Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 4, NWS Huntsville, AL

January 17, 2012Colbert County, Lauderdale County, Alabama

NWS Huntsville, AL issued this flash flood warning at Jan 17, 2012, 2:07 PM CST for Colbert County, Lauderdale County, Alabama. It was in force for 5 hr. 2 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
Jan 17, 2012, 2:07 PM CST (20:07 UTC)
Expired
Jan 17, 2012, 7:00 PM CST
In force
5 hr
Issued by
NWS Huntsville, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Colbert County, AL, Lauderdale County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 128 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:08 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
Jan 17, 3:15 PM CSTFLASH FLOOD1 Ne Rogersville, ALNEELEY CREEK BRANCH IS OUT OF ITS BANKS AND FLOWING ACROSS COUNTY ROAD 26.
Jan 17, 6:45 PM CSTFLASH FLOODRogersville, ALTURNER LINDSEY ROAD WAS CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATERS DUE TO FLASH FLOODING.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 8.1 hours before the alert went out and 167 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 2012-01-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 2012-01-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 587 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
608 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
60 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
587 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
687 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.

184 
WGUS54 KHUN 172007
FFWHUN
ALC033-077-172300-
/O.NEW.KHUN.FF.W.0004.120117T2007Z-120117T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
207 PM CST TUE JAN 17 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  LAUDERDALE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...
  NORTHERN COLBERT COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 500 PM CST

* AT 203 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED  
  MULTIPLE THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL MOVING ACROSS
  LAUDERDALE COUNTY AND THE EXTREME NORTHERN HALF OF COLBERT COUNTY. 
  DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED AROUND 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAINFALL HAVE
  FALLEN THUS FAR...AND AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAINFALL IS
  POSSIBLE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON PERIOD.

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  FLORENCE...UNDERWOOD-PETERSVILLE...KILLEN...LEXINGTON AND
  ROGERSVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 3500 8722 3481 8723 3478 8728 3477 8727
      3477 8731 3480 8735 3480 8743 3477 8743
      3478 8811 3489 8811 3491 8815 3501 8818

$$
4 follow-up statements
328 
WGUS74 KHUN 172115
FFSHUN

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
315 PM CST TUE JAN 17 2012

ALC033-077-172300-
/O.CON.KHUN.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120117T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
COLBERT AL-LAUDERDALE AL-
315 PM CST TUE JAN 17 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR LAUDERDALE AND NORTHERN
COLBERT COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM CST...

AT 312 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL MAINLY ACROSS 
EASTERN LAUDERDALE AND NORTHEASTERN COLBERT COUNTY. RAINFALL RATES 
OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR CONTINUE IN THIS AREA...IN ADDITION TO THE 
1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAINFALL THAT HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED. RAINFALL IS 
SUBSIDING WEST OF HIGHWAY 17...BUT RUNOFF WILL CONTINUE TO POSE A 
FLASH FLOODING THREAT THROUGH 5 PM.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH FLOODING INCLUDE...
FLORENCE...UNDERWOOD-PETERSVILLE...KILLEN...LEXINGTON AND 
ROGERSVILLE. HIGHWAYS 72 AND 43...AND THE NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY ARE 
ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS WARNING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

REPORT FLOODING TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SO THAT THEY
MAY TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO CLOSE FLOODED ROADWAYS. THEY WILL
RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE.

&&

LAT...LON 3500 8722 3481 8723 3478 8728 3477 8727
      3477 8731 3480 8735 3480 8743 3477 8743
      3478 8811 3489 8811 3491 8815 3501 8818

$$

BCC
889 
WGUS74 KHUN 172237
FFSHUN

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
437 PM CST TUE JAN 17 2012

ALC033-077-172300-
/O.CON.KHUN.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120117T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
COLBERT AL-LAUDERDALE AL-
437 PM CST TUE JAN 17 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR LAUDERDALE AND NORTHERN
COLBERT COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM CST...

AT 436 PM CST...VERY HEAVY RAINFALL CONTINUED TO MOVE SOUTHEAST OUT 
OF LAUDERDALE AND NORTHERN COLBERT COUNTIES. RAINFALL AMOUNTS WERE 
ESTIMATED TO RANGE FROM TWO TO CLOSE TO TWO AND A HALF INCHES ACROSS 
THE AREA. 

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CONTINUE TO CAUSE FLASH 
FLOODING TO OCCUR UNTIL AROUND 5 PM. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL 
CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE RESIDUAL FLASH FLOODING 
INCLUDE...FLORENCE...UNDERWOOD-PETERSVILLE...KILLEN...LEXINGTON AND 
ROGERSVILLE.

LOCAL MEDIA HAVE REPORTED THAT THE NEELY BRANCH CREEK HAS REMAINED 
OUT OF ITS BANKS AND HAS SPILLED OUT ONTO COUNTY ROAD 26...ABOUT A 
HALF OF A MILE EAST OF LAUDERDALE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL IN ROGERSVILLE 
ALABAMA.  

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

REPORT FLOODING TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SO THAT THEY
MAY TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO CLOSE FLOODED ROADWAYS. THEY WILL
RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE.

&&

LAT...LON 3500 8722 3481 8723 3478 8728 3477 8727
      3477 8731 3480 8735 3480 8743 3477 8743
      3478 8811 3489 8811 3491 8815 3501 8818

$$

TT
678 
WGUS54 KHUN 172254
FFWHUN
ALC033-077-180100-
/O.EXT.KHUN.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120118T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
454 PM CST TUE JAN 17 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS EXTENDED THE

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  LAUDERDALE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...
  NORTHERN COLBERT COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 700 PM CST

* AT 450 PM CST...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED FLASH FLOODING ACROSS
  LAUDERDALE AND COLBERT COUNTIES...ESPECIALLY IN THE EASTERN        
  PORTION OF LAUDERDALE COUNTY. NEELY BRANCH CREEK IS REPORTED TO BE 
  OUT OF ITS BANKS AND SPILLING ONTO COUNTY ROAD 26 IN ROGERSVILLE.  
  WHILE THE HEAVY RAINFALL HAS ENDED ACROSS NORTHWEST ALABAMA...     
  RUNOFF WILL CONTINUE TO CREATE A FLASH FLOODING HAZARD.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...FLORENCE...
  UNDERWOOD-PETERSVILLE...KILLEN...LEXINGTON AND ROGERSVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 3500 8722 3481 8723 3478 8728 3477 8727
      3477 8731 3480 8735 3480 8743 3477 8743
      3478 8811 3489 8811 3491 8815 3501 8818

$$

JMS/BCC
749 
WGUS74 KHUN 180056
FFSHUN

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
656 PM CST TUE JAN 17 2012

ALC033-077-180109-
/O.EXP.KHUN.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120118T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
COLBERT AL-LAUDERDALE AL-
656 PM CST TUE JAN 17 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR LAUDERDALE AND
NORTHERN COLBERT COUNTIES WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 700 PM CST...

EXCESS RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAIN HAS ENDED OVER THE WARNED AREA. STREAMS
AND CREEKS IN THE WARNED AREA HAVE RECEDED OR WERE BEGINNING TO
RECEDE...ENDING THE FLOOD THREAT. IF FLOODING HAS BEEN OBSERVED...
PLEASE REPORT IT TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

LAT...LON 3500 8722 3481 8723 3478 8728 3477 8727
      3477 8731 3480 8735 3480 8743 3477 8743
      3478 8811 3489 8811 3491 8815 3501 8818

$$

TT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 17, 12:28 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLawrence62 min
Jan 17, 12:32 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNColbert58 min
Jan 17, 12:47 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNColbert, Lauderdale58 min
Jan 17, 1:22 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNColbert, Lauderdale38 min
Jan 17, 1:53 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLauderdale52 min
Jan 17, 2:26 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningHUNLimestone5 hr
Jan 17, 3:01 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningHUNMadison5 hr
Jan 17, 4:03 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNMorgan42 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Alabama, 2012Every 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.