Alert archive / Delaware / Flash Flood Warnings in 2020

Flash Flood Warning 16, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

July 10, 2020Sussex County, Delaware

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this flash flood warning at Jul 10, 2020, 6:34 AM EDT for Sussex County, Delaware. It was in force for 6 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
Jul 10, 2020, 6:34 AM EDT (10:34 UTC)
Expired
Jul 10, 2020, 12:30 PM EDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Sussex County, DE

The radar

The Dover AFB radar (KDOX), 39 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:39 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
Jul 10, 6:41 AM EDTFLOOD3 W Long Neck, DEFLOODING OF ROADS AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS NEAR LONG NECK.
Jul 10, 6:54 AM EDTFLASH FLOODBethany Beach, DEESTIMATED 1 TO 2.5 FEET OF WATER INUNDATING ROADS IN BETHANY BEACH. REPORT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA WITH VIDEO.
Jul 10, 7:00 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD2 Sw Long Neck, DERIVER ROAD AND OAK ORCHARD AVENUE CLOSED FROM FLOODING. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON SURROUNDING REPORTS AND GAUGE OBSERVATIONS.
Jul 10, 7:30 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD5 Ne Harbeson, DECAVE NECK ROAD CLOSED EAST OF MILTON FROM FLOODING. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR AND NEARBY REPORTS.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Wallops Is Stn, VA (KWAL), launched 00:00Z, 10.6 hours before the alert went out and 74 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, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 00:00Z on 2020-07-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 402 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, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 00:00Z on 2020-07-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 22 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
402 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-13 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
649 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
8 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
22 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
16 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

618 
WGUS51 KPHI 101034
FFWPHI
DEC005-101630-
/O.NEW.KPHI.FF.W.0016.200710T1034Z-200710T1630Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
634 AM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly NJ has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southeastern Sussex County in southern Delaware...

* Until 1230 PM EDT.

* At 632 AM EDT, Doppler radar and automated gauges indicated heavy
  rain falling across the warned area. Up to two inches of rain have 
  already fallen. Flash flooding is imminent or occurring, 
  especially in coastal locations.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by heavy rain.

  SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

  IMPACT...Flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, 
           highways, streets and underpasses as well as other 
           drainage and low lying areas.

* Some locations that could experience flooding include...
  Millsboro, Lewes, Dagsboro, Millville, Henlopen Acres, Cape
  Henlopen State Park, Long Neck, Ocean View, Frankford, South
  Bethany and Dewey Beach.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Protecting yourself from immediate threats to life and safety shall
take priority.  Whenever possible, as long as it does not cause
greater harm, all COVID-19 protective action guidance should be
followed.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3859 7530 3883 7527 3882 7508 3845 7502
      3845 7504 3846 7505 3845 7505 3845 7521

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL...1-3 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

CMS
3 follow-up statements
145 
WGUS71 KPHI 101210
FFSPHI

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
810 AM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020

DEC005-101630-
/O.CON.KPHI.FF.W.0016.000000T0000Z-200710T1630Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Sussex DE-
810 AM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1230 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN SUSSEX COUNTY...

At 802 AM EDT, Doppler radar and automated gauges indicated heavy
rain falling across the warned area. Up to three inches of rain have
already fallen. 

Another rainband just crossed the warned area with rain rates in the 
3.00 to 6.00 inch per hour range.

Tidal gauges along Rehoboth Bay and Indian River Bay indicate tides 
are struggling to recede. This will likely impede rainfall runoff. 
Between the rainfall and tides, portions of Route 1 will likely see 
flooding. 

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by heavy rain.

SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

IMPACT...Flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, 
         highways, streets and underpasses as well as other drainage 
         and low lying areas.

Some locations that could experience flooding include...
Millsboro, Lewes, Dagsboro, Millville, Henlopen Acres, Cape Henlopen
State Park, Long Neck, Ocean View, Frankford, South Bethany and Dewey
Beach.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Protecting yourself from immediate threats to life and safety shall
take priority.  Whenever possible, as long as it does not cause
greater harm, all COVID-19 protective action guidance should be
followed.

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

A Flash Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring.
If you are in the warned area move to higher ground immediately.
Residents living along streams and creeks should take immediate
precautions to protect life and property.

&&

LAT...LON 3859 7530 3883 7527 3882 7508 3845 7502
      3845 7504 3846 7505 3845 7505 3845 7521

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL...2-3 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

Kruzdlo
475 
WGUS71 KPHI 101223
FFSPHI

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
823 AM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020

DEC005-101630-
/O.CON.KPHI.FF.W.0016.000000T0000Z-200710T1630Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Sussex DE-
823 AM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1230 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN SUSSEX COUNTY...

At 821 AM EDT, Doppler radar and automated gauges indicated heavy
rain falling across the warned area. Up to three inches of rain have 
already fallen. 

Another rainband just crossed the warned area with rain rates in the 
3.00 to 6.00 inch per hour range.

Tidal gauges along Rehoboth Bay and Indian River Bay indicate tides 
are struggling to recede. This will likely impede rainfall runoff. 
Between the rainfall and tides, portions of Route 1 will likely see 
flooding. 

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Heavy rain producing flash 
         flooding.

SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, 
         urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

Some locations that could experience flooding include...
Millsboro, Lewes, Dagsboro, Millville, Henlopen Acres, Cape Henlopen
State Park, Long Neck, Ocean View, Frankford, South Bethany and Dewey
Beach.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Protecting yourself from immediate threats to life and safety shall
take priority.  Whenever possible, as long as it does not cause
greater harm, all COVID-19 protective action guidance should be
followed.

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

A Flash Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring.
If you are in the warned area move to higher ground immediately.
Residents living along streams and creeks should take immediate
precautions to protect life and property.

&&

LAT...LON 3859 7530 3883 7527 3882 7508 3845 7502
      3845 7504 3846 7505 3845 7505 3845 7521

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
EXPECTED RAINFALL...2-3 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

Kruzdlo
758 
WGUS71 KPHI 101624
FFSPHI

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
1224 PM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020

DEC005-101632-
/O.EXP.KPHI.FF.W.0016.000000T0000Z-200710T1630Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Sussex DE-
1224 PM EDT Fri Jul 10 2020

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN SUSSEX COUNTY WILL EXPIRE
AT 1230 PM EDT...

Rain continues to fall across portions of Sussex County. Between 3 
and 5 inches of rain have fallen since early this morning. While the 
threat for new flash flooding has ended, ongoing flooding will 
likely persist through mid afternoon. This Flash Flood Warning will 
be allowed to expire and will be replace with a Flood Warning.

LAT...LON 3859 7530 3883 7527 3882 7508 3845 7502
      3845 7504 3846 7505 3845 7505 3845 7521

$$

Kruzdlo

The office that day

Everything else NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 10, 9:21 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHIKent, New Castle, Sussex8 hr
Jul 10, 11:02 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPHINew Castle4 hr
Jul 10, 12:22 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningPHISussex3 hr
Jul 10, 12:56 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningPHINew Castle4 hr
Jul 10, 3:38 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningPHINew Castle4 hr
Jul 10, 4:48 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningPHINew Castle4 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Delaware, 2020Every flash flood warning in 2020

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.