Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990

Flash Flood Warning 20, NWS Mobile, AL

March 16, 1990Bullock County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this flash flood warning at Mar 16, 1990, 8:49 AM CST for Bullock County, Alabama. It was in force for 116 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 16, 1990, 8:49 AM CST (14:49 UTC)
Expired
Mar 16, 1990, 10:45 AM CST
In force
116 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Whole counties

County Bullock 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, 2.8 hours before the alert went out and 165 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 1990-03-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Centreville/Bibb, AL at 12:00Z on 1990-03-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 110 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
599 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
83 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
110 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
52 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KMGM 161451
FFWMGM
ALC011-161645-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MONTGOMERY AL
849 AM CST FRI MAR 16 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MONTGOMERY HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1045 AM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN SOUTH ALABAMA
          ...BULLOCK
 
HEAVY RAIN IS OCCURRING OVER BULLOCK COUNTY AND WILL CONTINUE FOR
ANOTHER COUPLE OF HOURS. FLOODING ON U. S. 82 SEVEN MILES WEST OF
UNION SPRINGS WAS REPORTED AND MANY RURAL ROADS AND STREAMS ARE
MOST LIKELY ALSO EXPERIENCING FLOODING AT THE PRESENT TIME.
 
 
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS
IMMINENT.  MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR 3IN 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, Mar 16, 4:34 AM CST, 4 hours 15 minutes before
FLZ001>004-160630-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL
435 AM CST FRI MAR 16 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM FOR ESCAMBIA...SANTA
ROSA...OKALOOSA...WALTON...AND HOLMES COUNTIES OF FLORIDA...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ESCAMBIA...SANTA ROSA...
OKALOOSA AND WALTON COUNTIES OF FLORIDA TODAY AND TONIGHT...

AT 430 AM CST...A BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS STRETCHED FROM SOUTH CENTRAL
ALABAMA TO MOBILE BAY AND OUT OVER THE GULF TO THE MOUTH OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THE BAND OF STORMS WAS DRIFTING TO THE EAST AT NEAR
5 MILES AN HOUR.

LARGE PATCHES OF LIGHT RAIN SURROUNDED THE THUNDERSTORMS AND WERE OVER
SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPeI...SOUTH ALABAMA...AND THE WESTERN FLORIDA
PANHANDLE.

MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Mar 16, 5:35 AM CST, 3 hours 14 minutes before
FLZ001>004-160630-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL
535 AM CST FRI MAR 16 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM FOR ESCAMBIA...SANTA
ROSA...OKALOOSA...WALTON...AND HOLMES COUNTIES OF FLORIDA...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ESCAMBIA...SANTA ROSA...
OKALOOSA AND WALTON COUNTIES OF FLORIDA TODAY AND TONIGHT...

AT 530 AM CST...A BAND OF SLOW-MOVING THUNDERSTORMS STRETCHED FROM
ESCAMBIA COUNTY ALABAMA SOUTHWESTWARD ACROSS NORTHERN ESCAMBIA COUNTY
FLORIDA AND BALDWIN COUNTY ALABAMA OUT OVER THE GULF TO THE MOUTH OF
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. VERY HEAVY RAINFALL IS BEING PRODUCED OVER THE
AREAS MENTIONED.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS AND WIDESPREAD LIGHT RAIN WERE OVER SOUTH
ALABAMA...THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE...AND
THE GULF SOUTH OF MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA.
 MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Mar 16, 6:33 AM CST, 2 hours 16 minutes before
FLZ001>004-161830-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL
635 AM CST FRI MAR 16 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM FOR ESCAMBIA...SANTA
ROSA...OKALOOSA...WALTON...AND HOLMES COUNTIES OF FLORIDA...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ESCAMBIA...SANTA ROSA...
OKALOOSA AND WALTON COUNTIES OF FLORIDA TODAY AND TONIGHT...

AT 630 AM CST...A BAND OF SLOW-MOVING THUNDERSTORMS STRETCHED FROM
ESCAMBIA COUNTY ALABAMA SOUTHWESTWARD ACROSS NORTHERN SANTA ROSA AND
CENTRAL ESCAMBIA COUNTY FLORIDA TO GULF SHORES AND OUT OVER THE GULF TO
THE OUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. VERY HEAVY RAINFALL IS BEING PRODUCED
OVER AREAS MENTIONED.

SCATTERED. THUNDERSTORMS AND WIDESPREAD LIGHT RAIN WERE OVER SOUTH
ALABAMA...THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE...AND
THE GULF SOUTH OF MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA.
.
.
MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Mar 16, 7:38 AM CST, 1 hour 11 minutes before
FLZ001>004-161830-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENSACOLA FL
735 AM CST FRI MAR 16 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM FOR ESCAMBIA...SANTA
ROSA...OKALOOSA...WALTON...AND HOLMES COUNTIES OF FLORIDA...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ESCAMBIA...SANTA ROSA...
OKALOOSA AND WALTON COUNTIES OF FLORIDA TODAY AND TONIGHT...

AT 730 AM CST...A BAND OF SLOW-MOVING THUNDERSTORMS STRETCHED FROM
ESCAMBIA COUNTY ALABAMA SOUTHWESTWARD ACROSS NORTHERN SANTA ROSA AND
CENTRAL ESCAMBIA COUNTY FLORIDA TO GULF SHORES AND OUT OVER THE GULF TO
THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. VERY HEAVY RAINFALL IS BEING
PRODUCED OVER THE AREAS MENTIONED.

SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS...THOUGH NOT SEVERE...CAN PRODUCE STRONG
GUSTY WINDS SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO BLOW TREE LIMBS DOWN OR FLATTEN WIDE
SIGNS.
.
WIDESPREAD LIGHT RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER SOUTH ALABAMA...
SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...THE WESTERN TIJP OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE...
AND THE GULF ADJACENT TO THESE AREAS.

MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 16, 2:56 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBMobile3 hr
Mar 16, 3:35 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBAutauga, Elmore, Montgomery115 min
Mar 16, 3:35 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBDallas, Lowndes115 min
Mar 16, 4:03 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBCoosa117 min
Mar 16, 4:03 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBWilcox117 min
Mar 16, 5:37 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBAutauga, Lowndes, Montgomery2 hr
Mar 16, 5:37 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBDallas2 hr
Mar 16, 5:37 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBCoosa2 hr
Mar 16, 6:07 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBMobile3 hr
Mar 16, 6:14 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBConecuh61 min
Mar 16, 7:38 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBCoosa, Elmore, Tallapoosa2 hr
Mar 16, 7:38 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBAutauga, Lowndes, Montgomery2 hr
Mar 16, 7:38 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBDallas2 hr
Mar 16, 8:39 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBCovington2 hr
Mar 16, 8:39 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBPike2 hr
Mar 16, 9:15 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBBaldwin, Mobile3 hr
Mar 16, 10:46 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBWashington3 hr
Mar 16, 10:48 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBCovington, Crenshaw, Pike117 min
Mar 16, 10:57 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBMobile33 min
Mar 16, 11:40 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBCrenshaw2 hr
Mar 16, 12:13 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBBaldwin6 hr
Mar 16, 12:13 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBMobile5 hr
Mar 16, 12:50 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBConecuh, Escambia, Monroe4 hr
Mar 16, 12:50 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBClarke, Washington4 hr
Mar 16, 1:12 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBAutauga, Dallas, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery3 hr
Mar 16, 1:12 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBButler3 hr
Mar 16, 2:52 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBBullock, Pike68 min
Mar 16, 3:17 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBLee, Macon58 min
Mar 16, 3:27 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBBullock, Pike2 hr
Mar 16, 3:27 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBMacon2 hr
Mar 16, 3:35 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBBarbour55 min
Mar 16, 4:27 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBCoffee63 min
Mar 16, 4:59 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBBarbour, Pike2 hr
Mar 16, 4:59 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBCoffee, Covington2 hr
Mar 16, 5:11 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningMOBChambers, Lee, Tallapoosa2 hr
Mar 16, 5:46 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBBarbour59 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.