Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 18, NWS Birmingham, AL

May 4, 20214 counties in Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood warning at May 4, 2021, 12:35 PM CDT for 4 counties in Alabama. It was in force for 3 hr. 3 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, 12:35 PM CDT (17:35 UTC)
Expired: May 4, 2021, 4:00 PM CDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Calhoun County, AL, Etowah County, AL, St. Clair County, AL, Talladega County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 98 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:34 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 4, 1:32 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 Nne Saks, AL	INTERSECTION OF GLADE ROAD AND LENLOCK LANE FLOODED. REPORTED BY EMA.
May 4, 1:51 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 Ese Saks, AL	WATER RESCUE NEAR SAKS MIDDLE SCHOOL.
May 4, 1:58 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Anniston, AL	FLASH FLOODING NEAR THE NEW FEDERAL COURTHOUSE CONSTRUCTION SITE.

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, 5.6 hours before the alert went out and 98 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: 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.

638 
WGUS54 KBMX 041735
FFWBMX
ALC015-055-115-121-041930-
/O.NEW.KBMX.FF.W.0018.210504T1735Z-210504T1930Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1235 PM CDT Tue May 4 2021

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  St. Clair County in central Alabama...
  Calhoun County in east central Alabama...
  Northeastern Talladega County in east central Alabama...
  Southeastern Etowah County in northeastern Alabama...

* Until 230 PM CDT.

* At 1235 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...
  Anniston, Oxford, Pell City, Jacksonville, Leeds, Moody, Rainbow 
  City, Piedmont, Springville, Odenville, West End-Cobb Town, Saks, 
  Cobb Town, Fort McClellan, Lincoln, Glencoe, Margaret, Argo, 
  Weaver and Ashville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3356 8653 3371 8652 3379 8654 3394 8585
      3396 8556 3389 8558 3388 8564 3385 8564
      3385 8560 3377 8562 3377 8564 3363 8566
      3359 8579 3354 8620 3354 8646

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

88

1 follow-up statement

591 
WGUS54 KBMX 041856
FFWBMX
ALC015-055-115-121-042100-
/O.EXT.KBMX.FF.W.0018.000000T0000Z-210504T2100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

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

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has extended the

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  St. Clair County in central Alabama...
  Calhoun County in east central Alabama...
  Northeastern Talladega County in east central Alabama...
  Southeastern Etowah County in northeastern Alabama...

* Until 400 PM CDT.

* At 156 PM CDT, Emergency Management reported thunderstorms 
  producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 
  inches of rain have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected 
  to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Emergency management.

  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...
  Anniston, Oxford, Pell City, Jacksonville, Leeds, Moody, Rainbow 
  City, Piedmont, Springville, Odenville, West End-Cobb Town, Saks, 
  Cobb Town, Fort McClellan, Lincoln, Glencoe, Margaret, Argo, 
  Weaver and Ashville.

Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are possible in the warned 
area.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are 
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded 
roads. Find an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 3356 8653 3371 8652 3379 8654 3394 8585
      3396 8556 3389 8558 3388 8564 3385 8564
      3385 8560 3377 8562 3377 8564 3363 8566
      3359 8579 3354 8620 3354 8646

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED

$$

40/Sizemore

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 3, 7:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Elmore, Montgomery	43 min
May 3, 7:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Chilton, Perry	32 min
May 3, 7:25 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Autauga, Elmore, Macon, Montgomery	5 hr
May 3, 7:29 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Chambers, Lee, Macon, Tallapoosa	2 hr
May 3, 7:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Elmore, Macon, Montgomery	47 min
May 3, 7:46 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chilton	44 min
May 3, 8:30 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lee, Macon	45 min
May 3, 8:36 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Chilton	39 min
May 3, 8:51 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Bibb, Chilton, Perry	3 hr
May 3, 8:59 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Russell	46 min
May 3, 9:31 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Shelby	59 min
May 4, 7:27 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	48 min
May 4, 7:57 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Lamar, Marion	48 min
May 4, 9:07 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Winston	38 min
May 4, 10:26 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount	23 min
May 4, 10:59 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Walker	31 min
May 4, 11:00 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Fayette, Lamar, Walker	3 hr
May 4, 11:06 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Etowah, St. Clair	3 hr
May 4, 11:12 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Fayette, Tuscaloosa	21 min
May 4, 11:25 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Walker	50 min
May 4, 11:45 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Jefferson	2 hr
May 4, 11:49 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Blount, Jefferson, St. Clair	26 min
May 4, 12:03 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Blount, Etowah, St. Clair	117 min
May 4, 12:10 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson	7 hr
May 4, 12:14 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, St. Clair, Talladega	46 min
May 4, 12:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby	28 min
May 4, 12:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Talladega	64 min
May 4, 1:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Jefferson, Shelby	30 min
May 4, 1:25 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Cleburne	24 min
May 4, 1:39 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby	5 hr
May 4, 2:07 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BMX	Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Etowah, St. Clair	6 hr
May 4, 2:54 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, Shelby, Talladega	3 hr
May 4, 3:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Sumter	55 min
May 4, 4:01 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Shelby, Talladega	3 hr
May 4, 4:05 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BMX	Bibb, Tuscaloosa	3 hr
May 4, 4:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tuscaloosa	29 min
May 4, 4:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Greene	55 min
May 4, 4:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Hale, Marengo	63 min
May 4, 4:45 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Walker, Winston	30 min
May 4, 5:00 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bibb, Chilton, Dallas, Perry	75 min
May 4, 5:17 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning EmergencyCatastrophic damage threat	BMX	Jefferson, Shelby	3 hr
May 4, 5:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Autauga, Chilton, Lowndes	76 min
May 4, 5:30 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Chilton, Perry	30 min
May 4, 5:38 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Shelby	12 min
May 4, 5:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Coosa	50 min
May 4, 5:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Elmore	61 min
May 4, 6:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Montgomery	68 min
May 4, 6:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Tallapoosa	56 min
May 4, 6:24 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BMX	Elmore, Montgomery	13 min
May 4, 6:37 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Bullock, Macon, Pike	83 min
May 4, 6:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BMX	Chambers, Lee	61 min
May 4, 6:48 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	BMX	Bibb, Jefferson, Shelby	22 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.