Alert archive / Alabama / River Flood Warnings in 2015

River Flood Warning 31, NWS Birmingham, AL

December 25, 2015Jefferson County, Tuscaloosa County, Walker County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this river flood warning at Dec 25, 2015, 10:37 PM CST for Jefferson County, Tuscaloosa County, Walker County, Alabama. It took effect at Dec 26, 2015, 12:21 AM CST. It was in force for 53 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: Dec 25, 2015, 10:37 PM CST (04:37 UTC)
In effect from: Dec 26, 2015, 12:21 AM CST
Expired: Dec 28, 2015, 5:24 AM CST
In force: 53 hr
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: Moderate

Counties Jefferson County, AL, Tuscaloosa County, AL, Walker County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 60 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:41 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 river

Written for the forecast point Black Warrior River at Cordova (CRDA1). The gauge peaked at 23.83 ft at Dec 27, 2015, 9:00 AM CST.

Action stage: 18 ft
Minor stage: 22 ft
Moderate stage: 24 ft
Major stage: 28 ft

This gauge today: stage, forecast and historic crests

Stage from the USGS instantaneous record for site 02453500, one reading an hour, from a day before the product to a day after it ended. Flood stages are today's.

What forecasters said that day

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

NWS Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this river flood warning went out at Dec 25, 6:51 PM CST, 3 hours 46 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 25, 6:51 PM CST, 3 hours 46 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
651 PM CST FRI DEC 25 2015

.UPDATE...
FOR 00Z AVIATION.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

WIDESPREAD FLOODING CONTINUES ACROSS THE NORTHERN THIRD OF THE
STATE...WITH MORE HEAVY RAIN ANTICIPATED THROUGH THE EVENING.  THE
STALLED BOUNDARY CAUSING ALL THE TROUBLE IS JUST NOT WILLING TO LIFT
OUT TO THE NORTH AT THIS POINT.  MOST MODEL GUIDANCE IS LIFTING IT
OUT WAY TOO QUICKLY IN RESPONSE TO THE AMPLIFIED SYSTEM THAT IS SET
TO DIG SOUTHEAST LATER TONIGHT.  MEANWHILE...PW VALUES NEAR TWO
INCHES...70S DEWPOINTS...AND TEMPERATURES SOME 20 TO 30 DEGREES
ABOVE NORMAL KEEP FEEDING THIS MONSTER. INSTABILITY VALUES REMAIN
HIGH...AGGRAVATING THE SITUATION WITH PROLONGED...TRAINING
THUNDERSTORMS.  I WOULD EXPECT SEVERAL MORE INCHES OF RAIN BEFORE
THE DEEP LAYER RIDGING TO OUR SOUTH AND EAST WINS OUT AND THIS
BOUNDARY FINALLY LIFTS OUT TO NORTH.  THE SHEAR HAS CONTINUED TO
DWINDLE OVER TIME...KEEPING THE THREAT OF TORNADOES AND WIDESPREAD
DAMAGING WINDS TO A MINIMUM.

THROUGH THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS...PLEASE REMAIN VIGILANT AND
SEEK HIGHER GROUND.  THIS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. FLOODING KILLS
MORE PEOPLE THAN ANY OTHER SEVERE WEATHER THREAT!  TAKE IT SERIOUSLY
IF YOU LIVE IN ANY AREA NORTH OF INTERSTATE 59!

17/KLAWS

&&

.AVIATION...
00Z TAF DISCUSSION.

ABUNDANT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND ISENTROPIC UPGLIDE SHOULD BRING
CIGS BACK INTO THE IFR CATEGORY OVERNIGHT. CONFIDENCE IS LOW IN
THE VIS FORECAST AS SOME PATCHY DENSE FOG COULD BE POSSIBLE IF
WINDS BECOME LIGHT/CALM. AT THIS TIME...THE BEST CHANCE OF THIS
OCCURRING WOULD BE ACROSS THE SOUTH SO WILL LEAVE A TEMPO IN NEAR
SUNRISE FOR NOW. CIGS MAY STAY IFR FOR MOST OF THE DAY ACROSS THE
NORTH AS WELL.

16

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

THE UNUSUALLY WARM AND WET WEATHER PATTERN WILL CONTINUE ACROSS
CENTRAL ALABAMA THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GADSDEN     66  74  63  73  64 / 100  30  20  30  50
ANNISTON    68  75  64  74  65 / 100  30  20  30  50
BIRMINGHAM  69  76  65  75  67 / 100  30  30  30  50
TUSCALOOSA  70  77  67  76  68 /  90  30  30  30  50
CALERA      68  76  65  75  67 /  70  30  20  20  50
AUBURN      65  75  64  74  66 /  20  20  10  20  40
MONTGOMERY  67  79  63  78  67 /  20  20  20  20  50
TROY        67  79  63  77  67 /  20  10  10  20  40

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES: BIBB...BLOUNT...CALHOUN...CHEROKEE...CLEBURNE...
ETOWAH...FAYETTE...JEFFERSON...LAMAR...MARION...PICKENS...
SHELBY...ST. CLAIR...TALLADEGA...TUSCALOOSA...WALKER...WINSTON.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 25, 1:39 PM CST, 8 hours 58 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
139 PM CST FRI DEC 25 2015

ALZ011>015-017>050-262245-
MARION-LAMAR-FAYETTE-WINSTON-WALKER-BLOUNT-ETOWAH-CALHOUN-CHEROKEE-
CLEBURNE-PICKENS-TUSCALOOSA-JEFFERSON-SHELBY-ST. CLAIR-TALLADEGA-
CLAY-RANDOLPH-SUMTER-GREENE-HALE-PERRY-BIBB-CHILTON-COOSA-TALLAPOOSA-
CHAMBERS-MARENGO-DALLAS-AUTAUGA-LOWNDES-ELMORE-MONTGOMERY-MACON-
BULLOCK-LEE-RUSSELL-PIKE-BARBOUR-
139 PM CST FRI DEC 25 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM.

.DAY ONE...THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT.

FLASH FLOODING WILL REMAIN A CONCERN FOR AREAS NEAR AND NORTH OF A
LINE FROM ALICEVILLE TO ALABASTER TO HEFLIN. RAIN AMOUNTS OF 6 OR
MORE INCHES ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH 9 PM. THESE AMOUNTS WILL PRODUCE
DANGEROUS FLASH FLOODING.

A RIVER FLOODING THREAT ALSO EXISTS ALONG THE TALLAPOOSA AND
ALABAMA RIVER BASINS...WITH SEVERAL LOCATIONS RISING INTO CAUTION
OR FLOOD STAGE.

THUNDERSTORMS IN THE SAME ARE AS THE HEAVIER RAIN MAY BECOME
STRONG TO SEVERE AT TIMES. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE STRAIGHT LINE
WINDS WITH A LESSER HAIL THREAT. THE TORNADO THREAT IS LOW BUT NOT
ZERO.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

RIVER FLOODING WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY ALONG
PORTIONS OF THE ALABAMA AND TALLAPOOSA RIVER BASINS DUE TO RECENT
RAINFALL.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BE
NECESSARY AT TIMES THROUGH 9 PM.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 25, 8:47 PM CST, 1 hour 50 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
847 PM CST FRI DEC 25 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0830 PM     FLASH FLOOD      MAYTOWN                 33.55N 87.00W
12/25/2015                   JEFFERSON          AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            HIGHWAY 269 AT DOUBLE BRIDGES FLOODED.

&&

JH

Local storm report, Dec 25, 8:53 PM CST, 1 hour 44 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
853 PM CST FRI DEC 25 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0819 PM     FLASH FLOOD      5 NW WEISS LAKE         34.27N 85.68W
12/25/2015                   CHEROKEE           AL   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            STATE ROUTE 273 CLOSED AT DANIELS CHAPEL BRIDGE OVER
            LITTLE RIVER. WATER HAS OVERTOPPED BRIDGE.

&&

JH

Local storm report, Dec 25, 8:56 PM CST, 1 hour 41 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
856 PM CST FRI DEC 25 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0843 PM     FLASH FLOOD      ANNISTON                33.66N 85.81W
12/25/2015                   CALHOUN            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            WIDESPREAD FLASH FLOODING REPORTED ACROSS CALHOUN COUNTY.
            NUMEROUS ROADS ARE CLOSED. SEVERAL WATER RESCUES HAVE
            BEEN MADE WITH VEHICLES STRANDED IN HIGH WATER.

&&

JH

Local storm report, Dec 25, 9:42 PM CST, 55 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
942 PM CST FRI DEC 25 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0940 PM     TSTM WND DMG     6 NNE BESSEMER          33.44N 86.91W
12/25/2015                   JEFFERSON          AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            STRUCTURAL DAMAGE NEAR INTERSECTION OF JEFFERSON AVENUE
            SW AND 50TH STREET SOUTHWEST. POSSIBLE TORNADO.

&&

JH

Local storm report, Dec 25, 10:11 PM CST, 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1011 PM CST FRI DEC 25 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0700 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 S GEIGER              32.83N 88.31W
12/25/2015                   SUMTER             AL   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            TWO COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS DAMAGED. ROLL-UP DOOR BLOWN OUT
            OF BUILDING. POWER OUT. ESTIMATED 40-50 MPH WINDS.

&&

JH

Local storm report, Dec 25, 10:14 PM CST, 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1014 PM CST FRI DEC 25 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0518 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 S GEIGER              32.83N 88.31W
12/25/2015                   SUMTER             AL   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            TWO COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS DAMAGED. ROLL-UP DOOR BLOWN OUT
            OF BUILDING. POWER OUT. ESTIMATED 40-50 MPH WINDS.
            CORRECTED TIME - ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

&&

JH

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Dec 25, 6:11 PM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Shelby	10 hr
Dec 25, 6:30 PM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Bibb, Chilton, Greene, Hale, Perry, Shelby and 1 more	12 hr
Dec 25, 7:04 PM CST	Tornado Warning	BMX	Bibb	20 min
Dec 25, 7:14 PM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah, Randolph and 3 more	12 hr
Dec 25, 7:29 PM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Blount, Jefferson, St. Clair, Walker	6 hr
Dec 25, 7:43 PM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Marion, Winston	8 hr
Dec 25, 7:50 PM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Walker	8 hr
Dec 25, 8:21 PM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Chilton, Coosa, Elmore, Shelby, Talladega	10 days
Dec 25, 8:48 PM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker	7 hr
Dec 25, 9:27 PM CST	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Dallas, Hale, Marengo, Perry	6 hr
Dec 25, 9:34 PM CST	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Coosa, Tallapoosa	3 hr
Dec 25, 9:59 PM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson	6 days
Dec 25, 10:27 PM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter, Tuscaloosa	4 days
Dec 25, 10:27 PM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo	9 days
Dec 25, 10:39 PM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker	71 hr
Dec 25, 11:45 PM CST	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Blount	9 hr
Dec 25, 11:56 PM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Marengo, Tuscaloosa	24 hr
Dec 25, 11:59 PM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Tuscaloosa	58 hr
Dec 26, 1:41 AM CST	Dense Fog Advisory	BMX	Barbour, Bullock, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery and 2 more	5 hr
Dec 26, 3:17 AM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Etowah, St. Clair	21 hr
Dec 26, 4:15 AM CST	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Blount, Fayette, Jefferson, Lamar, Marion, Walker and 1 more	12 hr
Dec 26, 4:32 AM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Elmore, Montgomery	26 hr
Dec 26, 5:25 AM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Bibb, Jefferson, Shelby	39 hr
Dec 26, 5:25 AM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Bibb, Dallas, Perry	37 hr
Dec 26, 6:10 AM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Chambers, Elmore, Macon, Randolph, Tallapoosa	25 hr
Dec 26, 7:08 AM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter	6 days
Dec 26, 7:12 AM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter	6 days
Dec 26, 7:12 AM CST	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter	9 days

Nearby

River Flood Warnings in Alabama, 2015 Every river flood warning in 2015

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive; the gauge from the NWS water service and the USGS.