Alert archive / Alabama / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 35, NWS Birmingham, AL

September 11, 2026Calhoun County, Cleburne County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this flash flood warning at Sep 11, 2026, 3:18 PM CDT for Calhoun County, Cleburne 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: Sep 11, 2026, 3:18 PM CDT (20:18 UTC)
Expired: Sep 11, 2026, 6:15 PM CDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Birmingham, AL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Calhoun County, AL, Cleburne County, AL

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 111 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:22 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 8.3 hours before the alert went out and 116 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: 1553 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -38 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 731 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 8 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -1 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 36 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

446 
WGUS54 KBMX 112018
FFWBMX
ALC015-029-112315-
/O.NEW.KBMX.FF.W.0035.260911T2018Z-260911T2315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
318 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northeastern Calhoun County in east central Alabama...
  North Central Cleburne County in east central Alabama...

* Until 615 PM CDT.

* At 318 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2.5 and 3.5 inches of
  rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are
  possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected
  to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  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...
  Piedmont, Liberty Hill, Coleman Lake And Campground, Sweetwater
  Lake and Oak Level.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Flooding is occurring or is imminent. It is important to know where
you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks which can become
killers in heavy rains. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or
creeks.

&&

LAT...LON 3376 8564 3382 8570 3388 8575 3396 8570
      3396 8558 3385 8546 3375 8552 3373 8560

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

32/JDavis

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Sep 11, 2:09 PM CDT, 1 hour 9 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Issued at 205 PM CDT FRI SEP 11 2026
Persistent Heat: Afternoon high temperatures will continue to reach the upper 80s to the middle 90s for much of the next week, with heat indices from the middle 90s to above 100 degrees. Take extra precautions with any extended afternoon outdoor activities.
Thunderstorms: A brief pattern shift will allow for increased shower and thunderstorm activity over the weekend. Some of this rainfall may be moderate to heavy at times.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 11, 2:09 PM CDT, 1 hour 9 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
209 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

...New DISCUSSION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Issued at 205 PM CDT FRI SEP 11 2026

- Persistent Heat: Afternoon high temperatures will continue to
  reach the upper 80s to the middle 90s for much of the next week,
  with heat indices from the middle 90s to above 100 degrees. Take
  extra precautions with any extended afternoon outdoor
  activities.

- Thunderstorms: A brief pattern shift will allow for increased
  shower and thunderstorm activity over the weekend. Some of this
  rainfall may be moderate to heavy at times.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
(This afternoon through Thursday)
Issued at 205 PM CDT FRI SEP 11 2026

Showers and thunderstorms are currently expanding across the
region, as multiple upper-level features keep the region
disturbed. Precipitable water values are also high, meaning that
these storms will remain very efficient rainfall producers.
Rainfall rates with some of the stronger afternoon thunderstorms
will be moderate to heavy at times, with most locations generally
seeing less than an inch of rainfall. However, given the
aforementioned heavy rainfall rates, locally heavier amounts are
expected in a few isolated spots. Severe weather and flooding are
not expected through the weekend, and these showers and
thunderstorms are nothing more than some much needed rainfall.

Unfortunately, upper-level ridging will quickly begin to rebuild
by Sunday, with rain chances dropping dramatically. While there
will still be a low chance (<30%) for an afternoon shower or
thunderstorm, this activity will be the scattered, diurnally
driven activity we've seen for the last few weeks. Afternoon high
temperatures will quickly rebound as well, with highs climbing
into the low and mid-90s by Monday. This will essentially be the
copy/paste forecast for the rest of the week, as the apex of the
ridge will remain over the Tennessee River Valley into next
weekend.

/44/

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1239 PM CDT FRI SEP 11 2026

Showers and thunderstorms will remain ongoing for most of the
next 24-hours, as a series of disturbances works through the
region. All terminals will carry TSRA at various times, with
quick drops in VIS expected under heavy rainfall rates. Low CIGs
should also return past 12/06z, with widespread IFR/LIFR
conditions anticipated through 12/16z.

AMD NOT SKED is appended at TCL due to missing observations.

/44/

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

Minimum RH values are expected to stay above 40% through next
week. Rain chances will increase for Friday and into this
weekend. While fire weather concerns remain low for now,
increasing drought conditions will push these concerns up during
next week if
significant rainfall does not occur over the next seven days.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Gadsden     70  88  70  92 /  60  60  30  20
Anniston    71  86  71  90 /  60  60  20  20
Birmingham  71  88  72  92 /  50  60  30  20
Tuscaloosa  71  90  72  95 /  30  70  20  10
Calera      71  88  71  92 /  50  60  20  20
Auburn      71  87  72  90 /  60  80  40  20
Montgomery  71  90  72  93 /  70  70  30  20
Troy        70  91  70  93 /  40  70  20  40

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

DISCUSSION.../44/
AVIATION.../44/

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 11, 1:45 PM CDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
145 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

ALZ017-111915-
Blount AL-
145 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL BLOUNT COUNTY
UNTIL 215 PM CDT...

At 145 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
County Line, or 13 miles southwest of Cleveland, moving northeast at
5 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
  Dallas, Locust Fork, Hayden, County Line and Smoke Rise.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3384 8681 3385 8683 3394 8670 3387 8661
      3382 8672 3384 8676
TIME...MOT...LOC 1845Z 231DEG 2KT 3386 8672

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

32/JDavis

Special weather statement, Sep 11, 1:46 PM CDT, 1 hour 32 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
146 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

ALZ019-026-111930-
Calhoun AL-St. Clair AL-
146 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL CALHOUN AND NORTHEASTERN
ST. CLAIR COUNTIES THROUGH 230 PM CDT...

At 146 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Bynum, or near West End-Cobb Town, moving north at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Anniston, Jacksonville, Fort McClellan, Saks, Cobb Town, West
End-Cobb Town, Weaver, Ragland, Ohatchee, Blue Mountain, Alexandria,
Neely Henry Lake, Jacksonville State University, Southside, Neely
Henry Dam, Sulphur Springs, and Wellington.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3389 8572 3366 8573 3363 8603 3367 8605
      3368 8610 3388 8616 3388 8611 3386 8610
      3386 8606 3385 8605 3384 8606 3384 8605
      3385 8602 3387 8602 3386 8600 3388 8599
TIME...MOT...LOC 1846Z 176DEG 9KT 3368 8596

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Special weather statement, Sep 11, 2:21 PM CDT, 57 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
221 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

ALZ018-019-111945-
Calhoun AL-Etowah AL-
221 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL ETOWAH AND NORTHWESTERN
CALHOUN COUNTIES UNTIL 245 PM CDT...

At 221 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Gadsden Mall, or 6 miles east of Rainbow City, moving north at 15
mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
  Gadsden, Rainbow City, Attalla, Glencoe, Reece City, Gadsden Mall,
  Noccalula Falls, Neely Henry Lake, Southside, Northside, Gadsden
  Water Works, Gadsden Steam Plant, Big Wills Creek, Crudup, Gadsden
  Municipal Airport, Wilsonia, Cobb City, Keener and Black Creek.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3385 8605 3387 8607 3386 8608 3386 8610
      3388 8610 3389 8611 3390 8611 3420 8604
      3420 8588 3386 8591
TIME...MOT...LOC 1921Z 199DEG 12KT 3394 8600

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

32/JDavis

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Sep 11, 11:56 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Bullock, Macon, Russell	2 hr
Sep 11, 12:14 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Barbour, Russell	2 hr
Sep 11, 1:45 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Blount	30 min
Sep 11, 1:46 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Calhoun	44 min
Sep 11, 2:21 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Etowah	24 min
Sep 11, 2:43 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Calhoun, Cleburne	2 hr
Sep 11, 4:06 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BMX	Marion	24 min
Sep 11, 4:57 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BMX	Marion, Winston	2 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Alabama, 2026 Every flash flood warning in 2026

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.