Alert archive / Tennessee / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 13, NWS Morristown, TN

June 20, 2011Lee County, Virginia; Claiborne County, Hancock County, Tennessee

NWS Morristown, TN issued this flash flood warning at Jun 20, 2011, 3:58 AM EDT for Lee County, Virginia; Claiborne County, Hancock County, Tennessee. It was in force for 5 hr. 2 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 20, 2011, 3:58 AM EDT (07:58 UTC)
Expired: Jun 20, 2011, 9:00 AM EDT
In force: 5 hr
Issued by: NWS Morristown, TN
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Claiborne County, TN, Hancock County, TN, Lee County, VA

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 48 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:59 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Jun 20, 6:20 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Harrogate-Shawanee, TN	FLOODING OF CREEKS AND ROADS REPORTED ALL ACROSS EASTERN CLAIBORNE COUNTY.
Jun 20, 8:00 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Harrogate-Shawanee, TN	AT LEAST 20 HOMES FLOODED FROM HARROGATE TO TAZEWELL.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 00:00Z, 8.0 hours before the alert went out and 284 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: 3898 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -6 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 955 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 63 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 127 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 3.2
Supercell composite: 14.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

370 
WGUS54 KMRX 200758
FFWMRX
TNC025-067-VAC105-201100-
/O.NEW.KMRX.FF.W.0013.110620T0758Z-110620T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
358 AM EDT MON JUN 20 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MORRISTOWN HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  CLAIBORNE COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
  HANCOCK COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF SNEEDVILLE...
  LEE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 700 AM EDT

* AT 354 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED   
FLASH FLOODING FROM THUNDERSTORMS THAT ARE CONTINUOUSLY MOVING OVER 
PORTIONS OF CLAIBORNE...LEE...AND HANCOCK COUNTIES. THESE STORMS 
WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO   
TAZEWELL...HARROGATE...EWING...AND SNEEDVILLE

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...COUNTRY ROADS...AS WELL AS FARMLAND ALONG THE
BANKS OF CREEKS AND STREAMS.

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

TO REPORT FLOODING...HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RELAY
YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN
MORRISTOWN.

&&

LAT...LON 3659 8298 3639 8352 3658 8384 3659 8383
      3659 8369 3663 8364 3667 8353 3667 8341
      3670 8336

$$

DGS

5 follow-up statements

903 
WGUS74 KMRX 200835
FFSMRX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
435 AM EDT MON JUN 20 2011

TNC025-067-VAC105-201100-
/O.CON.KMRX.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-110620T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CLAIBORNE TN-HANCOCK TN-LEE VA-
435 AM EDT MON JUN 20 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 AM EDT FOR
LEE...HANCOCK AND CLAIBORNE COUNTIES...

AT 428 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING. THE STORMS WILL 
MOVE OVER AREAS THAT HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED HEAVY RAINFALL. THE 
STORMS ARE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO HARROGATE 
AND ARTHUR. CREEKS IN CLAIBORNE COUNTY THAT ARE EXPECTED TO FLOOD 
INCLUDE GAP CREEK...LITTLE YELLOW CREEK...AND STATION CREEK. IN LEE 
COUNTY VIRGINIA...INDIAN CREEK IS EXPECTED TO FLOOD. IF YOU LIVE 
NEAR THESE CREEKS...SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE VERY CAREFUL AT NIGHT WHEN IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO SEE FLOODING.
IF YOU SEE FLASH FLOODING...ACT NOW! MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND
IMMEDIATELY! GET OUT OF FLOODED AREAS NOW. IF YOU COME TO A FLOODED
OR CLOSED ROAD...TURN AROUND! DON'T DROWN! THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING
SITUATION.

IN HILLY TERRAIN THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS WHICH ARE
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL ACROSS
FLOODED ROADS. FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES. IT TAKES ONLY A FEW INCHES OF
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER TO CARRY VEHICLES AWAY.

TO REPORT FLOODING...HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RELAY
YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN
MORRISTOWN.

&&

LAT...LON 3659 8298 3639 8352 3658 8384 3659 8383
      3659 8369 3663 8364 3667 8353 3667 8341
      3670 8336

$$
DGS

928 
WGUS74 KMRX 200914
FFSMRX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
514 AM EDT MON JUN 20 2011

TNC025-067-VAC105-201100-
/O.CON.KMRX.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-110620T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CLAIBORNE TN-HANCOCK TN-LEE VA-
514 AM EDT MON JUN 20 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 AM EDT FOR
LEE...HANCOCK AND CLAIBORNE COUNTIES...

AT 508 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN. RADAR ESTIMATES 
THAT 3 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN HAS ALREADY FALLEN IN THE WARNING 
AREA...AND AN ADDITION 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE 
THROUGH 700 AM.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
HARROGATE...ARTHUR...AND HOWARD QUARTER. CREEKS IN CLAIBORNE COUNTY 
THAT ARE EXPECTED TO FLOOD INCLUDE GAP CREEK...LITTLE YELLOW 
CREEK...AND STATION CREEK. IN LEE COUNTY VIRGINIA...INDIAN CREEK IS 
EXPECTED TO FLOOD. IF YOU LIVE NEAR THESE CREEKS...SEEK HIGHER 
GROUND NOW!

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

TO REPORT FLOODING...HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RELAY
YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN
MORRISTOWN.

&&

LAT...LON 3659 8298 3639 8352 3658 8384 3659 8383
      3659 8369 3663 8364 3667 8353 3667 8341
      3670 8336

$$

DGS

289 
WGUS74 KMRX 201007
FFSMRX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
607 AM EDT MON JUN 20 2011

TNC025-067-VAC105-201100-
/O.CON.KMRX.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-110620T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CLAIBORNE TN-HANCOCK TN-LEE VA-
607 AM EDT MON JUN 20 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 AM EDT FOR
LEE...HANCOCK AND CLAIBORNE COUNTIES...

AT 557 AM EDT...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN 
OVER THE WARNED AREA. RADAR ESTIMATES THAT MUCH OF EASTERN CLAIBORNE 
COUNTY AND EXTREME SOUTHWEST LEE COUNTY HAVE RECEIVED 4 TO 6 INCHES 
OF RAIN...AND ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE 
HEAVY RAIN IN THIS SAME AREA. CREEKS AND STREAMS IN THIS AREA WILL 
FLOOD. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
HARROGATE...ARTHUR...TAZEWELL...AND HOWARD QUARTER.

CREEKS IN CLAIBORNE COUNTY THAT WILL FLOOD INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT 
LIMITED TO GAP CREEK...LITTLE YELLOW CREEK...STATION CREEK...RUSSELL 
CREEK...AND BIG SYCAMORE CREEK. IN LEE COUNTY VIRGINIA...INDIAN 
CREEK IS EXPECTED TO FLOOD. IF YOU LIVE NEAR THESE CREEKS...SEEK 
HIGHER GROUND NOW!

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...COUNTRY ROADS...AS WELL AS FARMLAND ALONG THE
BANKS OF CREEKS AND STREAMS. OTHER LOW LYING PLACES THAT NORMALLY
FLOOD EASILY COULD BECOME DEATH TRAPS. IF YOU COME TO A FLOODED OR
CLOSED ROAD...TURN AROUND! DON'T DROWN! THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING
SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3659 8298 3639 8352 3658 8384 3659 8383
      3659 8369 3663 8364 3667 8353 3667 8341
      3670 8336

$$

DGS

146 
WGUS54 KMRX 201052
FFWMRX
TNC025-067-VAC105-201300-
/O.EXT.KMRX.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-110620T1300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
652 AM EDT MON JUN 20 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MORRISTOWN HAS EXTENDED THE

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  CLAIBORNE COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
  HANCOCK COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF SNEEDVILLE...
  LEE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 900 AM EDT

* AT 646 AM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED FLASH     
  FLOODING FROM THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE WARNED AREA. HEAVY RAIN       
  CONTINUES TO FALL OVER THE AREA...AND FLOODING OF CREEKS AND ROADS 
  WILL CONTINUE.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO            
  CUMBERLAND GAP...HARROGATE...ARTHUR...AND TAZEWELL. CREEKS IN      
  CLAIBORNE COUNTY THAT ARE FLOODING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO  
  GAP CREEK...LITTLE YELLOW CREEK...STATION CREEK...RUSSELL          
  CREEK...AND BIG SYCAMORE CREEK. IN LEE COUNTY VIRGINIA...INDIAN    
  CREEK IS EXPECTED TO FLOOD. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS IMMINENT. MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR
IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER COVERED BRIDGES...
DIPS...OR LOW WATER CROSSINGS. NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...
EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON FOOT. TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER
GROUND.

&&

LAT...LON 3659 8298 3639 8352 3658 8384 3659 8383
      3659 8369 3663 8364 3667 8353 3667 8341
      3670 8336

$$

DGS

166 
WGUS74 KMRX 201209
FFSMRX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
809 AM EDT MON JUN 20 2011

TNC025-067-VAC105-201300-
/O.CON.KMRX.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-110620T1300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CLAIBORNE TN-HANCOCK TN-LEE VA-
809 AM EDT MON JUN 20 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 AM EDT FOR
LEE...HANCOCK AND CLAIBORNE COUNTIES...

AT 804 AM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED A 
THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING OVER THE WARNED AREA.  HEAVY 
RAIN CONTINUES TO FALL OVER THE AREA...AND FLOODING OF CREEKS AND 
ROADS WILL CONTINUE.  HOWEVER...THE CURRENT BAND OF RAIN IS EXITING 
THE AREA...ADDITIIONAL RAINFALL THROUGH 9 AM SHOULD BE LESS THAN AN 
INCH. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO EWING AND
CUMBERLAND GAP.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE 
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS 
SAFELY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

&&

LAT...LON 3659 8298 3639 8352 3658 8384 3659 8383
      3659 8369 3663 8364 3667 8353 3667 8341
      3670 8336

$$

MJB

The office that day

Everything else NWS Morristown, TN issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jun 20, 3:07 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Lee	38 min
Jun 20, 4:23 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Lee	52 min
Jun 20, 9:32 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	MRX	Lee, Russell, Scott, Wise, City of Norton	3 hr
Jun 20, 9:40 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Lee, Russell, Scott, Washington, Wise, City of Bristol and 1 more	50 min
Jun 20, 10:59 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	MRX	Lee, Scott	91 min
Jun 20, 12:40 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	MRX	Lee, Russell, Scott, Washington, Wise, City of Bristol and 1 more	92 min
Jun 19, 9:03 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Bledsoe, Meigs, Morgan, Rhea, Roane	57 min
Jun 19, 9:54 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Bledsoe, Loudon, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Rhea and 1 more	51 min
Jun 19, 10:11 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	MRX	Bledsoe, Loudon, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Rhea and 1 more	82 min
Jun 19, 10:12 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	MRX	Bledsoe, Rhea	48 min
Jun 19, 10:25 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	McMinn, Monroe, Polk	50 min
Jun 19, 10:45 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	MRX	Meigs, Rhea	17 min
Jun 19, 10:48 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Monroe, Polk	42 min
Jun 20, 3:27 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Grainger, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins	48 min
Jun 20, 3:42 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock	32 min
Jun 20, 3:47 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Washington	43 min
Jun 20, 4:55 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	MRX	Claiborne, Grainger, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins	5 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Tennessee, 2011 Flash Flood Warnings in Virginia, 2011 Every 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.