Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2004

Flash Flood Warning 80, NWS Baltimore/Washington

September 17, 2004Berkeley County, Jefferson County, Morgan County, West Virginia; Allegany County, Washington County, Maryland

NWS Baltimore/Washington issued this flash flood warning at Sep 17, 2004, 7:03 PM EDT for Berkeley County, Jefferson County, Morgan County, West Virginia; Allegany County, Washington County, Maryland. 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 outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Sep 17, 2004, 7:03 PM EDT (23:03 UTC)
Expired: Sep 17, 2004, 10:00 PM EDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Baltimore/Washington
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Allegany County, MD, Washington County, MD, Berkeley County, WV, Jefferson County, WV, Morgan County, WV

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 83 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:02 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 11.1 hours before the alert went out and 90 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 105 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -89 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 687 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 74 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 150 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 172304
FFWLWX
MDC001-043-WVC003-037-065-180200-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
703 PM EDT FRI SEP 17 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  WASHINGTON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL MARYLAND
  BERKELEY COUNTY IN THE PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA
  JEFFERSON COUNTY IN THE PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA
  MORGAN COUNTY IN THE PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA
  ALLEGANY COUNTY IN WESTERN MARYLAND

* UNTIL 1000 PM EDT

* AT 657 PM EDT...RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY
  RAIN OVER THE WARNED AREA. SMALL STREAM FLOODING HAS ALREADY BEEN
  REPORTED IN MORGAN COUNTY. ANOTHER 2 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN ARE 
  POSSIBLE THROUGH 1000 PM OVER THE WARNING AREA.   

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE AFFECTED BY THE HEAVY RAIN
  INCLUDE HAGERSTOWN...LONG MEADOW...WILLIAMSPORT...BERKELEY
  SPRINGS...CHARLES TOWN...INWOOD...MARTINSBURG...SHEPHERDSTOWN AND
  RANSON.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS
IMMINENT.

MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES CARRIED AWAY BY RISING
WATER. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS BRIDGES...DIPS...OR OTHER LOW SPOTS IF
WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY.

NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON FOOT.
STAY AWAY FROM DRAINAGE DITCHES AND STORM DRAINS AS THEY CAN BECOME
DEADLY TORRENTS AFTER HEAVY RAIN. TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TO
HIGHER GROUND.

LAT...LON 3952 7842 3919 7785 3971 7758 3972 7838

$$
RDH

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 17, 4:06 PM EDT, 2 hours 57 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 17, 4:06 PM EDT, 2 hours 57 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
406 PM EDT FRI SEP 17 2004

HONESTLY THIS HAS BEEN AN XTRMLY REACTIONARY SHIFT - HV SPENT MOST
OF DAY ISSUING PRODUCTS/GIVING BRIEFINGS/DOING INTERVIEWS. HVG BEEN
ON FOR THE PAST SVRL DAYS I HV AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SYNOPTICS
BEHIND WHAT IS HAPPENING ATTM. XPCT WELL BE ISSUING MR TORS DURG
THE NEXT SVRL HRS. ALTHO WE HV NOT RCVD MUCH RAFL SO FAR STILL BLV
THAT IN TRPCL ENVIRONMENT LARGE AMTS OF RA COULD FALL IN SHORT AMT
OF TIME. WE HV DROPPED THE PSBL TOTALS TO 3-5.

IT LOOKS LK PCPN THREAT SHOULD BEGIN TO WANE IN THE NW SXN OF CWA
DURG SAT AFTN...BCMG BRZY AS WIND TURNS NRLY.

WOODY
&&

.LONG TERM (SAT NIGHT-FRI)

THERE WILL BE A TASTE OF FALL IN THE AIR EARLY NEXT WEEK AS CANADIAN
HIGH BUILDS IN. OVERNIGHT TEMPS EARLY NEXT WEEK WILL DROP INTO THE
40S IN SOME SPOTS OUT WEST WITH 50S MORE COMMON EAST. SKIES EXPECTED
TO CLEAR RAPIDLY SAT NIGHT AS MUCH DRIER AIR ADVECTS IN GUSTY NRLY
WINDS. DONT HAVE ANY MENTION OF PRECIP IN THE EXTENDED. WILL ONLY
HAVE TO DEAL WITH ANY RIVER FLOODING THAT MAY BE ONGOING.

ROSA
&&

.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 800 PM EDT SATURDAY FOR ZONE DCZ001.

TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 800 PM EDT FRIDAY FOR ZONE DCC001.

MD...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 800 PM EDT SATURDAY FOR ZONES MDZ002>007...
MDZ009>011...MDZ013>014...MDZ016>018.

TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 800 PM EDT FRIDAY FOR ZONES MDC003...MDC009...
MDC017...MDC031...MDC033...MDC037.

TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 800 PM EDT FRIDAY FOR ZONES MDC005...MDC013...
MDC021...MDC025...MDC027...MDC043.

VA...TORNADO WARNING UNTIL 415 PM EDT FRIDAY FOR ZONES VAC113...
VAC157.

FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 800 PM EDT SATURDAY FOR ZONES
VAZ021...VAZ025>031...VAZ036>042...VAZ050>057.

WV...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 800 PM EDT SATURDAY FOR ZONES WVZ048>055.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 17, 11:29 AM EDT, 7 hours 34 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1129 AM EDT FRI SEP 17 2004

DCZ001-MDZ002>007-009>011-013-014-016>018-VAZ021-025>031-036>042-
050>057-WVZ048>055-180800-
ALBEMARLE VA-ALLEGANY MD-ANNE ARUNDEL MD-
ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA VA-AUGUSTA VA-BERKELEY WV-
CALVERT MD-CARROLL MD-CHARLES MD-CLARKE VA-CULPEPER VA-
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DC-FAIRFAX VA-FAUQUIER VA-FREDERICK VA-
FREDERICK MD-GRANT WV-GREENE VA-HAMPSHIRE WV-HARDY WV-HARFORD MD-
HIGHLAND VA-HOWARD MD-JEFFERSON WV-KING GEORGE VA-LOUDOUN VA-
MADISON VA-MINERAL WV-MONTGOMERY MD-MORGAN WV-NELSON VA-
NORTHERN BALTIMORE MD-ORANGE VA-PAGE VA-PENDLETON WV-
PRINCE GEORGES MD-PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK VA-
RAPPAHANNOCK VA-ROCKINGHAM VA-SHENANDOAH VA-SOUTHERN BALTIMORE MD-
SPOTSYLVANIA VA-ST. MARYS MD-STAFFORD VA-WARREN VA-WASHINGTON MD-
1129 AM EDT FRI SEP 17 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MARYLAND WEST OF THE CHESAPEAKE
BAY AND EAST OF GARRETT COUNTY...EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA...NORTHERN AND
CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND WASHINGTON DC.

.DAY ONE...
A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN VIRGINIA...MARYLAND...THE
PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA...AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. RAINFALL
ASSOCIATED WITH THE REMNANTS OF IVAN WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA
THROUGH SATURDAY. TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES WILL BE
POSSIBLE. THIS COULD LEAD TO THE FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS...SMALL
STREAMS AND CREEKS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...
THE FLOOD WATCH WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY. AS THE
RAIN CONTINUES...SIGNIFICANT RISES ON THE POTOMAC RIVER WILL BE
POSSIBLE...WITH SEVERAL LOCATIONS EXCEEDING FLOOD STAGE ON SUNDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 17, 6:38 PM EDT, 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
638 PM EDT FRI SEP 17 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0603 PM     TORNADO          LAHORE                  38.20N 77.97W
09/17/2004                   ORANGE             VA   AMATEUR RADIO

            522 TREES DOWN.

&&

STRONG

Local storm report, Sep 17, 6:40 PM EDT, 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
640 PM EDT FRI SEP 17 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0535 PM     TORNADO          RHOADESVILLE            38.27N 77.93W
09/17/2004                   ORANGE             VA   AMATEUR RADIO

            AROUND ROUTE 20 AND 621. 1 SHED DESTROYED. HORSE TRAILER.
            2 SILOS. TREE THROUGH HOUSE.

&&

STRONG

Special weather statement, Sep 17, 6:43 PM EDT, 20 minutes before

DCZ001-MDZ004>007-009>011-013-014-016>018-VAZ053-054-172330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
643 PM EDT FRI SEP 17 2004

DCZ001-MDZ004>007-009>011-013-014-016>018-VAZ053-054-172330-

...MULTIPLE TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS LOWER SOUTHERN
MARYLAND...AND THE WASHINGTON...BALTIMORE METROPOLITAN AREA THIS
EVENING...

THE REMNANTS OF IVAN HAVE SPAWNED NUMEROUS TORNADOES THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING ACROSS VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND. THOSE ALONG AND EAST OF
INTERSTATE 95 NEED TO BE READY TO TAKE ACTION THIS EVENING AS THESE
STORMS MOVE EAST INTO THE AREA

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM FOR THE ENTIRE AREA.

ROGOWSKI

Local storm report, Sep 17, 6:47 PM EDT, 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
647 PM EDT FRI SEP 17 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0642 PM     TORNADO          DICKERSON               39.22N 77.42W
09/17/2004                   MONTGOMERY         MD   EMERGENCY MNGR

            EDWARDS FERRY ROAD AREA DAMAGE REPORTED.

&&

STRONG

Local storm report, Sep 17, 6:54 PM EDT, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
654 PM EDT FRI SEP 17 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0621 PM     FLASH FLOOD      CROZET                  38.07N 78.70W
09/17/2004                   ALBEMARLE          VA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            OLD GARTH ROAD FLOODED OUT.

0640 PM     TORNADO          1 W POOLESVILLE         39.14N 77.43W
09/17/2004                   MONTGOMERY         MD   EMERGENCY MNGR

            NUMEROUS STRUCTURES DAMAGED.

&&

STRONG

Local storm report, Sep 17, 6:56 PM EDT, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT ... CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
656 PM EDT FRI SEP 17 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0510 PM     TORNADO          STAFFORD                38.42N 77.40W
09/17/2004                   STAFFORD           VA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            LARGE TORNADO SIGHTED ON GROUND NEAR I-95 AND EXIT 140
            PARKRIDGE SECTION

&&

STRONG

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Sep 17, 4:54 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LWX	Morgan	51 min
Sep 17, 5:04 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LWX	Berkeley	41 min
Sep 17, 5:19 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Berkeley	41 min
Sep 17, 6:06 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Berkeley, Morgan	54 min
Sep 17, 6:36 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	LWX	Hampshire	3 hr
Sep 17, 7:00 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Jefferson	60 min
Sep 17, 7:47 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Berkeley	43 min
Sep 17, 5:57 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Frederick	63 min
Sep 17, 6:01 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Washington	59 min
Sep 17, 6:17 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Montgomery	43 min
Sep 17, 6:36 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Charles	54 min
Sep 17, 6:46 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Frederick	59 min
Sep 17, 7:27 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Charles	63 min
Sep 17, 7:42 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Frederick, Washington	33 min
Sep 17, 7:51 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	LWX	Prince George's	54 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in West Virginia, 2004 Flash Flood Warnings in Maryland, 2004 Every flash flood warning in 2004

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.