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WGUS74 KBMX 240228

FFSBHM

ALC033-059-071-077-079-083-089-093-103-133-240600-



FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL

825 PM CST WED JAN 23 2002



...FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS FOR LAUDERDALE AND LIMESTONE COUNTIES HAVE

   BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE...

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT TONIGHT AND THURSDAY FOR MOST

   OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AND NORTHWEST ALABAMA...



THE LARGE AREA OF HEAVY RAINFALL...WHICH AFFECTED EXTREME NORTHWEST

ALABAMA EARLIER TODAY...HAS MOVED NORTHWARD OUT OF THE STATE THIS

EVENING.  AS OF 8 PM...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS IN LAUDERDALE

COUNTY STILL REPORTED CONSIDERABLE STANDING WATER ON SECONDARY

ROADS...AND SMALL STREAMS OUT OF THEIR BANKS OVER MUCH OF THE

COUNTY.  HOWEVER...THE WATER HAS RECEDED SOMEWHAT ACROSS MOST OF THE

AREA.  IN LIMESTONE COUNTY...CONDITIONS HAVE ALSO IMPROVED...AND

OFFICIALS REPORT...FEW IF ANY...ROAD FLOODING PROBLEMS AT THE PRESENT

TIME.



SINCE ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL IS NOT OCCURRING OR IMMINENT...THE

FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS FOR LAUDERDALE AND LIMESTONE COUNTIES HAVE

BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.  HOWEVER...IT SHOULD BE STRESSED THAT MANY

ROADS IN LAUDERDALE COUNTY REMAIN CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER...AND

THIS WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO BE THE CASE FOR MOST OF THE NIGHT.

MOTORISTS VENTURING OUT TONIGHT SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR ROAD

CLOSURES...AND ABSOLUTELY AVOID DRIVING INTO FLOWING WATERS...

AND WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH.



ANOTHER ROUND OF HEAVY RAIN WILL AFFECT THE TENNESSEE VALLEY...EITHER

LATE TONIGHT OR DURING THE MORNING ON THURSDAY. WITH SOIL CONDITIONS

ALREADY QUITE WET AND STREAMS NEAR BANK-FULL...IT WILL NOT TAKE A LOT

OF ADDITIONAL RAINFALL TO CAUSE RENEWED FLASH FLOODING ACROSS THE

AREA.



STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR COMMERCIAL RADIO AND TV FOR

LATER STATEMENTS ON THIS FLOODING SITUATION.



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