Central Alabama Impacts from Claudette

Overview

Tropical Storm Claudette was born from a broad area of spin spanning the southern Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean Sea, also known as the Central American Gyre. The system was generally disorganized up to and beyond its classification as a tropical storm during the early-morning hours on Saturday, June 19th along the coastline of Louisiana. For Central Alabama, flooding would become the primary hazard from this tropical system. While there were noticeable breezes, high winds were not observed and, though a few cells exhibited rotation, no tornadoes were recorded for our area.

A large shield of tropical rainfall, displaced to the northeast of Claudette's center, began overspreading Central Alabama during the morning hours of June 19th. This initial round of rain didn't produce too much in the way of flooding or gusty winds through the afternoon, with a semi-dry slot producing more in the way of showery precipitation vs. heavy, hours-long rainfall. However, a deformation zone on the northwest side of the storm yielded an axis of prolonged heavy rainfall along and north of Interstate 59/20 during the evening. Rainfall totals of 4.5 to 6.5 inches were common, locally higher. This resulted in flash flooding in areas from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham to Fort Payne. The flooding involved submerged vehicles and water rescues, flooded buildings / residences, overflowing waterways, and water-covered roadways that forced closures and resulted in instances of washouts.

Unfortunately, two occupants of a mobile home in the Cottondale community (Tuscaloosa County) were killed when a tree was downed onto a mobile home due to saturated ground and breezy winds. In northwest Birmingham (Jefferson County), a man was killed after losing his balance and being swept away by flood waters.

Rainfall

Reports

Flooding

6th Street Northport, AL Courtesy Ryan Phillips	Hunter Creek Road Northport, AL Courtesy Kayla Smith WVUA23	Tallapoosa Street Birmingham, AL Courtesy Ryan Cartee
Village Creek Ensley, AL Courtesy Brandon Riggins WBRC	Willowbrook Trailer Park Northport, AL Courtesy Ryan Phillips	Pebble Creek Pkwy Forestdale, AL Courtesy ABC3340
Harper Creek Northport, AL Courtesy Jason E. Jones	Hunter Creek Northport, AL Courtesy Juan Andres	North River Yacht Club Tuscaloosa, AL Courtesy Scott McReynolds
NorthSquare Apartments Northport, AL Courtesy Leahaija Dixon	Northwood Lake Northport, AL Courtesy Hilary Spadoni	Stone River Rd Tuscaloosa, AL Courtesy John Miller
Union Chapel Rd Northport, AL Courtesy Tera Glenn	Hunter Creek Rd Northport, AL Courtesy Jody Perry

Surface Charts

Surface Analysis June 19 at 1 am	Surface Analysis June 19 at 7 am	Surface Analysis June 19 at 1 pm
Surface Analysis June 19 at 7 pm	Surface Analysis June 20 at 1 am	Surface Analysis June 20 at 7 am

Upper Air Charts

250 mb Analysis June 19 at 7 am	500 mb Analysis June 19 at 7 am	850 mb Analysis June 19 at 7 am
250 mb Analysis June 19 at 7 pm	500 mb Analysis June 19 at 7 pm	850 mb Analysis June 19 at 7 pm
250 mb Analysis June 20 at 7 am	500 mb Analysis June 20 at 7 am	850 mb Analysis June 20 at 7 am
KBMX Sounding June 19 at 7 am	KBMX Sounding June 19 at 7 pm	KBMX Sounding June 20 at 7 am