Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 10, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

July 21, 20124 counties in North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this flash flood warning at Jul 21, 2012, 6:36 PM EDT for 4 counties in North Carolina. It was in force for 105 min. 3 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 21, 2012, 6:36 PM EDT (22:36 UTC)
Expired
Jul 21, 2012, 8:21 PM EDT
In force
105 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Alexander County, NC, Burke County, NC, Caldwell County, NC, Catawba County, NC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 130 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:39 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 21, 7:00 PM EDTFLASH FLOODLongview, NCFIRE DEPT REPORTS FLOODING OF AN APARTMENT COMPLEX ON 18TH ST IN LONGVIEW.
Jul 21, 7:15 PM EDTHEAVY RAIN 3.942 W Hickory, NCMEASURED AT HICKORY REGIONAL AIRPORT SINCE 453 PM.
Jul 21, 7:30 PM EDTHEAVY RAIN 4.383 W Hickory, NC4.38 INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN A 2 HOUR PERIOD JUST EAST OF THE HICKORY AIRPORT ON SIXTH AVENUE NORTHWEST.

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, 10.6 hours before the alert went out and 131 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 2012-07-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 679 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 2012-07-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 49 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
679 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-73 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
870 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
49 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
69 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.

421 
WGUS52 KGSP 212236
FFWGSP
NCC003-023-027-035-220130-
/O.NEW.KGSP.FF.W.0010.120721T2236Z-120722T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
636 PM EDT SAT JUL 21 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  EAST CENTRAL BURKE COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
  NORTHWESTERN CATAWBA COUNTY IN THE PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA...
  SOUTHEASTERN CALDWELL COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
  SOUTHWESTERN ALEXANDER COUNTY IN THE PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA...

* UNTIL 930 PM EDT

* AT 634 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A 
SERIES OF THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING TORRENTIAL RAINFALL ACROSS THE 
WARNED AREA...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE 
PRODUCING RAINFALL AT RATES IN EXCESS OF TWO INCHES PER HOUR...AND 
RADAR INDICATED THAT 2 TO 3 INCHES HAS ALREADY FALLEN IN PARTS OF 
THE LONGVIEW TO HICKORY AREA. THIS HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CONTINUE 
THROUGH 730 PM.

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO   
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...  
HICKORY...BETHLEHEM...CONNELLY SPRINGS...GRANITE FALLS...ICARD...  
LAKE HICKORY...LAKE RHODHISS...LONGVIEW...RUTHERFORD COLLEGE AND   
ST. STEPHENS.

FLOODING IS MOST LIKELY ALONG HENRY FORK...DROWNING CREEK...AND 
NEARBY TRIBUTARIES. SEVERE STREET FLOODING IS LIKELY FROM HILDEBRAN 
TO LONGVIEW TO HICKORY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

TO REPORT HIGH WATER...FLOODING...MUDSLIDES...LANDSLIDES OR OTHER
SEVERE WEATHER THROUGH OUR AUTOMATED REPORTING SYSTEM...CALL OUR TOLL
FREE NUMBER... 1 8 7 7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2.

&&

LAT...LON 3589 8121 3584 8118 3582 8118 3574 8119
      3569 8126 3566 8140 3568 8152 3578 8154
      3582 8141 3586 8134

$$

HG
2 follow-up statements
646 
WGUS72 KGSP 212345
FFSGSP

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
745 PM EDT SAT JUL 21 2012

NCC003-212353-
/O.CAN.KGSP.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-120722T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ALEXANDER NC-
745 PM EDT SAT JUL 21 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN
ALEXANDER COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAIN HAS ENDED OVER THE EXTREME SOUTHWEST PART OF 
ALEXANDER COUNTY. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN COULD FALL AGAIN LATER THIS 
EVENING WITH ANY PASSING THUNDERSTORMS...BUT FLASH FLOODING IS NOT 
EXPECTED IN ALEXANDER COUNTY AT THIS TIME.

LAT...LON 3580 8133 3581 8124 3577 8123 3573 8124
      3568 8128 3566 8140 3568 8152 3578 8154
      3582 8141 3583 8134

$$

NCC023-027-035-220130-
/O.CON.KGSP.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-120722T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CATAWBA NC-CALDWELL NC-BURKE NC-
745 PM EDT SAT JUL 21 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EAST CENTRAL BURKE...
SOUTHEASTERN CALDWELL AND NORTHWESTERN CATAWBA COUNTIES UNTIL 930 PM
EDT...

AT 738 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THAT THE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE GREATER HICKORY AREA HAD 
DIMINISHED IN INTENSITY AND COVERAGE...HOWEVER...LIGHT TO MODERATE 
RAIN PERSISTS AND ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS COULD REDEVELOP FROM THE 
WEST THIS EVENING.

RADAR AND RAIN GAGE DATA INDICATE THAT ABOUT FOUR INCHES OF RAIN 
FELL AT SOME LOCATIONS IN THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING OVER THE PAST 
THREE HOURS. HARDEST HIT WERE THE ICARD...LONGVIEW...AND HICKORY 
COMMUNITIES. FLOODING HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED ON 18TH STREET AND 
LONGVIEW ROAD. RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL MAY CAUSE 
ADDITIONAL FLASH FLOODING TO OCCUR OVER THE NEXT HOUR. 

SOME LOCATIONS THAT MAY EXPERIENCE FLASH FLOODING 
INCLUDE...HICKORY...CONNELLY SPRINGS...GRANITE 
FALLS...ICARD...LONGVIEW...RUTHERFORD COLLEGE AND ST. STEPHENS. 
FLOODING WILL ALSO LIKELY DEVELOP ALONG HENRY FORK...DROWNING 
CREEK...LONGVIEW CREEK...AND NEARBY TRIBUTARIES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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. TURN AROUND AND FIND ANOTHER ROUTE.

&&

LAT...LON 3580 8133 3581 8124 3577 8123 3573 8124
      3568 8128 3566 8140 3568 8152 3578 8154
      3582 8141 3583 8134

$$

HG
283 
WGUS72 KGSP 220021
FFSGSP

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
821 PM EDT SAT JUL 21 2012

NCC023-027-035-220036-
/O.CAN.KGSP.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-120722T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CATAWBA NC-CALDWELL NC-BURKE NC-
821 PM EDT SAT JUL 21 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR EAST CENTRAL
BURKE...SOUTHEASTERN CALDWELL AND NORTHWESTERN CATAWBA COUNTIES IS
CANCELLED...

EXCESS RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAIN HAS ENDED OVER THE WARNED AREA. STREAMS
AND CREEKS IN THE WARNED AREA HAVE RECEDED OR WERE BEGINNING TO
RECEDE...ENDING THE FLOOD THREAT. IF FLOODING HAS BEEN OBSERVED...
PLEASE REPORT IT TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

LAT...LON 3580 8133 3581 8124 3577 8123 3573 8124
      3568 8128 3566 8140 3568 8152 3578 8154
      3582 8141 3583 8134

$$

HG

The office that day

Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 20, 11:42 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPAvery, Madison, Mitchell, Yancey93 min
Jul 21, 2:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPMcDowell29 min
Jul 21, 3:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPSwain33 min
Jul 21, 3:38 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPDavie37 min
Jul 21, 4:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPHaywood33 min
Jul 21, 4:43 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPBuncombe32 min
Jul 21, 5:09 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPRutherford36 min
Jul 21, 5:41 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCatawba34 min
Jul 21, 5:43 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPUnion47 min
Jul 21, 5:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPUnion21 min
Jul 21, 5:58 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPBurke32 min
Jul 21, 6:08 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPIredell37 min
Jul 21, 6:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPAlexander, Catawba, Iredell61 min
Jul 21, 6:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCatawba26 min
Jul 21, 6:26 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPAlexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Iredell2 hr
Jul 21, 6:29 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPIredell31 min
Jul 21, 6:50 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCaldwell25 min
Jul 21, 6:57 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPIredell73 min
Jul 21, 7:11 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPIredell60 min
Jul 21, 7:16 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPDavie29 min
Jul 21, 7:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPDavie26 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in North 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.