And, for the most part, the rain has left us high and dry. Well, not really, we are still low and wet.
At 9:30 this morning the only rain still in Alabama was a few showers right along the Georgia border. The heaviest rain was down over the north part of the Florida Peninsula. We may even see the sun showing its face at times later today!
This is great news because it will give flooded streams time to drain down somewhat.
The rain is not gone for very long. A few showers may redevelop this afternoon and this evening, then a general increase in showers and thunderstorms again tomorrow. Too bad.
While I am on the subject, here is a partial list of rain amounts in the last 24 hours–not a storm total. You can see from this list, that there will not be any blowing dust or dust storms around Alabama today.
4.34 Logan Martin Dam
2.32 Martin Dam
2.55 Ensley, Village Creek Bridge
2.78 Sayre
2,42 Smith Dam
2.02 Oliver Dam, Tuscaloosa
0.99 Livingston
3.22 Coker
3.58 Weaver
3.47 Cottondale
5.39 Helena (Brian Peters is the observer)
5.38 Wadley
2.65 Jasper
3.10 Dora
2.46 Childersburg
2.12 Birmingham Airport (erasing the 2010 deficit)
1.51 Montgomery/Dannelly Field
2.89 Anniston
3.73 Shelby County Airport
2.98 Horseshoe Bend
Remember, these are 24 hour totals ending around 7 am today. The total storm amounts were considerably higher. Even some 7 inch amounts in parts of Shelby County.
At 7:30 this morning a north/south line (or is it south/north) of moderate to heavy showers about 30 miles wide extended from about Huntsville to Birmingham to Montgomery and then southeastward to near Troy. Movement is eastward.
If you had seen this line between midnight and about 4 am, you would have headed to the storm cellar! (or is storm pit?) This is all that is left.
Bottom line, we did not get to finish morning drive (or is rush hour?) completely dry. But this is not too bad.
No rain at all over NW and West Central Alabama–places like Florence, Hamilton, Jasper. Even Lamar County where a Flash Flood Warning was in effect in the predawn hours, not enjoying a break.
That does not mean we will not get some more showers today. We will this afternoon but not very many.
Unfortunately, another surge of showers and thunderstorms Friday, fewer on Saturday, and few, if any Sunday and Monday.
Will post some 24 hour rain totals a bit later this morning. Overall, it is a pleasant day across droughtless Alabama!
I sure feel for all tha folks that had flood damage to property yesterday. It was a major flash-flood event.
BULLETIN – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
640 AM CST THU MAR 11 2010
…THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE ALABAMA RIVER AT MONTGOMERY…
.HEAVY RAINFALL DURING THE PAST 36 HOURS CONTINUES TO CAUSE THE
ALABAMA RIVER TO RISE…AND A FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT AT
MONTGOMERY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
DO NOT DRIVE CARS THROUGH FLOODED AREAS. TURN AROUND…DON’T DROWN.
ANOTHER STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED LATER THIS MORNING.
..FLOOD WARNING EXTENDED UNTIL SATURDAY AFTERNOON
THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE ALABAMA RIVER AT MONTGOMERY.
* FROM THIS MORNING TO SATURDAY AFTERNOON…OR UNTIL THE WARNING IS
CANCELLED.
* AT 6 AM THURSDAY THE STAGE WAS 34.0 FEET.
* MINOR FLOODING IS FORECAST.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 35 FEET.
* FORECAST…RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE BY LATE THIS MORNING AND CONTINUE
TO RISE TO NEAR 38 FEET BY FRIDAY MORNING . THE RIVER WILL FALL
BELOW FLOOD STAGE BY SATURDAY MORNING.
* IMPACT…AT 35 FEET…EXTENSIVE OVERFLOW OF LOWLANDS IN THE AREA
BEGINS. FLOODING OF THE GOLF COURSE AT MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE AND
ALONG PORTIONS OF RIVER ROAD OCCURS AT STAGES OF 30 FEET AND HIGHER.
Thanks to our readers/viewers for these images of flooding across Central Alabama taken yesterday and last night. A number of these images show Buck Creek in Helena well out of it’s banks…
BIG TIME SOAKING: The heaviest rain total from our Skywatchers yesterday was 7.39” recorded at Alabaster. Other rain totals included 6.18” at Sterrett, 6.06” at Pelham, 4.41” at Morris, 4.15” at Inverness, 3.99” at Oxford, 3.96” at Springville, 3.86” at Jasper, 3.41” at Coker, 3.25” at Center Point, 3.05” at Weaver, 2.67” at Scrougeout (northeast of Gadsden), and 2.27” at Moundville. Birmingham’s official total was 2.59”.
THIS MORNING: A band of moderate to heavy rain is moving through West Alabama. This band had prompted a tornado watch late last night for much of Mississippi and West Tennessee, but the storms have steadily weakened as they moved into the more stable air over Alabama, and we don’t expect any severe weather this morning with the passage of that band. However, it will drop more briefly heavy rain over a waterlogged state, something we don’t need.
The good news is that we will have a nice break from the rain during the midday hours as that band moves into Georgia, and there is a fairly decent chance the sun comes out, pushing temperatures into the 70s. I still believe we might see a few echoes on radar late this afternoon as the air becomes unstable, but the activity will be pretty scattered if anything does develop.
TONIGHT/TOMORROW: The weather remains unsettled. A large upper low will set up north of Alabama, and a surface cold front will approach from the west. Accordingly, we will mention a chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms. The rain won’t be as heavy or as widespread as yesterday, but some of the storms tomorrow afternoon could pack a punch. SPC has the eastern half of Alabama in their standard slight risk of severe weather tomorrow; the main threat will be from hail due to the colder air aloft, but a rotating updrafts are possible as well. The main window for severe storm development tomorrow will be from about 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. And, of course, with the saturated soil some localized flooding issues are very possible.
THE WEEKEND: The big upper low will mean a chance of showers on Saturday as we kick off the weekend. But, the rain won’t be too widespread, just keep in mind a few passing showers are possible. And, the weather will be noticeably cooler with highs back in the 50s. Due to the very cold air aloft, we might even see some small hail with the showers, even with no thunder or lightning. The day will be generally cloudy, although the sun could peek out at times. Sunday still looks dry with a partly sunny sky and a high in the low 60s.
AT THE BEACH: Spring break begins this weekend for many Alabamians; the weekend looks dry along the Alabama and Northwest Florida Gulf Coast, with ample sunshine Saturday and Sunday and a high along the immediate coast near 60 degrees. Most of next week looks dry, although a few isolated showers are possible by Tuesday or Wednesday. Water temperatures along the Gulf coast are running in the 57 to 60 degree range, so you might freeze if you want to take a dip in the ocean!
NEXT WEEK: The weather around here looks pretty benign next week, with a decent amount of sunshine each day and a high in the 60s, about where we should be for mid-March.
VOODOO COUNTRY: Model madness rules during the latter half of March, with no consistency. However, the idea of a cold snap for Alabama I still believe is very valid at some point, although the 06Z GFS operational run keeps that cold air north of here. Watch the Weather Xtreme video for more details.
LIVE CHAT: We are now offering a real time chat here on the blog… open blog comments will stay in place, of course, but this will allow a more immediate method of communication for weather geeks. We do have moderators posted over there, so be sure and play nice. Members of our weather team will be there from time to time to answer questions; we will post those times we are available here on the blog.
The first hint of daybreak will be soon. In rural areas, the roosters will be crowing, and farmers will be milking their cows. However, a vast majority of folks will be getting ready to hit the road to work or school.
Could be a problem with that. I would think extra time for morning drive would be wise. (I still call it “rush hour.”)
The flash flooding yesterday was major especially in places like Shelby County and a number of others. Could very well be a lot of water on some roads this morning so extra driving time is wise. May even be some detours.
Otherwise, in the world of weather, we are looking at a line of strong thunderstorms with very heavy rain entering NW and West Alabama from Mississippi. There was a number of Severe Thunderstorm Warnings issued with that line of storms overnight and lightning was vivid and the rain came down in buckets. It is now pouring rain from Lauderdale and Colbert County in the NW corner of Alabama southward to Pickens County. A Flash Flood Warning was issued earlier for Lamar County. Heavy rain approaching West Tuscaloosa County.
However, within the last two hours the line of storms has weakened somewhat with noticeably less lightning. Even so, we will see a marked increase in showers and thunderstorms as the morning progresses. Showers and storms should be less in number this afternoon, only to become more numerous again Friday.
The bad weather game is not over but the weekend looks more user-friendly, especially Sunday and Monday.
The SPC (Storm Prediction Center) has most of Alabama under a “slight risk” for today. However they will have a new discussion a bit later this morning.
So, we watch and wait. Meanwhile, I must take a 60-foot round trip to the kitchen for still another delicious and delectable cup of coffee!
A Flash Flood Warning continues for Lamar County over on the western border of Alabama until 5:45 am.
There were already showers in the area but now a line of heavy showers and strong thunderstorms, moving east from Mississippi, and getting closer to Lamar.
Besides that, other showers were increasing from Marion and Fayette County northward. Some heavy rain now over parts of Fayette County.
Rain was widespread early this morning across South and SE Alabama especially from Montgomery east, south and to the SW.
SEVERE WEATHER?
The SPC (Storm Prediction Center) has almost all of Alabama under a slight risk for today.
MORNING DRIVE
I would recommend some extra time allowed for that. Flash flooding was major yesterday in a number of counties and there may still be water on some roads this morning.
BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
244 AM CST THU MAR 11 2010
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A
* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR…
LAMAR COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA…
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF…VERNON…SULLIGENT…MILLPORT…
* UNTIL 545 AM CST
* AT 236 AM CST…THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETECTED FLASH
FLOODING FROM A THUNDERSTORM OVER THE WARNED AREA WITH A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING FROM THE WEST.
* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO LAMAR
COUNTY AIRPORT…DETROIT…CREWS…BLOOMING GROVE…BEDFORD AND
BEAVERTON
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF TWO INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN
THE WARNED AREA.
MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE…TURN AROUND…DONT DROWN.
Lots of showers across Alabama early on this Thursday morning. But not real heavy and no severe thunderstorms at the moment–as of 2 am.
A lot of heavy showers and some thunderstorms across the North Gulf of Mexico trying to move onshore into Coastal Alabama and NW Florida.
But our main attention now shifts westward where a long line of intense thunderstorms extends from near St. Louis southward into West Tennessee and all the way down the state of Mississippi. A number of warnings with that. The north-south line is about half way across Mississippi and moving eastward.
Will be watching it like a hawk!
A Tornado Watch is in effect for West Tennessee and virtually the entire state of Mississippi.The watch extends east to the Alabama border.
Bottom line, our weather woes are not over by any means. Besides, there are lingering flood problems from yesterday. Shelby County especially hard hit by flooding.
Will be on duty the rest of the night with updates as needed. A 12-cup pot of coffee now brewing.
Stay safe and plan now for extra minutes for the morning rush hour!
Showers and storms continue over the western half of Central and South Alabama. Nothing especially strong.
Over East Alabama, a large area of heavy rain extends from South Alabama’s Crenshaw County up through Lafayette then curving up along the Alabama/Georgia border.
Looking to the west, a strong line of storms has developed in the last hour and a half. It now extends from south of Oxford to Yazoo City to Vicksburg. There are now two severe thunderstorm warnings along this line in the Delta. Greenwood and Yazoo City are in the warnings.
The line is moving east at 25 mph. it should reach western Alabama after 4 a.m.
The earlier strong storms that produced tornadoes in Arkansas is now bear the Mississippi River, but it has weakened a tad.
The tornado watch has been canceled for the Alabama Counties.
