Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2003

Flash Flood Warning 6, NWS Blacksburg, VA

May 25, 2003Halifax County, Pittsylvania County, City of Danville, Virginia; Caswell County, Rockingham County, North Carolina

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this flash flood warning at May 25, 2003, 11:17 PM EDT for Halifax County, Pittsylvania County, City of Danville, Virginia; Caswell County, Rockingham County, North Carolina. It was in force for 4 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
May 25, 2003, 11:17 PM EDT (03:17 UTC)
Expired
May 26, 2003, 3:15 AM EDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Caswell County, NC, Rockingham County, NC, City of Danville, VA, Halifax County, VA, Pittsylvania County, VA

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 00:00Z, 3.3 hours before the alert went out and 69 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, Roanoke, VA at 00:00Z on 2003-05-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 77 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Roanoke, VA at 00:00Z on 2003-05-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 31 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
77 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-15 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
953 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
61 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
31 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
162 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WGUS51 KRNK 260321
FFWRNK
NCC033-157-VAC083-143-590-260715-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1117 PM EDT SUN MAY 25 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  CASWELL COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  ROCKINGHAM COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  DANVILLE IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  HALIFAX COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 315 AM EDT

* AT 1117 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED 2 TO 4 
INCHES OF RAIN HAD FALLEN IN THE WARNING AREA SINCE 5:00 PM. AN 
ADDITIONAL 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN IS EXPECTED IN THIS AREA THROUGH 
2:00 AM. THIS WILL LEAD TO STREET FLOODING IN URBAN AREAS AND WILL 
CAUSE STREAMS AND CREEKS TO RISE OUT OF THEIR BANKS. 

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 TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN
AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT. IT IS
IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE RELATIVE TO STREAMS...RIVERS...OR 
CREEKS WHICH CAN BECOME KILLERS IN HEAVY RAINS. 

RELAY REPORTS OF FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
BLACKSBURG BY CALLING TOLL FREE...1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4.

LAT...LON 3658 7866 3637 7916 3624 7916 3625 8001
          3654 8000 3654 7972 3670 7967 3684 7940
          3696 7875 3684 7867 3674 7869 3670 7866
          3667 7870 3658 7871 3641 7906

$$

09/14
3 follow-up statements
000 
WGUS71 KRNK 260539
FFSRNK
NCC033-157-VAC083-143-590-260700-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
140 AM EDT MON MAY 26 2003


...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES AND
INDEPENDENT CITIES...ROCKINGHAM AND CASWELL... DANVILLE...HALIFAX...
PITTSYLVANIA AND CHARLOTTE...

UNTIL 315 AM EDT.

AT 135 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED HEAVY 
RAINFALL WAS MOVING OUT OF THE WARNING AREA...WITH VERY LITTLE 
ADDITIONAL RAIN EXPECTED OVERNIGHT.  HOWEVER...FLOODING IS OCCURRING 
IN MANY PLACES IN THE WARNING AREA...AND CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN 
HAZARDOUS THROUGH AT LEAST 300 AM.

FLOODING HAS OCCURRED PRIMARILY IN URBAN AREAS. IN SOUTH 
BOSTON...NUMEROUS STREETS WERE CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER.  MANY 
HOUSES WERE FLOODED IN SOUTH BOSTON AS WELL.  IN DANVILLE...FLOODING 
WAS REPORTED EARLIER ON HIGHWAY 29 WITH THE SOUTHBOUND LANES CLOSED. 
HIGHWAY 58 NORTHBOUND WAS ALSO CLOSED.

RAINFALL WAS ESPECIALLY HEAVY IN THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF ROCKINGHAM 
COUNTY IN THE TROUBLESOME CREEK BASIN AND IN THE HAW RIVER 
BASIN...WHERE RADAR ESTIMATED 4 TO 6 INCHES OF RAINFALL DURING THE 
AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS.  2 TO 4 INCH RADAR ESTIMATES WERE ALSO 
COMMON IN CASWELL AND HALIFAX COUNTIES...WITH UP TO 6 INCHES 
ESTIMATED IN SOUTHERN HALIFAX NEAR SOUTH BOSTON. 

SOME RURAL ROADS MAY STILL BE FLOODED AND VERY HAZARDOUS IN THESE 
AREAS. 

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. DO NOT STAY
IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

RELAY YOUR REPORTS OF FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4.

$$

JDS
000 
WGUS71 KRNK 260546 CCA
FFSRNK
NCC033-157-VAC083-143-590-260700-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT...CORRECTION TO REMOVE CHARLOTTE COUNTY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
140 AM EDT MON MAY 26 2003


...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES AND
INDEPENDENT CITIES...ROCKINGHAM AND CASWELL... DANVILLE... 
HALIFAX...AND PITTSYLVANIA...

UNTIL 315 AM EDT.

AT 135 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED HEAVY 
RAINFALL WAS MOVING OUT OF THE WARNING AREA...WITH VERY LITTLE 
ADDITIONAL RAIN EXPECTED OVERNIGHT.  HOWEVER...FLOODING IS OCCURRING 
IN MANY PLACES IN THE WARNING AREA...AND CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN 
HAZARDOUS THROUGH AT LEAST 300 AM.

FLOODING HAS OCCURRED PRIMARILY IN URBAN AREAS. IN SOUTH 
BOSTON...NUMEROUS STREETS WERE CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER.  MANY 
HOUSES WERE FLOODED IN SOUTH BOSTON AS WELL.  IN DANVILLE...FLOODING 
WAS REPORTED EARLIER ON HIGHWAY 29 WITH THE SOUTHBOUND LANES CLOSED. 
HIGHWAY 58 NORTHBOUND WAS ALSO CLOSED.

RAINFALL WAS ESPECIALLY HEAVY IN THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF ROCKINGHAM 
COUNTY IN THE TROUBLESOME CREEK BASIN AND IN THE HAW RIVER 
BASIN...WHERE RADAR ESTIMATED 4 TO 6 INCHES OF RAINFALL DURING THE 
AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS.  2 TO 4 INCH RADAR ESTIMATES WERE ALSO 
COMMON IN CASWELL AND HALIFAX COUNTIES...WITH UP TO 6 INCHES 
ESTIMATED IN SOUTHERN HALIFAX NEAR SOUTH BOSTON. 

SOME RURAL ROADS MAY STILL BE FLOODED AND VERY HAZARDOUS IN THESE 
AREAS. 

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. DO NOT STAY
IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

RELAY YOUR REPORTS OF FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4.

$$

JDS
000 
WGUS71 KRNK 260713
FFSRNK
NCC033-157-VAC083-143-590-260730-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
315 AM EDT MON MAY 26 2003

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR ROCKINGHAM... CASWELL... 
PITTSYLVANIA... AND HALIFAX COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE INDEPENDENT 
CITY OF DANVILLE...HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED THE HEAVY RAINFALL HAD 
ENDED ACROSS THE WARNED AREA...AND THE FLOOD THREAT WAS 
DIMINISHING. SOME MINOR FLOODING MAY CONTINUE...BUT THE THREAT OF 
SERIOUS FLOODING IS ENDING. THUS...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS BEING 
ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

THE TOWN OF SOUTH BOSTON MAY CONTINUE TO HAVE SOME FLOODING PROBLEMS 
AS MINOR FLOODING ALONG THE DAN RIVER IS OCCURRING THERE...AND IS 
EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY.

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. DO NOT STAY
IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

RELAY YOUR REPORTS OF FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY
CALLING TOLL FREE...1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4.

$$

JDS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Blacksburg, VA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 25, 8:42 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKHalifax, Pittsylvania, City of Danville3 hr
May 25, 9:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCaswell42 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Virginia, 2003Flash Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 2003Every flash flood warning in 2003

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.