Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990

Flash Flood Warning 1, NWS Wakefield, VA

May 26, 1990Lancaster County, Northumberland County, Virginia

NWS Wakefield, VA issued this flash flood warning at May 26, 1990, 10:27 PM EDT for Lancaster County, Northumberland County, Virginia. It was in force for 108 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 26, 1990, 10:27 PM EDT (02:27 UTC)
Expired
May 27, 1990, 12:15 AM EDT
In force
108 min
Issued by
NWS Wakefield, VA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Lancaster County, VA, Northumberland County, VA

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

Wallops Is Stn, VA (KWAL), launched 00:00Z, 2.5 hours before the alert went out and 93 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 00:00Z on 1990-05-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 757 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 00:00Z on 1990-05-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 124 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
757 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-15 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
883 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
124 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
147 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.6
Supercell composite
2.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

The text of this product is not in the archive. The NWS text archive before 2002 is incomplete.

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, May 26, 7:42 PM EDT, 2 hours 45 minutes before
VAZ-006-007-017-018-DDHHMM-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
 630 PM EDT SAT MAY 26 1990

 ...IT ISNT OVER YET...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS STILL PERSIST OVER
PORTIONS OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA...

DURING THE PAST HOUR...THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OVER CENTRAL
VIRGINIA HAS DIMINISHED SOMEWHAT...BUT THERE ARE STILL A FEW STORMS
AROUND. THE STRONGEST STORMS ARE OVER PRINCE GEORGE AND FLUVANNA
COUNTIES.  MOVEMENT IS TOWARD THE EAST ABOUT 40 MPH.

ANOTHER LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IS MOVING INTO THE
WESTERN PORTION OF VIRGINIA AS OF THIS TIME.  THE AREA EXTENDS
FROM THE ACTIVITY IN LOUISA AND FLUVANNA COUNTIES...SOUTHWEST TO     .
ALLEGHANY COUNTY...AND NORTHWARD.  MOVEMENT OF THIS AREA IS TOWARD
THE EAST ABOUT 40 MPH.  THIS MEANS THAT CENTRAL VIRGINIA WILL GET
ANOTHER BATCH OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LATER THIS EVENING...
SO IT ISNT OVER YET.
SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE STRONG AND GUS_TY WINDS...
HAIL AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS NEEDED.

HS
Special weather statement, May 26, 7:45 PM EDT, 2 hours 42 minutes before
VAZ-006-007-017-018-DDHHMM-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
740 PM EDT SAT MAY 26 1990

 ...IT ISNT OVER YET...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS STILL PERSIST OVER
PORTIONS OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA...

DURING THE PAST HOUR...THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OVER CENTRAL
VIRGINIA HAS DIMINISHED SOMEWHAT...BUT THERE ARE STILL A FEW STORMS
AROUND. THE STRONGEST STORMS ARE OVER PRINCE GEORGE AND FLUVANNA
COUNTIES.  MOVEMENT IS TOWARD THE EAST ABOUT 40 MPH.

ANOTHER LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IS MOVING INTO THE
WESTERN PORTION OF VIRGINIA AS OF THIS TIME.  THE AREA EXTENDS
FROM THE ACTIVITY IN LOUISA AND FLUVANNA COUNTIES...SOUTHWEST TO     .
ALLEGHANY COUNTY...AND NORTHWARD.  MOVEMENT OF THIS AREA IS TOWARD
THE EAST ABOUT 40 MPH.  THIS MEANS THAT CENTRAL VIRGINIA WILL GET
ANOTHER BATCH OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LATER THIS EVENING...
SO IT ISNT OVER YET.
SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE STROcNG AND GUSTY WINDS...
HAIL AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS NEEDED.

HS
Special weather statement, May 26, 9:20 PM EDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before
VAZ001>004-270230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORFOLK VA
9:15 PM EDT SAT MAY 26 1990

...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE ACROSS THE EASTERN SHORE...
   CHESAPEAKE BAY...AND NORTHERN NECK OF VIRGINIA...

AT 915 PM WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A LARGE BAND OF SHOWERS AND STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM THE EASTERN SHORE WESTWARD ACROSS THE
CHESAPEAKE BAY THROUGH THE NORTHERN NECK OF VIRGINIA THEN FURTHER
WEST TO NEAR CHARLOTTESVILLE VIRGINIA.

THERE WAS ALSO A SMALL AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS FROM
NEWPORT NEWS EAST ACROSS THE LOWER BAY TO NEAR CAPE HENRY VIRGINIA.

THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST AND EAST-SOUTHEAST
AT 30 TO 40 MPH AND WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE CHESAPEAKE BAY...
EASTERN SHORE AND NORTHERN NECK FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS.
>
THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...STRONG
AND GUSTY WINDS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAINFALL.

HEAVY RAINFALL OF 1 TO 2 INCHES HAS BEEN REPORTED THIS EVENING
FROM THE NORTHERN NECK.  THERE COULD BE SOME PONDING OF WATER
ON ROADS...SO IF YOU ARE DRIVING IN THE NORTHERN NECK TONIGHT
PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION

SPECIAL MARINE WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE CHESAPEAKE BAY
SOUTH OF THE POTOMAC RIVER TO WINDMILL POINT AND FOR THE COASTAL
WATERS FROM CHINCOTEAGUE TO PARRAMORE ISLAND UNTIL 10:00 PM EDT.
A SPECIAL MARINE WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE LOWER BAY
UNTIL 9:30 PM EDT.

STAY TUNED TO TV...RADIO...ANOD NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER
UPDATES.

WALSTON
Special weather statement, May 26, 9:33 PM EDT, 54 minutes before
VAZ-006-007-010-017-018-DDHHMM-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
 930 PM EDT SAT MAY 26 1990

 ...MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HEADING ACROSS VIRGINIA....

AT 930PM EDT...RADAR SHOWS A LARGE AREA OF RAIN...WITH EMBEDDED
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...MOVING RAPIDLY ACROSS VIRGINIA.
MOVEMENT IS TOWARD THE EAST ABOUT 30 TO 40 MPH.

THE LEADING EDGE OF THIS AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTEND
FROM CAROLINE COUNTY SOUTHWEST THROUGH HANOVER...GOOCHLAND...
BUCKINGHAM...CAMPBELL...AND HENRY COUNTIES. A STRONGER LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS IN THIS AREA OF PRECIPITATION EXTENDS FROM WESTERN
GOOCHLAND COUNTY SOUTHWESTWARD THROUGH BUCKINGHAM COUNTY...INTO
NORTH CAROLINA.  SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS IN THIS LINE MAY PRODUCE
STRONG GUSTY WINDS...HAIL AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL.  SEVERAL
REPORTS INDICATE OVER HALF AN INCH OF RAINFALL WITHIN A VERY SHORT
TIME. SOME SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS HAVE BEEN REPORTED...BUT NON[E
 NO DAMAGE HAS BEEN REPORTED THUS FAR.

THIS AREA OF RAIN, SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS VIRGINIA
WILL  LIKELY REACH THE GREATER RICHMOND AREA WITHIN THE HOUR.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS NEEDED.

HS
Special weather statement, May 26, 9:43 PM EDT, 44 minutes before
VAZ-006-007-010-017-018-DDHHMM-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
 930 PM EDT SAT MAY 26 1990

 ...MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HEADING ACROSS VIRGINIA....

AT 930PM EDT...RADAR SHOWS A LARGE AREA OF RAIN...WITH EMBEDDED
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...MOVING RAPIDLY ACROSS VIRGINIA.
MOVEMENT IS TOWARD THE EAST ABOUT 30 TO 40 MPH.

THE LEADING EDGE OF THIS AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTEND
FROM CAROLINE COUNTY SOUTHWEST THROUGH HANOVER...GOOCHLAND...
BUCKINGHAM...CAMPBELL...AND HENRY COUNTIES. A STRONGER LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS IN THIS AREA OF PRECIPITATION EXTENDS FROM WESTERN
GOOCHLAND COUNTY SOUTHWESTWARD THROUGH BUCKINGHAM COUNTY...INTO
NORTH CAROLINA.  SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS IN THIS LINE MAY PRODUCE
STRONG GUSTY WINDS...HAIL AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL.  SEVERAL
REPORTS INDICATE OVER HALF AN INCH OF RAINFALL WITHIN A VERY SHORT
TIME. SOME SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS HAVE BEEN REPORTED...BUT
 NO DAMAGE HAS BEEN REPORTED THUS FAR.

ONE REPORT FROM GLASGOW SHOWS 2.7 INCHES OF RAINFALL WITHIN THE PAST
TWO HOURS...AND 3.59 INCHES SINCE 7AM THIS MORNING.

THIS AREA OF RAIN, SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS VIRGINIA
WILL  LIKELY RcEACH THE GREATER RICHMOND AREA WITHIN THE HOUR.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS NEEDED.

HS
Special weather statement, May 26, 9:45 PM EDT, 42 minutes before
VAZ-006-007-010-017-018-DDHHMM-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
 930 PM EDT SAT MAY 26 1990

 ...MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HEADING ACROSS VIRGINIA....

AT 930PM EDT...RADAR SHOWS A LARGE AREA OF RAIN...WITH EMBEDDED
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...MOVING RAPIDLY ACROSS VIRGINIA.
MOVEMENT IS TOWARD THE EAST ABOUT 30 TO 40 MPH.

THE LEADING EDGE OF THIS AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTEND
FROM CAROLINE COUNTY SOUTHWEST THROUGH HANOVER...GOOCHLAND...
BUCKINGHAM...CAMPBELL...AND HENRY COUNTIES. A STRONGER LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS IN THIS AREA OF PRECIPITATION EXTENDS FROM WESTERN
GOOCHLAND COUNTY SOUTHWESTWARD THROUGH BUCKINGHAM COUNTY...INTO
NORTH CAROLINA.  SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS IN THIS LINE MAY PRODUCE
STRONG GUSTY WINDS...HAIL AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL.  SEVERAL
REPORTS INDICATE OVER HALF AN INCH OF RAINFALL WITHIN A VERY SHORT
TIME. SOME SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS HAVE BEEN REPORTED...BUT
 NO DAMAGE HAS BEEN REPORTED THUS FAR.

ONE REPORT FROM GORDENSVILLE...SHOWS 2.7 INCHES OF RAINFALL WITHIN
THE PAST TWO HOURS...AND 3.59 INCHES SINCE 7AM THIS MORNING.

THIS AREA OF RAIN, SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS VIRGINIA
WILL  LfIKELY REACH THE GREATER RICHMOND AREA WITHIN THE HOUR.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS NEEDED.

HS

CORRECTION...HEAVY RAINFALL AT GORDONSVILLE...NOT GLASGOW.

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Virginia, 1990Every flash flood warning in 1990

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.