Alert archive / Massachusetts / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 13, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

August 4, 2012Franklin County, Massachusetts

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this flash flood warning at Aug 4, 2012, 2:38 PM EDT for Franklin County, Massachusetts. It was in force for 3 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
Aug 4, 2012, 2:38 PM EDT (18:38 UTC)
Expired
Aug 4, 2012, 5:30 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Franklin County, MA

The radar

The Albany radar (KENX), 91 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:41 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
Aug 4, 4:31 PM EDTFLASH FLOODCharlemont, MAWATER 2 FEET DEEP ON ROUTE 2 IN WESTERN CHARLEMONT

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

The nearest sounding before it

Albany, NY (KALY), launched 12:00Z, 6.6 hours before the alert went out and 71 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, Albany, NY at 12:00Z on 2012-08-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1175 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, Albany, NY at 12:00Z on 2012-08-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 21 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
1175 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-113 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1047 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
21 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
65 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.

077 
WGUS51 KBOX 041838
FFWBOX
MAC011-042130-
/O.NEW.KBOX.FF.W.0013.120804T1838Z-120804T2130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
238 PM EDT SAT AUG 4 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...

* UNTIL 530 PM EDT

* AT 230 PM EDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO FORM AND
  TRAVERSE THE SAME AREAS OF WESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY. DOPPLER RADAR
  INDICATED THAT UP TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN HAD ALREADY FALLEN IN THE
  COLD RIVER BASIN...WHICH RUNS RIGHT ALONG ROUTE 2 IN WESTERN 
  CHARLEMONT. AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE 
  THROUGH THE LATE AFTERNOON HOURS.  RISES ARE EXPECTED IN OTHER
  BASINS INCLUDING THE NORTH BRANCH OF THE DEERFIELD RIVER.

FLASH FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS AND URBAN AREAS IS OCCURRING OR
IMMINENT. THOSE NEAR STREAMS AND CREEKS...OR IN AREAS PRONE TO
FLOODING SHOULD MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY. AVOID FLOODED
ROADS. THE WATER MAY BE TOO DEEP TO ALLOW VEHICLES TO CROSS SAFELY...
OR THE ROADWAY MAY BE UNDERMINED. TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN!

&&

LAT...LON 4274 7301 4274 7286 4259 7286 4259 7297
      4266 7296 4266 7299 4268 7299 4270 7296
      4270 7300

$$
FIELD
2 follow-up statements
407 
WGUS71 KBOX 041912
FFSBOX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
312 PM EDT SAT AUG 4 2012

MAC011-042130-
/O.CON.KBOX.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-120804T2130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
FRANKLIN MA-
312 PM EDT SAT AUG 4 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY...

AT 310 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WITH TORRENTIAL RAINS AND FREQUENT 
LIGHTNING OVER WESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY. THE FLASH FLOOD THREAT HAS 
INCREASED AND THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION TO 
DEVELOP IF SEVERAL MORE INCHES OF RAIN OCCUR.

DOPPLER RADAR WAS INDICATING THAT 3 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN HAVE FALLEN 
NEAR THE BORDER OF BERKSHIRE AND FRANKLIN COUNTY...OVER THE COLD 
RIVER AND NORTH BRANCH OF THE DEERFIELD RIVER. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS 
FOR ANOTHER 2 TO 3 INCHES TO FALL AS STORMS CONTINUE TO FORM OVER 
THE SAME AREAS. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
CHARLEMONT...ROWE...AND MONROE.

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.

CAMPERS AND HIKERS SHOULD AVOID STREAMS OR CREEKS.

TO REPORT FLOODING...HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RELAY
YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN
TAUNTON.

&&

LAT...LON 4274 7301 4274 7286 4259 7286 4259 7297
      4266 7296 4266 7299 4268 7299 4270 7296
      4270 7300

$$
FIELD
225 
WGUS71 KBOX 041913 CCA
FFSBOX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
313 PM EDT SAT AUG 4 2012

MAC011-042130-
/O.CON.KBOX.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-120804T2130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
FRANKLIN MA-
313 PM EDT SAT AUG 4 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY...

AT 310 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WITH TORRENTIAL RAINS AND FREQUENT 
LIGHTNING OVER WESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY. THE FLASH FLOOD THREAT HAS 
INCREASED AND THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION TO 
DEVELOP IF SEVERAL MORE INCHES OF RAIN OCCUR.

DOPPLER RADAR WAS INDICATING THAT 3 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN HAVE FALLEN 
NEAR THE BORDER OF BERKSHIRE AND FRANKLIN COUNTY...OVER THE COLD 
RIVER AND NORTH BRANCH OF THE DEERFIELD RIVER. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS 
FOR ANOTHER 2 TO 3 INCHES TO FALL AS STORMS CONTINUE TO FORM OVER 
THE SAME AREAS. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
CHARLEMONT...ROWE...AND MONROE.

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.

CAMPERS AND HIKERS SHOULD AVOID STREAMS OR CREEKS.

TO REPORT FLOODING...HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RELAY
YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN
TAUNTON.

&&

LAT...LON 4274 7301 4274 7286 4259 7286 4259 7297
      4266 7296 4266 7299 4268 7299 4270 7296
      4270 7300

$$
FIELD

The office that day

Everything else NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 4, 1:17 PM EDTHeat AdvisoryBOXNorfolk, Worcester3 hr
Aug 4, 1:42 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOXFranklin48 min
Aug 4, 1:53 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXFranklin3 hr
Aug 4, 4:23 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXFranklin, Hampshire2 hr
Aug 4, 5:41 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOXMiddlesex34 min
Aug 4, 5:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXMiddlesex, Worcester47 min
Aug 4, 6:02 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXFranklin, Middlesex, Worcester3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Massachusetts, 2012Every flash flood warning in 2012

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.