Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 29, NWS Charleston, WV

July 31, 2012McDowell County, Wyoming County, West Virginia; Buchanan County, Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Jul 31, 2012, 5:04 PM EDT for McDowell County, Wyoming County, West Virginia; Buchanan 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
Jul 31, 2012, 5:04 PM EDT (21:04 UTC)
Expired
Jul 31, 2012, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Buchanan County, VA, McDowell County, WV, Wyoming County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 92 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:06 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 31, 6:10 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 N Hurley, VAGUESSES FORK ROAD CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER FLOWING OVER IT IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS.
Jul 31, 6:10 PM EDTFLASH FLOODHurley, VAWIDESPREAD FLOODING THROUGHOUT THE TOWN OF HURLEY AND GUESS FORK AREA.
Jul 31, 6:15 PM EDTFLASH FLOODAvondale, WVWATER REPORTED OVER A COUNTY ROAD WITH PART OF THE ROAD WASHED AWAY.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 210 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 12:00Z on 2012-07-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 384 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, Roanoke, VA at 12:00Z on 2012-07-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 7 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
384 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-68 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
804 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
7 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
36 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.

776 
WGUS51 KRLX 312104
FFWRLX
VAC027-WVC047-109-010000-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0029.120731T2104Z-120801T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
504 PM EDT TUE JUL 31 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTH CENTRAL BUCHANAN COUNTY IN VIRGINIA...
  NORTHERN MCDOWELL COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF WELCH...
  SOUTHERN WYOMING COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 800 PM EDT

* AT 457 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED   
FLASH FLOODING FROM VERY SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE WARNED 
AREA.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO HANOVER AND
  NORTHFORK

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.

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. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3738 8218 3751 8202 3753 8195 3751 8194
      3751 8193 3755 8186 3756 8185 3759 8179
      3750 8130 3735 8138

$$

05
3 follow-up statements
886 
WGUS71 KRLX 312158
FFSRLX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
558 PM EDT TUE JUL 31 2012

VAC027-WVC047-109-010000-
/O.CON.KRLX.FF.W.0029.000000T0000Z-120801T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BUCHANAN VA-MCDOWELL WV-WYOMING WV-
558 PM EDT TUE JUL 31 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHERN WYOMING...NORTHERN MCDOWELL AND NORTH CENTRAL BUCHANAN
COUNTIES...

AT 549 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE NEARLY STATIONARY THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING 
OVER THE WARNED AREA. RADAR RAINFALL ESTIMATES UP TO 3 INCHES WERE 
INDICATED WITHIN PARTS OF THE WARNED AREA OVER THE LAST 2 HOURS. THE 
HARDEST HIT AREA IS EXTREME NORTHERN BUCHANAN COUNTY IN VIRGINIA 
WHERE RAINFALL ESTIMATES UP TO 5 INCHES OVER THE LAST 2 HOURS WERE 
INDICATED. THE RAINS WILL CONTINUE FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT HOUR...AND 
ALTHOUGH NO REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED SO FAR...FLOODING IS VERY 
LIKELY.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO HANOVER

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.

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. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

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 3738 8218 3751 8202 3753 8195 3751 8194
      3751 8193 3755 8186 3756 8185 3759 8179
      3750 8130 3735 8138

$$

05
699 
WGUS71 KRLX 312330
FFSRLX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
730 PM EDT TUE JUL 31 2012

VAC027-WVC047-109-010000-
/O.CON.KRLX.FF.W.0029.000000T0000Z-120801T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BUCHANAN VA-MCDOWELL WV-WYOMING WV-
730 PM EDT TUE JUL 31 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHERN WYOMING...NORTHERN MCDOWELL AND NORTH CENTRAL BUCHANAN
COUNTIES...

AT 720 PM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED FLASH 
FLOODING OVER THE WARNED AREA. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FLOODING WAS 
REPORTED AROUND HURLEY IN BUCHANAN COUNTY AND AROUND AVONDALE IN 
MCDOWELL COUNTY...WHERE RADAR ESTIMATES GENERALLY 2 TO 5 INCHES OF 
RAIN HAD FALLEN SO FAR. THE HEAVY RAINS HAVE ENDED...BUT LIGHT TO 
MODERATE SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THRU 8 PM. 

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.

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. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

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 3738 8218 3751 8202 3753 8195 3751 8194
      3751 8193 3755 8186 3756 8185 3759 8179
      3750 8130 3735 8138

$$

05
065 
WGUS71 KRLX 312358
FFSRLX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
758 PM EDT TUE JUL 31 2012

VAC027-WVC047-109-010001-
/O.EXP.KRLX.FF.W.0029.000000T0000Z-120801T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BUCHANAN VA-MCDOWELL WV-WYOMING WV-
758 PM EDT TUE JUL 31 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 800 PM EDT FOR SOUTHERN
WYOMING...NORTHERN MCDOWELL AND NORTH CENTRAL BUCHANAN COUNTIES...

HEAVY RAIN HAS ENDED...AND THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING THAT WAS IN 
EFFECT HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. FLOODING HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH 
THE HEAVY RAINS THAT FELL EARLIER...BUT WITH STREAMS AND CREEKS 
SLOWLY RECEDING...CONDITIONS WILL SLOWLY IMPROVE THIS EVENING AS THE 
RAIN ENDS. NEVERTHELESS..PERSONS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS 
OF HIGH WATER THIS EVENING. 

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 3738 8218 3751 8202 3753 8195 3751 8194
      3751 8193 3755 8186 3756 8185 3759 8179
      3750 8130 3735 8138

$$

05

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 30, 8:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXRoane35 min
Jul 30, 8:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXPocahontas45 min
Jul 30, 8:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXMcDowell42 min
Jul 31, 1:00 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXRandolph60 min
Jul 31, 2:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXFayette49 min
Jul 31, 2:20 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXWebster40 min
Jul 31, 2:31 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXRaleigh59 min
Jul 31, 3:08 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXNicholas67 min
Jul 31, 3:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXPocahontas28 min
Jul 31, 3:43 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXFayette47 min
Jul 31, 4:18 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXMcDowell, Wyoming57 min
Jul 31, 4:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXMcDowell, Wyoming23 min
Jul 31, 4:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXFayette32 min
Jul 31, 4:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXFayette, Kanawha43 min
Jul 31, 4:44 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXMcDowell, Wyoming46 min
Jul 31, 5:07 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXFayette, Kanawha, Raleigh113 min
Jul 31, 5:53 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBraxton, Nicholas, Webster2 hr
Jul 31, 6:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBoone28 min
Jul 31, 7:24 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXRandolph111 min
Jul 31, 7:58 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXDickenson2 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in West Virginia, 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.