Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2013

Flash Flood Warning 13, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 18, 2013Calhoun County, Talladega County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood warning at May 18, 2013, 5:56 AM CDT for Calhoun County, Talladega County, Alabama. It was in force for 3 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
May 18, 2013, 5:56 AM CDT (10:56 UTC)
Expired
May 18, 2013, 9:00 AM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Emergency
Flash flood emergency
Flood severity
None

Counties Calhoun County, AL, Talladega County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 67 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:56 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
May 18, 6:00 AM CDTFLASH FLOOD5 Ssw Anniston, ALALL LANES OF HIGHWAY 21 SOUTH OF OXFORD ARE IMPASSIBLE DUE TO FLASH FLOODING. A STRANDED MOTORIST ON HIGHWAY 21 HAD TO BE RESCUED BY A SWIFT WATER RESCUE TEAM DUE TO THE HIGH WATER. MULIPLE OTHER ROADS IN AND SOUTH OF OXFORD WERE ALSO IMPASSIBLE DUE TO FLASH F
May 18, 6:40 AM CDTFLASH FLOODTalladega, ALKELLY SPRINGS ROAD AT EASTABOGA ROAD IS IMPASSIBLE DUE TO FLOODING. SEVERAL ADDITIONAL ROADS IN THE CITY OF TALLADEGA ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING FLASH FLOODING, INCLUDING WARD STREET, COOSA STREET, COURT STREET, EAST STREET NORTH, WEST STREED, AND BATTLE STREED, AS

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, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 68 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 2013-05-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 959 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 2013-05-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 192 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
959 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-22 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
881 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
192 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
340 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.1
Supercell composite
7.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

847 
WGUS54 KBMX 181056
FFWBMX
ALC015-121-181400-
/O.NEW.KBMX.FF.W.0013.130518T1056Z-130518T1400Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
556 AM CDT SAT MAY 18 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN CALHOUN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  TALLADEGA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 900 AM CDT

* AT 553 AM CDT...LIFE-THREATENING FLOODING WAS OCCURRING ACROSS 
SOUTHWESTERN CALHOUN COUNTY AND PORTIONS OF TALLADEGA COUNTY. MANY 
STREAMS AND CREEKS ARE OUT OF THEIR BANKS. NUMEROUS STREETS AND 
ROADS ARE IMPASSABLE. FOUR TO SIX INCHES OF RAINFALL HAS FALLEN 
ACROSS THE WARNED AREA...AND AN ADDITIONAL ONE TO TWO INCHES IS 
POSSIBLE. PEOPLE ARE URGED TO REMAIN IN A SAFE LOCATION AND AVOID 
TRAVEL IF POSSIBLE.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  CHILDERSBURG...COBB TOWN...OXFORD...SYLACAUGA...TALLADEGA...
  TALLADEGA SPRINGS...WEST END-COBB TOWN...ALPINE...ANNISTON REGIONAL
  AIRPORT...BYNUM...FAYETTEVILLE...GRANT TOWN...HOBSON CITY...HONDA
  MANUFACTURING OF ALABAMA...LINCOLN...OXFORD LAKE...SYCAMORE...
  TALLADEGA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT...TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY...WALDO AND
  WINTERBORO.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS...LIFE THREATENING SITUATION AND EVERY PRECAUTION
SHOULD BE TAKEN TO AVOID LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY. EXTENSIVE
FLOODING IS EXPECTED. MOTORISTS SHOULD AVOID WATER COVERED ROADS AND 
FIND ALTERNATIVE ROUTES.

&&

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...
CALL 1-800-856-0758 OR TWEET YOUR REPORT USING HASHTAG ALWX

LAT...LON 3365 8571 3350 8585 3350 8590 3340 8593
      3338 8598 3335 8598 3329 8603 3330 8612
      3320 8612 3319 8617 3311 8618 3311 8649
      3312 8646 3314 8647 3368 8611

$$

14
2 follow-up statements
033 
WGUS74 KBMX 181103
FFSBMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
603 AM CDT SAT MAY 18 2013

ALC015-121-181400-
/O.CON.KBMX.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-130518T1400Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CALHOUN AL-TALLADEGA AL-
603 AM CDT SAT MAY 18 2013

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR TALLADEGA AND
SOUTHWESTERN CALHOUN COUNTIES UNTIL 900 AM CDT...

...FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY FOR OXFORD...ANNISTON...AND TALLADEGA...

AT 557 AM CDT...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED FLASH FLOODING WAS 
OCCURRING ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE WARNED AREA...AND SWIFT WATER 
RESCUES WERE ONGOING. IN ADDITION...STREAMS AND CREEKS HAVE RISEN 
OUT OF THEIR BANKS AND NUMEROUS ROADWAYS ARE IMPASSABLE. FOUR TO SIX 
INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN ACROSS PORTIONS OF THIS AREA WITH AN 
ADDITIONAL ONE TO TWO INCHES POSSIBLE.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH FLOODING INCLUDE...
CHILDERSBURG...COBB TOWN...OXFORD...SYLACAUGA...TALLADEGA...TALLADEGA
SPRINGS...WEST END-COBB TOWN...ALPINE...ANNISTON REGIONAL AIRPORT...
BYNUM...FAYETTEVILLE...GRANT TOWN...HOBSON CITY...HONDA MANUFACTURING
OF ALABAMA...LINCOLN...OXFORD LAKE...SYCAMORE...TALLADEGA MUNICIPAL 
AIRPORT...TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY...WALDO AND WINTERBORO.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS...LIFE THREATENING SITUATION AND EVERY PRECAUTION
SHOULD BE TAKEN TO AVOID LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY. EXTENSIVE
FLOODING IS EXPECTED. MOTORISTS SHOULD AVOID WATER COVERED ROADS AND
FIND ALTERNATIVE ROUTES.

&&

LAT...LON 3365 8571 3350 8585 3350 8590 3340 8593
      3338 8598 3335 8598 3329 8603 3330 8612
      3320 8612 3319 8617 3311 8618 3311 8649
      3312 8646 3314 8647 3368 8611

$$

14
685 
WGUS74 KBMX 181231
FFSBMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
731 AM CDT SAT MAY 18 2013

ALC015-121-181400-
/O.CON.KBMX.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-130518T1400Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CALHOUN AL-TALLADEGA AL-
731 AM CDT SAT MAY 18 2013

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR TALLADEGA AND
SOUTHWESTERN CALHOUN COUNTIES UNTIL 900 AM CDT...

...A FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY FOR OXFORD...ANNISTON...AND TALLADEGA...

AT 724 AM CDT...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED FLASH FLOODING WAS 
OCCURRING ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE WARNED AREA...AND NUMEROUS ROADWAYS 
REMAIN IMPASSABLE. FOUR TO SIX INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN ACROSS 
PORTIONS OF THIS AREA WITH AN ADDITIONAL ONE TO TWO INCHES POSSIBLE..

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH FLOODING INCLUDE...
CHILDERSBURG...COBB TOWN...OXFORD...SYLACAUGA...TALLADEGA...TALLADEGA
SPRINGS...WEST END-COBB TOWN...ALPINE...ANNISTON REGIONAL AIRPORT...
BYNUM...FAYETTEVILLE...GRANT TOWN...HOBSON CITY...HONDA MANUFACTURING
OF ALABAMA...LINCOLN...OXFORD LAKE...SYCAMORE...TALLADEGA MUNICIPAL
AIRPORT...TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY...WALDO AND WINTERBORO.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS...LIFE THREATENING SITUATION AND EVERY PRECAUTION
SHOULD BE TAKEN TO AVOID LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY. EXTENSIVE
FLOODING IS EXPECTED. MOTORISTS SHOULD AVOID WATER COVERED ROADS AND
FIND ALTERNATIVE ROUTES.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM THIS STORM 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 ALSO SUBJECT TO FLOODING.

&&

LAT...LON 3365 8571 3350 8585 3350 8590 3340 8593
      3338 8598 3335 8598 3329 8603 3330 8612
      3320 8612 3319 8617 3311 8618 3311 8649
      3312 8646 3314 8647 3368 8611

$$

14

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 17, 7:01 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXTallapoosa44 min
May 17, 7:09 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXBibb, Chilton51 min
May 17, 7:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Chilton49 min
May 17, 7:34 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXPerry41 min
May 17, 8:08 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXShelby52 min
May 17, 8:19 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXDallas41 min
May 17, 8:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXDallas, Perry54 min
May 17, 8:44 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXShelby46 min
May 17, 9:09 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXShelby36 min
May 17, 9:18 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXPerry42 min
May 17, 9:29 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXCoosa46 min
May 17, 10:24 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXDallas51 min
May 18, 12:17 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXChambers43 min
May 18, 1:11 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXPickens49 min
May 18, 1:39 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXBlount, Jefferson, St. Clair3 hr
May 18, 2:04 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXLamar26 min
May 18, 2:30 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXCalhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, Talladega3 hr
May 18, 3:15 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXCalhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, Talladega3 hr
May 18, 3:29 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXJefferson, St. Clair3 hr
May 18, 4:49 AM CDTFlash Flood Warning EmergencyBMXClay6 hr
May 18, 7:58 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXAutauga47 min
May 18, 8:03 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXChambers, Lee, Tallapoosa57 min
May 18, 8:07 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXChambers, Elmore, Macon, Randolph, Tallapoosa26 hr
May 18, 8:36 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXElmore39 min
May 18, 8:56 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXClay, Cleburne, Randolph3 hr
May 18, 9:16 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningBMXCalhoun, Talladega4 hr
May 18, 9:52 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXBullock, Chambers, Coosa, Lee, Macon, Russell and 1 more3 hr
May 18, 10:53 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXCleburne67 min
May 18, 10:57 AM CDTFlash Flood WatchBMXBlount, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Clay and 14 more32 hr
May 18, 2:26 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXBibb, Jefferson, Shelby18 hr
May 18, 4:26 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXChilton, Coosa, Elmore, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega20 hr
May 18, 6:37 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXDallas53 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Alabama, 2013Every flash flood warning in 2013

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.