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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 at 12Z April 6th

250mb Chart

500mb Chart at 12Z April 6th

500mb Chart

850mb Chart at 12Z April 6th

850mb Chart

Surface Analysis at 12Z April 6th

Surface Analysis

Surface Analysis & Radar at 12Z April 6th

Surface Analysis & Radar

KBMX Sounding at 12Z April 6th

KBMX Sounding

1PM April 6th

Surface Analysis at 18Z April 6th

Surface Analysis

Surface Analysis & Radar at 18Z APril 6th

Surface Analysis & Radar

 

7PM April 6th

250mb Chart at 00Z April 7th

250mb Chart

500mb Chart at 00Z April 7th

500mb Chart

250mb Chart at 00Z April 7th

850mb Chart

Surface Analysis at 00Z April 7th

Surface Analysis

Surface Analysis & Radar at 00Z April 7th

Surface Analysis & Radar

KBMX Sounding at 00Z April 7th

KBMX Sounding

1AM April 7th

Surface Analysis at 06Z April 7th

Surface Analysis

Surface Analysis & Radar at 06Z April 7th

Surface Analysis & Radar

 

7AM April 7th

250mb Chart at 12Z April 7th

250mb Chart

500mb Chart at 12Z April 7th

500mb Chart

850mb Chart at 12Z April 7th

850mb Chart

Surface Analysis at 12Z April 7th

Surface Analysis

Surface Analysis & Radar at 12Z April 7th

Surface Analysis & Radar

KBMX Sounding at 12Z April 7th

KBMX Sounding

1PM April 7th

Surface Analysis at 18Z April 7th

Surface Analysis

Surface Analysis & Radar at 18Z April 7th

Surface Analysis & Radar

 
 
Rainfall Totals
 
 Preliminary Storm Total Rainfall Map
24 Hour Rainfall Totals from April 4th through April 8th
Preliminary Rainfall Totals April 5-6 Preliminary Rainfall Totals April 6-7 Preliminary Rainfall Totals April 7-8
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

Flooding

Alabaster
(NWS BMX)

Flooding

Buck Creek in Helena
Courtesy of AL Aerial Photography

Flooding

Alabaster
(NWS BMX)

Flooding

Acton Rd in Birmingham
Courtesy of Brian Mauter

Flooding

Green Park South
Courtesy of Rosie Bernabe

Flooding

Orr Park in Montevallo
Courtesy of Jennifer Key

Flooding

Hwy 119 in Pelham
Courtesy of Katie Lambert

Flooding

Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
Courtesy of Katie Lambert

Flooding

Hueytown
Courtesy of Anonymous

Flooding

Mercer Airport Blvd (BHM)
Courtesy of Jay Collier

Flooding

Pelham
Courtesy of Keith Ellis

Flooding

Hwy 31 in Vestavia Hills
Courtesy of Vestavia Hills PD

Flooding

Buck Creek in Helena
Courtesy of Richard Haynes

Flooding

Coker
Courtesy of Stephanie Marshall

Flooding

Arkadelphia Rd (BHM)
Courtesy of Niambi Ingram

Flooding

Bessemer Gardens in Hueytown
Courtesy of John Talbot

Flooding

Oxmoor Rd
Courtesy of Kathryn Turner

Flooding

Bessemer
Courtesy of ABC 3340

Flooding

Pelham
Courtesy of al.com

Flooding

CR 73 in Hardaway
Courtesy of WSFA viewer

Flooding

Birmingham
Courtesy of ABC 3340

Flooding

Birmingham
Courtesy of al.com

Flooding

Helena Amphitheatre
Courtesy of al.com

Flooding

Homewood
Courtesy of al.com

Flooding

Oxford
Courtesy of The Anniston Star

Flooding

Pelham
Courtesy of al.com

Flooding

Pelham
Courtesy of al.com

Flooding

Pelham
Courtesy of al.com

Flooding

Randolph County
Courtesy of Randolph County EMA

Flooding

Randolph County
Courtesy of Randolph County EMA

Flooding

Mallard Creek Subdivision (LeeCo)
Courtesy of Lee County EMA

Flooding

Lee County Rd 878
Courtesy of Lee County EMA

Flooding

Jasper
Courtesy of CBS 42

Flooding

Macon County Rd 30
Courtesy of WSFA

Flooding

Oneonta
Courtesy of FOX 6 viewer

Flooding

Vestavia Hills
Courtesy of NBC 13

Flooding

Berry
Courtesy of FOX 6 viewer

Flooding

Munford
Courtesy of al.com

Flooding

Hwy 280 in Alexander City
Courtesy of @jennywalters07

Flooding

Auburn University
Courtesy of @mike_clardy

Flooding

Columbiana Rd in Homewood
Courtesy of Amelia Bennett

Flooding

Pelham
Courtesy of Sharon O'Mary Casey

Flooding

Tannehill State Park
Courtesy of William Vining

Flooding

Trussville
Courtesy of @kelsieho_

Flooding

Lakeshore Drive (BHM)
Courtesy of WSFA viewer

Flooding

Chilton County
Courtesy of FOX 6 viewer

Flooding

jemison Park in Mountian Brook
Courtesy of ABC 3340

 

River Flooding

Flooding

Altadena Valley County Club
Courtesy of ABC 3340

Flooding

Village Creek at Ave W (BHM)
Courtesy of CBS 42

Flooding

Columbiana Rd
Courtesy of Vestavia Hills PD

Flooding

Jordan Dam
Courtesy of WSFA

Flooding

Cahaba River in Centreville
Courtesy of David Jones

Flooding

Demopolis City Landing
Courtesy of Demopolis Times

Flooding

Manderson Landing in Tuscaloosa
Courtesy of al.com

Flooding

River Rd Park West in Tuscaloosa
Courtesy of al.com

Flooding

Neely Henry Dam
Courtesy of FOX 6 viewer

Flooding

Riverfront Park in Montgomery
Courtesy of WSFA

Flooding

Spillway Falls Park in Demopolis
Courtesy of Demopolis Times

Flooding

Black Warrior River in Moundville
Courtesy of ABC 3340

Flooding

Cahaba River
Courtesy of Katie Mantel

Flooding

Lake Mitchell Dam
Courtesy of FOX 6 viewer

Flooding

Noccalula Falls
Courtesy of Tami Sullivan

Flooding

Thurlow Dam
Courtesy of WSFA

Flooding

West Blocton
Courtesy of Jervoris Kelser

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wind Damage

Wind Damage

Carrollton
Courtesy of Jennifer Virden

Wind Damage

Benevola (Pickens Co)
Courtesy of Pickens County EMA

Wind Damage

Benevola (Pickens Co)
Courtesy of Pickens County EMA

Wind Damage

Aliceville
(NWS BMX)

Wind Damage

Buhl (Tuscaloosa Co)
Courtesy of Ronald Hughs

Wind Damage

Buhl (Tuscaloosa Co)
Courtesy of Tuscaloosa News

Wind Damage

Buhl (Tuscaloosa Co)
Courtesy of Ronald Hughs

Wind Damage

Buhl (Tuscaloosa Co)
Courtesy of Tuscaloosa News

Wind Damage

Elrod
Courtesy of NBC 13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Links

NWS Huntsville

NWS Jackson, MS

NWS Peachtree City, GA

NWS Tallahassee, FL

 

Videos

Aerial video of Helena flooding (YouTube) - Courtesy of Kevin Henderson

Macon CR 30 Collapse (WSFA) - Courtesy of Macon County Road & Bridge Dept