Flash Flooding in Alabama, September 1, 2008

Name: Flash Flooding in Alabama, September 1, 2008
Start: 2008-09-01T15:30
End: 2008-09-01T22:00
Location: Alabama

September 1, 2008 · NWS MOB · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Gustav brought heavy rains to the area and caused many roads to flood and they had to be closed for several hours due to high water.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $259,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS MOB wrote it up.

Gustav brought heavy rains to the area and caused many roads to flood and they had to be closed for several hours due to high water.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Mobile, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 1, 3:30 PM CST, 0 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 1, 3:30 PM CST, 0 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
430 PM CDT MON SEP 1 2008

.SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT)...GUSTAV MADE LANDFALL
EARLIER TODAY OVER THE SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA COAST AND NOW MOVING
THROUGH SOUTHERN LOUISIANA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE
THREAT OF TORNADOES CONTINUES THROUGH THE EVENING AS SPIRAL BANDS
CONTINUE TO WHIP ACROSS THE WESTERN THREE FOURTHS OF THE FORECAST
AREA. WILL BE SOME AREAS THAT WILL LIKELY MEASURE 3 TO 6 INCHES OF
RAIN IF THEY MANAGE TO STAY UNDER THE NORTH NORTHWEST MOVING BANDS
OF HEAVY RAIN...HENCE A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE
PART OF THE AREA TONIGHT. RAIN AND WIND DIMINISHING THROUGH TONIGHT.
WINDS WILL GRADUALLY DIMINISH BUT WILL BE STRONG AND GUSTY IN THE
BANDS AND OF COURSE WITH ANY TORNADOES. HIGHEST PRECIPITATION
CHANCES OVER THE WEST PART OF THE REGION TONIGHT. TIDAL FLOODING
WILL DIMINISH BUT DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS AND BEACH EROSION WILL ALSO
PRESENT HAZARDS THROUGH AT LEAST TUESDAY AND POSSIBLY WEDNESDAY.
GUSTAV WILL BE WEAKENING OVER THE TOLEDO BEND AREA OF EAST TEXAS
TUESDAY. GFS INDICATES THIS COULD LEAVE A DETACHED QUASI-STATIONARY
RAINBAND OVER SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHWEST ALABAMA WHICH
WOULD MAKE EXCESSIVE RAINFALL LIKELY. SEE BHMHLSMOB FOR MORE
SPECIFIC INFORMATION.

11/77

.LONG TERM THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...NO CHANGES TO FORECAST.
BUILDING MID LEVEL RIDGE OVER MID ATLANTIC WITH HANNA NEAR THE
BAHAMAS...FAVOR A WESTWARD EXPANSION OF INCREASED SUBSIDENCE OVER
THE SOUTHEAST AND A NET DECREASE IN POP BY THURSDAY. BY FRIDAY...
LEFTOVER MOISTURE FROM GUSTAV WOULD BE ADVECTED EASTWARD WITH
REBOUNDING POPS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. ANTICIPATE NO PROBLEMS WITH
HANNA. NEITHER IS THERE REASON TO DEVIATE FROM THE EXTENDED
TEMPERATURE FORECAST WHICH ARE NOT FAR FROM SEASONAL NORMALS.

/77

&&

.SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT)GUSTAV

.MARINE...TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS...ESPECIALLY IN SQUALLS WILL
CONTINUE THIS EVENING. WAVE HEIGHTS WILL GRADUALLY SUBSIDE AS GUSTAV
PULLS AWAY AND THE WINDS SUBSIDE. MAY NEED A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY
WHEN THE TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS ARE DISCONTINUED LATER. A RIDGE
WILL BUILD IN FROM THE NORTHEAST BY MID WEEK AND CONDITIONS RETURN
TO MORE TYPICAL LATE SUMMER FOR A WHILE.

/11

&&

.AVIATION...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS WILL BE HAZARDOUS TO MANY
AVIATION INTERESTS IN THE WESTERN PORTIONS. ELSEWHERE MVFR WILL
PREVAIL OCCASIONALLY IFR OR LIFR IN SQUALLS WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS.

/77

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MOBILE      75  83  75  87 /  90  90  50  40
PENSACOLA   75  85  74  86 /  70  80  40  30
DESTIN      76  86  76  88 /  60  60  30  20
EVERGREEN   72  85  70  88 /  50  70  40  30
WAYNESBORO  73  84  71  87 /  90  90  60  40
CAMDEN      72  86  70  89 /  50  70  30  30

&&

.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 PM TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     LOWER BALDWIN...LOWER MOBILE...UPPER BALDWIN...UPPER
     MOBILE...AND WASHINGTON.

     TROPICAL STORM WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: LOWER BALDWIN...LOWER MOBILE...UPPER BALDWIN...AND
     UPPER MOBILE.

     TROPICAL STORM WIND WARNING UNTIL 1 AM TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: AND WASHINGTON.

FL...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 PM TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     COASTAL ESCAMBIA...COASTAL OKALOOSA...COASTAL SANTA ROSA...
     INLAND ESCAMBIA...INLAND OKALOOSA...AND INLAND SANTA ROSA.

MS...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 PM TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     GEORGE...GREENE...PERRY...STONE...AND WAYNE.

     TROPICAL STORM WIND WARNING UNTIL 1 AM TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: GEORGE...GREENE...PERRY...STONE...AND WAYNE.

GM...TROPICAL STORM WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL OUT 20
     NM...COASTAL WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS OUT
     20 NM...MOBILE BAY...WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL
     FROM 20 TO 60 NM...AND WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO
     PASCAGOULA MS FROM 20 TO 60 NM.

&&

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 1, 10:08 AM CST, 5 hours 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1108 AM CDT MON SEP 01 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1101 AM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 NE DESTIN             30.43N 86.47W
09/01/2008                   OKALOOSA           FL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED OVER CHOCTAWHATCHEE BAY

&&

CACERES

Local storm report, Sep 1, 11:40 AM CST, 3 hours 50 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1240 PM CDT MON SEP 01 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0930 AM     WATER SPOUT      SHALIMAR                30.45N 86.57W
09/01/2008                   OKALOOSA           FL   NWS EMPLOYEE

            A WATERSPOUT MOVED ASHORE NEAR SHALIMAR. NO DAMAGE
            REPORTED. NWS TAE RELAYED REPORT.

&&

CACERES

Local storm report, Sep 1, 12:18 PM CST, 3 hours 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
118 PM CDT MON SEP 01 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0105 PM     HAIL             MCHENRY                 30.71N 89.14W
09/01/2008  E0.75 INCH       STONE              MS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            HAIL REPORTED 1 MILE WEST OF THE WLOX TV TOWER.

&&

CACERES

Local storm report, Sep 1, 12:30 PM CST, 3 hours before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
130 PM CDT MON SEP 01 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0105 PM     TORNADO          2 N ELSANOR             30.57N 87.58W
09/01/2008                   BALDWIN            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TORNADO REPORTED ON COUNTY ROAD 87 NEAR ELBERTA. A
            TRAILER WAS DAMAGED.

&&

CACERES

Local storm report, Sep 1, 2:08 PM CST, 1 hour 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
308 PM CDT MON SEP 01 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0303 PM     TORNADO          PENSACOLA NAVAL BASE    30.36N 87.27W
09/01/2008                   ESCAMBIA           FL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TORNADO REPORTED AT THE NAVAL AIR STATION IN PENSCOLA.

&&

CACERES

Local storm report, Sep 1, 2:50 PM CST, 40 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
350 PM CDT MON SEP 01 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0345 PM     TORNADO          PENSACOLA NAVAL BASE    30.36N 87.27W
09/01/2008                   ESCAMBIA           FL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ANOTHER TORNADO REPORTED AT THE PENSACOLA NAVAL AIR
            STATION.

&&

CACERES

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 20 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:32 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Mobile

When: September 1, 3:30 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Mobile County, 3.11 mi WNW of Piercie to 12.23 mi NE of Mobile Aerospace Arp
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.768, -88.418

Heavy rains from Gustav brought flooding to generally the north and east parts of Mobile county. The heavy rains began around mid day and lasted into the evening. Rainfall estimates of 6-8 inches were widespread across the area. Many streets had standing water in them and had to be closed for several hours due to high water. The heaviest rains occurred in downtown Mobile and near Saraland. Heavy rains along with storm surge caused Bayou Sara in Saraland to reach the second highest reading in over ten years. The water forced several people along the bayou to evacuate.

Flash Flood, Washington

When: September 1, 3:30 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 3.1 mi SW of Escatawpa to 5 mi NE of Calvert
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $4,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.248, -88.437

Heavy rains from Gustav brought flooding to generally the southwest part of Washington county. The heavy rains began around mid day and lasted into the evening. Rainfall estimates of 6-8 inches were widespread across the southwest part of the county. Many streets had standing water in them and had to be closed for several hours due to high water.

Flash Flood, Baldwin

When: September 1, 3:30 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Baldwin County, 0.63 mi NW of Montrose to 3.1 mi NW of Lillian
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.575, -87.909

Heavy rains from Gustav brought flooding to most of the county. The heavy rains began around mid day and lasted into the evening. Rainfall estimates of 4-6 inches were widespread across the county with isolated areas receiving more. The Loxley area measured a total of 8.40 inches of rain and Robertsdale measured 7.46 inches. Many streets had standing water in them and had to be closed for several hours due to high water.

What these are

Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alabama in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in Alabama, September 2008

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 134861, 134890, 134891.