Alert archive / South Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 6, NWS Charleston, SC

July 11, 2012Berkeley County, Charleston County, South Carolina

NWS Charleston, SC issued this flash flood warning at Jul 11, 2012, 1:10 PM EDT for Berkeley County, Charleston County, South Carolina. It was in force for 2 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
Jul 11, 2012, 1:10 PM EDT (17:10 UTC)
Expired
Jul 11, 2012, 3:15 PM EDT
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Berkeley County, SC, Charleston County, SC

The radar

The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 106 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:10 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
Jul 11, 2:30 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Ese Charleston, SCTABBULI GRILL ON NORTH MARKET STREET FLOODED WITH SEVERAL INCHES OF WATER INSIDE THE BUILDING. NUMEROUS SIDE STREETS NEAR THE MARKET WERE FLOODED WITH A HALF FOOT OF WATER.
Jul 11, 2:30 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Ne Charleston, SCFIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED NEARLY 6 INCHES OF RAIN ALONG EAST BAY STREET AND CALHOUN STREET. STREET WERE NOT OFFICIALLY CLOSED BUT WERE IMPASSABLE IN SPOTS.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 5.2 hours before the alert went out and 15 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 2012-07-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2022 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 2012-07-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 54 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
2022 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-51 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
802 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
54 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
54 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.

991 
WGUS52 KCHS 111710
FFWCHS
SCC015-019-111915-
/O.NEW.KCHS.FF.W.0006.120711T1710Z-120711T1915Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
110 PM EDT WED JUL 11 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL BERKELEY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH
  CAROLINA...
  CENTRAL CHARLESTON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...

* UNTIL 315 PM EDT

* AT 106 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  VERY HEAVY RAIN OCCURRING NEAR DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON...OR ABOUT OVER
  DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH.

  TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WILL PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING IN DOWNTOWN        
  CHARLESTON AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES THROUGH 315 PM. 

* FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED IN AND AROUND...
  DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON...CHARLES TOWNE LANDING...MOUNT PLEASANT...
  NORTH CHARLESTON...CHARLESTON NAVAL COMPLEX...DANIEL ISLAND...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HIGH TIDE WILL INHIBIT RUNOFF OF HEAVY RAIN...FLOODING AREAS OF POOR
DRAINAGE IN DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON. AREAS MOST PRONE TO FLOODING INCLUDE
THE MARKET...CROSSTOWN...EAST BAY STREET AND MORRISON DRIVE.

TO REPORT FLOODING...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
CHARLESTON TOLL FREE AT 1-888-383-2024.

&&

LAT...LON 3276 7988 3278 7990 3276 7991 3275 7991
      3272 7998 3285 8005 3289 7993 3278 7985

$$
3 follow-up statements
719 
WGUS72 KCHS 111753
FFSCHS

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
153 PM EDT WED JUL 11 2012

SCC015-019-111915-
/O.CON.KCHS.FF.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120711T1915Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CHARLESTON SC-BERKELEY SC-
153 PM EDT WED JUL 11 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM EDT FOR
EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL BERKELEY AND CENTRAL CHARLESTON COUNTIES...

AT 150 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE AN AREA OF HEAVY RAIN CAPABLE OF PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING. 
THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON...MOVING NORTHEAST 
AT 5 MPH.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATED THAT AROUND 2 
INCHES OF RAIN HAD FALLEN THUS FAR ACROSS DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON. 
RAINFALL RATES HAD TEMPORARILY DIMINISHED...BUT ADDITIONAL 
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WILL MOVE OVER THE CITY THROUGH 315 PM. THIS
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING. 

FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED IN AND AROUND CHARLES TOWNE LANDING...
CHARLESTON NAVAL COMPLEX...DANIEL ISLAND...DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON...
JAMES ISLAND COUNTY PARK...MOUNT PLEASANT...NORTH CHARLESTON AND WEST
ASHLEY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HIGH TIDE WILL INHIBIT RUNOFF OF HEAVY RAIN...FLOODING AREAS OF POOR
DRAINAGE IN DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON. AREAS MOST PRONE TO FLOODING INCLUDE
THE MARKET...CROSSTOWN...EAST BAY STREET AND MORRISON DRIVE.

TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN CHARLESTON TOLL FREE AT 1-888-383-2024 OR EMAIL YOUR
REPORTS TO CHS.SKYWARN@NOAA.GOV. REPORTS CAN ALSO BE SENT THROUGH
TWITTER USING #WXREPORT.

&&

LAT...LON 3276 7988 3278 7990 3276 7991 3275 7991
      3272 7998 3285 8005 3289 7993 3278 7985

$$
185 
WGUS72 KCHS 111840
FFSCHS

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
240 PM EDT WED JUL 11 2012

SCC015-019-111915-
/O.CON.KCHS.FF.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120711T1915Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CHARLESTON SC-BERKELEY SC-
240 PM EDT WED JUL 11 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM EDT FOR
EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL BERKELEY AND CENTRAL CHARLESTON COUNTIES...

AT 236 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE AN AREA OF HEAVY RAIN CAPABLE OF PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING. 
THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
5 MPH.

DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES THAT 1.5 TO 2.5 INCHES OF RAIN HAD FALLEN 
THUS FAR ACROSS DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON AND SURROUNDING AREAS. STANDING 
WATER WAS REPORTED ON SEVERAL DOWNTOWN STREETS. RAINFALL RATES HAD 
ONCE AGAIN DIMINISHED...BUT ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED IN THE 
WARNING AREA BY 315 PM.  

FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED IN AND AROUND CHARLES TOWNE LANDING...
CHARLESTON NAVAL COMPLEX...DANIEL ISLAND...DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON...
JAMES ISLAND COUNTY PARK...MOUNT PLEASANT...NORTH CHARLESTON AND WEST
ASHLEY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HIGH TIDE WILL INHIBIT RUNOFF OF HEAVY RAIN...FLOODING AREAS OF POOR
DRAINAGE IN DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON. AREAS MOST PRONE TO FLOODING INCLUDE
THE MARKET...CROSSTOWN...EAST BAY STREET AND MORRISON DRIVE.

&&

LAT...LON 3276 7988 3278 7990 3276 7991 3275 7991
      3272 7998 3285 8005 3289 7993 3278 7985

$$
323 
WGUS72 KCHS 111909
FFSCHS

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
309 PM EDT WED JUL 11 2012

SCC015-019-111918-
/O.EXP.KCHS.FF.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120711T1915Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CHARLESTON SC-BERKELEY SC-
309 PM EDT WED JUL 11 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 315 PM EDT FOR FOR EXTREME
SOUTH CENTRAL BERKELEY AND CENTRAL CHARLESTON COUNTIES...

ALTHOUGH HEAVY RAIN AND THE THREAT FOR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING HAS 
ENDED...STANDING WATER WILL REMAIN ON SOME ROADS AND DRAINAGE 
SYSTEMS AND CULVERTS WILL REMAIN FULL. 

LAT...LON 3276 7988 3278 7990 3276 7991 3275 7991
      3272 7998 3285 8005 3289 7993 3278 7985

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Charleston, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 10, 8:18 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSColleton27 min
Jul 10, 9:21 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSAllendale24 min
Jul 10, 9:36 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSAllendale24 min
Jul 11, 12:31 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSCharleston59 min
Jul 11, 12:51 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSCharleston24 min
Jul 11, 12:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBerkeley, Charleston62 min
Jul 11, 1:03 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCHSBerkeley, Charleston87 min
Jul 11, 1:21 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSBeaufort39 min
Jul 11, 2:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBerkeley56 min
Jul 11, 2:14 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSBeaufort, Jasper31 min
Jul 11, 2:16 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSJasper29 min
Jul 11, 2:27 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSCharleston33 min
Jul 11, 2:48 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSHampton27 min
Jul 11, 3:18 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSBerkeley42 min
Jul 11, 3:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSCharleston, Colleton, Dorchester51 min
Jul 11, 3:53 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSColleton52 min
Jul 11, 3:59 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSHampton31 min
Jul 11, 4:05 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSColleton40 min
Jul 11, 4:14 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSDorchester46 min
Jul 11, 4:17 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSColleton58 min
Jul 11, 4:46 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBerkeley, Colleton, Dorchester41 min
Jul 11, 4:53 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSAllendale, Hampton67 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in South Carolina, 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.