Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2013

Flash Flood Warning 33, NWS Huntsville, AL

July 31, 2013Cullman County, Alabama

NWS Huntsville, AL issued this flash flood warning at Jul 31, 2013, 11:50 PM CDT for Cullman 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 counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 31, 2013, 11:50 PM CDT (04:50 UTC)
Expired
Aug 1, 2013, 2:45 AM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Huntsville, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Cullman County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 107 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:51 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

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 4.8 hours before the alert went out and 235 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 00:00Z on 2013-08-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 557 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 00:00Z on 2013-08-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 88 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
557 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-49 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
777 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
88 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
105 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Huntsville, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jul 31, 9:26 PM CDT, 2 hours 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 31, 9:26 PM CDT, 2 hours 24 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
926 PM CDT WED JUL 31 2013

.UPDATE...
TO ADJUST THUNDERSTORM, TEMPERATURE, SKY COVER, AND QPF FORECAST.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH A PRE-FRONTAL TROUGH AHEAD
OF THE MAIN SFC COLD FRONT HAVE MOVED OFF TO THE SE. THE PRE-FRONTAL
TROUGH CURRENTLY LOCATED OVER CENTRAL TN WILL SLOWLY TRAVERSE THE TN
VALLEY DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. THOUGH MUCH OF THE PREVAILING
ENVIRONMENT HAS BEEN STABILIZED BY EARLIER CONVECTION (THAT HAS
ALREADY PASSED TO THE SOUTH OVER CENTRAL AL), SOME ELEVATED
INSTABILITY STILL EXISTS. GIVEN THAT, STILL EXPECTING SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY TO DEVELOP DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS, AND HAVE
TAPERED OFF THE PREVAILING LIKELY POPS EXCEPT WHERE ONGOING
CONVECTION EXISTS OVER DEKALB COUNTY.

TEMPERATURES ARE FALLING OFF SLOWER (OR QUICKER OVER SOME AREAS)
THAN ORIGINALLY FORECAST. THUS, MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE FORECAST FOR
THE MORNING LOWS. FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE TO THE DEWPOINTS AND
TO SKY COVER BASED ON THE HEAVILY SATURATED SFC LAYER AND PREVAILING
SATELLITE/MODEL TRENDS WITH THE SKY COVER.

OTHERWISE, MADE TWEAKS TO THE QPF TO REFLECT THE CHANGES TO THE
THUNDERSTORM FORECAST.

SL.77

&&

.AVIATION...
/ISSUED 617 PM CDT WED JUL 31 2013/
FOR 00Z TAFS...
VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ACROSS N AL/S MIDDLE TN IN
BETWEEN SHRA/TSRA THAT ARE MOVING ACROSS THE AREA AHEAD OF A WEAK SFC
BOUNDARY OVER CENTRAL TN. WITHIN ANY OF THE SHRA/TSRA, CONDITIONS
ARE EXPECTED TO DROP OFF TO MVFR AND POSSIBLY LOWER BTWN 00-03Z. ONCE
THESE STORMS CLEAR THE REGION AFTER 03-04Z, FOG FORMATION IS
POSSIBLE, BUT THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT A LOW STRATUS MAY DEVELOP
BTWN 08-14Z. THUS, HAVE RETAINED A DROP TO MVFR FOR KMSL AND LOW END
VFR FOR KHSV. VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD THEN PREVAIL FOR THE REST OF THE
PERIOD.

SL.77

&&

.HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...NONE.
TN...NONE.
&&

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE
AT WEATHER.GOV/HUNTSVILLE.
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 31, 7:20 PM CDT, 4 hours 30 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
720 PM CDT WED JUL 31 2013

ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-011000-
LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN-
MARSHALL-JACKSON-DEKALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN-
720 PM CDT WED JUL 31 2013

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS
OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT...

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TONIGHT
AHEAD OF A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY AS IT APPROACHES THE REGION. THERE
IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS...AND HEAVY RAINFALL.
STREET FLOODING AND PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS IS POSSIBLE
WITH ANY OF THESE STORMS...ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE
AREAS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...

ISOLATED SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL END BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON...AS THE
COLD FRONT MOVES SOUTHEAST OF THE AREA.

CLUSTERS OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL RETURN TO THE REGION LATE IN THE
WEEKEND THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK AS A NORTHWEST FLOW PATTERN ALOFT
INTERACTS WITH A NEARLY STATIONARY FRONTAL BOUNDARY. THE MAIN HAZARDS
WILL BE GUSTY WINDS...HEAVY RAINFALL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS
NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 31, 7:16 PM CDT, 4 hours 34 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 31, 7:40 PM CDT, 4 hours 10 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
740 PM CDT WED JUL 31 2013

ALZ006-008>010-010130-
MARSHALL AL-MADISON AL-DE KALB AL-JACKSON AL-
740 PM CDT WED JUL 31 2013

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN MARSHALL...SOUTHEASTERN
MADISON...WEST CENTRAL DE KALB AND SOUTHWESTERN JACKSON COUNTIES
UNTIL 830 PM CDT...

AT 737 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED AN
AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS NEAR NEW HOPE...OR 11 MILES NORTH OF
GUNTERSVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PEAS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
NEW HOPE...OWENS CROSSROADS...GURLEY...WOODVILLE...GRANT...LANGSTON
AND PAINT ROCK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINFALL OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS MAY LEAD TO MINOR
FLOODING ON ROADS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE
THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.

&&

LAT...LON 3463 8656 3474 8639 3449 8598 3430 8610
      3444 8650
TIME...MOT...LOC 0037Z 321DEG 26KT 3451 8634

TT
Special weather statement, Jul 31, 8:05 PM CDT, 3 hours 45 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
805 PM CDT WED JUL 31 2013

ALZ002-003-010145-
COLBERT AL-FRANKLIN AL-
805 PM CDT WED JUL 31 2013

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN COLBERT AND FRANKLIN
COUNTIES UNTIL 845 PM CDT...

AT 804 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED AN
AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CHEROKEE...OR 11
MILES WEST OF TUSCUMBIA...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PEAS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
RUSSELLVILLE...PHIL CAMPBELL AND LITTLEVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINFALL OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS MAY LEAD TO MINOR
FLOODING ON ROADS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE
THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.

&&

LAT...LON 3476 8786 3473 8782 3473 8777 3460 8759
      3432 8753 3433 8800 3468 8802
TIME...MOT...LOC 0102Z 328DEG 26KT 3467 8789

TT
Special weather statement, Jul 31, 9:00 PM CDT, 2 hours 50 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
900 PM CDT WED JUL 31 2013

ALZ010-010245-
DE KALB AL-
900 PM CDT WED JUL 31 2013

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN DE KALB COUNTY UNTIL 945
PM CDT...

AT 900 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED AN
ARAE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS NEAR FORT PAYNE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT
30 MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PEAS...WIND GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH AND FREQUENT
LIGHTNING WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
FORT PAYNE...COLLINSVILLE...PINE RIDGE AND LAKEVIEW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINFALL OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS MAY LEAD TO MINOR
FLOODING ON ROADS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE
THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.

&&

LAT...LON 3447 8558 3444 8558 3441 8561 3437 8563
      3436 8566 3426 8577 3426 8581 3424 8581
      3424 8584 3422 8585 3422 8598 3441 8600
      3449 8559 3448 8557
TIME...MOT...LOC 0157Z 263DEG 30KT 3438 8573

TT
Special weather statement, Jul 31, 11:18 PM CDT, 32 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1118 PM CDT WED JUL 31 2013

ALZ007-016-010500-
CULLMAN AL-MORGAN AL-
1118 PM CDT WED JUL 31 2013

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN CULLMAN AND MORGAN
COUNTIES UNTIL 1200 AM CDT...

AT 1112 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS NEAR FALKVILLE...OR 9 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF HARTSELLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE
WITH THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HARTSELLE...FALKVILLE...BAILEYTON...HOLLY POND...FAIRVIEW...EVA...
SOUTH VINEMONT AND SOMERVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINFALL OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM MAY LEAD TO MINOR FLOODING
ON ROADS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH
FLOODED ROADWAYS.

&&

LAT...LON 3440 8700 3452 8683 3435 8658 3431 8658
      3430 8650 3426 8645 3425 8652 3420 8655
      3419 8655 3412 8660 3412 8663 3409 8666
      3408 8669 3409 8669 3408 8670 3405 8668
      3406 8670 3403 8670 3403 8673
TIME...MOT...LOC 0412Z 321DEG 12KT 3435 8680

SL.77
Special weather statement, Jul 31, 11:25 PM CDT, 25 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1125 PM CDT WED JUL 31 2013

ALZ016-010515-
CULLMAN AL-
1125 PM CDT WED JUL 31 2013

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN CULLMAN COUNTY UNTIL
1215 AM CDT...

AT 1120 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GOOD HOPE...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 30
MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
COLONY...BREMEN...ARKADELPHIA...AND WELBURN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINFALL OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM MAY LEAD TO MINOR FLOODING
ON ROADS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH
FLOODED ROADWAYS.

&&

LAT...LON 3389 8701 3390 8710 3392 8708 3399 8715
      3399 8711 3412 8711 3416 8705 3396 8679
      3396 8682 3394 8682 3395 8685 3393 8686
      3394 8688 3392 8689 3391 8692 3387 8692
      3386 8696 3386 8699
TIME...MOT...LOC 0420Z 321DEG 12KT 3400 8703

SL.77

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 31, 7:06 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNMarshall39 min
Jul 31, 7:13 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNMadison47 min
Jul 31, 7:16 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNColbert44 min
Jul 31, 7:40 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNMarshall50 min
Jul 31, 8:05 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNColbert, Franklin40 min
Jul 31, 9:00 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNDeKalb45 min
Jul 31, 11:18 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNMorgan42 min
Jul 31, 11:25 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHUNCullman50 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.