Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 37, NWS Blacksburg, VA

July 18, 2012Buckingham County, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this flash flood warning at Jul 18, 2012, 5:33 PM EDT for Buckingham County, Virginia. 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, 5:33 PM EDT (21:33 UTC)
Expired
Jul 18, 2012, 8:30 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Buckingham County, VA

The radar

The Norfolk radar (KAKQ), 159 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:35 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, 6:00 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD5 Se Wingina, VAWATER UP TO THE CAR FENDERS...12 INCHES DEEP...IN SEVERAL PLACES ALONG HIGHWAY 56 BETWEEN BUCKINGHAM AND WINGINA...WATER FLOWING ACROSS HIGHWAY.

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, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 89 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 2012-07-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 804 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 2012-07-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 18 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
804 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-89 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1062 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
4 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
18 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
2 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.

663 
WGUS51 KRNK 182133
FFWRNK
VAC029-190030-
/O.NEW.KRNK.FF.W.0037.120718T2133Z-120719T0030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL BUCKINGHAM COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 830 PM EDT.

* AT 530 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM A NEARLY STATIONARY THUNDERSTORM JUST WEST OF 
  BUCKINGHAM IN BUCKINGHAM COUNTY VIRGINIA.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE RURAL BUCKINGHAM COUNTY BETWEEN
  WINGINA AND BUCKINGHAM.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 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 3762 7873 3764 7872 3764 7864 3769 7837
      3759 7841 3751 7856 3752 7872 3755 7875

$$
3 follow-up statements
518 
WGUS71 KRNK 182202
FFSRNK

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

VAC029-190030-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0037.000000T0000Z-120719T0030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BUCKINGHAM VA-
602 PM EDT WED JUL 18 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM EDT FOR
CENTRAL BUCKINGHAM COUNTY...

AT 552 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN OVER RURAL 
BUCKINGHAM COUNTY BETWEEN BUCKINGHAM AND WINGINA ALONG HIGHWAY 
56...AND BETWEEN BUCKINGHAM AND TOWER HILL ALONG HIGHWAY 60. 

RADAR ESTIMATES THAT BETWEEN 3 AND 4 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN OVER 
WEST CENTRAL BUCKINGHAM COUNTY.  THE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING THE VERY 
HEAVY RAIN IS NEARLY STATIONARY.  AS A RESULT...AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 2 
INCHES OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE BETWEEN 600 AND 700 PM.  THIS WILL LIKELY 
RESULT IN FLASH FLOODING ALONG CREEKS AND STREAMS...INCLUDING FORSIP 
AND RIPLEY CREEKS...AND ALONG OTHER STREAMS AND CREEKS THAT FEED 
INTO THE HEADWATERS OF THE NORTH RIVER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3762 7873 3764 7872 3764 7864 3769 7837
      3759 7841 3751 7856 3752 7872 3755 7875

$$
435 
WGUS71 KRNK 182305
FFSRNK

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

VAC029-190030-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0037.000000T0000Z-120719T0030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BUCKINGHAM VA-
705 PM EDT WED JUL 18 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM EDT FOR
CENTRAL BUCKINGHAM COUNTY...

AT 650 PM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED THAT RUNOFF 
FROM HEAVY RAIN HAD RESULTED IN WATER CROSSING THE HIGHWAYS IN 
SEVERAL LOCATIONS OVER WEST CENTRAL BUCKINGHAM COUNTY.  A DEPUTY 
REPORTED WATER ALONG HIGHWAY 56 THAT WAS UP TO THE FENDERS OF THE 
CAR. THERE WERE ALSO SEVERAL DOWNED TREES ALONG HIGHWAY 60 THAT WERE 
RESULTING IN ROAD CLOSURES.  THESE TREES WERE IN THE PROCESS OF 
BEING CLEARED.  THERE WERE ALSO REPORTS OF POWER OUTAGES IN THE 
AREA.

THE THUNDERSTORM WHICH PRODUCED THE HEAVY RAIN HAS 
DISSIPATED...HOWEVER...RUNOFF WILL CONTINUE TO RESULT IN FLOODING OF 
LOW LYING AREAS. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE RURAL AREAS OF BUCKINGHAM COUNTY 
BETWEEN BUCKINGHAM AND WINGINA ALONG HIGHWAY 56...AND BETWEEN 
BUCKINGHAM AND HIGH TOWERS ALONG HIGHWAY 60.  STREAMS AND CREEKS 
THAT WILL LIKELY EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...THOSE HEADWATER 
STREAMS FEEDING INTO THE NORTH RIVER...ESPECIALLY FORSIP 
CREEK...RIPLEY CREEK...AND DOLITTLE CREEK. BETWEEN 4 AND 6 INCHES OF 
RAIN FELL WITHIN THESE SMALL STREAM BASINS...ANYONE LIVING WITHIN 
THESE WATERSHEDS AT RISK OF FLOODING IF YOU LIVE IN PROXIMITY TO 
THESE STREAMS.  

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.

TO REPORT FLOODING...HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RELAY
YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN 
BLACKSBURG.  DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH FLOWING WATER!  THE WATER MAY BE 
MUCH DEEPER THAN YOU THINK.  MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES 
WHERE PEOPLE TRY TO DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED AREAS.

&&

LAT...LON 3762 7873 3764 7872 3764 7864 3769 7837
      3759 7841 3751 7856 3752 7872 3755 7875

$$
782 
WGUS71 KRNK 190030
FFSRNK

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

VAC029-190040-
/O.EXP.KRNK.FF.W.0037.000000T0000Z-120719T0030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BUCKINGHAM VA-
830 PM EDT WED JUL 18 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR CENTRAL BUCKINGHAM
COUNTY...

CREEKS AND STREAMS SHOULD BE RECEDING THUS THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING 
WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

LAT...LON 3762 7873 3764 7872 3764 7864 3769 7837
      3759 7841 3751 7856 3752 7872 3755 7875

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 18, 12:27 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGrayson33 min
Jul 18, 12:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGrayson40 min
Jul 18, 1:13 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKTazewell62 min
Jul 18, 1:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAlleghany48 min
Jul 18, 2:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlleghany, Bath, City of Covington62 min
Jul 18, 2:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlleghany, Amherst, Bath, Botetourt, Rockbridge, City of Buena Vista and 1 more75 min
Jul 18, 2:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKPatrick25 min
Jul 18, 2:56 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBuckingham34 min
Jul 18, 3:05 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBland40 min
Jul 18, 3:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAlleghany, Botetourt, Craig57 min
Jul 18, 3:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBland, Giles, Pulaski, Wythe28 min
Jul 18, 3:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKPatrick17 min
Jul 18, 4:00 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFloyd30 min
Jul 18, 4:08 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFranklin37 min
Jul 18, 4:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKFloyd, Franklin, Patrick44 min
Jul 18, 4:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKBotetourt26 min
Jul 18, 4:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBotetourt, Craig, Roanoke, City of Roanoke, City of Salem54 min
Jul 18, 4:38 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKBuckingham67 min
Jul 18, 4:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKRoanoke, City of Roanoke, City of Salem49 min
Jul 18, 5:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningRNKAmherst, Appomattox, Buckingham62 min

Nearby

Flash 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.