Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2001

Flash Flood Warning 53, NWS Baltimore/Washington

September 24, 2001Fauquier County, Loudoun County, Virginia; Frederick County, Maryland

NWS Baltimore/Washington issued this flash flood warning at Sep 24, 2001, 8:25 PM EDT for Fauquier County, Loudoun County, Virginia; Frederick County, Maryland. It was in force for 110 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
Sep 24, 2001, 8:25 PM EDT (00:25 UTC)
Expired
Sep 24, 2001, 10:15 PM EDT
In force
110 min
Issued by
NWS Baltimore/Washington
Area
Whole counties

Counties Frederick County, MD, Fauquier County, VA, Loudoun County, VA

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 18 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:26 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 00:00Z, 0.4 hours before the alert went out and 25 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 00:00Z on 2001-09-25Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 26 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 00:00Z on 2001-09-25The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 144 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
26 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-66 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
465 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
144 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
231 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 
WGUS51 KLWX 250027
FFWLWX
MDC021-VAC061-107-250215-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON
825 PM EDT MON SEP 24 2001

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS EXTENDED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  FREDERICK COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL MARYLAND
  FAUQUIER COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA
  LOUDOUN COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 1015 PM EDT

* AT 816 PM EDT...A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EMPLOYEE REPORTED WATER 
OVER EVERGREEN MILLS ROAD BETWEEN LEESBURG AND STERLING IN LOUDOUN 
COUNTY. EMERGENCY MANAGERS IN FAUQUIER COUNTY REPORTED STANDING 
WATER ON ROUTE 17 BETWEEN WARRENTON AND MARSHALL. ROUTE 55 NEAR 
MARSHALL ALSO HAD STANDING WATER ON IT. 

A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO PRODUCE HEAVY 
RAINFALL FROM FREDERICK COUNTY MARYLAND SOUTH TO NORTHERN FAUQUIER 
COUNTY IN VIRGINIA. THIS LINE WAS MOVING SLOWLY NORTHEAST AND WILL 
AFFECT THE AREA THROUGH 1015 PM. 

THE THREAT OF WATER COVERED ROADS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 1015 PM AND 
THUS THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS EXTENDED THE FLASH FLOOD 
WARNING.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT
QUICKLY. MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. QUICKLY
MOVE OUT OF AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

IF WATER IS FLOWING ACROSS A ROADWAY TURN YOUR VEHICLE AROUND AND
FIND AN ALTERNATE ROUTE. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW
YOUR CAR TO CROSS SAFELY. VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE
ABANDONED QUICKLY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY
AUTOMOBILE. IF YOUR VEHICLE STALLS, ABANDON IT IMMEDIATELY AND SEEK
HIGHER GROUND.

ARTHUR

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.

NWS Baltimore/Washington wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Sep 24, 8:15 PM EDT, 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 24, 8:15 PM EDT, 10 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON
815 PM EDT MON SEP 24 2001

WILL BE ISSUING QUICK UPDATE TO REMOVE MENTION OF TORNADO WATCH AND
SVR WORDING. MESO LOW ASSOC WITH ROTATIONAL STORMS SEEMS TO HAVE
MOVED N OF CWA. MAIN THREAT IS TRAINING ECHOS AND FLASH FLOODING
NEXT FEW HOURS.

.LWX...
DC...NONE.
MD...NONE
VA...NONE.
WV...NONE.

MMARGRAF

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 24, 3:31 PM EDT, 4 hours 54 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON
331 PM EDT MON SEP 24 2001

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0315 PM    JEFFERSONTON              VA   TORNADO
09/24/01   CULPEPER                       NUMEROUS TREES DOWN. SOME
                                          TREES FELL ON HOUSES IN
                                          ROUTE 229 AND 211 AREAS.
                                          TWO HOMES DAMAGED. REPORTED
                                          BY 911.

MKM
Local storm report, Sep 24, 3:48 PM EDT, 4 hours 37 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON
348 PM EDT MON SEP 24 2001

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0335 PM    5 SW WARRENTON            VA   TORNADO
09/24/01   FAUQUIER                       ROOFS BLOWN OFF ONTO ROUTE
                                          211 NEAR ROUTE 681.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT.

MKM
Local storm report, Sep 24, 4:06 PM EDT, 4 hours 19 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON
406 PM EDT MON SEP 24 2001

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0359 PM    THE PLAINS                VA   TORNADO
09/24/01   FAUQUIER                       NUMEROUS REPORTS OF DAMAGE
                                          INCLUDING POWER LINES AND
                                          TREES DOWN AND DAMAGE TO
                                          HOMES. REPORT FROM 911.

MKM
Local storm report, Sep 24, 4:13 PM EDT, 4 hours 12 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON
413 PM EDT MON SEP 24 2001

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0300 PM    CULPEPER                  VA   TORNADO
09/24/01   CULPEPER                       *** 1 INJ ***
                                          MOBILE HOME DAMAGED AND
                                          ONE PERSON INSIDE INJURED.
                                          REPORTED BY 911.

MKM
Special weather statement, Sep 24, 4:13 PM EDT, 4 hours 12 minutes before
DCZ001-MDZ003>007-009>011-013-014-016>018-VAZ028-030-031-039>042-
050>057-WVZ051>053-250000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON
413 PM EDT MON SEP 24 2001

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM THIS EVENING...

A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE EASTERN THIRD OF VIRGINIA...
THE EASTERNMOST THREE COUNTIES IN WEST VIRGINIA... AND ALL OF
MARYLAND WEST OF THE BAY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GARRETT AND ALLEGANY
COUNTIES. THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND THE WATERS
OF THE TIDAL POTOMAC AND THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADO
FORMATION THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
WILL BE MONITORING THESE STORMS...AND WILL ISSUE WARNINGS IF
TORNADOES OR ANY OTHER SEVERE WEATHER IS IMMINENT IN YOUR AREA.
SEVERAL REPORTS OF TORNADOES HAVE ALREADY COME IN FROM NORTHERN AND
NORTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA. BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IF A WARNING IS
ISSUED FOR YOUR COUNTY OR CITY. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS IN A LOW
LEVEL INTERIOR ROOM.

A DEVELOPING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND AN ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WILL
MOVE ACROSS THE MID ATLANTIC STATES THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL ACCOMPANY THIS WEATHER SYSTEM AS IT
MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. AS THESE STORMS MOVE EAST OVER THE AREA...
THEY WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS... HAIL...
AND TORNADOES.

ALSO... HEAVY RAINFALL FROM THESE STORMS MAY RESULT IN ISOLATED
FLOODING... ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AREAS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS NEAR
CREEKS AND STREAMS.

THE SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION NETWORK HAS BEEN ACTIVATED.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS FOR UPDATED
FORECASTS... STATEMENTS... AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT
HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/ER/LWX

STRONG
Local storm report, Sep 24, 7:44 PM EDT, 41 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON
744 PM EDT MON SEP 24 2001

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0300 PM    CULPEPER                  VA   TORNADO
09/24/01   CULPEPER                       *** 2 INJ ***
                                          THREE TRAILER HOMES
                                          DESTROYED AND FOUR DAMAGED
                                          ON PONDEROSA COURT.

0300 PM    COUNTYWIDE                VA   TORNADO
09/24/01   CULPEPER                       BUILDINGS DAMAGED ON
                                          INDIAN FORK RD... SPRINGS
                                          ROAD... MOSER LANE... OAK
                                          SHADE ROAD AND SCOTTSVILLE
                                          ROAD. THREE CHURCHES
                                          DAMAGED.

0300 PM    NORTH PORTION             VA   TORNADO
09/24/01   CULPEPER                       TORNADO DAMAGE PATH
                                          VISIBLE 5 MILES S OF THE
                                          RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER NEAR
                                          ROUTE 211. REPORTED BY
                                          SKYWARN.

0310 PM    JEFFERSONTON              VA   TORNADO
09/24/01   CULPEPER                       NUMEROUS TREES DOWNED ON
                                          HOUSES IN ROUTE 229 AND 211
                                          AREA. TWO HOUSES DAMAGED.

0345 PM    SOUTH PORTION             VA   TORNADO
09/24/01   ORANGE                         SPOTTED ON ROUTE 33.
                                          REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT.

0355 PM    1 W THE PLAINS            VA   TORNADO
09/24/01   FAUQUIER                       SPOTTER REPORTED TORNADO
                                          AND SWIRLING DEBRIS.

0450 PM    FRANCONIA                 VA   TORNADO
09/24/01   FAIRFAX                        RESTAURANT ROOF DAMAGED.
                                          TREES DOWN. REPORTED BY
                                          911.

0450 PM    SPRINGFIELD               VA   TORNADO
09/24/01   FAIRFAX                        TORNADO SPOTTED NEAR
                                          SPRINGFIELD METRO AT
                                          FRANCONIA PARKWAY.

0500 PM    SHIRLINGTON               VA   TORNADO
09/24/01   ARLINGTON                      WINDOWS BLOWN OUT AT
                                          RESTAURANT. REPORTED BY
                                          MEDIA.

0502 PM    ARLINGTON                 VA   TORNADO
09/24/01   ARLINGTON                      TORNADO SPOTTED BY
                                          NATIONAL AIRPORT WEATHER
                                          OBSERVER. ANOTHER SPOTTER
                                          SAW TORNADO SOUTH OF
                                          PENTAGON NEAR I-395.

0503 PM    CRYSTAL CITY              VA   TORNADO
09/24/01   ARLINGTON                      NATIONAL AIRPORT SPOTTER
                                          SAW TORNADO TOUCH DOWN IN
                                          CRYSTAL CITY.

0506 PM    DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA      DC   TORNADO
09/24/01   DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA           FUNNEL CLOUD SPOTTED NEAR
                                          14TH STREET BRIDGE.

0520 PM    LAUREL                    MD   TORNADO
09/24/01   PRINCE GEORGES                 LARGE TREES DOWN NEAR
                                          LAUREL HOSPITAL. REPORTED
                                          BY SPOTTER.

0520 PM    BELTSVILLE                MD   TORNADO
09/24/01   PRINCE GEORGES                 WIDESPREAD DAMAGE REPORTED
                                          NEAR ROUTE 1 AND BELTWAY
                                          AND CHERRY HILL ROAD. TOWER
                                          BENT. TREES ON HOUSES.
                                          TRACTOR TRAILER BLOWN OVER.
                                          POWER POLES SNAPPED.

0524 PM    COLLEGE PARK              MD   TORNADO
09/24/01   PRINCE GEORGES                 *** 2 DEAD ***
                                          HEAVY DAMAGE IN UNIVERSITY
                                          OF MARYLAND AREA AND ROUTE
                                          1 COORIDOR. TWO PEOPLE WERE
                                          KILLED WHEN THEIR CAR WAS
                                          FLIPPED OVER.

0545 PM    NORTH LAUREL              MD   TORNADO
09/24/01   HOWARD                         30 TOWNHOUSES DAMAGED IN
                                          SAVAGE AND LAUREL AREA.
                                          REPORTED BY 911.

0655 PM    LEESBURG                  VA   FLASH FLOODS
09/24/01   LOUDOUN                        ROUTE 7 BYPASS AT SYCOLYN
                                          ROAD FLOODED. MILE MARKER 8
                                          WESTBOUND GREENWAY FLOODED.
                                          REPORTED BY SKYWARN.

MKM

The office that day

Everything else NWS Baltimore/Washington issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 24, 9:06 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningLWXMontgomery114 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Virginia, 2001Flash Flood Warnings in Maryland, 2001Every flash flood warning in 2001

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.