As Brian noted earlier in his excellent post, serious flood concerns are setting up again for this afternoon and evening across North, Central and East Alabama.
Flash flood watches are in effect for these areas.
A flash flood warning has been issued for Lamar County.
The airmass over Alabama is still very tropical. An axis of highest moisture is along the I-59 corridor, with preciptable water amounts in the 2.0-2.1 inch range. This will produce extremely high rainfall rates. We have already seen 1.2-2 inches of rain in one hour from earlier showers over western Jefferson County.
The ground is waterlogged. Additional heavy rains will runoff quickly, causing flooding concerns in a short period of time.
Of key concern over the next two hours will be Lamar, Pickens, northern Tuscaloosa, Fayette, Walker, western Jefferson, Cullman and Blount Counties, where the heaviest rain will fall during that time.
So…be alert for heavy rainfall that sets up in your area. Be prepared to take quick action. And check the latest conditions before traveling. Remember the simple advice…turn around…don’t drown. Most flood related deaths occur in automobiles.
At 10 a.m.: heavy rain was occurring from Marshall and Blount Counties to along the Jefferson/Walker County line then into northern Tuscaloosa County, curving back into southern Fayette, much of Lamar, and back into Mississippi.
One hour rainfall amounts of 0.75-1.5 inches have occurred over northern Tuscaloosa and southern Walker County. One hour amounts over southwestern Lamar have been even heavier.
A large area across Pickens, Tuscaloosa and western Jefferson Counties has seen 1-2 inches with isolated 3 inch amounts since yesterday.
