Flood dangers rise as storms dump more rain on Alabama

Marty Roney, Montgomery Advertiser
·2 min read

A wet weather pattern is expected to dump several inches of rain over Alabama through Tuesday, which could cause widespread flash flooding.

The National Weather Service office in Birmingham is forecasting 1 to 1-and-a-half inches for Tuscaloosa and Gadsden, 2 to 4 inches for the Montgomery area and 3 to 5 inches for a large portion of Southwest Alabama from Camden south and west.

The rain will come in three “waves,” said Josh Johnson, chief meteorologist for WSFA.

“We will see rain in two waves Monday and then another wave Tuesday,” he said. “Everyone will get 1 to 3 inches of rain. Tuesday’s rain will be more hit and miss than Monday. But if you get under one of the heavier thunderstorms Tuesday, you could get an additional 2 to 3 inches, or more.”

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Some of the storms could become severe, with flash flooding, high winds and hail possible, the NWS forecast predicts. The chance of a tornado is slim but still possible. Chances for severe weather are better for the area of Montgomery and then south, Johnson said.

Here are the forecasts for the period through midnight Wednesday:

  • Tuscaloosa: A 90 percent chance of rain Monday and 70 percent Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday should be clear with highs in the mid 80s.

  • Gadsden: An 80 percent chance of rain for Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday should be partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain, with clear conditions Thursday. Highs should be in the lower to mid 80s.

  • Montgomery: A 100 percent chance of rain Monday and 70 percent Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday should be clear with highs in the mid 80s.

Josh, Johnson, WSFA chief meteorologist

Forecasts are calling for more rain Friday for the state.

“Late in the week and into next week we have to look out for the possibility of river flooding,” Johnson said. “We saw heavy rains at the end of last week and the rivers are full. The rains this week are falling on already wet ground.

“So, river flooding is a possibility.”

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Heavy rains raise risk of flash flooding in Alabama