Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990

Flash Flood Warning 5, NWS Blacksburg, VA

June 9, 1990Henry County, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this flash flood warning at Jun 9, 1990, 7:06 PM EDT for Henry County, Virginia. It was in force for 2 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 9, 1990, 7:06 PM EDT (23:06 UTC)
Expired
Jun 9, 1990, 9:15 PM EDT
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Whole counties

County Henry 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

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 11.1 hours before the alert went out and 68 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 1990-06-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 90 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 1990-06-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -45 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
90 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-241 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1456 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
13 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-45 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
62 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 KROA 092307
FFWROA
VAC089-100115-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROANOKE VA
706 PM EDT SAT JUN 9 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ROANOKE VAHAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  915 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA
 
   ...HENRY COUNTY
 
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN HAS DUMPED OVER 3 INCHES OF
RAIN OVER NORTHWEST HENRY COUNTY. THIS WAS REPORTED BY A RAIN GAGE AT
SANVILLE. THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME WILL
PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING ON CREEKS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS.
 
 
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...EVEN A SMALL
ONE...ON FOOT.  TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND.
JACKSON

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, Jun 9, 2:39 PM EDT, 4 hours 27 minutes before
VAZ013-014-016-091900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROANOKE VA
230 PM EDT SAT JUN 9 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO WESTCENTRAL VIRGINIA...

AT 230 PM EDT RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER
GREENBRIER WEST VIRGINIA..THIS AREA IS MOVING EAST AROUND 35 MPH AND
SHOULD BE ENTERING ALLEGHANY COUNTY IN WESTCENTRAL VIRGINIA AND ALSO
NORTHERN BOTETOURT COUNTY WITHIN THE HOUR.

PEOPLE IN THESE COUNTIES SHOULD UBE ALERT FOR STRONG GUSTY
WIND HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND POSSIBLE HAIL.
CG
Special weather statement, Jun 9, 3:34 PM EDT, 3 hours 32 minutes before
VAZ013-014-016-091900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROANOKE VA
330 PM EDT SAT JUN 9 1990

...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE DEVELOPING OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN
MOUNTAINS...

AT 330 PM EDT RADAR INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE COUNTIES OF BLAND AND WYTHE IN SOUTHWESTERN
VIRGINIA..THIS AREA IS MOVING TOWARDS THE EAST AT AROUND 30 MPH.

THESE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO PULASKI COUNTY SHORTLY.

PEOPLE IN THESE COUNTIES CAN EXPECT SOME STRONG GUSTY WIND
HEAVY DOWNPOURS DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND SOME HAIL.
CG
Special weather statement, Jun 9, 4:05 PM EDT, 3 hours 1 minute before
VAZALL-092100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROANOKE VA
405 PM EDT SAT JUN 9 1990

...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING AND MOVING ACROSS SOUTHWEST
   VIRGINIA...

AT 400 PM EDT RADAR SHOWED SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN
OVER MONTGOMERY COUNTY...AND EXTENDING INTO SOUTHERN CRAIG COUNTY. THESE
STORMS ARE MOVING TO THE EAST AT ABOUT 30 MPH...AND WILL BE MOVING INTO
ROANOKE...FLOYD...AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES WITHIN THE HOUR.

THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS...BRIEF HEAVY
DOWNPOURS...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. THEY MAY ALSO HAVE SOME HAIL.
PEOPLE IN THESE COUNTIES SHOULD STAY ALERT TO THE WEATHER...AND SEEK
SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.
END/JJ
Special weather statement, Jun 9, 4:12 PM EDT, 2 hours 54 minutes before
VAZ009-092040-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LYNCHBURG VA
310 PM EDT SAT JUN 9 1990

AT 310 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATES A LARGE
THUNDERSTORM ENTERING NORTHWEST AMHERST COUNTY VIRGINIA MOVING
EAST ABOUT 30 MPH. THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND
POSSIBLY HAIL AS IT MOVES EASTWARD ACROSS NORTHERN AMHERST COUNTY
DURING THE NEXT HALF HOUR.

HUDGINS
Special weather statement, Jun 9, 4:36 PM EDT, 2 hours 30 minutes before
VAZALL-092200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROANOKE VA
435 PM EDT SAT JUN 9 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1100 PM FOR
ALL OF SOUTHWEST...AND PART OF WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA. THE WATCH AREA
COVERS AUGUSTA..ROCKBRIDGE..BOTETOURT..ROANOKE..FLOYD AND CARROLL
COUNTIES...AND EXTENDING WESTWARD ACROSS THE REST OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.

AT 430 PM RADAR INDICATED A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY
RAIN OVER SOUTHERN CRAIG...NORTHERN ROANOKE...AND SOUTHERN BOTETOURT
COUNTIES. THERE WAS ALSO SOME THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN
INDICATED OVER AMHERST COUNTY. MOVEMENT OF THE STORMS WAS TO THE
NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 30 MPH.

PEOPLE IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD KEEP ANEYE OUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER.
BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER WHEN THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE SUCH THAT THESE
THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS OR LARGE HAIL. LISTEN TO
RADIO OR TV FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
END/JJ
Special weather statement, Jun 9, 5:24 PM EDT, 1 hour 42 minutes before
VAZALL-092300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROANOKE VA
520 PM EDT SAT JUN 9 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MOST OF VIRGINIA UNTIL 1100 PM...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NOW COVERS ALL OF VIRGINIA EXCEPT FOR
SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA. IT INCLUDES ALL OF THE COUNTIES AND CITIES IN THE
ROANOKE AND LYNCHBURG AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY.

AT 415 PM RADAR WAS DETECTING A BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN
THAT EXTENDED ACROSS CENTRAL VIRGINIA FROM NELSON AND AMHERST COUNTIES..
SOUTHWESTWARD THROUGH BEDFORD..FRANKLIN AND PATRICK COUNTIES. ANOTHER
BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WAS OVER THE WEST CENTRAL
HIGHLANDS OF VIRGINIA OVER BATH AND ALLEGHENY COUNTIES. MOVEMENT OF THE
INDIVIDUAL STORMS WAS TO THE EAST AT 30 MPH...WHILE THE BANDS APPEARED
TO BE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST.

PEOPLE IN THE WATCH AREA ARE URGED TO REMAIN ALERT TO THE WEATHER. NO
SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE ROANOKE WEATHER OFFICE YET...
1BUT THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN..STRONG GUSTY WINDS..
AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. THEY MAY ALSO PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND AND LARGE
HAIL. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
END/JJ

The office that day

Everything else NWS Blacksburg, VA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 9, 6:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKHenry61 min
Jun 9, 7:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKHenry60 min

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.