Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2014

Flash Flood Warning 2, NWS Birmingham, AL

April 6, 20144 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood warning at Apr 6, 2014, 11:23 PM CDT for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 6 hr. 10 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: Apr 6, 2014, 11:23 PM CDT (04:23 UTC)
Expired: Apr 7, 2014, 5:30 AM CDT
In force: 6 hr
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Fayette County, AL, Jefferson County, AL, Lamar County, AL, Walker County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 84 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:26 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Apr 7, 2:30 AM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Vernon, AL	SEVERAL ROADWAYS COUNTY WIDE BECAME COVERED WITH WATER AROUND 230 AM AND WERE IMPASSIBLE.
Apr 7, 3:15 AM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	2 Ne Birmingham, AL	FLOODING AT TALLAPOOSA ST AT I-20/59, NEAR VILLAGE CREEK.
Apr 7, 3:15 AM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Tarrant, AL	SPRINGDALE RD DOWN TO ONE LANE DUE TO WATER RISING ABOVE BANK FULL AT VILLAGE CREEK.
Apr 7, 3:45 AM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Birmingham, AL	FIVE MILE RD AT HUFFMAN RD IS BARRICADED. AVE V IN SOUTHPARK IS BARRICADED.
Apr 7, 4:00 AM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Homewood, AL	EVACUATIONS AND WATER RESCUES ONGOING AT LAKESHORE GARDEN APTS. WATER GETTING INTO GROUND FLOOR APTS.
Apr 7, 4:00 AM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Pinson, AL	PORTIONS OF PINSON VALLEY PARKWAY ARE IMPASSABLE DUE TO STREET FLOODING
Apr 7, 4:00 AM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Tarrant, AL	SEVERAL ROADS CLOSED IN TARRANT DUE TO VILLAGE CREEK RISING ABOVE BANK FULL, INCLUDING ALABAMA ST, MISSISSIPPI ST
Apr 7, 4:20 AM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Vestavia Hills, AL	INTERSECTION OF HWY 31 AT COLUMBIANA RD, NEAR I-65 IS IMPASSABLE.
Apr 7, 4:40 AM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Irondale, AL	WATER RESCUES OCCURING ALONG SHADES CREEK IN IRONDALE.
Apr 7, 5:40 AM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Homewood, AL	WATER RESCUES CONTINUE IN HOMEWOOD. REPORTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

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, 4.4 hours before the alert went out and 88 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 630 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 70 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 135 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 634 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.

244 
WGUS54 KBMX 070423
FFWBMX
ALC057-073-075-127-071030-
/O.NEW.KBMX.FF.W.0002.140407T0423Z-140407T1030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1123 PM CDT SUN APR 6 2014

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  FAYETTE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  JEFFERSON COUNTY IN ALABAMA...
  LAMAR COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  WALKER COUNTY IN ALABAMA...

* UNTIL 530 AM CDT MONDAY

* AT 1115 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED  
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL MOVING OVER THE SAME AREAS 
THAT HAVE ALREADY OBSERVED 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAINFALL OVER THE LAST 
48 HOURS. AN ADDITIONAL 2 TO 3 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 
SIX HOURS AS MORE RAINFALL SPREADS NORTHEASTWARD FROM SOUTHERN 
MISSISSIPPI...AND FLASH FLOODING WILL BE LIKELY AS SOILS HAVE BECOME 
COMPLETELY SATURATED.

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...     
  BESSEMER...BIRMINGHAM...CARBON HILL...CORDOVA...FAIRFIELD...
  FAYETTE...FULTONDALE...GARDENDALE..HOMEWOOD...HOOVER...JASPER...
  AND VERNON.

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.

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE 
WARNED AREA.

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.

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.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY
AUTOMOBILE.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3405 8821 3405 8799 3392 8793 3391 8764
      3400 8764 3401 8717 3390 8709 3390 8710
      3382 8695 3384 8676 3376 8655 3352 8652
      3325 8706 3346 8733 3351 8726 3360 8738
      3361 8763 3353 8766 3352 8773 3353 8827

$$

56

2 follow-up statements

791 
WGUS74 KBMX 070610
FFSBMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
110 AM CDT MON APR 7 2014

ALC057-073-075-127-071030-
/O.CON.KBMX.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-140407T1030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
FAYETTE AL-JEFFERSON AL-LAMAR AL-WALKER AL-
110 AM CDT MON APR 7 2014

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 AM CDT FOR
WALKER...LAMAR...JEFFERSON AND FAYETTE COUNTIES...

AT 109 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING OVER THE WARNED 
AREA. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ROCKY
HOLLOW...LYNNS PARK...LAMAR COUNTY AIRPORT...CURRY...CREWS...BLUFF...
BLOOMING GROVE...BELOIT...BEDFORD...WARRIOR...VERNON...TRAFFORD...
SUMITON...SULLIGENT...SIPSEY...NAUVOO...MORRIS...KIMBERLY...KANSAS...
JASPER...ELDRIDGE...DETROIT...CORDOVA...CARBON HILL AND BEAVERTON

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.

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE 
WARNED  AREA.

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

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY
AUTOMOBILE.

&&

LAT...LON 3405 8821 3405 8799 3392 8793 3391 8764
      3400 8764 3401 8717 3390 8709 3390 8710
      3382 8695 3384 8676 3376 8655 3352 8652
      3325 8706 3346 8733 3351 8726 3360 8738
      3361 8763 3353 8766 3352 8773 3353 8827

$$

87/GRANTHAM

036 
WGUS74 KBMX 070756
FFSBMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
256 AM CDT MON APR 7 2014

ALC057-073-075-127-071030-
/O.CON.KBMX.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-140407T1030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
FAYETTE AL-JEFFERSON AL-LAMAR AL-WALKER AL-
256 AM CDT MON APR 7 2014

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 AM CDT FOR
WALKER...LAMAR...JEFFERSON AND FAYETTE COUNTIES...

AT 255 AM CDT...FLASH FLOODING WAS OCCURRING IN DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM 
ALONG WITH HIGH WATER RESCUES. THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO 
PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING OVER THE WARNED AREA.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ROCKY
HOLLOW...LYNNS PARK...LAMAR COUNTY AIRPORT...CURRY...CREWS...BLUFF...
BLOOMING GROVE...BELOIT...BEDFORD...WARRIOR...VERNON...TRAFFORD...
SUMITON...SULLIGENT...SIPSEY...NAUVOO...MORRIS...KIMBERLY...KANSAS...
JASPER...ELDRIDGE...DETROIT...CORDOVA...CARBON HILL AND BEAVERTON

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.

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED 
AREA.

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

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY
AUTOMOBILE.

&&

LAT...LON 3405 8821 3405 8799 3392 8793 3391 8764
      3400 8764 3401 8717 3390 8709 3390 8710
      3382 8695 3384 8676 3376 8655 3352 8652
      3325 8706 3346 8733 3351 8726 3360 8738
      3361 8763 3353 8766 3352 8773 3353 8827

$$

87/GRANTHAM

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 6, 7:38 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Montgomery	52 min
Apr 6, 8:30 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	45 min
Apr 6, 8:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pickens	48 min
Apr 6, 9:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	53 min
Apr 6, 9:51 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Jefferson	39 min
Apr 6, 10:31 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa	6 hr
Apr 6, 10:52 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Blount, Jefferson	38 min
Apr 7, 12:58 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Bibb, Calhoun, Hale, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega	6 hr
Apr 7, 1:59 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Blount, Cherokee, Etowah	6 hr
Apr 7, 2:27 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson	21 hr
Apr 7, 2:36 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson	15 hr
Apr 7, 3:01 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Bibb, Perry	29 min
Apr 7, 3:13 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Dallas	32 min
Apr 7, 3:25 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Clay, Cleburne, Randolph	6 hr
Apr 7, 4:29 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning Emergency	BMX	Bibb, Jefferson, Shelby	3 hr
Apr 7, 5:07 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lowndes	38 min
Apr 7, 5:24 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Chilton, Coosa, Tallapoosa	111 min
Apr 7, 5:30 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Montgomery	45 min
Apr 7, 6:48 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Tuscaloosa	28 hr
Apr 7, 7:21 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Barbour, Bullock, Chambers, Dallas, Elmore, Lee and 5 more	3 hr
Apr 7, 7:22 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Coosa, Tallapoosa	3 hr
Apr 7, 7:31 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah and 3 more	3 hr
Apr 7, 7:36 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pike	39 min
Apr 7, 7:41 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Bullock, Chambers, Lee, Macon, Montgomery	3 hr
Apr 7, 7:53 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Lamar	24 hr
Apr 7, 7:54 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Bibb, Fayette, Jefferson, Pickens, Shelby, Tuscaloosa and 1 more	7 hr
Apr 7, 8:09 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Barbour, Bullock, Macon	66 min
Apr 7, 8:26 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Chilton, Coosa, Elmore, Shelby, Talladega	50 hr
Apr 7, 8:31 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chilton, Dallas, Elmore, Lowndes	6 hr
Apr 7, 8:32 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Lee, Russell	58 min
Apr 7, 8:38 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Barbour	52 min
Apr 7, 9:00 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Chambers, Elmore, Macon, Randolph, Tallapoosa	71 hr
Apr 7, 9:14 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter, Tuscaloosa	65 hr
Apr 7, 10:13 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Autauga, Dallas, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery	5 days
Apr 7, 10:13 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Autauga, Dallas, Lowndes	4 days
Apr 7, 10:13 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Dallas	4 days
Apr 7, 10:28 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Dallas, Perry	5 days
Apr 7, 10:31 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Elmore, Montgomery	4 days
Apr 7, 11:22 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Clay, Coosa, Etowah and 4 more	4 hr
Apr 7, 11:27 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Barbour, Bullock, Lee, Macon, Montgomery, Pike and 2 more	4 hr
Apr 7, 2:47 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker	44 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Alabama, 2014 Every flash flood warning in 2014

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.