Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 1997

Flash Flood Warning 28, NWS Raleigh, NC

July 24, 1997Wake County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this flash flood warning at Jul 24, 1997, 7:33 AM EDT for Wake County, North Carolina. It was in force for 87 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 24, 1997, 7:33 AM EDT (11:33 UTC)
Expired
Jul 24, 1997, 9:00 AM EDT
In force
87 min
Issued by
NWS Raleigh, NC
Area
Whole counties

County Wake County, NC

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 00:00Z, 11.6 hours before the alert went out and 117 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 00:00Z on 1997-07-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1496 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 00:00Z on 1997-07-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 28 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
1496 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
562 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
28 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
48 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 KRDU 241139
FFWRDU
NCC183-241300-
 
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH/DURHAM NC
733 AM EDT THU JUL 24 1997
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH/DURHAM HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  9 AM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
 
   ...WAKE COUNTY
 
HEAVY RAINS AND GUSTY WINDS OVER SOUTH WAKE COUNTY ARE PRODUCING LOCAL
FLOODING OF RAODWAYS. SOME ROADS ARE BECOMING IMPASSABLE. MOTORISTS
SHOULD BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS THIS MORNING. FLOODING OF RAODWAYS WILL BE
DIFFICULT TO DETECT IN LOW VISIBILITIES DUE TO DRIVING RAINS.
 
RESIDENTS NEAR FLOOD PRONE AREAS SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR LOCAL CREEKS AND
STREAMS AND BE READY TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IF NECESSARY.
 
 
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS
IMMINENT.  STAY ALERT IF YOU ARE IN FLOOD-PRONE AREAS NEAR STREAMS
AND CREEKS.  WATCH FOR RAPIDLY RISING WATER.  BE PREPA4RED TO ACT
QUICKLY AND MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED.
 
HEAVY RAINS ARE EXPECTED TO END BEFORE 9 AM AND WATERS WILL BEGIN TO
SLWLY RECEED.

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, Jul 24, 6:20 AM EDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before
NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088>089-250000-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
620 AM EDT THU JUL 24 1997

...SLIGHT RIST OF SEVERE STORMS OVER EAST PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NORTH
CAROLINA THROUGH MID MORNING...

(THE SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA APPLIES ONLY TO
THE COUNTIES LISTED AT THE END OF TEXT.)

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER EAST SECTIONS OF
CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA THIS MORNING... MAINLY SOUTH AND EAST OF A LINE
FROM ROCKY MOUNT TO RALEIGH... PITTSBORO AND LAURINBURG.  THE MAIN
THREAT THIS MORNING WILL BE FROM VERY HEAVY RAINS AND STRONG DAMAGING
WINDS. AN ISOLATED TORNADO OR TWO IS POSSIBLE BEFORE MID MORNING.

THE CIRCULATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION
DANNY WILL MOVE FROM THE SANDHILLS ACROSS THE CENTRAL COASTAL PLAIN
AND CENTRAL COASTAL AREA THIS MORNING. EAST OF THIS CIRCULATION
TRACK... VERY HEAVY RAINBANDS WILL PRODUCE TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS. AS
MUCH AS ONE TO THREE INCHES OF RAIN IN AN HOUR IS POSSIBLE... AND THIS
CAN EASILY LEAD TO PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS AND FLOODING OF LOW-LYING
AREAS. ALSO... STRONG WINDS A FEW THOUSAND FEET ABOVE THE GROUND MAY
COME DOWN TO THE SURFACE AND LEAD TO BRIEF BUT GUSTY AND DAMAGING
WINDS.  THE ATMOSPHERE IS ALSO FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN
ISOLATED TORNADO OR TWO THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING.  DURING THE
AFTERNOON HOURS... THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF WARM MOIST AIR WILL LEAD
TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL SCATTERED SHOWERS AND STORMS ACROSS
THE AREA. HOWEVER... THESE ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE.

AS THE MAIN THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL ONLY LAST THROUGH THE FIRST
PART OF THE MORNING... SPOTTER NETWORK ACTIVATION SHOULD NOT BE
NEEDED TODAY.  HOWEVER... ANY REPORTS OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CAN BE
HELPFUL TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

ANOTHER SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK WILL BE ISSUED AT 11 AM.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND ADDITIONAL
WEATHER INFORMATION.

GIH
*********************************************************************

ALAMANCE          ANSON              CHATHAM            CUMBERLAND
DAVIDSON          DURHAM             EDGECOMBE          FORSYTH
FRANKLIN          GRANVILLE          GUILFORD           HALIFAX
HARNETT           HOKE               JOHNSTON           LEE
MONTGOMERY        MOORE              NASH               ORANGE
PERSON            RANDOLPH           RICHMOND           SAMPSON
SCOTLAND          STANLY             VANCE              WAKE
WARREN            WAYNE              WILSON
Special weather statement, Jul 24, 6:23 AM EDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088>089-250000-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
620 AM EDT THU JUL 24 1997

...SLIGHT RIST OF SEVERE STORMS OVER EAST PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NORTH
CAROLINA THROUGH MID MORNING...

(THE SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA APPLIES ONLY TO
THE COUNTIES LISTED AT THE END OF TEXT.)

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER EAST SECTIONS OF
CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA THIS MORNING... MAINLY SOUTH AND EAST OF A LINE
FROM ROCKY MOUNT TO RALEIGH... PITTSBORO AND LAURINBURG.  THE MAIN
THREAT THIS MORNING WILL BE FROM VERY HEAVY RAINS AND STRONG DAMAGING
WINDS. AN ISOLATED TORNADO OR TWO IS POSSIBLE BEFORE MID MORNING.

THE CIRCULATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION
DANNY WILL MOVE FROM THE SANDHILLS ACROSS THE CENTRAL COASTAL PLAIN
AND CENTRAL COASTAL AREA THIS MORNING. EAST OF THIS CIRCULATION
TRACK... VERY HEAVY RAINBANDS WILL PRODUCE TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS. AS
MUCH AS ONE TO THREE INCHES OF RAIN IN AN HOUR IS POSSIBLE... AND THIS
CAN EASILY LEAD TO PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS AND FLOODING OF LOW-LYING
AREAS. ALSO... STRONG WINDS A FEW THOUSAND FEET ABOVE THE GROUND MAY
COME DOWN TO THE SURFACE AND LEAD TO BRIEF BUT GUSTY AND DAMAGING
WINDS.  THE ATMOSPHERE IS ALSO FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN
ISOLATED TORNADO OR TWO THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING.  DURING THE
AFTERNOON HOURS... THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF WARM MOIST AIR WILL LEAD
TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL SCATTERED SHOWERS AND STORMS ACROSS
THE AREA. HOWEVER... THESE ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE.

AS THE MAIN THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL ONLY LAST THROUGH THE FIRST
PART OF THE MORNING... SPOTTER NETWORK ACTIVATION SHOULD NOT BE
NEEDED TODAY.  HOWEVER... ANY REPORTS OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CAN BE
HELPFUL TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

ANOTHER SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK WILL BE ISSUED AT 11 AM.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND ADDITIONAL
WEATHER INFORMATION.

GIH
*********************************************************************

ALAMANCE          ANSON              CHATHAM            CUMBERLAND
DAVIDSON          DURHAM             EDGECOMBE          FORSYTH
FRANKLIN          GRANVILLE          GUILFORD           HALIFAX
HARNETT           HOKE               JOHNSTON           LEE
MONTGOMERY        MOORE              NASH               ORANGE
PERSON            RANDOLPH         ^  RICHMOND           SAMPSON
SCOTLAND          STANLY             VANCE              WAKE
WARREN            WAYNE              WILSON
Special weather statement, Jul 24, 6:25 AM EDT, 1 hour 8 minutes before
NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088>089-241515-

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
620 AM EDT THU JUL 24 1997

...SLIGHT RIST OF SEVERE STORMS OVER EAST PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NORTH
CAROLINA THROUGH MID MORNING...

(THE SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA APPLIES ONLY TO
THE COUNTIES LISTED AT THE END OF TEXT.)

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER EAST SECTIONS OF
CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA THIS MORNING... MAINLY SOUTH AND EAST OF A LINE
FROM ROCKY MOUNT TO RALEIGH... PITTSBORO AND LAURINBURG.  THE MAIN
THREAT THIS MORNING WILL BE FROM VERY HEAVY RAINS AND STRONG DAMAGING
WINDS. AN ISOLATED TORNADO OR TWO IS POSSIBLE BEFORE MID MORNING.

THE CIRCULATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION
DANNY WILL MOVE FROM THE SANDHILLS ACROSS THE CENTRAL COASTAL PLAIN
AND CENTRAL COASTAL AREA THIS MORNING. EAST OF THIS CIRCULATION
TRACK... VERY HEAVY RAINBANDS WILL PRODUCE TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS. AS
MUCH AS ONE TO THREE INCHES OF RAIN IN AN HOUR IS POSSIBLE... AND THIS
CAN EASILY LEAD TO PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS AND FLOODING OF LOW-LYING
AREAS. ALSO... STRONG WINDS A FEW THOUSAND FEET ABOVE THE GROUND MAY
COME DOWN TO THE SURFACE AND LEAD TO BRIEF BUT GUSTY AND DAMAGING
WINDS.  THE ATMOSPHERE IS ALSO FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN
ISOLATED TORNADO OR TWO THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING.  DURING THE
AFTERNOON HOURS... THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF WARM MOIST AIR WILL LEAD
TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL SCATTERED SHOWERS AND STORMS ACROSS
THE AREA. HOWEVER... THESE ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE.

AS THE MAIN THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL ONLY LAST THROUGH THE FIRST
PART OF THE MORNING... SPOTTER NETWORK ACTIVATION SHOULD NOT BE
NEEDED TODAY.  HOWEVER... ANY REPORTS OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CAN BE
HELPFUL TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

ANOTHER SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK WILL BE ISSUED AT 11 AM.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND ADDITIONAL
WEATHER INFORMATION.

GIH
*********************************************************************

ALAMANCE          ANSON              CHATHAM            CUMBERLAND
DAVIDSON          DURHAM             EDGECOMBE          FORSYTH
FRANKLIN          GRANVILLE          GUILFORD           HALIFAX
HARNETT           HOKE               JOHNSTON           LEE
MONTGOMERY        MOORE              NASH               ORANGE
PERSON            RANDOLPH         `  RICHMOND           SAMPSON
SCOTLAND          STANLY             VANCE              WAKE
WARREN            WAYNE              WILSON

The office that day

Everything else NWS Raleigh, NC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 24, 2:00 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHAnson, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Stanly6 hr
Jul 24, 2:00 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHHoke, Scotland6 hr
Jul 24, 6:31 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHHarnett2 hr
Jul 24, 6:51 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHLee69 min
Jul 24, 8:05 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHFranklin, Granville, Vance3 hr
Jul 24, 8:05 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHWarren3 hr
Jul 24, 8:38 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHDurham2 hr
Jul 24, 9:26 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHEdgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Wilson3 hr
Jul 24, 10:10 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHWake8 hr
Jul 24, 11:39 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHEdgecombe, Nash, Wilson2 hr
Jul 24, 11:39 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHHalifax2 hr
Jul 24, 4:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHGuilford36 min
Jul 24, 5:31 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRAHAlamance14 min
Jul 24, 6:23 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRAHSampson2 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 1997Every flash flood warning in 1997

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.