Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 5, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

March 6, 2011Burke County, Caldwell County, McDowell County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this flash flood warning at Mar 6, 2011, 12:29 PM EST for Burke County, Caldwell County, McDowell County, North Carolina. It was in force for 4 hr. 1 report 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
Mar 6, 2011, 12:29 PM EST (17:29 UTC)
Expired
Mar 6, 2011, 4:30 PM EST
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Burke County, NC, Caldwell County, NC, McDowell County, NC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 107 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:33 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 6, 4:00 PM ESTFLASH FLOOD6 Ne Morganton, NCWATER FROM LOWER CREEK COVERED ONE LANE OF ANTIOCH ROAD AND FLOODED PORTIONS OF ANTIOCH CAMPGROUND.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 5.5 hours before the alert went out and 180 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2011-03-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 23 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2011-03-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 343 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
23 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-18 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
575 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
61 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
343 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
351 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.

934 
WGUS52 KGSP 061729
FFWGSP
NCC023-027-111-062130-
/O.NEW.KGSP.FF.W.0005.110306T1729Z-110306T2130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1229 PM EST SUN MAR 6 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  BURKE COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
  CALDWELL COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
  MCDOWELL COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...

* UNTIL 430 PM EST

* AT 1221 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED  
AN AREA OF VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. RAINFALL 
AMOUNTS OVER THE PAST 12 HOURS RANGED FROM 2 TO 4 INCHES. FLOODING 
ALONG THE NORTH FORK CATAWBA RIVER IN LOW LYING AREAS HAS BEEN 
REPORTED. ADDITIONAL RAIN IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS. 
THIS ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AND PREVIOUS RUNOFF IS EXPECTED TO CAUSE 
ADDITIONAL FLOODING ESPECIALLY ALON THE NORTH FORK CATAWBA RIVER AND 
IN THE PATTERSON AREA ALONG THE YADKIN RIVER AND JACOB FORK AND JOHNS
RIVER...MULBERRY CREEK AND WILSON CREEK.  

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  LENOIR...MARION...MORGANTON...ASHFORD...COLLETTSVILLE...CONNELLY
  SPRINGS...DYSARTSVILLE...GAMEWELL...GLENWOOD...GLOBE...HUDSON...
  JONAS RIDGE...KINGS CREEK...LAKE JAMES...LAKE RHODHISS...OLD
  FORT...PATTERSON...RUTHERFORD COLLEGE AND VALDESE.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES. ADDITIONALLY...
COUNTRY ROADS AND FARMLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS...STREAMS AND
OTHER LOW LYING AREAS ARE SUBJECT TO FLOODING.

TO REPORT HIGH WATER...FLOODING...MUDSLIDES...LANDSLIDES OR OTHER
SEVERE WEATHER THROUGH OUR AUTOMATED REPORTING SYSTEM...CALL OUR TOLL
FREE NUMBER... 1 8 7 7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2.

&&

LAT...LON 3602 8135 3558 8159 3557 8170 3559 8170
      3560 8175 3556 8184 3552 8216 3559 8225
      3568 8229 3574 8218 3584 8211 3587 8199
      3590 8199 3591 8195 3594 8196 3597 8190
      3596 8181 3605 8173 3610 8174

$$

PAT
2 follow-up statements
000 
WGUS72 KGSP 061943
FFSGSP

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
243 PM EST SUN MAR 6 2011

NCC023-027-111-062130-
/O.CON.KGSP.FF.W.0005.000000T0000Z-110306T2130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
MCDOWELL NC-BURKE NC-CALDWELL NC-
243 PM EST SUN MAR 6 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CALDWELL...BURKE AND
MCDOWELL COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM EST...

AT 240 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED AN 
AREA OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS NORTHERN BURKE 
COUNTY...MOVING NORTH AT 20 MPH. RAINFALL RATES OVER BURKE AND 
CALDWELL COUNTIES MAY RANGE BETWEEN A QUARTER TO HALF IN AN HOUR 
THROUGH 330 PM. AUTOMATED RAIN GAUGES ACROSS THE NORTHERN NORTH 
CAROLINA FOOTHILLS INDICATE STORM TOTAL RAINFALL BETWEEN 2 TO 4 
INCHES. THE COMBINATION OF ONGOING RUNOFF AND ADDITIONAL RAINFALL 
MAY RESULT IN RAPID RISES AND ON STREAMS AND CREEKS...POSSIBLY 
EXCEEDING BANKFULL.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH FLOODING 
INCLUDE...COLLETTSVILLE...CONNELLY SPRINGS...DYSARTSVILLE... 
GLOBE...HUDSON...KINGS  CREEK...LAKE JAMES...LAKE 
RHODHISS...SAWMILLS...OLD FORT...PATTERSON... AND VALDESE.

AT 230 PM...THE STAGE OF THE JOHNS RIVER SIX MILES NORTH OF 
MORGANTON WAS 13.6 FEET...FLOOD STAGE IS 9 FEET. WATER FROM JOHNS 
RIVER IS LIKELY FLOODING ROADS IN THE FONTA FLORA COMMUNITY NEAR 
LAKE JAMES. AT 14 FEET...BACK WATER FLOODING MAY OCCUR ALONG THE 
SIMS BRANCH ADJACENT TO THE RIVER. JOHNS RIVER ROAD AND CAMPING 
AREAS WILL BEGIN TO FLOOD IN THE VICINITY OF SIMS BRANCH AND JOHNS 
RIVER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM THIS STORM WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL CREEKS
AND STREAMS...HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES. ADDITIONALLY...COUNTRY ROADS
AND FARMLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS...STREAMS AND OTHER LOW LYING
AREAS ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO FLOODING.

&&

LAT...LON 3602 8135 3558 8159 3557 8170 3559 8170
      3560 8175 3556 8184 3552 8216 3559 8225
      3568 8229 3574 8218 3584 8211 3587 8199
      3590 8199 3591 8195 3594 8196 3597 8190
      3596 8181 3605 8173 3610 8174

$$

NED
329 
WGUS72 KGSP 062021
FFSGSP

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
321 PM EST SUN MAR 6 2011

NCC023-027-111-062130-
/O.CON.KGSP.FF.W.0005.000000T0000Z-110306T2130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
MCDOWELL NC-BURKE NC-CALDWELL NC-
321 PM EST SUN MAR 6 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CALDWELL...BURKE AND
MCDOWELL COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM EST...

AT 315 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED AN 
AREA OF MODERATE RAINFALL ACROSS NORTHERN CALDWELL COUNTY...MOVING 
NORTH AT 20 MPH. RAINFALL RATES OVER NORTHERN CALDWELL COUNTY MAY 
RANGE BETWEEN A QUARTER TO HALF IN AN HOUR THROUGH 345 PM. AUTOMATED 
RAIN GAUGES ACROSS THE NORTHERN NORTH CAROLINA FOOTHILLS INDICATE 
STORM TOTAL RAINFALL BETWEEN 2 TO 4 INCHES. THE COMBINATION OF 
ONGOING RUNOFF AND ADDITIONAL RAINFALL MAY RESULT IN RAPID RISES AND 
ON STREAMS AND CREEKS...POSSIBLY EXCEEDING BANKFULL.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT MAY EXPERIENCE FLASH FLOODING 
INCLUDE...COLLETTSVILLE...CONNELLY SPRINGS...DYSARTSVILLE... 
GLOBE...HUDSON...KINGS  CREEK...LAKE JAMES...LAKE 
RHODHISS...SAWMILLS...OLD FORT...PATTERSON... AND VALDESE.

AT 245 PM...THE STAGE OF THE JOHNS RIVER SIX MILES NORTH OF 
MORGANTON WAS 13.8 FEET...FLOOD STAGE IS 9 FEET. AT 14 FEET...BACK 
WATER FLOODING MAY OCCUR ALONG THE SIMS BRANCH ADJACENT TO THE 
RIVER. JOHNS RIVER ROAD AND CAMPING AREAS WILL BEGIN TO FLOOD IN THE 
VICINITY OF SIMS BRANCH AND JOHNS RIVER. THE RIVER SHOULD CREST 
AROUND 14 FEET. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM THIS STORM WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL CREEKS
AND STREAMS...HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES. ADDITIONALLY...COUNTRY ROADS
AND FARMLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS...STREAMS AND OTHER LOW LYING
AREAS ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO FLOODING.

&&

LAT...LON 3602 8135 3558 8159 3557 8170 3559 8170
      3560 8175 3556 8184 3552 8216 3559 8225
      3568 8229 3574 8218 3584 8211 3587 8199
      3590 8199 3591 8195 3594 8196 3597 8190
      3596 8181 3605 8173 3610 8174

$$

NED

The office that day

Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 6, 12:22 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningGSPJackson, Transylvania6 hr
Mar 6, 2:47 AM ESTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPMacon103 min
Mar 6, 3:53 AM ESTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPHenderson, Polk, Rutherford3 hr
Mar 6, 4:17 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningGSPMacon6 hr
Mar 6, 4:35 AM ESTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPAvery, Burke, Caldwell, McDowell, Mitchell3 hr
Mar 6, 5:19 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningGSPHenderson, Polk, Rutherford6 hr
Mar 6, 5:28 AM ESTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPGraham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain3 hr
Mar 6, 6:29 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningGSPJackson, Transylvania4 hr
Mar 6, 8:12 AM ESTRiver Flood WarningGSPHenderson, Transylvania56 hr
Mar 6, 9:35 AM ESTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPAlexander, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland and 6 more6 hr
Mar 6, 9:37 AM ESTWinter Weather AdvisoryGSPAvery, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Swain, Yancey7 hr
Mar 6, 9:49 AM ESTAreal Flood WarningGSPMacon3 hr
Mar 6, 10:21 AM ESTAreal Flood WarningGSPJackson, Transylvania3 hr
Mar 6, 11:13 AM ESTAreal Flood WarningGSPHenderson, Polk, Rutherford3 hr
Mar 6, 11:54 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCabarrus, Mecklenburg51 min
Mar 6, 12:29 PM ESTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPMacon3 hr
Mar 6, 12:42 PM ESTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPJackson, Transylvania6 hr
Mar 6, 1:44 PM ESTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPHenderson, Polk, Rutherford4 hr
Mar 6, 2:36 PM ESTRiver Flood AdvisoryGSPMadison7 hr
Mar 6, 2:54 PM ESTRiver Flood AdvisoryGSPBuncombe24 hr
Mar 6, 4:40 PM ESTAreal Flood WarningGSPBurke5 hr
Mar 6, 5:40 PM ESTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPHenderson3 hr
Mar 6, 6:32 PM ESTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPTransylvania3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 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.