Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2013

Flash Flood Warning 39, NWS Birmingham, AL

August 7, 2013Jefferson County, Shelby County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood warning at Aug 7, 2013, 4:59 PM CDT for Jefferson County, Shelby County, Alabama. It was in force for 3 hr. 6 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
Aug 7, 2013, 4:59 PM CDT (21:59 UTC)
Expired
Aug 7, 2013, 8:00 PM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Jefferson County, AL, Shelby County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 29 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:02 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
Aug 7, 5:09 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD5 Sse Homewood, ALFLOODING OF THE ROADWAYS AT ROCKY RIDGE ROAD AND LOCH RIDGE TRAIL.
Aug 7, 5:09 PM CDTFLASH FLOODVestavia Hills, ALHIGHWAY 31 AT COLUMBIANA ROAD HAD WATER COMPLETELY COVERING THE ROADWAY.
Aug 7, 5:15 PM CDTFLASH FLOODRiverchase, ALWATER OVER THE ROADWAYS IN THE RIVERCHASE AREA.
Aug 7, 5:23 PM CDTFLASH FLOODHoover, ALFLOODING REPORTED ALONG VALLEYDALE ROAD NEAR SPAIN PARK HIGH SCHOOL.
Aug 7, 5:30 PM CDTFLASH FLOODVestavia Hills, ALVESTAVIA BOWLING ALLEY AND AREAS ADJACENT ARE FLOODING DUE TO OVERFLOW OF PATTON CREEK AND BAD DRAINAGE.
Aug 7, 5:33 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD5 Sse Homewood, ALROCKY RIDGE ROAD NEAR INTERSTATE 65 HAS BEEN CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER.

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 12:00Z, 10.0 hours before the alert went out and 28 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 12:00Z on 2013-08-07Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1157 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 12:00Z on 2013-08-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -15 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
1157 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-57 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
675 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
9 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-15 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
18 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.

627 
WGUS54 KBMX 072159
FFWBMX
ALC073-117-080100-
/O.NEW.KBMX.FF.W.0039.130807T2159Z-130808T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
459 PM CDT WED AUG 7 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SOUTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY IN ALABAMA...
  NORTH CENTRAL SHELBY COUNTY IN ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 800 PM CDT

* AT 459 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED   
  SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS SOUTH    
  CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY AND NORTH CENTRAL SHELBY COUNTY. DOPPLER  
  RADAR ESTIMATED ONE TO TWO INCHES HAS FALLEN IN THE AREA SINCE     
  400 PM CDT...AND AN ADDITIONAL ONE TO TWO INCHES MAY FALL OVER     
  THE NEXT HOUR.

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  FAIRFIELD...HOMEWOOD...HOOVER...MOUNTAIN BROOK...VESTAVIA HILLS...
  B.J.C.C....BIRMINGHAM FAIRGOUNDS...BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN COLLEGE...
  BLUFF PARK...BON AIR...CAHABA HEIGHTS...ENSLEY...HOOVER
  METROPOLITAN STADIUM...INDIAN SPRINGS VILLAGE...LEGION FIELD...
  LIPSCOMB...MADISON...MEADOWBROOK...MIDFIELD...OAK MOUNTAIN
  AMPHITHEATER...OAK MOUNTAIN STATE PARK...PATTON CREEK...REGIONS
  FIELD...RICKWOOD FIELD...RIVERCHASE...RIVERCHASE GALLERIA...ROSS   
  BRIDGE...SAMFORD UNIVERSITY...THE SUMMIT AND U.A.B. CAMPUS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...URBAN AREAS...HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES
AS WELL AS OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3344 8668 3333 8669 3330 8688 3339 8695
      3352 8693 3353 8684 3352 8676

$$

77/GLEASON
4 follow-up statements
988 
WGUS74 KBMX 072221
FFSBMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
521 PM CDT WED AUG 7 2013

ALC073-117-080100-
/O.CON.KBMX.FF.W.0039.000000T0000Z-130808T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
JEFFERSON AL-SHELBY AL-
521 PM CDT WED AUG 7 2013

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL SHELBY AND
CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM CDT...

AT 520 PM CDT...THE PUBLIC REPORTED SEVERAL LOCATIONS WERE WATER IS 
COVERING THE ROADWAYS AND BECOMING IMPASSABLE. RADAR ESTIMATES UP TO 
2 INCHES OF RAIN IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME ACROSS THE WARNED 
AREA AND ANOTHER INCH OR SO IS POSSIBLE.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH FLOODING INCLUDE...
FAIRFIELD...HOMEWOOD...HOOVER...MOUNTAIN BROOK...VESTAVIA HILLS...
B.J.C.C....BIRMINGHAM FAIRGOUNDS...BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN COLLEGE...
BLUFF PARK...BON AIR...CAHABA HEIGHTS...ENSLEY...HOOVER METROPOLITAN
STADIUM...INDIAN SPRINGS VILLAGE...LEGION FIELD...LIPSCOMB...
MADISON...MEADOWBROOK...MIDFIELD...OAK MOUNTAIN AMPHITHEATER...OAK
MOUNTAIN STATE PARK...PATTON CREEK...REGIONS FIELD...RICKWOOD
FIELD...RIVERCHASE...RIVERCHASE GALLERIA...ROSS BRIDGE...SAMFORD
UNIVERSITY...THE SUMMIT AND U.A.B. CAMPUS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. RAINFALL FROM PERSISTENT RAINBANDS
WILL PRODUCE FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS AND ALONG STREETS. MANY
ROADS WILL BE CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER AND DRIVING IS NOT RECOMMENDED
DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM THIS STORM WILL CAUSE MINOR FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...URBAN AREAS...HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES
AS WELL AS OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.

&&

LAT...LON 3344 8668 3333 8669 3330 8688 3339 8695
      3352 8693 3353 8684 3352 8676

$$

75
575 
WGUS74 KBMX 072238
FFSBMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
538 PM CDT WED AUG 7 2013

ALC073-117-080100-
/O.CON.KBMX.FF.W.0039.000000T0000Z-130808T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
JEFFERSON AL-SHELBY AL-
538 PM CDT WED AUG 7 2013

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTH CENTRAL SHELBY AND
SOUTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM CDT...

AT 538 PM CDT...MULTIPLE REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED THAT FLASH 
FLOODING WAS OCCURRING FROM HIGHWAY 31 IN VESTAVIA TO RIVERCHASE.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH FLOODING INCLUDE...
FAIRFIELD...HOMEWOOD...HOOVER...MOUNTAIN BROOK...VESTAVIA HILLS...
B.J.C.C....BIRMINGHAM FAIRGOUNDS...BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN COLLEGE...
BLUFF PARK...BON AIR...CAHABA HEIGHTS...ENSLEY...HOOVER METROPOLITAN
STADIUM...INDIAN SPRINGS VILLAGE...LEGION FIELD...LIPSCOMB...
MADISON...MEADOWBROOK...MIDFIELD...OAK MOUNTAIN AMPHITHEATER...OAK
MOUNTAIN STATE PARK...PATTON CREEK...REGIONS FIELD...RICKWOOD
FIELD...RIVERCHASE...RIVERCHASE GALLERIA...ROSS BRIDGE...SAMFORD
UNIVERSITY...THE SUMMIT AND U.A.B. CAMPUS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. RAINFALL FROM PERSISTENT 
THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS AND ALONG 
STREETS. MANY ROADS WILL BE MADE IMPASSABLE DUE TO HIGH WATER AND 
DRIVING IS NOT RECOMMENDED DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS.

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 3344 8668 3333 8669 3330 8688 3339 8695
      3352 8693 3353 8684 3352 8676

$$

77/GLEASON
679 
WGUS74 KBMX 072341
FFSBMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
641 PM CDT WED AUG 7 2013

ALC073-117-080100-
/O.CON.KBMX.FF.W.0039.000000T0000Z-130808T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
JEFFERSON AL-SHELBY AL-
641 PM CDT WED AUG 7 2013

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTH CENTRAL SHELBY AND
SOUTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM CDT...

AT 640 PM CDT...RAINFALL HAD COME TO AN END ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL 
SHELBY AND SOUTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTIES. HOWEVER...FLASH 
FLOODING MAY CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT HOUR AS THE RUNOFF FROM THE 
EXCESSIVE RAINFALL ENTERS INTO AREA CREAKS AND STREAMS.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH FLOODING INCLUDE...
FAIRFIELD...HOMEWOOD...HOOVER...MOUNTAIN BROOK...VESTAVIA HILLS...
B.J.C.C....BIRMINGHAM FAIRGOUNDS...BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN COLLEGE...
BLUFF PARK...BON AIR...CAHABA HEIGHTS...ENSLEY...HOOVER METROPOLITAN
STADIUM...INDIAN SPRINGS VILLAGE...LEGION FIELD...LIPSCOMB...
MADISON...MEADOWBROOK...MIDFIELD...OAK MOUNTAIN AMPHITHEATER...OAK
MOUNTAIN STATE PARK...PATTON CREEK...REGIONS FIELD...RICKWOOD
FIELD...RIVERCHASE...RIVERCHASE GALLERIA...ROSS BRIDGE...SAMFORD
UNIVERSITY...THE SUMMIT AND U.A.B. CAMPUS.

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. TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

&&

LAT...LON 3344 8668 3333 8669 3330 8688 3339 8695
      3352 8693 3353 8684 3352 8676

$$

77/GLEASON
836 
WGUS74 KBMX 080056
FFSBMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
756 PM CDT WED AUG 7 2013

ALC073-117-080109-
/O.EXP.KBMX.FF.W.0039.000000T0000Z-130808T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
JEFFERSON AL-SHELBY AL-
756 PM CDT WED AUG 7 2013

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR NORTH CENTRAL 
SHELBY AND SOUTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTIES WILL BE ALLOWED TO 
EXPIRE AT 800 PM CDT...

EXCESS RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAIN HAS ENDED OVER NORTH CENTRAL SHELBY 
AND SOUTH CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTIES. STREAMS AND CREEKS IN THE 
WARNED AREA HAVE RECEDED OR WERE BEGINNING TO RECEDE...ENDING THE 
FLOOD THREAT.

LAT...LON 3344 8668 3333 8669 3330 8688 3339 8695
      3352 8693 3353 8684 3352 8676

$$

77/GLEASON

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 7, 4:04 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXClay41 min
Aug 7, 5:01 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXSt. Clair44 min
Aug 7, 5:14 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXShelby46 min
Aug 7, 5:28 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXBlount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah, St. Clair62 min
Aug 7, 5:44 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXCalhoun, St. Clair46 min
Aug 7, 5:45 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXMarion45 min
Aug 7, 6:02 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXCalhoun43 min
Aug 7, 6:20 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXCalhoun, Cleburne, St. Clair, Talladega115 min
Aug 7, 6:22 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXJefferson38 min
Aug 7, 6:35 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXTalladega40 min
Aug 7, 6:39 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXClay, Cleburne, Randolph51 min
Aug 7, 6:48 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXJefferson, Walker3 hr

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.