Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2018

Flash Flood Warning 19, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 30, 2018Coosa County, Tallapoosa County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood warning at May 30, 2018, 8:30 AM CDT for Coosa County, Tallapoosa County, Alabama. It was in force for 4 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: May 30, 2018, 8:30 AM CDT (13:30 UTC)
Expired: May 30, 2018, 12:30 PM CDT
In force: 4 hr
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Coosa County, AL, Tallapoosa County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 57 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 13:33 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 1.5 hours before the alert went out and 168 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: 10 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -173 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 931 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 18 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 33 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 47 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

280 
WGUS54 KBMX 301330
FFWBMX
ALC037-123-301730-
/O.NEW.KBMX.FF.W.0019.180530T1330Z-180530T1730Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
830 AM CDT WED MAY 30 2018

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northern Tallapoosa County in east central Alabama...
  Coosa County in east central Alabama...

* Until 1230 PM CDT.

* At 829 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rains moving into Coosa and Tallapoosa Counties. Flash 
  flooding is expected to begin shortly.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
  Alexander City, Goodwater, Rockford, Kellyton, Weogufka, Equality, 
  Stewartville, Jacksons Gap, New Site, Goldville, Hanover, Lyle, 
  Pentonville, Dollar, Bradford, Cottage Grove, Strickland 
  Crossroads, Bentleyville, Marble Valley and Moriah.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Please report flooding to your local law enforcement agency when you
can do so safely.

A Flash Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring.
If you are in the warned area move to higher ground immediately.
Residents living along streams and creeks should take immediate
precautions to protect life and property.

&&

LAT...LON 3275 8599 3275 8632 3277 8632 3277 8634
      3275 8635 3276 8639 3282 8646 3286 8645
      3287 8648 3293 8651 3306 8652 3307 8651
      3309 8651 3310 8649 3311 8601 3309 8601
      3309 8598 3311 8597 3311 8559 3301 8559

$$

56

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 Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at May 30, 5:21 AM CDT, 3 hours 9 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 30, 5:21 AM CDT, 3 hours 9 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
521 AM CDT Wed May 30 2018

.UPDATE...
For Flash Flood Watch at the bottom.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
Today through Thursday Night.

This AM, shortwaves rotating around the upper low situated over
KY/TN and what is left of Alberto have generated copious amounts of
rainfall with a large swath of showers and thunderstorms across
Central Alabama. We have decent southerly low level flow still
feeding in moisture off of the Gulf of Mexico along with dew points
generally in the lower 70s. What is left of the upper feature
associated with Alberto is expected to be pulled to the north
tonight and be absorbed into the main upper trough over the Northern
Plains into the Great Lakes. So, we should see less rain coverage
for tonight, but some scattered shower and thunderstorm activity is
still possible, generally across the north.

For Thursday, more upper shortwaves, with activity peaking during
the heat of the afternoon will allow for more thunderstorms. Also, a
front will move eastward out of the Upper Mississippi River Valley
and the Central Plains toward KY/TN. The front itself will likely
get hung up across there with an unfavorable upper flow to push it
through Alabama. However, with daytime heating, decent CAPE, still
elevated dew points, upper shortwaves, and outflow boundaries
possible from storms closer to the front, we could see a few strong
storms on Thursday afternoon across some of our northern counties.
The main energy decreases significantly after sunset, so would
suspect a decrease in coverage Thursday evening as a result.

08

.LONG TERM...
Friday through Thursday.

Overall the pattern has not changed much for the weekend and the
first of next week. A northwest upper flow pattern will develop east
of the Mississippi River Friday and remain through the weekend. This
pattern this time of year favors MCS development and the threat of
damaging straight-line winds. Warm and moist air on the eastern side
of the upper ridge will advect into Central Alabama Friday and
Saturday. A more significant short wave will slide through on Sunday
and shows a pretty good amount of storms developing along the
boundary. The GFS and ECMWF models are showing surface based CAPE
values Friday through Sunday afternoons between 3000 and 4000
J/kg. Will add a low confidence severe for Sunday and continue the
threat for Friday and Saturday as well. One caveat to all of this
will be to what extent does the previous days convection, or any
convection that develops overnight, impact the rain chances during
the day. This all depends on the exact timing of each minor
shortwave and other mesoscale features that will be determined as
we get closer to the days of concern. The upper ridge will likely
expand farther eastward by early next week and result in less
convective activity across central Alabama.

16

&&

.AVIATION...
06Z TAF Discussion.

Wrap around bands now moving through southern and eastern portions
of Central Alabama. Mainly seeing rain with the activity near ANB
and ASN, while thunderstorms are prevalent near MGM. Look for the
conglomeration to continue slide east and north through the night.
Unsure if the thunderstorms will hold together by the time it
works into ANB and ASN. Will re-evaluate closer to 9Z and see if
TSRA needs to be added here. May see a break in the activity this
morning then redevelopment this afternoon. A few of the short
term models are then bringing in a third wave across the north and
west and the very tail end of the forecast cycle. More on that in
the next discussion and set of TAFS.

16

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

A moist pattern is expected through at least midweek, with a drier
and warmer trend for Thursday through the weekend. A northwest
flow for the end of period may result in scattered showers during
the evening and morning hours. Patchy fog and low clouds will be
possible tomorrow morning and again Thursday morning. No fire
weather concerns at this time.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Gadsden     83  69  85  70  88 /  70  50  60  20  60
Anniston    83  70  86  71  89 /  80  40  60  20  60
Birmingham  85  71  88  73  90 /  70  40  40  20  60
Tuscaloosa  88  72  90  73  93 /  60  30  30  10  40
Calera      85  70  87  72  90 /  60  40  40  20  60
Auburn      82  70  85  71  88 /  70  30  50  20  40
Montgomery  87  71  89  72  91 /  70  20  40  10  30
Troy        85  70  88  71  90 /  70  20  40  10  30

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES/...
Flash Flood Watch through this evening for the following
counties: Autauga...Bibb...Blount...Calhoun...Chambers...
Cherokee...Chilton...Clay...Cleburne...Coosa...Elmore...Etowah...
Greene...Hale...Jefferson...Lee...Perry...Randolph...Shelby...
St. Clair...Talladega...Tallapoosa...Tuscaloosa.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, May 30, 4:46 AM CDT, 3 hours 44 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
446 AM CDT Wed May 30 2018

ALZ011>015-017>050-311300-
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-
446 AM CDT Wed May 30 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the
National Weather Service office in Birmingham.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Areas of showers and thunderstorms are expected again today. Due to
recent heavy rains, isolated locations may experience some flooding,
especially where the grounds are already saturated or are prone to
flooding.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

A pattern favorable for organized convective systems will develop
across Alabama. There is a low confidence for damaging straight line
winds on Thursday afternoon across the north. Damaging winds are
also possible across Central Alabama on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Heavy rain will continue to be possible with this activity which
could cause localized flooding due to saturated grounds and flood
prone areas.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Activation of storm spotters and emergency management may be
necessary Thursday through Sunday.

08

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 30, 5:08 AM CDT, 3 hours 22 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
508 AM CDT WED MAY 30 2018

ALZ025-034-301100-
Bibb AL-Shelby AL-
508 AM CDT WED MAY 30 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN SHELBY AND BIBB
COUNTIES UNTIL 600 AM CDT...

At 507 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Tannehill Ironworks State Park to near
Centreville to Mertz. Movement was east at 15 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Alabaster, Montevallo, Brent, Centreville, Vance, Woodstock, West
Blocton, Wilton, West Centreville, Maylene, Ashby, Brierfield
Ironworks Park, Low Gap, Mertz, Eoline, North Bibb, University Of
Montevallo, Six Mile, Bibb County Airport and Siluria.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3300 8741 3301 8732 3309 8731 3311 8730
      3313 8727 3313 8720 3319 8720 3324 8713
      3322 8710 3325 8708 3325 8698 3327 8697
      3327 8695 3324 8681 3302 8690 3284 8719
      3285 8732 3287 8732 3288 8742 3299 8742
TIME...MOT...LOC 1007Z 267DEG 12KT 3324 8702 3300 8716 3290 8739

32/Davis

Special weather statement, May 30, 5:19 AM CDT, 3 hours 11 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
519 AM CDT WED MAY 30 2018

ALZ031-032-301100-
Greene AL-Hale AL-
519 AM CDT WED MAY 30 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN GREENE AND HALE COUNTIES
UNTIL 600 AM CDT...

At 519 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Union to near Eutaw to Tishabee. Movement
was east at 30 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Eutaw, Greensboro, Moundville, Forkland, Akron, Union, Walden
Quarters, Thornhill, Wedgeworth, Tishabee, Greensboro Municipal
Airport, Duffys Bend, Sawyerville, Knoxville, Evansville, Snoddy,
Moundville Airport, Eutaw Municipal Airport, Mound State Park and
Elliots Creek.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3280 8793 3304 8794 3304 8783 3302 8783
      3302 8777 3301 8771 3300 8748 3286 8748
      3257 8766 3259 8789 3260 8790 3261 8787
      3260 8786 3260 8784 3262 8786 3262 8791
      3263 8792 3260 8801 3260 8806
TIME...MOT...LOC 1019Z 262DEG 25KT 3302 8786 3282 8786 3266 8798

32/Davis

Special weather statement, May 30, 6:27 AM CDT, 2 hours 3 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
627 AM CDT WED MAY 30 2018

ALZ033-301200-
Perry AL-
627 AM CDT WED MAY 30 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN PERRY COUNTY UNTIL 700
AM CDT...

At 627 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Heiberger, or 7 miles north of Marion, moving northeast at 15 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Marion, Heiberger, Oakmulgee, Judson College, Morgan Springs, Sprott,
Folsom and Ellards.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3283 8727 3284 8703 3272 8702 3269 8703
      3267 8703 3261 8746 3277 8747
TIME...MOT...LOC 1127Z 244DEG 13KT 3273 8736

56

Special weather statement, May 30, 7:24 AM CDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
724 AM CDT WED MAY 30 2018

ALZ031-301300-
Greene AL-
724 AM CDT WED MAY 30 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL GREENE COUNTY UNTIL 800
AM CDT...

At 723 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Boligee, or 12 miles northeast of Livingston, moving east at 15 mph.

Pea size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.

Locations impacted include...
Eutaw, Forkland, Boligee, Epes, Thornhill, Allison, Walden Quarters,
Tishabee, Five Points Intersection, I 20 Rest Area Near Eutaw and
Eutaw Municipal Airport.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and is falling
over saturated grounds and may lead to significant flash flooding.
Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3292 8785 3280 8782 3276 8787 3277 8783
      3274 8780 3273 8783 3271 8783 3272 8780
      3265 8778 3263 8808 3264 8806 3269 8804
      3269 8812 3272 8808 3277 8811 3277 8808
      3279 8806 3281 8807 3280 8810 3283 8812
TIME...MOT...LOC 1223Z 256DEG 14KT 3274 8807

05

Local storm report, May 30, 8:23 AM CDT, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
823 AM CDT WED MAY 30 2018

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

0810 AM     FLASH FLOOD      EUTAW                   32.84N 87.89W
05/30/2018                   GREENE             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FLOODING HAS CAUSED EVACUATIONS OF AN
            APARTMENT COMPLEX.

&&

Local storm report, May 30, 8:29 AM CDT, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
829 AM CDT WED MAY 30 2018

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

0800 AM     FLASH FLOOD      MARION                  32.63N 87.32W
05/30/2018                   PERRY              AL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SEVERAL STREETS FLOODED IN MARION.

&&

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 29, 7:40 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Dallas, Perry	2 hr
May 29, 8:43 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Tallapoosa	2 hr
May 29, 8:55 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Dallas, Lowndes, Montgomery	2 hr
May 29, 9:46 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Chilton, Dallas, Marengo, Perry	119 min
May 29, 11:41 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Chilton, Dallas	6 hr
May 30, 12:27 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Lowndes	6 hr
May 30, 12:54 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Lowndes	6 hr
May 30, 1:10 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Dallas	6 hr
May 30, 1:37 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Autauga	6 hr
May 30, 1:46 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Coosa, Elmore, Montgomery, Tallapoosa	6 hr
May 30, 2:55 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Elmore, Montgomery, Tallapoosa	6 hr
May 30, 3:18 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene	42 min
May 30, 3:35 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Greene, Pickens, Sumter	3 hr
May 30, 3:48 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tuscaloosa	42 min
May 30, 4:40 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Tuscaloosa	3 hr
May 30, 5:01 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Bibb, Hale, Tuscaloosa	3 hr
May 30, 5:08 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Bibb	52 min
May 30, 5:11 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Jefferson, Shelby	3 hr
May 30, 5:18 AM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	BMX	Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers and 24 more	14 hr
May 30, 5:19 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Hale	41 min
May 30, 6:10 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning Emergency	BMX	Bibb, Chilton, Perry	9 hr
May 30, 6:27 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Perry	33 min
May 30, 6:55 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning Emergency	BMX	Greene, Hale, Sumter	9 hr
May 30, 7:24 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene	36 min
May 30, 7:44 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Elmore, Montgomery, Tallapoosa	6 hr
May 30, 7:51 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Autauga, Dallas, Lowndes, Perry	6 hr
May 30, 10:20 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Perry	55 min
May 30, 12:47 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pike	58 min
May 30, 1:41 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Autauga, Dallas, Lowndes, Perry	109 min
May 30, 3:18 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Perry	3 hr
May 30, 3:23 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Autauga	3 hr
May 30, 3:44 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene	46 min
May 30, 3:54 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lamar	36 min
May 30, 4:05 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Greene	3 hr
May 30, 4:10 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	35 min
May 30, 4:25 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	35 min
May 30, 4:33 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Pickens	42 min
May 30, 4:47 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lamar, Marion	28 min
May 30, 5:00 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	30 min
May 30, 5:36 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Greene	39 min
May 30, 5:57 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	33 min
May 30, 6:39 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette	36 min
May 30, 6:41 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pickens	49 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Alabama, 2018 Every flash flood warning in 2018

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.