Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 23, NWS Charleston, WV

July 18, 2012Ritchie County, Wirt County, Wood County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Jul 18, 2012, 4:18 PM EDT for Ritchie County, Wirt County, Wood County, West Virginia. 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
Jul 18, 2012, 4:18 PM EDT (20:18 UTC)
Expired
Jul 18, 2012, 7:15 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Ritchie County, WV, Wirt County, WV, Wood County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 96 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:20 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 18, 4:40 PM EDTHEAVY RAIN 2.3Elizabeth, WVIFLOWS GAUGE MEASURED OVER PAST HOUR.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 8.3 hours before the alert went out and 177 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.

515 
WGUS51 KRLX 182018
FFWRLX
WVC085-105-107-182315-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0023.120718T2018Z-120718T2315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
418 PM EDT WED JUL 18 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN RITCHIE COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA...
  NORTHERN WIRT COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF ELIZABETH...
  CENTRAL WOOD COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 715 PM EDT

* AT 415 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED   
VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE WARNED AREA. AUTOMATED 
RAIN GAUGES INDICATE 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN OVER THE PAST 
HOUR. THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO SLOWLY MOVE OVER THE AREA. AN 
ADDITIONAL INCH OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE IN THE NEXT HOUR. SLATE CREEK 
AND TUCKER CREEK ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  MACFARLAN...WALKER...GREENCASTLE AND FREEPORT.

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.

&&

PLEASE REPORT HIGH WATER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING
TOLL FREE...877-633-6772...WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

LAT...LON 3920 8136 3914 8133 3910 8117 3904 8116
      3903 8116 3902 8117 3905 8149 3920 8147

$$

30
2 follow-up statements
013 
WGUS71 KRLX 182240
FFSRLX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
640 PM EDT WED JUL 18 2012

WVC085-105-107-182315-
/O.CON.KRLX.FF.W.0023.000000T0000Z-120718T2315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
WIRT WV-WOOD WV-RITCHIE WV-
640 PM EDT WED JUL 18 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN RITCHIE...CENTRAL WOOD AND NORTHERN WIRT COUNTIES...

AT 634 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A 
LINE OF STRONG STORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN MOVING INTO THE WARNED AREA. 
RAINFALL AMOUNTS TO 1 INCH CAN BE EXPECTED. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO 
THE HEAVIER RAINS FROM EARLIER STORMS THIS AFTERNOON. THE MOST 
VULNERABLE CREEKS ARE SLATE AND TUCKER CREEKS. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO WALKER...
GREENCASTLE AND FREEPORT.

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.

TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR CAR ON FLOODED ROADWAYS.

PLEASE REPORT HIGH WATER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING
TOLL FREE 877-633-6772 WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT
WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEAST OHIO AND CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3920 8136 3914 8133 3910 8117 3904 8116
      3903 8116 3902 8117 3905 8149 3920 8147

$$

30
874 
WGUS71 KRLX 182309
FFSRLX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
709 PM EDT WED JUL 18 2012

WVC085-105-107-182319-
/O.EXP.KRLX.FF.W.0023.000000T0000Z-120718T2315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
WIRT WV-WOOD WV-RITCHIE WV-
709 PM EDT WED JUL 18 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 715 PM EDT FOR SOUTHWESTERN
RITCHIE...CENTRAL WOOD AND NORTHERN WIRT COUNTIES...

THE THREAT FOR FLASH FLOODING HAS ENDED. THEREFORE THE FLOOD WARNING 
HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. OCCASIONAL LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN CAN BE 
EXPECTED THE NEXT HOUR OR SO...BUT FLASH FLOODING IS ANTICIPATED.

TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR CAR ON FLOODED ROADWAYS.

PLEASE REPORT HIGH WATER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY CALLING
TOLL FREE 877-633-6772 WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT
WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEAST OHIO AND CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA.

LAT...LON 3920 8136 3914 8133 3910 8117 3904 8116
      3903 8116 3902 8117 3905 8149 3920 8147

$$

30

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 18, 4:40 AM EDTHeat AdvisoryRLXBoone, Cabell, Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Jackson and 12 more14 hr
Jul 18, 8:30 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXDoddridge3 hr
Jul 18, 11:43 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXWayne47 min
Jul 18, 12:00 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXRaleigh60 min
Jul 18, 12:01 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXRaleigh59 min
Jul 18, 1:01 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXMingo29 min
Jul 18, 1:33 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXMason87 min
Jul 18, 1:39 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXCabell81 min
Jul 18, 1:48 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXMcDowell, Wyoming42 min
Jul 18, 2:07 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXLogan, McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming53 min
Jul 18, 2:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXCabell, Mason, Putnam65 min
Jul 18, 2:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXRaleigh, Wyoming38 min
Jul 18, 2:40 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXJackson50 min
Jul 18, 3:24 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXRoane, Wirt, Wood51 min
Jul 18, 4:51 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXDoddridge39 min
Jul 18, 5:18 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXLewis42 min
Jul 18, 5:44 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBarbour, Harrison, Taylor46 min
Jul 18, 5:51 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXWebster39 min
Jul 18, 6:09 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXWood66 min
Jul 18, 6:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBarbour56 min
Jul 18, 6:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXBarbour, Randolph, Upshur50 min
Jul 18, 6:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXWirt, Wood25 min
Jul 18, 7:08 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXJackson52 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in West 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.