National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

The remnants of Tropical Storm Lee slowly moved across central Alabama Sunday, September 4th through Tuesday, September 6th.  Several locations received beneficial rainfall, however, very heavy rainfall for an extended amount of time across northern portions of the state caused significant flash flooding, as well as river flooding. The significant flash flooding occurred throughout the Birmingham metro area and as a result, several high water rescues were performed. Additionally, numerous roadways were impassible and 13 counties in the Birmingham County Warning Area suffered some sort of flash flooding. Rainfall amounts were considerably lower across southeastern portions of the state, where drought conditions will improve slightly, but not enough to end the long-term drought that is currently in place.

In addition to the heavy rainfall and flooding, there were strong, widespread gusty winds which downed trees across many counties in north-central Alabama and there were two confirmed tornadoes.  Click on the following links for the pertinents about the tornado and additional data:

EF-0 Tornado in Etowah County

EF-0 Tornado in Hale County

Tropical Cyclone Lee Report

2011 Atlantic Tropical Season Graphic

NWS Mobile Report

Tropical Storm Lee Information

NOAA Extreme Weather Tropical Storm Lee

NWS Jackson Report

The following tables list measured peak wind gusts at various locations around central Alabama on September 5th:

Unofficial (public) observations:

County............Location..............Max Gust

   Jefferson.......3 W Birmingham.....63.5
Jefferson.......Center Point.............55
Jefferson.......Bessemer.................55
Shelby...........Chelsea.....................55
Blount............Straight Mountain.....53
Tuscaloosa...Coaling......................51
Jefferson.......Trussville...................50
Tuscaloosa...Northport...................50
Dallas............Millers Ferry..............47
Etowah..........Hokes Bluff...............46
Jefferson.......Hoover......................45
Cherokee......Cedar Bluff...............44
Jefferson.......Hueytown..................40
Jefferson.......Mountain Brook........35

Official ASOS/AWOS observations:

County............Location...................Max Gust

Jefferson........Birmingham (BHM).......48
Shelby............Calera (EET).................48
Calhoun..........Anniston (ANB).............44
Pike................Troy (TOI).......................43
Tuscaloosa....Tuscaloosa (TCL).........43
Montgomery...Montgomery (MGM).....40
Lee..................Auburn (AUO)...............38