Alert archive / Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2018
Flash Flood Warning 64, NWS Baltimore/Washington
NWS Baltimore/Washington issued this flash flood warning at Aug 1, 2018, 12:40 AM EDT for Albemarle County, City of Charlottesville, Virginia. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 1, 2018, 12:40 AM EDT (04:40 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 1, 2018, 3:16 AM EDT
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Baltimore/Washington
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
The radar
The Sterling radar (KLWX), 138 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:44 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.
The nearest sounding before it
Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 00:00Z, 4.7 hours before the alert went out and 141 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 704 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -1 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 777 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 34 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 35 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 112 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.2
- Supercell composite
- 1.6
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 Baltimore/Washington wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jul 31, 11:28 PM EDT, 1 hour 12 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 31, 11:28 PM EDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
1128 PM EDT Tue Jul 31 2018
.SYNOPSIS...
A warm front across southern Virginia will move north of the
area overnight. A cold front will gradually approach from the
Ohio Valley Wednesday into Thursday, then dissipate over the
region Friday. Meanwhile, high pressure will remain anchored
over the western Atlantic through the weekend.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued a Flash Flood Watch for portions of central Virginia.
Repeated rounds of heavy showers and thunderstorms moving over
saturated ground pose a flood risk overnight.
Previous AFD...
On Wednesday...any remnants of the warm front should be north
of the region by early-morning...or the front will simply wash
out. Clouds might take a while to scour out on Wednesday...maybe
hanging tough in areas east of the Blue Ridge from about
Culpeper/Fauquier counties northward through mid-day.
Temperatures on Wed should be warmer as clouds will eventually
break during the afternoon.
SPC has placed much of the northern half of our CWA under a
slight risk for Wed as 0-6km shear of 40-45 kts combines with
instability/SBCAPE of 1200-1500 to produce potential for a few
severe storm. Best potential with timing of the cold front
approaching from the west would be after 19Z in the west and
after 21Z East of the Blue Ridge. Some issues determining how
it plays out storm-wise on Wednesday will be to what extent the
cloud cover can last through mid-day, the anemic mid-level lapse
rate, and just how unstable it can actually get. The 12Z HRFEv2
suggests highest potential for severe storms would be across
the western half of the CWA between 18-21Z...and then there is
uncertainty just how unstable it will be east of the Blue Ridge.
Also will have to factor in the high PWAT values of nearly 2
inches that will be in place across the region on Wed, so there
is potential for flash flooding as well, especially if
convective cores can fire east of the BLue Ridge over areas that
were dumped on last week.
&&
.SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
Although the cold front to the west approaches the area on
Wednesday, it really never crosses. Thus, Thursday and Thurs
night will feature continued deep moisture over the region
along with southerly low level winds. Hard to pinpoint where
convection will fire on Thursday, but expect chances to be an
even bet across the entire region. Shear doesn't look that great
on Thurs (30-35 kt), but could be sufficient for some level of
organized convection. still be enough for organized storms and a
gusty wind threat...and heavy rainfall threat as well given the
high moisture content.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
On Friday, a trough will still be located to our west. With high
pressure locked in to our east at the surface, southerly flow will
persist, and a moist airmass will remain in place. The moist airmass
coupled with ascent ahead of the trough will lead to the development
of afternoon showers and thunderstorms.
Moving into the weekend, model guidance suggests that the mid-upper
level trough that will influence our weather for much of this week
will finally break down. That will leave us in more of a zonal flow
regime aloft. However, the guidance also indicates that ample low-
level moisture will linger (precipitable water values around 1.7-2.0
inches) across the area, and that shortwaves will likely be embedded
within the zonal flow aloft. This will result in chances for showers
and thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
Chances for showers and storms should lessen by Monday, but
will still be non-zero with a warm and humid airmass in place.
Temperatures throughout the long term period should gradually
modify from below normal on Friday to near or slightly above
normal by Monday.
&&
.AVIATION /04Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
SHRA and perhaps an isolated TSRA this evening will be near CHO
closest to a northward advancing warm front. Elsewhere, showers
a bit too scattered and thunderstorms a bit too uncertain for a
prevailing mention of either. Expect some BR to produce IFR
conditions in CHO and IAD overnight...
Wed-Thu...MVFR to occasional IFR ceilings and visibility in
scattered showers and thunderstorms...but much of the time VFR
conditions will prevail. S
Periodic sub-VFR conditions are possible in scattered
showers/thunderstorms Friday and Saturday.
Intermittent sub-VFR conditions could be possible with any
thunderstorms during the Friday through Monday time period. The
highest coverage of storms should be on Friday.
&&
.MARINE...
SCA in effect this evening through Wednesday, and will likely
need to be extended for at least parts of the waters into
Thursday. Showers/thunderstorms increasingly likely late
Wednesday and again on Thursday, some of which could contain
marine warning-level gusty winds.
Showers and thunderstorms will be possible each afternoon Friday
through Monday, with the highest coverage of storms occurring on
Friday. Marginal SCA winds could also be possible in southerly flow
on Friday.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
&&
.CLIMATE...
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...None.
MD...None.
VA...Flash Flood Watch until 8 AM EDT Wednesday for VAZ036>040-050-
051-507-508.
WV...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM EDT Wednesday for ANZ532>537-
540>543.
Small Craft Advisory from 8 AM to 6 PM EDT Wednesday for
ANZ530-531-538-539.
&&
SYNOPSIS...SMZ
NEAR TERM...LFR/DHOF
SHORT TERM...SMZ
LONG TERM...KJP
AVIATION...SMZ
MARINE...SMZ
HYDROLOGY...LWX
CLIMATE...LWXHazardous weather outlook, Aug 1, 12:36 AM EDT, 4 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC 1236 AM EDT Wed Aug 1 2018 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ011-013-014-016>018-508-VAZ052>057-020445- Chesapeake Bay north of Pooles Island MD- Chesapeake Bay from Pooles Island to Sandy Point MD- Chesapeake Bay from Sandy Point to North Beach MD- Chesapeake Bay from North Beach to Drum Point MD- Chesapeake Bay from Drum Point MD to Smith Point VA- Tidal Potomac from Key Bridge to Indian Head MD- Tidal Potomac from Indian Head to Cobb Island MD- Tidal Potomac from Cobb Island MD to Smith Point VA- Patapsco River including Baltimore Harbor- Chester River to Queenstown MD-Eastern Bay- Choptank River to Cambridge MD and the Little Choptank River- Patuxent River to Broomes Island MD- Tangier Sound and the inland waters surrounding Bloodsworth Island-District of Columbia-Southern Baltimore-Prince Georges- Anne Arundel-Charles-St. Marys-Calvert-Southeast Harford- Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park-Fairfax- Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria-Stafford-Spotsylvania- King George- 1236 AM EDT Wed Aug 1 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay, Tidal Potomac River, and adjacent counties in central Maryland and northern Virginia as well as the District of Columbia. .DAY ONE...Tonight Isolated instance of flooding are likely over southern Maryland overnight. Gusty winds in thunderstorms are possible over the waters as well. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Showers and thunderstorms may result in locally damaging wind gusts and isolated instances of flooding Wednesday and Thursday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. MDZ003>006-501>507-VAZ025>031-036>040-050-051-501>508-WVZ050>053- 055-501>506-020445- Washington-Frederick MD-Carroll-Northern Baltimore- Extreme Western Allegany-Central and Eastern Allegany- Northwest Montgomery-Central and Southeast Montgomery- Northwest Howard-Central and Southeast Howard-Northwest Harford- Augusta-Rockingham-Shenandoah-Frederick VA-Page-Warren-Clarke- Nelson-Albemarle-Greene-Madison-Rappahannock-Orange-Culpeper- Northern Fauquier-Southern Fauquier-Western Highland- Eastern Highland-Western Loudoun-Eastern Loudoun- Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-Central Virginia Blue Ridge- Hampshire-Morgan-Berkeley-Jefferson-Hardy-Western Grant- Eastern Grant-Western Mineral-Eastern Mineral-Western Pendleton- Eastern Pendleton- 1236 AM EDT Wed Aug 1 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern West Virginia, northern and central Virginia, and central and western Maryland with the exception of Garrett County. .DAY ONE...Tonight A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for portions of central Virginia overnight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Showers and thunderstorms may result in locally damaging wind gusts and isolated instances of flooding Wednesday and Thursday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. DHOF
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 31, 8:47 PM EDT, 3 hours 53 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
847 PM EDT TUE JUL 31 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0845 PM FLOOD 2 SSE PUMPKIN CENTER 39.59N 78.55W
07/31/2018 ALLEGANY MD 911 CALL CENTER
PARTS OF TOWN CREEK ROAD CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1801299
JMGLocal storm report, Jul 31, 10:19 PM EDT, 2 hours 21 minutes before
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</html>Local storm report, Jul 31, 11:47 PM EDT, 53 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1147 PM EDT TUE JUL 31 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1142 PM FLOOD 5 SE MADISON RUN 38.15N 78.07W
07/31/2018 ORANGE VA DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
MALLORYS FORD ROAD CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING BETWEEN
COLLINS ROAD AND COX MILL ROAD.
&&
EVENT NUMBER LWX1801307
DHThe office that day
Everything else NWS Baltimore/Washington issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 31, 8:16 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LWX | Albemarle, Greene, Orange | 16 hr |
| Jul 31, 9:44 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LWX | Culpeper, Greene, Madison, Orange | 14 hr |
| Jul 31, 9:45 PM EDT | Small Craft Advisory | LWX | 49 hr | |
| Jul 31, 11:14 PM EDT | Flash Flood Watch | LWX | Albemarle, Amherst, Augusta, Culpeper, Greene, Madison and 11 more | 72 hr |
| Jul 31, 11:23 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LWX | Albemarle, Greene, Nelson | 14 hr |
| Aug 1, 12:08 AM EDT | Special Marine Warning | LWX | 97 min | |
| Aug 1, 1:24 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LWX | Fauquier, Prince William, City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park | 11 hr |
| Aug 1, 2:22 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LWX | Fairfax, City of Fairfax | 9 hr |
| Aug 1, 4:10 AM EDT | Flash Flood Watch | LWX | Arlington, Clarke, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, Highland and 12 more | 3 days |
| Aug 1, 10:35 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LWX | Fairfax, City of Fairfax | 4 hr |
| Aug 1, 11:43 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LWX | Fauquier, Prince William, City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park | 15 hr |
| Aug 1, 6:25 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LWX | Rockingham, Shenandoah | 102 min |
| Aug 1, 6:47 PM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LWX | Frederick | 2 hr |
| Aug 1, 7:15 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LWX | Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah, Warren, City of Winchester | 45 min |
| Aug 1, 12:31 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LWX | Calvert, Saint Mary's | 3 hr |
| Aug 1, 1:28 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LWX | Allegany, Washington | 3 hr |
| Aug 1, 4:27 AM EDT | Areal Flood Warning | LWX | Montgomery | 4 hr |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in Virginia, 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.