Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Watches in 2011

Flash Flood Watch 13, NWS Baltimore/Washington

August 21, 20115 counties in Virginia; 5 counties in Maryland

NWS Baltimore/Washington issued this flash flood watch at Aug 21, 2011, 11:10 AM EDT for 5 counties in Virginia; 5 counties in Maryland. It took effect at Aug 21, 2011, 2:00 PM EDT. It was in force for 5 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 21, 2011, 11:10 AM EDT (15:10 UTC)
In effect from
Aug 21, 2011, 2:00 PM EDT
Expired
Aug 21, 2011, 6:34 PM EDT
In force
5 hr
Issued by
NWS Baltimore/Washington
Flood severity
None

Counties Anne Arundel County, MD, Baltimore County, MD, Carroll County, MD, City of Baltimore, MD, Prince George's County, MD, Arlington County, VA, City of Alexandria, VA, City of Fairfax, VA, City of Falls Church, VA, Fairfax County, VA

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 46 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:11 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 12:00Z, 3.2 hours before the alert went out and 40 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, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 2011-08-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1589 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Washington/Dulle, VA at 12:00Z on 2011-08-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 131 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1589 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-99 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
969 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
131 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
125 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.6
Supercell composite
4.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood watch 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 watch went out at Aug 21, 11:05 AM EDT, 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 21, 11:05 AM EDT, 5 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 21, 9:47 AM EDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 21, 7:54 AM EDT, 3 hours 16 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
754 AM EDT SUN AUG 21 2011

MDZ006-007-011-211230-
NORTHERN BALTIMORE MD-HARFORD MD-SOUTHERN BALTIMORE MD-
754 AM EDT SUN AUG 21 2011

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT NORTHERN BALTIMORE...HARFORD AND
SOUTHERN BALTIMORE COUNTIES...

AT 754 AM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 2 MILES
NORTHWEST OF CHASE...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE PERRYMAN...ABERDEEN AND HAVRE DE GRACE.

WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

&&

LAT...LON 3944 7606 3940 7616 3934 7622 3937 7626
      3940 7626 3938 7627 3933 7626 3933 7630
      3938 7633 3933 7633 3932 7646 3943 7648
      3957 7609 3954 7608 3950 7611 3948 7606
TIME...MOT...LOC 1154Z 257DEG 29KT 3939 7637

KRAMAR
Special weather statement, Aug 21, 8:04 AM EDT, 3 hours 6 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
804 AM EDT SUN AUG 21 2011

MDZ007-211230-
HARFORD MD-
804 AM EDT SUN AUG 21 2011

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT HARFORD COUNTY...

AT 805 AM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 2 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF HICKORY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE HAVRE DE GRACE.

WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

&&

LAT...LON 3950 7632 3960 7640 3969 7620 3965 7615
      3962 7615 3960 7611 3956 7608 3955 7608
TIME...MOT...LOC 1205Z 247DEG 27KT 3957 7627

KRAMAR
Special weather statement, Aug 21, 8:32 AM EDT, 2 hours 38 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
832 AM EDT SUN AUG 21 2011

MDZ007-211300-
HARFORD MD-
832 AM EDT SUN AUG 21 2011

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO AFFECT HARFORD COUNTY...

AT 831 AM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM HARFORD FURNACE TO ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE HAVRE DE GRACE.

THESE STORMS ARE PRODUCING HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY FOR YOUR SAFETY. IF YOU
CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

WIND GUSTS OF 35 TO 45 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

&&

LAT...LON 3944 7606 3940 7616 3936 7620 3950 7634
      3963 7631 3969 7621 3965 7615 3962 7615
      3956 7608 3954 7608 3950 7611 3948 7607
      3946 7605
TIME...MOT...LOC 1231Z 228DEG 24KT 3951 7626 3948 7610

JRK
Local storm report, Aug 21, 10:32 AM EDT, 38 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1032 AM EDT SUN AUG 21 2011

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

0557 PM     HAIL             1 ENE CARNEY            39.41N  76.51W
08/19/2011  E1.00 INCH       BALTIMORE          MD   PUBLIC

&&

EVENT NUMBER LWX1101554

JRK

The office that day

Everything else NWS Baltimore/Washington issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 21, 4:42 AM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryLWX44 hr
Aug 21, 7:48 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX87 min
Aug 21, 12:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXAugusta, Highland25 min
Aug 21, 12:18 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXShenandoah27 min
Aug 21, 12:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXAugusta28 min
Aug 21, 12:33 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXClarke, Loudoun27 min
Aug 21, 12:44 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXPage31 min
Aug 21, 12:54 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXPage36 min
Aug 21, 1:00 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXLoudoun30 min
Aug 21, 1:09 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX96 min
Aug 21, 1:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXFauquier, Loudoun, Prince William48 min
Aug 21, 1:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXFauquier26 min
Aug 21, 1:24 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXFauquier, Loudoun, Prince William51 min
Aug 21, 1:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXPage, Rappahannock35 min
Aug 21, 1:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXClarke, Loudoun50 min
Aug 21, 1:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXFairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William40 min
Aug 21, 1:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXFairfax, Fauquier, Prince William, City of Manassas47 min
Aug 21, 2:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXCulpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Prince William, Rappahannock, City of Manassas and 1 more40 min
Aug 21, 2:13 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX92 min
Aug 21, 2:17 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX118 min
Aug 21, 2:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXArlington, Fairfax, City of Alexandria, City of Fairfax, City of Falls Church35 min
Aug 21, 2:27 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX2 hr
Aug 21, 2:28 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXAlbemarle, City of Charlottesville32 min
Aug 21, 2:46 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX89 min
Aug 21, 2:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXAlbemarle, City of Charlottesville21 min
Aug 21, 3:01 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXOrange, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Stafford, City of Alexandria, City of Fredericksburg and 2 more29 min
Aug 21, 3:02 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXArlington, City of Alexandria, City of Falls Church28 min
Aug 21, 3:11 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXArlington49 min
Aug 21, 3:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXArlington48 min
Aug 21, 3:38 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX97 min
Aug 21, 4:02 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXKing George, Spotsylvania, City of Fredericksburg28 min
Aug 21, 4:11 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX94 min
Aug 21, 4:19 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX86 min
Aug 21, 4:23 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX97 min
Aug 21, 5:39 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX96 min
Aug 21, 7:31 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningLWX33 min
Aug 21, 7:53 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXAlbemarle, Arlington, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier and 21 more7 min
Aug 21, 7:54 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXHarford36 min
Aug 21, 8:04 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXHarford26 min
Aug 21, 8:32 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXHarford28 min
Aug 21, 1:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXBaltimore, City of Baltimore34 min
Aug 21, 1:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXBaltimore, Harford, City of Baltimore46 min
Aug 21, 1:20 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXHoward25 min
Aug 21, 1:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXAnne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's47 min
Aug 21, 1:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXBaltimore, City of Baltimore46 min
Aug 21, 1:39 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningLWXBaltimore, City of Baltimore3 hr
Aug 21, 1:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXAnne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford, City of Baltimore51 min
Aug 21, 2:01 PM EDTTornado WarningLWXAnne Arundel29 min
Aug 21, 2:19 PM EDTTornado WarningLWXBaltimore26 min
Aug 21, 2:23 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXHoward37 min
Aug 21, 2:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXAnne Arundel36 min
Aug 21, 2:51 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXCity of Baltimore24 min
Aug 21, 3:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXAnne Arundel25 min
Aug 21, 4:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXAnne Arundel, Calvert, Prince George's39 min
Aug 21, 4:38 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXCalvert37 min
Aug 21, 4:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLWXAnne Arundel, Calvert, Prince George's27 min
Aug 21, 12:59 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementLWXJefferson31 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Watches in Virginia, 2011Flash Flood Watches in Maryland, 2011Every flash flood watch 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.