Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2003

Flash Flood Warning 27, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 7, 2003St. Clair County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood warning at May 7, 2003, 4:35 PM CDT for St. Clair 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 outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: May 7, 2003, 4:35 PM CDT (21:35 UTC)
Expired: May 7, 2003, 8:30 PM CDT
In force: 4 hr
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County St. Clair County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 71 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:38 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 71 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 1457 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -13 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 538 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 43 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 178 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 236 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 1.3
Supercell composite: 6.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WGUS54 KBMX 072136
FFWBHM
ALC115-080130-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
435 PM CDT WED MAY 7 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  ST. CLAIR COUNTY IN ALABAMA

* UNTIL 830 PM CDT

* AT 433 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED WIDESPREAD 
VERY HEAVY OVER ST. CLAIR COUNTY.  ANOTHER 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN ARE 
POSSIBLE THROUGH 830 PM.  MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 40 MPH.   

MOST FLASH FLOODING DEATHS ARE AUTOMOBILE RELATED. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
CROSS BRIDGES...DIPS...OR OTHER LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS THE ROAD.
NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON FOOT. TO
ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY
AUTOMOBILE. IF YOUR VEHICLE STALLS...ABANDON IT IMMEDIATELY AND SEEK
HIGHER GROUND.

CALL 1-800-856-0758 TO REPORT FLOODING CONDITIONS.

LAT...LON 3378 8652 3358 8653 3343 8635 3376 8607
          3397 8623

$$

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.

NWS Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at May 7, 2:21 PM CDT, 2 hours 14 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 7, 2:21 PM CDT, 2 hours 14 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM, AL
221 PM CDT WED MAY 07 2003

TOO BUSY FOR MUCH OF A DISCUSSION.  ANOTHER IMPULSE WILL MOVE ACROSS
THE AREA TONIGHT.  SEVERAL BOUNDARIES WILL PERSIST ACROSS THE AREA
ON THURSDAY AND WILL CARRY CHANCE POPS FOR MOST SECTIONS.  UPPER
RIDGING WILL TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AND WILL LEAVE POPS
OUT OF THE FORECAST.  NEXT SYSTEM WILL APPROACH ON SUNDAY AND THEN
MORE UNSETTLED WEATHER THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK.

BHM 70/86/70/89/69 53---
MGM 71/89/70/91/69 62---

.BHM...NONE.

Hazardous weather outlook, May 7, 1:51 PM CDT, 2 hours 44 minutes before

ALZ011>015-017>050-072045-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
151 PM CDT WED MAY 07 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM.

.DAY ONE (THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT)...

SEVERE WEATHER SHOULD LAST INTO THE EVENING HOURS WITH LONG LIVED
TORNADIC SUPERCELLS MARCHING ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA.

DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL ARE ALSO THREATS...ALONG WITH POSSIBLE
FLASH FLOODING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN (THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY)...

AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL GRADUALLY BUILD IN FROM THE SOUTH OVER THE
REST OF THE WEEK.  THIS WILL MOVE THE AREA OF POTENTIAL SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS NORTHWARD OUT OF ALABAMA FOR THE END OF THE WEEK.

ALTHOUGH THERE WILL BE A SMALL CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY
THROUGH TUESDAY...AT THIS TIME NO WIDESPREAD OR ORGANIZED AREAS OF
SEVERE STORMS AREA EXPECTED ON THOSE DAYS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL AND STORM SPOTTERS HAVE BEEN
ACTIVATED.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 7, 3:29 PM CDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
329 PM CDT WED MAY 07 2003

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

0250 PM    WILSONVILLE               AL   TORNADO
05/07/03   SHELBY                         ON COUNTY ROAD 103 IN THE
                                          HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY. 5
                                          HOMES WITH ROOF DAMAGED.
                                          1 HOME WITH MINOR
                                          STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. 1
                                          GARAGE DEMOLISHED.
                                          REPORTED BY OFF-DUTY NWS
                                          EMPLOYEE.

Special weather statement, May 7, 3:36 PM CDT, 59 minutes before

ALZ012>013-015-017>050-080200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
336 PM CDT WED MAY 07 2003

THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 288...

  FAYETTE...LAMAR...WALKER...

THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES REMAIN IN
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 288
WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM...

  AUTAUGA...BARBOUR...BIBB...BLOUNT...BULLOCK...
  CALHOUN...CHAMBERS...CHEROKEE...CHILTON...CLAY...
  CLEBURNE...COOSA...DALLAS...ELMORE...ETOWAH...
  GREENE...HALE...JEFFERSON...LEE...LOWNDES...
  MACON...MARENGO...MONTGOMERY...PERRY...PICKENS...
  PIKE...RANDOLPH...RUSSELL...SHELBY...ST CLAIR...
  SUMTER...TALLADEGA...TALLAPOOSA...TUSCALOOSA...

Local storm report, May 7, 3:46 PM CDT, 49 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
346 PM CDT WED MAY 07 2003

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

0255 PM    BYNUM                     AL   1.00 IN HAIL
05/07/03   CALHOUN                        QUARTER SIZE HAIL.
                                          REPORTED BY CALHOUN
                                          COUNTY EMA.

0255 PM    LINCOLN                   AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/07/03   TALLADEGA                      TREES DOWN AT HONDA
                                          PLANT.  REPORTED BY
                                          TALLADEGA COUNTY EMA.

0257 PM    SYLACAUGA                 AL   FUNNEL CLOUD
05/07/03   TALLADEGA                      REPORTED BY TALLADEGA
                                          COUNTY EMA.

0300 PM    JASPER                    AL   FLASH FLOOD
05/07/03   WALKER                         HWY 78 BRIDGE WASHED OUT.
                                          REPORTED BY WALKER
                                          COUNTY EMA.

0300 PM    MT. CHEAHA                AL   1.00 IN HAIL
05/07/03   CLAY                           QUARTER SIZE HAIL.
                                          REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

0305 PM    ABEL                      AL   0.75 IN HAIL
05/07/03   CLEBURNE                       PENNY SIZE HAIL.
                                          REPORTED BY CLEBURNE
                                          COUNTY EMA.

0307 PM    CHILDERSBURG              AL   1.75 IN HAIL
05/07/03   TALLADEGA                      GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL.
                                          REPORTED BY TALLADEGA
                                          COUNTY EMA.

0309 PM    SYCAMORE                  AL   1.25 IN HAIL
05/07/03   TALLADEGA                      HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL.
                                          REPORTED BY TALLADEGA
                                          COUNTY EMA.

0315 PM    WILSONVILLE               AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/07/03   SHELBY                         NUMEROUS TREES AND
                                          POWERLINES DOWN. REPORTED
                                          BY SHELBY COUNTY EMA.

0320 PM    LINCOLN                   AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/07/03   TALLADEGA                      50 TREES DOWN AROUND HWY
                                          78.  REPORTED BY
                                          TALLADEGA COUNTY EMA.

0320 PM    WINTERBORO                AL   0.25 IN HAIL
05/07/03   TALLADEGA                      PEA SIZE HAIL.  REPORTED
                                          BY TALLADEGA COUNTY EMA.

0323 PM    CORINTH                   AL   1.00 IN HAIL
05/07/03   RANDOLPH                       QUARTER SIZE HAIL.
                                          REPORTED BY RANDOLPH
                                          COUNTY EMA.

0324 PM    EDWARDSVILLE              AL   1.00 IN HAIL
05/07/03   CLEBURNE                       QUARTER SIZE HAIL.
                                          REPORTED BY CLEBURNE
                                          COUNTY EMA.

0324 PM    SYCAMORE                  AL   1.75 IN HAIL
05/07/03   TALLADEGA                      GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL.
                                          REPORTED BY TALLADEGA
                                          COUNTY EMA.

Local storm report, May 7, 4:03 PM CDT, 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
403 PM CDT WED MAY 07 2003

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

0248 PM    WILSONVILLE               AL   TORNADO
05/07/03   SHELBY                         AT WILLS CAMP.  REPORTED
                                          BY SHELBY COUNTY EMA.

0248 PM    LINCOLN                   AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/07/03   TALLADEGA                      WIND DAMAGE TO A TRAILOR.
                                          REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATOR.

0300 PM    LINCOLN                   AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/07/03   TALLADEGA                      NUMEROUS TREES DOWN.
                                          PUBLIC REPORT.

0306 PM    HARPERSVILLE              AL   TORNADO
05/07/03   SHELBY                         2 BUILDINGS WITH ROOFS
                                          OFF NEAR POWER PLANT.
                                          REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATORS.

0310 PM    WILSONVILLE               AL   TORNADO
05/07/03   SHELBY                         NUMEROUS TREES DOWN AND
                                          HOUSES DAMAGED.  REPORTED
                                          BY HAM RADIO OPERATOR.

0320 PM    SYCAMORE                  AL   1.75 IN HAIL
05/07/03   TALLADEGA                      GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL.
                                          REPORTED BY NWS STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

0321 PM    LEEDS                     AL   FUNNEL CLOUD
05/07/03   JEFFERSON                      ON HWY 78.  REPORTED BY
                                          HAM RADIO OPERATOR.

0338 PM    LINCOLN                   AL   WIND DAMAGE
05/07/03   TALLADEGA                      POWER LINES DOWN NORTH OF
                                          HONDA PLANT.  REPORTED BY
                                          HAM RADIO OPERATOR.

0348 PM    PIEDMONT                  AL   FUNNEL CLOUD
05/07/03   CALHOUN                        PUBLIC REPORT.

0400 PM    NEW LONDON                AL   FUNNEL CLOUD
05/07/03   ST. CLAIR                      PUBLIC REPORT.

Local storm report, May 7, 4:13 PM CDT, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
413 PM CDT WED MAY 07 2003

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

0352 PM    SAYRE                     AL   FUNNEL CLOUD
05/07/03   JEFFERSON                      REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATOR.

0403 PM    BIRMINGHAM                AL   FUNNEL CLOUD
05/07/03   JEFFERSON                      NEAR DOWNTOWN.  REPORTED
                                          BY HAM RADIO OPERATOR.

Local storm report, May 7, 4:32 PM CDT, 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
432 PM CDT WED MAY 07 2003

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

0404 PM    ALPINE                    AL   TORNADO
05/07/03   TALLADEGA                      TORNADO ON THE GROUND.
                                          REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATOR.

0424 PM    TARRANT CITY              AL   0.75 IN HAIL
05/07/03   JEFFERSON                      PENNY SIZE HAIL.
                                          REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATOR.

0424 PM    TALLADEGA                 AL   TORNADO
05/07/03   TALLADEGA                      SEVERAL HOMES DAMAGED.
                                          NUMEROUS TREES DOWN.
                                          REPORTED BY THE MEDIA.

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 6, 7:08 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Jefferson	37 min
May 6, 7:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Shelby	58 min
May 6, 7:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	32 min
May 6, 7:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	St. Clair, Talladega	46 min
May 6, 7:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cleburne	64 min
May 6, 8:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Shelby	32 min
May 6, 8:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Talladega	31 min
May 7, 10:19 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lamar	56 min
May 7, 11:07 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lamar	28 min
May 7, 11:17 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette	58 min
May 7, 11:53 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Walker	67 min
May 7, 12:37 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson	53 min
May 7, 1:19 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson	26 min
May 7, 1:25 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson	3 hr
May 7, 1:27 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	St. Clair	63 min
May 7, 1:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	44 min
May 7, 1:45 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson	15 min
May 7, 2:00 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	St. Clair	3 hr
May 7, 2:11 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Talladega	64 min
May 7, 2:13 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Shelby	62 min
May 7, 2:18 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Hale	42 min
May 7, 2:22 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Calhoun	58 min
May 7, 2:29 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	St. Clair	31 min
May 7, 2:46 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Cleburne	74 min
May 7, 2:52 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Clay	53 min
May 7, 3:05 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Talladega	4 hr
May 7, 3:05 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Emergency	BMX	Jefferson, St. Clair	40 min
May 7, 3:11 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Talladega	34 min
May 7, 3:13 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Cleburne	4 hr
May 7, 3:13 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Randolph	62 min
May 7, 3:26 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Clay	4 hr
May 7, 3:35 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Perry	25 min
May 7, 3:36 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Emergency	BMX	Calhoun, Talladega	54 min
May 7, 3:37 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Emergency	BMX	Clay	68 min
May 7, 3:45 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Jefferson	60 min
May 7, 3:50 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Randolph	4 hr
May 7, 3:58 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	St. Clair	32 min
May 7, 4:04 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson	4 hr
May 7, 4:09 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Randolph	51 min
May 7, 4:09 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Sumter	66 min
May 7, 4:23 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Emergency	BMX	Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, Talladega	52 min
May 7, 4:38 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson	4 hr
May 7, 4:49 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	St. Clair	56 min
May 7, 4:50 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marengo	55 min
May 7, 4:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Shelby	36 min
May 7, 5:08 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Randolph	52 min
May 7, 5:32 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Clay	43 min
May 7, 5:46 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Talladega	44 min
May 7, 5:51 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Marengo	54 min
May 7, 5:55 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Randolph	50 min
May 7, 5:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Tuscaloosa	33 min
May 7, 6:12 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Clay, Coosa, Tallapoosa	48 min
May 7, 6:28 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Emergency	BMX	Chambers	47 min
May 7, 6:41 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Randolph	34 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Alabama, 2003 Every flash flood warning in 2003

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.