Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 36, NWS Blacksburg, VA

July 18, 20124 counties in North Carolina

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this flash flood warning at Jul 18, 2012, 3:11 PM EDT for 4 counties in North Carolina. It was in force for 3 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
Jul 18, 2012, 3:11 PM EDT (19:11 UTC)
Expired
Jul 18, 2012, 6:33 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Alleghany County, NC, Ashe County, NC, Watauga County, NC, Wilkes County, NC

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 139 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:11 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 18, 4:03 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD4 Ne Blowing Rock, NCROCK AND MUDSLIDES NEAR SAMPSON ROAD AND THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY.

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 12:00Z, 7.2 hours before the alert went out and 139 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2012-07-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1738 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2012-07-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -12 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
1738 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-69 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1050 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
6 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-12 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-4 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.

857 
WGUS51 KRNK 181911
FFWRNK
NCC005-009-189-193-190115-
/O.NEW.KRNK.FF.W.0036.120718T1911Z-120719T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
311 PM EDT WED JUL 18 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN ALLEGHANY COUNTY IN NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA
  SOUTHEASTERN ASHE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA
  EASTERN WATAUGA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA
  NORTHWESTERN WILKES COUNTY IN NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 915 PM EDT.

* AT 306 PM 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 MOSES CONE
  MEMORIAL PARK...CASCADE FALLS...DOUGHTON PARK...MOUNT JEFFERSON...
  STONE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK...WAGONER...OTHELLO...IDLEWILD...GLENDALE
  SPRINGS...FLEETWOOD...BALDWIN...LAUREL SPRINGS...SCOTTVILLE...
  WILBAR...SUMMIT...MC GRADY...HALLS MILLS...ABSHERS...MAPLE
  SPRINGS...SANDS...RUTHERWOOD...DEEP GAP...BOONE AND AHO.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 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.

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 3652 8132 3641 8102 3607 8143 3607 8145
      3608 8146 3608 8147 3609 8149 3609 8152
      3611 8155 3611 8183

$$
3 follow-up statements
494 
WGUS71 KRNK 181934
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
334 PM EDT WED JUL 18 2012

NCC005-009-189-193-190115-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0036.000000T0000Z-120719T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ALLEGHANY NC-ASHE NC-WATAUGA NC-WILKES NC-
334 PM EDT WED JUL 18 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN ALLEGHANY...SOUTHEASTERN ASHE...EASTERN WATAUGA AND
NORTHWESTERN WILKES COUNTIES...

AT 329 PM EDT...THE PUBLIC REPORTED A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING VERY
HEAVY RAIN OVER THE WARNED AREA.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO AHO...CASCADE
FALLS...DOUGHTON PARK...MOUNT JEFFERSON...STONE MOUNTAIN STATE
PARK...WAGONER...OTHELLO...IDLEWILD...GLENDALE SPRINGS...FLEETWOOD...
BALDWIN...LAUREL SPRINGS...SCOTTVILLE...WILBAR...SUMMIT...MC GRADY...
HALLS MILLS...ABSHERS...MAPLE SPRINGS...SANDS...RUTHERWOOD...DEEP GAP
AND BOONE

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.

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 3652 8132 3641 8102 3607 8143 3607 8145
      3608 8146 3608 8147 3609 8149 3609 8152
      3611 8155 3611 8183

$$
129 
WGUS71 KRNK 182138
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
538 PM EDT WED JUL 18 2012

NCC005-009-189-193-190115-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0036.000000T0000Z-120719T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ALLEGHANY NC-ASHE NC-WATAUGA NC-WILKES NC-
538 PM EDT WED JUL 18 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN ALLEGHANY...SOUTHEASTERN ASHE...EASTERN WATAUGA AND
NORTHWESTERN WILKES COUNTIES...

AT 403 PM EDT...AN EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTED A MUDSLIDE NEAR 
SAMPSON ROAD AND THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY. ALTHOUGH THE HEAVY RAIN HAS 
ENDED THERE REMAINS A THREAT FOR ADDITIONAL MUDSLIDES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

RAINFALL ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FLASH FLOOD WILL INCREASE THE RISK OF
LANDSLIDES. IF YOU ARE NEAR STEEP SLOPES OR A MOUNTAINSIDE STREAM OR
RIVER...SEEK REFUGE ON HIGHER GROUND AWAY FROM THE STREAM
IMMEDIATELY...PREFERABLY IN A STURDY SHELTER. POTENTIAL HAZARDS TO
DRIVERS INCLUDE WASHED-OUT ROADS OR BRIDGES...FALLING ROCKS...MUD...
TREES...AND OTHER LARGE DEBRIS. REMAIN ALERT!

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

&&

LAT...LON 3652 8132 3641 8102 3607 8143 3607 8145
      3608 8146 3608 8147 3609 8149 3609 8152
      3611 8155 3611 8183

$$
927 
WGUS71 KRNK 182233
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
633 PM EDT WED JUL 18 2012

NCC005-009-189-193-182242-
/O.CAN.KRNK.FF.W.0036.000000T0000Z-120719T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ALLEGHANY NC-ASHE NC-WATAUGA NC-WILKES NC-
633 PM EDT WED JUL 18 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR SOUTHWESTERN
ALLEGHANY...SOUTHEASTERN ASHE...EASTERN WATAUGA AND NORTHWESTERN
WILKES COUNTIES...

THERE IS NO LONGER A FLOOD THREAT OVER THE WARNED AREA...THUS 
THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

LAT...LON 3652 8132 3641 8102 3607 8143 3607 8145
      3608 8146 3608 8147 3609 8149 3609 8152
      3611 8155 3611 8183

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 18, 2:13 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAlleghany62 min
Jul 18, 2:40 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKAlleghany, Ashe, Wilkes3 hr
Jul 18, 2:50 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKWatauga, Wilkes3 hr
Jul 18, 3:01 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKAlleghany, Ashe, Watauga, Wilkes11 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 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.