OAK MOUNTAIN STATE PARK, Ala. — Rain moved over Oak Mountain State Park on Friday night, bringing welcome relief to an area where crews have spent the week battling a brush fire. Radar at 9:17 p.m. showed moderate to heavy rain centered directly over the park. No lightning strikes were detected with the rain, removing the risk of new fire starts. The timing could hardly have been better for firefighters working the area.
Heavy Rain Centered Directly Over Oak Mountain State Park
Radar imagery showed the most intense pocket of rain sitting right over Oak Mountain State Park and the nearby Watkins area. Yellow, orange, and red returns indicated moderate to heavy rainfall falling over the fire zone.
The rain extended south toward Blueberry Estates, Alabaster, and Siluria. Lighter rain covered a wider area stretching from Hoover and Helena east toward Chelsea and Westover.
No Lightning Detected With Friday Night Rain
Lightning data showed zero total strikes across the area at the time of the radar scan. There were no positive or negative strikes recorded with the rain moving over Shelby County.
That is a key detail during fire season, since lightning from storms can spark new fires in dry vegetation. Rain falling without lightning provides the benefits of moisture without adding new fire risks.
Crews Have Battled Brush Fire All Week
Firefighters have been working to contain a brush fire at Oak Mountain State Park throughout the week. Dry conditions across the region have made fire suppression more difficult…