Alert archive / South Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2014

Flash Flood Warning 2, NWS Charleston, SC

April 18, 2014Berkeley County, Charleston County, South Carolina

NWS Charleston, SC issued this flash flood warning at Apr 18, 2014, 11:27 PM EDT for Berkeley County, Charleston County, South Carolina. It was in force for 3 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
Apr 18, 2014, 11:27 PM EDT (03:27 UTC)
Expired
Apr 19, 2014, 2:15 AM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Berkeley County, SC, Charleston County, SC

The radar

The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 125 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:31 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
Apr 18, 11:38 PM EDTFLASH FLOODDowntown Charleston, SCTHE FOLLOWING ROADS ARE CLOSED IN DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON... AREA BOUNDED BY CALHOUN... ASHLEY... RUTLEDGE... BENNETT AND GADSEN STREETS. CALHOUN STREET FROM OGIER TO RUTLEDGE. OGIER STREET FROM CALHOUN TO VANDERHOURST. BOGARD STREET FROM THE CROSSTOWN TO PRESIDEN
Apr 18, 11:57 PM EDTHEAVY RAIN 2.563 Ne Archdale, SC
Apr 19, 1:36 AM EDTHEAVY RAIN 2.71Downtown Charleston, SC
Apr 19, 1:43 AM EDTHEAVY RAIN 2.37Charleston Airport, SC
Apr 19, 1:44 AM EDTHEAVY RAIN 2.9Charleston, SC
Apr 19, 1:59 AM EDTFLASH FLOODDowntown Charleston, SCNUMEROUS ROADS REMAIN CLOSED THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON AREA. FLASH FLOODING IS STILL IN PROGRESS AS HEAVY RAIN FALLS.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 00:00Z, 3.5 hours before the alert went out and 24 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 00:00Z on 2014-04-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 00:00Z on 2014-04-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 384 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
433 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
55 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
384 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
810 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.

456 
WGUS52 KCHS 190327
FFWCHS
SCC015-019-190615-
/O.NEW.KCHS.FF.W.0002.140419T0327Z-140419T0615Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
1127 PM EDT FRI APR 18 2014

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  BERKELEY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...
  EASTERN CHARLESTON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...

* UNTIL 215 AM EDT

* AT 1116 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED  
  A PERSISTENT BAND OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN PUSHING ONSHORE INTO   
  AREAS ALONG AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 26...INCLUDING DOWNTOWN         
  CHARLESTON...MOVING NORTH AT 40 MPH.

  FLASH FLOODING HAS ALREADY CLOSED SEVERAL ROADS IN DOWNTOWN        
  CHARLESTON. RAINFALL RATES OCCASIONALLY EXCEEDING 1 TO 2 INCHES    
  WILL PRODUCE ADDITIONAL FLASH FLOODING ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. 

* FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED IN AND AROUND...
  CHARLESTON...NORTH CHARLESTON...MOUNT PLEASANT...GOOSE             
  CREEK...SULLIVANS ISLAND...ISLE OF PALMS...MONCKS CORNER...ST      
  STEPHEN...JAMESTOWN AND MCLELLANVILLE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

AVOID DRIVING INTO WATER ON THE ROAD. THE WATER IS USUALLY DEEPER
THAN IT APPEARS AND THE ROAD MAY BE WASHED OUT. ONLY ONE FOOT OF
WATER WILL STALL A VEHICLE AND LESS THAN TWO FEET OF WATER CAN FLOAT
AND CARRY AWAY A VEHICLE. FLOODING IS THE NUMBER ONE WEATHER-RELATED
CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS
MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

HIGH TIDE WILL INHIBIT RUNOFF OF HEAVY RAIN...PRODUCING FLASH 
FLOODING AND INUNDATING SOME ROADS IN DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON. AREAS 
MOST PRONE TO FLOODING INCLUDE THE MARKET...CROSSTOWN...EAST BAY 
STREET AND MORRISON DRIVE.

&&

LAT...LON 3300 7936 3301 7956 3295 7961 3294 7961
      3296 7957 3290 7958 3275 7984 3278 7991
      3277 7992 3276 7987 3267 7990 3258 8013
      3293 8008 3345 8019 3350 8013 3351 8000
      3332 7974 3313 7927

$$
2 follow-up statements
855 
WGUS72 KCHS 190424
FFSCHS

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
1224 AM EDT SAT APR 19 2014

SCC015-019-190615-
/O.CON.KCHS.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-140419T0615Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CHARLESTON SC-BERKELEY SC-
1224 AM EDT SAT APR 19 2014

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 AM EDT FOR
BERKELEY AND EASTERN CHARLESTON COUNTIES...

AT 1218 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A PERSISTENT BAND OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN PUSHING ONSHORE 
INTO AREAS ALONG AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 26...INCLUDING DOWNTOWN   
CHARLESTON....MOVING NORTH AT 40 MPH.

SEVERAL ROADS IN DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON REMAIN CLOSED DUE TO FLASH 
FLOODING. RAINFALL RATES OCCASIONALLY EXCEEDING 1 TO 2 INCHES WILL 
PRODUCE ADDITIONAL FLASH FLOODING ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. 

FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED IN AND AROUND...
CHARLESTON...NORTH CHARLESTON...MOUNT PLEASANT...GOOSE 
CREEK...SULLIVANS ISLAND...ISLE OF PALMS...ST STEPHEN...
STEPHEN...JAMESTOWN AND MCLELLANVILLE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WATER DEPTH IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE AT NIGHT. DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER ON THE ROADWAY EVEN IF IT APPEARS SHALLOW.
FIND AN ALTERNATE ROUTE. A SHORT DELAY IN YOUR TRAVEL PLANS IS BETTER
THAN LOSING YOUR CAR...OR YOUR LIFE.

HIGH TIDE WILL CONTINUE TO INHIBIT RUNOFF OF HEAVY RAIN...PRODUCING 
FLASH FLOODING IN DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON. 

&&

LAT...LON 3300 7936 3301 7956 3295 7961 3294 7961
      3296 7957 3290 7958 3275 7984 3278 7991
      3277 7992 3276 7987 3267 7990 3258 8013
      3293 8008 3345 8019 3350 8013 3351 8000
      3332 7974 3313 7927

$$
192 
WGUS72 KCHS 190505
FFSCHS

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
105 AM EDT SAT APR 19 2014

SCC015-019-190615-
/O.CON.KCHS.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-140419T0615Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CHARLESTON SC-BERKELEY SC-
105 AM EDT SAT APR 19 2014

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 AM EDT FOR
BERKELEY AND EASTERN CHARLESTON COUNTIES...

AT 104 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A PERSISTENT BAND OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN PUSHING ONSHORE 
INTO AREAS ALONG AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 26...INCLUDING DOWNTOWN   
CHARLESTON...MOVING NORTH AT 40 MPH.

MANY AREAS IN DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON REMAIN CLOSED DUE TO FLASH 
FLOODING. RAINFALL RATES OCCASIONALLY EXCEEDING 1 TO 2 INCHES WILL 
PRODUCE ADDITIONAL FLASH FLOODING ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. 

FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED IN AND AROUND...
CHARLESTON...NORTH CHARLESTON...MOUNT PLEASANT...GOOSE 
CREEK...SULLIVANS ISLAND...ISLE OF PALMS...ST STEPHEN...
STEPHEN...JAMESTOWN AND MCCLELLANVILLE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WATER DEPTH IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE AT NIGHT. DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER ON THE ROADWAY EVEN IF IT APPEARS SHALLOW.
FIND AN ALTERNATE ROUTE. A SHORT DELAY IN YOUR TRAVEL PLANS IS BETTER
THAN LOSING YOUR CAR...OR YOUR LIFE.

HIGH TIDE WILL CONTINUE TO INHIBIT RUNOFF OF HEAVY RAIN...PRODUCING 
FLASH FLOODING IN DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON. 

&&


LAT...LON 3300 7936 3301 7956 3295 7961 3294 7961
      3296 7957 3290 7958 3275 7984 3278 7991
      3277 7992 3276 7987 3267 7990 3258 8013
      3293 8008 3345 8019 3350 8013 3351 8000
      3332 7974 3313 7927

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Charleston, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 18, 8:41 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS2 hr
Apr 18, 9:38 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCHSBerkeley, Colleton, Dorchester3 hr
Apr 18, 9:50 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS115 min
Apr 18, 10:42 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS2 hr
Apr 18, 11:47 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS118 min
Apr 19, 2:05 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCHSBerkeley, Charleston4 hr
Apr 19, 3:57 AM EDTGale WatchCHS23 hr
Apr 19, 5:59 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCHSCharleston3 hr
Apr 19, 3:01 PM EDTLake Wind AdvisoryCHSBerkeley20 hr
Apr 19, 3:03 PM EDTGale WarningCHS23 hr
Apr 19, 3:09 PM EDTCoastal Flood AdvisoryCHS11 hr
Apr 19, 3:09 PM EDTRip Current StatementCHS20 hr
Apr 19, 5:50 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS115 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in South Carolina, 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.