Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021
Flash Flood Warning 19, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood warning at May 4, 2021, 1:39 PM CDT for Jefferson County, St. Clair County, Shelby County, Alabama. It was in force for 5 hr. 13 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, 1:39 PM CDT (18:39 UTC)
- Expired
- May 4, 2021, 7:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 5 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Jefferson County, AL, Shelby County, AL, St. Clair County, AL
The radar
The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 28 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:44 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, 1:55 PM CDT | FLASH FLOOD | 1 W Cahaba Heights, AL | DOLLY RIDGE ROAD IN CAHABA HEIGHTS FLOODED. |
| May 4, 5:03 PM CDT | FLASH FLOOD | 1 Nne Helena, AL | CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 1 NNE HELENA. HELENA ROAD FLOODED WITH WATER FLOWING OVER THE ROAD NEAR THE QUARRY. |
| May 4, 5:25 PM CDT | FLASH FLOOD | Riverchase Galleria, AL | ALL LANES OF HIGHWAY 31 AT HIGHWAY 150 ARE CLOSED DUE TO FLASH FLOODING. |
| May 4, 5:28 PM CDT | FLASH FLOOD | Joe Tucker Park, AL | FLOODING NEAR COUNTY ROADS 52 AND 95 IN HELENA. |
| May 4, 5:33 PM CDT | FLASH FLOOD | 1 S Riverchase, AL | FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTING HOMES FLOODED ON NORRIDGE PLACE. |
| May 4, 5:33 PM CDT | FLASH FLOOD | 2 W Alabaster, AL | HIGHWAY 17 NORTHBOUND BETWEEN CEDAR GROVE PARKWAY AND HIGH GROVE PARKWAY IMPASSABLE. |
| May 4, 5:33 PM CDT | FLASH FLOOD | 2 W Alabaster, AL | WATER OVER THE ROADWAY AT FOX VALLEY FARMS ROAD NEAR BRIDGE. |
| May 4, 5:40 PM CDT | FLASH FLOOD | 1 Nw Alabaster Veterans, AL | 1 LANE IMPASSABLE AT BUTLER ROAD AND BIG OAK DRIVE. |
| May 4, 5:50 PM CDT | FLASH FLOOD | 1 N Hoover, AL | PATTON CREEK OVERTOPPING THE BRIDGE AT SOUTHLAND DRIVE. |
| May 4, 5:54 PM CDT | FLASH FLOOD | 2 Se Vestavia Hills, AL | FLASH FLOODING IN THE 2400 BLOCK OF ACTON ROAD. LARGE ROCKS BEING WASHED INTO THE ROADWAY. |
| May 4, 6:00 PM CDT | FLASH FLOOD | 2 Ese Vestavia Hills, AL | HOMES FLOODED ON LESLIE ANN ROAD. |
| May 4, 6:30 PM CDT | FLASH FLOOD | 1 Ne Maylene, AL | BIG OAK DRIVE FLOODED. |
| May 4, 6:45 PM CDT | FLASH FLOOD | 1 S Lake Purdy, AL | FAST MOVING AND DEEP WATER RUNNING ACROSS HIGHWAY 119 NEAR LAKE PURDY. |
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, 6.7 hours before the alert went out and 28 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.
- 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
The text
As transmitted.
198
WGUS54 KBMX 041839
FFWBMX
ALC073-115-117-042200-
/O.NEW.KBMX.FF.W.0019.210504T1839Z-210504T2200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
139 PM CDT Tue May 4 2021
The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Southeastern Jefferson County in central Alabama...
Southwestern St. Clair County in central Alabama...
Central Shelby County in central Alabama...
* Until 500 PM CDT.
* At 139 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain
have fallen. 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...
Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Alabaster, Bessemer, Pelham, Mountain
Brook, Helena, Pell City, Leeds, Moody, Chelsea, Indian Springs
Village, Vincent, Harpersville, Westover, Meadowbrook, Highland
Lakes, Inverness, Oak Mountain State Park and Fowler Lake.
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 3329 8709 3356 8654 3354 8646 3354 8619
3352 8623 3349 8624 3349 8626 3351 8626
3351 8628 3346 8630 3339 8638 3311 8697
3315 8698 3317 8703 3325 8703 3325 8706
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
40/Sizemore1 follow-up statement
476
WGUS54 KBMX 042128
FFWBMX
ALC073-115-117-050000-
/O.EXT.KBMX.FF.W.0019.000000T0000Z-210505T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
428 PM CDT Tue May 4 2021
The National Weather Service in Birmingham has extended the
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Southeastern Jefferson County in central Alabama...
Southwestern St. Clair County in central Alabama...
Central Shelby County in central Alabama...
* Until 700 PM CDT.
* At 428 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 inches of rain
have fallen. Flash flooding is already occurring.
HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms
producing flash flooding.
SOURCE...Doppler radar.
IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,
urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Alabaster, Bessemer, Pelham, Mountain
Brook, Helena, Pell City, Leeds, Moody, Chelsea, Indian Springs
Village, Vincent, Harpersville, Westover, Meadowbrook, Highland
Lakes, Inverness, Oak Mountain State Park and Fowler Lake.
Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the
warned area.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small
creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses
as well as other drainage areas and low lying spots.
&&
LAT...LON 3329 8709 3356 8654 3354 8646 3354 8619
3352 8623 3349 8624 3349 8626 3351 8626
3351 8628 3346 8630 3339 8638 3311 8697
3315 8698 3317 8703 3325 8703 3325 8706
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
$$
40/SizemoreThe 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, 12:35 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | BMX | Calhoun, Etowah, St. Clair, Talladega | 3 hr |
| 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, 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 | 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, 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.