Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 45, NWS Blacksburg, VA

August 5, 2012Ashe County, Watauga County, North Carolina; Grayson County, Smyth County, Virginia

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this flash flood warning at Aug 5, 2012, 7:03 PM EDT for Ashe County, Watauga County, North Carolina; Grayson County, Smyth County, Virginia. It was in force for 5 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
Aug 5, 2012, 7:03 PM EDT (23:03 UTC)
Expired
Aug 6, 2012, 12:16 AM EDT
In force
5 hr
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Ashe County, NC, Watauga County, NC, Grayson County, VA, Smyth County, VA

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 145 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:06 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
Aug 5, 9:11 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD5 N Sugar Grove, NCNORTH FORK ROAD CLOSED DUE TO WATER FLOWING ACROSS IT IN ZIONVILLE.

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, 11.1 hours before the alert went out and 168 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 2012-08-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 33 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 2012-08-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -77 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
33 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-85 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1026 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
5 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-77 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-50 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.

133 
WGUS51 KRNK 052303
FFWRNK
NCC009-189-VAC077-173-060500-
/O.NEW.KRNK.FF.W.0045.120805T2303Z-120806T0500Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
703 PM EDT SUN AUG 5 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN ASHE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA
  WATAUGA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA
  SOUTHERN SMYTH COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
  WESTERN GRAYSON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 100 AM EDT.

* AT 701 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED   
VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE WARNED AREA.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO WHITETOP...
  MOUNT ROGERS SUMMIT...MOUNT ROGERS NATIONAL RECREATION AREA...
  GRAYSON HIGHLANDS STATE PARK...THOMAS BRIDGE...SUGAR GROVE...
  ADWOLF...VOLNEY...TROUTDALE...RUGBY AND FLATRIDGE.

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.

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.

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 3635 8183 3635 8173 3641 8175 3647 8170
      3654 8171 3658 8169 3663 8161 3678 8170
      3682 8137 3680 8128 3611 8166 3610 8181
      3616 8183 3621 8191 3627 8190 3629 8192

$$

KK
3 follow-up statements
406 
WGUS71 KRNK 052354
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
754 PM EDT SUN AUG 5 2012

NCC009-189-VAC077-173-060500-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0045.000000T0000Z-120806T0500Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ASHE NC-WATAUGA NC-SMYTH VA-GRAYSON VA-
754 PM EDT SUN AUG 5 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM EDT FOR
WESTERN ASHE...WATAUGA...SOUTHERN SMYTH AND WESTERN GRAYSON
COUNTIES...

AT 748 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN OVER 
THE WARNED AREA. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ASHLAND...
MOUNT ROGERS SUMMIT...MOUNT ROGERS NATIONAL RECREATION AREA...GRAYSON
HIGHLANDS STATE PARK...THOMAS BRIDGE...SUGAR GROVE...ADWOLF...
WHITETOP...TROUTDALE...RUGBY...SHATLEY SPRINGS...NELLA...LANSING...
FLATWOOD AND CLIFTON

WATCH FOR FLOODING ALONG SHARP CREEK NEAR SILVERSTONE...THREE TOP 
CREEK NEAR TROUT...AND BIG HORSE CREEK NEAR NELLA. 



PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3635 8183 3635 8173 3641 8175 3647 8170
      3654 8171 3658 8169 3663 8161 3678 8170
      3682 8137 3680 8128 3611 8166 3610 8181
      3616 8183 3621 8191 3627 8190 3629 8192

$$

KK
110 
WGUS71 KRNK 060304
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1104 PM EDT SUN AUG 5 2012

VAC077-173-060304-
/O.CAN.KRNK.FF.W.0045.000000T0000Z-120806T0500Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
SMYTH VA-GRAYSON VA-
1104 PM EDT SUN AUG 5 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR SOUTHERN SMYTH AND
WESTERN GRAYSON COUNTIES...

LAT...LON 3635 8183 3635 8173 3641 8175 3647 8170
      3654 8171 3658 8169 3656 8141 3611 8166
      3610 8181 3616 8183 3621 8191 3627 8190
      3629 8192

$$

NCC009-189-060500-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0045.000000T0000Z-120806T0500Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ASHE NC-WATAUGA NC-
1104 PM EDT SUN AUG 5 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM EDT FOR
WESTERN ASHE AND WATAUGA COUNTIES...

AT 1052 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THAT RAIN HAD BECOME LIGHT AND INTERMITTENT OVER THE WARNING AREA. 
HOWEVER...RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINS THAT FELL EARLIER TODAY WILL 
CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN HIGH WATER LEVELS IN MANY AREA STREAMS AND 
CREEKS...AS WELL AS IN URBAN AREAS OF POOR DRAINAGE.

LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED THAT A PORTION OF NORTH FORK WEST OF 
THE TOWN OF ZIONVILLE AND NORTH OF THE TOWN OF MABEL HAD WASHED OUT 
AND REMAINS CLOSED TO THRU TRAFFIC. 

ALTHOUGH RAIN RATES AND ASSOCIATED RUNOFF HAVE MARKEDLY DECREASED 
OVER THE AREA DURING THE PAST COUPLE OF HOURS...SMALL STREAMS AND 
CREEKS WILL CONTINUE TO RUN HIGH INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS...SO 
MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO EXERCISE CAUTION WHILE TRAVELING...AND SLOW 
DOWN AND WATCH OUT FOR AREAS WHERE ROADWAYS MAY HAVE BEEN WASHED OUT.
 
LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SHATLEY 
SPRINGS...NELLA...LANSING...FLATWOOD...CLIFTON AND ASHLAND

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 3635 8183 3635 8173 3641 8175 3647 8170
      3654 8171 3658 8169 3656 8141 3611 8166
      3610 8181 3616 8183 3621 8191 3627 8190
      3629 8192

$$

WERT
709 
WGUS71 KRNK 060416
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1216 AM EDT MON AUG 6 2012

NCC009-189-060419-
/O.CAN.KRNK.FF.W.0045.000000T0000Z-120806T0500Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ASHE NC-WATAUGA NC-
1216 AM EDT MON AUG 6 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR WESTERN ASHE AND
WATAUGA COUNTIES...

AT 1205 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THAT ONLY VERY LIGHT RAIN WAS OCCURRING IN THE MOUNTAINS OF 
NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. ALTHOUGH ADDITIONAL LIGHT RAIN MAY 
CONTINUE OVER THE FORMERLY WARNED AREA THROUGH 100 AM EDT...ANY 
ADDITIONAL RUNOFF IS NOT EXPECTED TO CAUSE FLOODING.

HOWEVER...SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO RUN NEAR 
BANKFULL WELL INTO THE PRE DAWN HOURS...SO MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO 
EXERCISE CAUTION WHILE TRAVELING...AND SLOW DOWN AND WATCH OUT FOR 
AREAS WHERE ROADBEDS MAY HAVE BEEN WASHED OUT FROM EARLIER HEAVY 
RAIN.

LAT...LON 3635 8183 3635 8173 3641 8175 3647 8170
      3654 8171 3658 8169 3656 8141 3611 8166
      3610 8181 3616 8183 3621 8191 3627 8190
      3629 8192

$$

WERT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 4, 10:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKSurry, Yadkin58 min
Aug 5, 4:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAshe63 min
Aug 5, 5:22 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRNKAshe, Watauga104 min
Aug 5, 7:40 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAlleghany, Wilkes65 min
Aug 4, 11:33 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKFloyd57 min
Aug 5, 3:15 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKRockbridge, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington60 min
Aug 5, 4:41 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKAmherst, Botetourt, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington64 min
Aug 5, 5:54 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRNKGiles66 min
Aug 5, 6:16 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKBland, Giles4 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 2012Flash 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.