Alert archive / South Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 1, NWS Charleston, SC

June 29, 2011Jasper County, South Carolina; Chatham County, Georgia

NWS Charleston, SC issued this flash flood warning at Jun 29, 2011, 6:22 PM EDT for Jasper County, South Carolina; Chatham County, Georgia. It was in force for 3 hr. 15 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jun 29, 2011, 6:22 PM EDT (22:22 UTC)
Expired
Jun 29, 2011, 9:15 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Chatham County, GA, Jasper County, SC

The radar

The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 70 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:23 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jun 29, 6:37 PM EDTHEAVY RAIN 3.24Savannah Airport, GA3.24 INCHES AND STILL FALLING.
Jun 29, 6:55 PM EDTHEAVY RAIN 3Tybee Island, GASEVERAL YARDS FLOODED ON TYBEE ISLAND
Jun 29, 7:06 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Ssw Savannah Historic, GACAR STALLED AT 32ND AND JEFFERSON DUE TO HIGH WATER.
Jun 29, 7:06 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Sw Savannah Historic, GAVEHICLE STALLED AT MLK AND EMERALD DRIVE DUE TO HIGH WATER.
Jun 29, 7:06 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD2 W Savannah Historic D, GA2 VEHICLES STALLED AT INTERSTATE 16 AND AUGUSTA ROAD DUE TO HIGH WATER.
Jun 29, 7:10 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Nnw Savannah, GAFLOODED INTERSECTION E. HENRY LANE AND EAST BROAD.
Jun 29, 7:10 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 S Savannah Historic D, GAFLOODED INTERSECTION AT PRICE AND HENRY.
Jun 29, 7:10 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Wnw Savannah, GAFLOODED INTERSECTION DRAYTON AND 36TH.
Jun 29, 7:10 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Wnw Savannah Historic, GAFLOODED INTERSECTION AT LATHROPE AND AUGUSTA.
Jun 29, 7:10 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 W Savannah, GAFLOODED INTERSECTION AT VICTORY AND MLK JR.
Jun 29, 7:10 PM EDTFLASH FLOODSavannah, GAFLOODED INTERSECTION AT VICTORY AND LIVE OAK.
Jun 29, 7:10 PM EDTFLASH FLOODSavannah Historic Distr, GAFLOODED INTERSECTION AT EAST LIBERTY AND EAST BROAD.
Jun 29, 7:45 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Nnw Savannah, GAANDERSON STREET CLOSED BETWEEN ATLANTIC AND PAULSEN DUE TO FLOODING.
Jun 29, 8:01 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD2 Wnw Savannah Historic, GAI-516 WESTBOUND AT EXIT 7 ONE LANE CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING.
Jun 29, 9:00 PM EDTHEAVY RAIN 4.9Savannah Airport, GASTORM TOTAL FOR JUNE 29TH HEAVY RAIN.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 10.4 hours before the alert went out and 133 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 2011-06-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 659 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 2011-06-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 37 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
659 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-23 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
823 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
15 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
37 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
43 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.

181 
WGUS52 KCHS 292222
FFWCHS
GAC051-SCC053-300115-
/O.NEW.KCHS.FF.W.0001.110629T2222Z-110630T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
622 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN CHATHAM COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA...
  SOUTH CENTRAL JASPER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...

* UNTIL 915 PM EDT

* AT 618 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  VERY HEAVY RAIN OCCURRING ALONG A LINE FROM PORT WENTWORTH TO
  DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH TO WILMINGTON ISLAND...NEARLY STATIONARY.

  RADAR ESTIMATES THAT 2 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN ACROSS THE
  WARNING AREA. AS OF 615 PM...THE SAVANNAH AIRPORT HAD RECEIVED
  2.50 INCHES OF RAINFALL. WITH THE APPROACH OF HIGH TIDE AT 730 PM
  THE RISK FOR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING IN DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH WILL CONTINUE
  TO INCREASE. 

* FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED IN AND AROUND...
  SAVANNAH HISTORIC DISTRICT...HUTCHINSON ISLAND...SAVANNAH...PORT
  WENTWORTH...POOLER...TYBEE ISLAND...THUNDERBOLT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

AVOID DRIVING INTO WATER ON THE ROAD. THE WATER IS USUALLY DEEPER
THAN IT APPEARS AND THE ROAD MAY BE WASHED OUT. ONLY ONE FOOT OF
WATER WILL STALL A VEHICLE AND LESS THAN TWO FEET OF WATER CAN FLOAT
AND CARRY AWAY A VEHICLE. FLOODING IS THE NUMBER ONE WEATHER-RELATED
CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS
MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

TO REPORT FLOODING...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
CHARLESTON TOLL FREE AT 1-888-383-2024.

&&

LAT...LON 3213 8134 3223 8119 3207 8088 3205 8089
      3203 8087 3203 8084 3202 8083 3200 8083
      3197 8085 3194 8091 3191 8093 3188 8097

$$
4 follow-up statements
321 
WGUS72 KCHS 292248
FFSCHS

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
648 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2011

GAC051-SCC053-300115-
/O.CON.KCHS.FF.W.0001.000000T0000Z-110630T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
JASPER SC-CHATHAM GA-
648 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM EDT FOR
NORTHERN CHATHAM AND SOUTH CENTRAL JASPER COUNTIES...

AT 641 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE AN AREA OF HEAVY RAIN EXTENDING FROM EDEN TO POOLER TO
SAVANNAH AND TYBEE ISLAND...MOVING SLOWLY SOUTHEAST AT AROUND 10 MPH.

RADAR INDICATES 3 TO 4 INCHES OF RAINFALL HAS OCCURRED ALONG A LINE 
FROM THE SAVANNAH AIRPORT TO THE SAVANNAH HISTORIC DISTRICT AND FORT 
PULASKI. AS OF 630 PM...THE SAVANNAH AIRPORT HAD RECEIVED 3.24 
INCHES OF RAINFALL. ALTHOUGH A BRIEF LULL IN THE HEAVIEST RAIN MAY 
OCCUR OVER THE SAVANNAH HISTORIC DISTRICT...MORE SHOWERS AND 
THUNDERSTORMS ARE DEVELOPING NORTHWEST OF THE WARNING AREA AND MAY 
MOVE INTO THE SAME LOCATIONS THROUGH 8 PM.

HIGH TIDE WILL OCCUR AT 730 PM THIS EVENING. THIS WILL SLOW THE 
DRAINAGE OF RUNOFF FROM STORM DRAINS...POTENTIALLY WORSENING STREET 
FLOODING THIS EVENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

AVOID DRIVING INTO WATER ON THE ROAD. THE WATER IS USUALLY DEEPER
THAN IT APPEARS AND THE ROAD MAY BE WASHED OUT. ONLY ONE FOOT OF
WATER WILL STALL A VEHICLE AND LESS THAN TWO FEET OF WATER CAN FLOAT
AND CARRY AWAY A VEHICLE. FLOODING IS THE NUMBER ONE WEATHER-RELATED
CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS
MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER 
SERVICE IN CHARLESTON TOLL FREE AT 1-888-383-2024 OR EMAIL YOUR 
REPORTS TO CHS.SKYWARN@NOAA.GOV. REPORTS CAN ALSO BE SENT THROUGH 
TWITTER USING #WXREPORT.

&&

LAT...LON 3213 8134 3223 8119 3207 8088 3205 8089
      3203 8087 3203 8084 3202 8083 3200 8083
      3197 8085 3194 8091 3191 8093 3188 8097

$$
754 
WGUS72 KCHS 292346
FFSCHS

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
746 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2011

GAC051-SCC053-300115-
/O.CON.KCHS.FF.W.0001.000000T0000Z-110630T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
JASPER SC-CHATHAM GA-
746 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM EDT FOR
NORTHERN CHATHAM AND SOUTH CENTRAL JASPER COUNTIES...

AT 740 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE TORRENTIAL RAINFALL OCCURRING ACROSS AN AREA FROM PEMBROKE 
TO POOLER TO DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH AND TYBEE ISLAND. THIS RAINFALL IS 
MOVING SLOWLY SOUTHEAST AT AROUND 10 MPH.

DOPPLER RADAR AND RAIN GAGE OBSERVATIONS INDICATE STORM TOTAL 
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES HAVE ALREADY FALLEN ACROSS 
PORTIONS OF WHITEMARSH ISLAND AND TYBEE ISLAND. AREAS FROM POOLER 
SOUTHEAST TO GARDEN CITY AND DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH HAVE RECEIVED BETWEEN 
2 AND 4 INCHES OF RAIN. TYBEE ISLAND POLICE REPORTED THAT BUTLER 
ROAD HAD BEEN CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING. IN ADDITION...SAVANNAH 
EMERGENCY OFFICIALS REPORTED NUMEROUS ROADS FLOODED IN DOWNTOWN 
SAVANNAH.

ONGOING HIGH TIDES WILL WORSEN FLASH FLOODING CONCERNS THIS EVENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

AVOID DRIVING INTO WATER ON THE ROAD. THE WATER IS USUALLY DEEPER
THAN IT APPEARS AND THE ROAD MAY BE WASHED OUT. ONLY ONE FOOT OF
WATER WILL STALL A VEHICLE AND LESS THAN TWO FEET OF WATER CAN FLOAT 
AND CARRY AWAY A VEHICLE.

TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN CHARLESTON TOLL FREE AT 1-888-383-2024 OR EMAIL YOUR 
REPORTS TO CHS.SKYWARN@NOAA.GOV.

&&

LAT...LON 3213 8134 3223 8119 3207 8088 3205 8089
      3203 8087 3203 8084 3202 8083 3200 8083
      3197 8085 3194 8091 3191 8093 3188 8097

$$
849 
WGUS72 KCHS 300038
FFSCHS

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
838 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2011

GAC051-SCC053-300115-
/O.CON.KCHS.FF.W.0001.000000T0000Z-110630T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
JASPER SC-CHATHAM GA-
838 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM EDT FOR
NORTHERN CHATHAM AND SOUTH CENTRAL JASPER COUNTIES...

AT 831 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THE 
HEAVIEST RAINFALL HAD SHIFTED SOUTH OF THE WARNING AREA. ADDITIONAL 
HEAVY RAIN IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH 915 PM. HOWEVER...DUE TO THE 
PASSING HIGH TIDE AND A LARGE AMOUNT OF STANDING WATER YET TO 
DRAIN...ROADS IN SAVANNAH...WHITEMARSH ISLAND...TYBEE ISLAND AND 
SURROUNDING AREAS WILL LIKELY REMAIN TREACHEROUS FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WATER DEPTH IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE AT NIGHT. DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER ON THE ROADWAY EVEN IF IT APPEARS SHALLOW.
FIND AN ALTERNATE ROUTE. A SHORT DELAY IN YOUR TRAVEL PLANS IS BETTER
THAN LOSING YOUR CAR...OR YOUR LIFE.

&&

LAT...LON 3213 8134 3223 8119 3207 8088 3205 8089
      3203 8087 3203 8084 3202 8083 3200 8083
      3197 8085 3194 8091 3191 8093 3188 8097

$$
977 
WGUS72 KCHS 300108
FFSCHS

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
908 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2011

GAC051-SCC053-300118-
/O.EXP.KCHS.FF.W.0001.000000T0000Z-110630T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
JASPER SC-CHATHAM GA-
908 PM EDT WED JUN 29 2011

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 915 PM EDT FOR FOR NORTHERN
CHATHAM AND SOUTH CENTRAL JASPER COUNTIES...

ALTHOUGH THE SIGNIFICANT FLOODING HAS ENDED...DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND
CULVERTS WILL REMAIN FULL. PONDING WATER WILL PERSIST IN LOW-LYING
AREAS AND MAY POSE A HAZARD TO MOTORISTS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO ALL-HAZARDS FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

LAT...LON 3213 8134 3223 8119 3207 8088 3205 8089
      3203 8087 3203 8084 3202 8083 3200 8083
      3197 8085 3194 8091 3191 8093 3188 8097

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Charleston, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 29, 4:06 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSBeaufort39 min
Jun 29, 5:07 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSBeaufort38 min
Jun 29, 5:58 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCHSJasper3 hr
Jun 29, 4:18 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSMcIntosh27 min
Jun 29, 5:31 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSChatham44 min
Jun 29, 5:47 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS118 min
Jun 29, 5:51 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS54 min
Jun 29, 6:26 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS2 hr
Jun 29, 7:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSBryan41 min
Jun 29, 7:26 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS2 hr
Jun 29, 7:54 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSBryan, Chatham, Liberty, Long66 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in South Carolina, 2011Flash Flood Warnings in Georgia, 2011Every flash 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.