Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2018

Flash Flood Warning 44, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

August 21, 2018McDowell County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this flash flood warning at Aug 21, 2018, 1:59 PM EDT for McDowell County, North Carolina. It was in force for 3 hr. 4 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 21, 2018, 1:59 PM EDT (17:59 UTC)
Expired
Aug 21, 2018, 5:00 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County McDowell County, NC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 111 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:00 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 21, 2:40 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD2 Sw Ashford, NCEMERGENCY MNGR REPORTED US 221 IS FLOODED IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS NEAR NORTH COVE AND ASHFORD WITH MULTIPLE TRIBUTARIES TO THE NORTH FORK CATAWBA RIVER OUT OF THEIR BANKS. STORM-TOTAL RAINFALL OF 1.5-2.5 INCHES OCCURRED IN A TWO-HOUR PERIOD.
Aug 21, 3:20 PM EDTFLASH FLOODSsw Ashford, NCGAUGE AT NORTH FORK CATAWBA RIVER ABOVE US 221 NE OF NORTH COVE ROSE ABOVE MINOR FLOOD STAGE TO A LEVEL OF 9.23 FT.
Aug 21, 3:30 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 N Ashford, NCEMERGENCY MNGR REPORTED 1-3 INCHES OF WATER FLOODED FIRST FLOOR OF DUPLEXES AND UP TO 1 FOOT OF WATER SURROUNDED THE DUPLEX FOUNDATIONS ALONG BLUE RIDGE RD. STORM-TOTAL RAINFALL OF 1.5-2.5 INCHES OCCURRED IN A TWO-HOUR PERIOD.
Aug 21, 3:30 PM EDTFLASH FLOODAshford, NCEMERGENCY MNGR REPORTED FAST-FLOWING SMALL TRIBUTARIES INTO THE NORTH FORK CATAWBA RIVER...ESPECIALLY POND BRANCH AND DOGBACK BRANCH...OUT OF THEIR BANKS AND FLOODING ADJACENT LOW-LYING AREAS AND FARMLAND WITH UP TO 3 FEET OF WATER. STORM-TOTAL RAINFALL OF 1.5

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

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 5 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 41 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 6.0 hours before the alert went out and 190 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 2018-08-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 616 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°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 2018-08-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 46 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
616 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-11 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
649 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
46 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
60 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

126 
WGUS52 KGSP 211759
FFWGSP
NCC111-212100-
/O.NEW.KGSP.FF.W.0044.180821T1759Z-180821T2100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
159 PM EDT TUE AUG 21 2018

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northeastern McDowell County in western North Carolina...

* Until 500 PM EDT.

* At 156 PM EDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated
  thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Flash 
  flooding is likely occurring or will begin shortly. Emergency 
  management is reporting unstable slopes due to heavy rainfall last 
  night. Additional landslides are possible. The North Fork Catawba 
  River is approaching flood stage and may flood Mountain Paradise 
  Campground and North Cove School Road.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
  North Cove, Ashford, Little Switzerland, Woodlawn, Linville Falls,
  Busick, B.R. Parkway-Little Switzerland To Linville and B.R.
  Parkway-Craggy To Little Switzerland.

Excessive rainfall over the warned area will cause mud slides near
steep terrain. The mud slide can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and
other loose materials.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Do not attempt to cross
water-covered roadways, bridges, or low-level crossings. Only a few
inches of rapidly flowing water can carry away your vehicle. It is
not worth the risk. Please TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN.

The additional heavy rain will increase the risk of landslides,
especially in areas where slides have occurred in the past. Be
especially alert if you are near a stream, especially at the base of
a mountain or in a cove. Watch for loose-moving soil and rocks or a
sudden increase in streamflow. Leave the area quickly if this is
observed. When driving along roads where the terrain is steep or
rocky, watch and listen for falling rocks, mud, trees and other
debris.

When it is safe to do so, please report flood waters or landslides
flowing over roads or threatening property to the National Weather
Service by calling toll free, 1, 800, 2 6 7, 8 1 0 1, by posting on
our Facebook page, or via Twitter using hashtag NWSGSP. Your message
should describe the event and the specific location where it
occurred, including roadways, nearby cross streets, stream names and
other landmarks.

&&

LAT...LON 3591 8191 3588 8191 3585 8192 3582 8196
      3582 8197 3581 8199 3577 8194 3576 8217
      3579 8217 3585 8210 3585 8205 3588 8202
      3587 8200 3589 8198 3591 8198 3593 8196
      3594 8196 3596 8194

$$

RWH

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Aug 21, 1:55 PM EDT, 4 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 21, 1:55 PM EDT, 4 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
155 PM EDT Tue Aug 21 2018

.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front will approach from the west today and is forecast
to move across the region this evening. In the front's wake, dry
high pressure will spread over the area for the latter half of the
week, making it feel more like mid-September. The warm and humid
air will return for the weekend.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 155 PM EDT Tuesday: Main update for the 18Z TAF issuance
along with adjustments made to temperatures/PoPs to account for
trends as the rest of the near term forecast remains on track.

Latest radar imagery depicts isolated showers and thunderstorms
continuing to move across the western portions of the FA. Given
lingering widespread cloud cover through this morning, temperatures
have been slow to warm up, which has kept the area a tad more stable
than previously anticipated, thus less coverage of convection than
suggested by CAMs. However, satellite imagery is showing a few more
breaks in the clouds, which may help destabilize the area a bit more
ahead of the approaching cold front from the west, and allow for
increasing coverage of convection this afternoon and this evening.
Current temperatures remain in the upper 70s/low 80s.

Otherwise, upper low continues to push eastward, gradually opening
up as it approaches the Appalachians later today. The associated sfc
cold front will reach the Foothills by roughly 00Z Wed. Ahead of the
front is ample moisture with precip water amounts just over 2''. The
front will be accompanied by some upper support, and widespread
showers and thunderstorms are likely this afternoon and evening with
activity progressing from the mountains to the southeast. Wind
profiles will strengthen today due to the influence of the frontal
system, with bulk shear peaking in the 25 to 30 knot range this
afternoon. This will increase the chance for severe weather;
primarily severe wind gusts from storm outflows. This is represented
by a Marginal Risk area from SPC. Instability amounts will be
similar to the past few days, with lapse rates and sfc dewpts
similar to yesterday. More rapid storm motion will limit excessive
rain potential, though some flooding potential exists if training or
repeated rounds of precip occur over locations. Rain and clouds will
limit highs today to the low to mid 80s. Winds will remain
persistently SWLY ahead of the front with some speed increases and
gusts later this afternoon as the front approaches.

&&

.SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
As of 235 AM EDT Tuesday: The models are still on board with giving
us a brief respite from summer during the latter half of the week. A
cold front should be well to our east by daybreak on Wednesday,
with a relatively strong WNW flow aloft for this time of year as an
upper trof axis lingers overhead. Lingering low level moisture will
fuel the development of upslope showers near the TN border through
the day, so a chance of precip was kept in that location. Although
the flow will be generally inhospitable east of the Blue Ridge,
some bands of showers are possible in axes of low level convergence
downwind of some of the higher terrain, such as the Balsams. A
trailing short wave is expected to dive down into the upper trof
during the afternoon, which should enhance the precip chances
late in the day. Thus, have generally accepted the slight chance
seen in the NAM across Upstate SC and the wrn Piedmont of NC. The
loss of heating will take care of this activity Wednesday evening,
while the upslope moisture will taper off near the TN border. The
downslope east of the mtns should keep temps a bit closer to normal
than otherwise expected on Wednesday, but that will not be the case
for the rest of the week. The rest of the fcst is dry with temps
about five degrees below normal courtesy of sfc high pressure moving
past to the north on Thursday and lingering off the New England
coast on Friday. Might even get cool enough to open the windows
Thursday night and Friday night. The difference in humidity should
be notable, with dewpts down in the mid/upper 50s east of the mtns.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
As of 320 AM EDT Tuesday: Alas, summer will return over the weekend,
not quite with a vengeance, but the models suggest the upper pattern
will evolve toward one that usually spells above normal heat for
August during the early to middle part of next week. In the mean
time, a progressive upper trof moving past to the north on Saturday
will push a dying front toward the region. An easterly low level
flow ahead of the trof will fuel a return to diurnally-driven
showers and storms on Saturday with temperatures still about
five degrees below normal. That changes on Sunday as an upper
anticyclone over the srn Plains plods eastward thru Monday. This
feature will bring a warming trend, with temps going up a category
for Sunday and another one again on Monday. Precip chances favor
diurnal showers over the higher terrain.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: With an approaching cold front currently west
of the area, mainly MVFR prevails this afternoon as low cigs
continue to linger much longer than expected, though a few areas are
beginning to scatter out to VFR, while others have briefly
deteriorated to IFR given a SHRA/TSRA moving over the TAF site.
Expect showers and thunderstorms to increase in coverage this
afternoon and tonight as the cold front moves into the area,
bringing periods of IFR heavier downpours/lower cigs and gusts up to
30 kts possible in stronger storms. Per latest guidance, anticipate
coverage of SHRA/TSRA to become isolated in nature overnight,
diminishing with the cold front. Otherwise, SW winds AOB 12 kts will
prevail through the rest of today, gradually veering with the cold
front, beginning across the mountains later tonight, and eventually
at KCLT towards Wednesday morning. Isolated showers will be possible
across the mountains Wednesday morning, which could bring lingering
MVFR/IFR to KAVL. Otherwise, expect VFR.

Outlook: Quiet weather conditions will be in place behind the cold
front as drier air infiltrates in. Thus, expect VFR to prevail
through the end of the week.

Confidence Table...

            18-24Z        00-06Z        06-12Z        12-18Z
KCLT       High  99%     High 100%     High 100%     High 100%
KGSP       High  99%     High 100%     High 100%     High 100%
KAVL       High 100%     High  97%     Med   61%     High  82%
KHKY       High  99%     High 100%     High 100%     High 100%
KGMU       High  98%     High 100%     High 100%     High 100%
KAND       High  97%     High  99%     High 100%     High 100%

The percentage reflects the number of guidance members agreeing
with the scheduled TAF issuance flight rule category. Complete hourly
experimental aviation forecast consistency tables and ensemble forecasts
are available at the following link:

www.weather.gov/gsp/aviation

&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
NC...None.
SC...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...PM
NEAR TERM...JPT/SGL
SHORT TERM...PM
LONG TERM...PM
AVIATION...SGL
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 21, 6:18 AM EDT, 7 hours 41 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
618 AM EDT Tue Aug 21 2018

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-
068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-221030-
Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Avery-Alexander-
Iredell-Davie-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Swain-Haywood-Buncombe-Catawba-
Rowan-Graham-Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson-Transylvania-
Henderson-Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston-Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union-
Caldwell Mountains-Greater Caldwell-Burke Mountains-Greater Burke-
McDowell Mountains-Eastern McDowell-Rutherford Mountains-
Greater Rutherford-Polk Mountains-Eastern Polk-Oconee Mountains-
Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains-Greater Oconee-
Greater Pickens-Greater Greenville-Spartanburg-Cherokee-York-
Anderson-Abbeville-Laurens-Chester-Greenwood-
618 AM EDT Tue Aug 21 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, piedmont
North Carolina, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

A robust cold front will approach the forecast area from the west
and help to generate numerous showers and thunderstorms. Some of
these storms could become severe and produce large hail and damaging
wind gusts. Isolated urban and small stream flooding is also a threat
with these storms. The flooding threat will be greatest over the
higher terrain.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

No hazardous weather is expected.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail,
damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office.

JPT

The office that day

Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 20, 8:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPDavie34 min
Aug 20, 10:39 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPMcDowell111 min
Aug 20, 11:18 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPMcDowell112 min
Aug 21, 2:14 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPBurke, Caldwell3 hr
Aug 21, 3:07 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPBurke, Caldwell3 hr
Aug 21, 3:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCatawba33 min
Aug 21, 3:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPAlexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba42 min
Aug 21, 3:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPAlexander, Iredell46 min
Aug 21, 4:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPDavie, Rowan45 min
Aug 21, 5:03 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPMcDowell3 hr
Aug 21, 5:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPBurke33 min
Aug 21, 6:33 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPIredell27 min
Aug 21, 7:02 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPIredell28 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in North Carolina, 2018Every flash flood warning in 2018

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.