NWS Birmingham, Alabama

Weather Forecast Office

Severe Weather & Flooding of April 6-7, 2014

Overview

Surface/Upper Air

Rainfall Totals

Damage Reports

Photos

Videos/Other Links

Overview

A storm system brought heavy rains and severe thunderstorms to Central Alabama beginning on the evening April 6th and continuing into April 7th. A surface low pressure center developed along the TX/LA coast and moved northeast into TN bringing a warm front northward across the forecast area. Warm, moist air riding up and over the warm front lead to development of a large rain shield to the north of the frontal boundary. This rain slowly spread north across the forecast area during the day on April 6th. There was a short break in the rain across much of the area before the second round of showers/storms moved in from the west.

By late evening on April 6th, a band of heavier rain and strong to severe storms just ahead of a cold front entered the western counties. Several reports of wind damage were received from Pickens and Tuscaloosa Counties early on, with additional wind damage reports received from a few other counties throughout the night. The system finally exited the forecast area on the afternoon of April 7th. A storm survey team was sent to Pickens and Tuscaloosa Counties and confirmed the damage was the result of straight-line winds.

The biggest story was the flooding due to the heavy and prolonged rainfall that occurred with the system. In the end, generally 3-5 inches of rain fell across much of Central Alabama. Some areas experienced flash flooding due to quick rainfall accumulations of several inches, while other locations reported areal flooding due to prolonged rainfall. River flooding also became a major issue as river basins became overwhelmed with the amount of rain that had fallen causing many area rivers to overflow their banks. Most rivers rose into minor flood, with a couple rivers cresting above moderate flood stage. The majority of the flash flooding receeded rather quickly following the end of the rain. However, rivers were much slower to fall back to normal levels.

Surface/Upper Air

7AM April 6th

250mb Chart	500mb Chart	850mb Chart
Surface Analysis	Surface Analysis & Radar	KBMX Sounding

1PM April 6th

Surface Analysis

Surface Analysis & Radar

7PM April 6th

250mb Chart	500mb Chart	850mb Chart
Surface Analysis	Surface Analysis & Radar	KBMX Sounding

1AM April 7th

Surface Analysis

Surface Analysis & Radar

7AM April 7th

250mb Chart	500mb Chart	850mb Chart
Surface Analysis	Surface Analysis & Radar	KBMX Sounding

1PM April 7th

Surface Analysis

Surface Analysis & Radar

Rainfall Totals

Preliminary Storm Total Rainfall Map

24 Hour Rainfall Totals from April 4th through April 8th

For a more detailed list of rainfall totals from April 6th thru the morning of April 7th, click here.

Damage Reports

For a complete list of local storm reports from the event, click here.

Photos

Areal/Flash Flooding

Alabaster (NWS BMX)	Buck Creek in Helena Courtesy of AL Aerial Photography	Alabaster (NWS BMX)	Acton Rd in Birmingham Courtesy of Brian Mauter
Green Park South Courtesy of Rosie Bernabe	Orr Park in Montevallo Courtesy of Jennifer Key	Hwy 119 in Pelham Courtesy of Katie Lambert	Oak Mountain Amphitheatre Courtesy of Katie Lambert
Hueytown Courtesy of Anonymous	Mercer Airport Blvd (BHM) Courtesy of Jay Collier	Pelham Courtesy of Keith Ellis	Hwy 31 in Vestavia Hills Courtesy of Vestavia Hills PD
Buck Creek in Helena Courtesy of Richard Haynes	Coker Courtesy of Stephanie Marshall	Arkadelphia Rd (BHM) Courtesy of Niambi Ingram	Bessemer Gardens in Hueytown Courtesy of John Talbot
Oxmoor Rd Courtesy of Kathryn Turner	Bessemer Courtesy of ABC 3340	Pelham Courtesy of al.com	CR 73 in Hardaway Courtesy of WSFA viewer
Birmingham Courtesy of ABC 3340	Birmingham Courtesy of al.com	Helena Amphitheatre Courtesy of al.com	Homewood Courtesy of al.com
Oxford Courtesy of The Anniston Star	Pelham Courtesy of al.com	Pelham Courtesy of al.com	Pelham Courtesy of al.com
Randolph County Courtesy of Randolph County EMA	Randolph County Courtesy of Randolph County EMA	Mallard Creek Subdivision (LeeCo) Courtesy of Lee County EMA	Lee County Rd 878 Courtesy of Lee County EMA
Jasper Courtesy of CBS 42	Macon County Rd 30 Courtesy of WSFA	Oneonta Courtesy of FOX 6 viewer	Vestavia Hills Courtesy of NBC 13
Berry Courtesy of FOX 6 viewer	Munford Courtesy of al.com	Hwy 280 in Alexander City Courtesy of @jennywalters07	Auburn University Courtesy of @mike_clardy
Columbiana Rd in Homewood Courtesy of Amelia Bennett	Pelham Courtesy of Sharon O'Mary Casey	Tannehill State Park Courtesy of William Vining	Trussville Courtesy of @kelsieho_
Lakeshore Drive (BHM) Courtesy of WSFA viewer	Chilton County Courtesy of FOX 6 viewer	jemison Park in Mountian Brook Courtesy of ABC 3340

River Flooding

Altadena Valley County Club Courtesy of ABC 3340	Village Creek at Ave W (BHM) Courtesy of CBS 42	Columbiana Rd Courtesy of Vestavia Hills PD	Jordan Dam Courtesy of WSFA
Cahaba River in Centreville Courtesy of David Jones	Demopolis City Landing Courtesy of Demopolis Times	Manderson Landing in Tuscaloosa Courtesy of al.com	River Rd Park West in Tuscaloosa Courtesy of al.com
Neely Henry Dam Courtesy of FOX 6 viewer	Riverfront Park in Montgomery Courtesy of WSFA	Spillway Falls Park in Demopolis Courtesy of Demopolis Times	Black Warrior River in Moundville Courtesy of ABC 3340
Cahaba River Courtesy of Katie Mantel	Lake Mitchell Dam Courtesy of FOX 6 viewer	Noccalula Falls Courtesy of Tami Sullivan	Thurlow Dam Courtesy of WSFA
West Blocton Courtesy of Jervoris Kelser

Wind Damage

Carrollton Courtesy of Jennifer Virden	Benevola (Pickens Co) Courtesy of Pickens County EMA	Benevola (Pickens Co) Courtesy of Pickens County EMA	Aliceville (NWS BMX)
Buhl (Tuscaloosa Co) Courtesy of Ronald Hughs	Buhl (Tuscaloosa Co) Courtesy of Tuscaloosa News	Buhl (Tuscaloosa Co) Courtesy of Ronald Hughs	Buhl (Tuscaloosa Co) Courtesy of Tuscaloosa News
Elrod Courtesy of NBC 13