Flash Flood — Shelby, Alabama

1998-01-07 · near Countywide, Shelby, Alabama

Wider weather episode

A strong low pressure system move over Alabama from the Gulf of Mexico, bringing heavy rain to the state. Rivers, creeks and ditches were all out of their banks. Numerous streets were closed due to water over the road. Bridges were washed out in Cullman, Etowah, and Marshall counties. A five year old girl was killed in Shelby county when she was playing in a storm drain and was sucked in and couldn't get out. There were numerous traffic accidents due to wet roads and several motorist were stranded on top of there cars while trying to cross flooded roads. The following counties were affected by the flooding. Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Limestone, Lawrence, Morgan, Madison, Jackson, Marshall, DeKalb, Marion, Winston, Cullman, Blount, Etowah, Lamar, Fayette, Walker, Jefferson, St. Clair, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Shelby, Sumter, Greene, Hale, Perry, Chilton, Coosa, Marengo, Dallas, Autauga, Lowndes, Montgomery, Cherokee, Calhoun, Cleburne, Talladega, Clay, Randolph, Tallapoosa, Chambers, Lee, Elmore, Macon, Russell, Bullock, Barbour, and Pike. Every county received over two inches with several counties receiving over six inches. F005 A few of the higher rainfall totals were: Blount Co 8.25" Tuscaloosa Co 6.48" Lamar Co 6.42" Jefferson Co 6.42" Pickens Co 6.27" Marshall Co 6.16"

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5628562. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.