Severe Weather Disrupts Central Alabama with Flooding and Warnings

Birmingham, Alabama

Central Alabama has experienced significant weather disruptions over the past 48 hours, with widespread flooding leading to impassable roads, numerous water rescues, and a surge in vehicle crashes. Heavy rainfall, with totals reaching 2-4 inches in many areas and exceeding 4 inches in some, prompted multiple weather warnings and advisories across the region from Friday, January 9, 2026, into Saturday, January 10, 2026.

Authorities urged residents to exercise extreme caution, particularly regarding flooded roadways, emphasizing that the majority of flood-related fatalities occur when vehicles attempt to navigate water-covered areas. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued various alerts, including Flash Flood Warnings for parts of Jefferson and Shelby counties, encompassing the Birmingham metropolitan area, Hoover, and Vestavia Hills. A broader Flood Watch remained in effect for much of Central Alabama due to the continuous heavy rainfall and subsequent excessive runoff.

Immediate Impacts and Area-Specific Concerns

Reports from Friday, January 9, 2026, indicated that several bands of heavy rainfall had already delivered 1-2 inches of precipitation by early afternoon, with additional bands expected through the night. By Saturday morning, January 10, 2026, radar estimates showed widespread 2-4 inches of rain within 50 miles of I-20/59. This intense rainfall caused flash flooding in urban areas, underpasses, and small creeks, leading to hazardous driving conditions.

Specific locations identified as experiencing flash flooding included Birmingham, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Homewood, Pelham, Alabaster, Mountain Brook, Trussville, and Bessemer in Jefferson and Shelby counties. Other counties under Flood Advisories included Autauga, Dallas, and Perry, where small stream flooding caused by excessive rainfall was anticipated or ongoing. Minor flooding was also reported in low-lying and poor drainage areas throughout Chambers County.

Severe Weather Component

Beyond the flooding, the weather system also presented threats of severe thunderstorms, damaging wind gusts, hail, and the potential for tornadoes. A Tornado Watch was issued for portions of Central Alabama on Friday, January 9, 2026, extending into Saturday morning, January 10, 2026, as widespread heavy rain and strong thunderstorms moved through the region. Forecasters had warned that wind shear would increase, aiding in potential severe storm redevelopment into Saturday morning, particularly south of I-20.

The Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) had declared “First Warning Impact Days” for this period, highlighting the potential for significant disruptions to daily routines. Residents were advised to secure multiple warning sources, excluding outdoor sirens, and to be prepared for severe weather by seeking shelter in sturdy buildings on the lowest floor, with as many walls as possible between them and the outside.

Safety Guidelines and Outlook

Emergency services reiterated crucial safety advice: never drive into flooded roads, especially at night, as it is difficult to gauge water depth. It takes as little as 18 inches of standing water for a vehicle to lose contact with the road, and moving water can easily sweep a vehicle away. The storms were expected to taper off by late Saturday evening, January 10, 2026, with clearing conditions anticipated by Sunday.