Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2003

Flash Flood Warning 7, NWS Huntsville, AL

February 22, 20038 counties in Alabama

NWS Huntsville, AL issued this flash flood warning at Feb 22, 2003, 3:57 AM CST for 8 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 6 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
Feb 22, 2003, 3:57 AM CST (09:57 UTC)
Expired
Feb 22, 2003, 10:00 AM CST
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Huntsville, AL
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Colbert County, AL, Cullman County, AL, Franklin County, AL, Lauderdale County, AL, Lawrence County, AL, Limestone County, AL, Madison County, AL, Morgan County, AL

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 10.0 hours before the alert went out and 156 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 2003-02-22Temperature 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, Birmingham, AL at 00:00Z on 2003-02-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 151 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
779 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
50 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
151 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
186 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 
WGUS54 KHUN 221003
FFWHUN
ALC033-043-059-077-079-083-089-103-221600-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
357 AM CST SAT FEB 22 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  MORGAN COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA
  CULLMAN COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA
  FRANKLIN COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA
  LAUDERDALE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA
  LIMESTONE COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA
  MADISON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA
  COLBERT COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA
  LAWRENCE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA

* UNTIL 1000 AM CST

* AT 357 AM CST...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED LIGHT TO MODERATE 
RAINFALL ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA.  THE WESTERN 3 COUNTIES ARE HAVING 
A LULL...HOWEVER...HEAVY RUNOFF FROM THE TORRENTIAL RAIN AROUND 
MIDNIGHT CONTINUES. MANY ROADS REMAIN CLOSED IN 
LAUDERDALE...LIMESTONE...AND MADISON COUNTIES.  MORE RAIN IS 
EXPECTED TO
MOVE INTO NORTHWESTERN ALABAMA AFTER DAYBREAK. 

* SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...
  ARDMORE...ATHENS...CULLMAN...DECATUR... 
HARTSELLE...HARVEST...HAZEL GREEN... 
HUNTSVILLE...MADISON...MERIDIANVILLE...ROGERSVILLE 
...RUSSELLVILLE...TRINITY...TUSCUMBIA...

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. AS LITTLE AS SIX INCHES OF WATER MAY CAUSE YOU TO LOSE
CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE. TWO FEET OF MOVING WATER CAN FLOAT MOST 
VEHICLES...INCLUDING HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. VEHICLES CAUGHT IN 
RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED.

LAT...LON 3407 8827 3391 8677 3500 8636 3503 8817
$$ 
JDG
3 follow-up statements
000 
WGUS74 KHUN 221057
FFSHUN
ALC033-043-049-059-071-077-079-083-089-095-103-221600-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
455 AM CST SAT FEB 22 2003

...FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS FOR 
LAUDERDALE...COLBERT...FRANKLIN...LAWRENCE...LIMESTONE...MADISON...
MORGAN...JACKSON...DEKALB...MARSHALL AND CULLMAN COUNTIES TIL
10 AM...

AT 445 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINFALL...EAST OF I 65.  THE HEAVIEST RAIN 
CONTINUES ACROSS DEKALB AND MARSHALL COUNTIES.  SINCE MIDNIGHT 
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE COMMON...WITH SOME HIGHER 
AMOUNTS WHICH HAS LED TO FLOODING AND EXCESSIVE RUNOFF. 

AS OF 430 AM...HERE ARE THE LATEST FLOODING REPORTS...

BIG WILLS CREEK OUT OF ITS BANKS IN DEKALB COUNTY.
MCFARLAND PARK FLOODED IN FLORENCE.
LYONS ROAD AND PINEY WOODS ROAD FLOODED IN OWENS CROSSROADS.  
FLOOD LANE IN HAZEL GREEN IS FLOODED.
FORDS CHAPEL ROAD HAS 18 INCHES OF WATER OVER IT IN HARVEST.
MOORES MILL AND BRAVES ROADS FLOODED IN MADISON. 
BALTIMORE HILL ROAD UNDER WATER IN MOORES MILL.
HIGHWAY 251 NORTH OF THACH ROAD HAS OVER 1 FOOT OF WATER ON IT.
BROWNS FERRY ROAD FLOODED IN ATHENS.

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 TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS.

LAT...LON 3538 8497 3390 8491 3387 8831 3506 8819
$$ 
JDG/BC
000 
WGUS74 KHUN 221205
FFSHUN
ALC033-043-049-059-071-077-079-083-089-095-103-221600-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
555 AM CST SAT FEB 22 2003

...FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS FOR 
LAUDERDALE...COLBERT...FRANKLIN...LAWRENCE...LIMESTONE...MADISON...
MORGAN...JACKSON...DEKALB...MARSHALL AND CULLMAN COUNTIES UNTIL
10 AM...

AT 445 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINFALL...EAST OF I 65. THE HEAVIEST RAIN 
CONTINUES ACROSS DEKALB COUNTY. CELLS CONTINUE TO REFORM JUST SOUTH 
OF DEKALB COUNTY AND HEAD TOWARD LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN. SINCE MIDNIGHT 
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE COMMON...WITH SOME HIGHER 
AMOUNTS WHICH HAS LED TO FLOODING AND EXCESSIVE RUNOFF. SO FAR...IT 
APPEARS THAT MADISON COUNTY HAS THE WORST FLOODING.    

AS OF 530 AM...HERE ARE THE LATEST FLOODING REPORTS...

IN DEKALB COUNTY...BIG WILLS CREEK IS OUT OF ITS BANKS...HIGHWAY 86 
AND 68 HAVE WATER CROSSING THE ROADWAY IN VARIOUS PLACES. 

IN LAUDERDALE COUNTY...MCFARLAND PARK IS FLOODED IN FLORENCE.

IN MADISON COUNTY...
THE GREENWAYS ALONG INDIAN CREEK NORTH OF MADISON PIKE IS 
FLOODED...AND THE CREEK IS APPROACHING THE BOTTOM OF THE BRIDGE DECK 
AT BOTH MADISON PIKE AND HIGHWAY 72.  
BALCH AND GILESPIE ROAD INTERSECTION IS IMPASSABLE.
CAVE SPRINGS AND OLD HIGHWAY 31 IS FLOODED.
PETTUS ROAD AT PINEGROVE IS PARTIALLY FLOODED.
HIGHWAY 72 AND ROCKCUT ROAD HAS 1 FOOT OF WATER COVERING THE ROAD
LYONS ROAD AND PINEY WOODS ROAD FLOODED IN OWENS CROSSROADS.  
FLOOD LANE IN HAZEL GREEN IS FLOODED.
FORDS CHAPEL ROAD HAS 18 INCHES OF WATER OVER IT IN HARVEST.
MOORES MILL AND BRAVES ROADS FLOODED IN MADISON. 
BALTIMORE HILL ROAD UNDER WATER IN MOORES MILL.

IN LIMESTONE COUNTY...
HIGHWAY 252 AT FATCH ROAD IS UNDER WATER.
CAPSHAW BETWEEN EAST LIMESTONE AND BLEDSTOE HAVE PARTS UNDER WATER.
HIGHWAY 251 NORTH OF THACH ROAD HAS OVER 1 FOOT OF WATER ON IT.
BROWNS FERRY ROAD FLOODED IN ATHENS.

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 TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS.

LAT...LON 3538 8497 3390 8491 3387 8831 3506 8819
$$ 
JDG/KW
000 
WGUS74 KHUN 221327
FFSHUN
ALC033-043-049-059-071-077-079-083-089-095-103-221600-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
710 AM CST SAT FEB 22 2003

...FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS CONTINUE FOR 
LAUDERDALE...COLBERT...FRANKLIN...LAWRENCE...LIMESTONE...MADISON...
MORGAN...JACKSON...DEKALB...MARSHALL AND CULLMAN COUNTIES UNTIL
10 AM...

AT 700 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
SOME VERY PATCHY LIGHT RAIN ACROSS THE AREA. HOWEVER...A NEW LINE OF 
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI WILL BE 
BRINGING MORE MODERATE RAINFALL ACROSS FLORENCE...CEDAR CREEK DAM TO 
RED BAY IN THE NEXT 2 HOURS. SINCE MIDNIGHT RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 
3 INCHES FELL...WITH SOME HIGHER AMOUNTS. THIS HAS LED TO 
WIDESPREAD FLOODING AND EXCESSIVE RUNOFF. SO FAR...IT APPEARS THAT 
MADISON AND DEKALB COUNTIES HAVE THE WORST FLOODING.    

AS OF 700 AM...HERE ARE THE LATEST FLOODING REPORTS...

IN LAWRENCE COUNTY...COUNTY ROAD 150 SOUTH OF COURTLAND HAS WATER 
COVERING THE ROADS.  COUNTY ROAD 217 NEAR HILLSBORO IS FLOODED.  
COUNTY ROAD 256 NEAR TOWN CREEK IS FLOODED...BIG NANCE CREEK NEAR 
COURTLAND ROSE FROM 4 AND ONE HALF FEET TO 12 AND ONE HALF FEET THIS 
MORNING.  

IN DEKALB COUNTY...COUNTY ROAD 485 NEAR SYLVANIA HAS 6 INCHES OF 
WATER COVERING THE ROAD.  HIGHWAY 75 NEAR SHILOH HAS 8 TO 12 INCHES 
OF RAIN IN THE RIGHT LANE.   

IN LAUDERDALE COUNTY...MCFARLAND PARK IS FLOODED IN FLORENCE.

IN MADISON COUNTY...
THE GREENWAYS ALONG INDIAN CREEK NORTH OF MADISON PIKE IS 
FLOODED...AND THE CREEK IS APPROACHING THE BOTTOM OF THE BRIDGE DECK 
AT BOTH MADISON PIKE AND HIGHWAY 72.  
BALCH AND GILLESPIE ROAD INTERSECTION IS IMPASSABLE.
HIGHWAY 72 AND ROCKCUT ROAD HAS 1 FOOT OF WATER COVERING THE ROAD. 
LYONS ROAD AND PINEY WOODS ROAD FLOODED IN OWENS CROSSROADS.  
FORDS CHAPEL ROAD HAS 18 INCHES OF WATER OVER IT IN HARVEST.

IN LIMESTONE COUNTY...
NUMEROUS ROADS IN ATHENS ARE EITHER PARTIALLY OR TOTALLY COVERED BY 
WATER...INCLUDING LINDSEY ROAD IN ATHENS IS FLOODED...
CAPSHAW BETWEEN EAST LIMESTONE AND BLEDSTOE...BROWNS FERRY ROAD AND 
DOGWOOD FLATS ROAD. 

IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED...ACT QUICKLY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND 
TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS.

LAT...LON 3538 8497 3390 8491 3387 8831 3506 8819
$$ 
JDG/MM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 21, 9:55 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningHUNColbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone6 hr
Feb 22, 12:42 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningHUNCullman, Madison, Morgan3 hr
Feb 22, 1:57 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNMarshall33 min
Feb 22, 2:54 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningHUNJackson7 hr
Feb 22, 3:53 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNMarshall37 min
Feb 22, 4:05 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNDeKalb40 min
Feb 22, 4:22 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNJackson38 min
Feb 22, 4:23 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNJackson37 min
Feb 22, 4:32 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningHUNDeKalb, Marshall5 hr
Feb 22, 9:45 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningHUNColbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale and 5 more6 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Alabama, 2003Every 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.