Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 19, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 20, 20115 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood warning at Apr 20, 2011, 9:36 PM CDT for 5 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 3 hr. 4 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Apr 20, 2011, 9:36 PM CDT (02:36 UTC)
Expired: Apr 21, 2011, 12:30 AM CDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Fayette County, AL, Lamar County, AL, Marion County, AL, Pickens County, AL, Winston County, AL

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Apr 20, 9:49 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Sulligent, AL	FLOODING IN SULLIGENT ALONG HIGHWAY 278.
Apr 20, 9:49 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Vernon, AL	FLOODING IN VERNON...SEVERAL ROADS IMPASSABLE.
Apr 20, 10:07 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Hubbertville, AL	SOME FLOODING ACROSS NORTHERN FAYETTE COUNTY WHERE FLOODING HAS NOT BEEN OBSERVED IN A LONG TIME.
Apr 20, 10:13 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	3 Se Fayette, AL	FLOODING OCCURRING ON COUNTY ROAD 26.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 2.6 hours before the alert went out and 122 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: 1060 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -143 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1220 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 128 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 84 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

733 
WGUS54 KBMX 210236
FFWBMX
ALC057-075-093-107-133-210530-
/O.NEW.KBMX.FF.W.0019.110421T0236Z-110421T0530Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
936 PM CDT WED APR 20 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  LAMAR COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  MARION COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...
  NORTHERN PICKENS COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  WESTERN FAYETTE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  WESTERN WINSTON COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 1230 AM CDT

* AT 936 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED SLOW MOVING   
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. 
TORRENTIAL RAIN OF 1 TO 3 INCHES MAY OCCUR IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  FAYETTE...GORDO...HALEYVILLE...HAMILTON...MILLPORT...REFORM...
  SULLIGENT...VERNON...WINFIELD...ASHCRAFT CORNER...BEAVERTON...
  BEDFORD...BELK...BLOOMING GROVE...BLUFF...BRILLIANT...BRINN...
  CREWS...DETROIT...ETHELSVILLE...GLEN ALLEN...GU-WIN...GUIN...
  HACKLEBURG...KENNEDY...LAKE BUTTAHATCHEE...LAMAR COUNTY AIRPORT...
  NEEDMORE AND WESTON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. RAINFALL FROM PERSISTENT RAINBANDS 
WILL PRODUCE FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS AND ALONG STREETS. DRIVING 
IS NOT RECOMMENDED DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. DO
NOT ENTER THE WATER. TURN AROUND AND MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO
ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN
WATER BEGINS RISING.

FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS IMMINENT. MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR
IN VEHICLES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER COVERED BRIDGES...DIPS...
OR LOW WATER CROSSINGS. NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM... EVEN A
SMALL ONE...ON FOOT OR IN A VEHICLE.

&&

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...
CALL 1-800-856-0758.

LAT...LON 3432 8817 3432 8750 3401 8762 3400 8764
      3396 8764 3353 8780 3353 8784 3341 8783
      3327 8787 3330 8831

$$

75

2 follow-up statements

472 
WGUS74 KBMX 210301
FFSBMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1001 PM CDT WED APR 20 2011

ALC057-075-093-107-133-210530-
/O.CON.KBMX.FF.W.0019.000000T0000Z-110421T0530Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
PICKENS AL-FAYETTE AL-LAMAR AL-WINSTON AL-MARION AL-
1001 PM CDT WED APR 20 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MARION...WESTERN
WINSTON...LAMAR...WESTERN FAYETTE AND NORTHERN PICKENS COUNTIES UNTIL
1230 AM CDT...

AT 1000 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. 2 TO 
3 INCHES OF RAIN MAY OCCUR IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH FLOODING INCLUDE...
FAYETTE...GORDO...HALEYVILLE...HAMILTON...MILLPORT...REFORM...
SULLIGENT...VERNON...WINFIELD...ASHCRAFT CORNER...BEAVERTON...
BEDFORD...BELK...BLOOMING GROVE...BLUFF...BRILLIANT...BRINN...
CREWS...DETROIT...ETHELSVILLE...GLEN ALLEN...GU-WIN...GUIN...
HACKLEBURG...KENNEDY...LAKE BUTTAHATCHEE...LAMAR COUNTY AIRPORT...
NEEDMORE AND WESTON.

ROADS HAVE BEEN FLOODED IN LAMAR COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. RAINFALL FROM PERSISTENT RAINBANDS
WILL PRODUCE FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS AND ALONG STREETS. MANY
ROADS WILL BE CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER AND DRIVING IS NOT RECOMMENDED
DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED...ACT QUICKLY. DO NOT
ENTER THE WATER. TURN AROUND AND MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND. DO NOT
STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
BRIDGES...DIPS...OR OTHER LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY.
NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON FOOT OR
IN A VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 3432 8817 3432 8750 3401 8762 3400 8764
      3396 8764 3353 8780 3353 8784 3341 8783
      3327 8787 3330 8831

$$

75

447 
WGUS74 KBMX 210436
FFSBMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1136 PM CDT WED APR 20 2011

ALC057-075-093-107-133-210530-
/O.CON.KBMX.FF.W.0019.000000T0000Z-110421T0530Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
PICKENS AL-FAYETTE AL-LAMAR AL-WINSTON AL-MARION AL-
1136 PM CDT WED APR 20 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MARION...WESTERN
WINSTON...LAMAR...WESTERN FAYETTE AND NORTHERN PICKENS COUNTIES UNTIL
1230 AM CDT...

AT 1135 PM CDT...MOST OF THE HEAVIEST RAIN HAS MOVED OFF TO THE 
EAST. BUT ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE 
OCCASIONALLY MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN. ALSO THE RUINOFF FROM THE 
PREVIOUS RAINFALL WILL CONTINUE.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH FLOODING INCLUDE...
FAYETTE...GORDO...HALEYVILLE...HAMILTON...MILLPORT...REFORM...
SULLIGENT...VERNON...WINFIELD...ASHCRAFT CORNER...BEAVERTON...
BEDFORD...BELK...BLOOMING GROVE...BLUFF...BRILLIANT...BRINN...
CREWS...DETROIT...ETHELSVILLE...GLEN ALLEN...GU-WIN...GUIN...
HACKLEBURG...KENNEDY...LAKE BUTTAHATCHEE...LAMAR COUNTY AIRPORT...
NEEDMORE AND WESTON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. RAINFALL FROM PERSISTENT RAINBANDS 
WILL PRODUCE FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS AND ALONG STREETS. DRIVING 
IS NOT RECOMMENDED DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED...ACT QUICKLY. DO NOT
ENTER THE WATER. TURN AROUND AND MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND. DO NOT
STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
BRIDGES...DIPS...OR OTHER LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY.
NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON FOOT OR
IN A VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 3432 8817 3432 8750 3401 8762 3400 8764
      3396 8764 3353 8780 3353 8784 3341 8783
      3327 8787 3330 8831

$$

75

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 20, 7:10 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	50 min
Apr 20, 8:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar	39 min
Apr 20, 8:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion	46 min
Apr 20, 8:54 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Lamar	3 hr
Apr 20, 9:08 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Winston	52 min
Apr 20, 9:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Walker and 1 more	66 min
Apr 20, 10:12 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Fayette, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Winston	3 hr
Apr 20, 10:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa	47 min
Apr 20, 10:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Blount, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker	54 min
Apr 20, 10:40 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Blount, Greene, Jefferson, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa and 1 more	3 hr
Apr 20, 11:26 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Etowah, Jefferson, St. Clair, Talladega	49 min
Apr 20, 11:52 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah, St. Clair, Talladega	3 hr
Apr 20, 11:58 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah	62 min
Apr 21, 12:12 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chambers, Clay, Coosa, Randolph	63 min
Apr 21, 12:30 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion, Pickens	3 hr
Apr 21, 12:40 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Cleburne	28 min
Apr 21, 12:50 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	40 min
Apr 21, 3:03 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene, Sumter	42 min
Apr 21, 7:36 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter	65 hr
Apr 21, 8:08 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Lamar	36 hr
Apr 21, 9:23 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo	5 days
Apr 21, 2:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Sumter	36 min
Apr 21, 2:43 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene, Sumter	32 min
Apr 21, 3:24 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene	51 min
Apr 21, 6:13 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chilton	47 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Alabama, 2011 Every flash flood warning in 2011

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.