FloodZoneMap.org

Flash Flood — Tuscaloosa, AL

Sep 18, 2021

A tropical air mass covered Alabama on September 18-19 with precipitable water values over 2 inches. An nearly stationary upper low near the Texas and Louisiana state line provided lift and instability for showers and thunderstorms across the Central Gulf States. An inverted surface trough was located along the I-20 corridor on September 18th, and provided a focus for slow moving thunderstorms that produced flash flooding across Tuscaloosa, Jefferson and Shelby counties. The upper trough moved s

Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database (event 984795). Narrative written by NWS staff at the time of the event.

Flood Risk Context for Tuscaloosa, AL

This event is one of many recorded floods in Tuscaloosa County. See the full FEMA flood zone map, NFIP claim totals, and disaster history for the area.

View Tuscaloosa County flood data →

More Flood Stories

Flash Flood3 deaths

Tuscaloosa, AL · Mar 22, 2022

Several supercell thunderstorms developed ahead of a QLCS in advance of a cold front. One supercell produced three weak tornadoes, with another QLCS producing a weak tornado.

Read the full account →
Tropical Storm$5.5M damage

Tuscaloosa, AL · Aug 29, 2005

Hurricane Katrina made landfall along the Gulf Coast early Monday morning August 29, 2005 as a large category four hurricane. Sustained winds were around 145 mph in southeast Louisiana. Katrina continued northward affecting areas from New Orleans to Mobile.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood$3.4M damage

Tuscaloosa, AL · Jun 19, 2021

Heavy rainfall and strong winds impacted much of Central Alabama June 19-20 as the Tropical Depression Claudette moved across the area. Significant flooding occurred along the I-20 corridor where storm total amounts were in the 3-6 inch range, with isolated amounts near 8…

Read the full account →
Flash Flood

Tuscaloosa, AL · Apr 6, 2025

Deep-layer ridging over the Southeast United States held up a trough over the Central United States for the first few days of April, leading to a prolonged and significant severe weather and flooding event from Texas to Ohio and West Virginia along a stalled boundary.

Read the full account →