Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 57, NWS Birmingham, AL

September 5, 2011Jefferson County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood warning at Sep 5, 2011, 4:39 PM CDT for Jefferson County, Alabama. It was in force for 5 hr. 7 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, 4:39 PM CDT (21:39 UTC)
Expired
Sep 5, 2011, 9:30 PM CDT
In force
5 hr
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Emergency
Flash flood emergency
Flood severity
None

County Jefferson County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 47 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:39 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Sep 5, 4:45 PM CDTFLASH FLOODTarrant, ALSEVERAL ROADS FLOODED IN TARRANT AND BIRMINGHAM INCLUDING BLACK CREEK ROAD AND TALLAPOOSA STREET.
Sep 5, 5:10 PM CDTFLASH FLOODBessemer, ALNINE INCHES OF WATER OVER 9TH AVE AT HWY 150 IN BESSEMER.
Sep 5, 5:20 PM CDTFLASH FLOODVestavia Hills, ALHIGHWAY 31 FLOODED IN VESTAVIA HILLS.
Sep 5, 5:25 PM CDTFLASH FLOODMccalla, ALEASTERN VALLEY ROAD AND MCCALLA ROAD FLOODED.
Sep 5, 5:38 PM CDTFLASH FLOODBirmingham, ALINTERSTATE 65 AND INTERSTATE 20 RAMP, 8-10 INCHES OF FLOWING WATER COVERING THE ROADWAY.
Sep 5, 5:39 PM CDTFLASH FLOODTarrant, ALHIGHWAY 79 IS UNDERWATER IN TARRANT CITY AS FIVE MILE CREEK IS FLOODING.
Sep 5, 8:04 PM CDTFLASH FLOODHueytown, ALWATER REPORTED OVER TINMILL ROAD BETWEEN PARK ROAD AND DOLOMITE. MOTORISTS WERE STRANDED AT THE TIME LISTED.

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, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 46 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 12:00Z on 2011-09-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 371 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 12:00Z on 2011-09-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 238 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
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.

624 
WGUS54 KBMX 052139
FFWBMX
ALC073-060230-
/O.NEW.KBMX.FF.W.0057.110905T2139Z-110906T0230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 930 PM CDT

* AT 437 PM CDT...A FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY WITH SEVERE AND WIDESPREAD 
  LIFE-THREATENING FLOODING WAS OCCURRING ACROSS THE AREA. MANY      
  STREAMS AND CREEKS ARE OUT OF THEIR BANKS. NUMEROUS STREETS AND    
  ROADS REMAIN FLOODED AND DANGEROUS. PEOPLE ARE URGED TO REMAIN IN  
  A SAFE LOCATION AND AVOID TRAVEL IF POSSIBLE.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...BESSEMER...
  BIRMINGHAM...FAIRFIELD...FULTONDALE...GARDENDALE...HOMEWOOD...
  HOOVER...HUEYTOWN...IRONDALE...LEEDS...MOUNTAIN BROOK...
  PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE...TRUSSVILLE...VESTAVIA HILLS...
  ADAMSVILLE...ALABAMA ADVENTURE...ALTON...B.J.C.C....BARBER
  MOTORSPORTS PARK...BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT...BIRMINGHAM FAIRGOUNDS...
  BLUFF PARK...BON AIR...BRIGHTON...BROOKSIDE...CAHABA HEIGHTS...
  CARDIFF...CENTER POINT...CLAY AND ENSLEY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FLOODING IS OCCURRING. NUMEROUS ROADS...STREETS
AND HIGHWAYS ARE CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER. TRAVEL IS DISCOURAGED. DO
NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE UNTIL WEATHER AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS IMPROVE
LATER. CONDITIONS ARE LIFE THREATENING.

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 3384 8676 3376 8665 3376 8654 3356 8655
      3352 8652 3347 8661 3347 8667 3325 8699
      3325 8706 3328 8707 3346 8733 3349 8733
      3348 8729 3353 8727 3352 8725 3355 8719
      3362 8717 3366 8706 3377 8703 3382 8695

$$
1 follow-up statement
097 
WGUS74 KBMX 060108
FFSBMX

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

ALC073-060230-
/O.CON.KBMX.FF.W.0057.000000T0000Z-110906T0230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
JEFFERSON AL-
808 PM CDT MON SEP 5 2011

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

...A FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY...

AT 803 PM CDT...COUNTY OFFICIALS REPORTED THAT FLASH FLOODING WAS 
OCCURRING IN MUCH OF JEFFERSON COUNTY WITH MANY ROADS CLOSED AND 
STREAMS STILL OVERFLOWING THEIR BANKS.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH FLOODING 
INCLUDE...BESSEMER...BIRMINGHAM...FAIRFIELD...FULTONDALE...
GARDENDALE...HUEYTOWN...PINSON...TRUSSVILLE...VESTAVIA 
HILLS...BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT...BRIGHTON...BROOKSIDE...CARDIFF...CENTER 
POINT...CLAY AND ENSLEY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FLOODING IS OCCURRING. NUMEROUS ROADS...STREETS
AND HIGHWAYS ARE CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER. TRAVEL IS DISCOURAGED. DO
NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE UNTIL WEATHER AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS IMPROVE
LATER. CONDITIONS ARE LIFE THREATENING.

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 3384 8676 3376 8665 3376 8654 3356 8655
      3352 8652 3347 8661 3347 8667 3325 8699
      3325 8706 3328 8707 3346 8733 3349 8733
      3348 8729 3353 8727 3352 8725 3355 8719
      3362 8717 3366 8706 3377 8703 3382 8695

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 5, 4:31 AM CDTWind AdvisoryBMXAutauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more26 hr
Sep 5, 5:34 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXMontgomery3 hr
Sep 5, 5:54 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXElmore, Montgomery2 hr
Sep 5, 6:19 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXPickens7 hr
Sep 5, 6:20 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXPickens24 min
Sep 5, 6:44 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXLamar4 hr
Sep 5, 6:57 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXLamar7 hr
Sep 5, 7:16 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXFayette, Marion, Walker, Winston8 hr
Sep 5, 8:27 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXSumter4 hr
Sep 5, 9:01 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningBMXLamar60 hr
Sep 5, 9:29 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter48 hr
Sep 5, 9:40 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXPickens6 hr
Sep 5, 10:07 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXJefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker72 hr
Sep 5, 10:07 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter, Tuscaloosa59 hr
Sep 5, 10:07 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo5 days
Sep 5, 10:14 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXBullock, Pike13 min
Sep 5, 10:16 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXGreene6 hr
Sep 5, 10:28 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXLamar4 hr
Sep 5, 10:31 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXLee, Macon, Russell29 min
Sep 5, 10:48 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXBibb, Hale, Perry27 min
Sep 5, 10:51 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXLee24 min
Sep 5, 11:11 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXChambers34 min
Sep 5, 11:36 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXTuscaloosa7 hr
Sep 5, 11:39 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXPerry36 min
Sep 5, 12:20 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXDallas25 min
Sep 5, 12:21 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXBullock, Pike24 min
Sep 5, 12:35 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXChilton, Dallas, Perry25 min
Sep 5, 12:40 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningBMXPickens3 hr
Sep 5, 1:00 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLee, Russell30 min
Sep 5, 1:09 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXJefferson6 hr
Sep 5, 1:27 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningBMXPickens3 hr
Sep 5, 1:47 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningBMXPickens3 hr
Sep 5, 2:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson48 min
Sep 5, 2:28 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson4 hr
Sep 5, 3:01 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningBMXFayette, Marion, Walker, Winston17 hr
Sep 5, 3:03 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXLee, Macon27 min
Sep 5, 3:26 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXJefferson15 hr
Sep 5, 4:06 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningBMXPickens16 hr
Sep 5, 4:52 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXBibb, Shelby3 hr
Sep 5, 5:08 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXBlount, Jefferson67 min
Sep 5, 5:12 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXEtowah, St. Clair6 hr
Sep 5, 6:12 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXBlount, Jefferson78 min
Sep 5, 6:18 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningBMXTuscaloosa6 hr
Sep 5, 6:38 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXBlount3 hr
Sep 5, 6:41 PM CDTHigh Wind WarningBMXBlount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah and 5 more3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Alabama, 2011Every 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.