Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 24, NWS Charleston, WV

July 25, 2012Buchanan County, Virginia; McDowell County, West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Jul 25, 2012, 1:21 AM EDT for Buchanan County, Virginia; McDowell County, West Virginia. It was in force for 114 min. 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 25, 2012, 1:21 AM EDT (05:21 UTC)
Expired
Jul 25, 2012, 3:15 AM EDT
In force
114 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Buchanan County, VA, McDowell County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 122 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:20 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 00:00Z, 5.4 hours before the alert went out and 216 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, Roanoke, VA at 00:00Z on 2012-07-25Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Roanoke, VA at 00:00Z on 2012-07-25The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 176 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1058 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
176 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
234 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.

934 
WGUS51 KRLX 250521
FFWRLX
VAC027-WVC047-250715-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0024.120725T0521Z-120725T0715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
121 AM EDT WED JUL 25 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  BUCHANAN COUNTY IN VIRGINIA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF GRUNDY...
  WEST CENTRAL MCDOWELL COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 315 AM EDT

* AT 120 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM A THUNDERSTORM OVER THE WARNED AREA.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO BIG ROCK

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.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. MOVE
UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS
SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

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 3708 8202 3734 8226 3752 8201 3752 8199
      3722 8174 3720 8176 3718 8181 3717 8186
      3714 8188 3713 8192 3712 8200

$$

26
2 follow-up statements
338 
WGUS71 KRLX 250625
FFSRLX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
225 AM EDT WED JUL 25 2012

WVC047-250629-
/O.CAN.KRLX.FF.W.0024.000000T0000Z-120725T0715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
MCDOWELL WV-
225 AM EDT WED JUL 25 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR WEST CENTRAL
MCDOWELL COUNTY...

HEAVY RAIN HAS MOVED OUT OF THE COUNTY.

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

LAT...LON 3734 8226 3752 8199 3749 8197 3747 8200
      3744 8194 3735 8192 3732 8186 3729 8185
      3729 8179 3722 8174 3720 8176 3717 8186
      3714 8188 3712 8200 3709 8203

$$

VAC027-250715-
/O.CON.KRLX.FF.W.0024.000000T0000Z-120725T0715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BUCHANAN VA-
225 AM EDT WED JUL 25 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 AM EDT FOR 
BUCHANAN COUNTY...

EARLIER THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE AND A HALF TO 
TWO AND A HALF INCHES IN ONE HOUR.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO BIG ROCK AND 
GRUNDY.

ALTHOUGH THE HEAVIEST RAIN HAS MOVED OUT OF THE COUNTY...AREA CREEKS 
AND STREAMS ARE EITHER STILL ON THE RISE OR REMAIN ELEVATED. 
ADDITIONAL SHOWERS OF LIGHT INTENSITY WILL MOVE CONTINUE TO MOVE 
THROUGH THE AREA OVER THE NEXT HOUR. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 
ONE QUARTER INCH OR LESS CAN BE EXPECTED.

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.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. MOVE
UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS
SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3734 8226 3752 8199 3749 8197 3747 8200
      3744 8194 3735 8192 3732 8186 3729 8185
      3729 8179 3722 8174 3720 8176 3717 8186
      3714 8188 3712 8200 3709 8203

$$

26
916 
WGUS71 KRLX 250715
FFSRLX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
315 AM EDT WED JUL 25 2012

VAC027-250721-
/O.EXP.KRLX.FF.W.0024.000000T0000Z-120725T0715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BUCHANAN VA-
315 AM EDT WED JUL 25 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 315 AM EDT FOR BUCHANAN
COUNTY...

THE HEAVIEST RAIN HAS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA...AND THEREFORE...THE 
FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. HOWEVER...ADDITIONAL 
RAINFALL WILL STILL BE POSSIBLE...WITH A FEW SHOWERS AND 
THUNDERSTORMS STILL IN THE AREA. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS ARE 
EXPECTED TO BE ONE QUARTER INCH OR LESS.

AREA CREEKS AND STREAMS MAY REMAIN ELEVATED FOR A FEW HOURS.

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.

LAT...LON 3734 8226 3752 8199 3749 8197 3747 8200
      3744 8194 3735 8192 3732 8186 3729 8185
      3729 8179 3722 8174 3720 8176 3717 8186
      3714 8188 3712 8200 3709 8203

$$

26

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 25, 4:44 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBuchanan31 min
Jul 25, 5:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBuchanan28 min
Jul 25, 5:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBuchanan29 min
Jul 25, 1:59 PM EDTHeat AdvisoryRLXBoone, Cabell, Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison and 15 more30 hr

Nearby

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