Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 1994

Flash Flood Warning 93, NWS Charleston, WV

August 27, 1994Randolph County, Upshur County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Aug 27, 1994, 8:51 AM EDT for Randolph County, Upshur County, West Virginia. It was in force for 2 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 27, 1994, 8:51 AM EDT (12:51 UTC)
Expired
Aug 27, 1994, 11:00 AM EDT
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Whole counties

Counties Randolph County, WV, Upshur County, WV

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 0.9 hours before the alert went out and 175 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 1994-08-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 949 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 12:00Z on 1994-08-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 27 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
949 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-43 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1005 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
12 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
27 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
13 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 271251
FFWEKN
WVC083-097-271500-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKINS WV
851 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ELKINS HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1100 AM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN NORTH WEST VIRGINIA
 
   ...WESTERN RANDOLPH COUNTY...UPSHUR COUNTY
 
REPORTS FROM COUNTY OFFICIALS INDICATE THAT HEAVY TO VERY HEAVY RAINS
HAVE BEEN OCCURRING ACROSS NORTHERN AND EASTERN UPSHUR COUNTY AND
WESTERN RANDOLPH COUNTY SINCE ABOUT 400 AM THIS MORNING. THIS AREA
EXTENDED FROM AROUND HODGESVILLE IN NORTHERN UPSHUR COUNTY SOUTHEAST TO
QUEENS IN SOUTHEASTERN UPSHUR AND ELLAMORE IN WESTERN RANDOLPH COUNTY.
ONE SMALL STREAM ALONG ROUTE 20 ABOUT 4 MILES NORTH OF BUCKHANNON WAS
REPORTED TO BE OVERFLOWING IT'S BANKS.
 
RADAR RAINFALL ESTIMATES INDICATE THAT 3 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN MAY HAVE
FALLEN ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE WARNED AREA SINCE AROUND 400 AM THIS
MORNING. ANY ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINS WILL CAUSE FURTHER OVERFLOW OF
STREAMS AND CREEKS.
 
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS
IMMINENT.  MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.  DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO CROSS BRIDGEFS...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.
 
 
 
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, 7:40 AM EDT, 1 hour 11 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, 1 hour 10 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, 1 hour 6 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, 1 hour 5 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, 8:10 AM EDT, 41 minutes before
WVZ020-023-029>032-039>041-047-271500-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
810 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 1994

AT 800 AM THIS MORNING, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS IN EASTERN BOONE, WESTERN RALEIGH AND SOUTHWESTERN
FAYETTE COUNTIES. ANOTHER CLUSTER OF STRONG STORMS WAS OVER WEBSTER
COUNTY. THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 20 MPH. THESE STORMS WILL
PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN, FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLY SOME SMALL
HAIL.

FOR SOME LOCATIONS IN WEBSTER COUNTY THIS WILL BE THE SECOND RAOUND OF
THUNDERSTORMS IN THE PAST TWO HOURS. PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND
BRIEF URBAN FLOODING MAY OCCUR AS THE STORMS MOVE EAST. THESE STORMS IN
WEBSTER COUNTY WILL MOVE ACROSS EXTREME SOUTHERN RANDOLPH COUNTY AND
INTO WEST CENTRAL POCAHONTAS COUNTY DURING THE NEXT HOUR.

THE STORMS IN EASTERN BOONE AND WESTERN RALEIGH COUNTIES WILL MOVE
THROUGH FAYETTEVILLE AND BECKLEY BETWEEN 830 AND 930 AM.
THE WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN ELKINS HAS ISSUED FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS FOR
SOUTHERN BARBOUR COUNTY UNTIL 1000 AM THIS MORNING AND FOR NORTHERN
TUCKER COUNTY UNTIL 930 AM THIS MORNING.

END/PCZ
Special weather statement, Aug 27, 8:16 AM EDT, 35 minutes before
WVZ020-023-029>032-039>041-047-271500-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
810 AM EDT SAT AUG 27 1994

AT 800 AM THIS MORNING, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS IN EASTERN BOONE, WESTERN RALEIGH AND SOUTHWESTERN
FAYETTE COUNTIES. ANOTHER CLUSTER OF STRONG STORMS WAS OVER WEBSTER
COUNTY. THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 20 MPH. THESE STORMS WILL
PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN, FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLY SOME SMALL
HAIL.

FOR SOME LOCATIONS IN WEBSTER COUNTY THIS WILL BE THE SECOND RAOUND OF
THUNDERSTORMS IN THE PAST TWO HOURS. PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND
BRIEF URBAN FLOODING MAY OCCUR AS THE STORMS MOVE EAST. THESE STORMS IN
WEBSTER COUNTY WILL MOVE ACROSS EXTREME SOUTHERN RANDOLPH COUNTY AND
INTO WEST CENTRAL POCAHONTAS COUNTY DURING THE NEXT HOUR.

THE STORMS IN EASTERN BOONE AND WESTERN RALEIGH COUNTIES WILL MOVE
THROUGH FAYETTEVILLE AND BECKLEY BETWEEN 830 AND 930 AM.
THE WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN ELKINS HAS ISSUED FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS FOR
SOUTHERN BARBOUR COUNTY UNTIL 1000 AM THIS MORNING AND FOR NORTHERN
TUCKER COUNTY UNTIL 930 AM THIS MORNING.

END/PCZ

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, 7:59 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBarbour2 hr
Aug 27, 8:48 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXWebster3 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.