Alert archive / Tennessee / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 16, NWS Morristown, TN

August 5, 20125 counties in Tennessee; Washington County, Virginia

NWS Morristown, TN issued this flash flood warning at Aug 5, 2012, 6:24 PM EDT for 5 counties in Tennessee; Washington County, Virginia. It was in force for 3 hr. 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
Aug 5, 2012, 6:24 PM EDT (22:24 UTC)
Expired
Aug 5, 2012, 9:15 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Morristown, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Carter County, TN, Johnson County, TN, Sullivan County, TN, Unicoi County, TN, Washington County, TN, Washington County, VA

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 146 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:28 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 5, 6:55 PM EDTFLASH FLOODErwin, TNPORTIONS OF HIGHWAY 81 CLOSED.
Aug 5, 7:00 PM EDTFLASH FLOODJohnson City, TNMANY CITY ROADS IN JOHNSON CITY ARE IMPASSABLE.
Aug 5, 8:10 PM EDTFLASH FLOODElizabethton, TNROADS CLOSED IN ELIZABETHTON AND FLOODING REPORTED COUNTY WIDE.

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, 10.4 hours before the alert went out and 178 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 2012-08-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 33 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 2012-08-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -77 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
33 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-85 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1026 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
5 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-77 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-50 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.

617 
WGUS54 KMRX 052224
FFWMRX
TNC019-091-163-171-179-VAC191-060115-
/O.NEW.KMRX.FF.W.0016.120805T2224Z-120806T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
624 PM EDT SUN AUG 5 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MORRISTOWN HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  CARTER COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF ELIZABETHTON...
  JOHNSON COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF MOUNTAIN CITY...
  SULLIVAN COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
  UNICOI COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF ERWIN...
  WASHINGTON COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF JOHNSON CITY...
  EXTREME EASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 915 PM EDT

* AT 618 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  FLASH FLOODING FROM THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7    
  MILES NORTHEAST OF MOUNTAIN CITY TO JONESBOROUGH...MOVING EAST AT  
  5 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO      
  HAMPTON...ERWIN...AND ELIZABETHTON.

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.

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.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3659 8167 3657 8167 3653 8170 3647 8169
      3645 8171 3642 8172 3607 8248 3638 8251
      3668 8163 3662 8160

$$

DGS
2 follow-up statements
587 
WGUS74 KMRX 052314
FFSMRX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
714 PM EDT SUN AUG 5 2012

TNC019-091-163-171-179-VAC191-060115-
/O.CON.KMRX.FF.W.0016.000000T0000Z-120806T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
SULLIVAN TN-UNICOI TN-WASHINGTON TN-JOHNSON TN-WASHINGTON VA-
CARTER TN-
714 PM EDT SUN AUG 5 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM EDT FOR
CARTER...EXTREME EASTERN WASHINGTON...JOHNSON...WASHINGTON...UNICOI
AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES...

AT 707 PM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED NUMEROUS 
ROADS CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING IN UNICOI AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES. 
HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE WARNED AREA THROUGH 
800 PM...WITH AN ADDITIONAL INCH OF RAIN EXPECTED IN SOME LOCATIONS. 
CREEKS AND STREAMS WILL CONTINUE TO RISE...AND ROAD FLOODING WILL 
MAKE TRAVEL HAZARDOUS.

LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY FLOODING INCLUDE JOHNSON 
CITY...ERWIN...ELIZABETHTON...HAMPTON...AND MOUNTAIN 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.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3659 8167 3657 8167 3653 8170 3647 8169
      3645 8171 3642 8172 3607 8248 3638 8251
      3668 8163 3662 8160

$$

DGS
040 
WGUS74 KMRX 060017
FFSMRX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
817 PM EDT SUN AUG 5 2012

TNC019-091-163-171-179-VAC191-060115-
/O.CON.KMRX.FF.W.0016.000000T0000Z-120806T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
SULLIVAN TN-UNICOI TN-WASHINGTON TN-JOHNSON TN-WASHINGTON VA-
CARTER TN-
817 PM EDT SUN AUG 5 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM EDT FOR
CARTER...EXTREME EASTERN WASHINGTON...JOHNSON...WASHINGTON...UNICOI
AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES...

AT 806 PM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED EXTENSIVE 
FLOODING OVER THE WARNED AREA. NUMEROUS ROADS HAVE BEEN CLOSED DUE 
TO FLOODING IN WASHINGTON...CARTER...AND UNICOI COUNTIES. ALTHOUGH 
THE HEAVY RAIN HAS ENDED...RIVERS...CREEKS AND STREAMS WILL CONTINUE 
TO RISE FROM RUNOFF...AND LOW LYING SPOTS OF ROADS WILL REMAIN 
IMPASSABLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3659 8167 3657 8167 3653 8170 3647 8169
      3645 8171 3642 8172 3607 8248 3638 8251
      3668 8163 3662 8160

$$
DGS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Morristown, TN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 5, 3:38 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMRXScott91 min
Aug 5, 4:47 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMRXCocke, Jefferson, Sevier118 min
Aug 5, 5:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXCocke, Greene28 min
Aug 5, 5:14 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMRXBlount, Monroe43 min
Aug 5, 5:56 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningMRXBlount, Monroe3 hr
Aug 5, 6:05 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMRXCarter, Greene, Sullivan, Washington115 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Tennessee, 2012Flash Flood Warnings in Virginia, 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.