Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 21, NWS Blacksburg, VA

May 13, 2011Grayson County, Wythe County, Virginia; Ashe County, North Carolina

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this flash flood warning at May 13, 2011, 5:30 PM EDT for Grayson County, Wythe County, Virginia; Ashe County, North Carolina. It was in force for 6 hr. 6 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
May 13, 2011, 5:30 PM EDT (21:30 UTC)
Expired
May 13, 2011, 11:30 PM EDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Ashe County, NC, Grayson County, VA, Wythe County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 109 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:30 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
May 13, 5:38 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD5 Nw Mouth Of Wilson, VAROCK SLIDE CLOSED LITTLE WILSON RD
May 13, 6:00 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Se Flatridge, VAUPPER HEADWATERS OF MIDDLE FOX CREEK FLOODED ROUTE 672. PARTS OF ROAD OVER-WASHED.
May 13, 6:00 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD5 S Flatridge, VAFLOODING THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE FORK FOX CREEK DRAINAGE SOUTH OF FLAT RIDGE FROM 6PM-7PM.
May 13, 6:00 PM EDTHEAVY RAIN 2.123 Nne Mouth Of Wilson, VA2.12 INCHES OF RAIN IN 45 MINUTES.
May 13, 6:30 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD3 S Flatridge, VAMIDDLE FOX CREEK WASHED OUT HONEY GROVE RD.
May 13, 7:00 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD3 Nne Mouth Of Wilson, VAFLOODING OBSERVED ALONG THE MIDDLE FORK FOX CREEK WHERE IT ENTERS BIG FOX CREEK. BIG FOX CREEK BANK FULL NORTH OF CONFLUENCE...BUT OUT OF ITS BANKS DOWNSTREAM TO THE NEW RIVER.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 147 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2011-05-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 185 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2011-05-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 73 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
185 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-88 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
606 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
73 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
64 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.

921 
WGUS51 KRNK 132130
FFWRNK
NCC009-VAC077-197-140330-
/O.NEW.KRNK.FF.W.0021.110513T2130Z-110514T0330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
530 PM EDT FRI MAY 13 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN ASHE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA
  SOUTH CENTRAL WYTHE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  WESTERN GRAYSON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 1130 PM EDT.

* AT 525 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
  VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM A LINE OF SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS THAT 
  EXTENDED FROM COMERS ROCK TO SHATLEY SPRINGS...OR ALONG A LINE 
  EXTENDING FROM SPEEDWELL TO LANSING...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO WEST
  JEFFERSON...MOUNT JEFFERSON...JEFFERSON...VOLNEY...GRASSY CREEK...
  MOUTH OF WILSON...ELK CREEK AND BRIDLE CREEK.

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.

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.

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.

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 3657 8168 3664 8151 3675 8134 3676 8127
      3681 8128 3686 8124 3680 8108 3657 8127
      3657 8135 3654 8135 3651 8133 3636 8149
      3646 8171

$$

JJ
3 follow-up statements
109 
WGUS71 KRNK 132205
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
605 PM EDT FRI MAY 13 2011

NCC009-VAC077-197-140330-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0021.000000T0000Z-110514T0330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ASHE NC-WYTHE VA-GRAYSON VA-
605 PM EDT FRI MAY 13 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1130 PM EDT FOR
WESTERN GRAYSON...SOUTHERN WYTHE AND NORTHERN ASHE COUNTIES...

AT 559 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN OVER THE WARNED 
AREA. IN PARTICULAR...RADAR ESTIMATES THAT UP TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN 
HAS FALLEN ACROSS PARTS OF CENTRAL GRAYSON COUNTY BETWEEN FLATRIDGE 
AND VOLNEY. CREEKS THAT MAY BE FLOODING INCLUDE SHUPE...GUFFEY... 
JERRY AND PANTHER. THE VERY HEAVY RAINFALL MAY ALSO PRODUCE MUD AND 
ROCK SLIDES ON AREA HIGHWAYS. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SPEEDWELL...
VOLNEY...MOUTH OF WILSON...FLATRIDGE...ELK CREEK...COMERS ROCK AND
BRIDLE CREEK

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.

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 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT FRIDAY
EVENING FOR NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EDT FRIDAY
EVENING FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3657 8168 3664 8151 3675 8134 3676 8127
      3681 8128 3686 8124 3680 8108 3657 8127
      3657 8135 3654 8135 3651 8133 3636 8149
      3646 8171

$$

JJ
788 
WGUS71 KRNK 140137
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
937 PM EDT FRI MAY 13 2011

NCC009-VAC077-197-140330-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0021.000000T0000Z-110514T0330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ASHE NC-WYTHE VA-GRAYSON VA-
937 PM EDT FRI MAY 13 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1130 PM EDT FOR
WESTERN GRAYSON...SOUTHERN WYTHE AND NORTHERN ASHE COUNTIES...

AT 920 PM EDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED THAT MIDDLE FOX 
CREEK WAS FLOODING IN GRAYSON COUNTY...AND HAD WASHED OUT SOME BACK 
ROADS IN THE HEADWATERS EAST OF FLAT RIDGE. THE SPOTTERS REPORT THAT 
ROUTE 678...FOX CREEK ROAD WAS LIKELY FLOODED. 

THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF FLOODING IN SOUTHERN WYTHE OR ASHE 
COUNTIES. HOWEVER...RAINFALL WAS HEAVY ENOUGH THAT SMALLER CREEKS OR 
STREAMS MAY BE OUT OF THEIR BANKS. WATER SHOULD BE RECEDING IN 
SOUTHERN WYTHE AND ASHE COUNTIES. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SPEEDWELL...
FLATRIDGE...ELK CREEK AND COMERS ROCK

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3657 8168 3664 8151 3675 8134 3676 8127
      3681 8128 3686 8124 3680 8108 3657 8127
      3657 8135 3654 8135 3651 8133 3636 8149
      3646 8171

$$

JJ
367 
WGUS71 KRNK 140323
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1123 PM EDT FRI MAY 13 2011

NCC009-VAC077-197-140331-
/O.EXP.KRNK.FF.W.0021.000000T0000Z-110514T0330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ASHE NC-WYTHE VA-GRAYSON VA-
1123 PM EDT FRI MAY 13 2011

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 1130 PM EDT FOR WESTERN
GRAYSON...SOUTHERN WYTHE AND NORTHERN ASHE COUNTIES...

CREEKS AND STREAMS SHOULD BE RECEDING IN THE AREA. THERE IS NO 
FURTHER THREAT OF HEAVY RAIN OVERNIGHT...THUS THE FLASH FLOOD 
WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

LAT...LON 3657 8168 3664 8151 3675 8134 3676 8127
      3681 8128 3686 8124 3680 8108 3657 8127
      3657 8135 3654 8135 3651 8133 3636 8149
      3646 8171

$$

JJ

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 13, 10:27 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCampbell33 min
May 13, 11:00 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCharlotte45 min
May 13, 2:07 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCarroll, Grayson, Wythe, City of Galax38 min
May 13, 2:39 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKCarroll, Grayson, City of Galax6 hr
May 13, 2:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCarroll, Grayson, Wythe, City of Galax51 min
May 13, 2:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBotetourt, Craig, Roanoke56 min
May 13, 3:16 PM EDTFlash Flood WatchRNKAlleghany, Bland, Botetourt, Carroll, Craig, Floyd and 13 more6 hr
May 13, 3:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKFloyd, Franklin, Montgomery, Patrick62 min
May 13, 3:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKCarroll, Grayson, Patrick60 min
May 13, 4:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKMontgomery, Roanoke, City of Roanoke, City of Salem40 min
May 13, 4:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKSmyth, Tazewell65 min
May 13, 4:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKPatrick50 min
May 13, 4:50 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBath55 min
May 13, 4:52 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGiles53 min
May 13, 5:10 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKGiles4 hr
May 13, 5:16 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKGrayson, Smyth, Wythe59 min
May 13, 5:46 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBath, Rockbridge59 min
May 13, 6:19 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKBland, Tazewell, Wythe3 hr
May 13, 3:01 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlleghany, Surry, Wilkes59 min
May 13, 4:19 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKSurry, Yadkin4 hr
May 13, 4:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAshe, Watauga, Wilkes60 min
May 13, 5:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKStokes, Surry, Yadkin60 min
May 13, 5:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlleghany, Ashe, Watauga, Wilkes55 min
May 13, 6:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKStokes, Surry, Yadkin37 min
May 13, 6:40 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAlleghany65 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Virginia, 2011Flash Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 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.