Alert archive / Tennessee / Flash Flood Warnings in 2009

Flash Flood Warning 79, NWS Huntsville, AL

September 20, 2009Madison County, Alabama; Franklin County, Lincoln County, Moore County, Tennessee

NWS Huntsville, AL issued this flash flood warning at Sep 20, 2009, 8:09 PM CDT for Madison County, Alabama; Franklin County, Lincoln County, Moore County, Tennessee. It was in force for 3 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
Sep 20, 2009, 8:09 PM CDT (01:09 UTC)
Expired
Sep 20, 2009, 11:00 PM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Huntsville, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Madison County, AL, Franklin County, TN, Lincoln County, TN, Moore County, TN

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 33 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:13 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

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 00:00Z, 1.2 hours before the alert went out and 118 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 00:00Z on 2009-09-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1869 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 00:00Z on 2009-09-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 59 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
1869 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-5 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
516 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
59 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
99 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 Huntsville, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Sep 20, 6:53 PM CDT, 1 hour 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 20, 6:53 PM CDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 20, 12:56 PM CDT, 7 hours 13 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1256 PM CDT SUN SEP 20 2009

ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-211000-
LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN-
MARSHALL-JACKSON-DEKALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN-
1256 PM CDT SUN SEP 20 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS
OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON
INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. SOME THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE
OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND
GUSTY WINDS.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHERN ALABAMA
AND SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE TODAY. RAINFALL AMOUNTS AROUND ONE TO
TWO INCHES WILL COMBINE WITH AN ALREADY SATURATED GROUND TO PRODUCE
A HEIGHTENED THREAT FOR LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...

AN UNSETTLED WEATHER PATTERN WILL CONTINUE THIS WEEK AS A MOIST AND
UNSTABLE AIRMASS REMAINS IN PLACE OVER THE AREA. THOUGH WIDESPREAD
FLOODING IS NOT ANTICIPATED...HEAVY RAINFALL AND LOCALIZED FLOODING
CANNOT BE RULED OUT.

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE THROUGH THE
PERIOD...WITH THE STRONGER STORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING FREQUENT
LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS
NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGERS ARE
STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE REPORTS OF FLASH FLOODING OR CLOSED
ROADS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

KDW

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 20, 5:12 PM CDT, 2 hours 57 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
512 PM CDT SUN SEP 20 2009

ALZ001-202300-
LAUDERDALE-
512 PM CDT SUN SEP 20 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR LAUDERDALE COUNTY UNTIL 600 PM
CDT...

AT 510 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR KINGTOWN...OR 15 MILES EAST OF
UNDERWOOD-PETERSVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY
DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  LEXINGTON...ANDERSON.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FROM THE
THUNDERSTORM. THIS MAY RESULT IN BRIEF RUNOFF PROBLEMS AND PONDING
OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.
Special weather statement, Sep 20, 5:42 PM CDT, 2 hours 27 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
542 PM CDT SUN SEP 20 2009

ALZ005-202330-
LIMESTONE-
542 PM CDT SUN SEP 20 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR LIMESTONE COUNTY UNTIL 630 PM CDT...

AT 541 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR ELKMONT...OR 7 MILES NORTH OF
ATHENS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY
DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  HOLLAND GIN...BETHEL.
  ARDMORE.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FROM THIS
THUNDERSTORM. THIS MAY RESULT IN BRIEF RUNOFF PROBLEMS AND PONDING
OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

JLL
Special weather statement, Sep 20, 6:10 PM CDT, 1 hour 59 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
610 PM CDT SUN SEP 20 2009

ALZ004>007-TNZ096-210015-
LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-LINCOLN-MADISON-MORGAN-
610 PM CDT SUN SEP 20 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR LAWRENCE...LIMESTONE...LINCOLN...
MADISON AND MORGAN COUNTIES UNTIL 715 PM CDT...

AT 609 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM DELLROSE TO WREN...MOVING
EAST AT 30 MPH.

WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY
DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED AS THIS LINE OF STORMS MOVES EAST.

PEOPLE IN EASTERN LAWRENCE...LIMESTONE...LINCOLN...NORTHWESTERN
MADISON AND WESTERN MORGAN COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER
SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS AND BE
PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOODING THREATEN.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 1.5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FROM THE
THUNDERSTORM. THIS MAY RESULT IN BRIEF RUNOFF PROBLEMS AND PONDING
OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

JLL
Local storm report, Sep 20, 6:49 PM CDT, 1 hour 20 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
649 PM CDT SUN SEP 20 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0545 PM     FLASH FLOOD      6 NW FLORENCE           34.89N 87.74W
09/20/2009                   LAUDERDALE         AL   PUBLIC

            CREEKS REPORTED OUT OF THEIR BANKS NEAR THE INTERSECTION
            OF COUNTY ROAD 15 AND COUNTY ROAD 157.

0545 PM     FLASH FLOOD      6 NW FLORENCE           34.89N 87.74W
09/20/2009                   LAUDERDALE         AL   PUBLIC

            WATER OVER ROADWAY NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 7
            AND COUNTY ROAD 157.

0615 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 E KILLEN              34.86N 87.49W
09/20/2009                   LAUDERDALE         AL   PUBLIC

            PARKING LOT FLOODED AT THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 31
            AND HIGHWAY 72.

&&

JLL
Special weather statement, Sep 20, 7:16 PM CDT, 53 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Sep 20, 8:02 PM CDT, 7 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
802 PM CDT SUN SEP 20 2009

ALZ005-006-009-TNZ076-096-097-210145-
FRANKLIN-JACKSON-LIMESTONE-LINCOLN-MADISON-MOORE-
802 PM CDT SUN SEP 20 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FRANKLIN...JACKSON...LIMESTONE...
LINCOLN...MADISON AND MOORE COUNTIES UNTIL 845 PM CDT...

AT 800 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM OAK GROVE TO
NORMAL...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY
DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

PEOPLE IN EASTERN LIMESTONE...FRANKLIN...LINCOLN...MOORE...NORTHERN
MADISON AND NORTHWESTERN JACKSON COUNTIES...SHOULD MONITOR THE
WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS
AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD FLASH
FLOODING THREATEN.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FROM THESE STORMS.
THIS MAY RESULT IN BRIEF RUNOFF PROBLEMS AND PONDING OF WATER ON
AREA ROADWAYS.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 21, 11:32 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningHUNDeKalb4 hr
Sep 21, 4:46 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningHUNDeKalb112 min
Sep 21, 4:59 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningHUNDeKalb6 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Tennessee, 2009Flash Flood Warnings in Alabama, 2009Every flash flood warning in 2009

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.