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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1148 AM CDT TUE APR 21 2026
TO: SUBSCRIBERS – FAMILY OF SERVICES AND NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE
AND OTHER NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PARTNERS, USERS AND EMPLOYEES
FROM: MICHAEL GARRISON - SENIOR SERVICE HYDROLOGIST
SUBJECT: UPGRADING RIVER FORECAST SERVICES FROM FLOOD-ONLY TO DAILY
ISSUANCE FOR SELECTED LOCATIONS IN CENTRAL ALABAMA
EFFECTIVE MAY 18, 2026, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (NWS)
BIRMINGHAM OFFICE IN COORDINATION WITH THE SOUTHEAST RIVER FORECAST
CENTER (SERFC) WILL UPGRADE HYDROLOGIC SERVICES FOR 8 RIVER GAUGE
LOCATIONS. SERVICES FOR THESE 8 LOCATIONS WILL TRANSITION FROM
“FLOOD-ONLY” ISSUANCE OF THE FIVE-DAY FORECAST TO DAILY ROUTINE
FORECASTS.
PREVIOUSLY, THESE LOCATIONS WERE DESIGNATED AS FLOOD-ONLY FORECAST
POINTS, MEANING THE FIVE-DAY FORECAST WAS ONLY PROVIDED BY SERFC
HYDROLOGISTS WHEN RIVER LEVELS WERE EXPECTED TO RISE NEAR OR ABOVE
MINOR FLOOD STAGE. FOLLOWING INQUIRIES FROM PARTNERS AND USERS, THE
SERFC WILL NOW PROVIDE DAILY, YEAR-ROUND FORECAST INFORMATION FOR
THESE SITES.
THIS TRANSITION PROVIDES SEVERAL BENEFITS:
* ENHANCED SITUATIONAL AWARENESS: PROVIDES VALUABLE DATA DURING
DROUGHT AND/OR LOW FLOW CONDITIONS, NOT JUST FLOOD EVENTS.
* RECREATIONAL SAFETY: SUPPORTS ENHANCED SERVICES FOR RECREATIONAL
INTERESTS AND PUBLIC SAFETY ALONG RIVER REACHES.
* CONSISTENCY: DAILY MODELING OF POINTS SITUATED BETWEEN OR ABOVE
EXISTING DAILY FORECAST LOCATIONS ENSURES A MORE SEAMLESS
HYDROLOGIC PROFILE ACROSS THE AREA.
THE ENHANCED FORECASTS WILL BE INTEGRATED INTO THE EXISTING SERFC
WORKFLOW AND DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE LOCAL NWS OFFICE TO THE ONLINE
NATIONAL WATER PREDICTION SERVICE (WATER.NOAA.GOV). NOTE: NOT ALL
RIVER FORECAST POINTS WILL TRANSITION TO A DAILY FORECAST FREQUENCY.
IN SOME CASES, A RIVER GAUGE LOCATION WILL REMAIN "FLOOD-ONLY" DUE TO
HYDROPOWER RELEASES, LOW-FLOW MODELING COMPLEXITIES, OR INSTANCES
WHERE FORECASTS ARE GENERATED LOCALLY BY THE NWS BIRMINGHAM OFFICE
RATHER THAN THE SERFC.
THE FOLLOWING GAUGES WILL TRANSITION TO DAILY ISSUANCE. SITES ARE
LISTED BY FORECAST GROUPING, NAME, NWS ID (LINKED TO THE NWPS PAGE),
AND USGS ID.
ALABAMA RIVER FORECAST GROUP
* CATOMA CREEK | CATA1 | USGS 02421000
BLACK WARRIOR RIVER FORECAST GROUP
* LOCUST FORK AT SAYRE | SAYA1 | USGS 02456500
* BLACK WARRIOR RIVER BELOW SELDEN DAM | WLDA1 | USGS 02466030
CAHABA RIVER FORECAST GROUP
* CAHABA RIVER NEAR CAHABA HEIGHTS | CHGA1 | USGS 02423425
* CAHABA RIVER AT CENTREVILLE | CKLA1 | USGS 02424000
* CAHABA RIVER AT SUTTLE | SUTA1 | USGS 02424590
* CAHABA RIVER AT MARION JUNCTION | MNJA1 | USGS 02425000
TOMBIGBEE RIVER FORECAST GROUP
* SUCARNOOCHEE RIVER AT LIVINGSTON | LVNA1 | USGS 02467500
FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING THESE CHANGES, PLEASE CONTACT:
MICHAEL GARRISON
SENIOR SERVICE HYDROLOGIST, NWS BIRMINGHAM
EMAIL: MICHAEL.GARRISON@NOAA.GOV
OFFICE PHONE: 205-664-3010
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