Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 8, NWS Pittsburgh, PA

July 18, 20124 counties in West Virginia; Greene County, Pennsylvania

NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued this flash flood warning at Jul 18, 2012, 5:32 PM EDT for 4 counties in West Virginia; Greene County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 4 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jul 18, 2012, 5:32 PM EDT (21:32 UTC)
Expired
Jul 18, 2012, 9:30 PM EDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Pittsburgh, PA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Greene County, PA, Marion County, WV, Marshall County, WV, Monongalia County, WV, Wetzel County, WV

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 116 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:34 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 107 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 12:00Z on 2012-07-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1936 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 12:00Z on 2012-07-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 28 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
1936 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-84 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1073 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
28 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
42 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.

720 
WGUS51 KPBZ 182132
FFWPBZ
PAC059-WVC049-051-061-103-190130-
/O.NEW.KPBZ.FF.W.0008.120718T2132Z-120719T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
532 PM EDT WED JUL 18 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PITTSBURGH HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN GREENE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...
  NORTHWESTERN MONONGALIA COUNTY IN NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...
  SOUTHERN MARSHALL COUNTY IN NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...
  WESTERN MARION COUNTY IN NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...
  WETZEL COUNTY IN NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 930 PM EDT

* AT 525 PM EDT...VERY HEAVY RAIN CONTINUED OVER PARTS OF THE WARNED 
AREA. DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT OVER 2 INCHES OF RAIN HAS ALREADY 
OCCURRED. ANOTHER AREA OF HEAVY RAIN WAS LOCATED OVER EAST-CENTRAL 
OHIO AND WILL BE MOVING INTO THE WARNED AREA BY ABOUT 615 PM. THE 
THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING SLOWLY TO THE SOUTHEAST ABOUT 15 MPH.

BE ALERT FOR VERY RAPIDLY RISING WATER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD. FLOOD WATER IS USUALLY DEEPER THAN
IT APPEARS...AND ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO
SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...
DONT DROWN.

PLEASE REPORT HIGH WATER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING
TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772.

LAT...LON 3945 8058 3944 8061 3946 8065 3947 8071
      3955 8079 3955 8083 3959 8086 3959 8087
      3992 8075 3977 8016 3943 8026 3946 8049
      3943 8052 3943 8055

$$
2 follow-up statements
169 
WGUS71 KPBZ 182241
FFSPBZ

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
641 PM EDT WED JUL 18 2012

PAC059-WVC049-051-061-103-190130-
/O.CON.KPBZ.FF.W.0008.000000T0000Z-120719T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
GREENE PA-MONONGALIA WV-MARSHALL WV-MARION WV-WETZEL WV-
641 PM EDT WED JUL 18 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 930 PM EDT FOR
WETZEL...MARION...MARSHALL...MONONGALIA AND GREENE COUNTIES...

AT 626 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THE 
EARLIER THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN HAVE EXITED SOUTH INTO CENTRAL 
WEST VIRGINIA. HOWEVER, BEWARE OF CONTINUED RUNOFF WHICH CAN STILL 
CAUSE SMALL STREAMS TO GO OUT OF THEIR BANKS. ALSO, RADAR SHOWED NEW 
THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN OVER EASTERN OHIO WEST STEUBENVILLE, 
WHICH WERE MOVING SLOWLY SOUTH. ITS POSSIBLE THESE STORMS CAN BRING 
ADDED RAINFALL BEFORE 8 PM. 

SOME STREAMS THAT COULD GO OUT OF THEIR BANKS...AND CAUSE FLOODING 
OF LOW LYING SPOTS ON ROADS...AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS...INCLUDE...

IN WETZEL COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA...
INCLUDE FISHING CREEK, RICHWOOD RUN, AND WILEY FORK.

IN MARSHALL COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA...
SPEAKEASY HOLLOW AND HOT HOLLOW.

IN MARION COUNTY AND MONONGAHELA COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA...
DENTS RUNS AND BUFFALO CREEK. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD. FLOOD WATER IS USUALLY DEEPER THAN
IT APPEARS...AND ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO
SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN 
AROUND...DONT DROWN.

PLEASE REPORT HIGH WATER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING
TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT
WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR WESTERN MARYLAND AND EAST CENTRAL OHIO AND
SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3945 8058 3944 8061 3946 8065 3947 8071
      3955 8079 3955 8083 3959 8086 3959 8087
      3992 8075 3977 8016 3943 8026 3946 8049
      3943 8052 3943 8055

$$
285 
WGUS71 KPBZ 190037
FFSPBZ

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
837 PM EDT WED JUL 18 2012

PAC059-WVC049-051-061-103-190130-
/O.CON.KPBZ.FF.W.0008.000000T0000Z-120719T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
GREENE PA-MONONGALIA WV-MARSHALL WV-MARION WV-WETZEL WV-
837 PM EDT WED JUL 18 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 930 PM EDT FOR
WETZEL...MARION...MARSHALL...MONONGALIA AND GREENE COUNTIES...

AT 830 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED LITTLE 
MORE THAN LIGHT SHOWERS AFFECTING THE AREA THE REST OF THE EVENING.  
HOWEVER, RUNOFF FROM THE PREVIOUS HEAVY RAIN CAN STILL CAUSE SMALL 
STREAMS TO GO OUT OF THEIR BANKS. 

SOME STREAMS THAT STILL CAN GO OUT OF THEIR BANKS...AND CAUSE 
FLOODING OF LOW LYING SPOTS ON ROADS...AND POOR DRAINAGE 
AREAS...INCLUDE...

IN WETZEL COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA...
INCLUDE FISHING CREEK, RICHWOOD RUN, AND WILEY FORK.

IN MARSHALL COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA...
SPEAKEASY HOLLOW AND HOT HOLLOW.

IN MARION COUNTY AND MONONGAHELA COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA...DENTS RUNS 
AND BUFFALO CREEK. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS NOW THAT ITS GOTTEN DARK AND HARDER TO RECOGNIZE 
THE DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED...MOVE QUICKLY TO 
HIGHER GROUND.

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD. FLOOD WATER IS USUALLY DEEPER THAN
IT APPEARS...AND ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO
SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...
DONT DROWN.

PLEASE REPORT HIGH WATER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING
TOLL FREE...1-877-633-6772.

&&

LAT...LON 3945 8058 3944 8061 3946 8065 3947 8071
      3955 8079 3955 8083 3959 8086 3959 8087
      3992 8075 3977 8016 3943 8026 3946 8049
      3943 8052 3943 8055

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Pittsburgh, PA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 18, 12:39 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZHancock36 min
Jul 18, 1:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZHancock60 min
Jul 18, 1:48 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPBZHancock6 hr
Jul 18, 1:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZBrooke, Hancock66 min
Jul 18, 3:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZMarshall, Ohio38 min
Jul 18, 3:50 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZMonongalia40 min
Jul 18, 3:56 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZMarion, Monongalia, Preston, Wetzel49 min
Jul 18, 4:16 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZMarshall, Monongalia, Wetzel29 min
Jul 18, 4:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZBrooke, Hancock55 min
Jul 18, 4:47 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZMarshall43 min
Jul 18, 4:49 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPBZMarion, Marshall, Monongalia, Wetzel3 hr
Jul 18, 5:03 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZMarion, Marshall, Monongalia, Wetzel57 min
Jul 18, 5:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZBrooke, Ohio51 min
Jul 18, 7:00 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZHancock30 min
Jul 18, 10:19 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZArmstrong, Clarion, Indiana, Jefferson56 min
Jul 18, 11:56 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZIndiana64 min
Jul 18, 1:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZBeaver, Butler, Lawrence62 min
Jul 18, 1:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZClarion, Jefferson65 min
Jul 18, 1:42 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZAllegheny63 min
Jul 18, 2:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZAllegheny, Fayette, Washington, Westmoreland58 min
Jul 18, 2:10 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZButler50 min
Jul 18, 2:21 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPBZAllegheny3 hr
Jul 18, 2:24 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZAllegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Westmoreland66 min
Jul 18, 2:48 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZFayette57 min
Jul 18, 2:56 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZArmstrong, Fayette, Indiana, Westmoreland64 min
Jul 18, 3:05 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPBZFayette3 hr
Jul 18, 3:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZIndiana, Westmoreland23 min
Jul 18, 3:42 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPBZFayette2 hr
Jul 18, 4:04 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZLawrence56 min
Jul 18, 5:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPBZGreene, Washington24 min
Jul 18, 5:56 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementPBZGreene34 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in West Virginia, 2012Flash Flood Warnings in Pennsylvania, 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.