD FRONT PUSHES EASTWARD INzTO
A VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS OVER ALABAMA. PEOPLE IN ALABAMA
ARE ENCOURAGED TO KEEP UP ON DEVELOPING WEATHER TODAY.Special weather statement, Dec 22, 6:41 AM CST, 3 hours 49 minutes before
ALZ001>009-011-221430-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
640 AM CST SAT DEC 22 1990
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR WINSTON...MARION...NORTHERN LAMAR
COUNTIES IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 AM CST...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHERN ALABAMA TODAY...
AT 640 AM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING MARION...WINSTON...CULLMAN...LAMAR...
PICKENS...FAYETTE...AND WALKER COUNTIES. RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE
MOVING NORTHEAST AROUND 35 MILES AN HOUR.
STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WIND...
LIGHTNING...AND SMALL HAIL WERE INDICATED IN PICKENS COUNTY AROUND
CARROLTON AND REFORM. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN WAS INDICATED IN NORTHERN
FAYETTE COUNTY EXTENDING INTO NORTHWEST WALKER COUNTY.
FLOODING HAS BECOME SERIOUS IN WINSTON AND MARION COUNTIES
WHERE AS MUCH AS 3 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN IN THE LAST
SIX HOURS OR SO. NUMEROUS SECONDARY ROADS ARE REPORTED CLOSED
ACCORDING TO THE MARION COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.
MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN DRIVING
INTO AREAS OF HEAVY RAIN. WHEN WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY TO AN
UNKNOWN DEPTH...FIND ALTERNATIVE ROUTES AND DO NOT DRIVE INTO THESE
SPOTS.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN IN THE FORECAST FOR MUCH OF NORTHERN
AND CENTRAL ALABAMA TODAY AS A STRONG COLD FRONT PUSHES EASTWARD INTO
A VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR MVASS OVER ALABAMA. PEOPLE IN ALABAMA
ARE ENCOURAGED TO KEEP UP ON DEVELOPING WEATHER TODAY.Special weather statement, Dec 22, 7:32 AM CST, 2 hours 58 minutes before
ALZ001>009-011-221445-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
735 AM CST SAT DEC 22 1990
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR WINSTON...MARION...NORTHERN LAMAR
COUNTIES IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 AM CST...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHERN ALABAMA TODAY...
AT 735 AM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING MARION...WINSTON...CULLMAN...LAMAR...
PICKENS...FAYETTE...WALKER AND TUSCALOOSA COUNTIES. RAIN AND
THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AROUND 35 MILES AN HOUR.
STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WIND...
LIGHTNING...AND SMALL HAIL WERE INDICATED IN NORTHWEST TUSCALOOSA
COUNTY AND ALONG THE PICKENS...LAMAR COUNTY LINE.
FLOODING HAS BECOME SERIOUS IN WINSTON AND MARION COUNTIES
WHERE AS MUCH AS 3 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN IN THE LAST
SIX HOURS OR SO. NUMEROUS SECONDARY ROADS ARE REPORTED CLOSED
ACCORDING TO THE MARION COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.
MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN DRIVING
INTO AREAS OF HEAVY RAIN. WHEN WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY TO AN
UNKNOWN DEPTH...FIND ALTERNATIVE ROUTES AND DO NOT DRIVE INTO THESE
SPOTS.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN IN THE FORECAST FOR MUCH OF NORTHERN
AND CENTRAL ALABAMA TODAY AS A STRONG COLD FRONT PUSHES EASTWARD INTO
A VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS OVER ALABAMA. PEOPLE IN ALABAMA
ARE ENCOURAGED TO KEEP UP ON DEVELOPING WEATHER TODAY.Special weather statement, Dec 22, 7:36 AM CST, 2 hours 54 minutes before
ALZ001>009-011-221445-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
735 AM CST SAT DEC 22 1990
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR WINSTON...MARION...LAMAR
COUNTIES IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 AM CST...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHERN ALABAMA TODAY...
AT 735 AM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING MARION...WINSTON...CULLMAN...LAMAR...
PICKENS...FAYETTE...WALKER AND TUSCALOOSA COUNTIES. RAIN AND
THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AROUND 35 MILES AN HOUR.
STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WIND...
LIGHTNING...AND SMALL HAIL WERE INDICATED IN NORTHWEST TUSCALOOSA
COUNTY AND ALONG THE PICKENS...LAMAR COUNTY LINE.
FLOODING HAS BECOME SERIOUS IN WINSTON AND MARION COUNTIES
WHERE AS MUCH AS 3 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN IN THE LAST
SIX HOURS OR SO. NUMEROUS SECONDARY ROADS ARE REPORTED CLOSED
ACCORDING TO THE MARION COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.
MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN DRIVING
INTO AREAS OF HEAVY RAIN. WHEN WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY TO AN
UNKNOWN DEPTH...FIND ALTERNATIVE ROUTES AND DO NOT DRIVE INTO THESE
SPOTS.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN IN THE FORECAST FOR MUCH OF NORTHERN
AND CENTRAL ALABAMA TODAY AS A STRONG COLD FRONT PUSHES EASTWARD INTO
A VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS OVER ALABAMA. PEOPLE IN ALABAMA
ARE ENCOURAGED TO KEEP UP ON DEVELOPING WEATHER TODAY.Special weather statement, Dec 22, 9:24 AM CST, 1 hour 6 minutes before
ALZ004>009-011-221630- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 923 AM CST SAT DEC 22 1990 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHERN ALABAMA TODAY... AT 921 AM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A BAND OF RAIN CONTAINING SEVERAL THUNDERSTORMS STRETCHED ACROSS MUCH OF NORTHWEST ALABAMA. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN THE COUNTIES OF PICKENS AND BLOUNT. OTHER STORMS WERE IN FAYETTE AND WALKER COUNTIES. ALL OF THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS...LIGHTNING ...HEAVY RAIN...AND POSSIBLY SOME HAIL AND WERE ALL MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AROUND 35 MILES AN HOUR. FLOODING HAS BECOME A PROBLEM IN WINSTON AND MARION COUNTIES AND SEVERAL SECONDARY ROADS HAVE BEEN CLOSED. > MOTORISTS SHOULD USE CAUTION WHEN DRIVING AND NOT DRIVE INTO FLOODED ROADWAYS. A STRONG COLD FRONT CONTINUES TO MOVE TOWARD ALABAMA THIS MORNING AND AS A RESULT...THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER REMAINS IN THEK FORECAST. PERSONS ACROSS ALABAMA ARE ENCOURAGED TO BE AWARE FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 21, 8:18 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Marion | 42 min |
| Dec 21, 8:23 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Colbert, Lauderdale | 4 hr |
| Dec 21, 8:33 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Colbert, Franklin | 57 min |
| Dec 21, 10:43 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Pickens | 32 min |
| Dec 21, 10:48 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Lamar | 42 min |
| Dec 22, 2:24 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Colbert, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Morgan | 4 hr |
| Dec 22, 2:24 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Madison | 4 hr |
| Dec 22, 2:34 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Lamar, Marion | 4 hr |
| Dec 22, 2:34 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Winston | 4 hr |
| Dec 22, 6:30 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Limestone, Madison, Morgan | 4 hr |
| Dec 22, 6:30 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence | 4 hr |
| Dec 22, 6:39 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Marion, Winston | 2 hr |
| Dec 22, 6:39 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Lamar | 2 hr |
| Dec 22, 6:58 AM CST | Tornado Warning | BMX | Pickens | 32 min |
| Dec 22, 10:18 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Cullman, Fayette, Walker | 117 min |
| Dec 22, 10:18 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Lamar, Pickens | 117 min |
| Dec 22, 10:30 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Jackson, Madison, Marshall | 4 hr |
| Dec 22, 10:30 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence | 4 hr |
| Dec 22, 12:15 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Cullman, Walker | 3 hr |
| Dec 22, 12:15 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Fayette, Lamar, Pickens | 3 hr |
| Dec 22, 1:40 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Marion, Winston | 80 min |
| Dec 22, 2:46 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Greene | 29 min |
| Dec 22, 3:04 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Tuscaloosa | 56 min |
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.