Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Watches in 2012

Flash Flood Watch 2, NWS Mobile, AL

May 3, 201210 counties in Alabama; George County, Greene County, Wayne County, Mississippi

NWS Mobile, AL issued this flash flood watch at May 3, 2012, 4:16 AM CDT for 10 counties in Alabama; George County, Greene County, Wayne County, Mississippi. It was in force for 10 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 3, 2012, 4:16 AM CDT (09:16 UTC)
Expired
May 3, 2012, 2:20 PM CDT
In force
10 hr
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Flood severity
None

Counties Butler County, AL, Choctaw County, AL, Clarke County, AL, Conecuh County, AL, Covington County, AL, Crenshaw County, AL, Escambia County, AL, Monroe County, AL, Washington County, AL, Wilcox County, AL, George County, MS, Greene County, MS, Wayne County, MS

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 112 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:19 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, 9.3 hours before the alert went out and 200 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 2012-05-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1350 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 00:00Z on 2012-05-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 56 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
1350 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-6 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1384 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
8 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
56 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
66 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.

352 
WGUS64 KMOB 030916
FFAMOB

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
416 AM CDT THU MAY 3 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN
MISSISSIPPI...ALL OF SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...AND THE
WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

.AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL SLOWLY MOVE ACROSS THE
REGION TODAY...AND WILL INTERACT WITH DEEP MOISTURE TO PRODUCE
NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY
RAINS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES...WITH LOCALIZED HIGHER
AMOUNTS WILL BE POSSIBLE...PARTICULARLY WHERE THUNDERSTORMS TRAIN
OVER THE SAME LOCATIONS. EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINS MAY RESULT
IN FLASH FLOODING.

ALZ051>064-FLZ001>006-MSZ067-076-079-031815-
/O.NEW.KMOB.FF.A.0002.120503T0916Z-120504T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW-
ESCAMBIA-COVINGTON-UPPER MOBILE-UPPER BALDWIN-LOWER MOBILE-
LOWER BALDWIN-INLAND ESCAMBIA-COASTAL ESCAMBIA-INLAND SANTA ROSA-
COASTAL SANTA ROSA-INLAND OKALOOSA-COASTAL OKALOOSA-WAYNE-GREENE-
GEORGE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BUTLER...LISMAN...SILAS...CHATOM...
MILLRY...JACKSON...THOMASVILLE...GROVE HILL...CAMDEN...
PINE HILL...HOMEWOOD...MONROEVILLE...EVERGREEN...GREENVILLE...
LUVERNE...BRANTLEY...ATMORE...BREWTON...EAST BREWTON...
ANDALUSIA...OPP...MOBILE...PRICHARD...SARALAND...BAY MINETTE...
TILLMANS CORNER...THEODORE...DAPHNE...FAIRHOPE...FOLEY...
SPANISH FORT...CENTURY...FLOMATON...MOLINO...FERRY PASS...BRENT...
WEST PENSACOLA...BELLVIEW...ENSLEY...MYRTLE GROVE...JAY...PACE...
MILTON...CRESTVIEW...WRIGHT...NICEVILLE...SEMINOLE...EGLIN AFB...
WAYNESBORO...LEAKESVILLE...MCLAIN...LUCEDALE
416 AM CDT THU MAY 3 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF ALABAMA...THE WESTERN FLORIDA 
  PANHANDLE AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING
  AREAS...IN ALABAMA...BUTLER...CHOCTAW...CLARKE...CONECUH...
  COVINGTON...CRENSHAW...ESCAMBIA...LOWER BALDWIN...LOWER MOBILE...
  MONROE...UPPER BALDWIN...UPPER MOBILE...WASHINGTON AND WILCOX. 
  IN THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE...COASTAL ESCAMBIA...COASTAL 
  OKALOOSA...COASTAL SANTA ROSA...INLAND ESCAMBIA...INLAND OKALOOSA
  AND INLAND SANTA ROSA. IN SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...GEORGE...GREENE 
  AND WAYNE.

* THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING

* HEAVY RAINFALL WILL LIKELY IMPACT MUCH OF SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...
  SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA AND THE WESTERN FLORIDA
  PANHANDLE AS A SLOW MOVING UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM INTERACTS WITH
  A VERY MOIST AIRMASS ACROSS THE REGION TODAY. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2
  TO 4 INCHES...WITH LOCALIZED HIGHER AMOUNTS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS
  THE WATCH AREA TODAY. EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINS MAY RESULT
  IN FLASH FLOODING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

&&

$$
1 follow-up statement
474 
WGUS64 KMOB 031920
FFAMOB

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
220 PM CDT THU MAY 3 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF
SOUTHEASTERN MISSISSIPPI...ALL OF SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL
ALABAMA...AND THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS
EVENING HAS BEEN CANCELLED...

.AN UPPER LEVEL LOW AND ASSOCIATED TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL LIFT
NORTH AND EAST AWAY FROM THE REGION THROUGH TONIGHT. WHILE THIS WILL
CONTINUE TO BRING A MOIST SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW ACROSS THE REGION...RAIN
CHANCES WILL BE DIMINISHING AS MID TO UPPER LEVEL HIGH PRESSURE
BEGINS TO RIDGE INTO THE REGION FROM THE WEST. SOME SCATTERED SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH TONIGHT...SOME WITH
LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...BUT THE THREAT OF WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL OVER
THE REGION HAS ENDED. 

ALZ051>064-FLZ001>006-MSZ067-076-079-032030-
/O.CAN.KMOB.FF.A.0002.000000T0000Z-120504T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW-
ESCAMBIA-COVINGTON-UPPER MOBILE-UPPER BALDWIN-LOWER MOBILE-
LOWER BALDWIN-INLAND ESCAMBIA-COASTAL ESCAMBIA-INLAND SANTA ROSA-
COASTAL SANTA ROSA-INLAND OKALOOSA-COASTAL OKALOOSA-WAYNE-GREENE-
GEORGE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BUTLER...LISMAN...SILAS...CHATOM...
MILLRY...JACKSON...THOMASVILLE...GROVE HILL...CAMDEN...
PINE HILL...HOMEWOOD...MONROEVILLE...EVERGREEN...GREENVILLE...
LUVERNE...BRANTLEY...ATMORE...BREWTON...EAST BREWTON...
ANDALUSIA...OPP...MOBILE...PRICHARD...SARALAND...BAY MINETTE...
TILLMANS CORNER...THEODORE...DAPHNE...FAIRHOPE...FOLEY...
SPANISH FORT...CENTURY...FLOMATON...MOLINO...FERRY PASS...BRENT...
WEST PENSACOLA...BELLVIEW...ENSLEY...MYRTLE GROVE...JAY...PACE...
MILTON...CRESTVIEW...WRIGHT...NICEVILLE...SEMINOLE...EGLIN AFB...
WAYNESBORO...LEAKESVILLE...MCLAIN...LUCEDALE
220 PM CDT THU MAY 3 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF ALABAMA...NORTHWEST FLORIDA
AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI HAS BEEN CANCELLED. AN UPPER LEVEL LOW AND
ASSOCIATED TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL LIFT NORTH AND EAST AWAY FROM
THE REGION THROUGH TONIGHT. WHILE THIS WILL CONTINUE TO BRING A MOIST
SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW ACROSS THE REGION...RAIN CHANCES WILL BE DIMINISHING
AS MID TO UPPER LEVEL HIGH PRESSURE BEGINS TO RIDGE INTO THE REGION
FROM THE WEST. SOME SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE
THROUGH TONIGHT...SOME WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...BUT THE THREAT OF
WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL OVER THE REGION HAS ENDED.

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 2, 8:15 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningMOBBaldwin, Mobile8 hr
May 2, 9:59 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningMOBMobile16 hr
May 3, 2:02 PM CDTRip Current StatementMOB5 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Watches in Alabama, 2012Flash Flood Watches in Mississippi, 2012Flash Flood Watches in Florida, 2012Every flash flood watch 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.