Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 20, NWS Raleigh, NC

July 4, 2011Halifax County, North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this flash flood warning at Jul 4, 2011, 7:00 PM EDT for Halifax County, North Carolina. It was in force for 3 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: Jul 4, 2011, 7:00 PM EDT (23:00 UTC)
Expired: Jul 4, 2011, 9:44 PM EDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Raleigh, NC
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

County Halifax County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 100 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:04 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
Jul 4, 8:15 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Roanoke Rapids, NC	HIGH WATER ON MANY ROADS IN NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY.
Jul 4, 9:30 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Roanoke Rapids, NC	FLOODING IN ROANOKE RAPIDS HAS ABATED

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

The nearest sounding before it

Newport, NC (KMHX), launched 12:00Z, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 173 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: 475 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -86 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 953 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 8 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 35 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 86 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.

576 
WGUS52 KRAH 042300
FFWRAH
NCC083-050200-
/O.NEW.KRAH.FF.W.0020.110704T2300Z-110705T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
700 PM EDT MON JUL 4 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RALEIGH HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  HALIFAX COUNTY IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 1000 PM EDT

* AT 659 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED   
  THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN PRODUCING FLOODING OVER
  HALIFAX COUNTY. DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATED THAT 2 TO 3 INCHES OF 
  RAIN HAS FALLEN OVER THE AREA SINCE 5 PM.

* LOCATIONS THREATENED WITH FLOODING INCLUDE SCOTLAND NECK...ROANOKE
  RAPIDS AND HALIFAX.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.
AS LITTLE AS 6 INCHES OF WATER CAN CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR
VEHICLE. TWO FEET OF RUSHING WATER CAN CARRY AWAY MOST VEHICLES
INCLUDING SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS. TURN AROUND...
DONT DROWN.

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

PLEASE REPORT FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING...
1...8 7 7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2 OR NOTIFY YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY.

&&

LAT...LON 3609 7732 3600 7743 3604 7752 3610 7755
      3615 7768 3615 7789 3619 7792 3619 7797
      3617 7798 3621 7800 3638 7791 3651 7790
      3648 7764 3641 7755 3632 7757 3633 7745
      3624 7737 3621 7739 3616 7727 3610 7723

$$

GIH

3 follow-up statements

726 
WGUS72 KRAH 042358
FFSRAH

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
758 PM EDT MON JUL 4 2011

NCC083-050200-
/O.CON.KRAH.FF.W.0020.000000T0000Z-110705T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HALIFAX NC-
758 PM EDT MON JUL 4 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT FOR
HALIFAX COUNTY...

AT 754 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS OVER HALIFAX 
COUNTY. WHILE THE INTENSITY OF THE SHOWERS AND STORMS HAD SLOWLY 
DIMINISHED THIS EVENING...DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATED THAT BETWEEN FIVE 
AND SEVEN INCHES OF RAIN LIKELY HAD FALLEN IN THE ROANOKE RAPIDS AND 
SOUTH WELDON AREAS FROM EARLIER THUNDERSTORMS. IN ONE ISOLATED 
LOCATION ALONG HIGHWAY 301...AS MUCH AS AROUND EIGHT INCHES OF RAIN 
WAS ESTIMATED.

AN ADDITIONAL QUARTER TO HALF INCH OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE THIS 
EVENING...MAKING ANY DIMINISHING OF THE FLOODING SLOWER TO TAKE 
PLACE.

LOCATIONS THREATENED BY FLOODING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
ROANOKE RAPIDS...SOUTH WELDON...AND HALIFAX.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...URBAN AREAS...HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES
AS WELL AS OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.

PLEASE REPORT FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING...
1...8 7 7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2 OR NOTIFY YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT 
MONDAY EVENING FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...INCLUDING HALIFAX COUNTY.

&&

LAT...LON 3609 7732 3600 7743 3604 7752 3610 7755
      3615 7768 3615 7789 3619 7792 3619 7797
      3617 7798 3621 7800 3638 7791 3651 7790
      3648 7764 3641 7755 3632 7757 3633 7745
      3624 7737 3621 7739 3616 7727 3610 7723

$$

DJF

563 
WGUS72 KRAH 050021
FFSRAH

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
821 PM EDT MON JUL 4 2011

NCC083-050200-
/O.CON.KRAH.FF.W.0020.000000T0000Z-110705T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HALIFAX NC-
821 PM EDT MON JUL 4 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT FOR
HALIFAX COUNTY...

AT 814 PM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTINUED TO REPORT HIGH WATER 
OVER PARTS OF HALIFAX COUNTY DUE TO FLASH FLOODING FROM EARLIER 
THUNDERSTORMS. IN FACT...THE HALIFAX COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTED IT HAD 
VIRTUALLY EXHAUSTED ROAD CLOSED SIGNS DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF HIGH 
WATER ON ROADS AND STORM DAMAGE SUCH AS DOWNED TREES. PERSONS WHO 
TRAVEL ACROSS HALIFAX COUNTY TONIGHT SHOULD USE GREAT CAUTION. DO 
NOT DRIVE WHERE THERE ARE DOWNED UTILITY LINES. AVOID PLACES WHERE 
WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. 

LOCATIONS THREATENED BY FLOODING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
ROANOKE RAPIDS...SOUTH WELDON...AND HALIFAX.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE 
DANGERS OF FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD. AT
NIGHT...WATER ON THE ROAD OR A WASHED OUT ROADWAY MAY COME UP FAST. 
DRIVE SLOWLY IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING TONIGHT.

PLEASE REPORT FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY 
CALLING...1...8 7 7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2 OR NOTIFY YOUR LOCAL LAW 
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
MONDAY EVENING FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA.

&&

LAT...LON 3609 7732 3600 7743 3604 7752 3610 7755
      3615 7768 3615 7789 3619 7792 3619 7797
      3617 7798 3621 7800 3638 7791 3651 7790
      3648 7764 3641 7755 3632 7757 3633 7745
      3624 7737 3621 7739 3616 7727 3610 7723

$$

DJF

297 
WGUS72 KRAH 050144
FFSRAH

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
944 PM EDT MON JUL 4 2011

NCC083-050153-
/O.CAN.KRAH.FF.W.0020.000000T0000Z-110705T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HALIFAX NC-
944 PM EDT MON JUL 4 2011

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR HALIFAX COUNTY...

THE HEAVY RAIN HAS FINALLY MOVED OUT OF HALIFAX COUNTY AND ACCORDING 
TO COUNTY OFFICIALS...THE FLASH FLOODING HAS ABATED IN THE WARNING 
AREA.


LAT...LON 3609 7732 3600 7743 3604 7752 3610 7755
      3615 7768 3615 7789 3619 7792 3619 7797
      3617 7798 3621 7800 3638 7791 3651 7790
      3648 7764 3641 7755 3632 7757 3633 7745
      3624 7737 3621 7739 3616 7727 3610 7723

$$

23

The office that day

Everything else NWS Raleigh, NC issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 4, 3:53 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Orange	37 min
Jul 4, 3:58 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Halifax	32 min
Jul 4, 4:09 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Forsyth	66 min
Jul 4, 4:29 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Halifax	46 min
Jul 4, 4:33 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Forsyth	57 min
Jul 4, 4:34 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Durham, Orange	41 min
Jul 4, 4:39 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Davidson	51 min
Jul 4, 4:42 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Halifax	48 min
Jul 4, 4:47 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Halifax	3 hr
Jul 4, 5:05 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RAH	Halifax	115 min
Jul 4, 5:08 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Orange	3 hr
Jul 4, 5:14 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Granville, Vance	46 min
Jul 4, 5:29 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Durham, Wake	61 min
Jul 4, 5:29 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Davidson, Forsyth	39 min
Jul 4, 5:30 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Halifax, Warren	60 min
Jul 4, 5:36 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Chatham, Durham, Wake	39 min
Jul 4, 5:37 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Forsyth	102 min
Jul 4, 5:45 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Alamance, Guilford	60 min
Jul 4, 5:56 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RAH	Durham	2 hr
Jul 4, 6:02 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Davidson	42 min
Jul 4, 6:10 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Franklin, Halifax, Nash, Warren	65 min
Jul 4, 6:16 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Stanly	50 min
Jul 4, 6:17 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Durham	58 min
Jul 4, 6:24 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Alamance, Guilford	2 hr
Jul 4, 6:27 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RAH	Franklin, Halifax, Nash, Warren	3 hr
Jul 4, 6:36 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph	54 min
Jul 4, 6:46 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Franklin, Nash	31 min
Jul 4, 6:47 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Durham, Granville, Wake	36 min
Jul 4, 6:53 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Alamance, Durham, Orange	19 min
Jul 4, 6:54 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RAH	Anson, Richmond	51 min
Jul 4, 7:30 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RAH	Moore	60 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 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.