Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 1994

Flash Flood Warning 91, NWS Charleston, WV

August 27, 1994Barbour County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Aug 27, 1994, 7:59 AM EDT for Barbour County, West Virginia. It was in force for 2 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 27, 1994, 7:59 AM EDT (11:59 UTC)
Expired
Aug 27, 1994, 10:00 AM EDT
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Whole counties

County Barbour County, WV

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 00:00Z, 12.0 hours before the alert went out and 142 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 00:00Z on 1994-08-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 637 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 00:00Z on 1994-08-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 8 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
637 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-38 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1324 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
8 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
15 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 271159
FFWEKN
WVC001-271400-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKINS WV
759 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ELKINS HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1000 AM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN NORTH WEST VIRGINIA
 
   ...SOUTHERN BARBOUR COUNTY
 
RADAR RAINFALL ESTIMATES INDICATE THAT APPROXIMATELY 1.10 INCHES OF RAIN
MAY HAVE FALLEN ACROSS SOUTHERN BARBOUR COUNTY WITHIN THE LAST ONE AND
ONE HALF HOURS. ALTHOUGH NO SMALL STREAM AND CREEK FLOODING HAS BEEN AT
REPORTED THIS TIME, REPORTS FROM COUNTY OFFICIALS INDICATE THAT WATER
WAS FLOWING THROUGH THE STREETS OF BELINGTON AND WATER WAS FLOWING
ACROSS ROUTE 92.
 
FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS MAY BE IN PROGRESS BUT HAS GONE
UNNOTICED AS OF YET DUE TO THE EARLINESS OF THE MORNING AND ANY
ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINS MAY CAUSE ADDITIONAL STREAMS AND CREEKS TO
OVERFLOW THEIR BANKS.
 
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
ONEv...ON FOOT.  TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP 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, Aug 27, 5:42 AM EDT, 2 hours 17 minutes before
WVZ020-023-029>032-039>041-047-271100-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
540 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 1994

AT 535 AM THIS MORNING, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER NORTHEASTERN WEST VIRGINIA.
MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION WAS EAST OF A LINE FROM ELKINS TO CLARKSBURG
TO MORGANTOWN. THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 20 MPH. THE
STRONGEST STORM WAS LOCATED JUST NORTHEAST OF BUCKHANNON.

THESE STORMS WILL CONTAIN HEAVY DOWNPOURS, FREQUENT LIGHTNING, AND
POSSIBLY, SOME SMALL HAIL.

END/RPY
Special weather statement, Aug 27, 6:52 AM EDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before
WVZ021-022-023-030-031-032-039-040-041-046-047-MDZ001-271300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKINS WV
652 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH NORTH CENTRAL AND THE NORTHERN
MOUNTAINS OF WEST VIRGINIA AND WESTERN MARYLAND...

AT 645 AM EDT WEATHER RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR FAIRMONT, WEST VIRGINIA SOUTHWARD
THROUGH SOUTHERN RANDOLPH COUNTY AND EASTWARD INTO GARRETT COUNTY OF
WESTERN MARYLAND AND INTO GRANT AND PENDLETON COUNTIES OF WEST VIRGINIA.
THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE NEAR GRAFTON, BELINGTON, JUNIOR, ELKINS AND
JUST EAST OF BUCKHANNON.

PERSONS LIVING IN OR TRAVELING THROUGH NORTH CENTRAL AND THE NORTHERN
MOUNTAINS OF WEST VIRGINIA AND WESTERN MARYLAND THIS MORNING..SHOULD BE
ON THE ALERT FOR STRONG GUSTY WINDS, PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN, DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING STRIKES AND POSSIBLE HAIL IN AND NEAR THUNDERSTORMS.

PERSONS LIVING OR CAMPING ALONG OR NEAR SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS..
SHOULD KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON WATER LEVELS IN THEIR AREA, ESPECIALLY
DURING AND AFTER HEAVY RAINS. IF WATER LEVELS BEGIN RISING RAPIDLY OR A
WARNING IS ISSUED MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT STAY IN
AREAS SUBJECT TO RAPID FLOODING. DON'T DRIVE THROUGH WATER FLOWING
ACROSS ROADWAYS AND NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM, EVEN A SMALL
ONE ON FOOT. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TO GREAT FOR YOU TO CROSS SAFELY.

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

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR COMMERCIAL TELEVISION AND RADIO
BROADCASTS FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

END/FERRELL

NNNN
Special weather statement, Aug 27, 7:40 AM EDT, 19 minutes before
WVZ035-271245-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
740 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM APPROACHING RALEIGH AND FAYETTE COUNTIES...

AT 735 AM, WEATHER RADAR AT BECKLEY INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN
NORTH-CENTRAL BOONE COUNTY. THE THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20
MPH, AND WILL AFFECT WESTERN RALEIGH COUNTY DURING THE NEXT HOUR. TOWNS
TO BE AFFECTED INCLUDE WHITESVILLE, EDWIGHT, DRY CREEK AND NAOMA.

THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL CONTAIN STRONG GUSTY WINDS, HEAVY RAIN AND
POSSIBLY SMALL HAIL. PERSONS IN ITS PATH SHOULD AVOID USING ELECTRICAL
APPLIANCES AND TELEPHONES UNTIL IT HAS MOVED AWAY. DO NOT STAND NEXT TO
WINDOWS.

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

END/BURRUS
Special weather statement, Aug 27, 7:41 AM EDT, 18 minutes before
WVZ035-271245-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BECKLEY WV
740 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM APPROACHING RALEIGH AND FAYETTE COUNTIES...

AT 735 AM, WEATHER RADAR AT BECKLEY INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN
NORTH-CENTRAL BOONE COUNTY. THE THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20
MPH, AND WILL AFFECT WESTERN RALEIGH COUNTY DURING THE NEXT HOUR. TOWNS
TO BE AFFECTED INCLUDE WHITESVILLE, EDWIGHT, DRY CREEK AND NAOMA.

THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL CONTAIN STRONG GUSTY WINDS, HEAVY RAIN AND
POSSIBLY SMALL HAIL. PERSONS IN ITS PATH SHOULD AVOID USING ELECTRICAL
APPLIANCES AND TELEPHONES UNTIL IT HAS MOVED AWAY. DO NOT STAND NEXT TO
WINDOWS.

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

END/BURRUS
Special weather statement, Aug 27, 7:45 AM EDT, 14 minutes before
WVZ020-023-029>032-039>041-047-271300-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
745 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 1994

AT 740 AM THIS MORNING, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM LOCATED OVER BOONE COUNTY, TO THE EAST OF MADISON.
THE STORM WAS MOVING TO THE EAST AT 20 MPH AND WILL MOVE ACROSS EXTREME
SOUTHERN KANAWHA COUNTY.

THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE HEAVY DOWNPOURS, FREQUENT LIGHTNING, AND SOME
SMALL HAIL.

END/RPY
Special weather statement, Aug 27, 7:46 AM EDT, 13 minutes before
WVZ020-023-029>032-039>041-047-271300-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
745 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 1994

AT 740 AM THIS MORNING, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM LOCATED OVER BOONE COUNTY, TO THE EAST OF MADISON.
THE STORM WAS MOVING TO THE EAST AT 20 MPH AND WILL MOVE ACROSS EXTREME
SOUTHERN KANAWHA COUNTY.

THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE HEAVY DOWNPOURS, FREQUENT LIGHTNING, AND SOME
SMALL HAIL:.

END/RPY

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 27, 7:32 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXTucker118 min
Aug 27, 8:48 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXWebster3 hr
Aug 27, 8:51 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXRandolph, Upshur2 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.