Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2008
Flash Flood Warning 3, NWS Baltimore/Washington
NWS Baltimore/Washington issued this flash flood warning at May 9, 2008, 1:15 AM EDT for 4 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
- May 9, 2008, 1:15 AM EDT (05:15 UTC)
- Expired
- May 9, 2008, 5:15 AM EDT
- In force
- 4 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Baltimore/Washington
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties City of Fairfax, VA, City of Falls Church, VA, Fairfax County, VA, Loudoun County, VA
The radar
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 14 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:15 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, 5.3 hours before the alert went out and 6 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 77 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -88 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1261 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 37 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 11 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 120 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
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 May 9, 12:44 AM EDT, 31 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 9, 12:44 AM EDT, 31 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1244 AM EDT FRI MAY 9 2008
.SYNOPSIS...
LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY. HIGH
PRESSURE WILL BRIEFLY BUILD ACROSS THE REGION ON SATURDAY...BUT
ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING UNSETTLED CONDITIONS SUNDAY INTO
MONDAY. HIGH PRESSURE RETURNS FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. LOW PRES
WL APRCH THE AREA AGAIN THU.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THIS MORNING/...
CANCELLED THE FIRST WATCH FOR LOCATIONS EAST OF THE INTERSTATE 95
CORRIDOR. STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST OF THAT AREA...BUT THE
SEVERE TRHEAT SHOULD BE DIMINSING AND THE ORIGINIAL WATCH WAS
SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE AT 1AM. THE SECOND WATCH REMAINS IN
TACT...WITH STORMS JUST GETTING INTO LOWER SOUTHERN MARYLAND.
SECOND CONCERN FOR TONIGHT CONTINUES TO BE FOR FLOODING. STORMS
ARE NOT MOVING VERY FAST. THAT COMBINED WITH HIGH MOSITURE CONTENT
WILL KEEP THE POTENTIAL FOR 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN OVERNIGHT
THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. NO CHANGES NEEDED TO FLOOD PORTION OF THE
FORECAST. UPDATES WLL BE OUT SHORTLY.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM THIS MORNING THROUGH 6 PM SATURDAY/...
AT 12Z...SFC LOW ATOP CWFA. BY 18Z...IT SHUD BE OVR ERN SHORE. HVYST
RAFL IN CONVEYOR BELTS ON EAST AND NORTH SIDES...WHICH WL BE ENDING
DURING THE MRNG. WL CONT PCPN THREAT THRU THE AFTN INVOF H5 TROF
AXIS. ALSO...STILL MARGINAL INSTBLY ERN SXNS...AND WL CARRY CHC
THUNDER. AREA UNDERGOING GOOD CAA TAFTN...SO MAXT MUCH LWR. SPREAD
BTWN MAV/MET SMALL...AND BLEND TAKEN.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
PCPN WL BE WANING AS LOW PRES DEPARTS THE CWA. ONLY PLACE POPS WL
RMN FRI NGT AND SAT WL BE W OF THE APLCHNS. E OF THE MTNS LOOKS
DRY BOTH PDS...AND ENTIRE CWA LOOKS DRY SAT NGT AS SFC HIGH AND
UPR RDG WL BE CENTERED OVER AREA. TEMPS ARND NRML - LOWS 45-50
(XCPT CITIES AND MTNS) FRI AND SAT NGT AND MU60S (AGN COOLER W)
DURG DAY SAT.
INCRSG CLDS ON SUN AFTN AS RDG DEPARTS ALLOWING NEXT RND OF PCPN
TO APRCH THE RGN SUN NGT. THERE IS SOME DIFFERENCE IN THE
PLACEMENT OF THE LOW...BUT PSBLY GOING NEG TILT...SO THINK SUN NGT
COULD BE A WET ONE. DEPDNEING ON HOW THE CURRENT RAFL ENDS
UP...A FLD WTCH MAY AGAN BE NEEDED SUN NGT. SPC HAS OUR SRN CWA IN
AN OUTLOOK FOR SVR WX FOR SUNDAY. LATER SHIFTS WL HV TO MONITOR.
THE LOW LOOKS TO SLOWLY DEPART THE RGN...AND HV POPS IN THE FCST
RGT THRU TO MON NGT...B4 RDG RETURNS TUE AND WED. THEN ANOTHER CHC
OF RA PSBL ON THU AS ANOTHER AREA OF LOW PRES TRACKS INTO THE MID
ATLC.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
CONDS STILL MAINLY AT VFR...THO OCNLY DROPPING TO MVFR W/IN SHRA.
TRENDS WL DEFINITELY GO DOWNHILL AS LOPRES NEARS. LOOKING AT
WIDESPREAD MVFR VSBYS AND IFR CIGS OVNGT IN SHRA/TSRA-- LCLLY LWR
INVOF STORMS. MOST FLGT RESTRICTIONS WL HOLD OFF TIL AFTR 04Z.
IMPVMNT WL COME AFTR 12Z TMRW...BUT MVFR CIG RESTRICTIONS LIKELY TO
HOLD THRU MRNG.
DIMINISHED CIGS/VSBY XPCTD AT ALL TAF SITES SUN NGT...PSBLY INTO
MON MRNG PUSH.
&&
.MARINE...
WNDS HV STARTED TO SUBSIDE PAST FEW HRS. THIS WL BE THE LULL IN THE
ACTVTY. LLJ WL INCR TO 20-30 KT TNGT...AND 40-50 KT OVNGT...AS LOW
AS 1000 FT OFF WATERS. ANY SHRA CUD MIX THAT DOWN. SCA CONTS...AND
SMW PSBL TNGT.
LOPRES TRACKS ACRS WATERS...AND MIXING IMPVS TMRW IN NW FLOW. MDL
SNDGS SUGGEST 30 KT W/IN REACH. ONCE AGN...SCA CONTS.
SCA CONDS PSBL SUN NGT AND AGN MON AS LOW PRES MOVES OFF THE CST W/
TIGHT PRES GRAD BEHIND.
&&
.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
ONLY WATER LVLS ABV NRML RESIDE IN NRN BAY...BTWN ONE HALF FT AND 1
FT ABV. ONLY CONCERN WUD BE RISING ANOMOLIES AS LOW TRACKS OHD...
BUT NOT CONFIDENT ENUF FOR ANY HEADLINE.
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 11 AM EDT THIS MORNING FOR DCZ001.
MD...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 11 AM EDT THIS MORNING FOR MDZ003>007-
009>011-013-014-501-502.
VA...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 11 AM EDT THIS MORNING FOR VAZ021-025>031-
036>042-050>056.
WV...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 11 AM EDT THIS MORNING FOR WVZ050>055-
501>504.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR
ANZ530>537.
&&
SYNOPSIS...
NEAR TERM...SAR
SHORT TERM...
LONG TERM...
AVIATION...
MARINE...
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...Hazardous weather outlook, May 9, 12:57 AM EDT, 18 minutes before
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</html>In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 8, 9:21 PM EDT, 3 hours 54 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 921 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 VAZ055>057-090245- KING GEORGE VA-STAFFORD VA-SPOTSYLVANIA VA- 921 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT KING GEORGE...STAFFORD AND SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTIES... AT 921 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 14 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GLENORA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 21 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH...TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. THE COMMUNITIES OF MASSAPONAX WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM. RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT IN CASE WARNINGS ARE ISSUED. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT.
Special weather statement, May 8, 9:30 PM EDT, 3 hours 45 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 930 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 VAZ027-029>031-040>042-052-090300- PAGE VA-RAPPAHANNOCK VA-FAUQUIER VA-WARREN VA-SHENANDOAH VA-CLARKE VA- LOUDOUN VA-PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK VA- 930 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT PAGE...RAPPAHANNOCK...FAUQUIER... WARREN...SHENANDOAH...CLARKE...LOUDOUN AND PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK COUNTIES... AT 930 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF KINGS CROSSING...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH...TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. THE COMMUNITIES OF LURAY...FRONT ROYAL...HUME...DELAPLANE AND THE PLAINS WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM. RESIDENTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT IN CASE WARNINGS ARE ISSUED. ROSA
Local storm report, May 8, 11:21 PM EDT, 1 hour 54 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1121 PM EDT THU MAY 08 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1039 PM TSTM WND GST HUME 38.83N 78.00W
05/08/2008 U0.00 MPH FAUQUIER VA EMERGENCY MNGR
2 TREES DOWN
&&
SARSpecial weather statement, May 8, 11:22 PM EDT, 1 hour 53 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 1122 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 MDZ016-VAZ055-090345- STAFFORD VA-CHARLES MD- 1122 PM EDT THU MAY 8 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT STAFFORD AND CHARLES COUNTIES... AT 1120 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER STAFFORD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 24 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH. THIS STORM HAD AN EARLIER HISTORY OF STRONG ROTATION. THE COMMUNITIES OF WIDEWATER...ARKENDALE...RISON...MARBURY....NANJEMOY AND INDIAN HEAD WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM. SMZ
Local storm report, May 8, 11:41 PM EDT, 1 hour 34 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1141 PM EDT THU MAY 08 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1054 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 N FREDERICKSBURG 38.36N 77.50W
05/08/2008 STAFFORD VA TRAINED SPOTTER
TREES DOWN AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE REPORTED NEAR THE
LIMESTONE WAY SUBDIVISION.
&&
SARLocal storm report, May 9, 1:09 AM EDT, 6 minutes before
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</html>The office that day
Everything else NWS Baltimore/Washington issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 8:08 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LWX | Albemarle, Augusta, Nelson, City of Charlottesville | 52 min |
| May 8, 8:35 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | LWX | Albemarle, Nelson, City of Charlottesville | 40 min |
| May 8, 9:18 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LWX | Albemarle, Greene, Madison, Orange, City of Charlottesville | 57 min |
| May 8, 9:42 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LWX | Albemarle, Augusta, Greene, Rockingham, City of Staunton | 48 min |
| May 8, 9:53 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LWX | Culpeper, Fauquier, Orange, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Stafford | 47 min |
| May 8, 9:56 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | LWX | Albemarle, Augusta, Greene, Rockingham | 49 min |
| May 8, 10:02 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | LWX | Culpeper, Fauquier, Orange, Spotsylvania, Stafford | 28 min |
| May 8, 10:19 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | LWX | Albemarle, Nelson, City of Charlottesville | 4 hr |
| May 8, 10:28 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | LWX | 2 hr | |
| May 8, 10:32 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | LWX | Culpeper, Spotsylvania, Stafford, City of Fredericksburg | 43 min |
| May 8, 11:33 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | LWX | Fairfax, Prince William, Stafford | 42 min |
| May 8, 11:49 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | LWX | 116 min | |
| May 8, 11:53 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LWX | Culpeper, Spotsylvania, Stafford, City of Fredericksburg | 52 min |
| May 9, 12:22 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | LWX | Arlington, City of Alexandria | 4 hr |
| May 9, 12:46 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LWX | King George, Spotsylvania, Stafford, City of Fredericksburg | 44 min |
| May 9, 12:56 AM EDT | Special Marine Warning | LWX | 94 min | |
| May 9, 1:38 AM EDT | Special Marine Warning | LWX | 2 hr | |
| May 9, 2:26 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LWX | Culpeper, Fauquier, Orange, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Stafford and 3 more | 6 hr |
| May 9, 2:36 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LWX | Albemarle, Nelson, City of Charlottesville | 6 hr |
| May 9, 5:08 AM EDT | Special Marine Warning | LWX | 67 min | |
| May 9, 5:36 AM EDT | Special Marine Warning | LWX | 84 min | |
| May 9, 6:13 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LWX | Arlington, Fairfax, City of Alexandria, City of Fairfax, City of Falls Church | 2 hr |
| May 9, 6:57 AM EDT | Special Marine Warning | LWX | 48 min | |
| May 9, 8:10 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LWX | Fairfax, City of Fairfax | 2 hr |
| May 9, 8:34 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LWX | Albemarle, Culpeper, Fauquier, Orange, Prince William, Spotsylvania and 4 more | 4 hr |
| May 9, 9:11 AM EDT | Special Marine Warning | LWX | 94 min | |
| May 9, 12:20 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | LWX | Charles, Prince George's | 25 min |
| May 9, 12:46 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | LWX | Prince George's | 44 min |
| May 9, 1:21 AM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | LWX | Prince George's | 4 hr |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in Virginia, 2008Every flash flood warning in 2008
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.