Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 31, NWS Blacksburg, VA

May 22, 2012Henry County, City of Martinsville, Virginia; Rockingham County, North Carolina

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this flash flood warning at May 22, 2012, 11:09 PM EDT for Henry County, City of Martinsville, Virginia; Rockingham County, North Carolina. 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: May 22, 2012, 11:09 PM EDT (03:09 UTC)
Expired: May 23, 2012, 2:34 AM EDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Rockingham County, NC, City of Martinsville, VA, Henry County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 55 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:11 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 22, 11:52 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 Sse Hillsville, VA	SMALL CREEK FLOODED SPRUCE STREET.
May 22, 11:52 PM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 Sse Hilltop, VA	MULBERRY CREEK FLOODING SPRUCE STREET
May 23, 12:03 AM EDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 E Martinsville City, VA	STREET FLOODING AT JEFFERSON AND ZEE STREET. 15 TO 20 HOUSE HAVE FLOODING.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 00:00Z, 3.2 hours before the alert went out and 61 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 1004 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -8 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1300 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 12 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -4 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 31 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.

452 
WGUS51 KRNK 230309
FFWRNK
NCC157-VAC089-690-230715-
/O.NEW.KRNK.FF.W.0031.120523T0309Z-120523T0715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1109 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN ROCKINGHAM COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
  CITY OF MARTINSVILLE IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA
  HENRY COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 315 AM EDT.

* AT 1103 PM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED 
  FLOODING IN THE CITY OF MARTINSVILLE FROM THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
  LINE EXTENDING FROM CHATMOSS TO PRICE...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING 
  FROM MARTINSVILLE CITY TO RIDGEWAY...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 10 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  LEATHERWOOD...HORSE PASTURE...VILLA HEIGHTS...SPENCER...
  COLLINSVILLE...FIELDALE...FIGSBORO...STANLEYTOWN...BASSETT...
  SANVILLE AND PHILPOTT DAM.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

RAINFALL OF 1.5 TO 2.0 INCHES HAS FALLEN IN AND NEAR MARTINSVILLE 
DURING THE PAST COUPLE OF HOURS. 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.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY
AUTOMOBILE.

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 3646 8004 3654 8002 3655 8005 3666 8006
      3672 8010 3678 8010 3679 8006 3678 8001
      3683 8000 3679 7982 3680 7975 3671 7967
      3655 7971 3654 7951 3634 7953 3634 7994

$$

RAB

3 follow-up statements

243 
WGUS71 KRNK 230325
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1125 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

NCC157-VAC089-690-230715-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0031.000000T0000Z-120523T0715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ROCKINGHAM NC-CITY OF MARTINSVILLE VA-HENRY VA-
1125 PM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 AM EDT FOR THE
CITY OF MARTINSVILLE... NORTHERN ROCKINGHAM AND HENRY COUNTIES...

AT 1120 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES 
THAT UP TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN HAD FALLEN IN THE CITY OF MARTINSVILLE 
WITH THE PAST TWO HOURS OR LESS. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS HAD 
ALREADY REPORTED FLOODING IN THE CITY OF MARTINSVILLE AROUND 11 
PM...WITH SOME ROADS ALREADY BEING CLOSED AT THAT TIME.

AN ADDITIONAL AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS MOVING 
NORTH INTO SOUTHERN HENRY COUNTY AND RAPIDLY TOWARD THE CITY OF 
MARTINSVILLE. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF UP TO 2 INCHES CAN BE 
EXPECTED ACROSS THIS REGION DURING THE NEXT 1 TO 2 HOURS.

THE GROUND ACROSS THIS REGION IS COMPLETELY SATURATED FROM PREVIOUS 
HEAVY RAINFALL. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL RESULT IN TOTAL RUNOFF INTO 
AREA CREEKS...STREAMS...AND RIVERS...WITH FLASH FLOODING 
LIKELY...ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AREAS AND NEAR ANY 
CREEKS...STREAMS...AND OR IN NORMALLY FLOOD PRONE AREAS.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO HORSE
PASTURE...VILLA HEIGHTS...FIGSBORO...COLLINSVILLE...FIELDALE...
SPENCER...STANLEYTOWN...BASSETT...SANVILLE AND PHILPOTT DAM

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A SERIOUS...LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. WHEN A FLASH FLOOD 
WARNING IS ISSUED...IT MEANS FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED OR IS 
ALREADY OCCURRING. SEEK HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3646 8004 3654 8002 3655 8005 3666 8006
      3672 8010 3678 8010 3679 8006 3678 8001
      3683 8000 3679 7982 3680 7975 3671 7967
      3655 7971 3654 7951 3634 7953 3634 7994

$$

RAB

540 
WGUS71 KRNK 230406
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1206 AM EDT WED MAY 23 2012

NCC157-VAC089-690-230715-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0031.000000T0000Z-120523T0715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ROCKINGHAM NC-CITY OF MARTINSVILLE VA-HENRY VA-
1206 AM EDT WED MAY 23 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 AM EDT FOR THE
CITY OF MARTINSVILLE... NORTHERN ROCKINGHAM AND HENRY COUNTIES...

AT 1158 PM EDT...THE PUBLIC REPORTED SIGNIFICANT FLASH FLOODING IN 
THE CITY OF MARTINSVILLE. FLASH FLOODING WAS REPORTED ALONG MULBERRY 
CREEK NEAR INDIAN TRAIL ROAD. VEHICLES AND DUMPTERS WERE BEING MOVED 
BY THE RUSHING FLOOD WATERS OF MULBERRY CREEK IN THIS AREA. OTHER 
STREETS IN THE AREA...INCLUDING SPRUCE STREET ARE ALSO FLOODED. SOME 
ROADS ARE IMPASSABLE AND CLOSED.

WHILE RAINFALL IN THIS AREA IS BEGINNING TO DIMINISH...ADDITIONAL 
RAINFALL OF 1 TO 2 INCHES MAY STILL OCCUR DURING THE NEXT HOUR. SOME 
PORTIONS OF MARTINSVILLE CITY HAVE HAD UP TO FOUR INCHES OF RAIN 
DURING THE PAST TWO TO THREE HOURS. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL RESULT 
IN COMPLETE RUNOFF INTO AREAS CREEKS AND STREAMS AND SIMPLY 
AGGRAVATE THE FLASH FLOODING AND FLOODING SITUATION FURTHER.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO PHILPOTT 
DAM...VILLA 
HEIGHTS...STANLEYTOWN...SANVILLE...LEATHERWOOD...FIGSBORO...FIELDALE.
..COLLINSVILLE...CHATMOSS...BASSETT...AXTON AND MARTINSVILLE CITY

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS REMAINS A SERIOUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. FLASH 
FLOODING IS IMMINENT WITHIN THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING AREA. SEEK 
HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...URBAN AREAS...HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES
AS WELL AS OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.

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.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF
RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 3646 8004 3654 8002 3655 8005 3666 8006
      3672 8010 3678 8010 3679 8006 3678 8001
      3683 8000 3679 7982 3680 7975 3671 7967
      3655 7971 3654 7951 3634 7953 3634 7994

$$



RAB

221 
WGUS71 KRNK 230634
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
234 AM EDT WED MAY 23 2012

NCC157-VAC089-690-230643-
/O.CAN.KRNK.FF.W.0031.000000T0000Z-120523T0715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ROCKINGHAM NC-CITY OF MARTINSVILLE VA-HENRY VA-
234 AM EDT WED MAY 23 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE CITY OF
MARTINSVILLE... NORTHERN ROCKINGHAM AND HENRY COUNTIES...

HEAVY RAIN HAS ENDED ACROSS THE AREA. ROADS THAT WERE EARLIER CLOSED 
HAVE BEEN RE-OPENED. CREEKS THAT FLOODED HAVE RECEDED BACK WITHIN 
THEIR BANKS. 


LAT...LON 3646 8004 3654 8002 3655 8005 3666 8006
      3672 8010 3678 8010 3679 8006 3678 8001
      3683 8000 3679 7982 3680 7975 3671 7967
      3655 7971 3654 7951 3634 7953 3634 7994

$$

AMS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 22, 8:14 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	RNK	Henry, Pittsylvania, City of Martinsville	42 min
May 22, 8:40 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	RNK	Charlotte	3 hr
May 22, 9:14 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	RNK	Charlotte	3 hr
May 22, 10:37 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	City of Martinsville	53 min
May 22, 10:42 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Halifax	63 min
May 23, 4:16 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Halifax	59 min
May 23, 10:51 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Rockbridge	54 min
May 23, 6:14 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Buckingham	46 min
May 23, 6:49 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Appomattox	41 min
May 22, 8:32 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Stokes	58 min
May 22, 10:19 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Rockingham	56 min
May 23, 6:04 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	RNK	Surry	56 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Virginia, 2012 Flash Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 2012 Every 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.