Alert archive / South Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 1994

Flash Flood Warning 6, NWS Charleston, SC

October 13, 1994Berkeley County, Charleston County, Dorchester County, South Carolina

NWS Charleston, SC issued this flash flood warning at Oct 13, 1994, 9:39 AM EDT for Berkeley County, Charleston County, Dorchester County, South Carolina. It was in force for 3 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Oct 13, 1994, 9:39 AM EDT (13:39 UTC)
Expired
Oct 13, 1994, 12:45 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, SC
Area
Whole counties

Counties Berkeley County, SC, Charleston County, SC, Dorchester County, SC

The nearest sounding before it

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 1.7 hours before the alert went out and 15 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 1994-10-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 1994-10-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 261 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
565 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
261 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
392 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 KCAE 131341
FFWCHS
SCC015-019-035-131645-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
ISSUED BY COLUMBIA SC
939 AM EDT THU OCT 13 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1245 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN  SOUTH CAROLINA
 
   ...BERKELEY COUNTY...CHARLESTON COUNTY...DORCHESTER COUNTY
 
HEAVY RAINFALL HAS BEEN OCCURRING OVER BERKELEY...CHARLESTON AND
DORCHESTER COUNTIES THROUGH MUCH OF THE NIGHT. RAINFALL AMOUNTS HAVE
AVERAGED 2 TO 3 INCHES SINCE 3 AM. RAINFALL...MODERATE TO HEAVY AT TIMES
IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY. SEVERAL ROADS HAVE
REPORTEDLY BEEN CLOSED IN THE AFFECTED AREAS BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
OFFICIALS.
 
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.
 
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION OR RADIO
STATION FOR FURTHER UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION.

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, Oct 13, 5:35 AM EDT, 4 hours 4 minutes before
GAZ101-118-119-116-117-100-138-139-140-141-131030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAVANNAH GA
430 AM EDT THU OCT 13 1994

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR CHATHAM...EFFINGHAM...BRYAN...
BULLOCH...AND LIBERTY COUNTIES UNTIL 9 AM...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND
MOST OF SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA TODAY AND TONIGHT...

...A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE GEORGIA COAST TODAY...

...THE COASTAL FLOOD WATCH AND HEAVY SURF ADVISORY FOR THE GEORGIA COAST
HAVE BEEN CANCELLED...

AT 425 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A CLUSTER OF
HEAVY RAIN AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN CHATHAM COUNTY NEAR SAVANNAH.
THESE STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO COMPOUND THE WIDESPREAD FLOODING PROBLEMS
THROUGHOUT CHATHAM COUNTY THROUGH SUNRISE AND ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
RAINFALL RATES IN EXCESS OF ONE INCH PER HOUR FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS ON
TOP OF THE NEARLY 14 INCHES PORTIONS OF THE CITY HAVE RECEIVED SINCE
WEDNESDAY MORNING.

THE HEAVY RAIN THAT WAS FALLING IN PORTIONS OF BRYAN...BULLOCH...LIBERTY...
AND EFFINGHAM COUNTIES HAS DIMINISHED SINCE 3 AM.  NUMEROUS ROADS AND
STREAMS REMAIN FLOODED IN THESE COUNTIES.  SINCE FLOODING DUE TO RUNOFF
FROM UP TO 10 INCHES OF RAIN IN THE PAST 18 HOURS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE
MID-MORNING...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM.

ALONG THE COAST...WIND SPEEDS ARE BEGINNING TO DECREASE.  THIS WILL ALLOW
THE SEAS TO SETTLE AND THE TIDES TO RETURN TO NEAR NORMAL LEVELS OVER THE
NEXT 24 HOURS.  THEREFORE..THE THREAT OF COASTAL FLOODING HAS BEEN MINIMIZED.

RESIDENTS IN SOUTHEAST AND SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA ARE URGED TO STAY TUNED TO
NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR A LOCAL TELEVISION OR RADIO STATION FOR LATER
STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Oct 13, 9:28 AM EDT, 11 minutes before
GAZ101-118-119-116-117-100-138-139-140-141-131630-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAVANNAH GA
930 AM EDT THU OCT 13 1994

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR EFFINGHAM...BRYAN...BULLOCH...AND LIBERTY
COUNTIES EXPIRED AT 900 AM EDT...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND
MOST OF SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA TODAY AND TONIGHT...

...A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE GEORGIA COAST TODAY...

AT 925 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED THAT ALL OF THE
RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MOVED OFFSHORE AND NO LONGER POSED A THREAT
FOR SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. HOWEVER...NUMEROUS ROADS AND STREAMS REMAIN FLOODED
ACROSS PARTS OF EFFINGHAM...BRYAN...BULLOCH...CHATHAM AND LIBERTY COUNTIES.

FLOODWATERS WILL BE SLOW TO RECEED DURING THE DAY BECAUSE OF SATUATED GROUND
AND FLOODED DRAINAGE DITCHES. RAINFALL AMOUTNTS ACROSS THE AREA FOR THE PAST
24 HOURS RANGED FROM 6 TO 10 INCHES WITH SOME LOCAL AMOUNTS OVER 14 INCHES.

ALONG THE COAST...WIND SPEEDS HAVE DECREASED SUBSTANTIALLY AND WERE GENERALLY
LESS THAN 15 KNOTS. TIDES ARE STILL AVERAGING ABOUT 2 FEET ABOVE NORMAL.
HOWEVER...SINCE THE TIDE IS CURRENTLY MOVING TOWARD A LOW AT 958 AM EDT THE
THREAT FOR COASTAL FLOODING HAS BEEN MINIMIZED.

MOTORISTS IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA SHOULD BE AWARE OF ROAD CLOSURES AND SHOULD
NEVER ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER COVERED ROADS.

THIS WILL BE THE LAST WEATHER STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN SAVANNAH UNLESS WEATHER CONDITIONS CHANGE.
Special weather statement, Oct 13, 9:30 AM EDT, 9 minutes before
GAZ101-118-119-116-117-100-138-139-140-141-131630-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION TO INCLUDE CHATHAM COUNTY IN EXPIRATION..NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAVANNAH GA
930 AM EDT THU OCT 13 1994

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR EFFINGHAM...BRYAN...BULLOCH...LIBERTY...AND
CHATHAM COUNTIES EXPIRED AT 900 AM EDT...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND
MOST OF SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA TODAY AND TONIGHT...

...A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE GEORGIA COAST TODAY...

AT 925 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED THAT ALL OF THE
RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MOVED OFFSHORE AND NO LONGER POSED A THREAT
FOR SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. HOWEVER...NUMEROUS ROADS AND STREAMS REMAIN FLOODED
ACROSS PARTS OF EFFINGHAM...BRYAN...BULLOCH...CHATHAM AND LIBERTY COUNTIES.

FLOODWATERS WILL BE SLOW TO RECEED DURING THE DAY BECAUSE OF SATUATED GROUND
AND FLOODED DRAINAGE DITCHES. RAINFALL AMOUTNTS ACROSS THE AREA FOR THE PAST
24 HOURS RANGED FROM 6 TO 10 INCHES WITH SOME LOCAL AMOUNTS OVER 14 INCHES.

ALONG THE COAST...WIND SPEEDS HAVE DECREASED SUBSTANTIALLY AND WERE GENERALLY
LESS THAN 15 KNOTS. TIDES ARE STILL AVERAGING ABOUT 2 FEET ABOVE NORMAL.
HOWEVER...SINCE THE TIDE IS CURRENTLY MOVING TOWARD A LOW AT 958 AM EDT THE
THREAT FOR COASTAL FLOODING HAS BEEN MINIMIZED.

MOTORISTS IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA SHOULD BE AWARE OF ROAD CLOSURES AND SHOULD
NEVER ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER COVERED ROADS.

THIS WILL BE THE LAST WEATHER STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN SAVANNAH UNLESS WEATHER CONDITIONS CHANGE.
Special weather statement, Oct 13, 9:39 AM EDT, 0 minutes before
GAZ101-118-119-116-117-100-138-139-140-141-131630-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION TO INCLUDE CHATHAM COUNTY IN EXPIRATION..NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAVANNAH GA
930 AM EDT THU OCT 13 1994

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR EFFINGHAM...BRYAN...BULLOCH...LIBERTY...AND
CHATHAM COUNTIES EXPIRED AT 900 AM EDT...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND
MOST OF SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA TODAY AND TONIGHT...

...A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE GEORGIA COAST TODAY...

AT 925 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED THAT ALL OF THE
RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MOVED OFFSHORE AND NO LONGER POSED A THREAT
FOR SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. HOWEVER...NUMEROUS ROADS AND STREAMS REMAIN FLOODED
ACROSS PARTS OF EFFINGHAM...BRYAN...BULLOCH...CHATHAM AND LIBERTY COUNTIES.

FLOODWATERS WILL BE SLOW TO RECEED DURING THE DAY BECAUSE OF SATUATED GROUND
AND FLOODED DRAINAGE DITCHES. RAINFALL AMOUTNTS ACROSS THE AREA FOR THE PAST
24 HOURS RANGED FROM 6 TO 10 INCHES WITH SOME LOCAL AMOUNTS OVER 14 INCHES.

ALONG THE COAST...WIND SPEEDS HAVE DECREASED SUBSTANTIALLY AND WERE GENERALLY
LESS THAN 15 KNOTS. TIDES ARE STILL AVERAGING ABOUT 2 FEET ABOVE NORMAL.
HOWEVER...SINCE THE TIDE IS CURRENTLY MOVING TOWARD A LOW AT 958 AM EDT THE
THREAT FOR COASTAL FLOODING HAS BEEN MINIMIZED.

MOTORISTS IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA SHOULD BE AWARE OF ROAD CLOSURES AND SHOULD
NEVER ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER COVERED ROADS.T

THIS WILL BE THE LAST WEATHER STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN SAVANNAH UNLESS WEATHER CONDITIONS CHANGE.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 12, 9:58 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCHSBeaufort8 hr
Oct 12, 9:58 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCHSJasper8 hr
Oct 13, 7:09 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCHSJasper4 hr
Oct 13, 7:09 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCHSBeaufort4 hr
Oct 13, 11:18 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCHSGeorgetown, Williamsburg3 hr
Oct 13, 2:21 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCHSGeorgetown, Williamsburg3 hr
Oct 13, 2:21 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCHSHorry3 hr
Oct 13, 5:31 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCHSGeorgetown, Williamsburg5 hr
Oct 13, 5:31 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCHSHorry5 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in South Carolina, 1994Every flash flood warning in 1994

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.