Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 49, NWS Birmingham, AL

September 18, 2021Tuscaloosa County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood warning at Sep 18, 2021, 2:53 PM CDT for Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. It was in force for 112 min. 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
Sep 18, 2021, 2:53 PM CDT (19:53 UTC)
Expired
Sep 18, 2021, 4:45 PM CDT
In force
112 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Tuscaloosa County, AL

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 78 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:56 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
Sep 18, 4:00 PM CDTFLASH FLOODBryant-Denny Stadium, ALWATER 2-3 FEET DEEP ON 14TH AVE.
Sep 18, 4:30 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 Sse Tuscaloosa, AL*** 1 FATAL *** CORRECTS PREVIOUS FLASH FLOOD REPORT FROM 1 SSE TUSCALOOSA. A VEHICLE WAS SWEPT AWAY BY FLOOD WATERS ON GREENSBORO AVE NEAR 24TH STREET. DRIVER WAS FOUND LATER DECEASED.
Sep 18, 4:30 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 Sse Tuscaloosa, ALA VEHICLE WAS SWEPT AWAY BY FLOOD WATERS ON GREENSBORO AVE NEAR 24TH ST. STATUS OF THE DRIVER IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

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, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 77 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 2021-09-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1167 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 2021-09-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 21 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
1167 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-4 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
453 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
21 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
2 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

703 
WGUS54 KBMX 181953
FFWBMX
ALC125-182145-
/O.NEW.KBMX.FF.W.0049.210918T1953Z-210918T2145Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
253 PM CDT Sat Sep 18 2021

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southwestern Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama...

* Until 445 PM CDT.

* At 253 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 3 and 4 inches of rain 
  have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are possible 
  in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
           other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Tuscaloosa, Northport, Holt, Coker, Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, 
  Bryant Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa Regional Airport, University 
  Mall, McFarland Mall, Deerlick Creek Campgrounds, Binion Creek 
  Landing, Lake Lurleen State Park, Shelton State Community College, 
  Sexton Bend, Lake Tuscaloosa Dam, Lake Tuscaloosa, University Of 
  Alabama Quad, Lake Harris, Highway 69 Bridge and Oliver Lock And 
  Dam.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

&&

LAT...LON 3334 8772 3341 8757 3343 8745 3342 8736
      3331 8738 3311 8751 3312 8765 3324 8774
      3331 8771 3331 8772

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$
2 follow-up statements
453 
WGUS74 KBMX 182045
FFSBMX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
345 PM CDT Sat Sep 18 2021

ALC125-182145-
/O.CON.KBMX.FF.W.0049.000000T0000Z-210918T2145Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Tuscaloosa AL-
345 PM CDT Sat Sep 18 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM CDT THIS 
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWESTERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY...

At 345 PM CDT, Emergency Management reported thunderstorms producing 
heavy rain in City of Tuscaloosa. Between 3 and 4 inches of rain 
have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are possible 
in the warned area. Flash flooding is already occurring in portions 
of the City of Tuscaloosa and Northport.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Emergency Management reported.

IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
         highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
         drainage and low-lying areas.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Tuscaloosa, Northport, Holt, Coker, Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, 
  Bryant Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa Regional Airport, University 
  Mall, McFarland Mall, Lake Lurleen State Park, Oliver Lock And 
  Dam, University Of Alabama Quad, Stillman College, Flatwoods, Lake 
  Tuscaloosa Dam, Sexton Bend, Palmore Park, Lake Tuscaloosa, Lake 
  Harris and Taylorville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law 
enforcement and request they pass this information to the National 
Weather Service when you can do so safely.

&&

LAT...LON 3336 8761 3334 8749 3328 8745 3325 8746
      3318 8747 3316 8748 3312 8764 3314 8766
      3320 8763 3324 8768 3332 8770

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED

$$

40/Sizemore
102 
WGUS74 KBMX 182143
FFSBMX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
443 PM CDT Sat Sep 18 2021

ALC125-182153-
/O.EXP.KBMX.FF.W.0049.000000T0000Z-210918T2145Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Tuscaloosa AL-
443 PM CDT Sat Sep 18 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 445 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR 
SOUTHWESTERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY...

The heavy rain has ended. Flash Flooding is no longer expected to 
pose an immediate threat. However, many roads could still be 
flooded. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT Sunday for 
portions of central Alabama, east central Alabama, northeast 
Alabama, northwest Alabama and west central Alabama.

LAT...LON 3336 8761 3334 8749 3328 8745 3325 8746
      3318 8747 3316 8748 3312 8764 3314 8766
      3320 8763 3324 8768 3332 8770

$$

40/Sizemore

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 17, 11:00 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXTallapoosa2 hr
Sep 18, 8:46 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXJefferson, Shelby3 hr
Sep 18, 9:40 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXJefferson, Shelby3 hr
Sep 18, 12:29 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXTallapoosa5 hr
Sep 18, 12:44 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXTuscaloosa11 min
Sep 18, 12:55 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningBMXTuscaloosa110 min
Sep 18, 1:10 PM CDTFlash Flood WatchBMXAutauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more54 hr
Sep 18, 1:33 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXEtowah3 hr
Sep 18, 1:52 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXBibb, Dallas, Hale, Marengo, Perry3 hr
Sep 18, 3:11 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXElmore, Montgomery4 hr
Sep 18, 3:25 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXChambers, Lee3 hr
Sep 18, 4:21 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXBullock, Montgomery, Pike3 hr
Sep 18, 5:29 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXRussell108 min

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.