Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 8, NWS Huntsville, AL

January 23, 2012Colbert County, Franklin County, Lawrence County, Alabama

NWS Huntsville, AL issued this flash flood warning at Jan 23, 2012, 1:50 AM CST for Colbert County, Franklin County, Lawrence 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
Jan 23, 2012, 1:50 AM CST (07:50 UTC)
Expired
Jan 23, 2012, 5:00 AM CST
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Huntsville, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Colbert County, AL, Franklin County, AL, Lawrence County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 100 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:52 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 7.8 hours before the alert went out and 165 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 00:00Z on 2012-01-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 223 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Birmingham, AL at 00:00Z on 2012-01-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 267 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
223 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-30 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
453 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
267 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
298 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

261 
WGUS54 KHUN 230750
FFWHUN
ALC033-059-079-231100-
/O.NEW.KHUN.FF.W.0008.120123T0750Z-120123T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
150 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  FRANKLIN COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...
  LAWRENCE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...
  SOUTHEASTERN COLBERT COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 500 AM CST

* AT 146 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED   
  SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS MOST OF  
  FRANKLIN...SOUTHEASTERN COLBERT...AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES. RAINFALL  
  AMOUNTS AROUND ONE TO THREE INCHES HAVE FALLEN IN PORTIONS OF      
  THESE COUNTIES TONIGHT...AND AN ADDITIONAL ONE TO TWO INCHES OF    
  RAINFALL ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE SAME AREAS.  

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  MOULTON...RUSSELLVILLE...BELGREEN...LITTLEVILLE...NORTH            
  COURTLAND...PHIL CAMPBELL...TOWN CREEK...AND THE BANKHEAD NATIONAL 
  FOREST.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE 
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. DO 
NOT ENTER THE WATER. TURN AROUND AND MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO 
ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN 
WATER BEGINS RISING.

&&

LAT...LON 3432 8810 3454 8807 3475 8720 3473 8714
      3469 8711 3430 8711

$$

KDW
2 follow-up statements
961 
WGUS74 KHUN 230948
FFSHUN

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
348 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

ALC033-059-079-231100-
/O.CON.KHUN.FF.W.0008.000000T0000Z-120123T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
COLBERT AL-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE AL-
348 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR LAWRENCE...FRANKLIN AND
SOUTHEASTERN COLBERT COUNTIES UNTIL 500 AM CST...

AT 343 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS HAD PRODUCED VERY HEAVY RAINFALL 
TONIGHT...PARTICULARLY ALONG A SWATH FROM NEAR ATWOOD TO PHIL 
CAMPBELL...TO MT HOPE...MOULTON AND CADDO. ANOTHER SWATH OF HEAVY 
RAIN WAS LOCATED FROM THE CROOKED OAK AREA TO TOWN CREEK. RADAR AND 
OTHER REPORTS INDICATE AROUND TWO TO FOUR INCHES OF RAIN HAVE FALLEN 
IN THESE AREAS. ALTHOUGH THE HEAVIER RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE 
GENERALLY PUSHED ON TO THE EAST...FLASH FLOODING IS STILL POSSIBLE 
DUE TO RECENT RUNOFF. 

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH FLOODING INCLUDE...
MOULTON...RUSSELLVILLE...BELGREEN...LITTLEVILLE...NORTH 
COURTLAND...PHIL CAMPBELL AND TOWN CREEK.

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.

TO REPORT FLOODING...HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RELAY 
YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN 
HUNTSVILLE.

&&

LAT...LON 3432 8810 3454 8807 3475 8720 3473 8714
      3469 8711 3430 8711

$$

KDW
229 
WGUS74 KHUN 231101
FFSHUN

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
501 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

ALC033-059-079-231115-
/O.EXP.KHUN.FF.W.0008.000000T0000Z-120123T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
COLBERT AL-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE AL-
501 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR LAWRENCE...FRANKLIN
AND SOUTHEASTERN COLBERT COUNTIES HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE...

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 3432 8810 3454 8807 3475 8720 3473 8714
      3469 8711 3430 8711

$$

KDW

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 22, 11:38 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNColbert, Franklin, Lauderdale37 min
Jan 22, 11:49 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNColbert, Franklin, Lauderdale41 min
Jan 23, 12:03 AM CSTTornado WarningHUNColbert, Franklin, Lauderdale27 min
Jan 23, 12:09 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNColbert, Franklin26 min
Jan 23, 12:28 AM CSTTornado WarningHUNLauderdale21 min
Jan 23, 12:53 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLawrence, Limestone37 min
Jan 23, 1:21 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNLimestone, Madison, Morgan39 min
Jan 23, 1:33 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNFranklin27 min
Jan 23, 1:35 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningHUNColbert, Lauderdale, Lawrence3 hr
Jan 23, 1:59 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNFranklin, Lawrence31 min
Jan 23, 2:03 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNMadison, Marshall, Morgan27 min
Jan 23, 2:11 AM CSTTornado WarningHUNJackson, Madison, Marshall34 min
Jan 23, 2:22 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningHUNLimestone, Madison, Morgan3 hr
Jan 23, 2:30 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNMadison30 min
Jan 23, 2:42 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHUNDeKalb, Jackson48 min
Jan 23, 3:01 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNMadison44 min
Jan 23, 3:09 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningHUNCullman, Morgan3 hr
Jan 23, 3:22 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNMorgan23 min
Jan 23, 4:02 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNCullman28 min
Jan 23, 4:33 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNMarshall42 min
Jan 23, 4:56 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningHUNJackson, Madison, Marshall3 hr
Jan 23, 5:12 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementHUNDeKalb48 min
Jan 23, 5:25 AM CSTAreal Flood WarningHUNMadison6 hr
Jan 23, 7:39 AM CSTRiver Flood WarningHUNMadison28 hr
Jan 23, 7:54 AM CSTAreal Flood WarningHUNJackson2 hr
Jan 23, 8:23 AM CSTRiver Flood WarningHUNJackson, Madison, Marshall5 days
Jan 23, 8:49 AM CSTAreal Flood WarningHUNMarshall3 hr
Jan 23, 9:36 AM CSTRiver Flood WarningHUNLawrence43 hr
Jan 23, 10:00 AM CSTAreal Flood WarningHUNJackson2 hr
Jan 23, 11:31 AM CSTAreal Flood WarningHUNMadison9 hr
Jan 23, 1:22 PM CSTAreal Flood WarningHUNLawrence20 hr

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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.