Flash Flood — Pickens, Alabama

2009-01-06 · near Pickensville, Pickens, Alabama

Event narrative

Heavy rainfall produced flooding at several locations across Pickens County. At least 5 roads were closed due to high water, and 2 bridges were washed out. Flash flooding caused a bridge to wash out on Antioch Chuch Road, over Buncomb Creek. A mother and child subsequently drove off the washed out roadway, and drowned in the flood waters. A second vehicle following behind also drove into the creek at the same place, but the occupants were successfully rescued.

Wider weather episode

A slow moving frontal system caused several large areas of showers and thunderstorms to move across Central Alabama, during the period from January 5 to January 7. Some of the thunderstorms became severe, producing sporadic wind damage. Storm total rainfall from the storms ranged from 1 to 3 inches south of Interstate 20, to 3 to 7 inches north of the Interstate. The highest rainfall totals, of over 6 inches, occurred in a broad swath from Walker to Etowah Counties. Numerous locations, again mainly north of Interstate 20, saw significant flash flooding due to the heavy rainfall, which later turned into river flooding that lasted for several more days.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.2375, -88.3012)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 152629. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.