Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 7, NWS Charleston, WV

March 15, 20124 counties in West Virginia

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at Mar 15, 2012, 10:51 AM EDT for 4 counties in West Virginia. It was in force for 4 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
Mar 15, 2012, 10:51 AM EDT (14:51 UTC)
Expired
Mar 15, 2012, 2:45 PM EDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Logan County, WV, McDowell County, WV, Mingo County, WV, Wyoming County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 88 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 14:51 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
Mar 15, 1:00 PM EDTFLASH FLOODGilbert Creek, WVGILBERT CREEK AHD BING CREEK ARE OUT OF THEIR BANKS.

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, 2.9 hours before the alert went out and 219 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 2012-03-15Temperature 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 12:00Z on 2012-03-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 32 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1558 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
15 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
32 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
57 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.

028 
WGUS51 KRLX 151451
FFWRLX
WVC045-047-059-109-151645-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0007.120315T1451Z-120315T1645Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
1051 AM EDT THU MAR 15 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN LOGAN COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA...
  NORTHWESTERN MCDOWELL COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA...
  SOUTHEASTERN MINGO COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA...
  NORTHWESTERN WYOMING COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 1245 PM EDT

* AT 1048 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 OCEANA...
  MAN AND MALLORY

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF THREE-QUARTERS OF AN INCH TO AN INCH 
ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA.

FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS IMMINENT. MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR
IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER COVERED BRIDGES...
DIPS...OR LOW WATER CROSSINGS. NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...
EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON FOOT. TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER
GROUND.

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

&&

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

LAT...LON 3743 8194 3744 8194 3748 8200 3749 8195
      3753 8195 3754 8198 3753 8205 3755 8208
      3756 8212 3768 8210 3782 8173 3763 8153
      3741 8192

$$
3 follow-up statements
296 
WGUS71 KRLX 151557
FFSRLX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
1157 AM EDT THU MAR 15 2012

WVC045-047-059-109-151645-
/O.CON.KRLX.FF.W.0007.000000T0000Z-120315T1645Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
MINGO WV-MCDOWELL WV-LOGAN WV-WYOMING WV-
1157 AM EDT THU MAR 15 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1245 PM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN WYOMING...SOUTHEASTERN LOGAN...NORTHWESTERN MCDOWELL AND
SOUTHEASTERN MINGO COUNTIES...

AT 1154 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN OVER 
THE WARNED AREA.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO HINCH...
HANOVER...R.D. BAILEY LAKE...OCEANA...MAN...MALLORY AND GILBERT CREEK

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF QUARTER TO HALF AN INCH ARE POSSIBLE 
IN THE WARNED AREA OVER THE NEXT HOUR.

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 UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF
RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE.

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

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 3743 8194 3744 8194 3748 8200 3749 8195
      3753 8195 3754 8198 3753 8205 3755 8208
      3756 8212 3768 8210 3782 8173 3763 8153
      3741 8192

$$
551 
WGUS51 KRLX 151640
FFWRLX
WVC045-047-059-109-151845-
/O.EXT.KRLX.FF.W.0007.000000T0000Z-120315T1845Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
1240 PM EDT THU MAR 15 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS EXTENDED THE

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN LOGAN COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA...
  NORTHWESTERN MCDOWELL COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA...
  SOUTHEASTERN MINGO COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA...
  NORTHWESTERN WYOMING COUNTY IN WEST VIRGINIA...

* UNTIL 245 PM EDT

* AT 1236 PM EDT...VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS REPORTED FROM A THUNDERSTORM
  OVER THE WARNED AREA.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO HINCH...
  HANOVER...R.D. BAILEY LAKE...OCEANA...MAN...MALLORY AND GILBERT
  CREEK

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF A QUARTER TO HALF AN INCH ARE 
POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA OVER THE NEXT HOUR. HOWEVER...ADDITIONAL 
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE REGION LATER THIS 
AFTERNOON.

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 UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF
RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE.

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

&&

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

LAT...LON 3743 8194 3744 8194 3748 8200 3749 8195
      3753 8195 3754 8198 3753 8205 3755 8208
      3756 8212 3768 8210 3782 8173 3763 8153
      3741 8192

$$
712 
WGUS71 KRLX 151843
FFSRLX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
243 PM EDT THU MAR 15 2012

WVC045-047-059-109-151847-
/O.EXP.KRLX.FF.W.0007.000000T0000Z-120315T1845Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
MINGO WV-MCDOWELL WV-LOGAN WV-WYOMING WV-
243 PM EDT THU MAR 15 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 245 PM EDT FOR NORTHWESTERN
WYOMING...SOUTHEASTERN LOGAN...NORTHWESTERN MCDOWELL AND SOUTHEASTERN
MINGO COUNTIES...

WHILE THE HEAVIEST RAIN HAS MOVED SOUTH OF THE WARNED AREA...LIGHT 
RAIN IS FORECAST TO CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. WITH THE 
HEAVIEST RAIN OUT OF THE AREA...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING THAT WAS IN 
EFFECT HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. 

IN ADDITION TO THE LIGHT RAIN IN THE AREA...THUNDERSTORMS MAY 
RE-DEVELOP LATER IN THE AFTERNOON AND DRIFT OVER ALREADY SATURATED 
SOILS. RUNOFF MAY CONTINUE TO CAUSE HIGH WATER PROBLEMS IN THE 
TYPICAL LOW SPOTS IN THE TERRAIN.

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 3743 8194 3744 8194 3748 8200 3749 8195
      3753 8195 3754 8198 3753 8205 3755 8208
      3756 8212 3768 8210 3782 8173 3763 8153
      3741 8192

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 15, 7:24 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBoone, Kanawha, Lincoln, Putnam66 min
Mar 15, 7:43 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXCabell, Mason, Putnam32 min
Mar 15, 7:57 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXCabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Putnam33 min
Mar 15, 8:35 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXBoone, Kanawha, Logan, Mingo70 min
Mar 15, 9:10 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRLXLogan, Mingo35 min
Mar 15, 9:37 AM EDTFlash Flood WatchRLXBoone, Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mason and 4 more12 hr
Mar 15, 9:44 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXBoone, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo10 hr
Mar 15, 11:40 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXKanawha, Mason, Putnam65 min
Mar 15, 11:52 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXLincoln, Putnam8 hr
Mar 15, 12:22 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXCabell, Mason, Putnam, Wayne113 min
Mar 15, 4:05 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXLogan, Mingo4 hr

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.