Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 17, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 4, 2021Jefferson County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood warning at May 4, 2021, 12:10 PM CDT for Jefferson County, Alabama. It was in force for 7 hr. 16 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
May 4, 2021, 12:10 PM CDT (17:10 UTC)
Expired
May 4, 2021, 7:00 PM CDT
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Jefferson County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 51 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:10 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 4, 1:09 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD2 Wsw Homewood, ALCORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 2 WSW HOMEWOOD. FLOODING ON COBB STREET.
May 4, 1:16 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 Sw Homewood, ALEXTENSIVE FLASH FLOODING IN HOMEWOOD INCLUDING ONGOING SWIFT WATER RESCUES.
May 4, 1:17 PM CDTFLASH FLOODUab Campus, ALEXTENSIVE FLASH FLOODING ALONG 14ST NEAR UAB. RELAYED BY SOCIAL MEDIA.
May 4, 1:19 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 Ese Kingston, ALFLOODING ON 50TH STREET AND 1ST AVENUE NORTH IN CRESTWOOD, WATER COVERING ROAD.
May 4, 1:19 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD2 Ssw Kingston, ALFLASH FLOODING ALONG CLAIRMONT AVENUE. RELAYED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.
May 4, 1:20 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 E Uab Campus, ALFLOODING ON MAGNOLIA AVENUE SOUTH NEAR FIVE POINTS.
May 4, 1:21 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 Nne Uab Campus, ALONE FOOT OF WATER OVER THE ROAD ON 4TH AVENUE SOUTH IN DOWNTOWN.
May 4, 1:46 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 Sse Vulcan Park, ALFLASH FLOODING REPORTED AT THE VALLEY HOTEL IN HOMEWOOD.
May 4, 1:51 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 Ne Uab Campus, ALFLASH FLOODING OCCURRING ALONG THE STREET IN FRONT OF NEWKS EATERY - DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM.
May 4, 2:05 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 Wsw Ruffner Mountain, ALOPORTO MADRID BLVD IN CRESTWOOD NEST TO FAMILY LEISURE IS FLOODED WITH A STALLED CAR.
May 4, 2:07 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 Ese Vulcan Park, ALFLOODING ON CULVER ROAD IN MOUNTAIN BROOK VILLIAGE.
May 4, 2:20 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 Ssw Mountain Brook, ALFLASH FLOODING REPORTED AT THE CANTERBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH MOUNTAIN BROOK.
May 4, 2:27 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 Nw Kingston, ALFLOODING AT TALLAPOOSA BLVD AND INTERSTATE 20.
May 4, 3:05 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 Nw Kingston, ALFLASH FLOODING BEING REPORTED AT THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 79 AND I-20/59.
May 4, 5:10 PM CDTFLASH FLOODUab Campus, ALSIGNIFICANT FLASH FLOODING IN DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM ON THE UAB CAMPUS NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF 6TH AVENUE AND 12TH STREET.
May 4, 5:30 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 Ssw Homewood, ALRESIDENTS BEING EVACUATED OUT OF THE RUE MAISON APARTMENTS DUE TO FLASH FLOODING.

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 12:00Z, 5.2 hours before the alert went out and 50 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 12:00Z on 2021-05-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2158 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 12:00Z on 2021-05-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 145 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
2158 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-5 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
569 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
145 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
195 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.4
Supercell composite
7.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

921 
WGUS54 KBMX 041710
FFWBMX
ALC073-041845-
/O.NEW.KBMX.FF.W.0017.210504T1710Z-210504T1845Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1210 PM CDT Tue May 4 2021

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Jefferson County in central Alabama...

* Until 145 PM CDT.

* At 1210 PM CDT, Doppler radar 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.

  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...
  Birmingham, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Bessemer, Homewood, Mountain 
  Brook, Trussville, Hueytown, Gardendale, Irondale, Leeds, Moody, 
  Fairfield, Fultondale, Sumiton, Center Point, Pleasant Grove, 
  Clay, Pinson and Tarrant.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3356 8654 3329 8708 3329 8712 3336 8723
      3342 8725 3346 8733 3347 8733 3347 8729
      3350 8729 3350 8726 3354 8719 3360 8720
      3363 8709 3365 8706 3377 8702 3379 8696
      3382 8695 3384 8676 3377 8665 3376 8655

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

88
2 follow-up statements
808 
WGUS54 KBMX 041824
FFWBMX
ALC073-042000-
/O.EXT.KBMX.FF.W.0017.000000T0000Z-210504T2000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
124 PM CDT Tue May 4 2021

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has extended the

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Jefferson County in central Alabama...

* Until 300 PM CDT.

* At 124 PM CDT, Emergency Management reported thunderstorms 
  producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 
  inches of rain have fallen. Flash flooding is already occurring.

  HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms
           producing flash flooding.

  SOURCE...Emergency management.

  IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,
           urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Birmingham, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Bessemer, Homewood, Mountain 
  Brook, Trussville, Hueytown, Gardendale, Irondale, Leeds, Moody, 
  Fairfield, Fultondale, Sumiton, Center Point, Pleasant Grove, 
  Clay, Pinson and Tarrant.

Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the 
warned area.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3356 8654 3329 8708 3329 8712 3336 8723
      3342 8725 3346 8733 3347 8733 3347 8729
      3350 8729 3350 8726 3354 8719 3360 8720
      3363 8709 3365 8706 3377 8702 3379 8696
      3382 8695 3384 8676 3377 8665 3376 8655

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

40/Sizemore
177 
WGUS54 KBMX 041939
FFWBMX
ALC073-050000-
/O.EXT.KBMX.FF.W.0017.000000T0000Z-210505T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
239 PM CDT Tue May 4 2021

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has extended the

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Jefferson County in central Alabama...

* Until 700 PM CDT.

* At 239 PM CDT, Emergency Management reported thunderstorms 
  producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 
  inches of rain have fallen. Widespread Flash flooding is already 
  occurring.

  HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms
           producing flash flooding.

  SOURCE...Emergency management.

  IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,
           urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Birmingham, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Bessemer, Homewood, Mountain 
  Brook, Trussville, Hueytown, Gardendale, Irondale, Leeds, Moody, 
  Fairfield, Fultondale, Sumiton, Center Point, Pleasant Grove, 
  Clay, Pinson and Tarrant.

Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the 
warned area.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3356 8654 3329 8708 3329 8712 3336 8723
      3342 8725 3346 8733 3347 8733 3347 8729
      3350 8729 3350 8726 3354 8719 3360 8720
      3363 8709 3365 8706 3377 8702 3379 8696
      3382 8695 3384 8676 3377 8665 3376 8655

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

40/Sizemore

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 3, 7:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXElmore, Montgomery43 min
May 3, 7:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Chilton, Perry32 min
May 3, 7:25 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXAutauga, Elmore, Macon, Montgomery5 hr
May 3, 7:29 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXChambers, Lee, Macon, Tallapoosa2 hr
May 3, 7:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXElmore, Macon, Montgomery47 min
May 3, 7:46 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXChilton44 min
May 3, 8:30 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXLee, Macon45 min
May 3, 8:36 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXChilton39 min
May 3, 8:51 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXBibb, Chilton, Perry3 hr
May 3, 8:59 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXRussell46 min
May 3, 9:31 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXShelby59 min
May 4, 7:27 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXMarion48 min
May 4, 7:57 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXLamar, Marion48 min
May 4, 9:07 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXWinston38 min
May 4, 10:26 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount23 min
May 4, 10:59 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXWalker31 min
May 4, 11:00 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXFayette, Lamar, Walker3 hr
May 4, 11:06 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXBlount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Etowah, St. Clair3 hr
May 4, 11:12 AM CDTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Tuscaloosa21 min
May 4, 11:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson, Walker50 min
May 4, 11:45 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXJefferson2 hr
May 4, 11:49 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson, St. Clair26 min
May 4, 12:03 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXBlount, Etowah, St. Clair117 min
May 4, 12:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, St. Clair, Talladega46 min
May 4, 12:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson, St. Clair, Shelby28 min
May 4, 12:35 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXCalhoun, Etowah, St. Clair, Talladega3 hr
May 4, 12:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCalhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Talladega64 min
May 4, 1:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson, Shelby30 min
May 4, 1:25 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXCleburne24 min
May 4, 1:39 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXJefferson, St. Clair, Shelby5 hr
May 4, 2:07 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningBMXBlount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Etowah, St. Clair6 hr
May 4, 2:54 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXClay, Cleburne, Randolph, Shelby, Talladega3 hr
May 4, 3:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXSumter55 min
May 4, 4:01 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXShelby, Talladega3 hr
May 4, 4:05 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXBibb, Tuscaloosa3 hr
May 4, 4:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTuscaloosa29 min
May 4, 4:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene55 min
May 4, 4:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXHale, Marengo63 min
May 4, 4:45 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBMXWalker, Winston30 min
May 4, 5:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Chilton, Dallas, Perry75 min
May 4, 5:17 PM CDTFlash Flood Warning EmergencyCatastrophic damage threatBMXJefferson, Shelby3 hr
May 4, 5:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton, Lowndes76 min
May 4, 5:30 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXChilton, Perry30 min
May 4, 5:38 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXShelby12 min
May 4, 5:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXCoosa50 min
May 4, 5:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXElmore61 min
May 4, 6:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMontgomery68 min
May 4, 6:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXTallapoosa56 min
May 4, 6:24 PM CDTTornado WarningBMXElmore, Montgomery13 min
May 4, 6:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBullock, Macon, Pike83 min
May 4, 6:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXChambers, Lee61 min
May 4, 6:48 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningBMXBibb, Jefferson, Shelby22 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Alabama, 2021Every 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.