Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990

Flash Flood Warning 57, NWS Charleston, WV

July 11, 1990Randolph County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Jul 11, 1990, 11:17 PM EDT for Randolph County, West Virginia. It was in force for 58 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 11, 1990, 11:17 PM EDT (03:17 UTC)
Expired
Jul 12, 1990, 12:15 AM EDT
In force
58 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Whole counties

County 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, 3.3 hours before the alert went out and 183 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 1990-07-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 1990-07-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 60 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
583 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
60 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
156 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 KEKN 120317
FFWEKN
WVC033-083-120415-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKINS WV
1117 PM EDT WED JUL 11 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ELKINS HAS ISSUED A
URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1215 AM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN NORTH WEST VIRGINIA
 
   ...SOUTHERN HARRISON COUNTY...RANDOLPH COUNTY
 
REPORTS FROM COUNTY OFFICIALS INDICATE THAT LOST CREEK IN SOUTHERN
HARRISON COUNTY IS OUT OF ITS BANKS AND CAUSING MINOR FLOODING TO LOW
LYING AREAS. THE HEAVIEST RAINS HAVE MOVED EAST OF LOST CREEK, HOWEVER
MINOR FLOODING WILL CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT HOUR. HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS
ARE MOVING ACROSS RANDOLPH COUNTY AND SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOODING
IS POSSIBLE.
 
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY.  THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO
CROSS SAFELY.  VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD 5BE
ABANDONED QUICKLY.  MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.
 
GILKERSON/FERRELL
 
NNNN

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, Jul 11, 8:30 PM EDT, 2 hours 47 minutes before
WVZ003-KYZ006-OHZ009-120200

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTINGTON WV
825 PM EDT WED JUL 11 1990

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH THAT WAS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT
HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR SOUTH CENTRAL OHIO AND PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST
KENTUCKY...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED WEST OF A LINE FROM
PARKERSBURG TO HUNTINGTON TO 30 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF LEXINGTON.
THE WATCH CONTINUES UNTIL 10 PM FOR WESTERN WEST VIRGINIA AND PORTIONS
OF NORTHEAST KENTUCKY EAST OF THE LINE.

AT 825 PM EDT WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED THAT THE STRONGEST STORMS
HAVE MOVED EAST OF PARKERSBURG AND HUNTINGTON WEST VIRGINIA TOWARD
CHARLESTON. TO THE WEST...RADAR SHOWED MAINLY LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN
SHOWERS AND JUST A FEW THUNDERSTORMS. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN
IN THE FORECAST ALONG WITH A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR WEST VIRGINIA AND
A FLOOD WATCH FOR SOUTHERN OHIO.

PEOPLE SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO APPROACHING WEATHER AND WATCH FOR
RISING WATER IF HEAVY RAIN SHOULD PERSIST IN YOUR AREA. CONTINUE
TO LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR ANY STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS.

END/JMH
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 8:50 PM EDT, 2 hours 27 minutes before
WVZ005-008-009-010-MDZ008-009-120145-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKINS WV
845 PM EDT WED JUL 11 1990

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT FOR THE
NORTH CENTRAL...NORTHERN MOUNTAINS...AND PORTIONS OF THE POTOMAC
HIGHLANDS AND EASTERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA...

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR NORTH CENTRAL...NORTHERN MOUNTAINS...
POTOMAC HIGHLANDS AND EASTERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA AND GARRETT
AND ALLEGANY COUNTIES OF WESTERN MARYLAND...

WEATHER RADAR AT 845 PM EDT INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DECREASED
IN INTENSITY. HOWEVER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS, SOME WITH HEAVY
RAINS, ARE OCCURRING FROM SOUTHERN UPSHUR COUNTY NORTHEAST THROUGH
CENTRAL TUCKER COUNTY. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS NOW OVER RITCHIE,
WIRT AND WOOD COUNTIES ARE MOVING EAST AND THESE STORMS WILL
MOVE INTO PORTIONS OF LEWIS...HARRISON...UPSHUR...BARBOUR AND
RANDOLPH COUNTIES. SOME LOCATIONS HAVE RECEIVED OVER AN INCH OF RAIN
THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN WILL PUSH SMALL STREAMS
UP. IF YOU LIVE ALONG A SMALL STREAM AND HEAVY RAINS PERSIST, KEEP A
WATCH ON WATER LEVELS AND SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF STREAMS START RISING
RAPIDLY.

KEEP A WATCH ON THE SKY AND IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES SEEK A
SAFE SHELTER.

CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR COMMERCIAL BROADCAST FOR
FURTHER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

GILKERSON

NNNN
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 9:39 PM EDT, 1 hour 38 minutes before
WVZ003-KYZ006-OHZ009-120300

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTINGTON WV
935 PM EDT WED JUL 11 1990

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH THAT WAS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT
HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR SOUTH CENTRAL OHIO AND NORTHEAST KENTUCKY...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN WEST
VIRGINIA UNTIL 10 PM EDT. AT 935 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A
WIDESPREAD AREA OF LIGHT AND MODERATE RAIN AROUND THE TRI STAuTE AREA.
FLOODING AND FLASH FLOODING REMAIN A THREAT TONIGHT SO PEOPLE NEAR
STREAMS AND LOW LYING AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND BE PREPARED TO GO TO HIGH GROUND IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED.

END/JMH
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 10:02 PM EDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
WVZ005-008-009-010-MDZ008-009-120245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKINS WV
10:00 PM EDT WED JUL 11 1990

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ISSUED EARLIER FOR PORTIONS
OF WEST VIRGINIA AND NORTHWEST VIRGINIA EXPIRED AT 10 PM EDT...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL...NORTHERN MOUNTAINS...POTOMAC HIGHLANDS AND EASTERN
PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA AND GARRETT AND ALLEGANY COUNTIES OF
WESTERN MARYLAND...

WEATHER RADAR AT 10 PM EDT INDICATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING
INTO GILMER...DODDRIDGE AND LEWIS COUNTIES OF WEST VIRGINIA. SOME OF
THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY HEAVY RAIN.
STREAMS ARE RUNNING HIGH ACROSS LEWIS COUNTY...ESPECIALLY POLK CREEK
WHICH RUNS THROUGH WESTON. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINS WILL LIKELY CAUSE
FURTHER RISES ON STREAMS AND CREEK ACROSS LEWIS...HARRISON...
BARBOUR...UPSHUR AND RANDOLPH COUNTIES OF WEST VIRGINIA. KEEP A WATCH
ON WATER LEVELS AND SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF HEAVY RAINS DEVELOP AND
STREAMS START RISING RAPIDLY.

CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR COMMERCIAL BROADCAST FOR
FURTHER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

GILKERSON

NNNN
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 10:02 PM EDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
WVZ003-KYZ006-OHZ009-120400

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTINGTON WV
1000 PM EDT WED JUL 11 1990

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR SOUTHCENTRAL OHIO...NORTHEAST
KENTUCKY AND WESTERN WEST VIRGINIA HAS EXPIRED...

AT 10 PM EDT WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF LIGHT AND
MODERATE RAIN MAINLY IN NORTHEAST KENTUCKY...EXTREME SOUTHCENTRAL
OHIO AND WESTERN WEST VIRGINIA. OCCASIONAL RAIN IS EXPECTED TO
CONTINUE THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH THUNDERSTORMS STILL POSSIBLE. ANY HEAVY
RAIN OF LONG DURATION COULD CAUSE FLOODING ESPECIALLY NEAR STREAMS AND
CREEKS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS. PEOPLE IN SUCH VULNERABLE AREAS SHOULD
REMAIN ALERT TO WEATHER CONDITIONS AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO HIGHER
GROUND IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED OR A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED.

END/JMH
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 10:51 PM EDT, 26 minutes before
WVZ006>008-120400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
1050 PM EDT WED JUL 11 1990

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA FOR
TONIGHT...

AT 1045 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT BECKLEY SHOWED SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS SCATTERED ACROSS EASTERN AND CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA.
THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION WAS OVER SUMMERS COUNTY NORTHEAST OF HINTON..
AND IN GREENBRIER COUNTY NEAR ALDERSON.

VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...SMALL HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING
MAY ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS AS THEY MOVE EAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR THROUGH
SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROAACHES SEEK SAFE INDOOR SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

STAY TUNED  TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

END/BRAMBLE

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 11, 8:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXKanawha69 min
Jul 11, 10:37 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXLewis, Upshur2 hr
Jul 11, 11:17 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXHarrison58 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in West 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.