Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 14, NWS Birmingham, AL

March 31, 2021Etowah County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood warning at Mar 31, 2021, 10:56 AM CDT for Etowah 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 outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Mar 31, 2021, 10:56 AM CDT (15:56 UTC)
Expired: Mar 31, 2021, 2:01 PM CDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

County Etowah County, AL

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 108 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:57 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 12:00Z, 3.9 hours before the alert went out and 108 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: 455 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -3 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 527 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 273 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 283 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.6
Supercell composite: 3.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

575 
WGUS54 KBMX 311556
FFWBMX
ALC055-311715-
/O.NEW.KBMX.FF.W.0014.210331T1556Z-210331T1715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1056 AM CDT Wed Mar 31 2021

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Etowah County in northeastern Alabama...

* Until 1215 PM CDT.

* At 1056 AM CDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated 
  thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Flash 
  flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Doppler radar and automated gauges.

  IMPACT...Flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
           highways, streets and underpasses as well as other
           drainage and low lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Gadsden, Rainbow City, Attalla, Hokes Bluff, Glencoe, Sardis City, 
  Steele, Altoona, Walnut Grove, Reece City, Noccalula Falls, 
  Gadsden Mall, Aurora, Neely Henry Lake, Tabor Road, Southside, 
  Crudup, Northside, Rockledge and Big Wills Creek.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

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 3397 8630 3396 8635 3399 8633 3409 8631
      3418 8619 3420 8585 3395 8581 3394 8590
      3390 8590 3390 8592 3390 8593 3392 8593
      3390 8597 3389 8597 3385 8605 3386 8607
      3386 8608 3399 8620 3397 8626 3399 8628

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL...1-1.5 INCHES IN 3 HOURS 

$$

88

2 follow-up statements

921 
WGUS54 KBMX 311653
FFWBMX
ALC055-311915-
/O.EXT.KBMX.FF.W.0014.000000T0000Z-210331T1915Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1153 AM CDT Wed Mar 31 2021

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has extended the

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Etowah County in northeastern Alabama...

* Until 215 PM CDT.

* At 1153 AM CDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated 
  thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Flash 
  flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Doppler radar and automated gauges.

  IMPACT...Flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
           highways, streets and underpasses as well as other
           drainage and low lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Gadsden, Rainbow City, Attalla, Hokes Bluff, Glencoe, Sardis City, 
  Steele, Altoona, Walnut Grove, Reece City, Noccalula Falls, 
  Gadsden Mall, Aurora, Neely Henry Lake, Tabor Road, Southside, 
  Crudup, Northside, Rockledge and Big Wills Creek.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

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 3397 8630 3396 8635 3399 8633 3409 8631
      3418 8619 3420 8585 3395 8581 3394 8590
      3390 8590 3390 8592 3390 8593 3392 8593
      3390 8597 3389 8597 3385 8605 3386 8607
      3386 8608 3399 8620 3397 8626 3399 8628

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL...1-1.5 INCHES IN 3 HOURS 

$$

372 
WGUS74 KBMX 311901
FFSBMX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
201 PM CDT Wed Mar 31 2021

ALC055-311911-
/O.CAN.KBMX.FF.W.0014.000000T0000Z-210331T1915Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Etowah AL-
201 PM CDT Wed Mar 31 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR ETOWAH COUNTY HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A 
FLOOD ADVISORY...

The heaviest rainfall has ended across the area, however some creeks 
and streams will continue to remain elevated with minor flooding 
possible.

LAT...LON 3397 8630 3396 8635 3399 8633 3409 8631
      3418 8619 3420 8585 3395 8581 3394 8590
      3390 8590 3390 8592 3390 8593 3392 8593
      3390 8597 3389 8597 3385 8605 3386 8607
      3386 8608 3399 8620 3397 8626 3399 8628

$$

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 30, 8:53 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Greene, Marengo, Sumter	3 days
Mar 31, 2:10 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Lamar, Marion	15 min
Mar 31, 4:38 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston	4 hr
Mar 31, 5:56 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Marion	64 min
Mar 31, 6:54 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Winston	51 min
Mar 31, 7:06 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Walker	54 min
Mar 31, 7:11 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Blount, Walker, Winston	6 hr
Mar 31, 7:51 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Blount	54 min
Mar 31, 8:42 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Pickens, Tuscaloosa	3 hr
Mar 31, 9:32 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Bibb, Shelby	3 hr
Mar 31, 9:38 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Cleburne	52 min
Mar 31, 9:41 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Tuscaloosa	49 min
Mar 31, 10:12 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Etowah	2 hr
Mar 31, 10:22 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Bibb	38 min
Mar 31, 10:53 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Sumter	37 min
Mar 31, 11:02 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Sumter	43 min
Mar 31, 11:23 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene	15 min
Mar 31, 11:49 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Jefferson, St. Clair, Tuscaloosa	3 hr
Mar 31, 12:09 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Bibb, Shelby	111 min
Mar 31, 12:56 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marengo	49 min
Mar 31, 12:57 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Cherokee	24 hr
Mar 31, 1:07 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Etowah, St. Clair	67 hr
Mar 31, 1:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marengo	14 min
Mar 31, 1:33 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Marengo	57 min
Mar 31, 1:38 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Blount, Walker, Winston	6 hr
Mar 31, 1:55 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Montgomery	35 min
Mar 31, 2:01 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Etowah	4 hr
Mar 31, 2:33 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lowndes	27 min
Mar 31, 2:40 PM CDT	Freeze Watch	BMX	Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more	13 hr
Mar 31, 2:58 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker	42 hr
Mar 31, 4:01 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Pike	44 min
Mar 31, 4:11 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Pike	2 hr
Mar 31, 6:04 PM CDT	Wind Advisory	BMX	Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more	24 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Alabama, 2021 Every flash flood warning in 2021

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.