Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990

Flash Flood Warning 12, NWS Jackson, MS

February 15, 1990Sumter County, Alabama

NWS Jackson, MS issued this flash flood warning at Feb 15, 1990, 4:49 PM CST for Sumter County, Alabama. It was in force for 7 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Feb 15, 1990, 4:49 PM CST (22:49 UTC)
Expired
Feb 15, 1990, 11:45 PM CST
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS Jackson, MS
Area
Whole counties

County Sumter 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, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 100 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 1990-02-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 8 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 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 1990-02-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 257 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
8 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-132 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
608 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
257 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
402 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KMEI 152250
FFWMEI
ALC119-160545-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MERIDIAN MS
449 PM CST THU FEB 15 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MERIDIAN HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1145 PM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA
          ...SUMTER
 
AS OF 445 PM CST APPROXIMATELY 5.00 INCHES OF RAIN HAD FALLEN OVER
SUMTER COUNTY ALABAMA. WITH MORE HEAVY RAIN ON THE WAY LOCAL STREAM
AND STREET FLOODING IS LIKELY THIS EVENING.
 
 
BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE
THE DANGERS OF FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS.  IF FLASH FLOODING IS
OBSERVED...ACT QUICKLY.  MOVE UP TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS.  DO
NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

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, 2:16 PM CST, 2 hours 33 minutes before
MSZALL-152200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
215 PM CST THU FEB 15 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 36 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN
AND NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 6:00PM THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS
AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT FOR ALL OF MISSISSIPPI EXCEPT THE SOUTHEAST...

AT 210 PM CST THUNDERSTORM WERE BEGINING TO DEVELOPE OVER SOUTHEAST
ARKANSAS. THESE STORM WILL BE MOVING TOWARD MISSISSIPPI DURING THE
NEXT HOUR. COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPPI...ESPECIALLY THE ONES
ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER...NEED TO BEGIN PREPARING FOR THE APPROACH
OF THESE STORMS.

THESE STORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE TORNADOES AND SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
Special weather statement, Feb 15, 2:33 PM CST, 2 hours 16 minutes before
MSZALL-152200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
230 PM CST THU FEB 15 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 35 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 5:00PM THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 36 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN
AND NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 6:00PM THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL EXCEPT SOUTHEAST MISSSISSIPPI FOR THIS
AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT..

AT 230 PM CST RADAR SHOWED THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS 10 MILES WEST OF
MT OLIVE...10 MILES EAST OF RALEIGH MISSISSIPPI...AND FROM BROOKHAVEN TO
MONTICELLO MISSISSIPPI.

ALL THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD (POSSIBLE PRODUCE A TORNADO AS THEY MOVE TO
THE NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.
Local storm report, Feb 15, 2:46 PM CST, 2 hours 3 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MERIDIAN MS
244 PM CST THU FEB 15 1990

220 PM CST...LIVINGSTON P.D. REPORTS TORNADO 1 MILE NORTH OF
             LIVINGSTON ALABAMA IN SUMTER COUNTY.
Special weather statement, Feb 15, 3:39 PM CST, 1 hour 10 minutes before
MSZALL-152300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
335 PM CST THU FEB 15 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 39 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 10:00PM THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 36 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN
AND NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 6:00PM THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR SEVERAL COUNTIES IN CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI TIL
545 PM...

AT 330 PM CST RADAR SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN OVER
COVINGTON..SMITH..AND SIMPSON COUNTIES. SEVERAL REPORTS OF FLASH FLOODING
HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM THESE COUNTIES. SOME EVACUATION OF HOMES WAS IN
PROGRESS IN MAGEE MISSISSIPPI AND A TRAILER HAD BEEN FLOODED IN RALEIGH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN AS THEY MOVE TO THE
NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
Special weather statement, Feb 15, 4:14 PM CST, 35 minutes before
MSZALL-152300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
410 PM CST THU FEB 15 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 39 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 1000 PM...

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 35 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN
AND NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 600 PM...

AT 400 PM CST...A SOLID AREA OF RAIN AND EMBEDDED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS SOUTHWEST AND EAST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI.  THE HEAVIEST ACTIVITY
WITHIN THIS BAND IS INDICATED BETWEEN MERIDIAN AND BAY SPRINGS.  THE
STORMS ARE MOVING NORTHEAST...BUT THE AREA HAS SHOWN LITTLE MOVEMENT.
THE STORMS ARE PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN AND MAY CAUSE FLASH FLOODING.

A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS INTENSIFYING OVER EASTERN ARKANSAS
AND WILL BE MOVING INTO NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI SHORTLY.  STRONG GUSTY
WINDS...HAIL...AND HEAVY RAINS ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THIS LINE.  THE LINE
IS MOVING EAST AROUND 20 MPH.  THIS LINE IS CONTINUING TO DEVELOP SOUTH
AND STRENGTHENING.  PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALERT SHOULD A WARNING BECOME
NECESSARY.
Special weather statement, Feb 15, 4:48 PM CST, 1 minute before
MSZALL-152300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
440 PM CST THU FEB 15 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 39 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 1000 PM...

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 35 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN
AND NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 600 PM...

AT 435 PM CST...A SOLID AREA OF RAIN AND EMBEDDED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI.  THE HEAVIEST STORM WAS
BETWEEN NATCHEZ AND FAYETTE.  IT HAD PRODUCED A WIND GUST OF 75 MPH
AND DAMAGED THE ROOF OF A STORAGE BUILDING.  ANOTHER CLUSTER OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WAS INDICATED BETWEEN RAYMOND AND JACKSON.  THE STORMS
WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH WHILE THE RAIN AREA WAS DRIFTING NORTH.

A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAD MOVED INTO NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI.
THE STRONGEST STORM ALONG THE LINE IN MISSISSIPPI WAS NEAR CLEVELAND.
IT HAD PRODUCED MARBLE SIZE HAIL EARLIER.  THE LINE OF STORMS IS MOVING
EAST AROUND 20 MPH.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Jackson, MS issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 15, 1:57 PM CSTTornado WarningJANSumter48 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.