Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2005

Flash Flood Warning 1, NWS Baltimore/Washington

January 14, 20055 counties in Virginia

NWS Baltimore/Washington issued this flash flood warning at Jan 14, 2005, 6:50 AM EST for 5 counties in Virginia. 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
Jan 14, 2005, 6:50 AM EST (11:50 UTC)
Expired
Jan 14, 2005, 10:45 AM EST
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Baltimore/Washington
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Arlington County, VA, City of Alexandria, VA, City of Fairfax, VA, City of Falls Church, VA, Fairfax County, VA

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 30 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:49 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, 11.8 hours before the alert went out and 22 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 2005-01-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 17 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 2005-01-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 304 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
17 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-21 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
975 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
56 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
304 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
380 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 Jan 14, 5:05 AM EST, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 14, 5:05 AM EST, 1 hour 45 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
505 AM EST FRI JAN 14 2005

.UPDATE: WILL BE DROPPING THE TORNADO WATCH FOR ALL BUT LOWER
SOUTHERN MARYLAND AND KING GEORGE COUNTY. PRECIPITATION HAS
STABILIZED MAJORITY OF THE FORECAST AREA...WHILE BEST INSTABILITY
REMAINS ACROSS SOUTHEAST ZONES. PER COLLABORATION WITH SPC...THIS
NEW TORNADO WATCH WILL BE IN EFFECT THROUGH 11:00 AM.

&&

.SHORT TERM (TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY):
...TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 7:00 AM FOR MUCH OF THE
DC METRO AREA/EAST CENTRAL VIRGINIA/LOWER SOUTHERN MARYLAND...

WATER VAPOR LOOP SHOWS A TROUGH ACROSS THE NORTH CENTRAL CONUS WHICH
WEDGES SOUTH INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO...WHILE A RIDGE DOMINATES THE
WESTERN ATLANTIC. VERY DRY AIR ALOFT IS SEEN PUSHING EAST-NORTHEAST
ACROSS THE GULF STATES. ACARS 400-250MB WIND OBSERVATIONS SHOW A
180-190KT SOUTHWESTERLY JET FROM THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY
NORTHEAST THROUGH THE CENTRAL GREAT LAKES...WHILE A 140KT JET DIVES
SOUTHEAST INTO THE NORTHERN ROCKIES. 04Z SURFACE ANALYSIS PLACED A
COLD/STATIONARY BOUNDARY SOUTH THROUGH THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES AND
THE TENNESSEE VALLEY...WHILE A PREFRONTAL TROUGH WAS EVIDENT EAST OF
THE APPALACHIANS.

06Z KIAD SPECIAL RAOB TELLS THE STORY EARLY THIS MORNING WITH
PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUE OF 1.63 AND 722 M2/S2 OF 0-3KM HELICITY
OBSERVED. ACARS OBSERVATIONS FROM THE LATE EVENING SHOWED 80KTS AT
4KFT ABOVE BWI AND PHI (EVIDENCE OF STRONG DYNAMICS). STRONG
CONVERGENCE DUE TO A DEEP AND TIGHT BAROCLINIC ZONE REPOSITIONING
ITSELF EAST OF THE APPALACHIANS WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT CONVECTION
ABLE TO PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN/WET MICROBURSTS AND POSSIBLY AN ISOLATED
TORNADO.

COLD AIR WILL BE FILTERING INTO THE REGION THROUGH THE DAY...CAUSING
TEMPERATURES TO TUMBLE. DEEP LAYER MOISTURE WILL BE PRESSING
NORTHEAST...WHILE DOWNSLOPE ACTS TO DRY THE LOWER LEVELS. EXPECTING
SOME UPPER LEVEL MOISTURE (SUPPORTED BY UPPER LEVEL JET) TO LINGER
THROUGH THE DAY. WINDS WILL BE GUSTY AT TIMES WITH TRANSPORT WIND
SPEEDS IN THE 30-35KT RANGE BEHIND THE COLD FRONT.

COMBINATION OF DRIER AIR MOVING INTO THE REGION AND CLEARING SKIES
WILL ALLOW FOR MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES TO SETTLE ACROSS THE REGION
OVERNIGHT. COOLER AND DRY WEATHER EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH
SATURDAY AS SURFACE HIGH ELONGATES EASTWARD AND TAKES A HOLD OF THE
REGION.

NO CHANGES BEYOND SATURDAY.

&&

.MARINE: WITH STRONG WINDS JUST ABOVE THE SURFACE AND APPROACH OF
CONVECTION...WILL MAINTAIN GALE WARNING. WATER TEMPERATURE OF 42F
WILL SUPPRESS WINDS FROM GUSTING MUCH BEYOND 35KT OUTSIDE OF
CONVECTION. WINDS VEER TO NW DURING THE LATE MORNING WITH FRONTAL
PASSAGE...AND SHOULD QUICKLY DIMINISH TO SMALL CRAFT CRITERIA.

&&

.AVIATION...CDFNT RDVLPG ACRS METRO TAFS ATTM...AND WL BE E OF AREA
BY 12Z...TAKING STRONG STORMS W/ IT. SCT LIGHTER ECHOES WL REMAIN
FOR ANTHR 4-6 HRS AFTR FROPA. FROM THAT PT ON...WND AND CIGS WL BE
THE TWO FACTORS AFFECTING TAFS. WND DIR WL BE NW...W/ 25-35 KT AVBL
TO MIX PER MDL SNDGS. WNDS WL SUBSIDE DRNG AFTN. XPCT MVFR-OCNL IFR
CIGS TO MIX OUR DRNG AFTN AS DWNSLOPE WORKS ITS MAGIC. VFR BY EVNG
AREAWIDE.

&&

.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...NONE.
MD...NONE.
VA...NONE.
WV...NONE.
MARINE...GALE WARNING MARYLAND PORTION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND
         TIDAL POTOMAC.

&&

SHORT TERM/MARINE FORECASTER: ROGOWSKI
AVIATION FORECASTER: HTS
Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 14, 5:26 AM EST, 1 hour 24 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
526 AM EST FRI JAN 14 2005

DCZ001-MDZ002>007-009>011-013-014-016>018-VAZ021-025>031-036>042-
050>057-WVZ048>055-151030-
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-
526 AM EST FRI JAN 14 2005

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...
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 18 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM FOR
CALVERT...CHARLES...KING GEORGE...AND SAINT MARYS COUNTIES.
TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...AND A BRIEF TORNADO
TOUCHDOWN ALL POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA.

ELSEWHERE...TEMPERATURES WILL DROP THROUGH THE DAY AS A COLD FRONT
MOVES EAST OF THE AREA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

TEMPERATURES WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY COLDER. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS
EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

THE SKYWARN SPOTTER NETWORK REMAINS ACTIVATED FOR SOUTHERN MARYLAND
AND KING GEORGE VIRGINIA.

HTS

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jan 14, 3:08 AM EST, 3 hours 42 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
308 AM EST FRI JAN 14 2005

DCZ001-MDZ006-007-009>011-013-014-016-VAZ039-041-042-050>057-141006-
ANNE ARUNDEL MD-ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA VA-CHARLES MD-
CULPEPER VA-DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DC-FAIRFAX VA-FAUQUIER VA-
HARFORD MD-HOWARD MD-KING GEORGE VA-LOUDOUN VA-MADISON VA-
MONTGOMERY MD-NORTHERN BALTIMORE MD-ORANGE VA-PRINCE GEORGES MD-
PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK VA-SOUTHERN BALTIMORE MD-
SPOTSYLVANIA VA-STAFFORD VA-
308 AM EST FRI JAN 14 2005

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING THE METRO AREAS...

A LINE OF SHOWERS AND OCCASIONAL THUNDERSTORMS FROM
CHARLOTTESVILLE... THROUGH STERLING...TO WESTMINSTER...WILL
CONTINUE MOVING EAST THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. THESE STORMS
WILL CROSS THE WESTERN SUBURBS OF BALTIMORE...WASHINGTON...AND
FREDERICKSBURG DURING THE 3 O CLOCK HOUR...AND WILL REACH THE CITIES
BY 4AM. THE LINE WILL THEN CONTINUE EAST ACROSS PRINCE
GEORGES...ANNE ARUNDEL...AND CHARLES COUNTIES THROUGH 5 AM.

EXPECT TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS. HOURLY
RAINFALL OF ONE TO TWO INCHES WILL PRODUCE LOCALIZED FLOODING. LOW
LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS WILL BE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE. IN
ADDITION...EXPECT CREEKS AND STREAMS TO RISE RAPIDLY.

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA UNTIL 7 AM.
TORNADOES CAN DEVELOP FROM THUNDERSTORMS WILL LITTLE
ADVANCE NOTICE.

REMEMBER...IT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO RECOGNIZE FLOODED ROADS AT NIGHT.
IF MOTORISTS ENCOUNTER WATER COVERING THE ROADWAY...TURN AROUND AND
FIND AN ALTERNATE ROUTE. THE WATER MAY BE TOO DEEP TO CROSS SAFELY.

RESIDENTS SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER...AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK A SAFE
LOCATION IF HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS THREATEN. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THIS UNSEASONABLE
SEVERE WEATHER EVENT.

HTS
Special weather statement, Jan 14, 3:55 AM EST, 2 hours 55 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
355 AM EST FRI JAN 14 2005

VAZ036-037-141154-
ALBEMARLE VA-NELSON VA-
355 AM EST FRI JAN 14 2005

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 16 HAS BEEN CANCELLED...

THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS MOVED EAST OF ALBEMARLE AND NELSON
COUNTIES...THEREFORE THE TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED. PERIODS OF
HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE EARLY THIS MORNING...AND A FLOOD WARNING
REMAINS IN EFFECT.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES.

MANNING
Special weather statement, Jan 14, 5:13 AM EST, 1 hour 37 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
513 AM EST FRI JAN 14 2005

DCZ001-MDZ009-013-014-VAZ041-050>056-141115-
ANNE ARUNDEL MD-ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA VA-CULPEPER VA-
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DC-FAIRFAX VA-FAUQUIER VA-MONTGOMERY MD-
ORANGE VA-PRINCE GEORGES MD-PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK VA-
SPOTSYLVANIA VA-STAFFORD VA-
513 AM EST FRI JAN 14 2005

...TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED...

THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER HAS MOVED EAST OF THE INTERSTATE 95
CORRIDOR...THEREFORE THE TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED. HEAVY RAIN
WILL BE POSSIBLE EARLY THIS MORNING...BUT SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT
ANTICIPATED.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES.

MANNING
Special weather statement, Jan 14, 6:05 AM EST, 45 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 14, 2:06 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXAlbemarle, City of Charlottesville24 min
Jan 14, 2:09 AM ESTTornado WarningLWXAlbemarle36 min
Jan 14, 2:17 AM ESTTornado WarningLWXOrange43 min
Jan 14, 3:04 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXPrince William, City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park26 min
Jan 14, 3:32 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXFairfax, City of Fairfax, City of Falls Church28 min
Jan 14, 5:43 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXKing George47 min
Jan 14, 5:11 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXCharles49 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Virginia, 2005Every flash flood warning in 2005

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.