Alert archive / Tennessee / Flash Flood Warnings in 1994

Flash Flood Warning 2, NWS Morristown, TN

February 11, 1994Sullivan County, Tennessee

NWS Morristown, TN issued this flash flood warning at Feb 11, 1994, 12:19 AM EST for Sullivan County, Tennessee. It was in force for 3 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Feb 11, 1994, 12:19 AM EST (05:19 UTC)
Expired
Feb 11, 1994, 3:15 AM EST
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Morristown, TN
Area
Whole counties

County Sullivan County, TN

The nearest sounding before it

Huntington/Tri S, WV (KHTS), launched 00:00Z, 5.3 hours before the alert went out and 207 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 1994-02-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2 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 1994-02-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 342 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
2 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
499 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
82 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
342 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
322 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 KTRI 110520
FFWTRI
TNC163-110815-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BRISTOL TN
1219 AM EST FRI FEB 11 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BRISTOL HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  315 AM EST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS......
 
IN NORTHEAST TENNESSEE
 
   ...SULLIVAN COUNTY
 
THE SULLIVAN COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT REPORTS FLOODING AND EVACUATIONS
OF THE AREAS AROUND THE BRISTOL CAVERNS HIGHWAY... THE POSSUM CREEK AREA
OF RIDER CHURCH ROAD AND THE CARDING HARR AREA. KINGSPORT REPORTS THE
WILCOX DRIVE-MEDOWVIEW AREA UNDER WATER.
 
BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE
THE DANGERS OF FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS.  IF FLASH FLOODING IS
OBSERVED...ACT QUICKLY.  MOVE UP TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS.  DO
NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.
 
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS
IMMINENT.  MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS pOCCUR 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.

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, Feb 10, 10:30 PM EST, 1 hour 49 minutes before
TNZ015>018-042>047-VAZ001>009-110800-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BRISTOL TN
1030 PM EST THU FEB 10 1994

...ICE STORM WARNING FOR BUCHANAN..DICKENSON..TAZEWELL AND WISE COUNTIES
AND THE CITY OF NORTON IN VIRGINIA TONIGHT...

FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET HAVE SPREAD ACROSS THE WARNED AREA OF VIRGINIA.
SEVERAL INCHES OF ICE ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE OVER THE WARNED AREA BY
MORNING. FREEZING RAIN WILL ACCUMULATE ON TREES AND POWERLINES AND COULD
CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND POWER OUTAGES. ROADS WILL BECOME DANGEROUS
AND MANY WILL BE IMPASSABLE.

THE VIRGINIA DOT REPORTS ONE AND ONE-HALF(1 1/2) INCHES OF ICE IN THE
WYTHEVILLE AREA AND INTERSTATE 81 AS ICE COVERED BETWEEN WASHINGTON
AND WYTHE COUNTIES IN VIRGINIA. PERSONS TRAVELLING IN BLAND...SMYTH...
WYTHE AND PORTIONS OF WASHINGTON COUNTIES IN VIRGINIA SHOULD HAVE
VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SNOW TIRES AND CHAINS.
^
CONDITIONS SHOULD IMPROVE BY MID-MORNING FRIDAY WHEN TMPERATURES RISE
ABOVE FREEZING. PERSONS SHOULD AVOID TRAVEL IF AT ALL POSSIBLE IN THE
WARNED AREAS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OF LOCAL TV AND RADIO FOR FURTHER
STATEMENTS ON THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER EVENT.
Special weather statement, Feb 10, 10:34 PM EST, 1 hour 45 minutes before
TNZ015>018-042>047-VAZ001>009-110800-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BRISTOL TN
1030 PM EST THU FEB 10 1994

...ICE STORM WARNING FOR BUCHANAN..DICKENSON..TAZEWELL AND WISE COUNTIES
AND THE CITY OF NORTON IN VIRGINIA TONIGHT...

FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET HAVE SPREAD ACROSS THE WARNED AREA OF VIRGINIA.
SEVERAL INCHES OF ICE ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE OVER THE WARNED AREA BY
MORNING. FREEZING RAIN WILL ACCUMULATE ON TREES AND POWERLINES AND COULD
CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND POWER OUTAGES. ROADS WILL BECOME DANGEROUS
AND MANY WILL BE IMPASSABLE.

THE VIRGINIA DOT REPORTS ONE AND ONE-HALF(1 1/2) INCHES OF ICE IN THE
WYTHEVILLE AREA AND INTERSTATE 81 AS ICE COVERED BETWEEN WASHINGTON
AND WYTHE COUNTIES IN VIRGINIA. PERSONS TRAVELLING IN BLAND...SMYTH...
WYTHE AND PORTIONS OF WASHINGTON COUNTIES IN VIRGINIA SHOULD HAVE
VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SNOW TIRES AND CHAINS.
^
CONDITIONS SHOULD IMPROVE BY MID-MORNING FRIDAY WHEN TM8PERATURES RISE
ABOVE FREEZING. PERSONS SHOULD AVOID TRAVEL IF AT ALL POSSIBLE IN THE
WARNED AREAS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OF LOCAL TV AND RADIO FOR FURTHER
STATEMENTS ON THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER EVENT.
Special weather statement, Feb 10, 11:05 PM EST, 1 hour 14 minutes before
TNZ082-100-079-099-085-098-084-101-102-083-081-080-111100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHATTANOOGA TN
1105 PM EST (1005 PM CST) THU FEB 10 1994

...HEAVY RAIN IS FALLING IN PARTS OF SOUTHEAST TENNESSEE...

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST TENNESSEE TONIGHT.
AT 11PM EST...10PM CST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN CHATTANOOGA
SHOWED WIDESPREAD RAIN ACROSS SOUTHEAST TENNESSEE WITH SCATTERED AREAS
OF HEAVY RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS. THE HEAVIEST RAIN
WAS FALLING IN BLEDSOE...RHEA...MEIGS...MCMINN AND NORTH HAMILTON
COUNTY. HIGHWAYS 127 AND 28 IN BLEDSOE COUNTY HAVE BEEN CLOSED DUE TO
PONDING OF WATER AND THERE WILL LIKELY BE MANY ROADS WITH STANDING WATER
ON THEM TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING.

MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO DRIVE WITH EXTREME CAUTION TONIGHT AND EARLY
FRIDAY MORNING AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOODED ROADWAYS.

STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Feb 10, 11:05 PM EST, 1 hour 14 minutes before
TNZ082-100-079-099-085-098-084-101-102-083-081-080-111100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHATTANOOGA TN
1105 PM EST (1005 PM CST) THU FEB 10 1994

...HEAVY RAIN IS FALLING IN PARTS OF SOUTHEAST TENNESSEE...

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST TENNESSEE TONIGHT.
AT 11PM EST...10PM CST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN CHATTANOOGA
SHOWED WIDESPREAD RAIN ACROSS SOUTHEAST TENNESSEE WITH SCATTERED AREAS
OF HEAVY RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS. THE HEAVIEST RAIN
WAS FALLING IN BLEDSOE...RHEA...MEIGS...MCMINN AND NORTH HAMILTON
COUNTY. HIGHWAYS 127 AND 28 IN BLEDSOE COUNTY HAVE BEEN CLOSED DUE TO
PONDING OF WATER AND THERE WILL LIKELY BE MANY ROADS WITH STANDING WATER
ON THEM TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING.

MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO DRIVE WITH EXTREME CAUTION TONIGHT AND EARLY
FRIDAY MORNING AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOODED ROADWAYS.

STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Feb 10, 11:10 PM EST, 1 hour 9 minutes before
TNZ011-012-013-014-034-035-036-037-038-039-040-041-066-067-068-
069-070-071-072-073-074-086-087-110615-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KNOXVILLE TN
1109 PM EST (1009 PM CST) THU FEB 10 1994

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING FOR EAST TENNESSEE
INCLUDING THE CUMBERLAND PLATEAU...
...HEAVY RAIN FALLING OVER EAST TENNESSEE...

AT 1045PM EST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE
RECEIVED 2.50 INCHES OF RAIN SINCE MIDNIGHT.  THIS AMOUNT IS ADDED TO
THE 1 INCH OF RAIN THAT FELL WEDNESDAY.  THE GROUND IS SATURATED AND
AS THE RAIN CONTINUES TO FALL...RUNOFF WILL CAUSE THE POSSIBILITY OF
FLASH FLOODING OF AREA STREAMS...CREEKS...AND OTHER FLOOD PRONE AREAS.

NUMEROUS ROADS IN THE KNOXVILLE AREA HAVE SECTIONS OF WATER OVER THEM.
REMEMBER DO NOT TRY TO CROSS A FLOODED ROAD...THIS IS THE LEADING CAUSE
OF DEATHS BY FLASH FLOODS.

PERSONS LIVING ALONG STREAMS OR OTHER FLOOD PRONE AREAS...SHOULD BE
READY TO SEEK HIGHER GROUND IN CASE A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED.

STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR FURTHER WEATHER UPDATES OR POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

SMS
Special weather statement, Feb 10, 11:10 PM EST, 1 hour 9 minutes before
TNZ011-012-013-014-034-035-036-037-038-039-040-041-066-067-068-
069-070-071-072-073-074-086-087-110615-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KNOXVILLE TN
1109 PM EST (1009 PM CST) THU FEB 10 1994

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING FOR EAST TENNESSEE
INCLUDING THE CUMBERLAND PLATEAU...
...HEAVY RAIN FALLING OVER EAST TENNESSEE...

AT 1045PM EST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE
RECEIVED 2.50 INCHES OF RAIN SINCE MIDNIGHT.  THIS AMOUNT IS ADDED TO
THE 1 INCH OF RAIN THAT FELL WEDNESDAY.  THE GROUND IS SATURATED AND
AS THE RAIN CONTINUES TO FALL...RUNOFF WILL CAUSE THE POSSIBILITY OF
FLASH FLOODING OF AREA STREAMS...CREEKS...AND OTHER FLOOD PRONE AREAS.

NUMEROUS ROADS IN THE KNOXVILLE AREA HAVE SECTIONS OF WATER OVER THEM.
REMEMBER DO NOT TRY TO CROSS A FLOODED ROAD...THIS IS THE LEADING CAUSE
OF DEATHS BY FLASH FLOODS.

PERSONS LIVING ALONG STREAMS OR OTHER FLOOD PRONE AREAS...SHOULD BE
READY TO SEEK HIGHER GROUND IN CASE A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED.

STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR FURTHER WEATHER UPDATES OR POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

SMS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Morristown, TN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 11, 12:17 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningMRXBlount3 hr
Feb 11, 1:08 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningMRXLoudon3 hr
Feb 11, 2:13 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningMRXHawkins, Sullivan, Washington5 hr
Feb 11, 2:13 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningMRXGreene5 hr
Feb 11, 2:13 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningMRXHancock5 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Tennessee, 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.