Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 1997

Flash Flood Warning 14, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 3, 1997Blount County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood warning at May 3, 1997, 1:57 AM CDT for Blount County, Alabama. It was in force for 4 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 3, 1997, 1:57 AM CDT (06:57 UTC)
Expired
May 3, 1997, 6:00 AM CDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Whole counties

County Blount County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 92 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:57 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 7.0 hours before the alert went out and 91 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, Birmingham, AL at 00:00Z on 1997-05-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1924 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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, Birmingham, AL at 00:00Z on 1997-05-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 170 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
1924 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-2 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
894 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
55 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
170 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
279 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
3.0
Supercell composite
11.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KBHM 030658
FFWBHM
ALC009-043-057-075-093-127-133-031100-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
157 AM CDT SAT MAY 3 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM AL HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 600 AM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

IN NORTHERN ALABAMA

   ...BLOUNT
   ...CULLMAN
   ...MARION
   ...WINSTON

IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA

   ...FAYETTE
   ...LAMAR

IN CENTRAL ALABAMA

   ...WALKER
 
DURING THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAVE PRODUCED UP
TO TWO TO FOUR INCHES OF RAIN OVER PARTS OF NORTH AND NORTHWEST
ALABAMA.  THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALMOST CONTINUOUSLY MOVING WEST TO EAST
IN A 50 MILE WIDE BAND THAT EXTENDED OVER A PART OF NORTH ALABAMA.
NUMEROUS REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED OF WATER COVERING ROADWAYS
ESPECIALLY IN MARION AND CULLMAN COUNTIES.  THERE WERE ALSO REPORTS OF
SOME BRIDGES BEING WASHED OUT.  IN CULLMAN COUNTY SOME EVACUATIONS
FROM HOMES IN LOW LYING AREAS WERE BEING CONDUCTED.  SOME CREEKS WERE
OUT OF THEIR BANKS IN WALKER COUNTY AND THERE WAS FLOODING OF NUMEROUS
STREETS.
 
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. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT
AT NIGHT TO TELL HOW MUCH WATER IS ON ROADS. MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT
DRIVE THROUGH WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH.

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

Local storm report, May 2, 10:50 PM CDT, 3 hours 7 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
1050 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 1997

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0941 PM    COVIN                     AL   TORNADO
05/02/97   FAYETTE                        POWER PLANT OPERATOR
                                          SAW A TORNADO ABOUT
                                          3 MILES WEST OF FAYETTE.

1020 PM    CARBON HILL               AL   67 MPH WIND GUST
05/02/97   WALKER                         RECORDED BETWEEN CARBON
                                          HILL AND JASPER.  REPORT
                                          FROM AMATEUR RADIO
                                          OPERATORS.
Local storm report, May 2, 10:53 PM CDT, 3 hours 4 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
1050 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 1997

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0941 PM    COVIN                     AL   TORNADO
05/02/97   FAYETTE                        POWER PLANT OPERATOR
                                          SAW A TORNADO ABOUT
                                          3 MILES WEST OF FAYETTE.

1020 PM    CARBON HILL               AL   67 MPH WIND GUST
05/02/97   WALKER                         RECORDED BETWEEN CARBON
                                          HILL AND JASPER.  REPORT
                                          FROM AMATEUR RADIO
                                          OPERATORS.
Local storm report, May 2, 10:55 PM CDT, 3 hours 2 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
1055 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 1997

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1040 PM    COLD SPRINGS              AL   FUNNEL CLOUDS
05/02/97   CULLMAN                        FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS
                                          FUNNEL CLOUDS.

1045 PM    MOUNT OLIVE               AL   QUARTER SIZE HAIL
05/02/97   LAMAR                          FELL AT MOUNT OLIVE
                                          6 MILES NORHT OF
                                          MILLPORT.   TREES
                                          BENT TO GROUND.
Local storm report, May 2, 10:56 PM CDT, 3 hours 1 minute before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
1055 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 1997

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1040 PM    COLD SPRINGS              AL   FUNNEL CLOUDS
05/02/97   CULLMAN                        FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS
                                          FUNNEL CLOUDS.

1045 PM    MOUNT OLIVE               AL   QUARTER SIZE HAIL
05/02/97   LAMAR                          FELL AT MOUNT OLIVE
                                          6 MILES NORHT OF
                                          MILLPORT.   TREES
                                          BENT TO GROUND.
Local storm report, May 2, 11:30 PM CDT, 2 hours 27 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
1130 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 1997

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1100 PM    HANCEVILLE                AL   GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL
05/02/97   CULLMAN

1100 PM    SIMCOE                    AL   QUARTER SIZE HAIL
05/02/97   CULLMAN

1100 PM
05/02/97   CULLMAN                   AL  FLASH FLOODING
                                         NUMEROUS ROADS
Local storm report, May 2, 11:32 PM CDT, 2 hours 25 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
1130 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 1997

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1100 PM    HANCEVILLE                AL   GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL
05/02/97   CULLMAN

1100 PM    SIMCOE                    AL   QUARTER SIZE HAIL
05/02/97   CULLMAN

1100 PM
05/02/97   CULLMAN                   AL  FLASH FLOODING
                 f                        NUMEROUS ROADS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 2, 7:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCullman50 min
May 2, 7:13 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCullman47 min
May 2, 7:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMadison, Morgan55 min
May 2, 7:29 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarshall61 min
May 2, 7:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJackson63 min
May 2, 8:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDeKalb57 min
May 2, 8:11 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDeKalb49 min
May 2, 8:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarshall60 min
May 2, 8:42 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCherokee33 min
May 2, 8:54 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLamar61 min
May 2, 9:22 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette78 min
May 2, 9:37 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarion48 min
May 2, 9:56 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXWalker64 min
May 2, 10:20 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLamar65 min
May 2, 10:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXWinston32 min
May 2, 10:28 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCullman62 min
May 2, 10:41 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXDeKalb, Jackson, Marshall4 hr
May 2, 10:47 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette63 min
May 2, 11:06 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBlount49 min
May 2, 11:10 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXWalker50 min
May 2, 11:12 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXCullman, Marion, Walker, Winston3 hr
May 2, 11:12 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXFayette, Lamar3 hr
May 2, 11:32 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXMarshall43 min
May 2, 11:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar49 min
May 2, 11:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCullman49 min
May 2, 11:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXEtowah64 min
May 3, 12:01 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDeKalb, Jackson59 min
May 3, 12:01 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXWalker34 min
May 3, 12:05 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette65 min
May 3, 12:15 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXEtowah45 min
May 3, 12:22 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXCherokee48 min
May 3, 12:24 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount66 min
May 3, 1:42 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCullman33 min
May 3, 1:45 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount50 min
May 3, 1:57 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker4 hr
May 3, 1:57 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXCullman, Winston4 hr
May 3, 2:32 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXDeKalb, Jackson, Marshall3 hr
May 3, 3:27 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTuscaloosa48 min
May 3, 3:54 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene36 min
May 3, 3:59 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXHale31 min
May 3, 5:06 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTalladega49 min
May 3, 5:37 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton63 min
May 3, 6:11 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCoosa49 min
May 3, 6:33 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXElmore, Montgomery47 min
May 3, 6:33 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTallapoosa47 min
May 3, 7:40 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLee35 min
May 3, 7:58 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXRussell47 min
May 3, 8:04 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMacon31 min
May 3, 8:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLee30 min
May 3, 8:39 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXRussell46 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Alabama, 1997Every flash flood warning in 1997

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.