Alert archive / Massachusetts / Flash Flood Warnings in 2013

Flash Flood Warning 41, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

August 9, 2013Hampden County, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this flash flood warning at Aug 9, 2013, 11:21 AM EDT for Hampden County, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut. It was in force for 3 hr. 11 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
Aug 9, 2013, 11:21 AM EDT (15:21 UTC)
Expired
Aug 9, 2013, 2:15 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Capitol Planning Region, CT, Hampden County, MA, Hampshire County, MA

The radar

The Brookhaven radar (KOKX), 110 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:24 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 9, 12:51 PM EDTFLASH FLOODGranby, MANUMEROUS ROADS CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING
Aug 9, 12:52 PM EDTFLASH FLOODWestfield, MASEVERAL CARS NEAR WESTFIELD INDUSTRIAK PARK RD STUCK IN FLOODED WATERS...WATER RESCUES ARE OCCURRING
Aug 9, 12:57 PM EDTFLASH FLOODWestfield, MAMEADOW ST FLOODED ... CARS ARE STUCK
Aug 9, 1:28 PM EDTFLASH FLOODHolyoke, MAHOLYOKE MALL - NEAR SEARS - CAR FLOATING IN PARKING LOT
Aug 9, 1:36 PM EDTFLASH FLOODHolyoke, MACAR SUBMERGED - PEOPLE TRAPPED - AT CABOT AND COMMERCIAL STREETS
Aug 9, 1:46 PM EDTFLASH FLOODGranby, CTRTE 10 AND 189 FLOODED - CARS STRUCK
Aug 9, 1:53 PM EDTFLOODWindsor Locks, CTFARMINGTON RVR OUT OF BANKS JUNCTION OF I91 AND RTE 159
Aug 9, 1:54 PM EDTFLASH FLOODChicopee, MABROADWAY AT ST JAMES CLOSED B C OF FLOODING
Aug 9, 1:54 PM EDTFLASH FLOODWestfield, MANORTH ELM FLOODED
Aug 9, 1:54 PM EDTFLASH FLOODWest Springfield, MARIVERDALE ST ROUTE 5 FLOODED
Aug 9, 1:57 PM EDTFLASH FLOODChicopee, MAMEADOW ST AND MEETINGHOUSE RD FLOODED

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

The nearest sounding before it

Brookhaven, NY (KOKX), launched 12:00Z, 3.4 hours before the alert went out and 110 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, Brookhaven, NY at 12:00Z on 2013-08-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 673 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, Brookhaven, NY at 12:00Z on 2013-08-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 134 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
673 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-7 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
549 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
134 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
165 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.3
Supercell composite
2.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

103 
WGUS51 KBOX 091521
FFWBOX
CTC003-013-MAC013-015-091815-
/O.NEW.KBOX.FF.W.0041.130809T1521Z-130809T1815Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1121 AM EDT FRI AUG 9 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  HARTFORD COUNTY IN NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...
  WESTERN TOLLAND COUNTY IN NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...
  HAMPDEN COUNTY IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...
  SOUTHERN HAMPSHIRE COUNTY IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...

* UNTIL 215 PM EDT

* AT 1116 AM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS 
  PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. THERE WERE LOCALLY 
  TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WITH RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 1.5 INCHES PER 
  HOUR. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES ARE FORECAST ACROSS THE 
  CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY FROM NEAR NORTHAMPTON TO HARTFORD BY 215 
  PM. FLASH FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS AND ALSO IN URBAN AREAS IS 
  LIKELY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS. MOST FLOOD 
DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES. PLEASE REPORT FLOODING TO YOUR LOCAL LAW 
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WHEN YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

&&

LAT...LON 4214 7305 4229 7300 4228 7233 4160 7237
      4159 7247 4165 7251 4163 7271 4158 7275
      4156 7294 4163 7293 4164 7299 4179 7302
      4181 7295 4189 7294 4190 7291 4197 7289
      4197 7303 4204 7301 4204 7305

$$
FIELD
2 follow-up statements
975 
WGUS71 KBOX 091652
FFSBOX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1252 PM EDT FRI AUG 9 2013

CTC003-013-MAC013-015-091815-
/O.CON.KBOX.FF.W.0041.000000T0000Z-130809T1815Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-HAMPDEN MA-HAMPSHIRE MA-
1252 PM EDT FRI AUG 9 2013

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 PM EDT FOR
HARTFORD...WESTERN TOLLAND...HAMPDEN AND SOUTHERN HAMPSHIRE
COUNTIES...

AT 1243 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE WIDESPREAD 
SHOWERS AND STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN ACROSS THE 
WARNED AREA. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE FROM CHICOPEE MASSACHUSETTS 
SOUTHWESTWARD TO WESTFIELD...GRANVILLE...AND HARTLAND CONNECTICUT. 

DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR 
FALLING IN THE HEAVIEST ACTIVITY. MORE THAN 3 INCHES OF RAIN HAS 
ALREADY BEEN IN REPORTED IN SOUTHWICK MASSACHUSETTS. TOTALS 
APPROACHING 5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE BY 215 PM IN SOME AREAS.

SIGNIFICANT URBAN FLOODING IS LIKELY IN THE GREATER SPRINGFIELD 
METRO AREA. IN ADDITION...SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS ARE LIKELY TO 
RISE OUT OF THEIR BANKS. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN ARE THE WEST BRANCH 
OF THE WESTFIELD RIVER AND THE WEST BRANCH OF THE FARMINGTON RIVER 
AND THEIR TRIBUTARIES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS. MOST FLOOD
DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES.

PLEASE REPORT FLOODING TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WHEN YOU
CAN DO SO SAFELY.

&&

LAT...LON 4214 7305 4229 7300 4228 7233 4160 7237
      4159 7247 4165 7251 4163 7271 4158 7275
      4156 7294 4163 7293 4164 7299 4179 7302
      4181 7295 4189 7294 4190 7291 4197 7289
      4197 7303 4204 7301 4204 7305

$$
FIELD
961 
WGUS71 KBOX 091720
FFSBOX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
120 PM EDT FRI AUG 9 2013

CTC003-013-MAC013-015-091815-
/O.CON.KBOX.FF.W.0041.000000T0000Z-130809T1815Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-HAMPDEN MA-HAMPSHIRE MA-
120 PM EDT FRI AUG 9 2013

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 PM EDT FOR
HARTFORD...WESTERN TOLLAND...HAMPDEN AND SOUTHERN HAMPSHIRE
COUNTIES...

AT 113 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG 
THUNDERSTORMS FROM AGAWAM TO SOUTHWICK IN HAMPDEN COUNTY TO GRANBY 
AND SIMSBURY IN HARTFORD COUNTY. THESE STORMS WERE PRODUCING 
TORRIENTIAL RAIN WITH UP TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR. 

TWO TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED AND LOCAL AMOUNTS OF 4 
TO 6 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE BY 215 PM IN SOME AREAS. 

NUMEROUS CARS HAVE BEEN REPORTED STUCK IN THE WARNING AREA. 
SIGNIFICANT URBAN FLOODING WILL OCCUR IN THE SPRINGFIELD AND 
HARTFORD METROPOLITAN AREAS. IN ADDITION...SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS 
ARE LIKELY TO RISE OUT OF THEIR BANKS. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN ARE THE 
WEST BRANCH OF THE WESTFIELD RIVER AND THE WEST BRANCH OF THE 
FARMINGTON RIVER AND THEIR TRIBUTARIES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS. MOST FLOOD 
DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES. AVOID STREAMS AND CREEKS. PLEASE REPORT 
FLOODING TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WHEN YOU CAN DO SO 
SAFELY.

&&

LAT...LON 4214 7305 4229 7300 4228 7233 4160 7237
      4159 7247 4165 7251 4163 7271 4158 7275
      4156 7294 4163 7293 4164 7299 4179 7302
      4181 7295 4189 7294 4190 7291 4197 7289
      4197 7303 4204 7301 4204 7305

$$
FIELD

The office that day

Everything else NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 9, 4:11 AM EDTFlash Flood WatchBOXBristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex and 4 more15 hr
Aug 9, 7:31 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXFranklin, Hampshire, Worcester119 min
Aug 9, 8:25 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXHampden3 hr
Aug 9, 9:43 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOXBristol47 min
Aug 9, 10:44 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOXBristol46 min
Aug 9, 11:35 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOXNorfolk, Plymouth40 min
Aug 9, 11:58 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXBristol, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester3 hr
Aug 9, 12:33 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBOXFranklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Worcester3 hr
Aug 9, 12:40 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOXHampden50 min
Aug 9, 1:05 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOXWorcester40 min
Aug 9, 2:14 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBOXHampden, Hampshire3 hr
Aug 9, 3:01 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXBristol, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk3 hr
Aug 9, 3:05 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXMiddlesex, Worcester3 hr
Aug 9, 4:29 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOXBarnstable46 min
Aug 9, 5:22 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXHampden3 hr
Aug 9, 8:15 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOX45 min
Aug 9, 1:54 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOX36 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Massachusetts, 2013Flash Flood Warnings in Connecticut, 2013Every flash flood warning in 2013

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.