Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 1994

Flash Flood Warning 5, NWS Charleston, WV

January 7, 1994Kanawha County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Jan 7, 1994, 1:36 PM EST for Kanawha County, West Virginia. It was in force for 4 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jan 7, 1994, 1:36 PM EST (18:36 UTC)
Expired
Jan 7, 1994, 5:45 PM EST
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Whole counties

County Kanawha County, WV

The nearest sounding before it

Huntington/Tri S, WV (KHTS), launched 12:00Z, 6.6 hours before the alert went out and 85 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 12:00Z on 1994-01-07Temperature 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, Huntington/Tri S, WV at 12:00Z on 1994-01-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 224 square meters per square second.1939587897117136156Sfc1 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
467 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
72 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
224 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
252 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 KCRW 071836
FFWCRW
WVC039-072245-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
136 PM EST FRI JAN 7 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  545 PM EST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION......
 
IN WEST CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA
 
   ...KANAWHA COUNTY
 
FLASH FLOODING HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE ELKVIEW AREA, ALONG CABIN CREEK,
AND IN SOME AREAS NEAR THE COAL RIVER. HEAVY RAIN AND VERY RAPID
SNOWMELT WILL CONTINUE TO ADD RUNOFF TO STREAMS ACROSS KANAWHA COUNTY.
 
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.

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 7, 12:56 PM EST, 40 minutes before
WVZ005>007-KYZ100>107-KYZ119-OHZ081>088-072000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTINGTON WV
100PM EDT FRI JAN 7 1994

...MINOR OVERFLOW STILL CONTINUING ON MANY SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS IN
THE AREA...

AT 1255PM MANY SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS IN THE TRI-STATE REMAINED AT OR
SLIGHTLY OVER BANKFULL. PEOPLE IN THE AREA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO LOCAL
CONDITIONS AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IF ANY FLOODING
OCCURS. MOTORISTS SHOULD ALSO REMAIN ALERT FOR STANDING WATER ON
ROADWAYS, ESPECIALLY NEAR SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS.

FALLING TEMPERATURES THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT WILL CAUSE ICY
CONDITIONS TO RETURN TO MOST ROADWAYS ACROSS THE TRI-STATE. RAINFALL AND
RUNOFF FROM THE SNOWMELT WILL REMAIN ON THE ROADS AND THIS WILL FREEZE
AS THE TEMPERATURES DROP. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL TONIGHT, BE ALERT FOR ICY
PATCHES, ESPECIALLY ON SECONDARY ROADS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO, LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION STATIONS
FOR LATER STATEMENTS.

END/DG
Special weather statement, Jan 7, 12:56 PM EST, 40 minutes before
WVZ005>007-KYZ100>107-KYZ119-OHZ081>088-072000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTINGTON WV
100PM EDT FRI JAN 7 1994

...MINOR OVERFLOW STILL CONTINUING ON MANY SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS IN
THE AREA...

AT 1255PM MANY SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS IN THE TRI-STATE REMAINED AT OR
SLIGHTLY OVER BANKFULL. PEOPLE IN THE AREA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO LOCAL
CONDITIONS AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IF ANY FLOODING
OCCURS. MOTORISTS SHOULD ALSO REMAIN ALERT FOR STANDING WATER ON
ROADWAYS, ESPECIALLY NEAR SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS.

FALLING TEMPERATURES THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT WILL CAUSE ICY
CONDITIONS TO RETURN TO MOST ROADWAYS ACROSS THE TRI-STATE. RAINFALL AND
RUNOFF FROM THE SNOWMELT WILL REMAIN ON THE ROADS AND THIS WILL FREEZE
AS THE TEMPERATURES DROP. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL TONIGHT, BE ALERT FOR ICY
PATCHES, ESPECIALLY ON SECONDARY ROADS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO, LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION STATIONS
FOR LATER STATEMENTS.

END/DG
Special weather statement, Jan 7, 1:15 PM EST, 21 minutes before
WVZ024-025-033>037-042>045-072200-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
115 PM EST FRI JAN 7 1994

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MOST OF WEST VIRGINIA...INCLUDING THE
SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA COUNTIES OF LOGAN AND MINGO UNTIL 7 AM
SATURDAY...

RAINFALL FROM OVERNIGHT AND TODAY...COMBINED WITH SNOWMELT HAS
SOME CREEKS AND RIVERS OVERFLOWING. KNOWN WATER PROBLEMS IN
SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA INCLUDE...LOGAN COUNTY...WATER OVER SOME
ROADS IN THE CHAPMANVILLE AND MT GAY AREAS. MINGO COUNTY...
WATER OVER ROADS IN THE KERMIT AREA...ESPECIALLY ALONG MARBONE
CREEK.

PERSONS LIVING ALONG CREEKS AND RIVERS SHOULD KEEP A WATCH FOR
RAPIDLY RISING WATER AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND
IMMEDIATELY.

A COLD FRONT IS MOVING THROUGH OUR REGION THIS AFTERNOON. RAIN
SHOULD BEGIN TAPERING OFF THIS EVENING AS COLDER AIR MOVES IN
BEHIND THE COLD FRONT.

AS COLDER AIR MOVES INTO SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA TONIGHT THE RAIN
WILL CHANGE TO SNOW. SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY.
OVERNIGHT ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE 1 TO 3 INCHES...
HOWEVER THE MAIN PROBLEMS WITH ROADS TONIGHT WILL BE THE
COMBINATION OF WATER ON THE ROADS FREEZING AND SNOW ACCUMULATING
ON THE ICE. ROADWAYS WILL BECOME EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS IN SOME
AREAS TONIGHT AND SATURDAY. DENSE FOG WILL DEVELOP IN SOME
AREAS ADDING TO THE DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. MOTORISTS ARE
URGED TO DRIVE WITH CAUTION.

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

END/MONEYPENNY
Special weather statement, Jan 7, 1:18 PM EST, 18 minutes before
WVZ024-025-033>037-042>045-072200-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
115 PM EST FRI JAN 7 1994

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MOST OF WEST VIRGINIA...INCLUDING THE
SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA COUNTIES OF LOGAN AND MINGO UNTIL 7 AM
SATURDAY...

RAINFALL FROM OVERNIGHT AND TODAY...COMBINED WITH SNOWMELT HAS
SOME CREEKS AND RIVERS OVERFLOWING. KNOWN WATER PROBLEMS IN
SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA INCLUDE...LOGAN COUNTY...WATER OVER SOME
ROADS IN THE CHAPMANVILLE AND MT GAY AREAS. MINGO COUNTY...
WATER OVER ROADS IN THE KERMIT AREA...ESPECIALLY ALONG MARBONE
CREEK.

PERSONS LIVING ALONG CREEKS AND RIVERS SHOULD KEEP A WATCH FOR
RAPIDLY RISING WATER AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND
IMMEDIATELY.

A COLD FRONT IS MOVING THROUGH OUR REGION THIS AFTERNOON. RAIN
SHOULD BEGIN TAPERING OFF THIS EVENING AS COLDER AIR MOVES IN
BEHIND THE COLD FRONT.

AS COLDER AIR MOVES INTO SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA TONIGHT THE RAIN
WILL CHANGE TO SNOW. SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY.
OVERNIGHT ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE 1 TO 3 INCHES...
HOWEVER THE MAIN PROBLEMS WITH ROADS TONIGHT WILL BE THE
COMBINATION OF WATER ON THE ROADS FREEZING AND SNOW ACCUMULATING
ON THE ICE. ROADWAYS WILL BECOME EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS IN SOME
AREAS TONIGHT AND SATURDAY. DENSE FOG WILL DEVELOP IN SOME
AREAS ADDING TO THE DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. MOTORISTS ARE
URGED TO DRIVE WITH CAUTION.

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

END/MONEYPENNY
Special weather statement, Jan 7, 1:28 PM EST, 8 minutes before
WVZ024-025-033>037-042>045-072200-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
128 PM EST FRI JAN 7 1994

...FLOOD WATCH FOR MOST OF WEST VIRGINIA...INCLUDING THE
SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA COUNTIES OF LOGAN AND MINGO UNTIL 7 AM
SATURDAY...

RAINFALL FROM OVERNIGHT AND TODAY...COMBINED WITH SNOWMELT HAS
SOME CREEKS AND RIVERS OVERFLOWING. KNOWN WATER PROBLEMS IN
SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA INCLUDE...LOGAN COUNTY...WATER OVER SOME
ROADS IN THE CHAPMANVILLE AND MT GAY AREAS. MINGO COUNTY...
WATER OVER ROADS IN THE KERMIT AREA...ESPECIALLY ALONG MARBONE
CREEK.

PERSONS LIVING ALONG CREEKS AND RIVERS SHOULD KEEP A WATCH FOR
RAPIDLY RISING WATER AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND
IMMEDIATELY.

A COLD FRONT IS MOVING THROUGH OUR REGION THIS AFTERNOON. RAIN
SHOULD BEGIN TAPERING OFF THIS EVENING AS COLDER AIR MOVES IN
BEHIND THE COLD FRONT.

AS COLDER AIR MOVES INTO SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA TONIGHT THE RAIN
WILL CHANGE TO SNOW. SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY.
OVERNIGHT ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE 1 TO 3 INCHES...
HOWEVER THE MAIN PROBLEMS WITH ROADS TONIGHT WILL BE THE
COMBINATION OF WATER ON THE ROADS FREEZING AND SNOW ACCUMULATING
ON THE ICE. ROADWAYS WILL BECOME EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS IN SOME
AREAS TONIGHT AND SATURDAY. DENSE FOG WILL DEVELOP IN SOME
AREAS ADDING TO THE DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. MOTORISTS ARE
URGED TO DRIVE WITH CAUTION.

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

...CORRECTED TO REMOVE FLASH FROM THE FLOOD WATCH...

END/MONEYPENNY
Special weather statement, Jan 7, 1:28 PM EST, 8 minutes before
WVZ024-025-033>037-042>045-072200-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
128 PM EST FRI JAN 7 1994

...FLOOD WATCH FOR MOST OF WEST VIRGINIA...INCLUDING THE
SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA COUNTIES OF LOGAN AND MINGO UNTIL 7 AM
SATURDAY...

RAINFALL FROM OVERNIGHT AND TODAY...COMBINED WITH SNOWMELT HAS
SOME CREEKS AND RIVERS OVERFLOWING. KNOWN WATER PROBLEMS IN
SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA INCLUDE...LOGAN COUNTY...WATER OVER SOME
ROADS IN THE CHAPMANVILLE AND MT GAY AREAS. MINGO COUNTY...
WATER OVER ROADS IN THE KERMIT AREA...ESPECIALLY ALONG MARBONE
CREEK.

PERSONS LIVING ALONG CREEKS AND RIVERS SHOULD KEEP A WATCH FOR
RAPIDLY RISING WATER AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND
IMMEDIATELY.

A COLD FRONT IS MOVING THROUGH OUR REGION THIS AFTERNOON. RAIN
SHOULD BEGIN TAPERING OFF THIS EVENING AS COLDER AIR MOVES IN
BEHIND THE COLD FRONT.

AS COLDER AIR MOVES INTO SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA TONIGHT THE RAIN
WILL CHANGE TO SNOW. SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY.
OVERNIGHT ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE 1 TO 3 INCHES...
HOWEVER THE MAIN PROBLEMS WITH ROADS TONIGHT WILL BE THE
COMBINATION OF WATER ON THE ROADS FREEZING AND SNOW ACCUMULATING
ON THE ICE. ROADWAYS WILL BECOME EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS IN SOME
AREAS TONIGHT AND SATURDAY. DENSE FOG WILL DEVELOP IN SOME
AREAS ADDING TO THE DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. MOTORISTS ARE
URGED TO DRIVE WITH CAUTION.

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

...CORRECTED TO REMOVE FLASH FROM THE FLOOD WATCH...

END/MONEYPENNY

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 7, 11:18 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningRLXTyler6 hr
Jan 7, 11:29 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningRLXLincoln4 hr
Jan 7, 1:00 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningRLXHarrison, Lewis, Upshur4 hr
Jan 7, 1:00 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningRLXBarbour, Randolph, Tucker4 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.