Flash Flood — Jefferson, Alabama

2026-01-09 · near Mc Calla, Jefferson, Alabama

Event narrative

Heavy rainfall led to flash flooding around the cities of Birmingham and Bessemer. Water rescues were reported in Birmingham along 27th Ave N, 31st St N near 7th Ave N, near 1st Ave N and 50th St N. Valley Creek at Center St crested in minor flood stage at 11.45 ft at 4:15 pm, resulting in downstream flooding at Harmer St and McLaughlin St. In Bessemer, flooding was reported on 4th Ave SW and Sam Dr.

Wider weather episode

A multi-wave severe event unfolded from the afternoon of January 9 through the morning of January 10. While the first wave featured no severe thunderstorms, heavy rainfall over Birmingham led to numerous flooding issues. Early the next morning, additional heavy rainfall led to more flooding issues in parts of Jefferson, Shelby, and St. Clair counties. A bowing line segment moved across Marengo, Dallas, Autauga, Elmore, Montgomery, and Lee counties, with scattered instances of wind damage. In addition, a cell in advance of the main QLCS produced an EF-0 tornado in northern Cleburne County.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.3048, -86.9765)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1300211. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.