Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 6, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 9, 20119 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood warning at Mar 9, 2011, 5:24 AM CST for 9 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 6 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: Mar 9, 2011, 5:24 AM CST (11:24 UTC)
Expired: Mar 9, 2011, 11:30 AM CST
In force: 6 hr
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Bibb County, AL, Blount County, AL, Chilton County, AL, Dallas County, AL, Jefferson County, AL, Perry County, AL, Shelby County, AL, St. Clair County, AL, Tuscaloosa County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 25 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:26 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
Mar 9, 5:56 AM CST	FLASH FLOOD	Birmingham, AL	I-59 NORTHBOUND LANES CLOSED AT 31ST STREET DUE TO FLOODING.
Mar 9, 7:00 AM CST	FLASH FLOOD	Chelsea, AL	MULTIPLE ROADWAYS FLODDED ACROSS THE COUNTY.
Mar 9, 7:15 AM CST	FLASH FLOOD	5 Wnw Trussville, AL	PART OF SWEENEY HOLLOW ROAD CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING.
Mar 9, 7:36 AM CST	FLASH FLOOD	Oneonta, AL	WATER ACROSS MULTIPLE ROADS IN THE COUNTY.

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, 11.4 hours before the alert went out and 24 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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 1808 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 365 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 712 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.

039 
WGUS54 KBMX 091124
FFWBMX
ALC007-009-021-047-073-105-115-117-125-091730-
/O.NEW.KBMX.FF.W.0006.110309T1124Z-110309T1730Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
524 AM CST WED MAR 9 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  BIBB COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  BLOUNT COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  CHILTON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  EAST CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  JEFFERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  NORTHERN DALLAS COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  PERRY COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  SHELBY COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  ST. CLAIR COUNTY IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 1130 AM CST

* AT 520 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A LARGE AREA
  OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS. 
  DOPPLER RADAR HAS ESTIMATED RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES
  SINCE 6 PM TUESDAY...AND A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL
  MOVE ACROSS THE WARNED AREA THROUGH 7 AM...PRODUCING BRIEF PERIODS
  OF VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WHICH WILL LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING.

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  ALABASTER...BESSEMER...BIRMINGHAM...BLOUNTSVILLE...BRENT...
  CALERA...CENTREVILLE...CHELSEA...CLEVELAND...COLUMBIANA...
  FAIRFIELD...FULTONDALE...GARDENDALE...HELENA...HOMEWOOD...HOOVER...
  HUEYTOWN...IRONDALE...JEMISON...LEEDS...MONTEVALLO...MOODY...
  MOUNTAIN BROOK...ODENVILLE...ONEONTA...PELHAM...
  PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE...SPRINGVILLE...TRUSSVILLE AND VALLEY
  GRANDE.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE ARE LIKELY IN THE 
WARNED AREA.

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 3410 8630 3393 8637 3397 8629 3382 8615
      3319 8650 3298 8656 3266 8680 3266 8691
      3254 8691 3237 8707 3228 8744 3249 8744
      3264 8727 3348 8731 3384 8687 3382 8696
      3391 8693 3396 8678 3426 8652 3426 8645

$$

1 follow-up statement

165 
WGUS74 KBMX 091424
FFSBMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
824 AM CST WED MAR 9 2011

ALC007-009-021-047-073-105-115-117-125-091730-
/O.CON.KBMX.FF.W.0006.000000T0000Z-110309T1730Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
DALLAS AL-PERRY AL-CHILTON AL-BIBB AL-SHELBY AL-TUSCALOOSA AL-
JEFFERSON AL-ST. CLAIR AL-BLOUNT AL-
824 AM CST WED MAR 9 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1130 AM CST FOR
BLOUNT...ST. CLAIR...JEFFERSON...EAST CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA...SHELBY...
BIBB...CHILTON...PERRY AND NORTHERN DALLAS COUNTIES...

AT 824 AM CST...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 
OFFICIALS REPORTED NUMEROUS AREAS OF FLASH FLOODING OVER THE WARNED 
AREA.

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.

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3410 8630 3393 8637 3397 8629 3382 8615
      3319 8650 3298 8656 3266 8680 3266 8691
      3254 8691 3237 8707 3228 8744 3249 8744
      3264 8727 3348 8731 3384 8687 3382 8696
      3391 8693 3396 8678 3426 8652 3426 8645

$$

17/KLAWS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 8, 6:21 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lamar	24 min
Mar 8, 7:06 PM CST	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Lamar	3 hr
Mar 8, 8:42 PM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter	3 hr
Mar 8, 9:00 PM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter	4 days
Mar 8, 9:49 PM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Bibb, Jefferson, Shelby	36 hr
Mar 8, 9:49 PM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Bibb, Dallas, Perry	61 hr
Mar 8, 10:33 PM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter	9 days
Mar 8, 10:38 PM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo	8 days
Mar 8, 11:21 PM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter	3 hr
Mar 8, 11:55 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Dallas, Perry	50 min
Mar 9, 1:02 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Fayette, Jefferson, Marion, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Winston	3 hr
Mar 9, 1:15 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marengo	30 min
Mar 9, 1:37 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Dallas	38 min
Mar 9, 2:29 AM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Walker and 1 more	6 hr
Mar 9, 2:47 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Perry	43 min
Mar 9, 3:32 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Sumter	3 hr
Mar 9, 3:56 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Bibb, Blount, Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa	3 hr
Mar 9, 4:21 AM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Bibb, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Sumter and 1 more	6 hr
Mar 9, 4:38 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marengo, Sumter	37 min
Mar 9, 4:59 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Bibb, Hale, Jefferson, Perry, Tuscaloosa	46 min
Mar 9, 5:27 AM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson	16 hr
Mar 9, 5:48 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Autauga, Blount, Calhoun, Chilton, Coosa, Dallas and 5 more	57 min
Mar 9, 6:00 AM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Etowah, St. Clair, Shelby and 1 more	4 hr
Mar 9, 6:46 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Clay, Coosa, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery, Talladega and 1 more	59 min
Mar 9, 6:53 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Clay, Coosa, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery, Talladega and 1 more	52 min
Mar 9, 7:38 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Bullock, Chambers, Lee, Macon, Montgomery, Pike and 1 more	67 min
Mar 9, 8:25 AM CST	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Lamar	24 hr
Mar 9, 8:34 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Barbour, Bullock, Chambers, Lee, Macon, Russell	56 min
Mar 9, 8:53 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Talladega	6 hr
Mar 9, 9:25 AM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker	59 hr
Mar 9, 9:46 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pike	29 min
Mar 9, 10:00 AM CST	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Talladega	12 hr
Mar 9, 10:03 AM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Barbour, Pike	42 min
Mar 9, 10:40 AM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Chambers, Randolph, Tallapoosa	3 hr
Mar 9, 10:46 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Barbour	29 min
Mar 9, 10:59 AM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Tuscaloosa	33 hr
Mar 9, 10:59 AM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter, Tuscaloosa	68 hr
Mar 9, 11:18 AM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Cleburne	3 hr
Mar 9, 12:04 PM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Chilton, Coosa, Elmore, Shelby, Talladega	45 hr
Mar 9, 3:56 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	34 min
Mar 9, 4:00 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lamar	30 min
Mar 9, 4:04 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	26 min
Mar 9, 4:24 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette	36 min
Mar 9, 4:45 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	30 min
Mar 9, 4:56 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Winston	34 min
Mar 9, 5:00 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette	30 min
Mar 9, 5:14 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette	31 min
Mar 9, 5:31 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Winston	29 min
Mar 9, 5:36 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Walker	39 min
Mar 9, 5:46 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tuscaloosa	44 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.