Storms bring flooding to Alabama
FLORENCE, Ala. - Storms that spawned deadly winds have dumped more than 2 inches of rain across much of north Alabama, causing floods after months of drought.
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for much of north Alabama on Wednesday while storms were still dousing the region with heavy rains.
Police in the northwest Alabama city of Florence put out barriers to block roads that flooded with as much as 2 feet of water when fallen leaves clogged blocked drainage during torrential downpours. The weather service says streams were cresting in western Alabama after as much as 4 inches of rain.
The entire state is locked in a severe drought and some areas haven't had measurable rain for more than two months before the storms moved through.
The state climatologist, John Christy, says more than 1 inch of rain is needed weekly to end the drought.