Alert archive / Massachusetts / Flash Flood Warnings in 2014

Flash Flood Warning 38, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

August 13, 2014Hampden County, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this flash flood warning at Aug 13, 2014, 1:30 PM EDT for Hampden County, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut. It was in force for 4 hr. 6 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 13, 2014, 1:30 PM EDT (17:30 UTC)
Expired
Aug 13, 2014, 5:30 PM EDT
In force
4 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 Albany radar (KENX), 109 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:30 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 13, 1:30 PM EDTFLASH FLOODWest Springfield, MAROUTE 5 SOUTH...AT LEAST 6 INCHES OF WATER COVERING ROAD. CAR FLOATING INSIDE WEST CENTRAL TUNNEL ON ROUTE 5 SOUTH. ROUTE 5 AND ELM STREET FLOODED.
Aug 13, 2:20 PM EDTFLASH FLOODSpringfield, MA6 TO 12 INCHES OF WATER UNDER THE RAILROAD OVERPASS AT DWIGHT STREET
Aug 13, 2:39 PM EDTFLASH FLOODSpringfield, MAEAST COLUMBUS AVENUE UNDERPASS FLOODED AND IMPASSABLE
Aug 13, 2:40 PM EDTFLASH FLOODWesthampton, MAMUDDY RIVER FLOWING OVER LOW SECTION OF SOUTH ROAD RT 66
Aug 13, 2:45 PM EDTFLASH FLOODChicopee, MABROADWAY STREET AND SAINT JAMES AVENUE FLOODED AND IMPASSABLE
Aug 13, 2:50 PM EDTFLASH FLOODNorthampton, MAELM STREET FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL THROUGH NONOTUCK STREET DUE TO FLOODING

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

The nearest sounding before it

Albany, NY (KALY), launched 12:00Z, 5.5 hours before the alert went out and 100 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, Albany, NY at 12:00Z on 2014-08-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Albany, NY at 12:00Z on 2014-08-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 204 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
723 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
204 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
283 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.

025 
WGUS51 KBOX 131730
FFWBOX
CTC003-013-MAC013-015-132130-
/O.NEW.KBOX.FF.W.0038.140813T1730Z-140813T2130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
130 PM EDT WED AUG 13 2014

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 530 PM EDT

* AT 126 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING
  HEAVY RAIN ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. UP TO TWO INCHES OF RAIN HAVE 
  ALREADY FALLEN...WITH THE HEAVIEST RAIN AS OF 126 PM IN THE EAST 
  SLOPES OF THE BERKSHIRES FROM CHESTER TO TOLLAND MA. RAINFALL 
  RATES OF UP TO 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNING 
  AREA INTO MID AFTERNOON. URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE FLASH 
  FLOODING...AS WELL AS SMALL STREAM FLASH FLOODING...ARE THREATS. 
  FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SHORTLY. 

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  SPRINGFIELD...CHICOPEE...ENFIELD...WESTFIELD...HOLYOKE...AMHERST...
  WINDSOR...NORTHAMPTON...AGAWAM...WEST SPRINGFIELD...SOUTH
  WINDSOR...SIMSBURY...LUDLOW...BLOOMFIELD...AVON...SOUTH HADLEY...
  EASTHAMPTON...LONGMEADOW...SUFFIELD...EAST LONGMEADOW...
  BELCHERTOWN...WILBRAHAM...WINDSOR LOCKS...PALMER...SOMERS...EAST
  WINDSOR...CANTON...SOUTHWICK...MONSON AND GRANBY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED FOR RAPID AND POTENTIALLY LIFE 
THREATENING FLOODING. IN URBAN AREAS AVOID FLOODED ROADS AND OBEY 
ROAD CLOSURES. 

&&

LAT...LON 4215 7303 4227 7300 4231 7300 4231 7303
      4232 7303 4234 7248 4213 7234 4181 7263
      4181 7295 4189 7294 4190 7291 4197 7289
      4197 7303 4204 7301 4204 7306 4209 7307
      4215 7307

$$

NMB
2 follow-up statements
556 
WGUS71 KBOX 131924
FFSBOX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
324 PM EDT WED AUG 13 2014

CTC003-013-MAC013-015-132130-
/O.CON.KBOX.FF.W.0038.000000T0000Z-140813T2130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
TOLLAND CT-HARTFORD CT-HAMPDEN MA-HAMPSHIRE MA-
324 PM EDT WED AUG 13 2014

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN TOLLAND...NORTHERN HARTFORD...HAMPDEN AND SOUTHWESTERN
HAMPSHIRE COUNTIES...

AT 322 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT POCKETS OF HEAVY RAIN 
LINGERED OVER AND EAST OF THE I-91 CORRIDOR.  THIS PRECIPITATION WAS 
GRADUALLY MOVING EASTWARD. UP TO AN ADDITIONAL HALF INCH OF RAIN MAY 
OCCUR THROUGH 430 PM.

PORTIONS OF THE WARNING AREA RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL RAINS.  AN 
OBSERVER IN WESTHAMPTON MASSACHUSETTS REPORTED 3.10 INCHES OF 
RAINFALL IN 2 HOURS. SOME SMALL STREAMS IN THE AREA ARE RISING 
SHARPLY...AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING IS POSSIBLE THROUGH LATE THIS 
AFTERNOON. ANY URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING ALONG AND EAST OF 
I-91 MAY BE EXACERBATED BY ONGOING RAINFALL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES. TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED FOR RAPID AND POTENTIALLY LIFE
THREATENING FLOODING. IN URBAN AREAS AVOID FLOODED ROADS AND OBEY 
ROAD CLOSURES. THOSE NEAR SMALL STREAMS SHOULD HEAD FOR HIGHER 
GROUND IMMEDIATELY SHOULD FLOODWATERS APPROACH.

&&

LAT...LON 4215 7303 4227 7300 4231 7300 4231 7303
      4232 7303 4234 7248 4213 7234 4181 7263
      4181 7295 4189 7294 4190 7291 4197 7289
      4197 7303 4204 7301 4204 7306 4209 7307
      4215 7307

$$

NMB
403 
WGUS71 KBOX 132130
FFSBOX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
530 PM EDT WED AUG 13 2014

CTC003-013-MAC013-015-132133-
/O.EXP.KBOX.FF.W.0038.000000T0000Z-140813T2130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
TOLLAND CT-HARTFORD CT-HAMPDEN MA-HAMPSHIRE MA-
530 PM EDT WED AUG 13 2014

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN TOLLAND...NORTHERN
HARTFORD...HAMPDEN AND SOUTHWESTERN HAMPSHIRE COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT
530 PM EDT...

ACROSS THE GREATER SPRINGFIELD AREA SOUTHWARD INTO NORTH CENTRAL 
CONNECTICUT...THE WIDESPREAD RAIN HAS COME TO AN END.  SCATTERED 
SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE INTO EARLY THIS EVENING...BUT THIS IS NOT 
EXPECTED TO CREATE ANY RENEWED FLOODING IN THE AREA.  IN URBAN AREAS 
SOME STANDING WATER MAY REMAIN...AND IS EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY RECEDE 
DURING EARLY THIS EVENING. 

SMALL STREAMS HAVE GENERALLY CRESTED OR ARE IN CREST...THIS INCLUDES 
THE MILL RIVER AT NORTHAMPTON WHICH HAS CRESTED NEAR ITS 11 FOOT 
FLOOD STAGE. THESE STREAMS AND SMALL RIVERS ARE EXPECTED TO 
GRADUALLY RECEDE OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS.  LARGER RIVERS WILL 
EXPERIENCE FURTHER RISES...BUT ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN WITHIN THEIR 
BANKS.

SINCE THE THREAT OF FLASH FLOODING HAS SUBSIDED...THE FLASH FLOOD 
WARNING IS BEING ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.  

LAT...LON 4215 7303 4227 7300 4231 7300 4231 7303
      4232 7303 4234 7248 4213 7234 4181 7263
      4181 7295 4189 7294 4190 7291 4197 7289
      4197 7303 4204 7301 4204 7306 4209 7307
      4215 7307

$$

NMB

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 13, 8:58 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXWorcester2 hr
Aug 13, 10:33 AM EDTCoastal Flood AdvisoryBOXBarnstable, Essex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk5 hr
Aug 13, 10:59 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXBristol, Middlesex, Norfolk, Worcester4 hr
Aug 13, 11:24 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningBOXBristol, Norfolk, Worcester4 hr
Aug 13, 12:43 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXFranklin, Hampden, Hampshire2 hr
Aug 13, 1:59 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBOXFranklin, Hampshire4 hr
Aug 13, 3:46 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBOXFranklin, Hampshire, Middlesex, Worcester4 hr
Aug 13, 4:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXWorcester32 min
Aug 13, 4:28 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBOX62 min
Aug 13, 5:00 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBOXMiddlesex, Worcester4 hr
Aug 13, 6:16 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXEssex, Middlesex119 min
Aug 13, 5:38 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXCapitol Planning Region52 min
Aug 13, 6:17 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXCapitol Planning Region, Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region3 hr
Aug 13, 8:17 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningBOXNortheastern Connecticut Planning Region4 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Massachusetts, 2014Flash Flood Warnings in Connecticut, 2014Every flash flood warning in 2014

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.