Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990
Flash Flood Warning 76, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood warning at Dec 22, 1990, 12:15 PM CST for Cullman County, Walker County, Alabama. It was in force for 3 hr.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Dec 22, 1990, 12:15 PM CST (18:15 UTC)
- Expired
- Dec 22, 1990, 3:00 PM CST
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Cullman County, AL, Walker 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, 6.3 hours before the alert went out and 119 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
- 142 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -14 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 559 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 45 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 199 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 201 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.8
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KBHM 221817 FFWBHM ALC043-057-075-107-127-222100- BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED FLASH FLOOD WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1215 PM CST SAT DEC 22 1990 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 300 PM CST FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS... IN NORTH ALABAMA ...CULLMAN COUNTY...FAYETTE COUNTY...LAMAR COUNTY...PICKENS COUNTY ...WALKER COUNTY THIS EXTENDS THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING ISSUED AT 1018 AM CST. RAINFALL HAS TEMPORARILY DIMINISHED OVER THE WARNED AREA. HOWEVER SMALL STREAMS CONTINUE TO RISE AS RUNOFF CONTINUES. ALSO...AT NOON ...MORE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WERE APPROACHING WEST ALABAMA. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 4 INCHES SINCE 6 AM ARE KNOWN TO HAVE OCCURRED IN THE WARNED AREA. SOME SPOTS MAY HAVE RECEIVED MORE. DO NOT BECOME COMPLACENT JUST BECAUSE THE RAIN HAS ENDED OR DIMINISHED. MOST DEATHS IN FLASH FLOODING OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTE\MPT 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.
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, 7:36 AM CST, 4 hours 39 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, 2 hours 51 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.
Special weather statement, Dec 22, 10:50 AM CST, 1 hour 25 minutes before
ALZ004>009-011-221800- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1047 AM CST SAT DEC 22 1990 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHERN ALABAMA TODAY... ...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR LAMAR..PICKENS..FAYETTE ..WALKER..AND CULLMAN...UNTIL 1215 PM... AT 1045 AM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING OUT OF WALKER INTO CULLMAN COUNTY. STRONG GUSTY WINDS...HEAVY RAINS..LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLY SOME HAIL WILL ACCOMPANY THIS STORM. OTHER STORMS WERE MOVING INTO PICKENS...AND SOUTHERN LAMAR COUNTIES. ALL OF THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF STRONG GUSY WINDS...HEAVY DOWNPOURS ...LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLY SOME HAIL AS THEY CONTINUE SOUTHEAST AROUND 15 MILES AN HOUR. FLOODING HAS BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM ACROSS MANY LOCATIONS IN THE NORTH- WEST COUNTIES AND THESE AREAS SHOULD BE AVOIDED IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. MANY ROADS HAVE BEEN CLOSED AS WELL AS CARS ABANDONDED. THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXIST THROUGHOUT TODAY AS A STRONG COLD FRONT SLIDES INTO VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE IN PLACE OVER ALABAMA. PERSONS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Special weather statement, Dec 22, 11:42 AM CST, 33 minutes before
ALZ004>009-011-221900- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1142 AM CST SAT DEC 22 1990 ...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 600 PM FOR MUCH OF NORTH AND WEST ALABAMA... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHERN ALABAMA TODAY... ...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR LAMAR..PICKENS..FAYETTE ..WALKER..AND CULLMAN...UNTIL 1215 PM... AT 1140 AM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A BAND OF RAIN CONTAINING ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING INTO CULLMAN COUNTY AND WAS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN..LIGHTNING..AND GUSTY WINDS. OTHER STORMS WERE IN FAYETTE AND MARION COUNTIES. ALL OF THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF STRONG GUSY WINDS...HEAVY DOWNPOURS ...LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLY SOME HAIL AS THEY CONTINUE SOUTHEAST AROUND 15 MILES AN HOUR. WEST COUNTIES AND THESE AREAS SHOULD BE AVOIDED IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. MANY ROADS HAVE BEEN CLOSED AS WELL AS CARS ABANDONDED. THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXIST THROUGHOUT TODAY AS A STRONG COLD FRONT SLIDES INTO VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE IN PLACE OVER ALABAMA. PERSONS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Special weather statement, Dec 22, 11:57 AM CST, 18 minutes before
ALZ004>009-011-221900- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTIONS TO SEVERAL ITEMS. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1142 AM CST SAT DEC 22 1990 ...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 600 PM FOR MUCH OF NORTH AND WEST ALABAMA... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHERN ALABAMA TODAY... ...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR LAMAR..PICKENS..FAYETTE ..WALKER..AND CULLMAN...UNTIL 1215 PM... AT 1140 AM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A BAND OF RAIN CONTAINING ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING INTO CULLMAN COUNTY AND WAS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN..LIGHTNING..AND GUSTY WINDS. OTHER STORMS WERE IN FAYETTE AND MARION COUNTIES. ALL OF THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF STRONG GUSY WINDS...HEAVY DOWNPOURS ...LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLY SOME HAIL AS THEY CONTINUE NORTHEAST AROUND 15 MILES AN HOUR. > FLOODING HAS BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM ACROSS MANY LOCATIONS IN THE NORTH- WEST COUNTIES AND THESE AREAS SHOULD BE AVOIDED IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. MANY ROADS HAVE BEEN CLOSED AS WELL AS CARS ABANDONDED. THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXIST THROUGHOUT TODAY AS A STRONG COLD FRONT SLIDES INTO VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE IN PLACE OVER ALABAMA. PERSONS SHOUL+D REMAIN ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Special weather statement, Dec 22, 12:11 PM CST, 4 minutes before
ALZ004>009-011-221900- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1210 PM CST SAT DEC 22 1990 ...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 600 PM FOR MUCH OF NORTH AND WEST ALABAMA... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHERN ALABAMA TODAY... ...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR LAMAR..PICKENS..FAYETTE..WALKER..AND CULLMAN COUNTIES EXTENDED UNTIL 300 PM... AT 1208 PM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A BAND OF RAIN CONTAINING ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM IN CULLMAN COUNTY AND WAS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN..LIGHTNING..AND GUSTY WINDS. ANOTHER STORM WAS MOVING OUT OF WALKER COUNTY INTO WINSTON. ALL OF THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF STRONG GUSY WINDS...HEAVY DOWNPOURS ...LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLY SOME HAIL AS THEY CONTINUE NORTHEAST AROUND 35 MILES AN HOUR. > THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXIST THROUGHOUT TODAY AS A STRONG COLD FRONT SLIDES INTO VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE IN PLACE OVER ALABAMA. PERSONNS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT 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, 10:30 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Limestone, Morgan | 4 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.