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by Staff Reports

Between 8-10 inches of rain fell in the Atmore area on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

A slow moving early April weather system brought a period of excessive rainfall and flooding problems over portions of the central Gulf coast. On the afternoon of Sunday, a cold front was approaching the National Weather Service (NWS) Mobile forecast area, but only creeping eastward as it started to move in. Out ahead of the front, a warm, plume of rich moisture was streaming northward off the Gulf. This combined with the larger scale ascent from the slow eastward advance of the front resulted in an excessive, high impact rainfall across portions of the coast.

Forecasters said between 6-12 inches of rain fell from central Mobile County into Baldwin County Sunday.

Forecasters said the highest rainfall accumulation of 6-12 inches was in a part from central Mobile County into Baldwin County, from Daphne, northeast to Stapleton, including Spanish Fort.

“From there, the heavy rain extended into southwest Escambia County in Ala. and northern Escambia County in Florida,” NWS officials said. “Elsewhere, many areas saw 3-6 inches of rain over several areas. The rain gauge swelled to a record setting daily rainfall at Mobile Regional, measuring 6.51 inches, which nearly doubled the last record on this date of 3.65 inches set way back in 1918. The heaviest rains appeared more focused in and near Spanish Fort where 10-12 of rainfall was measured.”

NWS officials said there was a rapid downstream response with the Styx and Fish Rivers in Baldwin County going into moderate to major flood stage. Several other rivers over the local area were dealing with minor flooding problems. Numerous reports were received of water covered, impassable roads with cars stalled out. The long duration and intensity of the rainfall resulted in multiple high water rescues from downtown Mobile, to in and near Spanish Fort.