Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 1989

Flash Flood Warning 7, NWS Charleston, WV

April 25, 1989Pocahontas County, Randolph County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Apr 25, 1989, 10:35 PM EDT for Pocahontas County, Randolph County, West Virginia. It was in force for 4 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: Apr 25, 1989, 10:35 PM EDT (02:35 UTC)
Expired: Apr 26, 1989, 3:00 AM EDT
In force: 4 hr
Issued by: NWS Charleston, WV
Area: Whole counties

Counties Pocahontas County, WV, Randolph County, WV

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 00:00Z, 2.6 hours before the alert went out and 207 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 1086 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 42 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 91 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KCRW 260236
FFWEKN
BULLETIN-EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON, WV
1035 PM EDT TUE APR 25 1989
WVC075-083-260700-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKINS WV
ISSUED BY CHARLESTON WV
1034 PM EDT TUE APR 25 1989

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A URBAN AND SMALL
STREAM FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 300 AM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN
THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES

   IN THE EAST CENTRAL PART OF WEST VIRGINIA
      POCAHONTAS...SOUTHERN RANDOLPH

AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BROUGHT SMALL STREAMS AND
CREEKS TO BANKFULL LEVELS.  ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS WILL
MOVE ACROSS THE COUNTIES UNTIL MIDNIGHT. THIS WILL CAUSE FLOODING
PROBLEMS IN THE WARNING AREA.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS ROADWAYS.
VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED IMMEDIATELY.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE
THE DANGERS OF FLOOD WATERS.  IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED...
ACT QUICKLY.  MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS.  DO
NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

 AAR

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 25, 5:40 PM EDT, 4 hours 55 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND
LATE AFTERNOON WEATHER STORY FOR THE MOUNTAINS AND WESTERN
SLOPES OF WEST VIRGINIA AND EXTREME SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
540 PM EDT TUE APR 25 1989

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA UNTIL 11 PM EDT...

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING FROM SOUTHEASTERN OHIO INTO
WEST VIRGINIA THIS AFTERNOON ACCOMPANIED BY HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND AREAS
OF LARGE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS. THE STORMS WERE MOVING RAPIDLY
SOUTHEAST.

THE STORMS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH A NEARLY STATIONARY FRONT STRETCHING
FROM SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA ACROSS CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA TO
NORTHWESTERN OHIO AND NORTHERN INDIANA. THE POSITION OF THE FRONT IS
NOT EXPECTED TO CHANGE MUCH DURING THE EVENING SO SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WILL THREATEN OUR FORECAST AREA THROUGH TONIGHT. THE
FRONT WILL REMAIN OVER THE MOUNTAIN STATE WEDNESDAY AND KEEP A CHANCE
OF THUNDERSTORMS FOR ANOTHER DAY.

AT 5 PM TEMPERATURES RANGED FROM THE 70S AND LOWER 80S IN THE SOUTH TO
50S AND LOWER 60S IN THE NORTH WHERE MUCH OF THE PRECIPITATION HAS
FALLEN DURING THE AFTERNOON. OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL BE IN THE 50S TO
LOWER 60S.

WARM WEATHER WIHLL CONTINUE WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WITH AFTERNOON HIGHS
IN THE MID 70S TO LOWER 80S.

END/AQD

Special weather statement, Apr 25, 7:58 PM EDT, 2 hours 37 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
750 PM EDT TUE APR 25 1989

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL
WEST VIRGINIA UNTIL 1100 PM EDT.  A WATCH MEANS THAT A POTENTIAL EXISTS
FOR SEVERE WEATHER.  WEST VIRGINIA COUNTIES IN THE WATCH AREA INCLUDE...

BRAXTON...CALHOUN...CLAY...FAYETTE...GILMER...GREENBRIER...JACKSON...
KANAWHA...LEWIS...MASON...MERCER...MONROE...NICHOLAS...PENDLETON...
POCAHONTAS...PUTNAM...RALEIGH...RANDOLPH...ROANE...SUMMERS...UPSHUR...
AND WEBSTER.

AT THIS TIME...THUNDERSTORMS ARE SCATTERED ACROSS OHIO...WEST VIRGINIA
...AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA.  THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING SOUTH
EASTWARD AT 40 MPH ALONG A BAND THROUGH CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA BOUNDED
ON THE SOUTH BY PARKERSBURG WV AND LEWISBURG WV AND ON THE NORTH BY
WHEELING WV...CLARKSBURG WV...AND ELKINS WV.  MORE INTENSIFYING
THUNDERSTORMS ARE NEAR COLUMBUS OH AND MOVING TOWARD WEST VIRGINIA.

WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS INCLUDES WIDESPREAD LARGE
HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS THAT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN FATILITIES...VERY HEAVY
RAINS THAT HAVE LEFT UP TO 1 1/2 INCHES IN A FEW MINUTES...AND EXTREMELY
INTENSE ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY.  DETAILS ARE IN OUR LOCAL STORM REPORT.

THE THUNDERSTORMS NOW OVER WEST VIRGINIA...AND THE LARGE...INTENSE
THUNDERSTORMS RACING THROUGH OHIO TOWARD WEST VIRGINIA WILL PROBABLY
CONTINUE TO PRODUCE WIDESPREAD SEVERE AND DESTRUCTIVE WEATHER THROUGH
THE ENTIRE EVENING.

LISTEN FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS HAVING TO DO WITH THIS
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM SITUATION.  BE AWARE THAT TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS
UPON AREAS ALREAY SOAKED BY THUNDERSTORMS WILL...IN SOME AREAS...
RESULT IN LOCAL AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING.  AND BE AWARE THAT LIGHTNING
KILLS MORE PEOPLE EACH YEAR THAN TORNADOES.  FINALLY...DO NOT APPROACH
OR DRIVE INTO AREAS COVERED BY WATER.  PROTECT YOURSELF BY STAYING
INDOORS AND USING JUDGEMENT IF YOU ARE APPROACHED BY A THUNDERSTORM.

END/PARKE

Special weather statement, Apr 25, 8:13 PM EDT, 2 hours 22 minutes before

BULLETIN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY, WV
810 PM EDT TUE APR 25 1989

AT 807 PM BECKLEY RADAR SHOWED HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS OVER SUMMERS COUNTY
NEAR HINTON. THE!SE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT AROUND 45 MPH AND
WILL MOVE INTO MONROE COUNTY BY 830 THIS EVENING.

THESE STORMS MAY CONTAIN VERY HEAVY RAIN..HAIL..AND GUSTY WINDS AS THEY
PASS OVERHEAD.

END/CDB

Local storm report, Apr 25, 8:52 PM EDT, 1 hour 43 minutes before

LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
900 PM TUE APR 25 1988

SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS DURING EARLY AFTERNOON OF APRIL 25 1989...

A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED GUSTY WINDS...HAIL...AND BRIEFLY
HEAVY RAIN AS IT SWEPT THROUGH CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA.  HERE IS A
LIST OF OFFICIAL REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

1240 PM......RITCHIE COUNTY...LARGE LIMBS DOWN FROM THUNDERSTORM.
             POWER OUTAGES RESULTED.

230 PM.......GREENBRIER COUNTY...INTENSE STORM WITH GOLFBALL SIZE
             HAIL DRIVEN BY A VIOLENT WIND THAT DESTROYED A HOUSE
             UNDER CONSTRUCTION...KILLING ONE AND SERIOUSLY INJURING
             ANOTHER.

630 PM.......BRAXTON COUNTY...WINDSTORM WITH ONE INCH HAIL IN HEATERS/
             FLATWOODS TORE PART OF ROOF OFF ARMORY AND SMASHED WINDOWS
             OF A HIGH SCHOOL IN SUTTON.

645 PM.......WEBSTER COUNTY...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND VIOLENT WIND
             IN WEBSTER SPRINGS SMASHED AUTO WINDOWS AND WINDOWS OF
             AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.  NUMEROUS TREES ARE DOWN.

830 PM.......WEBSTER COUNTY...WEBSTER SPRINGS REPORTED FOUR VIOLENT
             THUNDERSTORMS IN THE PAST FEW HOURS...ALL WITH DESTRUCTIVE
             WINDS AND LARGE HAIL...MUCH GOLF BALL SIZE.  THERE IS
             NOW THREE INCHES OF HAIL ON THE GROUND THROUGHOUT THE
             WHOLE AREA.

THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING WEST VIRGINIA COUNTIES WITH SEVERAL
REPORTS OF LARGE HAIL INCLUDED BRAXTON...CALHOUN...GILMER...GREENBRIER
...JACKSON...KANAWHA...RITCHIE...ROANE...WEBSTER...WIRT...AND WOOD.

EACH THUNDERSTORM LEFT UP TO 1.50 INCH OF RAIN IN A SHORT TIME...AND
MANY AREAS THAT HAVE HAD SEVERAL THUNDERSTORMS AhRE REPORTING SMALL
STREAM FLOODING.

END/PARKE

Local storm report, Apr 25, 8:55 PM EDT, 1 hour 40 minutes before

LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
900 PM TUE APR 25 1988

SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS REPORTED DURING APRIL 25 1989 INCLUDED...

CLUSTERS AND LINES OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED WIDESPREAD LARGE
HAIL...DESTRUCTIVE WINDS...INTENSE LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY RAIN.  HERE
IS A LIST OF OFFICIAL REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

1240 PM......RITCHIE COUNTY...LARGE LIMBS DOWN FROM THUNDERSTORM.
             POWER OUTAGES RESULTED.

230 PM.......GREENBRIER COUNTY...INTENSE STORM WITH GOLFBALL SIZE
             HAIL DRIVEN BY A VIOLENT WIND THAT DESTROYED A HOUSE
             UNDER CONSTRUCTION...KILLING ONE AND SERIOUSLY INJURING
             ANOTHER.

630 PM.......BRAXTON COUNTY...WINDSTORM WITH ONE INCH HAIL IN HEATERS/
             FLATWOODS TORE PART OF ROOF OFF ARMORY AND SMASHED WINDOWS
             OF A HIGH SCHOOL IN SUTTON.

645 PM.......WEBSTER COUNTY...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND VIOLENT WIND
             IN WEBSTER SPRINGS SMASHED AUTO WINDOWS AND WINDOWS OF
             AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.  NUMEROUS TREES ARE DOWN.

830 PM.......WEBSTER COUNTY...WEBSTER SPRINGS REPORTED FOUR VIOLENT
             THUNDERSTORMS IN THE PAST FEW HOURS...ALL WITH DESTRUCTIVE
             WINDS AND LARGE HAIL...MUCH GOLF BALL SIZE.  THERE IS
             NOW THREE INCHES OF HAIL ON THE GROUND THROUGHOUT THE
             WHOLE AREA.

THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING WEST VIRGINIA COUNTIES WITH SEVERAL
REPORTS OF LARGE HAIL INCLUDED BRAXTON...CALHOUN...GILMER...GREENBRIER
...JACKSON...KANAWHA...RITCHIE...ROANE...WEBSTER...WIRT...AND WOOD.

EACH THUNDERSTORM LEFT UP TO 1.50 INCH OF RAIN IN A SHORT TIME...AND
MANY AREAS THAT HAVE HAD SEVERAL THUnNDERSTORMS ARE REPORTING SMALL
STREAM FLOODING.

END/PARKE

Local storm report, Apr 25, 9:41 PM EDT, 54 minutes before

^CRWLSRBKW

LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
940 PM EDT TUE APR 25 1989

245PM EDT...GREENBRIER COUNTY...64 YEAR OLD WOMAN STRUCK BY LIGHTING
            IN SERIOUS CONDITION. REPORT RECEIVED BY COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT.

248PM EDT...GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN LEWISBURG BY WDBJ-TV.

558PM EDT...GREENBRIER COUNTY... SHERIFF DEPT. REPORTED 3/4 INCH
             HAIL NEAR TROUT...25 MILES NNE OF LEWISBURG.

END/RJC

The office that day

Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 25, 10:08 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Webster	4 hr
Apr 25, 10:43 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RLX	Kanawha, Putnam	77 min
Apr 26, 12:54 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Braxton	5 hr
Apr 26, 12:54 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Upshur	5 hr
Apr 26, 12:54 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Calhoun, Ritchie, Wirt, Wood	5 hr
Apr 26, 12:54 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Doddridge, Gilmer, Lewis	5 hr
Apr 26, 1:20 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Webster	6 hr
Apr 26, 1:39 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RLX	Pocahontas, Randolph	6 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in West Virginia, 1989 Every flash flood warning in 1989

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.