Alert archive / North Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2018

Flash Flood Warning 61, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

September 16, 2018Rowan County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this flash flood warning at Sep 16, 2018, 8:54 PM EDT for Rowan County, North Carolina. It was in force for 2 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Sep 16, 2018, 8:54 PM EDT (00:54 UTC)
Expired
Sep 16, 2018, 11:21 PM EDT
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
Unknown

County Rowan County, NC

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 159 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:53 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

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 00:00Z, 0.9 hours before the alert went out and 80 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 00:00Z on 2018-09-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 162 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 00:00Z on 2018-09-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 218 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
162 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-1 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
539 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
218 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
192 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

602 
WGUS52 KGSP 170054
FFWGSP
NCC159-170345-
/O.NEW.KGSP.FF.W.0061.180917T0054Z-180917T0345Z/
/00000.U.DM.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
854 PM EDT SUN SEP 16 2018

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  A Dam Failure in...
  Southwestern Rowan County in the Piedmont of North Carolina...

* Until 1145 PM EDT.

* At 844 PM EDT, Rowan County Emergency Management is reporting
  a partial breach of the Lake Corriher levee in Landis. Potential 
  residential areas impacted include along Brown Heights Ln, Sutton 
  Rd, Kimball Rd, and Tranquil Lake Dr.  Rowan County officials are 
  currently assessing the status of the levee.

* Residents along roads in the vicinity of the dam are urged to heed 
  all guidance from local officials, including any evacuation orders 
  if they are issued.  Please monitor local media and county 
  notification methods for additional information especially if the 
  situation worsens.

* Any floodwave that develops as a result of the levee breach will
  flow into Grants Creek on the west side of China Grove at least
  as far as a mile downstream of the dam.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

If you receive an evacuation order from local officials, please obey
all local official guidance and act quickly to protect your life.  

&&

LAT...LON 3564 8052 3561 8053 3552 8060 3556 8066
      3564 8061 3566 8056

$$

JMP
1 follow-up statement
536 
WGUS72 KGSP 170321
FFSGSP

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1121 PM EDT SUN SEP 16 2018

NCC159-170321-
/O.CAN.KGSP.FF.W.0061.000000T0000Z-180917T0345Z/
/00000.0.DM.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ROWAN NC-
1121 PM EDT SUN SEP 16 2018

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR SOUTHWESTERN ROWAN
COUNTY...

The pools at Lake Corriher and Lake Landis have receded and the 
compromised levee is no longer expected to pose a threat. Therefore, 
the Flash Flood Warning will be cancelled. A Flash Flood Warning 
remains in effect for Rowan County due to numerous road closures and 
area flooding.

LAT...LON 3564 8052 3561 8053 3552 8060 3556 8066
      3564 8061 3566 8056

$$

JMP

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 Sep 16, 8:05 PM EDT, 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 16, 8:05 PM EDT, 49 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
805 PM EDT Sun Sep 16 2018

.SYNOPSIS...
The remnants of Florence will cross the mountains tonight reaching
eastern Tennessee and continue north Monday and turn northeast into
Tuesday.  The threat of heavy rain continues for the region through
Monday before improving going into mid week. Expect a chance of
showers returning toward the end of the week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/...
As of 730 PM EDT: The circulation center of Florence was moving
slowly to the north and northwest over the Upstate, with the
heavier rain shifting northward over the NW Piedmont and east of
the fcst area. Rainfall rates have tapered off across much of the
Charlotte metro area and along the Escarpment south of Old Fort,
with precip becoming light and more intermittent along and w of
I-26 and most of the rest of the Upstate. Will consider dropping
a few more zones from the FFA later this evening. As for winds,
the pressure gradient continues to move outward from the remnant
circulation and north of the area, however, the Wind Advisory
was extended until Midnight for the northern mtns and adjacent
foothill zones based on some of the high elevation wind obs we
continue to receive from Beech Mtn, indicating occasional gusts
upwards of 50 mph. As for the tornado threat, will not rule out
a small risk over the wrn Piedmont until we get to an hour or so
after sunset, what with plenty of shear/helicity still seen on the
mesoanalysis. Will keep isolated to scattered thunder mention there.

Overnight, the heavier rain bands will shift north and tornado
threat should abate as we lose instability. Low clouds and tropical
air mass in place will keep temps about 5 to 10 degrees above
normal overnight.

Monday, the remnants of Florence will exit north of forecast area
by daybreak, turning the flow around out of the SW. Mid-level dry
air will punch in across the Piedmont, but deeper moisture will
remain along the TN border. Breaks in the clouds is expected, and
lingering low-level moisture will support 1000-2000 J/kg of SBCAPE
along and east of I-85 by mid-aftn. Showers will likely develop
in the mountains and along a convergence zone on the leading edge
of a dry slot during the aftn. The CAMs seem to keep most of the
Piedmont convection along our eastern edge of the forecast area
and to the east. Shear becomes weak and overall unidirectional. So
severe threat looks low. Highs will be rebound to a category or
two above normal.

&&

.SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 100 PM EDT Sunday: A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for
portions of the area through Monday evening.

By Monday night, the remnants of Florence will become an open wave
aloft and will move up the Ohio River Valley. It will gradually push
eastward, bringing a surface trough and lingering wrap around
moisture across the forecast area Monday night through Tuesday. This
will result in isolated showers, especially across the higher
elevations, before gradually tapering off from south to north late
Tuesday. Additional rainfall amounts of a quarter of an inch or less
expected Monday night throught Tuesday night. A few gusty winds are
possible on Tuesday as low level flow shifts NW behind the trough
and could result in some downslope acceleration of gusts to 15-20
kts.

Drying trend begins Tuesday night as high pressure begins to build
into the region. Temperatures throughout the short term will remain
just above normal.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 1230 PM EDT Sunday: High pressure will continue to provide dry
weather Wednesday through early Thursday. Thursday afternoon through
Friday, the ridge of high pressure will shift east, allowing for
easterly flow to develop and filter in more moist air. Can't rule
out a few showers during the diurnal heating to end the work week.

As we progress into the weekend, weather will remain unsettled as a
surface boundary moves closer to the FA. Expect the potential for
showers and thunderstorms to expand across the entire area beginning
Friday afternoon and continuing through the weekend. Rainfall
amounts will be minimal. Temperatures will remain above normal.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: Winds continue to slowly decrease, as the
remnants of Florence weakens and drifts northward this evening. The
position of the remnant circulation was playing havoc with wind
direction at some of the Upstate TAF sites, but fortunately the
speed is light. Wind should veer to SW by early Monday. Widespread
MVFR/IFR ceilings across the region will deteriorate a bit more to
IFR/LIFR across the region as the boundary layer drops overnight
with the excessively moist air mass. Rain will taper off from south
to north overnight thru Monday morning, only to be replaced most
likely by a fog restriction. As flow turns around out of the SW on
Monday morning, drier air aloft should help scatter out and lift
the lower clouds from south to north in the early afternoon. Models
are indicating that once low clouds scatter out, enough instability
will be present to allow for showers/storms to develop across the
region, so all sites get a PROB30 with associated restrictions
for the bulk of the afternoon.

Outlook: Expect flight conditions to improve Monday night and into
Tuesday, as the remnants of Florence exit north of the area. VFR
conditions are expected for the middle of the week, outside of
diurnal showers and thunderstorms.

Confidence Table...

            00-06Z        06-12Z        12-18Z        18-00Z
KCLT       High  85%     High  87%     High  82%     High  95%
KGSP       High  87%     Med   67%     Med   69%     High  90%
KAVL       High  96%     High  99%     High  92%     High  84%
KHKY       High  95%     High  87%     High  80%     High  81%
KGMU       High  93%     Med   60%     Med   68%     High  90%
KAND       High  83%     Med   66%     Med   69%     High  96%

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...Flash Flood Watch through Monday evening for NCZ033-035>037-
     048>050-053-056-057-065-068>072-082-501>510.
     Wind Advisory until midnight EDT tonight for NCZ033-048>050-
     501-503-505.
SC...Flash Flood Watch through Monday evening for SCZ008-009-014.

&&

SYNOPSIS...DEO
NEAR TERM...ARK/PM
SHORT TERM...KM
LONG TERM...KM
AVIATION...PM
Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 16, 6:17 PM EDT, 2 hours 37 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
617 PM EDT Sun Sep 16 2018

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ051-052-058-059-062>064-SCZ001>007-
010>013-019-172230-
Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Swain-Haywood-Graham-
Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson-Transylvania-
Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains-
Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens-Greater Greenville-Spartanburg-
Anderson-Abbeville-Laurens-Union-Greenwood-
617 PM EDT Sun Sep 16 2018

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Tropical Depression Florence will bring significant impacts to the
region through tonight as it moves west through the western
Carolinas and northeast Georgia. A few wind gusts could knock down
some tree limbs, causing sporadic power outages.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

Rainfall from Tropical Depression Florence will linger into Monday.
Thus, the threat of flooding rainfall will continue as well as the
potential for landslides along steep terrain in and near the
mountains.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

None.

NCZ035>037-053-056-057-065-068>072-082-502-504-506>510-SCZ008-009-
014-172230-
Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Buncombe-Catawba-Rowan-Henderson-Cleveland-
Lincoln-Gaston-Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union-Greater Caldwell-
Greater Burke-Eastern McDowell-Rutherford Mountains-
Greater Rutherford-Polk Mountains-Eastern Polk-Cherokee-York-Chester-
617 PM EDT Sun Sep 16 2018

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING...

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Flash Flood Watch.

Tropical Depression Florence will bring significant impacts to the
region through tonight as it moves west through the western
Carolinas and northeast Georgia. Prepare now for flooding rainfall,
landslides along steep terrain in and near the mountains, and gusty
winds that could damage trees and power lines. Isolated, brief
tornadoes are possible through this evening as well.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Flash Flood Watch.

Rainfall from Tropical Depression Florence will linger into Monday.
Thus, the threat of flooding rainfall will continue as well as the
potential for landslides along steep terrain in and near the
mountains.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

None.

NCZ033-048>050-501-503-505-172230-
Avery-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Caldwell Mountains-Burke Mountains-
McDowell Mountains-
617 PM EDT Sun Sep 16 2018

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Flash Flood Watch.
   Wind Advisory.

Tropical Depression Florence will bring significant impacts to the
region through tonight as it moves west through the western
Carolinas and northeast Georgia. Prepare now for flooding rainfall,
landslides along steep terrain in and near the mountains, and gusty
winds that could damage trees and power lines.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Flash Flood Watch.

Rainfall from Tropical Depression Florence will linger into Monday.
Thus, the threat of flooding rainfall will continue as well as the
potential for landslides along steep terrain in and near the
mountains.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

None.

PM

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 16, 5:47 PM EDT, 3 hours 7 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
547 PM EDT SUN SEP 16 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0245 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 2 N HUNTERSVILLE        35.45N 80.84W
09/16/2018                   MECKLENBURG        NC   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            FIRE DEPT/RESCUE REPORTED TREE ON A STRUCTURE ON
            CALDWELL STATION RD.

&&

WIMBERLEY
Local storm report, Sep 16, 6:37 PM EDT, 2 hours 17 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
637 PM EDT SUN SEP 16 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0634 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 E SALISBURY           35.67N 80.47W
09/16/2018                   ROWAN              NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED NUMEROUS FLOODED ROADS ACROSS
            THE COUNTY. LAW ENFORCEMENT IS IN PROCESS OF PUTTING
            UP BARRICADES TO CLOSE ROADS.

&&
Local storm report, Sep 16, 7:25 PM EDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
725 PM EDT SUN SEP 16 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0500 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG YORK                    34.99N 81.24W
09/16/2018                   YORK               SC   911 CALL CENTER

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN IN YORK ONE OF WHICH FELL ON A
            ROAD.

&&
Local storm report, Sep 16, 8:08 PM EDT, 46 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
808 PM EDT SUN SEP 16 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0806 PM     FLASH FLOOD      MCADENVILLE             35.26N 81.08W
09/16/2018                   GASTON             NC   AMATEUR RADIO

            HAM OPERATOR RELAYED REPORT OF HWY 7 IN DOWNTOWN
            MCADENVILLE CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING.

&&

KRENTZ
Local storm report, Sep 16, 8:34 PM EDT, 20 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
834 PM EDT SUN SEP 16 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0830 PM     FLASH FLOOD      3 NNE PLEASANT GROVE    35.67N 81.56W
09/16/2018                   BURKE              NC   PUBLIC

            TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED A WATER RESCUE OCCURRING. A
            PORTION OF HENRY FORK IS COVERING RIVER ROAD.

&&
Local storm report, Sep 16, 8:41 PM EDT, 13 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
841 PM EDT SUN SEP 16 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0806 PM     FLOOD            MCADENVILLE             35.26N 81.08W
09/16/2018                   GASTON             NC   AMATEUR RADIO

            HAM OPERATOR RELAYED REPORT OF HWY 7 IN DOWNTOWN
            MCADENVILLE CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING.

&&

KRENTZ

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 16, 8:37 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPRowan6 hr
Sep 16, 9:30 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPCaldwell4 hr
Sep 17, 12:47 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningGSPCabarrus21 hr
Sep 17, 1:17 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningGSPUnion17 hr
Sep 17, 2:12 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningGSPBurke, Caldwell, McDowell16 hr
Sep 17, 2:26 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningGSPRowan3 hr

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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.