Flash Flood Guidance
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
501 AWUS01 KWNH 140256 FFGMPD FLZ000-ALZ000-MSZ000-140830- Mesoscale Precipitation Discussion 1156 NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 955 PM EST Wed Nov 13 2024 Areas affected...Eastern MS...Much of AL...Far Western FL Panhandle... Concerning...Heavy rainfall...Flash flooding possible Valid 140255Z - 140830Z SUMMARY...Intense thunderstorms capable of a quick sub-hourly 1-2" near the front pose mainly urban flash flooding threat, while slower moving more scattered supercells within the Coastal Plain may result in a axis or two of 3-4" totals with similar localized flash flooding concerns through early overnight period. DISCUSSION...GOES-E WV suite depict slightly below average closed low crossing IA/MO with a well defined cold front/warm conveyor belt system across the Lower Ohio, Western Tennessee River Valleys extending south into MS where it is interacting with enhanced deep layer moisture and remnant low level circulation energy of ex-TC Rafael. CIRA LPW and RAP analysis denote enhanced tropical moisture and higher than normal theta-E air extending northward along a core of 30-35kt 850 southerly low-level jet. However, the deepest moisture and unstable air remains further south, generally in the lower 2/3rds of eastern MS into western AL, with maximum unstable air of 2000-2500 J/kg along the central Gulf Coast. Strong height-falls and right entrance ascent to 3H 100 kt Jet in the central MS Valley is providing the oblique but sufficient intersection with the cold front to generate convective cells from Starkville/Columbus MS southward to the tail of the front/inflection near the apex of the remnants of Rafael east of McComb. Given the stronger LLJ/divergence aloft remains displaced from best moisture/instability, cells still remain potent with capability of generating 1-1.5" total though with waning instability, updrafts continue to diminish from north to south over the next few hours. Still, there are urban targets along this track and with the sub-hourly totals near or over 1hr FFG particularly north and west AL and west central MS remains at low end risk for localized flash flooding for the next few hours. Further south, slightly backed flow as a result of the sheared inflection from ex-Rafael, moisture/instability axis is extended a tad eastward. Effective bulk shear is stronger to the north but given stronger SBCAPEs and backed low level flow, the potential for widely scattered supercells remains possible. Slower eastward propagation combined with natural slowing of rotating cells, allows for increased duration. Combined with broader updraft and enhanced directional convergence at the base of the updrafts, greater moisture flux of higher surface to 850mb moisture (gnerally 1.5"-1.75 per CIRA LPW through 700mb) will increase rainfall efficiency and localized duration. Rates of 2-2.5"/hr with localized spot of 3"+ possible in 1-2 hours pose a flash flood risk, especially given recent above average rainfall per AHPS and lowered FFG values in S AL. However, currently the best candidate cells is along/just south of Mobile Bay and in Greene county MS moving into Washington AL. As such, flash flooding remains possible through the early overnight period as well across S AL into far W FL panhandle. Gallina ...Please see www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov for graphic product... ATTN...WFO...BMX...HUN...JAN...MOB... ATTN...RFC...LMRFC...SERFC...NWC... LAT...LON 34268695 34178620 33838592 33308574 32408606 31518649 30568702 30258757 30218794 30368823 30738837 31038898 31348964 32108965 33258859 33948776