Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 6, NWS Blacksburg, VA

April 16, 20118 counties in Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this flash flood warning at Apr 16, 2011, 12:24 PM EDT for 8 counties in Virginia. It was in force for 4 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: Apr 16, 2011, 12:24 PM EDT (16:24 UTC)
Expired: Apr 16, 2011, 4:04 PM 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 Covington, VA, City of Roanoke, VA, City of Salem, VA, Craig County, VA, Montgomery County, VA, Roanoke County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 58 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:25 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 16, 1:08 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	4 Ssw Roanoke, VA	WATER COVERING THE ROAD AT ELECTRIC ROAD AND HONEYWOOD LANE
Apr 16, 1:10 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Roanoke, VA	10 INCHES OF WATER ON THE ROAD.
Apr 16, 1:23 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Blacksburg, VA	KEISTERS BRANCH ROAD...GREATER THAN 6 INCHES FLOWING ON ROAD.
Apr 16, 1:28 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Roanoke, VA	CARS STRANDED DUE TO STREET FLOODING
Apr 16, 1:30 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Bent Mountain, VA	FLASH FLOODING OCCURRED IN AND NEAR THE BENT MOUNTAIN, BACK CREEK, CAVE SPRING AND CLEARBROOK AREAS OF ROANOKE COUNTY.
Apr 16, 1:38 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	Fincastle, VA	WATER ON ROADS COUNTY WIDE.

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, 4.4 hours before the alert went out and 62 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: 1 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 480 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 76 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 747 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 975 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.

557 
WGUS51 KRNK 161624
FFWRNK
VAC005-023-045-121-161-580-770-775-162230-
/O.NEW.KRNK.FF.W.0006.110416T1624Z-110416T2230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1224 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 630 PM EDT.

* AT 1216 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED  
  VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE WARNED AREA. STORMS    
  CELLS ARE MOVING VERY FAST BUT RAINFALL RATES ARE VERY HIGH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO HOLLINS...
  POTTS CREEK...NATURAL WELL...JORDAN MINES...IRON GATE...CLIFTON
  FORGE CITY...CALLAGHAN...VINTON...ROANOKE AIRPORT...GLENVAR...
  CATAWBA...BRADSHAW...COVINGTON CITY...TROUTVILLE...ORISKANY...
  NACE...LAYMANTOWN...GLEN WILTON...GALA...FINCASTLE...EAGLE ROCK...
  DALEVILLE...CLOVERDALE...BLUE RIDGE...SINKING CREEK...
  SIMMONSVILLE...NEW CASTLE...CRAIG SPRINGS...ABBOTT...MC DONALDS
  MILL...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.

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 3790 7990 3775 7970 3733 7982 3732 7985
      3725 7985 3708 8028 3702 8037 3711 8052
      3760 8026 3762 8022 3764 8024 3787 8016
      3795 8001

$$


PC

2 follow-up statements

436 
WGUS71 KRNK 161713
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
113 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

VAC005-023-045-121-161-580-770-775-162230-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0006.000000T0000Z-110416T2230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ROANOKE VA-CITY OF COVINGTON VA-CITY OF ROANOKE VA-CITY OF SALEM VA-
CRAIG VA-BOTETOURT VA-ALLEGHANY VA-MONTGOMERY VA-
113 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM EDT FOR THE
CITY OF COVINGTON...THE CITY OF ROANOKE...THE CITY OF SALEM...
MONTGOMERY...ALLEGHANY...BOTETOURT...CRAIG AND ROANOKE COUNTIES...

AT 109 PM EDT...THE PUBLIC REPORTED FLASH FLOODING AT SEVERAL 
LOCATIONS IN ROANOKE CITY AND IN ROANOKE COUNTY.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ROANOKE 
CITY...FINCASTLE...NEW CASTLE...POTTS CREEK...NATURAL WELL...JORDAN 
MINES...IRON GATE...CLIFTON FORGE...HOLLINS...COVINGTON 
CITY...ORISKANY...GLEN WILTON...AND EAGLE ROCK

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINS ARE SHIFTING TO THE EASTERN SIDE OF ROANOKE CITY AT THIS 
TIME AND OVER NORTHERN BOTETOURT COUNTY BUT ADDITIONAL RAINFALL 
AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 1.5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN PARTS OF THE WARNED AREA.

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3790 7990 3775 7970 3733 7982 3732 7985
      3725 7985 3708 8028 3702 8037 3711 8052
      3760 8026 3762 8022 3764 8024 3787 8016
      3795 8001

$$


PC

206 
WGUS71 KRNK 162004
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
404 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

VAC005-023-045-121-161-580-770-775-162014-
/O.CAN.KRNK.FF.W.0006.000000T0000Z-110416T2230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ROANOKE VA-CITY OF COVINGTON VA-CITY OF ROANOKE VA-CITY OF SALEM VA-
CRAIG VA-BOTETOURT VA-ALLEGHANY VA-MONTGOMERY VA-
404 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

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

FLOODING HAS ENDED OVER THE WARNED AREA...THUS THE FLASH FLOOD
WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

LAT...LON 3790 7990 3775 7970 3733 7982 3732 7985
      3725 7985 3708 8028 3702 8037 3711 8052
      3760 8026 3762 8022 3764 8024 3787 8016
      3795 8001

$$

PC

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 16, 9:35 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Carroll, Floyd, Grayson, Patrick, City of Galax	5 hr
Apr 16, 9:58 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Grayson, Wythe	32 min
Apr 16, 11:27 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, Carroll, Craig, Floyd and 8 more	63 min
Apr 16, 12:10 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Carroll, Floyd, Franklin, Montgomery, Roanoke, City of Roanoke and 1 more	65 min
Apr 16, 12:16 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Montgomery, Roanoke and 1 more	59 min
Apr 16, 1:04 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Bedford, Floyd, Franklin, Patrick, Roanoke	3 hr
Apr 16, 1:06 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Alleghany, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista and 1 more	54 min
Apr 16, 1:26 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Amherst, Bedford, Botetourt, Campbell, Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista and 2 more	6 hr
Apr 16, 1:43 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Amherst, Bedford, Rockbridge	47 min
Apr 16, 1:43 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Amherst, Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington	32 min
Apr 16, 1:51 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Charlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania, City of Danville	69 min
Apr 16, 1:57 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Halifax, Pittsylvania	48 min
Apr 16, 2:22 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RNK	Halifax, Pittsylvania, City of Danville	3 hr
Apr 16, 2:23 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Bath	37 min
Apr 16, 2:25 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Amherst, Bedford, Campbell, City of Lynchburg	35 min
Apr 16, 2:34 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Appomattox, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania	71 min
Apr 16, 2:45 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Charlotte, Halifax	45 min
Apr 16, 2:56 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	RNK	Charlotte, Halifax	37 min
Apr 16, 3:04 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Amherst, Appomattox, Buckingham	26 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.