After a slowing weather front that flooded Alabama, flash flood warnings were issued Thursday for large swathes of the southeastern U.S. Floods were responsible for the death of a child.
In just one day, 6 inches (15 cm) of rain fell as the low pressure system hovered over Alabama and Florida Panhandle. Although heavy rain was forecast for Thursday in metro Birmingham, where flash flood watches were in effect, meteorologists foresaw another wet day across most of the state, and parts of Florida.
Early Thursday, the Marshall County coroner’s Office tweeted that a child had died in the wake of flash flooding in Arab in northeast Alabama.
Rain caused havoc across North Alabama, submerging cars throughout metro Birmingham and parts the Tennessee Valley. As low visibility and standing water made travel dangerous in certain areas, rescue crews assisted motorists.
The Pelham Fire Department reported that 82 people were saved from their homes in Pelham, just outside Birmingham. More than 15 people were also pulled from their vehicles, after more than 13 inches of rain caused creeks and streams to overflow. The statement stated that more than 100 rescuers and 16 boats were involved in the effort.
South Alabama, near the Florida border, was inundated by water from the flood-prone Escambia County communities of Brewton & East Brewton. The water covered the streets and inundated businesses in an area shopping center that had several feet of water.
Three feet (1 meter) of water accumulated in the main grocery store Piggly Wiggly. Two schools were forced to cancel classes, according to Escambia Sheriff Heath Jackson.
Jackson stated that Jackson hopes that the rain will stop soon so that we can get some water out of here. Jackson also said that he would like to start helping businesses that have taken in water and see what he can do to help them.
Officials said that as high as 250,000 gallons (946,000 Liters) of wastewater overflowed Mobile Bay’s sewage system to the south in Baldwin County.
Forecasters predicted another 3 inches (8 cm) of rain, with the most heavy rains to the north.
Forecasters warned that severe storms and isolated tornadoes could be possible from a slow-moving, low pressure system, but they were most likely to occur in the afternoon. The National Weather Service issued tornado watches for northern Alabama, northwestern Georgia, and southern Tennessee.
As storms move eastward, rains will end in Alabama on Thursday. Flash flood warnings were in place through Friday along the weather front that extended from the Florida Panhandle to northern Georgia and mountainous areas of the eastern Tennessee, and the western Carolinas.
