Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 29, NWS Blacksburg, VA

May 22, 20116 counties in Virginia; Ashe County, North Carolina

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this flash flood warning at May 22, 2011, 8:33 PM EDT for 6 counties in Virginia; Ashe County, North Carolina. 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: May 22, 2011, 8:33 PM EDT (00:33 UTC)
Expired: May 23, 2011, 12:30 AM EDT
In force: 4 hr
Issued by: NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Ashe County, NC, Carroll County, VA, City of Galax, VA, Grayson County, VA, Pulaski County, VA, Smyth County, VA, Wythe County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:36 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
May 22, 8:42 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	3 Sw Coleman Store, VA	IVANHOE ROAD WASHED OUT WITH OVER ONE FOOT OF WATER ON IT.

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 00:00Z, 0.6 hours before the alert went out and 150 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: 1111 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -15 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1533 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 56 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 65 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.1
Supercell composite: 1.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

229 
WGUS51 KRNK 230033
FFWRNK
NCC009-VAC035-077-155-173-197-640-230430-
/O.NEW.KRNK.FF.W.0029.110523T0033Z-110523T0430Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
833 PM EDT SUN MAY 22 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN ASHE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA
  SOUTHWESTERN PULASKI COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  SOUTHERN SMYTH COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  WYTHE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  NORTHERN CITY OF GALAX IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  GRAYSON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  NORTHERN CARROLL COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 1230 AM EDT.

* AT 831 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM A THUNDERSTORM OVER THE WARNED AREA.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO MOUNT
  ROGERS SUMMIT...MOUNT ROGERS NATIONAL RECREATION AREA...GRAYSON
  HIGHLANDS STATE PARK...PULASKI...DRAPER...ALLISONIA...WYTHEVILLE...
  SPEEDWELL...RURAL RETREAT...PATTERSON...MAX MEADOWS...IVANHOE...
  GUNTON PARK...GRAHAMS FORGE...CROCKETT...CRIPPLE CREEK...COLEMAN
  STORE...THOMAS BRIDGE...SUGAR GROVE...MARION WYTHEVILLE...MARION...
  CHILHOWIE...ATKINS...ADWOLF...WOODLAWN...SYLVATUS...HILLSVILLE...
  DUGSPUR...BYLLESBY...GALAX HILLSVILLE AIRPORT...WHITETOP...
  VOLNEY...TROUTDALE...SPRING VALLEY...RUGBY...FRIES...FLATRIDGE...
  ELK CREEK...COMERS ROCK AND BRIDLE CREEK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

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 3708 8074 3676 8056 3648 8170 3654 8171
      3657 8170 3662 8165 3663 8161 3665 8164
      3680 8172

$$

16

2 follow-up statements

933 
WGUS71 KRNK 230154
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
954 PM EDT SUN MAY 22 2011

NCC009-VAC035-077-155-173-197-640-230430-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0029.000000T0000Z-110523T0430Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ASHE NC-PULASKI VA-SMYTH VA-WYTHE VA-CITY OF GALAX VA-GRAYSON VA-
CARROLL VA-
954 PM EDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1230 AM EDT FOR THE
CITY OF GALAX... NORTHERN CARROLL...GRAYSON...WYTHE...SOUTHERN
SMYTH...SOUTHWESTERN PULASKI AND NORTHWESTERN ASHE COUNTIES...

AT 950 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE STEADY MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN OCCURRING OVER THE WARNED 
AREA. SOME OF THIS RAIN IS OCCURRING OVER AREAS WHICH RECEIVED VERY 
HEAVY DOWNPOURS FROM THUNDERSTORMS EARLIER THIS EVENING.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO MOUNT ROGERS
NATIONAL RECREATION AREA...PULASKI...DRAPER...ALLISONIA...
WYTHEVILLE...SPEEDWELL...RURAL RETREAT...PATTERSON...MAX MEADOWS...
IVANHOE...GUNTON PARK...GRAHAMS FORGE...CROCKETT...CRIPPLE CREEK...
COLEMAN STORE...THOMAS BRIDGE...SUGAR GROVE...MARION WYTHEVILLE...
MARION...CHILHOWIE...ATKINS...ADWOLF...WOODLAWN...SYLVATUS...
HILLSVILLE...DUGSPUR...BYLLESBY...GALAX HILLSVILLE AIRPORT...
TROUTDALE...SPRING VALLEY...FRIES...FLATRIDGE...ELK CREEK AND COMERS
ROCK

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY
AUTOMOBILE.

&&

LAT...LON 3708 8074 3676 8056 3648 8170 3654 8171
      3657 8170 3662 8165 3663 8161 3665 8164
      3680 8172

$$

16

570 
WGUS71 KRNK 230422
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1222 AM EDT MON MAY 23 2011

NCC009-VAC035-077-155-173-197-640-230432-
/O.EXP.KRNK.FF.W.0029.000000T0000Z-110523T0430Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ASHE NC-PULASKI VA-SMYTH VA-WYTHE VA-CITY OF GALAX VA-GRAYSON VA-
CARROLL VA-
1222 AM EDT MON MAY 23 2011

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 1230 AM EDT FOR THE CITY OF
GALAX... NORTHERN CARROLL...GRAYSON...WYTHE...SOUTHERN SMYTH...
SOUTHWESTERN PULASKI AND NORTHWESTERN ASHE COUNTIES...

CREEKS AND STREAMS WERE RECEDING THUS THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL BE
ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. 

LAT...LON 3708 8074 3676 8056 3648 8170 3654 8171
      3657 8170 3662 8165 3663 8161 3665 8164
      3680 8172

$$

KK

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 22, 8:02 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Grayson, Smyth, Wythe	58 min
May 22, 8:20 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Craig, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, City of Radford	55 min
May 22, 8:28 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Bland, Pulaski, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe	32 min
May 22, 8:48 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Bland, Craig, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski	4 hr
May 22, 9:11 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Botetourt, Craig, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, Roanoke and 3 more	64 min
May 22, 10:27 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Amherst, Bedford, Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington, City of Lynchburg	63 min
May 22, 10:39 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Campbell, Pittsylvania, City of Danville, City of Martinsville	36 min
May 22, 11:19 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Amherst, Appomattox, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, Halifax and 3 more	56 min
May 23, 12:24 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Charlotte, Halifax	66 min
May 23, 12:38 AM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	RNK	Bland, Craig, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski	6 hr
May 23, 1:17 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Carroll, Patrick, City of Galax	58 min
May 23, 2:11 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Henry, Patrick, City of Martinsville	64 min
May 23, 2:37 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Carroll, Floyd, Franklin, Patrick	53 min
May 23, 2:45 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Henry, Pittsylvania, City of Danville, City of Martinsville	60 min
May 23, 3:38 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Henry, Pittsylvania, City of Danville, City of Martinsville	67 min
May 23, 3:48 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Franklin, Henry, Pittsylvania, City of Martinsville	57 min
May 23, 4:55 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Campbell	65 min
May 23, 5:38 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Charlotte, Halifax	67 min
May 23, 6:11 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Campbell	64 min
May 23, 6:41 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Amherst, Appomattox, Buckingham	52 min
May 22, 8:17 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Ashe, Watauga, Wilkes	4 hr
May 22, 9:50 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Yadkin	55 min
May 23, 12:12 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Ashe, Watauga	63 min
May 23, 12:14 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Ashe, Watauga, Wilkes	4 hr
May 23, 3:08 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Wilkes	67 min
May 23, 3:15 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Ashe, Watauga, Wilkes	45 min
May 23, 3:45 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Ashe, Watauga, Wilkes	4 hr
May 23, 3:56 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Surry, Wilkes, Yadkin	64 min
May 23, 4:14 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Surry, Wilkes	46 min
May 23, 4:59 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Stokes	61 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Virginia, 2011 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.