WBRC Weather

Another Round of Storms Coming

We certainly need a break in the rain considering parts of the Fox 6 viewing area were pushing 10+" of rainfall from the overnight and early morning storms.  Hardest hit was Shelby County.  We could see some additional rain and storms tonight for areas north of I-20.  We continue to watch some storms slide south across Kentucky and Tennessee.  This does not look to be as significant as last night's active weather.  Please use caution while travelling due to some standing water and also the likelihood of overnight fog.

We will make it through Wednesday with little rain and few thunderstorms.  It will be mainly a dry hot day with highs in the mid to upper 90s.  The heat index will hover around 100 during the afternoon with only scattered clouds.

Thursday looks to be another active weather day with a good chance of strong to severe storms during the afternoon and evening hours.  The Storm Prediction Center has already placed much of the state under a "Slight Risk" for severe storms.

The NAM is indicating additional storms will travel southward in the upper-level northwest flow.  The instability will remain very high. 

These means many of the storms will have the ability to produce high winds and hail.  I would anticipate heavy rainfall Thursday.  While storms could occur anytime on Thursday - I think the best chance will be later in the afternoon and evening.  I'm still working out the details concerning the time. 

For the upcoming weekend - the severe weather chances do not look widespread, but we could still see some strong to severe storms during the afternoon.  One thing is for sure - it will be hot and steamy both Saturday and Sunday.

J-P Dice
Fox 6 Chief Meteorologist
jdice@wbrc.com
Twitter: jpdice_Fox6

 

Overnight Storms Take a Toll

Fox 6 Weather Watcher Mike Slay sent us this picture from Highway 11 Trussville.  This part of the Cahaba almost never looks this high. 

Rainfall amounts in this area were over 5" on average.  The heaviest rainfall amounts were localized to Shelby County.  Radar estimates from the dual-pol data were in excess of 7".

Some of the highest winds last night moved through the Birmingport area.  Radar estimated winds were at around 80mph as the storms moved out of Walker County.  You can clearly see the significant damage caused by this tree falling on a mobile home.

A review of this morning's severe storms

 

Radar loop from 11 pm through 10 am

Severe storms moved through northern and central Alabama early this morning, and continued until mid morning.  The first storms began to develop rapidly around 1130 pm in Cullman County, possibly due to an atmospheric wave stirring up the stable night atmosphere and getting storms going.  Once they got going, they expanded rapidly, and a line of storms moved southward into the Birmingham metro between 1200 am and 300 am.  More storms then moved through between 400 am and 500 am, then more between 630 am and 800 am, and the last ones between 830 and 1000.

As JP mentioned yesterday, we are in NW flow aloft.  This produces a little bit of wind shear that is not normal for Summer.  Also, the atmosphere was very unstable this morning just above the surface.  It made for the biggest severe weather event in central Alabama since January 23. 

Wind damage.  Wind damage was reported in many counties, however the largest concentration of reports was in southern Walker County and in Shekby County.  Thousands of Alabama Power Customers lost power, and many roads were blocked.  13,000 customers were still without power early afternoon.  There was at least one report of a tree on a house in Walker County.

Flooding.  Flooding was probably the biggest factor with these storms, as the first line of storms stalled out for a while over Shelby County, producing 2-5" of rain, then the second area of storms came through and produced even more rain and problems.  Water rescues were conducted in parts of Shelby County early this morning and in parts of the city of Birmingham (Finley Blvd, southside, other roads).  At one time (and some still now), parts of the following roads closed/dangerous due to water (does not include all problems, may have missed some):  Hwy 31 (Pelham), Hwy 119, Valleydale Rd, Green Springs Highway, I-65 at Lakeshore Drive, Tallapoosa St exit I-59, Highway 79 (Springdale), Sweeney Hollow Road, Old Springville Road.  There have been so many roads flooded and water rescues, emergency responders have been spread thin.

Some rainfall totals include:  BHM Airport 4.31",   NWS Calera 4.81", Chelsea 7.52",  Jasper 1.86", Pelham/Helena area 7.21".  

Lightning.  The lightning in the storms, especially overnight, was constant and intense.  At least one house fire was reported due to lightning, and there was an apartment fire at I-65/I-459 (I don't know yet whether lightning was involved).  Here in Trussville, I counted 44 strikes per minute around 130 am.

Scroll down on the blog for pictures in Wes Wyatt's posts from earlier.

Dr. Tim Coleman

UAH Research Meteorologist

Fox 6 Severe Weather Expert, Weather Blogger

Follow me on twitter timbhm

Slideshow: Viewer Flash Flood Pictures 7-31-12

Fox6 Meteorologist Wes Wyatt

wwyatt@wbrc.com

Twitter @ weswyattweather

facebook.com/weswyattfox6

Slideshow: Viewer Lightning Pictures 7-31-12

Fox6 Meteorologist Wes Wyatt

wwyatt@wbrc.com

Twitter @ weswyattweather

facebook.com/weswyattfox6

Rain Totals Top 6 Inches-Flood Warning Jefferson/Shelby

(Rain Totals from the NWS CoCoRaHS Network)

I know parts of our area will be glad to see the month of August arrive. While we welcome the rain, we certainly don’t welcome events that produce flash floods. Last nights heavy storms dumped over 4 inches of rain in parts of Winston, Walker, Jefferson, and Shelby Counties.

The highest totals of 6 to 8 inches fell in parts of Jefferson and Shelby counties. Our weather watcher John King measured 6.38”. This is the second time a single event has produced over 5 inches of rain in Alabaster. Flood warnings will continue in Jefferson and Shelby counties through 4:30 pm because of some waterways that remain at or above flood stage. 

The following graphic is a snaphot of dual-pole radar estimated rainfall totals.

Fox6 Meteorologist Wes Wyatt

wwyatt@wbrc.com

Twitter @ weswyattweather

facebook.com/weswyattfox6

Radar Update

Only isolated thunderstorms are now expected through this afternoon.

Heavy Rain Continues In Many Areas

Heavy rain continues in some areas, along with lightening this morning.  The thunderstorms are more isolated than they were overnight and early this morning. 

For the remainder of the day, expect scattered showers with isolated strong to severe storms.  Highs today near 92-degrees.

Mickey Ferguson, FOX6 Weather

Flash Flooding for Jefferson, Shelby

Flash Flood Warnings continue through 7:30 am for Jefferson and Shelby counties. 

If you have to be driving this morning, lookout for standing water in low lying areas and in areas prone to flooding.  It would be a good idea to leave a little earlier on your morning commute to work.  Plan on driving slower, as you could run into some areas with ponding on the roadway.

Later today look for scattered showers with isolated strong storms possible.

 

Mickey Ferguson, FOX6 Weather

More storms moving in

Another line of storms is moving SE toward the BHM Metro area right now.  The storms extend along a line from Oneonta to Morris to Jasper.  The line of storms is becoming better organized.  Given the flooding already occurring in Pelham and in some other locations, the additional rainfall coming in with these storms...up to 2" in some places...could make things worse and create additional flooding in other places all over central Alabama.  Driving could be very dangerous this morning, so be very careful.  If you come to a road that is covered in water, do not drive through.  The water can be deeper than you realize, or the road could be washed out. 

These storms also show strong winds on radar.  Maybe not quite as strong as the ones earlier, but downed trees are being reported as these storms come through Walker County, and that could occur in Jefferson County also.  There are trees and power lines down already, and the newest round of storms is just now coming in to the northern suburbs.

Be careful out there everyone!