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WGUS74 KBMX 061618

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ALZ011>017-022>050-DD1900-



FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL

1117 AM CDT MON AUG 06 2001



...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT TODAY AND TONIGHT...



A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT ACROSS MUCH OF NORTH AND

CENTRAL ALABAMA THROUGH TONIGHT.  SOME CITIES INCLUDED IN THE WATCH

AREA ARE...



MONTGOMERY...SELMA...TUSCALOOSA...BIRMINGHAM...ALEXANDER CITY...

OPELIKA AND CULLMAN.



AT 11 AM CDT...THE CENTER OF WHAT ONCE WAS TROPICAL STORM BARRY WAS

LOCATED NEAR CAMDEN...IN WILCOX COUNTY...AND WAS MOVING NORTHWEST AT

10 TO 15 MPH.  HEAVY RAIN CONTINUED TO SPREAD NORTHWARD INTO

SOUTHEAST ALABAMA...AND THEN CURVE TO THE NORTHWEST THROUGH CENTRAL

ALABAMA.



THE HEAVIER RAINS WERE OCCURRING IN BAND...20 TO 40 MILES WIDE...THAT

EXTENDED FROM NEAR LINEVILLE TO SELMA.  THIS BAND WAS MOVING TO THE

NORTH-NORTHWEST AT 15 MPH...AND WILL SPREAD INTO THE TUSCALOOSA AND

BIRMINGHAM METRO AREAS...EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.



SINCE 8 AM...THE HEAVIER RAINS HAVE OCCURRED OVER AUTAUGA COUNTY...

WITH RADAR ESTIMATING TWO TO THREE INCHES OF RAIN BETWEEN

AUTAUGAVILLE AND PRATTVILLE.



THE STORM CENTER IS FORECAST TO BE IN THE GENERAL AREA OF COLUMBUS

MISSISSIPPI BY DARK.  THE HEAVIER RAINS ARE EXPECTED TO FALL MAINLY

TO THE NORTH AND EAST OF THE PATH...AND MAY CONTINUE WELL INTO

TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY OVER WEST ALABAMA.  RAINFALL AMOUNTS OVER THE

NEXT 18 HOURS WILL LIKELY REACH 3 INCHES OR MORE OVER MUCH OF THE

WATCH AREA...BUT ISOLATED AMOUNTS OF 6 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE.



PRIMARY CONCERN CENTERS ON EXCESSIVE RAINFALL AND FLASH FLOODING.

LONG TERM RIVER FLOODING COULD BECOME A CONCERN TOWARD THE MIDDLE AND

LATTER PART OF THE WEEK.  PEOPLE WITH INTERESTS ALONG RIVERS IN

CENTRAL AND SOUTH ALABAMA...SHOULD STAY INFORMED ON RIVER LEVELS.



A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS...CREEKS

AND OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS IS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA.  PEOPLE

IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEATHER AND BE PREPARED

FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION SHOULD HEAVY RAIN PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING OR A

FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED.

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