Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 2, NWS Blacksburg, VA

April 12, 20115 counties in Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this flash flood warning at Apr 12, 2011, 3:29 PM EDT for 5 counties in Virginia. It was in force for 6 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: Apr 12, 2011, 3:29 PM EDT (19:29 UTC)
Expired: Apr 12, 2011, 9:15 PM EDT
In force: 6 hr
Issued by: NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Alleghany County, VA, Bath County, VA, Botetourt County, VA, City of Covington, VA, Craig County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 112 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:32 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
Apr 12, 3:45 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Burnsville, VA	STATE ROUTE 614...MUDDY RUN ROAD WASHED OUT NEAR BURNSVILLE.
Apr 12, 6:41 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	5 N Hot Springs, VA	ROCKSLIDE CLOSED STATE ROUTE 39 WEST NEAR BACK CREEK MOUNTAIN.

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 12:00Z, 7.5 hours before the alert went out and 91 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: 187 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -1 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 519 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 83 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 201 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 154 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.3
Supercell composite: 3.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

506 
WGUS51 KRNK 121929
FFWRNK
VAC005-017-023-045-580-130115-
/O.NEW.KRNK.FF.W.0002.110412T1929Z-110413T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
329 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  CITY OF COVINGTON IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  NORTHEASTERN CRAIG COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  NORTHWESTERN BOTETOURT COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  BATH COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  ALLEGHANY COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 915 PM EDT.

* AT 320 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT
  HAVE BEEN PERSISTING OVER THE HIGHLANDS OF VIRGINIA. A.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CLIFTON
  FORGE CITY...DOUTHAT STATE PARK...LAKE MOOMAW...NATURAL WELL...
  LONGDALE FURNACE...HOLLINS...YOST...WARM SPRINGS...NIMROD HALL...
  MOUNTAIN GROVE...MILLBORO...HOT SPRINGS...AND BACOVA JUNCTION.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL CONTINUE OVER 
THE HIGHLANDS OF VIRGINIA THROUGH 6:00 PM.  RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 
3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM THESE STORMS WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING OF 
CREEKS AND STREAMS...ROADS AND ROADSIDE CULVERTS. THE HEAVY RAIN 
COULD ALSO CAUSE ROCK AND MUDSLIDES. LOOKOUT FOR DEBRIS WASHED ONTO 
ROADWAYS. 

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 3822 7970 3820 7955 3818 7951 3816 7952
      3817 7944 3801 7953 3788 7965 3786 7961
      3783 7962 3746 7996 3765 8028 3769 8029
      3776 8025 3778 8021 3780 8023 3800 8000
      3810 7994 3818 7992 3827 7981

$$

PEM

3 follow-up statements

710 
WGUS71 KRNK 122057
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
457 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2011

VAC005-017-023-045-580-130115-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-110413T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CITY OF COVINGTON VA-CRAIG VA-BOTETOURT VA-BATH VA-ALLEGHANY VA-
457 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM EDT FOR THE 
CITY OF COVINGTON...ALLEGHANY...BATH...NORTHWESTERN BOTETOURT AND 
NORTHEASTERN CRAIG COUNTIES...

AT 450 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN OVER THE WARNED 
AREA. THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY OF COVINGTON REPORTING 
MODERATE STREET FLOODING AT 445 PM ACROSS THE CITY. THIS RUNOFF WILL 
BRING CREEKS AND STREAMS TO OR ABOVE BANKFULL INTO THIS EVENING. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO LAKE
MOOMAW...YOST...WARM SPRINGS...MOUNTAIN GROVE...MILLBORO...HOT
SPRINGS...CALLISON...BURNSVILLE AND BACOVA JUNCTION

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF A HALF OF AN INCH TO AN INCH ARE 
POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA.

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

&&

LAT...LON 3822 7970 3820 7955 3818 7951 3816 7952
      3817 7944 3801 7953 3788 7965 3786 7961
      3783 7962 3746 7996 3765 8028 3769 8029
      3776 8025 3778 8021 3780 8023 3800 8000
      3810 7994 3818 7992 3827 7981

$$

RCS

236 
WGUS71 KRNK 122351
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
751 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2011

VAC005-017-023-045-580-130115-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-110413T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CITY OF COVINGTON VA-CRAIG VA-BOTETOURT VA-BATH VA-ALLEGHANY VA-
751 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM EDT FOR THE 
CITY OF COVINGTON...ALLEGHANY...BATH...NORTHWESTERN BOTETOURT AND 
NORTHEASTERN CRAIG COUNTIES...

AT 732 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE SHOWERS OVER THE WARNED AREA.

RAIN WILL RE-ENTER THE WARNED AREA THROUGH THIS EVENING...WHILE 
RAINFALL AMOUNTS REMAIN LOW. RUNOFF FROM THIS AFTERNOON STORMS HAS 
BROUGHT BACK CREEK NEAR SUNSHINE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE. AT 700 PM THE 
STAGE AT BACK CREEK WAS 7.11 FEET. FLOOD STAGE IS 6.00 FEET. 
COWPASTURE RIVER NEAR CLIFTON FORGE HAS ALSO GONE ABOVE FLOOD. AT 
700 PM...COWPASTURE RIVER WAS AT 9.1 FEET AND FLOOD STAGE IS 9.00 
FEET. BULLPASTURE RIVER AT WILLIAMSVILLE IS NEAR FLOOD STAGE OF 6.00 
FEET. AT 700 PM...BULLPASTURE RIVER WAS AT 5.68 FEET. 
CREEKS...STREAMS AND RIVERS ACROSS THE ALLEGHANY HIGHLANDS WILL 
CONTINUE TO RUN HIGH INTO THIS EVENING...THEN RECEDE AROUND MIDNIGHT.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO LAKE
MOOMAW...YOST...WARM SPRINGS...MOUNTAIN GROVE...MILLBORO...HOT
SPRINGS...CALLISON...BURNSVILLE AND BACOVA JUNCTION

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.

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

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 3822 7970 3820 7955 3818 7951 3816 7952
      3817 7944 3801 7953 3788 7965 3786 7961
      3783 7962 3746 7996 3765 8028 3769 8029
      3776 8025 3778 8021 3780 8023 3800 8000
      3810 7994 3818 7992 3827 7981

$$

RCS

790 
WGUS71 KRNK 130120
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
920 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2011

VAC005-017-023-045-580-130128-
/O.EXP.KRNK.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-110413T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CITY OF COVINGTON VA-CRAIG VA-BOTETOURT VA-BATH VA-ALLEGHANY VA-
920 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2011

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR THE CITY OF COVINGTON...
ALLEGHANY...BATH...NORTHWESTERN BOTETOURT AND NORTHEASTERN CRAIG
COUNTIES...

HOWEVER...CREEKS AND STREAMS WERE STILL RUNNING HIGH. 
THEREFORE...WAS FLOOD WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 AM 
WEDNESDAY MORNING.

LAT...LON 3822 7970 3820 7955 3818 7951 3816 7952
      3817 7944 3801 7953 3788 7965 3786 7961
      3783 7962 3746 7996 3765 8028 3769 8029
      3776 8025 3778 8021 3780 8023 3800 8000
      3810 7994 3818 7992 3827 7981

$$

RCS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 12, 4:14 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Giles, Pulaski	61 min
Apr 12, 4:43 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Carroll, Floyd, Grayson, Patrick	47 min
Apr 12, 5:11 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Pulaski	34 min
Apr 12, 5:17 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Patrick	28 min
Apr 12, 5:51 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Bedford, Franklin, Henry, City of Martinsville	39 min
Apr 12, 10:48 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Alleghany, City of Covington	42 min
Apr 12, 11:25 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Bath	50 min
Apr 12, 12:34 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Carroll	41 min
Apr 12, 12:43 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Alleghany, City of Covington	47 min
Apr 12, 2:19 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Alleghany, City of Covington	56 min
Apr 12, 2:21 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Amherst	54 min
Apr 12, 2:43 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Roanoke	62 min
Apr 12, 4:07 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	City of Covington	23 min
Apr 12, 5:12 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Amherst	33 min
Apr 12, 5:36 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	City of Buena Vista	39 min
Apr 12, 5:57 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Bedford	48 min
Apr 12, 7:07 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Charlotte	53 min

Nearby

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.