Alert archive / West Virginia / River Flood Warnings in 2010

River Flood Warning 26, NWS Blacksburg, VA

March 13, 2010Giles County, Virginia; Mercer County, Summers County, West Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this river flood warning at Mar 13, 2010, 10:33 AM EST for Giles County, Virginia; Mercer County, Summers County, West Virginia. It took effect at Mar 13, 2010, 6:00 PM EST. It was in force for 10 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 13, 2010, 10:33 AM EST (15:33 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 13, 2010, 6:00 PM EST
Expired
Mar 14, 2010, 4:39 AM EDT
In force
10 hr
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Flood severity
Minor

Counties Giles County, VA, Mercer County, WV, Summers County, WV

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 73 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:33 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 river

Written for the forecast point New River at Glen Lyn (GLLV2). The gauge peaked at 14.45 ft at Mar 13, 2010, 9:00 PM EST.

actionminormoderate101503/1303/1403/15
Action stage
12 ft
Minor stage
15 ft
Moderate stage
16 ft
Major stage
18 ft

This gauge today: stage, forecast and historic crests

Stage from the USGS instantaneous record for site 03176500, one reading an hour, from a day before the product to a day after it ended. Flood stages are today's.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this river flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Blacksburg, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this river flood warning went out at Mar 13, 6:43 AM EST, 3 hours 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 13, 6:43 AM EST, 3 hours 50 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
643 AM EST SAT MAR 13 2010

.SYNOPSIS...
LOW PRESSURE COVERING THE MID ATLANTIC REGION WILL MOVE SLOWLY
EAST SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AND WILL BE OFF THE NEW JERSEY COAST
SUNDAY NIGHT.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
LOW PRESSURE WAS CENTERED IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA WITH AN AXIS OF
SURFACE CONVERGENCE FROM THE LOW IN TO SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA. A
BAND OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS EXTENDED ALONG THE CONVERGENCE
AXIS. WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS REPORTED BY THE IFLOWS NETWORK
RANGED FROM 1.5 TO 2.5 INCHES. PRECIPITATION IS BEING ENHANCED
NORTH OF THE LOW BY UPSLOPE ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE. WILL CONTINUE
THE FLOOD WATCH IN ALL AREAS. MAY BE ABLE TO CANCEL THE COUNTIES
IN NORTHERN NORTH CAROLINA BUT LOCAL GAGES SHOW CREEKS AND STREAMS
STILL RISING IN THAT AREA.

SREF AND LOCAL WRF LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON THE
NORTHERN DRIFT OF THE BAND OF HEAVY RAIN. HAVE ADJUSTED THE
PROBABILITY OF PRECIPITATION WITH HIGHEST PERCENTAGE IN THE NORTH
TO REFLECT THIS TIMING. EXPECT THAT AFTER 18Z MUCH OF THIS
RAINFALL WILL BE NORTH OF THE FORECAST AREA. ENOUGH LOW LEVEL
WEST WINDS BY THAT TIME TO HAVE A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS IN THE
WESTERN UPSLOPE COUNTIES. MODELS AREA ALSO SHOWING A WEAK SHORT
WAVE ROTATING AROUND THE UPPER LOW WHICH WILL JUST BE MOVING INTO
NORTH CAROLINA BY THE END OF THE DAY. THIS MAY TRIGGER A FEW
SHOWERS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN FORECAST AREA SO HAVE LEFT CHANCE
PROBABILITY IN FOR THIS AFTERNOON.

AS UPPER LOW APPROACHES TEMPERATURES AT 850 MB START TO DROP.
TOOK A BLEND OF MET/MAV GUIDANCE FOR HIGHS TODAY. LOWS TONIGHT
WILL BE INTO THE 30S IN THE MOUNTAINS SO KEPT THE MIX OF SNOW IN
AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS LATE TONIGHT. STILL SLIGHTLY TOO WARM FOR
ANYTHING BUT MINIMAL ACCUMULATION.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
SUNDAY INTO MONDAY...THE AREA REMAINS IN NORTHWEST FLOW BEHIND THE
EXITING UPPER LOW. PRECIPITATION WILL BE CONFINED TO PRIMARILY THE
MOUNTAINS...ESPECIALLY THOSE OF SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. THE
PRECIPITATION TYPE WILL BE MAINLY RAIN SHOWERS. HOWEVER...WITH
COLDER AIR BUILDING BEHIND THE DEPARTING LOW...WE CANNOT RULE OUT
SOME ISOLATED SNOW SHOWERS FOR A FEW HOURS LATE SUNDAY NIGHT...AND
MONDAY NIGHT AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA AND
IN THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA. ANY ACCUMULATIONS WOULD
BE UNDER ONE HALF INCH EACH NIGHT. WINDS WILL INCREASE ON MONDAY AS
THE PRESSURE GRADIENT TIGHTENS BETWEEN THE DEPARTING LOW AND AN
APPROACHING AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE. THIS HIGH PRESSURE WILL BEGIN TO
BUILD INTO THE REGION ON TUESDAY BRINGING DECREASING CLOUD COVER AND
A DRY FORECAST.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
THE EXTENDED PERIOD IS CHARACTERIZED BY DRY WEATHER AND NEAR TO
SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES. WE WILL REMAIN IN A MEAN TROUGH
THROUGH THE PERIOD...WITH 850MB TEMPERATURES STARTING OUT AROUND 1C
ON TUESDAY AND INCREASING TO 4-5C BY FRIDAY. THIS WILL MEAN WE WILL
SEE INCREASING TEMPERATURES EACH DAY THROUGH FRIDAY...USED 850MB
TEMPERATURES AS A STARTING POINT FOR HIGHS AND BLENDED WITH MOSGUIDE.

WITH THE TROUGH OVERHEAD WE WILL HAVE RATHER STEEP LOW LEVEL LAPSE
RATES TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...WHICH COULD ALLOW ISOLATED
AFTERNOON SHOWERS TO DEVELOP. THE BEST CHANCE FOR THIS APPEARS TO BE
ACROSS THE WEST...BUT ANY SHOWERS WILL BE ISOLATED AND THEREFORE
CURRENTLY JUST GOING WITH A DRY FORECAST. THE NEXT CHANCE FOR MORE
WIDESPREAD RAIN DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE UNTIL SUNDAY...WHEN MODELS
SHOW A COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
BAND OF LIGHT TO MODERATE SHOWERS WILL BE ONGOING AT LWB AT 12Z
WITH BLF AND ROA ON THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THE BAND. THE
PRECIPITATION WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTH AND IS EXPECTED TO CLEAR
OUT OF LWB AROUND 17Z. CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES IN THIS AREA WILL
BE MVFR WITH OCCASIONAL IFR CEILINGS WITH THE HEAVIER SHOWERS.

LOW CONFIDENCE IN REDEVELOPMENT OF SHOWERS LATE THIS MORNING INTO
EARLY THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS THE REST OF THE FORECAST AREA. AS THE
WINDS BECOME MORE WESTERLY UPSLOPE SHOWERS MAY DEVELOP IN THE
MOUNTAINS AND A WEAK SHORT WAVE ROTATING AROUND THE UPPER LOW MAY
SPARK ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE BY
LATE THIS AFTERNOON. WITH THE UPSLOPE IN THE WEST CEILINGS ARE
EXPECTED TO REMAIN MVFR. IN THE EAST CONDITIONS SHOULD IMPROVE TO
VFR THIS AFTERNOON. CEILINGS MAY DROP TO IFR AT LWB AND BLF AFTER
00Z BUT ONLY MODERATE CONFIDENCE THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN.

SCATTERED SHOWERS ARE LIKELY SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY...WITH
CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES FALLING BACK INTO THE MVFR/IFR RANGE
DURING THESE SHOWERS. LOOKS LIKE LOW CLOUDS AND SPOTTY -RA MAY
KEEP AT LEAST MVFR CONDITIONS GOING INTO MONDAY WITH SOME SLOW
IMPROVEMENT TO VFR TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
NO CHANGES TO THE FLOOD WATCH. BLUESTONE DAM AND CLAYTOR LAKE HAVE
INCREASED THEIR RELEASES.

THE FORECASTS FOR THE NEW...GREENBRIER AND JAMES RIVERS WILL BE
UPDATED BY NOON.

&&

.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR VAZ018>020-022>024-
     033>035-043>047-058-059.
     FLOOD WATCH UNTIL NOON EST TODAY FOR VAZ007-009>017-032.
NC...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR NCZ005-006.
     FLOOD WATCH UNTIL NOON EST TODAY FOR NCZ001>004-018>020.
WV...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR WVZ043>045.
     FLOOD WATCH UNTIL NOON EST TODAY FOR WVZ042.

&&

SYNOPSIS...AMS
NEAR TERM...AMS
SHORT TERM...DS
LONG TERM...MC
AVIATION...AMS/JH
HYDROLOGY...AMS
Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 13, 6:09 AM EST, 4 hours 24 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
609 AM EST SAT MAR 13 2010

NCZ005-006-VAZ018>020-022-024-033>035-043>046-058-059-141100-
ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-CRAIG-ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-ROANOKE-ROCKBRIDGE-
FRANKLIN-BEDFORD-AMHERST-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX-
HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE-
609 AM EST SAT MAR 13 2010

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTH
CAROLINA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTHWEST
VIRGINIA AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   FLOOD WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

WVZ043>045-141100-
SUMMERS-MONROE-GREENBRIER-
609 AM EST SAT MAR 13 2010

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   FLOOD WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

A RIVER FLOOD WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR MODERATE FLOODING
ALONG THE GREENBRIER RIVER AROUND ALDERSON WHICH IS EXPECTED TO
RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE BY SATURDAY EVENING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

NCZ001>004-018>020-VAZ007-009>017-032-WVZ042-141100-
ASHE-ALLEGHANY NC-SURRY-STOKES-WATAUGA-WILKES-YADKIN-TAZEWELL-SMYTH-
BLAND-GILES-WYTHE-PULASKI-MONTGOMERY-GRAYSON-CARROLL-FLOYD-PATRICK-
MERCER-
609 AM EST SAT MAR 13 2010

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST TODAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTH
CAROLINA...NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND
SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   FLOOD WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

VAZ023-141100-
BOTETOURT-
609 AM EST SAT MAR 13 2010

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   FLOOD WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

A RIVER FLOOD WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR MINOR FLOODING ALONG
THE JAMES RIVER AT BUCHANAN WHICH IS EXPECTED TO RISE ABOVE FLOOD
STAGE LATE SATURDAY NIGHT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

VAZ047-141100-
BUCKINGHAM-
609 AM EST SAT MAR 13 2010

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   FLOOD WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

A RIVER FLOOD WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE JAMES RIVER AT
BREMO BLUFF FOR MODERATE FLOODING BY LATER SUNDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 13, 6:45 AM EST, 3 hours 48 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
645 AM EST SAT MAR 13 2010

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

0545 AM     FLASH FLOOD      PULASKI                 37.05N 80.80W
03/13/2010                   PULASKI            VA   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            SEVERAL WATER RESCUES HAVE TAKEN PLACE ACROSS THE COUNTY.
            SANDBAGGING 911 CENTER IN PULASKI TO PROTECT IT FROM PEAK
            CREAK.

0620 AM     FLASH FLOOD      RAINELLE                37.97N 80.78W
03/13/2010                   GREENBRIER         WV   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ALL STREAMS REPORTED OUT OF THEIR BANKS IN WESTERN
            GREENBRIER. WATER RESCUES ARE TAKING PLACE IN RAINELLE.
            FLOODING MAY RESULT IN CLOSURE OF ROUTE 60 BETWEEN
            CHARMCO AND MCROSS.

0625 AM     FLASH FLOOD      BLUEFIELD               37.27N 81.22W
03/13/2010                   MERCER             WV   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            BETWEEN 35 AND 40 ROADS CLOSED IN THE COUNTY DUE TO
            FLOODING.

&&

11
Local storm report, Mar 13, 9:10 AM EST, 1 hour 23 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 12, 7:40 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGrayson, Smyth65 min
Mar 12, 8:20 PM ESTAreal Flood WarningRNKBland, Pulaski, Wythe6 hr
Mar 12, 8:38 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGrayson52 min
Mar 12, 9:36 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningRNKBland, Giles6 hr
Mar 12, 9:51 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGrayson, Smyth, Wythe, City of Galax69 min
Mar 12, 10:28 PM ESTAreal Flood WarningRNKBland, Carroll, Grayson, Tazewell, Wythe, City of Galax6 hr
Mar 12, 11:35 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHenry, Patrick, City of Martinsville55 min
Mar 13, 12:32 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHenry, City of Danville, City of Martinsville58 min
Mar 13, 1:38 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningRNKBland, Pulaski, Tazewell, Wythe6 hr
Mar 13, 3:32 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningRNKGiles, Pulaski, City of Radford4 hr
Mar 13, 3:43 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningRNKCarroll, City of Galax2 hr
Mar 13, 4:53 AM ESTAreal Flood WarningRNKAlleghany, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Craig, Rockbridge and 3 more6 hr
Mar 13, 7:34 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningRNKBland, Giles, Pulaski, Tazewell, Wythe6 hr
Mar 13, 8:29 AM ESTAreal Flood WarningRNKMontgomery, Roanoke, City of Salem12 hr
Mar 13, 1:06 PM ESTAreal Flood WarningRNKBland, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, Tazewell, Wythe14 hr
Mar 13, 1:37 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFloyd, Patrick53 min
Mar 13, 2:16 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCarroll, Floyd, Patrick59 min
Mar 13, 2:22 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHenry, City of Martinsville53 min
Mar 13, 4:20 PM ESTAreal Flood WarningRNKAlleghany, Botetourt, Craig6 hr
Mar 13, 4:56 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPittsylvania, City of Danville, City of Martinsville64 min
Mar 13, 6:35 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCharlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania, City of Danville70 min
Mar 13, 3:15 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementRNKRockingham45 min
Mar 13, 4:25 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningRNKGreenbrier9 hr

Nearby

River Flood Warnings in West Virginia, 2010River Flood Warnings in Virginia, 2010Every river flood warning in 2010

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive; the gauge from the NWS water service and the USGS.