Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 17, NWS Huntsville, AL

April 5, 2012Lawrence County, Morgan County, Alabama

NWS Huntsville, AL issued this flash flood warning at Apr 5, 2012, 6:31 PM CDT for Lawrence County, Morgan County, Alabama. 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 outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Apr 5, 2012, 6:31 PM CDT (23:31 UTC)
Expired: Apr 5, 2012, 9:20 PM CDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Huntsville, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Lawrence County, AL, Morgan County, AL

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 105 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:31 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 11.5 hours before the alert went out and 152 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: 315 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -31 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 754 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -91 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: -43 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: -1.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

110 
WGUS54 KHUN 052331
FFWHUN
ALC079-103-060230-
/O.NEW.KHUN.FF.W.0017.120405T2331Z-120406T0230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
631 PM CDT THU APR 5 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  EAST CENTRAL LAWRENCE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...
  NORTHWESTERN MORGAN COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 930 PM CDT

* AT 628 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED   
  SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS          
  NORTHWESTERN MORGAN AND NORTHEASTERN LAWRENCE COUNTIES. TWO TO     
  THREE INCHES OF RAINFALL HAS OCCURRED OVER THE PAST HOUR AND A     
  HALF IN THESE AREAS.

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  DECATUR...FLINT CITY AND TRINITY.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTS FLASH FLOODING ONGOING AT THE 
INTERSECTION OF GORDON PERRY AND SENECA SPRINGS ROAD IN 
TRINITY...WEST OF THE CITY OF DECATUR. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS UP TO AN INCH OF RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE IN 
NORTHWESTERN MORGAN AND NORTHEASTERN LAWRENCE COUNTIES THROUGH 930 
PM CDT.

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 3439 8724 3454 8727 3465 8711 3463 8699
      3461 8697 3442 8697

$$

CA

2 follow-up statements

027 
WGUS74 KHUN 060145
FFSHUN

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
845 PM CDT THU APR 5 2012

ALC079-103-060230-
/O.CON.KHUN.FF.W.0017.000000T0000Z-120406T0230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
LAWRENCE AL-MORGAN AL-
845 PM CDT THU APR 5 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN MORGAN AND
EAST CENTRAL LAWRENCE COUNTIES UNTIL 930 PM CDT...

AT 845 PM CDT...MORGAN COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INDICATED THAT 
FLASH FLOODING ONGOING IN TRINITY AT THE INTERSECTION OF GORDON 
PERRY AND NORTH SENECA SPRINGS ROAD. THIS ROAD IS STILL COVERED WITH 
WATER AND IS IMPASSABLE AT THIS TIME.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH FLOODING INCLUDE...
DECATUR...FLINT CITY AND TRINITY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3439 8724 3454 8727 3465 8711 3463 8699
      3461 8697 3442 8697

$$

CA

203 
WGUS74 KHUN 060220
FFSHUN

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
920 PM CDT THU APR 5 2012

ALC079-103-060234-
/O.CAN.KHUN.FF.W.0017.000000T0000Z-120406T0230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
LAWRENCE AL-MORGAN AL-
920 PM CDT THU APR 5 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN MORGAN
AND EAST CENTRAL LAWRENCE COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

EXCESS RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAIN HAS ENDED OVER NORTHWESTERN MORGAN AND 
EAST CENTRAL LAWRENCE COUNTY. STREAMS AND CREEKS HAVE RECEDED OR 
WERE BEGINNING TO RECEDE...ENDING THE FLASH FLOOD THREAT. AN AREAL 
FLOOD WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THIS AREA. IF FLOODING HAS BEEN 
OBSERVED...PLEASE REPORT IT TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

LAT...LON 3439 8724 3454 8727 3465 8711 3463 8699
      3461 8697 3442 8697

$$

CA

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 Apr 5, 6:27 PM CDT, 4 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 5, 6:27 PM CDT, 4 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
627 PM CDT THU APR 5 2012

.UPDATE...
TO ADD CULLMAN COUNTY IN THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH...UNTIL
MIDNIGHT.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
DID A QUICK AFD TO ADD CULLMAN IN A NEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WATCH
(149) UNTIL MIDNIGHT. STLT SHOWS VORT MAX ASSOCIATED WITH UPPER LOW
MOVING ACROSS NRN AL ATTM. WE HAVE MANY REPORTS OF HAIL ACROSS THE TN
VALLEY...MAINLY WEST OF I65 ATTM. THE HAIL SIZE WAS MAINLY PEA TO NICKLE
SIZE WITH A FEW REPORTS OF QUARTERS. THE SVR WX THREAT IS DIMINISHING
ACROSS NW AL...EXPECT THE SVR WX THREAT TO CONTINUE ALONG AND EAST OF
I65 UNTIL ARND 10 PM.

07

&&

.AVIATION...
/ISSUED 1241 PM CDT THU APR 5 2012/
FOR 18Z TAFS...VFR CEILING HEIGHTS AOA 20K FT WILL PERSIST THROUGH
20Z BEFORE LOWER CEILINGS AROUND 4K FT OVERSPREAD THE AREA FROM W TO
E. UPPER LOW/WEAK COLD FRONT PUSHING INTO THE LOWER MS VALLEY WILL
ALSO RESULT IN CLUSTERS/BANDS OF SHRA/TSRA DEVELOPING ALONG/AHEAD OF
THE SFC BOUNDARY. IFR VIS/ADDITIONAL FUEL REQUIREMENTS MAY DEVELOP
IN/NEAR THE HEAVIER TSRA MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON. VFR CEILING HEIGHTS
WILL THEN GRADUALLY BEGIN TO CLIMB THIS EVENING/AFTER 00Z FRI...WITH
SHRA/TSRA DIMINISHING WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE COLD FRONT. SFC WINDS
WILL ALSO BE TURING TOWARD THE N AOA 10KT LATER TONIGHT.

09

&&

.HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...NONE.
TN...NONE.
&&

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE
AT WEATHER.GOV/HUNTSVILLE.

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 5, 1:38 PM CDT, 4 hours 53 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
138 PM CDT THU APR 5 2012

ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-061000-
LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN-
MARSHALL-JACKSON-DEKALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN-
138 PM CDT THU APR 5 2012

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

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

AS AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM CENTERED OVER NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI
SLIDES EAST...CLUSTERS OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP
ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON.

SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE...WITH LARGE HAIL AND BRIEF
DAMAGING WIND GUSTS THE PRIMARY THREATS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS
ALSO POSSIBLE IN THE STRONGEST STORMS. THE THUNDERSTORM THREAT IS
EXPECTED TO DIMINISH THIS EVENING AS A COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE
AREA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS
REQUESTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER ARE
GREATLY APPRECIATED.

JLL

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 5, 5:48 PM CDT, 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
548 PM CDT THU APR 05 2012

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

0530 PM     HAIL             TRINITY                 34.60N 87.09W
04/05/2012  E0.88 INCH       MORGAN             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            NICKEL AND DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED ON OLD HIGHWAY 24 IN
            TRINITY.

0530 PM     HAIL             MOULTON                 34.48N 87.28W
04/05/2012  M0.75 INCH       LAWRENCE           AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            DIME HAIL IN MOULTON.

0530 PM     HAIL             SW DECATUR              34.57N 86.99W
04/05/2012  M0.75 INCH       MORGAN             AL   PUBLIC

            PENNY HAIL ON CEDARWOOD DRIVE IN SW DECATUR.

0538 PM     HAIL             DECATUR                 34.57N 86.99W
04/05/2012  M0.75 INCH       MORGAN             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            DIME HAIL IN DECATUR.

&&

CA

Local storm report, Apr 5, 6:06 PM CDT, 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
606 PM CDT THU APR 05 2012

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

0556 PM     BLIZZARD         11 SSE REDSTONE ARSENAL 34.53N 86.59W
04/05/2012                   MORGAN             AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            NICKEL SIZE HAIL 1 MILE EAST OF LACEYS SPRING.

&&

CA

Local storm report, Apr 5, 6:07 PM CDT, 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
607 PM CDT THU APR 05 2012

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

0556 PM     HAIL             11 SSE REDSTONE ARSENAL 34.53N 86.59W
04/05/2012  E0.88 INCH       MORGAN             AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            NICKEL SIZE HAIL 1 MILE EAST OF LACEYS SPRING.

&&

CA

Local storm report, Apr 5, 6:08 PM CDT, 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
608 PM CDT THU APR 05 2012

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

0530 PM     HAIL             TRINITY                 34.60N 87.09W
04/05/2012  E0.88 INCH       MORGAN             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            NICKEL AND DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED ON OLD HIGHWAY 24 IN
            TRINITY.

0530 PM     HAIL             MOULTON                 34.48N 87.28W
04/05/2012  M0.75 INCH       LAWRENCE           AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            DIME HAIL IN MOULTON.

0530 PM     HAIL             SW DECATUR              34.57N 86.99W
04/05/2012  M0.75 INCH       MORGAN             AL   PUBLIC

            PENNY HAIL ON CEDARWOOD DRIVE IN SW DECATUR.

0538 PM     HAIL             DECATUR                 34.57N 86.99W
04/05/2012  M0.75 INCH       MORGAN             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            DIME HAIL IN DECATUR.

0556 PM     HAIL             11 SSE REDSTONE ARSENAL 34.53N 86.59W
04/05/2012  E0.88 INCH       MORGAN             AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            NICKEL SIZE HAIL 1 MILE EAST OF LACEYS SPRING.

&&

CA

Local storm report, Apr 5, 6:12 PM CDT, 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
612 PM CDT THU APR 05 2012

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

0605 PM     HAIL             W MADISON               34.70N 86.75W
04/05/2012  M0.75 INCH       MADISON            AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            PENNY SIZE HAIL ON COUNTY LINE ROAD IN MADISON.

&&

CA

Special weather statement, Apr 5, 6:18 PM CDT, 13 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
618 PM CDT THU APR 5 2012

ALZ006-060000-
MADISON-
618 PM CDT THU APR 5 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MADISON COUNTY UNTIL 700 PM
CDT...

AT 615 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR OWENS CROSSROADS...OR 14 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
HUNTSVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH.

NICKEL SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  OWENS CROSSROADS.
  NEW HOPE.

REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE
STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

&&

LAT...LON 3458 8631 3457 8633 3456 8632 3452 8634
      3452 8638 3450 8639 3448 8645 3449 8652
      3454 8656 3456 8655 3459 8659 3466 8637
      3460 8633 3460 8630
TIME...MOT...LOC 2318Z 260DEG 3KT 3456 8646

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 5, 4:47 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	HUN	Franklin	58 min
Apr 5, 4:48 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	HUN	Lauderdale	42 min
Apr 5, 5:16 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	HUN	Lawrence	44 min
Apr 5, 5:31 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	HUN	Morgan	29 min
Apr 5, 5:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Lawrence	35 min
Apr 5, 5:46 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	HUN	Cullman	44 min
Apr 5, 5:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Lawrence, Limestone, Morgan	38 min
Apr 5, 6:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Morgan	39 min
Apr 5, 6:18 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	HUN	Madison	42 min
Apr 5, 6:34 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	HUN	Marshall	41 min
Apr 5, 6:36 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	HUN	Jackson	39 min
Apr 5, 6:43 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	HUN	Lawrence	3 hr
Apr 5, 6:45 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	HUN	Madison	45 min
Apr 5, 6:54 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	HUN	Limestone, Madison, Morgan	3 hr
Apr 5, 6:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	HUN	Limestone, Madison	27 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Alabama, 2012 Every flash flood warning in 2012

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.