Birmingham, AL – Slow-moving thunderstorms are expected to develop across central Alabama Tuesday afternoon and evening, bringing the potential for intense rainfall, localized flash flooding, and hazardous travel conditions.
According to the National Weather Service in Birmingham, scattered showers and thunderstorms will be capable of producing rainfall rates exceeding 2 inches per hour, creating a Slight Risk of excessive rainfall across portions of central Alabama.
Forecasters say the greatest threat will occur this afternoon and evening, when repeated downpours could overwhelm drainage systems and lead to urban and street flooding, especially in low-lying and poor-drainage areas.
The outlook includes communities across the Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Clanton, Alexander City, Selma, and Auburn regions, where isolated flash flooding could develop if thunderstorms repeatedly move over the same locations.
While widespread flooding is not expected, any storm capable of producing torrential rainfall may quickly create dangerous conditions on roadways. Visibility can also be reduced significantly during the heaviest downpours.
The National Weather Service urges residents to have multiple ways to receive weather warnings and to avoid driving across flooded roads. Just a few inches of moving water can sweep away a vehicle, and water depth is often difficult to judge, particularly after dark.
Officials also recommend monitoring changing weather conditions if spending time outdoors, including at campsites or recreational areas where streams and creeks can rise rapidly following heavy rainfall.
Additional showers and thunderstorms are possible as the unsettled weather pattern continues, and residents should monitor the latest forecasts throughout the day.
