Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 1991

Flash Flood Warning 13, NWS Charleston, WV

July 19, 1991Pocahontas County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Jul 19, 1991, 8:36 PM EDT for Pocahontas County, West Virginia. It was in force for 2 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 19, 1991, 8:36 PM EDT (00:36 UTC)
Expired
Jul 19, 1991, 10:45 PM EDT
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Whole counties

County Pocahontas County, WV

The nearest sounding before it

Huntington/Tri S, WV (KHTS), launched 00:00Z, 0.6 hours before the alert went out and 217 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 1991-07-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2122 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, Huntington/Tri S, WV at 00:00Z on 1991-07-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 27 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
2122 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-8 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1111 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
8 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
27 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
28 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 200036
FFWEKN
WVC075-200245-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKINS WV
836 PM EDT FRI JUL 19 1991
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ELKINS HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1045 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN EAST WEST VIRGINIA
 
   ...SOUTHERN POCAHONTAS COUNTY
 
RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS
HAS BEEN NEARLY STATIONARY OVER SOUTHERN POCAHONTAS COUNTY FOR
ABOUT THE LAST TWO HOURS. THIS AREA EXTENDED FROM NORTH OF
MARLINTON SOUTH INTO GREENBRIER COUNTY AND EAST INTO WESTERN
VIRGINIA.
 
ALTHOUGH NO REPORTS OF HEAVY RAIN OR FLOODING HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE..RADAR AND SATELLITE REPORTS INDICATE
THAT RAINFALL OF TWO TO THREE INCHES HAS OCCURRED IN PORTIONS OF
SOUTHERN POCAHONTAS COUNTY. WHILE NO REPORTS OF FLASH FLOODING HAVE
BEEN RECEIVED..IT IS LIKELY THAT FLASH FLOODING IS OCCURRING IN SOME
AREAS OF SOUTHERN POCAHONTAS COUNTY..ESPECIALLY IN SOME OF ISOLATED
MOUNTAINOUS AREAS.
 
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT.  IT'S
IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE RELATIVE TO STREAMS...RIVERS...OR
CREEKS WHICH CAN BECOME KILLERS IN HEAVY RAINS.  CAMPERS SHOULD
AVOID CAMPING ALONG STREAMS OR CREEKS DURING THREATENING RAINS.
 
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.
 
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 19, 2:38 PM EDT, 5 hours 58 minutes before
WVZ005-009-192045-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKINS WV
238 PM EDT FRI JUL 19 1991

...THE SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOOD WARNING FOR NORTHERN RANDOLPH
COUNTY OF WEST VIRGINIA EXPIRED AT 215 PM EDT...

THUNDERSTORMS MOVED THROUGH NORTHERN RANDOLPH COUNTY OF WEST
VIRGINIA FROM MID-MORNING THROUGH EARLY THIS AFTERNOON..DUMPING
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF RAIN. THE CONTINUED HEAVY RAINS PROMPTED THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TO ISSUE A SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOOD
WARNING UNTIL 215 PM EDT. SINCE THE HEAVIER RAINS HAVE ENDED ACROSS
RANDOLPH COUNTY AND THE THREAT OF FLOODING HAS DIMINISHED..THE
WARNING WAS ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

SOME HEAVIER RAINFALL FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS CAUSED WIDESPREAD URBAN
AND POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING IN THE ELKINS AREA. REPORTS INDICATE THAT
MINOR FLOODING OCCURRED ON 5TH STREET AT AND NEAR THE SENIOR CENTER,
AT THE FORESTRY BUILDING AT THE CORNER OF SYCAMORE STREET AND
BOUNDARY AVENUE, ON HARRISON AVENUE AT THE STATE POLICE BARRACKS AND
AT NELLA'S IN CRYSTAL SPRINGS. OTHER WIDESPREAD SMALL STREAM AND
URBAN FLOODING MAY HAVE OCCURRED ELSEWHERE ACROSS NORTHERN RANDOLPH
COUNTY..BUT NO OTHER REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.

SOME OF THE HEAVIER RAINFALL REPORTS ACROSS RANDOLPH COUNTY AS OF
1230 PM EDT INCLUDE:

1.07 INCHES AT PUMPKINTOWN
2.10 INCHES AT BOWDEN
2.15 INCHES AT GILMAN
2.29 INCHES AT GLADY
2.46 INCHES AT THE ELKINS-RANDOLPH COUNTY AIRPORT
2.50 INCHES AT BEMIS

ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE HEAVY RAINS HAVE ENDED ACROSS THE AREA..THE
POSSIBILITY EXISTS FOR MORE HEAVY RAINS DURING THE AFTERNOON AS
THUNDERSTORMS REDEVELOP.

PERSONS LIVING NEAR OR ALONG SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS OR IN AREAS
SUBJECT TO RAPID FLOODING SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO WATER LEVELS IN
THEIR AREA..ESPECIALLY DURING AND JUST AFTER A HEAVY RAIN EVENT.

REPORT SEVERE WEATHER AND/OR FLOODING TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIOH OR COMMERCIAL BROADCASTS FOR
FURTHER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

END/FERRELL
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 4:07 PM EDT, 4 hours 29 minutes before
KYZ006-008-OHZ008-009-WVZ003-192100-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTINGTON WV
405 PM EDT THU JULY 18 1991

AT 400 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHEAST KENTUCKY...SOUTHERN OHIO...AND WESTERN WEST
VIRGINIA.  THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT ABOUT 25 MPH.  A
LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS DEVELOPING FROM JUST NORTHWEST OF PORTSMOUTH
OHIO SOUTHWEST TO LEXINGTON KENTUCKY.  THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE IN
PIKE COUNTY OHIO JUST WEST OF PIKETON AND IN LEWIS COUNTY KENTUCKY
NORTHWEST OF VANCEBURG.  LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING WILL ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS AS THEY MOVE EAST
DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

PLYBO
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 5:27 PM EDT, 3 hours 9 minutes before
KYZ006-008-OHZ008-009-WVZ003-192223-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTINGTON WV
525 PM EDT THU JULY 18 1991

AT 520 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHEAST KENTUCKY...SOUTHERN OHIO...AND WESTERN WEST
VIRGINIA.  THESE STORMS HAD SLOWED CONSIDERABLY AND WERE MOVING TO THE
EAST AT ABOUT 10 MPH.  AN AREA OF SHOWERS WAS INDICATED IN OHIO FROM
CENTRAL GALLIA COUNTY TO JUST WEST OF PORTSMOUTH IN SCIOTO COUNTY.
LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING WILL
ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS AS THEY MOVE EAST DURING THE EVENING.

CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR ANY ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
ON THESE STORMS.

PLYBON
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 5:33 PM EDT, 3 hours 3 minutes before
KYZ006-008-OHZ008-009-WVZ003-192223-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTINGTON WV
525 PM EDT THU JULY 18 1991

AT 520 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHEAST KENTUCKY...SOUTHERN OHIO...AND WESTERN WEST
VIRGINIA.  THESE STORMS HAD SLOWED CONSIDERABLY AND WERE MOVING TO THE
EAST AT ABOUT 10 MPH.  AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS
INDICATED IN OHIO FROM CENTRAL GALLIA COUNTY TO JUST WEST OF
PORTSMOUTH IN SCIOTO COUNTY.  LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY
WINDS...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING WILL ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS AS THEY
MOVE EAST DURING THE EVENING.

CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR ANY ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
ON THESE STORMS.

...CORRECTION TO WORDING IN LINE FOUR...

PLYBON
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 6:10 PM EDT, 2 hours 26 minutes before
KYZ006-008-OHZ008-009-WVZ003-192300-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTINGTON WV
608 PM EDT THU JULY 18 1991

AT 600 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHEAST KENTUCKY...SOUTHERN OHIO...AND WESTERN WEST
VIRGINIA.  THESE STORMS CONTINUED TO MOVE SLOWLY TO THE EAST AT ABOUT
10 MPH.  AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS INDICATED
IN OHIO FROM CENTRAL GALLIA COUNTY...EASTWARD TO EAST CENTRAL MASON
COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA.  A THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAIN WAS ALSO
INDICATED IN GREENUP COUNTY KENTUCKY JUST NORTHWEST OF GREENUP.
LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING WILL
ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS AS THEY DEVELOP DURING THE EVENING.  THESE
BRIEF HEAVY RAINS MAY CAUSE MINOR STREET FLOODING AND SMALL STREAMS
MAY OVERFLOW WITH PROLONGED PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN.

CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR ANY ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
ON THESEz STORMS.

PLYBON
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 7:42 PM EDT, 54 minutes before
WVZ008-012-200030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
740 PM EDT FRI JUL 19 1991

...HEAVY RAINS FALLING IN SOUTHERN POCAHONTAS COUNTY...

AT 735 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT BECKLEY SHOWED A CLUSTER OF
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF OF
POCAHONTAS COUNTY AND EXTREME NORTHEAST GREENBRIER COUNTY.  THE
HEAVIEST RAIN WAS FALLING AT MARLINTON AND OVER WATOGA STATE PARK.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE SHOWN VERY LITTLE MOVEMENT OVER THE PAST ONE
AND A HALF HOURS.

PERSONS...AND ESPECIALLY CAMPERS...NEAR THIS AREA SHOULD KEEP A CLOSE
WATCH FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF RAPIDLY RISING WATERS.  IF FLOODING DOES
OCCUR SEEK HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.  MOTORISTS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR
PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND SHOULD NEVER DRIVE THROUGH FLOWING
WATER ON ROADWAYS.  THESE STORMS MAY ALSO PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

THE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BEGIN TO DIMINISH AND# MOVE INTO WESTERN
VIRGINIA OVER THE NEXT HOUR.

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

END/WJM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 20, 4:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXMineral57 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in West Virginia, 1991Every flash flood warning in 1991

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.