Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990

Flash Flood Warning 69, NWS Charleston, WV

July 13, 1990Upshur County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Jul 13, 1990, 6:08 PM EDT for Upshur County, West Virginia. It was in force for 3 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 13, 1990, 6:08 PM EDT (22:08 UTC)
Expired
Jul 13, 1990, 9:15 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Whole counties

County Upshur 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 12:00Z, 10.1 hours before the alert went out and 169 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 12:00Z on 1990-07-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 12:00Z on 1990-07-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 83 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
591 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
83 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
130 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 132208
FFWEKN
WVC097-140115-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKINS WV
608 PM EDT FRI JUL 13 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ELKINS HAS ISSUED A
URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  915 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN NORTH WEST VIRGINIA
 
   ...UPSHUR COUNTY
 
WEATHER RADAR CONTINUES SHOW SOME MODERATE RAIN MOVING INTO UPSHUR
COUNTY. AN AUTOMATED RAINGAGE AT FRENCH CREEK HAS REPORTED .92 OF AN
INCH IN THE PAST 3 HOURS. A COUNTY RAINFALL OBSERVER REPORTS 1.14
INCHES OF RAIN SINCE THIS MORNING. SMALL STREAMS ARE ALREADY NEAR
BANKFULL AND THIS ADDITIONAL RAIN WILL PUSH THEM OVER THEIR BANKS.
 
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 BE
ABANDONED QUICKLY.  MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.
 
REPORT ANY FLOODING TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO RELAY TO
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
 
GILKERSON
 
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 13, 12:38 PM EDT, 5 hours 30 minutes before
KYZ006-OHZ009-WVZ003-131800-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTINGTON WV
1237 PM EDT FRI JUL 13 1990

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN WESTERN WEST VIRGINIA AND A FLODD
WATCH CONTINUES IN SOUTHERN OHIO FOR THIS AFTERNOON...

CALLS TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE
HUNTINGTON/ASHLAND/IRONTON TRI STATE AREA SHOWS THAT ALL SMALL STREAMS
AND CREEKS ARE ONLY RUNNING GOOD WITH NONE REPORTED EVEN HALF BANKFUL.

IFLOWS NETWORK REPORTS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY SHOWS SIX HOUR AMOUNTS OF
LESS THAN ONE HALF INCH IN MOST LOCATIONS WITH THREE QUARTERS TO ONE
INCH INDICATED IN JOHNSON...MAGOFFIN...AND FLOYD COUNTIES.

AT 1230 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED WIDESPREAD LIGHT PRECIPITATION
OVER THE REGION WITH SCATTERED AREAS OF MODERATE INTENSITY.  RAIN OR
SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN IN THE FORECAST FOR THE TRI
STATE AREA THROUGH SUNDAY.

CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR ANY ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS...SHOULD THEY BECOME NECESSARY.

PLYBON
Special weather statement, Jul 13, 12:42 PM EDT, 5 hours 26 minutes before
KYZ006-OHZ009-WVZ003-131800-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTINGTON WV
1237 PM EDT FRI JUL 13 1990

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN WESTERN WEST VIRGINIA AND A FLO
Special weather statement, Jul 13, 3:06 PM EDT, 3 hours 2 minutes before
WVZ006>008-132000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
305 PM EDT FRI JUL 13 1990

AT 300 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT BECKLEY SHOWED A LINE OF
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA. THE
LEADING...OR NORTHERN...EDGE OF THE PRECIPITATION EXTENDED FROM 10 MILES
NORTH OF LEWISBURG TO FLAT TOP TO WELCH. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE OVER
NORTHERN MERCER COUNTY 5 MILES SOUTH OF FLAT TOP...IN EASTERN SUMMERS
COUNTY JUST WEST OF ALDERSON...AND IN CENTRAL GREENBRIER COUNTY 10 MILES
NORTH OF LEWISBURG.

THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...SMALL
HAIL...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AS THEY MOVE NORTH AT 25 MILES AN HOUR
THROUGH GREENBRIER...SUMMERES...RALEIGH...MERCER...WYOMING...AND MCDOWELL
COUNTIES BETWEEN NOW AND 400 PM.

IF YOU SEE A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHING YOUR AREA...SEEK SAFE INDOOR SHELTER
AND REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL THE STORM PASSES.

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

END/PLATE
Special weather statement, Jul 13, 4:24 PM EDT, 1 hour 44 minutes before
WVZ006>008-132200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
425 PM EDT FRI JUL 13 1990

AT 420 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT BECKLEY SHOWED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA. THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION
WAS FROM JUST NORTHWEST OF BECKLEY IN RALEIGH COUNTY TO JUST EAST OF OAK
HILL IN FAYETTE COUNTY..ALSO OVER EASTERN SUMMERS AND WESTERN MONROE
COUNTIES OF SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.

THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...SMALL
HAIL...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AS THEY MOVE NORTH AT 25 MILES AN HOUR
THROUGH SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA THROUGH THIS EVENING.

IF YOU SEE A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHING YOUR AREA...SEEK SAFE INDOOR SHELTER
AND REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL THE STORM PASSES.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.
END/BRAMBLE
Special weather statement, Jul 13, 5:06 PM EDT, 1 hour 2 minutes before
WVZ006>008-132200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
505 PM EDT FRI JUL 13 1990

AT 500 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT BECKLEY SHOWED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN WEST VIRGINIA. THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION
WAS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR BRUSHY MOUNTAIN IN SOUTHEASTERN
POCAHONTAS COUNTY THRU BLUEFIELD IN MERCER COUNTY TO NEAR TAZEWELL IN
SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA.

THESE STORMS HAVE BEEN PRODUCING UP TO ONE INCH OF RAINFALL IN A VERY SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME AS THEY PASS...AND MAY ALSO CONTAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...
SAMLL HAIL...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. MOVEMENT IS TO THE NORTH AT 25 MILES
AND HOUR. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOVING THROUGH GREENBRIER AND MONROE
COUNTIES DURING THE NEXT HOUR.

SOME MINOR FLOODING CAN BE EXPECTED IN LOW LYING FLOOD PRONE AREAS AS THESE
THUNDERSTORMS PASS OVERHEAD.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

END/CALCATERRA
Special weather statement, Jul 13, 6:05 PM EDT, 3 minutes before
WVZ006>008-132300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
605 PM EDT FRI JUL 13 1990

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MUCH OF WEST VIRGINIA UNTIL 800 AM EDT SATURDAY.
THE WATCH INCLUDES THE SOUTHWEST COAL FIELDS AND THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS.

AT 600 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT BECKLEY SHOWED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING ACROSS SOUHTERN WEST VIRGINIA. THE HEAVIEST
PRECIPITATION EXTENDED FROM FAYETTE COUNTY SOUTH THROUGH RALEIGH AND
MERCER COUNTIES ON INTO BLAND COUNTY OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA..AND EAST INTO
SUMMERS..MONROE..AND GREENBRIER COUNTIES OF SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.

THESE STORMS HAVE BEEN PRODUCING UP TO ONE INCH OF RAINFALL IN A VERY SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME AS THEY PASS...AND MAY ALSO CONTAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...
SAMLL HAIL...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. MOVEMENT IS TO THE NORTH AT 25 MILES
AND HOUR.

SOME MINOR FLOODING CAN BE EXPECTED IN LOW LYING FLOOD PRONE AREAS AS THESE

THUNDERSTORMS MOVE THROUGH SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA THIS EVENING.

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 12, 11:50 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXPreston115 min
Jul 13, 2:48 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBarbour, Preston, Tucker117 min
Jul 13, 3:26 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXCalhoun, Roane2 hr
Jul 13, 3:26 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXJackson2 hr
Jul 13, 5:22 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXPreston, Tucker3 hr
Jul 13, 5:56 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXJackson, Roane2 hr
Jul 13, 5:56 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXCalhoun, Gilmer2 hr
Jul 13, 8:00 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXCalhoun3 hr
Jul 13, 6:34 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBarbour3 hr

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.