Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990

Flash Flood Warning 35, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

October 12, 1990Avery County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this flash flood warning at Oct 12, 1990, 10:02 AM EDT for Avery County, North Carolina. It was in force for 4 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Oct 12, 1990, 10:02 AM EDT (14:02 UTC)
Expired
Oct 12, 1990, 2:00 PM EDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Whole counties

County Avery County, NC

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

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 2.0 hours before the alert went out and 182 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 1990-10-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 92 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 1990-10-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 86 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
92 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-1 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
590 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
86 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
209 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KAVL 121402
FFWAVL
NCC011-121800-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED 
FLASH FLOOD WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ASHEVILLE NC
1002 AM EDT FRI OCT 12 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WARNING 
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 200 PM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY

   IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
      AVERY

CONTINOUS RAINFALL OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS SINCE THURSDAY
NIGHT HAS CAUSED THE LINVILLE RIVER IN AVERY COUNTY TO REACH NEAR
BANKFULL. THE TOE RIVER IN AVERY COUNTY HAS ALSO REACHED DANGEROUS
LEVELS. IF YOU ARE IN OR NEAR LINVILLE OR CAMP LIN HAVEN IN NORTH
CAROLINA...YOU SHOULD MAKE PREPARATIONS TO SEEK HIGHER GROUND OR
A PLACE OF SAFETY.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS
IMMINENT.  MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.  DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO CROSS BRIDGES, DIPS OR LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY.  NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM, EVEUN A SMALL ONE,
ON FOOT.  TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND.

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, Oct 12, 5:49 AM EDT, 4 hours 13 minutes before
NCZ 007-009-010-011-012-013-131245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ASHEVILLE NC
545 AM EDT FRI OCT 12 1990

...FLOOD WATCH CONTINUE IN EFFECT FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR THE MOUNTAINS
AND FOOTHILLS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...

THE FLOOD WATCH FOR THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS OF WESTHERN NORTH CAROLINA
HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH TONIGHT. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN WILL OCCUR AS THE
REMAINS OF TROPICAL STORM MARCO MOVE TO NORTHERN GEORGIA BY LATE TODAY OR
EARLY TONIGHT. LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN HAS FALLEN OFF AND ON OVER WESTERN
NORTH CAROLINA SINCE MIDNIGHT. ALTHOUGH THE PRECIPITATION HAS BEEN MOSTLY
LIGHT...THE THREAT FOR HEAVY RAIN CONTINUES TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR THE
MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWS HEAVY RAIN OVER THE UPSTATE AREA OF
SOUTH CAROLINA CONTINUES TO MOVE NORTH AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. RAINFALL TOTALS
OF 3 TO 6 INCHES ARE STILL POSSIBLE IN PORTIONS OF THE WATCH AREA OVER THE
NEXT 24 HOURS.

PEOPLE IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR THE
POSSIBLITY OF FLOODING. BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IF FLOODING
OCCURS OR IF A WARNING IS ISSUED.

THE NEXT STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BEFORE 6 AM EDT.
USSERY
Special weather statement, Oct 12, 5:51 AM EDT, 4 hours 11 minutes before
NCZ 007-009-010-011-012-013-131245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ASHEVILLE NC
545 AM EDT FRI OCT 12 1990

...FLOOD WATCH CONTINUE IN EFFECT FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR THE MOUNTAINS
AND FOOTHILLS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...

THE FLOOD WATCH FOR THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS OF WESTHERN NORTH CAROLINA
HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH TONIGHT. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN WILL OCCUR AS THE
REMAINS OF TROPICAL STORM MARCO MOVE TO NORTHERN GEORGIA BY LATE TODAY OR
EARLY TONIGHT. LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN HAS FALLEN OFF AND ON OVER WESTERN
NORTH CAROLINA SINCE MIDNIGHT. ALTHOUGH THE PRECIPITATION HAS BEEN MOSTLY
LIGHT...THE THREAT FOR HEAVY RAIN CONTINUES TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR THE
MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWS HEAVY RAIN OVER THE UPSTATE AREA OF
SOUTH CAROLINA CONTINUES TO MOVE NORTH AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. RAINFALL TOTALS
OF 3 TO 6 INCHES ARE STILL POSSIBLE IN PORTIONS OF THE WATCH AREA OVER THE
NEXT 24 HOURS.

PEOPLE IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR THE
POSSIBLITY OF FLOODING. BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IF FLOODING
OCCURS OR IF A WARNING IS ISSUED.

USSERY
Special weather statement, Oct 12, 9:27 AM EDT, 35 minutes before
SCZ001>004-121400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
925 AM EDT FRI OCT 12 1990

...RAIN AND STORMS SLIPPING NORTHEAST...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH TODAY THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH CAROLINA UPSTATE...
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING CANCELLED FOR GREENWOOD COUNTY...

AT 925 THIS MORNING A BAND OF RAIN AND THUNDERSTOMS WAS PRODUCING
HEAVY RAIN OVER THE SOUTH CAROLINA PIEDMONT AND EASTERN FOOTHILLS.
THE SHOWERS NEAR GREENWOOD HAVE WEAKENED AND THE FLOOD PROBLEMS THERE
ARE EXPECTED TO SLOWLY SUBSIDE.

THE BACK EDGE OF THE PRECIPITATION WAS INCIDTAED BY RADAR FROM
TABLE ROCK TO EASLEY TO GREENWOOD. ALONG THIS LINE THE WINDS HAVE
BECOME STRONG AND GUSTY AS THE RAIN TAPERED OFF.  A BRIEF GUST OF
46 MILES AN HOUR WAS REPORTED AT THE ANDERSON AIRPORT AND STRONG
WINDS OCCURRED NEAR EASLEY DURING THE PAST HOUR.
                                                                  .
THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRON GUSTY WINDS AND jLOCALLY HEAVY RAIN
CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG THE I-85 CORRIDOR DURING THE NEXT TWO
HOURS FROM GREENVILLE TO BLACKSBURG.
MUSGROVE
Special weather statement, Oct 12, 9:41 AM EDT, 21 minutes before
NCZ 007-009-010-011-012-013-121530-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ASHEVILLE NC
940 AM EDT FRI OCT 12 1990

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...

STEADY RAIN CONTINUES TO FALL OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS THIS
FRIDAY MORNING. HEAVIER RAIN CONTINUES TO STREAM NORTH FROM GEORGIA
AND SOUTH CAROLINA INTO THE FOOTHILLS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

RAINFALL TOTALS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE WATCH AREA. THE
LINVILLE RIVER AREA IN AVERY COUNTY LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE THE FIRST
FLOOD PRONE AREA ALONG WITH THE TOE RIVER IN THE MOUNTAINS TODAY.

PEOPLE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA ARE URGED TO STAY ALERT FOR THE LATEST
STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. BE PREPARED TO SEEK HIGHER GROUND
IF YOU ARE NEAR ANY STREAMS...CREEKS...RIVERS OR LOW LYING AREAS.

SOME 24 HOUR RAINFALL TOTALS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...

BOONE....                     1.47 INCHES
GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN-...       1.90  "
ASHEVILLE AIRPORT             2.50  "
HENDERSONVILLE                2.00  "
MT. MITCHELL                  3.00  "
AVERY COUNTY (TOE RIVER)      2.49  "

CARPENTER

The office that day

Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 12, 12:27 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPGaston, Mecklenburg4 hr
Oct 12, 1:00 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPWatauga3 hr
Oct 12, 2:23 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPAvery4 hr
Oct 12, 2:23 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPWatauga97 min
Oct 12, 3:17 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPAshe4 hr
Oct 12, 3:34 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPBurke4 hr
Oct 12, 3:58 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPWatauga3 hr
Oct 12, 4:55 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPPolk, Rutherford2 hr
Oct 12, 5:55 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPCleveland2 hr
Oct 12, 6:37 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPGaston2 hr
Oct 12, 7:03 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPAvery, Burke, Caldwell, McDowell3 hr
Oct 12, 7:08 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPPolk, Rutherford2 hr
Oct 12, 7:25 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPWatauga3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 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.