Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 1994

Flash Flood Warning 22, NWS Charleston, WV

January 28, 1994Marion County, Monongalia County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Jan 28, 1994, 9:41 AM EST for Marion County, Monongalia County, West Virginia. It was in force for 3 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jan 28, 1994, 9:41 AM EST (14:41 UTC)
Expired
Jan 28, 1994, 12:45 PM EST
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Whole counties

Counties Marion County, WV, Monongalia County, WV

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 2.7 hours before the alert went out and 93 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 12:00Z on 1994-01-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 12:00Z on 1994-01-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 0 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
492 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
0 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
0 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
0 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 281441 RRA
FFWEKN
WVC046-061-281745-
 
BULLETIN - EMERGENCY BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKINS WV
941 AM EST FRI JAN 28 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ELKINS HAS ISSUED A
FLOOD WARNING FOR SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1245 PM EST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN NORTH WEST VIRGINIA
 
   ...MARION COUNTY...MONONGALIA COUNTY
 
SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS ARE AT OR NEAR BANKFULL WITH SOME ALREADY
STARTING TO OVERFLOW ACROSS MONONGALIA AND MARION COUNTIES.
 
JAKES RUN IN THE OSAGE AREA OF MONONGALIA COUNTY IS STARTING TO BLOCK
THE HIGHWAY. ROBERTS RUN IN BLACKSVILLE AT BANKFULL AND WILL SOON
OVERFLOW.
 
BUFFALO CREEK IN MANNINGTON OF MARION COUNTY HAS STARTED TO FLOOD SOME
STREETS AND IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO RISE DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF
HOURS. A MUD SLIDE WAS REPORTED ON THE CURTISVILLE-SMITHFIELD ROAD.
 
THE HEAVY RAIN HAS ENDED FOR THE PRESENT, BUT RUNOFF FROM SNOW MELT AND
THE RECENT RAINS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS.
 
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.
 
END
 
GILKERSON/HILL

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, Jan 28, 6:38 AM EST, 3 hours 3 minutes before
WVZ024-025-033>037-042>045-281500-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND SHORT TERM FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
638 AM EST FRI JAN 28 1994

...FLOOD WATCH TODAY FOR ALL OF SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...

WEATHER RADAR AND SURFACE REPORTS INDICATED LIGHT RAIN OVER THE EASTERN
THIRD OF WEST VIRGINIA FROM A SUTTON TO ELKINS LINE SOUTH THROUGH THE
GREENBRIER VALLEY TO SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. RAIN HAD ENDED OR WAS VERY
LIGHT IN THE WESTERN LOWLANDS AND SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS. MOVEMENT WAS
NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

TEMPERATURES ROSE ABOVE FREEZING OVERNIGHT IN THE GREENBRIER VALLEY AND
PRECIPITATION THERE HAD CHANGED TO RAIN AND DRIZZLE. SOME FREEZING RAIN
AND FREEZING DRIZZLE CONTINUED IN THE BORDERING COUNTIES OF WESTERN
VIRGINIA. MOTORISTS ON I-64 FROM WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS TO COVINGTON,
VIRGINIA SHOULD USE CAUTION AND BE ALERT FOR ICY SPOTS, ESPECIALLY ON
BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES.

DURING THE MORNING, REDEVELOPMENT OF RAIN IS EXPECTED ACROSS ALL OF
SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA IN ASSOCIATION WITH A COLD FRONT THAT IS
EXPECTED TO CROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON. WEATHER RADAR SHOWED
ANOTHER SHIELD OF RAIN FROM WESTERN KENTUCKY TO SOUTHERN TENNESSEE.

NO FLOODING HAD BEEN REPORTED TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DURING
THE PREDAWN HOURS. HOWEVER, THE GROUND IS SATURATED AND IT WILL TAKE
LESS THAN AN INCH OF RAIN IN THREE HOURS TO BEGIN A SERIOUS FLOOD
THREAT IN SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.

PERSONS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD KEEP PERSISTENT CHECKS
ON WATER LEVELS AND BE PREPARED TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY IF FLOODING IS
OBSERVED OR A WARNING IS ISSUED.

TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE RISING THROUGH THE 30S AND 40S DURING THE
MORNING HOURS, AND RANGE FROM THE MID 40S TO LOWER 50S REGIONWIDE
BY 10 AM.

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

END/BURRUS
Special weather statement, Jan 28, 6:39 AM EST, 3 hours 2 minutes before
WVZ024-025-033>037-042>045-281500-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND SHORT TERM FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
638 AM EST FRI JAN 28 1994

...FLOOD WATCH TODAY FOR ALL OF SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...

WEATHER RADAR AND SURFACE REPORTS INDICATED LIGHT RAIN OVER THE EASTERN
THIRD OF WEST VIRGINIA FROM A SUTTON TO ELKINS LINE SOUTH THROUGH THE
GREENBRIER VALLEY TO SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. RAIN HAD ENDED OR WAS VERY
LIGHT IN THE WESTERN LOWLANDS AND SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS. MOVEMENT WAS
NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

TEMPERATURES ROSE ABOVE FREEZING OVERNIGHT IN THE GREENBRIER VALLEY AND
PRECIPITATION THERE HAD CHANGED TO RAIN AND DRIZZLE. SOME FREEZING RAIN
AND FREEZING DRIZZLE CONTINUED IN THE BORDERING COUNTIES OF WESTERN
VIRGINIA. MOTORISTS ON I-64 FROM WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS TO COVINGTON,
VIRGINIA SHOULD USE CAUTION AND BE ALERT FOR ICY SPOTS, ESPECIALLY ON
BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES.

DURING THE MORNING, REDEVELOPMENT OF RAIN IS EXPECTED ACROSS ALL OF
SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA IN ASSOCIATION WITH A COLD FRONT THAT IS
EXPECTED TO CROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON. WEATHER RADAR SHOWED
ANOTHER SHIELD OF RAIN FROM WESTERN KENTUCKY TO SOUTHERN TENNESSEE.

NO FLOODING HAD BEEN REPORTED TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DURING
THE PREDAWN HOURS. HOWEVER, THE GROUND IS SATURATED AND IT WILL TAKE
LESS THAN AN INCH OF RAIN IN THREE HOURS TO BEGIN A SERIOUS FLOOD
THREAT IN SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.

PERSONS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD KEEP PERSISTENT CHECKS
ON WATER LEVELS AND BE PREPARED TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY IF FLOODING IS
OBSERVED OR A WARNING IS ISSUED.

TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE RISING THROUGH THE 30S AND 40S DURING THE
MORNING HOURS, AND RANGE FROM THE MID :40S TO LOWER 50S REGIONWIDE
BY 10 AM.

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

END/BURRUS
Special weather statement, Jan 28, 9:20 AM EST, 21 minutes before
WVZ001>047-VAZ001>017-281700-
FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
920 AM EST FRI JAN 28 1994

...FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES TODAY ACROSS MOST OF WEST VIRGINIA...

...FLOOD WARNINGS IN EFFECT FOR DODDRIDGE, PLEASANTS, RITCHIE, TYLER
AND WETZEL THIS MORNING...

WOOD COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA WAS ON THE EDGE OF THE HEAVIER RAIN THAT FELL
OVERNIGHT IN NORTHWESTERN  WEST VIRGINIA. THE RAIN BROUGHT SMALL CREEKS
AND STREAMS IN WOOD COUNTY TO NEAR BANKFULL, AND IN SOME CASES A LITTLE
OVER BANKFULL.

THE WOOD COUNTY OES AND PARKERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED SOME
MINOR FLOODING FROM SMALL STREAM OVERFLOW. WATER WAS OVER PORTIONS OF
GUYAN ROAD, LOST PAVEMENT ROAD AND CORE ROAD IN OR NEAR PARKERSBURG.
SOME OVERFLOW WAS REPORTED ALONG POND RUN, POND CREEK, WALKER CREEK
AND WORTHINGTON CREEK.
THE STREAMS AND CREEKS IN WOOD COUNTY SOUULD BE BACK WITHIN THEIR
BANKS BY NOON.

RAIN HAS ENDED IN THE AREA FOR NOW, BUT MORE RAIN MAY MOVE BACK INTO THE
AREA LATE THIS MONRING AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES. SO, ALTHOUGH THE
THREAT OF MORE HEAVY RAIN HAS DIMINISHED FOR NOW, THE THREAT WILL NOT
END UNTIL THE PASSAGE OF THE COLD FRONT THIS AFTERNOON.

MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THROUGH WATER STANDING ON OR FLOWING
ACROSS ROADWAYS.

END/PCZ
Special weather statement, Jan 28, 9:21 AM EST, 20 minutes before
WVZ001>047-VAZ001>017-281700-
FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
920 AM EST FRI JAN 28 1994

...FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES TODAY ACROSS MOST OF WEST VIRGINIA...

...FLOOD WARNINGS IN EFFECT FOR DODDRIDGE, PLEASANTS, RITCHIE, TYLER
AND WETZEL THIS MORNING...

WOOD COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA WAS ON THE EDGE OF THE HEAVIER RAIN THAT FELL
OVERNIGHT IN NORTHWESTERN  WEST VIRGINIA. THE RAIN BROUGHT SMALL CREEKS
AND STREAMS IN WOOD COUNTY TO NEAR BANKFULL, AND IN SOME CASES A LITTLE
OVER BANKFULL.

THE WOOD COUNTY OES AND PARKERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED SOME
MINOR FLOODING FROM SMALL STREAM OVERFLOW. WATER WAS OVER PORTIONS OF
GUYAN ROAD, LOST PAVEMENT ROAD AND CORE ROAD IN OR NEAR PARKERSBURG.
SOME OVERFLOW WAS REPORTED ALONG POND RUN, POND CREEK, WALKER CREEK
AND WORTHINGTON CREEK.
THE STREAMS AND CREEKS IN WOOD COUNTY SOUULD BE BACK WITHIN THEIR
BANKS BY NOON.

RAIN HAS ENDED IN THE AREA FOR NOW, BUT MORE RAIN MAY MOVE BACK INTO THE
AREA LATE THIS MONRING AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES. SO, ALTHOUGH THE
THREAT OF MORE HEAVY RAIN HAS DIMINISHED FOR NOW, THE THREAT WILL NOT
END UNTIL THE PASSAGE OF THE COLD FRONT THIS AFTERNOON.

MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THhROUGH WATER STANDING ON OR FLOWING
ACROSS ROADWAYS.

END/PCZ

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 28, 2:08 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningRLXTyler12 hr
Jan 28, 5:13 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningRLXDoddridge, Ritchie6 hr
Jan 28, 5:51 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningRLXPleasants6 hr
Jan 28, 6:00 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningRLXWetzel6 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in West Virginia, 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.