Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 15, NWS Blacksburg, VA

April 26, 2012Mercer County, West Virginia; Bland County, Tazewell County, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this flash flood warning at Apr 26, 2012, 7:00 PM EDT for Mercer County, West Virginia; Bland County, Tazewell County, Virginia. It was in force for 6 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
Apr 26, 2012, 7:00 PM EDT (23:00 UTC)
Expired
Apr 27, 2012, 1:00 AM EDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Bland County, VA, Tazewell County, VA, Mercer County, WV

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 93 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:01 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 12:00Z, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 158 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 2012-04-26Temperature 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 2012-04-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -140 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
802 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-140 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-105 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.

549 
WGUS51 KRNK 262300
FFWRNK
VAC021-185-WVC055-270500-
/O.NEW.KRNK.FF.W.0015.120426T2300Z-120427T0500Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
700 PM EDT THU APR 26 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN TAZEWELL COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  BLAND COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  SOUTHWESTERN MERCER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 100 AM EDT FRIDAY.

* AT 656 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED   
  VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE WARNED AREA.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO PINNACLE
  ROCK STATE PARK...SANDLICK...COALDALE...CERES...BRAMWELL...
  MONTCALM...BLUEFIELD...POCAHONTAS AND BOISSEVAIN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED 
AREA.

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.

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.

PLEASE RELAY ANY REPORTS OF FLOODING INCLUDING MUDSLIDES...OR ROAD
CLOSURES TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG BY CALLING
TOLL FREE...1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. DELAYED REPORTS ARE WELCOME.

&&

LAT...LON 3722 8154 3726 8149 3728 8142 3731 8140
      3733 8138 3738 8135 3733 8102 3728 8099
      3727 8101 3721 8093 3701 8134

$$

AMS
2 follow-up statements
335 
WGUS71 KRNK 270303
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1103 PM EDT THU APR 26 2012

VAC021-185-WVC055-270500-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0015.000000T0000Z-120427T0500Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
TAZEWELL VA-BLAND VA-MERCER WV-
1103 PM EDT THU APR 26 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM EDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN TAZEWELL...BLAND AND SOUTHWESTERN MERCER COUNTIES...

AT 1029 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING OVER THE WARNED
AREA.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO PINNACLE ROCK
STATE PARK...SANDLICK...COALDALE...CERES...BRAMWELL...BLUEFIELD... 
MONTCALM. ...POCAHONTAS AND BOISSEVAIN.

EXPECT FLOODING ALONG MUD FORK CREEK ON ROUTE 643...MUDD FORK 
ROAD...LOOP ROAD AND ROUTE 102 NEAR FALLS MILLS...AND ALONG LAUREL 
FORK ON ROUTE 644 NEAR POCAHONTAS. 

TRIBUTARIES FLOWING INTO THE BLUESTONE RIVER ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO 
FLOOD.  

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

PLEASE RELAY ANY REPORTS OF FLOODING INCLUDING MUDSLIDES...OR ROAD
CLOSURES TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG BY CALLING
TOLL FREE...1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. DELAYED REPORTS ARE WELCOME.

&&

LAT...LON 3722 8154 3726 8149 3728 8142 3731 8140
      3733 8138 3738 8135 3733 8102 3728 8099
      3727 8101 3721 8093 3701 8134

$$

AMS
246 
WGUS71 KRNK 270457
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1257 AM EDT FRI APR 27 2012

VAC021-185-WVC055-270503-
/O.EXP.KRNK.FF.W.0015.000000T0000Z-120427T0500Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
TAZEWELL VA-BLAND VA-MERCER WV-
1257 AM EDT FRI APR 27 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR NORTHEASTERN TAZEWELL...
BLAND AND SOUTHWESTERN MERCER COUNTIES...

RUNOFF FROM THIS EVENINGS HEAVY RAINFALL CONTINUES TO RESULT IN 
SWOLLEN STREAMS AND CREEKS. ROADS WHICH HAVE LOW WATER CROSSINGS 
WILL LIKELY BE CLOSED THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE NIGHT. THE RAIN 
HAS EXITED THE WARNED AREA...THEREFORE THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL 
BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 100 AM. HOWEVER...WITH CREEKS AND STREAMS 
RUNNING HIGH...A FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE BLUEFIELD 
AREA...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE BLUESTONE RIVER.

LAT...LON 3722 8154 3726 8149 3728 8142 3731 8140
      3733 8138 3738 8135 3733 8102 3728 8099
      3727 8101 3721 8093 3701 8134

$$

RCS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Blacksburg, VA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 26, 2:39 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGreenbrier36 min
Apr 26, 3:55 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGreenbrier, Summers35 min
Apr 26, 4:31 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKMercer, Monroe29 min
Apr 26, 11:54 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKGreenbrier, Mercer, Summers3 hr
Apr 26, 2:53 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKGreenbrier, Mercer, Summers3 hr
Apr 26, 6:16 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKMercer59 min
Apr 26, 6:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGreenbrier65 min
Apr 26, 6:34 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKMercer, Summers6 hr
Apr 26, 6:51 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningRNKGreenbrier, Summers6 hr
Apr 26, 7:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKMercer65 min
Apr 26, 7:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKMonroe64 min
Apr 26, 7:53 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKMonroe52 min
Apr 25, 11:39 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBland36 min
Apr 25, 11:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKSmyth, Tazewell23 min
Apr 26, 12:17 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKSmyth28 min
Apr 26, 12:39 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGrayson, City of Galax36 min
Apr 26, 1:15 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPatrick15 min
Apr 26, 2:38 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCarroll37 min
Apr 26, 4:56 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBland, Botetourt, Craig, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski and 5 more34 min
Apr 26, 7:59 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKTazewell3 hr
Apr 26, 8:31 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKSmyth59 min
Apr 26, 8:45 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKGrayson60 min
Apr 26, 8:57 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBland, Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe63 min
Apr 26, 9:18 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKCarroll, Grayson, City of Galax27 min
Apr 26, 9:31 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBland, Wythe29 min
Apr 26, 10:42 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKHenry, City of Danville63 min
Apr 26, 11:09 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKTazewell3 hr
Apr 26, 12:44 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKAlleghany, Bath, City of Covington6 hr
Apr 26, 2:03 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKTazewell6 hr
Apr 26, 7:56 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBath64 min

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.