Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 13, NWS Blacksburg, VA

April 28, 20118 counties in Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this flash flood warning at Apr 28, 2011, 3:22 AM EDT for 8 counties in Virginia. 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
Apr 28, 2011, 3:22 AM EDT (07:22 UTC)
Expired
Apr 28, 2011, 7:37 AM EDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Alleghany County, VA, Botetourt County, VA, City of Roanoke, VA, City of Salem, VA, Craig County, VA, Franklin County, VA, Montgomery County, VA, Roanoke County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 66 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:22 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
Apr 28, 3:30 AM EDTFLASH FLOODRoanoke, VAHEAVY RAIN PRODUCED STREET FLOODING ON LUCK AVENUE...FIRST AND SECOND STREETS...AND JEFFERSON AVE. 2 MANHOLE COVERS WERE FLOATED LOOSE. WATER QUICKLY RECEDED BY 400 AM.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 00:00Z, 7.4 hours before the alert went out and 50 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, Roanoke, VA at 00:00Z on 2011-04-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 372 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, Roanoke, VA at 00:00Z on 2011-04-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 226 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
372 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-24 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1272 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
226 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
335 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
3.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

618 
WGUS51 KRNK 280722
FFWRNK
VAC005-023-045-067-121-161-770-775-281315-
/O.NEW.KRNK.FF.W.0013.110428T0722Z-110428T1315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
322 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  ROANOKE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  CITY OF ROANOKE IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  CITY OF SALEM IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  EASTERN CRAIG COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  BOTETOURT COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  EAST CENTRAL ALLEGHANY COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 915 AM EDT.

* AT 313 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
  VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE WARNED 
  AREA.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ROANOKE
  MOUNTAIN...HOLLINS...LONGDALE FURNACE...IRON GATE...VINTON...
  ROANOKE AIRPORT...POAGES MILL...GLENVAR...CAVE SPRING...CATAWBA...
  BRADSHAW...TROUTVILLE...SPRINGWOOD...ORISKANY...NACE...LITHIA...
  LAYMANTOWN...GLEN WILTON...GALA...FINCASTLE...EAGLE ROCK...
  DALEVILLE...CLOVERDALE...BLUE RIDGE...SINKING CREEK...NEW CASTLE...
  ABBOTT...MERRIMAC...MC DONALDS MILL...ELLISTON-LAFAYETTE...
  ELLISTON...BLACKSBURG...ROANOKE AND SALEM CITY.

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.

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.

PLEASE RELAY ANY REPORTS OF FLOODING INCLUDING MUDSLIDES...OR ROAD
CLOSURES TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG BY CALLING
TOLL FREE...1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. DELAYED REPORTS ARE WELCOME.

&&

LAT...LON 3784 7969 3786 7967 3786 7962 3774 7969
      3768 7967 3746 7972 3740 7981 3738 7978
      3732 7985 3714 7994 3703 8055 3708 8056
      3739 8033 3788 7974

$$

JJ
4 follow-up statements
300 
WGUS71 KRNK 280811
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
411 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

VAC005-023-045-067-121-161-770-775-281315-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-110428T1315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ROANOKE VA-CITY OF ROANOKE VA-CITY OF SALEM VA-FRANKLIN VA-CRAIG VA-
BOTETOURT VA-ALLEGHANY VA-MONTGOMERY VA-
411 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 AM EDT FOR THE
CITY OF ROANOKE...THE CITY OF SALEM... MONTGOMERY...EASTERN
ALLEGHANY...BOTETOURT...EASTERN CRAIG...NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN AND
ROANOKE COUNTIES...

AT 405 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THAT THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL HAVE EXITED THE WARNED 
AREA. HOWEVER...ADDITIONAL MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS WERE MOVING 
BACK IN...AND THERE IS STILL A THREAT OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS 
WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. RADAR ESTIMATES THAT LOCALLY HEAVY 
RAINFALL OF 1.5 TO 2.0 INCHES HAS FALLEN IN PARTS OF THE WARNED 
AREA. THE HEAVY RAIN CAUSED STREET FLOODING IN THE CITY OF ROANOKE 
EARLIER...BUT THE WATER HAS ALREADY RECEDED. ANY ADDITIONAL HEAVY 
RAINFALL WOULD LIKELY CAUSE FLOODING ADDITIONAL URBAN FLOODING...AND 
FLOODING ON CREEKS AND SMALL STREAMS. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO LONGDALE
FURNACE...IRON GATE...SPRINGWOOD...ORISKANY...GLEN WILTON...GALA AND
EAGLE ROCK

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.

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND
SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3784 7969 3786 7967 3786 7962 3774 7969
      3768 7967 3746 7972 3740 7981 3738 7978
      3732 7985 3714 7994 3703 8055 3708 8056
      3739 8033 3788 7974

$$

JJ
650 
WGUS71 KRNK 280911
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
511 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

VAC005-023-045-067-121-161-770-775-281315-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-110428T1315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ROANOKE VA-CITY OF ROANOKE VA-CITY OF SALEM VA-FRANKLIN VA-CRAIG VA-
BOTETOURT VA-ALLEGHANY VA-MONTGOMERY VA-
511 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 AM EDT FOR THE
CITY OF ROANOKE...THE CITY OF SALEM... MONTGOMERY...EASTERN
ALLEGHANY...BOTETOURT...EASTERN CRAIG...NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN AND
ROANOKE COUNTIES...

AT 504 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
ADDITIONAL SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN MOVING BACK INTO 
THE WARNED AREA. RADAR ESTIMATES THESE STORMS MAY BRING A QUICK  
INCH OF RAIN IN LESS THAN AN HOUR. THIS ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN MAY 
CAUSE LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO LONGDALE
FURNACE...IRON GATE...SPRINGWOOD...ORISKANY...GLEN WILTON...GALA AND
EAGLE ROCK

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.

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND
SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3784 7969 3786 7967 3786 7962 3774 7969
      3768 7967 3746 7972 3740 7981 3738 7978
      3732 7985 3714 7994 3703 8055 3708 8056
      3739 8033 3788 7974

$$

JJ
282 
WGUS71 KRNK 280949
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
549 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

VAC005-023-045-067-121-161-770-775-281315-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-110428T1315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ROANOKE VA-CITY OF ROANOKE VA-CITY OF SALEM VA-FRANKLIN VA-CRAIG VA-
BOTETOURT VA-ALLEGHANY VA-MONTGOMERY VA-
549 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 AM EDT FOR THE
CITY OF ROANOKE...THE CITY OF SALEM... MONTGOMERY...EASTERN
ALLEGHANY...BOTETOURT...EASTERN CRAIG...NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN AND
ROANOKE COUNTIES...

AT 536 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THAT A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN HAD RE-DEVELOPED 
ACROSS SOUTHEAST MONTGOMERY COUNTY...AND WAS MOVING INTO ROANOKE 
COUNTY AND THE CITIES OF SALEM AND ROANOKE. RAINFALL RATES FROM THIS 
LINE WERE UP TO 3.5 INCHES AN HOUR. THIS ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN IS 
EXPECTED TO CAUSE FLASH FLOODING ALONG CREEKS AND STREAMS...AND IN 
FLOOD PRONE URBAN AREAS.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO LONGDALE
FURNACE...IRON GATE...SPRINGWOOD...ORISKANY...GLEN WILTON...GALA AND
EAGLE ROCK

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.

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND
SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3784 7969 3786 7967 3786 7962 3774 7969
      3768 7967 3746 7972 3740 7981 3738 7978
      3732 7985 3714 7994 3703 8055 3708 8056
      3739 8033 3788 7974

$$

JJ
726 
WGUS71 KRNK 281137
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
737 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

VAC005-023-045-067-121-161-770-775-281145-
/O.CAN.KRNK.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-110428T1315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ROANOKE VA-CITY OF ROANOKE VA-CITY OF SALEM VA-FRANKLIN VA-CRAIG VA-
BOTETOURT VA-ALLEGHANY VA-MONTGOMERY VA-
737 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE CITY OF 
ROANOKE...THE CITY OF SALEM...MONTGOMERY...EASTERN ALLEGHANY... 
BOTETOURT...EASTERN CRAIG...NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN AND ROANOKE 
COUNTIES...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATES THAT HEAVY RAIN HAS EXITED 
THE WARNED AREA. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF FLOODING. ANY HIGH 
WATER IN THE WARNED AREA SHOULD BE RECEDING...THUS THE FLASH 
FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

LAT...LON 3784 7969 3786 7967 3786 7962 3774 7969
      3768 7967 3746 7972 3740 7981 3738 7978
      3732 7985 3714 7994 3703 8055 3708 8056
      3739 8033 3788 7974

$$

JJ

The office that day

Everything else NWS Blacksburg, VA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 27, 8:01 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKHalifax, Pittsylvania, City of Danville44 min
Apr 27, 8:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAppomattox, Buckingham, Campbell66 min
Apr 27, 8:32 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKCampbell, Charlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania43 min
Apr 27, 8:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKHalifax, Pittsylvania, City of Danville45 min
Apr 27, 9:06 PM EDTFlash Flood WatchRNKAlleghany, Amherst, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt and 21 more13 hr
Apr 27, 9:11 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKCharlotte, Halifax34 min
Apr 27, 10:12 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Smyth, Tazewell48 min
Apr 27, 10:26 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe49 min
Apr 27, 10:39 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKBland, Smyth, Tazewell6 hr
Apr 27, 11:09 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Giles, Tazewell51 min
Apr 27, 11:12 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe48 min
Apr 27, 11:19 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKCarroll, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski, Wythe and 2 more6 hr
Apr 27, 11:53 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, Tazewell, Wythe52 min
Apr 27, 11:56 PM EDTTornado WarningRNKAlleghany, City of Covington49 min
Apr 28, 12:01 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, Wythe44 min
Apr 28, 12:40 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKBath35 min
Apr 28, 12:45 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, Wythe, City of Radford45 min
Apr 28, 12:48 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKAlleghany, Bath, Craig, Giles, City of Covington6 hr
Apr 28, 1:03 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlleghany, Bath, Rockbridge, City of Covington57 min
Apr 28, 1:12 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe33 min
Apr 28, 1:19 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKCraig, Giles, Montgomery, Roanoke26 min
Apr 28, 1:20 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe25 min
Apr 28, 1:28 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlleghany, Botetourt, Rockbridge, City of Lexington21 min
Apr 28, 1:34 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKAlleghany, Bath, Botetourt, Rockbridge, City of Lexington41 min
Apr 28, 1:39 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKBland3 hr
Apr 28, 1:43 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKAlleghany, Botetourt, Craig, Montgomery19 min
Apr 28, 1:47 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKBland, Giles, Tazewell, Wythe9 min
Apr 28, 2:17 AM EDTTornado WarningRNKCraig, Giles28 min
Apr 28, 4:17 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCharlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania, City of Danville30 min
Apr 28, 5:32 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKCarroll, Floyd, Grayson, Montgomery, City of Galax3 hr
Apr 28, 5:51 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCarroll, Floyd, Franklin, Patrick54 min
Apr 28, 6:40 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAmherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Buckingham, Campbell, City of Buena Vista and 1 more65 min
Apr 28, 6:46 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPatrick29 min
Apr 28, 6:47 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKAlleghany, Bath, Craig, City of Covington6 hr
Apr 28, 6:48 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCarroll, Henry, Patrick24 min
Apr 28, 7:13 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPatrick32 min
Apr 28, 7:44 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAppomattox, Bedford, Buckingham, City of Lynchburg76 min
Apr 28, 7:48 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCampbell72 min
Apr 28, 8:09 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKAlleghany, Botetourt, Craig10 hr
Apr 28, 8:56 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAppomattox, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, City of Lynchburg64 min
Apr 28, 10:06 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHalifax39 min
Apr 28, 12:38 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCity of Danville52 min
Apr 28, 12:44 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKBath6 hr
Apr 28, 6:33 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKAlleghany, Botetourt, Craig6 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Virginia, 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.