Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 55, NWS Birmingham, AL

September 5, 2011Jefferson County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood warning at Sep 5, 2011, 1:09 PM CDT for Jefferson County, Alabama. It was in force for 6 hr. 8 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: Sep 5, 2011, 1:09 PM CDT (18:09 UTC)
Expired: Sep 5, 2011, 7:00 PM CDT
In force: 6 hr
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

County Jefferson County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 49 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:13 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Sep 5, 1:23 PM CDT	HEAVY RAIN 0	Bessemer, AL	AT LEAST 3 INCHES OF WATER WAS REPORTED ACROSS ALL LANES OF MORGAN ROAD NEAR HWY 150.
Sep 5, 1:45 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	2 Nne Fairfield, AL	ONE FOOT OF WATER HAS BEEN REPORTED ACROSS 36TH STREET AT LLOYD NOLAND PARKWAY. SEVERAL OTHER ROADS IN THE CITY HAVE WATER OVER THEM. FAIRLFIELD PD HAS BEGUN CLOSING ROADS.
Sep 5, 4:18 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Hueytown, AL	SEVERAL ROADS FLOODED IN HUEYTOWN INCLUDING NOVEL DR AND BROOKLANE DR AND ESSEX RD AND EMERALD AVE.
Sep 5, 4:30 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	3 Wsw Fultondale, AL	TWO FEET OF WATER WAS REPORTED OVER 5 MILE CREEK ROAD AT 5 MILE CREEK. MOTORIST STRANDED.
Sep 5, 5:10 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Bessemer, AL	NINE INCHES OF WATER OVER 9TH AVE AT HWY 150 IN BESSEMER.
Sep 5, 5:20 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Vestavia Hills, AL	HIGHWAY 31 FLOODED IN VESTAVIA HILLS.
Sep 5, 5:25 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Mccalla, AL	EASTERN VALLEY ROAD AND MCCALLA ROAD FLOODED.
Sep 5, 5:38 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Birmingham, AL	INTERSTATE 65 AND INTERSTATE 20 RAMP, 8-10 INCHES OF FLOWING WATER COVERING THE ROADWAY.

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 12:00Z, 6.2 hours before the alert went out and 48 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: 371 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -4 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 471 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 238 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 277 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.4
Supercell composite: 2.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

229 
WGUS54 KBMX 051809
FFWBMX
ALC073-052100-
/O.NEW.KBMX.FF.W.0055.110905T1809Z-110905T2100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
109 PM CDT MON SEP 5 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  JEFFERSON COUNTY IN ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 400 PM CDT

* AT 101 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED AN AREA OF 
  HEAVY RAINFALL SPEADING NORTHWARD ACROSS WESTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY. 
  RAINFALL OF ONE TO THREE INCHES HAS OCCURRED OVER PORTIONS OF THIS 
  AREA DURING THE PAST THREE HOURS.  AN ADDITIONAL ONE TO TWO INCHES 
  WITH LOCALLY GREATER TOTALS IS POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT TWO HOURS. 

* RUNOFF FROM RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO OCCUR. SOME 
  LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...BESSEMER...
  BIRMINGHAM...FAIRFIELD...HOOVER...HUEYTOWN...VESTAVIA HILLS...   
  ADAMSVILLE...BRIGHTON...BROOKSIDE...ENSLEY...FORESTDALE... 
  GRAYSVILLE. .. LIPSCOMB...MIDFIEL D...MINOR...AND OAK GROVE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES. ADDITIONALLY...
COUNTRY ROADS AND FARMLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS...STREAMS AND
OTHER LOW LYING AREAS ARE SUBJECT TO FLOODING.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3341 8675 3325 8699 3325 8706 3328 8707
      3332 8718 3342 8725 3347 8734 3349 8733
      3348 8729 3350 8726 3353 8727 3352 8725
      3355 8719 3359 8720 3362 8717 3363 8710
      3366 8709 3366 8706 3377 8702 3384 8686

$$

41

2 follow-up statements

663 
WGUS74 KBMX 052013
FFSBMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
313 PM CDT MON SEP 5 2011

ALC073-052100-
/O.CON.KBMX.FF.W.0055.000000T0000Z-110905T2100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
JEFFERSON AL-
313 PM CDT MON SEP 5 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY
UNTIL 400 PM CDT...

AT 307 PM CDT...THE PUBLIC REPORTED THAT FLASH FLOODING WAS OCCURRING
IN MANY AREAS ACROSS WESTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY. THERE HAVE BEEN 
SEVERAL REPORTS OF CLOSED ROADS WITH STREAMS AND DITCHES OVERFLOWING.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH FLOODING 
INCLUDE...BESSEMER...BIRMINGHAM...FAIRFIELD...HUEYTOWN...BIRMINGHAM 
FAIRGOUNDS...BRIGHTON...BROOKSIDE...CARDIFF...ENSLEY...FORESTDALE...M
AYTOWN ...MIDFIELD...MINOR...AND MULGA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM THIS STORM WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL CREEKS
AND STREAMS...HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES. ADDITIONALLY...COUNTRY ROADS
AND FARMLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS...STREAMS AND OTHER LOW LYING
AREAS ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO FLOODING.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY.

&&

LAT...LON 3341 8675 3325 8699 3325 8706 3328 8707
      3332 8718 3342 8725 3347 8734 3349 8733
      3348 8729 3350 8726 3353 8727 3352 8725
      3355 8719 3359 8720 3362 8717 3363 8710
      3366 8709 3366 8706 3377 8702 3384 8686

$$

242 
WGUS54 KBMX 052041
FFWBMX
ALC073-060000-
/O.EXT.KBMX.FF.W.0055.000000T0000Z-110906T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
341 PM CDT MON SEP 5 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS EXTENDED THE

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 700 PM CDT

* AT 338 PM CDT...THE PUBLIC REPORTED FLASH FLOODING ACROSS MUCH OF  
  WESTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF     
  CLOSED ROADS WITH STREAMS AND DITCHES OVERFLOWING.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...BESSEMER... 
 ADAMSVILLE...BRIGHTON...BROOKSIDE...CARDIFF...ENSLEY...FORESTDALE...
 GRAYSVILLE...MAYTOWN...MIDFIELD...MINOR...AND MULGA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING FLOODING SITUATION. YOU
SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL. STAY HOME UNLESS YOU ARE FORCED TO
EVACUATE TO HIGHER GROUND.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES. ADDITIONALLY...
COUNTRY ROADS AND FARMLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS...STREAMS AND
OTHER LOW LYING AREAS ARE SUBJECT TO FLOODING.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3341 8675 3325 8699 3325 8706 3328 8707
      3332 8718 3342 8725 3347 8734 3349 8733
      3348 8729 3350 8726 3353 8727 3352 8725
      3355 8719 3359 8720 3362 8717 3363 8710
      3366 8709 3366 8706 3377 8702 3384 8686

$$

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Sep 5, 4:31 AM CDT	Wind Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more	26 hr
Sep 5, 5:34 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Montgomery	3 hr
Sep 5, 5:54 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Elmore, Montgomery	2 hr
Sep 5, 6:19 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Pickens	7 hr
Sep 5, 6:20 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Pickens	24 min
Sep 5, 6:44 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Lamar	4 hr
Sep 5, 6:57 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Lamar	7 hr
Sep 5, 7:16 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Fayette, Marion, Walker, Winston	8 hr
Sep 5, 8:27 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Sumter	4 hr
Sep 5, 9:01 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Lamar	60 hr
Sep 5, 9:29 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter	48 hr
Sep 5, 9:40 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Pickens	6 hr
Sep 5, 10:07 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker	72 hr
Sep 5, 10:07 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter, Tuscaloosa	59 hr
Sep 5, 10:07 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo	5 days
Sep 5, 10:14 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Bullock, Pike	13 min
Sep 5, 10:16 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Greene	6 hr
Sep 5, 10:28 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Lamar	4 hr
Sep 5, 10:31 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lee, Macon, Russell	29 min
Sep 5, 10:48 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Bibb, Hale, Perry	27 min
Sep 5, 10:51 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lee	24 min
Sep 5, 11:11 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chambers	34 min
Sep 5, 11:36 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	7 hr
Sep 5, 11:39 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Perry	36 min
Sep 5, 12:20 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Dallas	25 min
Sep 5, 12:21 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Bullock, Pike	24 min
Sep 5, 12:35 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chilton, Dallas, Perry	25 min
Sep 5, 12:40 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Pickens	3 hr
Sep 5, 1:00 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lee, Russell	30 min
Sep 5, 1:27 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Pickens	3 hr
Sep 5, 1:47 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Pickens	3 hr
Sep 5, 2:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson	48 min
Sep 5, 2:28 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Blount, Jefferson	4 hr
Sep 5, 3:01 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Fayette, Marion, Walker, Winston	17 hr
Sep 5, 3:03 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lee, Macon	27 min
Sep 5, 3:26 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson	15 hr
Sep 5, 4:06 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Pickens	16 hr
Sep 5, 4:39 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning Emergency	BMX	Jefferson	5 hr
Sep 5, 4:52 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Bibb, Shelby	3 hr
Sep 5, 5:08 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Blount, Jefferson	67 min
Sep 5, 5:12 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Etowah, St. Clair	6 hr
Sep 5, 6:12 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Blount, Jefferson	78 min
Sep 5, 6:18 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	6 hr
Sep 5, 6:38 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Blount	3 hr
Sep 5, 6:41 PM CDT	High Wind Warning	BMX	Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah and 5 more	3 hr

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.