Alabama Can Expect Days of Rain, Potential Flooding

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2019/02/5939812628_7f22121e62_flood.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:500;s:6:"height";i:374;s:4:"file";s:39:"2019/02/5939812628_7f22121e62_flood.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:7:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:39:"5939812628_7f22121e62_flood-336x251.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:251;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:39:"5939812628_7f22121e62_flood-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:37:"5939812628_7f22121e62_flood-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:39:"5939812628_7f22121e62_flood-500x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:500;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:39:"5939812628_7f22121e62_flood-416x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:416;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:39:"5939812628_7f22121e62_flood-354x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:354;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:39:"5939812628_7f22121e62_flood-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:1:{s:4:"full";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:37:"The backup directory is not writable.";}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:0;s:14:"optimized_size";i:0;s:7:"percent";i:0;}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => error
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 0
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Howard Lake
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] =>  Flickr
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1654532372 
1550581284

Rain is forecast for Alabama this week. A lot of rain.

On Monday, the National Weather Service issued a flood watch through Friday morning for roughly north of Interstate 59/20. That area could see up to 6 inches of rain this week.

John De Block, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Birmingham, says the heavy rain is partly due to El Niño, the periodic warming of the Pacific Ocean off the South American coast. The phenomenon has meant a wet winter already.

“So this additional rainfall that’s going to fall is going to pretty much immediately go into runoff,” De Block says. “We are expecting some significant rises on area rivers, lakes and streams.”

De Block says those living near water and low-lying areas should be on guard. He says with enough lead time, people can sandbag structures or move property to higher ground. But that shouldn’t be done at the expense of people’s lives.

“A lot of times people will wait, have offers to be moved to higher ground. They wait and they wait and before you know it they have to be rescued,” De Block says.

De Block says the general public should not drive over water-covered roadways. Floodwater can wash away roads that can’t been seen by drivers.

“The best bet is to turn around and don’t drown,” De Block says.

Photo by HowardLake

 

Hiring slowed in May, as employers added 139,000 jobs

U.S. employers added 139,000 jobs in May — a modest slowdown from the previous month. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%, as the workforce shrank.

How to watch the 2025 Tony Awards on Sunday

The 78th annual Tony Awards are Sunday, June 8. Here's where to stream.

A Song for the Cahaba River

As the Cahaba’s “charismatic” namesake lily blooms, an old festival and a new musical tribute celebrate Alabama’s longest free-flowing river.

3 years in, Sandy Hook families still wait to collect what Alex Jones owes them

The Infowars founder declared bankruptcy after families sued him for defamation and won more than a billion dollars in damages, but Jones has yet to pay them a dime.

Russia launches massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine, killing 3 in Kyiv

President Trump said the Russian leader Vladimir Putin had warned that he would retaliate for a covert Ukrainian attack in Russia last weekend that destroyed dozens of Russian bombers.

A surprise find in Michigan shows the extent of ancient Native American agriculture

Hundreds of acres in Michigan are covered in parallel rows of earth that are the remains of an ancient Native American agricultural system. The surprise find has archaeologists amazed.

More Front Page Coverage