Alert archive / New York / Areal Flood Warnings in 2011

Areal Flood Warning 2, NWS Buffalo, NY

February 28, 2011Chautauqua County, Erie County, New York

NWS Buffalo, NY issued this areal flood warning at Feb 28, 2011, 3:02 PM EST for Chautauqua County, Erie County, New York. It was in force for 19 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: Feb 28, 2011, 3:02 PM EST (20:02 UTC)
Expired: Mar 1, 2011, 10:00 AM EST
In force: 19 hr
Issued by: NWS Buffalo, NY
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Chautauqua County, NY, Erie County, NY

The radar

The Buffalo radar (KBUF), 53 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:08 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

Buffalo Intl Airport, NY (KBUF), launched 12:00Z, 8.0 hours before the alert went out and 53 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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 450 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 63 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 309 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 384 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.

902 
WGUS41 KBUF 282002
FLWBUF
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
302 PM EST MON FEB 28 2011

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BUFFALO HAS ISSUED A FLOOD WARNING
FOR THE FOLLOWING RIVERS IN NEW YORK...

  ALLEGHENY RIVER AT OLEAN

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SAFETY MESSAGE...NEVER DRIVE YOUR CAR THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. THE 
WATER MAY BE DEEPER THAN IT APPEARS. TURN AROUND...DON'T DROWN!

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

&&

NYC009-010202-
/O.NEW.KBUF.FL.W.0001.110302T0300Z-110303T0500Z/
/OLNN6.1.ER.110302T0300Z.110302T1200Z.110302T2300Z.NO/
302 PM EST MON FEB 28 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BUFFALO HAS ISSUED A 

* FLOOD WARNING FOR 
  THE ALLEGHENY RIVER AT OLEAN
* FROM TUESDAY EVENING TO LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
* AT 2 PM MONDAY THE STAGE WAS 6.4 FEET AND RISING.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 10.0 FEET.
* MINOR FLOODING IS FORECAST.
* FORECAST...THE RIVER IS EXPECTED TO RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE TUESDAY 
  NIGHT AND CREST NEAR 10.4 FEET WEDNESDAY MORNING.
* IMPACT...AT 10.0 FEET...FLOOD STAGE...FARM LANDS AND ROADS SEVERAL 
  MILES FROM OLEAN FLOOD SLIGHTLY. NO DAMAGES.

$$

HITCHCOCK

4 follow-up statements

015 
WGUS41 KBUF 282251
FLWBUF

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
551 PM EST MON FEB 28 2011

NYC013-029-010300-
/O.EXT.KBUF.FA.W.0002.000000T0000Z-110301T0300Z/
/00000.0.IJ.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CHAUTAUQUA NY-ERIE NY-
551 PM EST MON FEB 28 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BUFFALO HAS EXTENDED THE

* FLOOD WARNING FOR SMALL STREAMS IN...
  EXTREME NORTHEASTERN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY IN WESTERN NEW YORK...
  EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN ERIE COUNTY IN WESTERN NEW YORK...

* UNTIL 1000 PM EST

* AT 546 PM EST EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED FLOODING     
  NEAR THE MOUTH OF CATTARAUGUS CREEK AT SUNSET BAY. THIS FLOODING   
  IS THE RESULT OF A LINGERING ICE JAM NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE CREEK   
  IN ADDITION TO SIGNIFICANT RUNOFF FROM RAIN LAST NIGHT AND         
  SNOWMELT. THERE IS A CHANNEL OF OPEN WATER...BUT THE ICE IS STILL  
  IMPEDING THE FLOW ENOUGH TO RESULT IN A BACKUP IN SUNSET BAY. 

EVACUATIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN PORTIONS OF SUNSET BAY AS A 
PRECAUTION...AND SOME ROADS ARE REPORTED TO BE FLOODED. CATTARAUGUS 
CREEK HAS CRESTED AND IS STARTING TO FALL UPSTREAM AT GOWANDA...SO 
THE CREST SHOULD OCCUR AT SUNSET BAY EARLY THIS EVENING FOLLOWED BY 
FALLING WATER LEVELS BY MID TO LATE EVENING. TEMPERATURES WILL FALL 
BELOW FREEZING THIS EVENING...WHICH WILL QUICKLY DIMINISH THE AMOUNT 
OF RUNOFF ENTERING THE CREEK.

A FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR HAS BEEN REPORTED.
STREAM RISES WILL BE SLOW AND FLASH FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED.
HOWEVER...ALL INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS
IMMEDIATELY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF 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.

&&

LAT...LON 4258 7911 4256 7909 4255 7912 4256 7915
      4258 7915

$$

HITCHCOCK

276 
WGUS41 KBUF 010246
FLWBUF

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
946 PM EST MON FEB 28 2011

NYC013-029-010900-
/O.EXT.KBUF.FA.W.0002.000000T0000Z-110301T0900Z/
/00000.0.IJ.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CHAUTAUQUA NY-ERIE NY-
946 PM EST MON FEB 28 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BUFFALO HAS EXTENDED THE

* FLOOD WARNING FOR SMALL STREAMS IN...
  EXTREME NORTHEASTERN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY IN WESTERN NEW YORK...
  EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN ERIE COUNTY IN WESTERN NEW YORK...

* UNTIL 400 AM EST TUESDAY

* AT 943 PM EST EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED ONGOING      
  FLOODING NEAR THE MOUTH OF CATTARAUGUS CREEK AT SUNSET BAY. THIS   
  FLOODING IS THE RESULT OF A LINGERING ICE JAM NEAR THE MOUTH OF    
  THE CREEK IN ADDITION TO SIGNIFICANT RUNOFF FROM RAIN AND SNOWMELT 
  LAST NIGHT. THERE IS A CHANNEL OF OPEN WATER...BUT THE ICE IS      
  STILL IMPEDING THE FLOW ENOUGH TO RESULT IN A BACKUP IN SUNSET     
  BAY. 

EVACUATIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN PORTIONS OF SUNSET BAY AS A 
PRECAUTION...AND SOME ROADS ARE FLOODED. CATTARAUGUS CREEK HAS 
CRESTED AND IS STARTING TO FALL UPSTREAM AT GOWANDA...SO THE WATER 
LEVEL AT SUNSET BAY IS EXPECTED TO EVENTUALLY FALL OVERNIGHT. 
TEMPERATURES WILL FALL BELOW FREEZING THIS EVENING...WHICH WILL 
QUICKLY DIMINISH THE AMOUNT OF RUNOFF ENTERING THE CREEK.

A FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR HAS BEEN REPORTED.
STREAM RISES WILL BE SLOW AND FLASH FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED.
HOWEVER...ALL INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS
IMMEDIATELY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF 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.

&&

LAT...LON 4258 7911 4256 7909 4255 7912 4256 7915
      4258 7915

$$

HITCHCOCK

223 
WGUS41 KBUF 010837
FLWBUF

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
337 AM EST TUE MAR 1 2011

NYC013-029-011500-
/O.EXT.KBUF.FA.W.0002.000000T0000Z-110301T1500Z/
/00000.0.IJ.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CHAUTAUQUA NY-ERIE NY-
337 AM EST TUE MAR 1 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BUFFALO HAS EXTENDED THE

* FLOOD WARNING FOR SMALL STREAMS IN...
  EXTREME NORTHEASTERN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY IN WESTERN NEW YORK...
  EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN ERIE COUNTY IN WESTERN NEW YORK...

* UNTIL 1000 AM EST TUESDAY

* AT 332 AM EST CONDITIONS NEAR THE MOUTH OF CATTARAUGUS CREEK AT    
  SUNSET BAY REMAIN UNCHANGED SINCE MONDAY EVENING. FLOODING IS      
  ONGOING AND IS THE RESULT OF A LINGERING ICE JAM NEAR THE MOUTH    
  OF THE CREEK IN ADDITION TO SIGNIFICANT RUNOFF FROM RAIN AND       
  SNOWMELT EARLY MONDAY. THERE IS A CHANNEL OF OPEN WATER...BUT THE  
  ICE IS STILL IMPEDING THE FLOW ENOUGH TO RESULT IN A BACKUP IN     
  SUNSET BAY. THE CREEK LEVELS UPSTREAM ARE FALLING THOUGH...SO THE  
  SITUATION SHOULD IMPROVE LATER TODAY.

EVACUATIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN PORTIONS OF SUNSET BAY AS A 
PRECAUTION...AND SOME ROADS ARE FLOODED. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN 
BELOW FREEZING TODAY SO LITTLE OR NO FURTHER RUNOFF IS EXPECTED.

A FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR HAS BEEN REPORTED.
STREAM RISES WILL BE SLOW AND FLASH FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED.
HOWEVER...ALL INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS 
IMMEDIATELY.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF 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.

&&

LAT...LON 4258 7911 4256 7909 4255 7912 4256 7915
      4258 7915

$$

SFM

634 
WGUS81 KBUF 011509
FLSBUF

FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
1009 AM EST TUE MAR 1 2011

NYC013-029-011514-
/O.EXP.KBUF.FA.W.0002.000000T0000Z-110301T1500Z/
/00000.0.IJ.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CHAUTAUQUA NY-ERIE NY-
1009 AM EST TUE MAR 1 2011

...THE FLOOD WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR SMALL STREAMS IN EXTREME
SOUTHWESTERN ERIE AND EXTREME NORTHEASTERN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTIES...

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AT SILVER CREEK INDICATE THAT WATER LEVELS 
ARE RECEDING ON CATTARAUGUS CREEK. EVACUATIONS AT SUNSET BAY ARE NO 
LONGER NECESSARY AND PEOPLE ARE BEING ALLOWED BACK TO THEIR 
RESIDENCES.

SOME ROADS MAY CONTINUE TO BE FLOODED OR ICED OVER INTO THIS 
AFTERNOON...BUT CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THROUGHOUT THE 
DAY.

LAT...LON 4258 7911 4256 7909 4255 7912 4256 7915
      4258 7915

$$

TMA

The office that day

Everything else NWS Buffalo, NY issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Feb 28, 3:13 AM EST	Small Craft Advisory	BUF		24 hr
Feb 28, 4:15 AM EST	Areal Flood Warning	BUF	Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua	6 hr
Feb 28, 3:02 PM EST	River Flood Warning	BUF	Cattaraugus	24 hr

Nearby

Areal Flood Warnings in New York, 2011 Every areal flood warning in 2011

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.