Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990

Flash Flood Warning 74, NWS Charleston, WV

July 20, 1990Wood County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Jul 20, 1990, 8:31 PM EDT for Wood County, West Virginia. It was in force for 89 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 20, 1990, 8:31 PM EDT (00:31 UTC)
Expired
Jul 20, 1990, 10:00 PM EDT
In force
89 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Whole counties

County Wood 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

Huntington/Tri S, WV (KHTS), launched 00:00Z, 0.5 hours before the alert went out and 127 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, Huntington/Tri S, WV at 00:00Z on 1990-07-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1263 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, Huntington/Tri S, WV at 00:00Z on 1990-07-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 54 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
1263 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-10 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1210 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
10 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
54 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
61 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 210033
FFWCRW
WVC107-210300-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
831 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A
SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1100 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION......
 
IN NORTHWEST WEST VIRGINIA
 
   ...WOOD COUNTY
 
THUNDERSTORMS MOVED INTO WOOD COUNTY DURING THE LAST TWO HOURS AND
HAVE NOW STALLED IN THEIR SOUTHEAST MOVEMENT. MORE SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING THROUGH MEIGS COUNTY OHIO TOWARDS WOOD
COUNTY AND ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT
ONE TO TWO HOURS.
 
PONDING OF WATER AND SOME SMALL STREAM OVERFLOW IS LIKELY AS THE RAIN
CONTINUES. THESE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO WEAKEN AFTER 1000 PM AND
RAINFALL SHOULD BECOME MUCH LIGHTER AT THAT TIME.
 
 
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.

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 20, 2:33 PM EDT, 5 hours 58 minutes before
WVZ006>008-202000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
233 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 1990

AT 228 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT BECKLEY SHOWED SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR BECKLEY IN RALEIGH COUNTY NORTH INTO
NICHOLAS COUNTY AND EAST THROUGH GREENBRIER COUNTY..ON INTO VIRGINIA
NEAR STUNTON..SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO SEEN IN WYOMING COUNTY
IN SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.

VERY HEAVY RAIN..GUSTY WINDS..AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING MAY ACCOMPANY THESE
STORMS AS THEY MOVE SLOWLY THROUGH SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA THIS AFTERNOON.

THE VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS MAY CAUSE SOME MINOR FLOODING IN LOW LYING FLOOD
PRONE AREAS.

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

END/CDB
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 3:47 PM EDT, 4 hours 44 minutes before
WVZ001-002-003-004-005-009-202200-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON, WV
345 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 1990

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS DOTTED CENTRAL AND WESTERN WEST VIRGINIA
DURING THE HEAT OF THE LATE AFTERNOON.  IN THE MUGGY AIR...ISOLATED
DOWNPOURS COULD BRIEFLY COOL DOWN SOME RESIDENTS.

AT 3:30 PM...THE THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE HEAVIEST RAINS WERE
LOCATED OVER THE LOWER KANAWHA VALLEY IN MASON COUNTY AND
INTO JACKSON COUNTY.  THESE STORMS COULD AFFECT SOUTHERN WOOD...WIRT
AND NORTHERN ROANE COUNTIES BETWEEN 4 AND 5 PM.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALONG THE DODDRIDGE/LEWIS COUNTY LINE
WEST OF WESTON AND NEAR GRAFTON.  MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 25
MILES PER HOUR.  NO DAMAGING WIND GUSTS OR LARGE HAIL WAS
INDICATED WITH THESE PARTICULAR STORMS AT 3:30 PM.

A MORE EXTENSIVE AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDS FROM NEAR WHEELING
WESTWARD TO CAMBRIDGE...ZANESVILLE...AND COLUMBUS.  THESE STORMS
WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST AND BRING MORE DOWNPOURS INTO THE NORTHERN
PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA EARLY THIS EVENING.  SO THE NORTHERN
PANHANDLE HAS THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR SOME WATER PROBLEMS IN
WEST VIRGINIA EARLY THIS EVENING.  /MONITOR STATEMETNS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN PITTSBURGH/

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINED POSTED FOR THE NORTHERN PANHANDLE
PLUS THE COUNTIES OF WETZEL...TYLER...MONONGALIA...AND MARION
UNTIL 8 PM.  A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS ALSO IN EFECT FOR THE NXORTHERN
PANHANDLE COUNTIES UNTIL MIDNIGHT.

END/BATTY
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 5:11 PM EDT, 3 hours 20 minutes before
WVC005-009-MDC008-009-202200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKINS WV
5:10 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 1990

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT
FOR MONONGALIA...WETZEL..TYLER AND MARION COUNTIES OF NORTHERN WEST
VIRGINIA...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT 5:05 PM EDT INDICATED A BROKEN LINE
OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS EASTERN OHIO EAST ACROSS MARSHALL COUNTY WEST
VIRGINIA INTO EXTREME SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA NORTH OF MONONGALIA
COUNTY. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING EAST WHILE THE ENTIRE LINE IS
DROPPING SLOWLY SOUTH AND WILL BE MOVING INTO MONONGALIA AND WETZEL
COUNTIES DURING THE NEXT HOUR. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WERE
ALSO INDICATED EXTENDING FROM BARBOUR COUNTY NORTHEAST INTO SOUTHERN
PRESTON COUNTY.

SEVERE WEATHER AND FLOODING HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THE LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS AS THEY MOVED ACROSS SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA AND THE
NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA.

PERSONS LIVING ALONG..OR WITH RECREATIONAL INTERESTS ALONG SMALL
STREAMS OR CREEKS IN THE AREA OF THESE STORMS SHOULD WATCH WATER
LEVELS CLOSELY. IF WATER LEVELS BEGIN RISING QUICKLY MOVE TO HIGHER
GROUND. HEAVY THUNDERSTORM RAINS CAN CAUSE RAPID PONDING OF
WATER AND FLOODING TO POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. KEEP A WATCH ON THE SKY
AND MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.

GILKERSON

NNNN
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 5:45 PM EDT, 2 hours 46 minutes before
WVZ001-002-003-004-005-009-210000-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON, WV
545 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 1990

AT 540 PM A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALONG THE WEST VIRGINIA...
PENNSYLVANIA BORDER FROM JUST NORTH OF MORGANTOWN WEST THROUGH NORTHERN
WETZEL COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA AND THEN SOUTHWEST INTO WASHINGTON AND
HOCKING COUNTIES IN OHIO. THIS LINE WAS MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT
AROUND 20 MILES AN HOUR.

INDIVIDUAL STORMS WITHIN THIS LINE MAY PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...
GUSTY SURFACE WINDS...HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. IF THREATENING
WEATHER APPROACHES OR A WARNING IS ISSUED...SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

THE COMMINITIES OF MORGANTOWN...NEW MARTINSVILLE...SISTERSVILLE...
ST MARYS AND PARKERSBURG WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE STORMS DURING THE
NEXT HOUR.

END/PCZ
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 6:13 PM EDT, 2 hours 18 minutes before
WVZ001-002-003-004-005-009-210030-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON, WV
612 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 1990

  ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR MONONGALIA COUNTY UNTIL 745 PM...
  ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER WETZEL AND TYLER COUNTIES...

AT 610 PM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN CHARLESTON SHOWED A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM JUST NORTHWEST OF PARKERSBURG THROUGH
PLEASANTS AND EASTERN TYLER AND WETZELS COUNTIES INTO MONONGALIA
COUNTY.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS
AND HEAVY RAINS.

MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 30 MPH. WITHIN THE NEXT 30 MINUTES THESE
STORMS WILL MOVE INTO DODDRIDGE...MARION...HARRISON...AND PRESTON
COUNTIES.

END/REA
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 7:22 PM EDT, 1 hour 9 minutes before
WVZ001-002-003-004-005-009-210200-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON, WV
720 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 1990

  ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR MONONGALIA COUNTY UNTIL 745 PM...
  ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER WOOD COUNTY...

AT 715 PM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN CHARLESTON SHOWED A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM JUST CROSSING THE OHIO RIVER AND ENTERING WESTERN WOOD
COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA. THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
VERY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG WINDS...HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED OVER SOUTHERN RITCHIE COUNTY
...ON TE TUCKER...RANDOLPH COUNTY LINE BETWEEN ELKINS AND PARSONS...
AND OVER SOUTHERN PRESTON COUNTY.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT AROUND 30 MILES AN HOUR. THE STORM
CROSSING THE OHIO RUVER WILL BE AFFECTING WOOD COUNTY...MAINLY FROM THE
PARKERSBURG AREA SOUTH INTO NORTHERN JACKSON COUNTY DURING THE NEXT
HOUR. THIS STORM WILL LIKELY REACH WESTERN SECTIONS OF WIRT COUNTY
BY 800 PM.

END/PCZ

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.