Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2016

Flash Flood Warning 32, NWS Blacksburg, VA

August 3, 2016Surry County, North Carolina

NWS Blacksburg, VA issued this flash flood warning at Aug 3, 2016, 5:43 PM EDT for Surry County, North Carolina. It was in force for 6 hr. 8 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 3, 2016, 5:43 PM EDT (21:43 UTC)
Expired
Aug 3, 2016, 11:45 PM EDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Blacksburg, VA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Surry County, NC

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 75 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:44 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 3, 7:38 PM EDTFLASH FLOODArarat, NC911 CALL CENTER REPORTS SIGNIFICANT FLOODING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OF ARARAT RESULTING IN NUMEROUS ROAD CLOSURES AND TREE DAMAGE. FLOODING IS STILL ONGOING WITH LITTLE TO NO SPECIFIC DETAILS ON SEVERITY AND LOCALITY.
Aug 3, 8:10 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Nnw Ararat, NCTRAINING SHOWERS AND STORMS RESULTED IN FLASH FLOODING AT THE INTERSECTION OF HOOTIN HOLLER TRAIL AND RADAR ROAD AS A PRIVATE POND OVERFLOWED ITS BANKS.
Aug 3, 8:10 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD5 Wnw Pilot Mountain, NCTRAINING SHOWERS AND STORMS RESULTED IN FLASH FLOODING THAT CAUSED THE ARARAT RIVER TO TOP ITS BANKS FLOODING PORTIONS OF RADAR ROAD.
Aug 3, 8:45 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD5 Wnw Pilot Mountain, NCSURRY COUNTY, NC. EM REPORTS TWO SWIFT WATER RESCUES CONDUCTED ALONG RADAR ROAD AFTER VEHICLES WERE SWEPT INTO THE ARARAT RIVER. NO HUMAN INJURIES REPORTED. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ROAD DID OCCUR DUE TO THE FLASH FLOODING.
Aug 3, 9:25 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD2 Sse Mount Airy, NCPERSISTENT HEAVY DOWNPOURS OVER THE CENTRAL TO EASTERN PORTIONS OF SURRY COUNTY RESULTED IN SEVERAL RIVERS AND STREAMS TO OVERFLOW THEIR BANKS INUNDATING ROADWAYS. THIS INCLUDES ARARAT RIVER, STEWARTS CREEK, AND LOVILLS CREEK. FLOODING IS STILL ONGOING IN MOST
Aug 3, 9:25 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD5 Wnw Pilot Mountain, NCREPETITIVE HEAVY DOWNPOURS OVER THE CITY OF ARARAT RESULTED IN ONGOING FLASH FLOODING WHICH INUNDATED PORTIONS OF CITY PARK.
Aug 3, 10:20 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD3 Sw Pilot Mountain, NCPERSISTENT HEAVY RAINFALL RESULTED IN PILOT CREEK OVERFLOWING ITS BANKS ACROSS JIM MCKINNEY ROAD. OBSERVER MEASURED 8 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD BEFORE HIS GAUGE OVERFLOWED. ESTIMATES 10+ INCHES AND CONTINUING.
Aug 3, 11:00 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD5 Nw Pilot Mountain, NCEXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM TRAINING DOWNPOURS CAUSED FLASH WATER TO OVERFLOW SMALL STREAMS AND DRAINAGE DITCHES ALONG OLD 52 NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF ARMSTRONG ROAD.

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, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 71 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 2016-08-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 242 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 2016-08-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -2 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
242 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-9 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
581 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
9 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-2 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
67 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

905 
WGUS51 KRNK 032143
FFWRNK
NCC171-040345-
/O.NEW.KRNK.FF.W.0032.160803T2143Z-160804T0345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
543 PM EDT WED AUG 3 2016

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BLACKSBURG HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN SURRY COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...

* UNTIL 1145 PM EDT WEDNESDAY

* AT 541 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED HEAVY RAIN ACROSS THE
  WARNED AREA. 3 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN HAVE ALREADY FALLEN.
  FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SHORTLY.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  MOUNT AIRY...
  FLAT ROCK...
  PILOT MOUNTAIN...
  TOAST...
  AND PINE RIDGE.

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE
WARNED AREA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND NOW. ACT QUICKLY TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE.

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

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE SEND YOUR REPORTS OF FLOODING...
INCLUDING MUDSLIDES OR ROAD CLOSURES...TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE AT 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. REPORTS
AND PICTURES CAN ALSO BE SHARED ON THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
BLACKSBURG FACEBOOK PAGE AND ON TWITTER.

&&

LAT...LON 3631 8066 3656 8075 3655 8044 3626 8045

$$

JH
5 follow-up statements
550 
WGUS71 KRNK 032252
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
652 PM EDT WED AUG 3 2016

NCC171-040345-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0032.000000T0000Z-160804T0345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
SURRY NC-
652 PM EDT WED AUG 3 2016

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1145 PM EDT FOR 
EASTERN SURRY COUNTY...

AT 646 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR AND AUTOMATED RAIN GAUGES INDICATED
THAT HEAVY RAIN WAS FALLING OVER THE AREA. FOUR TO SIX INCHES OF
RAIN HAVE FALLEN SINCE NOON. FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN
SHORTLY.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
MOUNT AIRY...
FLAT ROCK...
PILOT MOUNTAIN...
TOAST...
AND PINE RIDGE.

FLOODING IS EXPECTED ALONG THE ARARAT RIVER FROM MOUNT AIRY THROUGH
ARARAT. STREAMS AND CREEKS FEEDING INTO THE ARARAT RIVER WILL ALSO
FLOOD INCLUDING BULL CREEK AND TOMS CREEK NEAR ARARAT AND STEWART
CREEK NEAR WHITE PLAINS. 

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF TWO INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED
AREA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND NOW. ACT QUICKLY TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE.

STAY AWAY OR BE SWEPT AWAY. RIVER BANKS AND CULVERTS BECOME UNSTABLE
AND UNSAFE DURING FLOODING. 

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE SEND YOUR REPORTS OF FLOODING...
INCLUDING MUDSLIDES OR ROAD CLOSURES...TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE AT 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. REPORTS
AND PICTURES CAN ALSO BE SHARED ON THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
BLACKSBURG FACEBOOK PAGE AND ON TWITTER.

&&

LAT...LON 3631 8066 3656 8075 3655 8044 3626 8045

$$

AS
496 
WGUS71 KRNK 032356
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
756 PM EDT WED AUG 3 2016

NCC171-040345-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0032.000000T0000Z-160804T0345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
SURRY NC-
756 PM EDT WED AUG 3 2016

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1145 PM EDT FOR 
EASTERN SURRY COUNTY...

AT 748 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR AND AUTOMATED RAIN GAUGES INDICATED
THAT HEAVY RAIN WAS FALLING OVER THE AREA. FOUR TO SIX INCHES OF
RAIN HAVE FALLEN SINCE NOON. FLASH FLOODING IS ONGOING.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
ARARAT...
MOUNT AIRY...
FLAT ROCK...
PILOT MOUNTAIN...
TOAST...
AND PINE RIDGE.

SIGNIFICANT FLOODING WAS REPORTED BY SURRY COUNTY OFFICIALS IN
ARARAT. FLOODING WILL OCCUR ALONG THE ARARAT RIVER FROM MOUNT
AIRY...THROUGH ARARAT...TO SILOAM. 

THE RIVER GAUGE ON THE ARARAT RIVER AT ARARAT HAS EXCEEDED FLOOD
STAGE AND WAS RISING QUICKLY. STREAMS AND CREEKS FEEDING INTO THE
ARARAT RIVER WILL ALSO FLOOD...INCLUDING BULL CREEK AND TOMS CREEK
NEAR ARARAT...AND STEWART CREEK NEAR WHITE PLAINS. 

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF TWO INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED
AREA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND NOW. ACT QUICKLY TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING.

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE SEND YOUR REPORTS OF FLOODING...
INCLUDING MUDSLIDES OR ROAD CLOSURES...TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE AT 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. REPORTS
AND PICTURES CAN ALSO BE SHARED ON THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
BLACKSBURG FACEBOOK PAGE AND ON TWITTER.

&&

LAT...LON 3631 8066 3656 8075 3655 8044 3626 8045

$$

AS
507 
WGUS71 KRNK 040134
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
934 PM EDT WED AUG 3 2016

NCC171-040345-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0032.000000T0000Z-160804T0345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
SURRY NC-
934 PM EDT WED AUG 3 2016

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1145 PM EDT FOR 
EASTERN SURRY COUNTY...

AT 923 PM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED FLOODING DUE TO HEAVY
RAIN IN ARARAT. FOUR TO SEVEN INCHES OF RAIN HAVE FALLEN SINCE 2PM.
FLASH FLOODING IS ONGOING. 

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS UP TO THREE INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN
THE WARNED AREA.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
ARARAT...
MOUNT AIRY...
FLAT ROCK...
PILOT MOUNTAIN...
TOAST...
AND PINE RIDGE.

COUNTY OFFICIALS REPORTED FLOODING ALONG STEWART CREEK...LOVILLS
CREEK AND THE ARARAT RIVER. AVOID RADAR ROAD IN ARARAT. IT IS
FLOODED AND DAMAGED. 

THE RIVER STAGE AT ARARAT WAS ABOVE FLOOD STAGE AND THE RIVER WAS
STEADILY RISING. FLOODING IS ALSO EXPECTED ON STREAMS FLOWING INTO
THE ARARAT RIVER...INCLUDING TOMS CREEK AND HEATHERLY CREEK BETWEEN
ARARAT AND PILOT MOUNTAIN. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. NEVER DRIVE INTO WATER COVERING A ROAD.

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

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE SEND YOUR REPORTS OF FLOODING...
INCLUDING MUDSLIDES OR ROAD CLOSURES...TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE AT 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. REPORTS
AND PICTURES CAN ALSO BE SHARED ON THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
BLACKSBURG FACEBOOK PAGE AND ON TWITTER.

&&

LAT...LON 3631 8066 3656 8075 3655 8044 3626 8045

$$

AS
917 
WGUS71 KRNK 040249
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1049 PM EDT WED AUG 3 2016

NCC171-040345-
/O.CON.KRNK.FF.W.0032.000000T0000Z-160804T0345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
SURRY NC-
1049 PM EDT WED AUG 3 2016

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1145 PM EDT FOR 
EASTERN SURRY COUNTY...

AT 1038 PM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED FLOODING FROM HEAVY
RAIN IN ARARAT. FIVE TO NINE INCHES OF RAIN HAVE FALLEN SINCE 3PM.
FLASH FLOODING IS ONGOING. 

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
MOUNT AIRY...
FLAT ROCK...
PILOT MOUNTAIN...
TOAST...
AND PINE RIDGE.

FLOOD WATERS ARE MOVING DOWN THE ARARAT RIVER. THE ARARAT RIVER
ARARAT WAS AT 20.4 FEET WHICH IS MODERATE FLOODING. THE RIVER WAS
STILL RISING AND WILL EXCEED MAJOR FLOODING OVERNIGHT. THIS IS
THE HIGHEST THE WATER HAS RISEN SINCE 1980. 

TRIBUTARIES FLOWING INTO THE ARARAT RIVER WILL ALSO BE FLOODING WELL
OUT OF THEIR BANKS. THIS INCLUDES TOMS CREEK, STEWARTS CREEK...AND
LOVILLS CREEK. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. NEVER DRIVE INTO WATER THAT COVERS THE ROAD.

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

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE SEND YOUR REPORTS OF FLOODING...
INCLUDING MUDSLIDES OR ROAD CLOSURES...TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE AT 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. REPORTS
AND PICTURES CAN ALSO BE SHARED ON THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
BLACKSBURG FACEBOOK PAGE AND ON TWITTER.

&&

LAT...LON 3631 8066 3656 8075 3655 8044 3626 8045

$$

AS
437 
WGUS71 KRNK 040344
FFSRNK

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1144 PM EDT WED AUG 3 2016

NCC171-040353-
/O.EXP.KRNK.FF.W.0032.000000T0000Z-160804T0345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
SURRY NC-
1144 PM EDT WED AUG 3 2016

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR 
EASTERN SURRY COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 1145 PM EDT...

RAIN WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. THIS FLASH FLOOD
WARNING WILL BE REPLACED BY A FLOOD WARNING. PLEASE CONTINUE TO HEED
ALL ROAD CLOSURES.

WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...PLEASE SEND YOUR REPORTS OF FLOODING...
INCLUDING MUDSLIDES OR ROAD CLOSURES...TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE AT 1...8 6 6...2 1 5...4 3 2 4. REPORTS
AND PICTURES CAN ALSO BE SHARED ON THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
BLACKSBURG FACEBOOK PAGE AND ON TWITTER.

LAT...LON 3631 8066 3656 8075 3655 8044 3626 8045

$$

AS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 2, 9:49 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKCaswell3 hr
Aug 3, 8:59 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKSurry3 hr
Aug 3, 11:25 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKStokes4 hr
Aug 3, 1:19 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKSurry6 hr
Aug 3, 2:23 PM EDTFlash Flood WatchRNKAlleghany, Ashe, Stokes, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes and 1 more36 hr
Aug 3, 2:29 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKWilkes5 hr
Aug 3, 2:29 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKSurry5 hr
Aug 3, 3:41 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryRNKSurry4 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 2016Every flash flood warning in 2016

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.