Showers and thunderstorms repeatedly moved across Northern Madison and into Western Jackson Counties during the mid-morning hours, lingering into the afternoon hours on the 19th. Numerous flooding reports were received as 3-5 of rainfall occurred, resulting in 1 fatality in Northern Madison County.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS HUN wrote it up.
Showers and thunderstorms repeatedly moved across Northern Madison and into Western Jackson Counties during the mid-morning hours, lingering into the afternoon hours on the 19th. Numerous flooding reports were received as 3-5 of rainfall occurred, resulting in 1 fatality in Northern Madison County.
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 Huntsville, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 19, 5:43 AM CST, 46 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 643 AM CDT Sun Sep 19 2021 .UPDATE... For 12Z TAFS. && .NEAR TERM...(Today) Issued at 316 AM CDT Sun Sep 19 2021 A significant threat for flash flooding will exist across the Tennessee Valley as multiple rounds of heavy rainfall are expected to develop again today. This activity will be tied to a slow moving trough/area of low pressure across the lower-Mississippi Valley. Multiple shortwaves will rotate northward along the eastern edge of this feature, with a convergence axis of sorts likely setting up along the Interstate 65 corridor. Deep southerly flow will continue to reinforce a tropical air mass across the Tennessee Valley, with PWATs progged to peak around 2", well within the 95th percentile per the BMX/OHX sounding climatologies. Thus, we expect widespread showers and thunderstorms to redevelop rather quickly by early to mid morning and persist throughout the day. Current radar depicts numerous showers already developing across the area, with radar estimated rainfall rates up to 3-4"/hr. The environmental setup checks many of the boxes you'd want for a higher-end flash flooding threat. Namely, deep tropical moisture in place, with a weak convergence boundary to focus this moisture and a low level jet nosing into central/northern Alabama to provide some added support. The mean southerly flow will be parallel to this boundary, with storm motion vectors around 10 kts or less. The environment also features somewhat modest (but sufficient) instability to sustain updrafts, with a deep warm cloud layer favoring highly efficient rain-producing storms. Compounding the flash flood threat will be extremely saturated soils from the recent heavy rainfall events over the last couple of days. This has significantly increased our sensitivity to additional heavy rainfall -- most notably along the I-65 corridor and portions of northwest Alabama and southern middle Tennessee. In short, this is quickly becoming a dangerous setup for flash flooding due to the combination of the current environmental parameters and antecedent soil conditions which will make flash flooding much more likely. Finally, we need to address how much rain is possible in a setup like this. Hi-res guidance has had a good handle on the heavy rainfall potential for the last couple of days and are in decent agreement regarding the timing of convective development today (09z to 21z) and where the greatest swath of rainfall will occur (along and near the convergence boundary). The environment will easily support hourly rainfall totals of 1-2", with 6 hours totals exceeding 3" in some areas. Our official QPF forecast for the entire area today is 1-3" of rain, but it needs to be stressed that in locations where training occurs, rainfall totals in the 3-5" range will be more common, with localized higher amounts. Our biggest areas of concern will be areas along the I-65 corridor that saw some significant rainfall yesterday, but in this setup, a significant flash flooding threat can materialize very quickly anywhere in our area. Please make sure you have multiple ways to get warnings today and use extra caution if you're out on the roads! .SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Wednesday) Issued at 316 AM CDT Sun Sep 19 2021 The main change to the forecast during this window was an extension of the Flash Flood Watch through 7 PM Monday. Otherwise, the forecast remains on track for widespread showers and thunderstorms and a significant threat for flash flooding persisting into Monday and potentially Tuesday. For tonight, we expect a gradual diminishing of convection by the late evening hours as the initial shortwave trough lifts to the north. However, by early Monday morning and into the day, we'll see convection redevelop quickly as the center of the low begins to pivot to the northeast. Expect yet another shortwave to traverse the area and subsequently spark widespread showers and storms. Once again, the combination of the storm environment and the antecedent saturated soils will create a potentially dangerous setup for additional flash flooding as another 1 to 3 inches of rainfall will be possible. Our one saving grace may be another lull in the action Monday night into Tuesday morning as the initial area of low pressure shifts northeast into the Ohio Valley. However, our attention will quickly turn to an amplifying longwave trough over the Mid South that will push a cold front into the area Tuesday afternoon/evening into Tuesday night. This feature will generate one final round of showers and thunderstorms that will likely linger into the morning hours on Wednesday. Finally, a cooler and drier air mass will work its way into the region by Wednesday afternoon, bringing an end to our precipitation chances and the heavy rainfall/flooding threat. However, it should be noted that the multiple days of heavy rainfall will also create rises on area rivers, creeks, and streams -- and it seems plausible that river flooding issues may persist well into next week even after all the rain has tapered off. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Saturday) Issued at 316 AM CDT Sun Sep 19 2021 Behind the cold front on Wednesday night, Autumn will be in full swing. A much-welcomed cold and dry air mass will filter in from the northwest and will drop our temperatures to lows in the upper 40s to low 50s. Thursday, persistent cold air advection will limit our warming potential, despite abundant sunshine. High temperatures will be in the low 70s, but some areas may struggle to break out of the 60s. The shortwave trough will remain in place over the Midwest through late this week and finally lift into the Northeast on Friday and Saturday. Gradually increasing thicknesses aloft will allow high temperatures to warm into the mid 70s by the weekend. All around a pleasant end to this forecast period as the TN Valley dries out after our super soaking earlier in the week. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Monday morning) Issued at 643 AM CDT Sun Sep 19 2021 A very pessimistic forecast as MVFR to IFR conditions will prevail through the TAF period as widespread showers and storms will impact both terminals. SHRA will increase in coverage throughout the morning, with TSRA becoming more predominant by the afternoon. Expect heavy rainfall that may lead to ponding of water on runways. AWWs may be needed for lightning and gusty winds in any thunderstorms. Coverage of showers will decrease late tonight, but think low stratus and light fog/mist will continue through the remainder of the period. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...Flash Flood Watch through Monday evening for ALZ001>010-016. TN...Flash Flood Watch through Monday evening for TNZ076-096-097. && NEAR TERM...AMP.24 SHORT TERM...AMP.24 LONG TERM...30 AVIATION...AMP.24 For more information please visit our website at weather.gov/huntsville.
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Huntsville AL 408 AM CDT Sun Sep 19 2021 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-200015- Lauderdale-Colbert-Franklin AL-Lawrence-Limestone-Madison-Morgan- Marshall-Jackson-DeKalb-Cullman-Moore-Lincoln-Franklin TN- 408 AM CDT Sun Sep 19 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north Alabama and portions of southern middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight... A significant threat for flash flooding is expected to develop across the Tennessee Valley today as widespread showers and thunderstorms will produce multiple rounds of heavy rainfall across the region. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect until 7 PM Monday. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday... Periods of heavy showers and storms are expected to develop across the region Monday and Tuesday and a threat for flash flooding will persist into early this week. Additionally, rises on rivers, creeks, and streams are expected and minor flooding will be possible. This activity will become more scattered in nature on Wednesday and taper off by Wednesday evening as a cold front sweeps through the area. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management personnel is not anticipated at this time.
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 30 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:27 UTC.
11 flood, 3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Water over Hwy 65 near Garth. Time estimated from radar.
Car submerged on Hwy 72 between Gurley and Paint Rock. Image seen on social media.
Water ponding in left lane of I-565 near the Research Park Blvd Exit and the Jordan Lane Exit.
Hwy 65 underwater and impassable near Princeton.
Hsv Police report water over the road near the Costco/Starbucks along SB Memorial Parkway near University Drive overpass.
Flooding across the roadway at Shady Grove Lane and Bunny Lane. Pictures seen on social media.
Water over the road at Bob Wallace Ave and Memorial Parkway.
Water over the road at Zierdt Road and Edgewater.
Water over the road just west of Memorial Parkway along Airport Road.
Video shows right lane flooded along Whitesburg Drive between Drake Avenue and California Street. Depth of water unknown.
Video of roads flooded on social media at the intersection of Rock Cut Road and U.S. Highway 72 in Gurley.
Flooding in the Sherwood Oaks neighborhood from social media.
A 35 year old man drowned as a strong water current pulled him into a nearby drainage pipe along Bullard Road.
Opp Renyolds Road in the area of Blue Water Springs Park is closed due to flooding. Depth of water unknown.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood, Madison | 2021-09-19 | 35 | Male | Other | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, September 2021
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: 987202, 987203, 987207, 987208, 987209, 987210, 987211, 987212, 987214, 987215, 987216, 987218, 987206, 987219.