Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Watches in 2016

Flash Flood Watch 2, NWS Birmingham, AL

February 23, 201635 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood watch at Feb 23, 2016, 3:05 AM CST for 35 counties in Alabama. It took effect at Feb 23, 2016, 3:00 PM CST. It was in force for 8 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Feb 23, 2016, 3:05 AM CST (09:05 UTC)
In effect from
Feb 23, 2016, 3:00 PM CST
Expired
Feb 23, 2016, 11:08 PM CST
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Flood severity
None
All 35 counties

Autauga County, AL, Bibb County, AL, Blount County, AL, Calhoun County, AL, Chambers County, AL, Cherokee County, AL, Chilton County, AL, Clay County, AL, Cleburne County, AL, Coosa County, AL, Dallas County, AL, Elmore County, AL, Etowah County, AL, Fayette County, AL, Greene County, AL, Hale County, AL, Jefferson County, AL, Lamar County, AL, Lee County, AL, Lowndes County, AL, Macon County, AL, Marengo County, AL, Marion County, AL, Montgomery County, AL, Perry County, AL, Pickens County, AL, Randolph County, AL, Shelby County, AL, St. Clair County, AL, Sumter County, AL, Talladega County, AL, Tallapoosa County, AL, Tuscaloosa County, AL, Walker County, AL, Winston County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 6 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:07 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

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 7 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 2016-02-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 52 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 00:00Z on 2016-02-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 152 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
52 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-14 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
598 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
152 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
172 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

459 
WGUS64 KBMX 230905
FFABMX

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
305 AM CST TUE FEB 23 2016

...HEAVY RAINS MAY PRODUCE FLOODING ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA...

.SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA
THROUGH WEDNESDAY WITH THE MOST WIDESPREAD RAINFALL FALLING
TONIGHT. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1-2 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER
AMOUNTS FALLING ON SATURATED SOILS WILL RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL
FOR FLASH FLOODING.

ALZ011>015-017>045-047-232200-
/O.NEW.KBMX.FF.A.0002.160223T2100Z-160224T2100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
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-LEE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HAMILTON...SULLIGENT...VERNON...
FAYETTE...DOUBLE SPRINGS...JASPER...ONEONTA...GADSDEN...
ANNISTON...CENTRE...HEFLIN...CARROLLTON...TUSCALOOSA...
BIRMINGHAM...HOOVER...COLUMBIANA...PELHAM...ALABASTER...
PELL CITY...MOODY...TALLADEGA...SYLACAUGA...ASHLAND...ROANOKE...
LIVINGSTON...EUTAW...GREENSBORO...MOUNDVILLE...MARION...
CENTREVILLE...CLANTON...ROCKFORD...ALEXANDER CITY...DADEVILLE...
VALLEY...LANETT...LAFAYETTE...DEMOPOLIS...LINDEN...SELMA...
PRATTVILLE...FORT DEPOSIT...HAYNEVILLE...WETUMPKA...TALLASSEE...
MONTGOMERY...TUSKEGEE...AUBURN...OPELIKA
305 AM CST TUE FEB 23 2016

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...EAST 
  CENTRAL ALABAMA...NORTHEAST ALABAMA...NORTHWEST ALABAMA AND 
  WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS...IN 
  CENTRAL ALABAMA...AUTAUGA...BIBB...BLOUNT...CHILTON...COOSA... 
  DALLAS...ELMORE...JEFFERSON...LOWNDES...MONTGOMERY...PERRY... 
  SHELBY...ST. CLAIR...TALLADEGA AND WALKER. IN EAST CENTRAL 
  ALABAMA...CALHOUN...CHAMBERS...CLAY...CLEBURNE...LEE...MACON...
   RANDOLPH AND TALLAPOOSA. IN NORTHEAST ALABAMA...CHEROKEE AND 
  ETOWAH. IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA...MARION AND WINSTON. IN WEST 
  CENTRAL ALABAMA...FAYETTE...GREENE...HALE...LAMAR...MARENGO... 
  PICKENS...SUMTER AND TUSCALOOSA. 

* FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

* SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH
  WEDNESDAY WITH RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1-2 INCHES AND ISOLATED
  HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE.

* SATURATED SOILS FROM RAINFALL YESTERDAY ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL
  RAINFALL MAY CAUSE FLASH FLOODING OF AREA ROADWAYS...LOW LYING
  AREAS...AND URBAN SMALL STREAMS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
992 
WGUS64 KBMX 232132
FFABMX

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
332 PM CST TUE FEB 23 2016

...HEAVY RAINS MAY PRODUCE FLOODING ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA...

.SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA
THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING...WITH THE HEAVIER RAINFALL FALLING
TONIGHT. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1-2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE WITH LOCALLY
HIGHER AMOUNTS. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING DUE TO THE
ALREADY SATURATED SOIL CONDITIONS.

ALZ011>015-017>045-047-240615-
/O.CON.KBMX.FF.A.0002.000000T0000Z-160224T2100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
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-LEE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HAMILTON...SULLIGENT...VERNON...
FAYETTE...DOUBLE SPRINGS...JASPER...ONEONTA...GADSDEN...
ANNISTON...CENTRE...HEFLIN...CARROLLTON...TUSCALOOSA...
BIRMINGHAM...HOOVER...COLUMBIANA...PELHAM...ALABASTER...
PELL CITY...MOODY...TALLADEGA...SYLACAUGA...ASHLAND...ROANOKE...
LIVINGSTON...EUTAW...GREENSBORO...MOUNDVILLE...MARION...
CENTREVILLE...CLANTON...ROCKFORD...ALEXANDER CITY...DADEVILLE...
VALLEY...LANETT...LAFAYETTE...DEMOPOLIS...LINDEN...SELMA...
PRATTVILLE...FORT DEPOSIT...HAYNEVILLE...WETUMPKA...TALLASSEE...
MONTGOMERY...TUSKEGEE...AUBURN...OPELIKA
332 PM CST TUE FEB 23 2016

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...NORTHEAST 
  ALABAMA...NORTHWEST ALABAMA AND WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA... 
  INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS...IN CENTRAL ALABAMA...AUTAUGA...
   BIBB...BLOUNT...CHILTON...COOSA...DALLAS...ELMORE... 
  JEFFERSON...LOWNDES...MONTGOMERY...PERRY...SHELBY...ST. 
  CLAIR...TALLADEGA AND WALKER. IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA... 
  CALHOUN...CHAMBERS...CLAY...CLEBURNE...LEE...MACON...RANDOLPH 
  AND TALLAPOOSA. IN NORTHEAST ALABAMA...CHEROKEE AND ETOWAH. IN 
  NORTHWEST ALABAMA...MARION AND WINSTON. IN WEST CENTRAL 
  ALABAMA...FAYETTE...GREENE...HALE...LAMAR...MARENGO... 
  PICKENS...SUMTER AND TUSCALOOSA. 

* THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

* SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH
  WEDNESDAY MORNING WITH RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1-2 INCHES POSSIBLE
  OVER THE WATCH AREA. ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE.

* SATURATED SOILS FROM RAINFALL DURING THE PAST DAY OR TWO ALONG
  WITH ADDITIONAL RAINFALL MAY CAUSE FLASH FLOODING OF AREA
  ROADWAYS...LOW LYING AREAS...AND URBAN SMALL STREAMS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

&&

$$
740 
WGUS64 KBMX 240508
FFABMX

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1108 PM CST TUE FEB 23 2016

...WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL HAS ENDED...

.MODERATE RAINFALL...AND LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINFALL...WILL CONTINUE
OVERNIGHT. ANY ADDITIONAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATION IS NOT EXPECTED
TO CAUSE WIDESPREAD FLASH FLOOD IMPACTS.

ALZ011>015-017>045-047-240615-
/O.CAN.KBMX.FF.A.0002.000000T0000Z-160224T2100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
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-LEE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HAMILTON...SULLIGENT...VERNON...
FAYETTE...DOUBLE SPRINGS...JASPER...ONEONTA...GADSDEN...
ANNISTON...CENTRE...HEFLIN...CARROLLTON...TUSCALOOSA...
BIRMINGHAM...HOOVER...COLUMBIANA...PELHAM...ALABASTER...
PELL CITY...MOODY...TALLADEGA...SYLACAUGA...ASHLAND...ROANOKE...
LIVINGSTON...EUTAW...GREENSBORO...MOUNDVILLE...MARION...
CENTREVILLE...CLANTON...ROCKFORD...ALEXANDER CITY...DADEVILLE...
VALLEY...LANETT...LAFAYETTE...DEMOPOLIS...LINDEN...SELMA...
PRATTVILLE...FORT DEPOSIT...HAYNEVILLE...WETUMPKA...TALLASSEE...
MONTGOMERY...TUSKEGEE...AUBURN...OPELIKA
1108 PM CST TUE FEB 23 2016

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA...EAST
CENTRAL ALABAMA...NORTHEAST ALABAMA...NORTHWEST ALABAMA AND WEST
CENTRAL ALABAMA HAS BEEN CANCELLED. WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL HAS
ENDED. 

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 22, 8:37 PM CSTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter4 days
Feb 22, 8:41 PM CSTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo5 days
Feb 22, 8:50 PM CSTRiver Flood WarningBMXSumter4 days
Feb 23, 3:17 AM CSTWind AdvisoryBMXAutauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more42 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Watches in Alabama, 2016Every flash flood watch in 2016

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.