Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 1996

Flash Flood Warning 151, NWS Pittsburgh, PA

June 18, 1996Brooke County, West Virginia

NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued this flash flood warning at Jun 18, 1996, 7:25 PM EDT for Brooke County, West Virginia. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 18, 1996, 7:25 PM EDT (23:25 UTC)
Expired
Jun 18, 1996, 10:00 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Pittsburgh, PA
Area
Whole counties

County Brooke County, WV

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 11.4 hours before the alert went out and 43 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 1996-06-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 496 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 1996-06-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 113 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
496 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-35 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1096 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
113 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
132 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
1.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KPIT 182345 COR
FFWPIT
PAC003-125-129-WVC009-190200-

BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING UPDATE CORRECTED FOR COUNTY FIPS CODING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
745 PM EDT TUE JUN 18 1996

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PITTSBURGH HAS EXTENDED THE 
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
FOR THESE COUNTIES...

IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA...
ALLEGHENY  WASHINGTON  WESTMORELAND

IN NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...
BROOKE

FLOODING CONTINUES ACROSS BROOKE COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA AND NORTHERN
WASHINGTON... SOUTHERN ALLEGHENY...AND SOUTHERN WESTMORELAND COUNTIES IN
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORM RAINS CAN ADD TO THE
RUNOFF FROM THE EARLIER TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS AND SO CONTINUE THE
FLOODING IN THE HARDHIT COMMUNITIES TIL 10 PM. 

MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR BY THOSE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO ENTER INTO
FLOOD WATERS...EITHER ON FOOT OR BY CAR. YOU COULD BE SWEPT TO YOUR
DEATH. THE MURKY SWIRLING WATERS CAN BE DEEPER AND MOV"ING MORE SWIFTLY
THAN YOU THINK. ALSO THERE CAN BE HIDDEN DEBRIS THAT COULD KNOCK YOU
UNCONSCIOUS. NEVER ATTEMPT TO CROSS BRIDGES OR LOW SPOTS WHERE WATER
COVERS THE ROAD. WARN CHILDREN TO AVOID PLAYING NEAR FLOOD WATERS AS
WELL.

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, Jun 18, 2:03 PM EDT, 5 hours 22 minutes before
PAZ004>036-OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-
WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041-MDZ001-190200-

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND FLASH FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
205 PM EDT TUE JUN 18 1996

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM TONIGHT AND A
FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT FOR MOST OF WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA...EAST CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...AND
THE WESTERN PANHANDLE OF MARYLAND.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH TIL 8PM AND FLASH FLOOD WATCH TIL 10 PM
ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA...
ALLEGHENY          ARMSTRONG           BEAVER
BLAIR              BEDFORD             BUTLER
CAMBRIA            CAMERON             CENTRE
CLARION            CLEARFIELD          CLINTON
ELK                FAYETTE             FOREST
FRANKLIN           FULTON              GREENE
HUNTINGDON         INDIANA             JEFFERSON
JUNIATA            LAWRENCE            MCKEAN
MERCER             MIFFLIN             POTTER
SOMERSET           VENANGO             WARREN
WASHINGTON         WESTMORELAND.

IN EAST CENTRAL OHIO...
BELMONT            CARROLL             COLUMBIANA
COSHOCTON          GUERNSEY            HARRISON
JEFFERSON          MONROE              MUSKINGUM
NOBLE              TUSCARAWAS.

IN NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...
BROOKE             HANCOCK             MARION
MARSHALL           MONONGALIA          OHIO
PRESTON            TUCKER              WETZEL.

IN WESTERN MARYLAND...
GARRETT.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
WEATHER...LARGE HAIL DAMAGING WINDS DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS FLASH FLOODING IS A POSSIBILITY NOT A
CERTAINTY.  BE PHREPARED FOR QUICK ACTION IF A WARNING IS ISSUED OR
FLOODING IS OBSERVED.
Special weather statement, Jun 18, 2:07 PM EDT, 5 hours 18 minutes before
PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-029>032-WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041-
OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-MDZ001-190200-

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND FLASH FLOOD WATCH...CORRECTION COUNTY LISTING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
210 PM EDT TUE JUN 18 1996

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM TONIGHT AND A
FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT FOR MOST OF WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA...EAST CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...AND
THE WESTERN PANHANDLE OF MARYLAND.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH TIL 8PM AND FLASH FLOOD WATCH TIL 10 PM
ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA...
ALLEGHENY          ARMSTRONG           BEAVER
BUTLER             CLARION             FAYETTE
FOREST             GREENE              INDIANA
JEFFERSON          LAWRENCE            MERCER
VENANGO            WASHINGTON         WESTMORELAND.

IN EAST CENTRAL OHIO...
BELMONT            CARROLL             COLUMBIANA
COSHOCTON          GUERNSEY            HARRISON
JEFFERSON          MONROE              MUSKINGUM
NOBLE              TUSCARAWAS.

IN NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...
BROOKE             HANCOCK             MARION
MARSHALL           MONONGALIA          OHIO
PRESTON            TUCKER              WETZEL.

IN WESTERN MARYLAND...
GARRETT.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
WEATHER...LARGE HAIL DAMAGING WINDS DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS FLASH FLOODINGZ IS A POSSIBILITY NOT A
CERTAINTY.  BE PREPARED FOR QUICK ACTION IF A WARNING IS ISSUED OR
FLOODING IS OBSERVED.
Special weather statement, Jun 18, 5:20 PM EDT, 2 hours 5 minutes before
PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-029>032-WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041-
OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-MDZ001-190300-

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND FLASH FLOOD WATCH...UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
520 PM EDT TUE JUN 18 1996

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM TONIGHT AND A
FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT FOR MOST OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...AND THE WESTERN PANHANDLE OF MARYLAND.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH TIL 8PM AND FLASH FLOOD WATCH TIL 10 PM
ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA...
ALLEGHENY          ARMSTRONG           BEAVER
BUTLER             CLARION             FAYETTE
FOREST             GREENE              INDIANA
JEFFERSON          LAWRENCE            MERCER
VENANGO            WASHINGTON         WESTMORELAND.
IN NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...
BROOKE             HANCOCK             MARION
MARSHALL           MONONGALIA          OHIO
PRESTON            TUCKER              WETZEL.

IN WESTERN MARYLAND...
GARRETT.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
WEATHER...LARGE HAIL DAMAGING WINDS DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS FLASH FLOODING IS A POSSIBILITY NOT A
CERTAINTY.  BE PREPARED FOR QUICK ACTION IF A WARNING IS ISSUED OR
FLOODING IS OBSERVED.

IN EAST CENTRAL OHIO...
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT TIL 11PM AND A FLASH FLOOD WATCH
TIL 10PM FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

CARROLL COLUMBIANA JEFFERSON HARRISON BELMONT GUERNSEY MUSKINGUM
COSHOCTON NOBLE MONROE TUSCARAWAS.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 18, 5:33 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPBZBrooke117 min
Jun 18, 7:49 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPBZTucker3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in West Virginia, 1996Every flash flood warning in 1996

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.