Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Watches in 2021

Flash Flood Watch 1, NWS Charleston, WV

May 4, 202117 counties in West Virginia; Athens County, Meigs County, Washington County, Ohio

NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood watch at May 4, 2021, 2:35 PM EDT for 17 counties in West Virginia; Athens County, Meigs County, Washington County, Ohio. It took effect at May 4, 2021, 8:00 PM EDT. It was in force for 12 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 4, 2021, 2:35 PM EDT (18:35 UTC)
In effect from
May 4, 2021, 8:00 PM EDT
Expired
May 5, 2021, 8:00 AM EDT
In force
12 hr
Issued by
NWS Charleston, WV
Flood severity
None

Counties Athens County, OH, Meigs County, OH, Washington County, OH, Braxton County, WV, Calhoun County, WV, Clay County, WV, Doddridge County, WV, Gilmer County, WV, Harrison County, WV, Jackson County, WV, Kanawha County, WV, Lewis County, WV, Mason County, WV, Pleasants County, WV, Putnam County, WV, Ritchie County, WV, Roane County, WV, Tyler County, WV, Wirt County, WV, Wood County, WV

The radar

The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 85 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:37 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

Pittsburgh, PA (KPIT), launched 12:00Z, 6.6 hours before the alert went out and 187 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 12:00Z on 2021-05-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Pittsburgh, PA at 12:00Z on 2021-05-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 157 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
662 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
157 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
163 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

488 
WGUS61 KRLX 041835
FFARLX

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Flood Watch
National Weather Service Charleston WV
235 PM EDT Tue May 4 2021

OHZ075-076-085-WVZ007>011-014>020-027>031-050245-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.A.0001.210505T0000Z-210505T1200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Athens-Washington-Meigs-Mason-Jackson WV-Wood-Pleasants-Tyler-Putnam-
Kanawha-Roane-Wirt-Calhoun-Ritchie-Doddridge-Clay-Braxton-Gilmer-
Lewis-Harrison-
Including the cities of South Charleston, Harrisville, Parkersburg, 
Hurricane, Athens, Clarksburg, Pennsboro, Burnsville, Paden City, 
Gassaway, Bridgeport, Vienna, St. Marys, Pomeroy, Grantsville, 
Marietta, Saint Albans, Glenville, Middlebourne, Sutton, Ravenswood, 
Belpre, Ripley, Clay, Point Pleasant, Charleston, Spencer, 
Elizabeth, New Haven, Teays Valley, Belmont, Weston, West Union, and 
Sistersville
235 PM EDT Tue May 4 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING THROUGH 
WEDNESDAY MORNING...

The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a

* Flash Flood Watch for portions of southeast Ohio and West 
  Virginia, including the following areas, in southeast Ohio, 
  Athens, Meigs and Washington. In West Virginia, Braxton, Calhoun, 
  Clay, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Jackson WV, Kanawha, Lewis, 
  Mason, Pleasants, Putnam, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt and Wood.

* From 8 PM EDT this evening through Wednesday morning.

* A cold front, capable of producing rainfall amounts between 1 and 
  1.5 inches, is expected tonight. The ground is already saturated 
  from recent rain, and additional heavy rainfall is likely to cause 
  excess runoff and localized flooding.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action 
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued. Those living in areas prone 
to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding 
develop.

&&

$$
3 follow-up statements
469 
WGUS61 KRLX 050244
FFARLX

Flood Watch
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1044 PM EDT Tue May 4 2021

OHZ075-076-085-WVZ007>011-014>020-027>031-051045-
/O.CON.KRLX.FF.A.0001.000000T0000Z-210505T1200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Athens-Washington-Meigs-Mason-Jackson WV-Wood-Pleasants-Tyler-Putnam-
Kanawha-Roane-Wirt-Calhoun-Ritchie-Doddridge-Clay-Braxton-Gilmer-
Lewis-Harrison-
Including the cities of South Charleston, Harrisville, Parkersburg, 
Hurricane, Athens, Clarksburg, Pennsboro, Burnsville, Paden City, 
Gassaway, Bridgeport, Vienna, St. Marys, Pomeroy, Grantsville, 
Marietta, Saint Albans, Glenville, Middlebourne, Sutton, Ravenswood, 
Belpre, Ripley, Clay, Point Pleasant, Charleston, Spencer, 
Elizabeth, New Haven, Teays Valley, Belmont, Weston, West Union, and 
Sistersville
1044 PM EDT Tue May 4 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT WEDNESDAY...

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* Portions of southeast Ohio and West Virginia, including the 
  following areas, in southeast Ohio, Athens, Meigs and Washington. 
  In West Virginia, Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Gilmer, 
  Harrison, Jackson WV, Kanawha, Lewis, Mason, Pleasants, Putnam, 
  Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt and Wood.

* Until 8 AM EDT Wednesday.

* A cold front and wave of low pressure, capable of producing 
  rainfall amounts between 1 and 1.5 inches, will cross overnight. 
  With the ground already saturated from recent rain, additional 
  heavy rainfall is likely to cause excess runoff and localized 
  flooding.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action 
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued. Those living in areas prone 
to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding 
develop.

&&

$$

TRM
115 
WGUS61 KRLX 051004
FFARLX

Flood Watch
National Weather Service Charleston WV
604 AM EDT Wed May 5 2021

OHZ075-076-085-WVZ007>011-014>020-027>031-051200-
/O.CON.KRLX.FF.A.0001.000000T0000Z-210505T1200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Athens-Washington-Meigs-Mason-Jackson WV-Wood-Pleasants-Tyler-
Putnam-Kanawha-Roane-Wirt-Calhoun-Ritchie-Doddridge-Clay-Braxton-
Gilmer-Lewis-Harrison-
Including the cities of Athens, Marietta, Belpre, Pomeroy, 
Point Pleasant, New Haven, Ravenswood, Ripley, Parkersburg, 
Vienna, St. Marys, Belmont, Paden City, Sistersville, 
Middlebourne, Teays Valley, Hurricane, Charleston, 
South Charleston, Saint Albans, Spencer, Elizabeth, Grantsville, 
Harrisville, Pennsboro, West Union, Clay, Sutton, Gassaway, 
Burnsville, Glenville, Weston, Clarksburg, and Bridgeport
604 AM EDT Wed May 5 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT THIS
MORNING...

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* Portions of southeast Ohio and West Virginia, including the 
  following areas, in southeast Ohio, Athens, Meigs, and 
  Washington. In West Virginia, Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, 
  Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Jackson WV, Kanawha, Lewis, 
  Mason, Pleasants, Putnam, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt, and 
  Wood. 

* Until 8 AM EDT this morning

* Thunderstorms and heavy showers are still possible through late
  morning. Any excessive rainfall amounts could pose a threat to
  areas in this watch, especially to those who have already
  experienced water issues from recent convection. With the ground
  already saturated any additional heavy rainfall is likely to 
  cause excess runoff and localized flooding. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued. Those living in areas
prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should
flooding develop.

&&

$$
885 
WGUS61 KRLX 051152
FFARLX

Flood Watch
National Weather Service Charleston WV
752 AM EDT Wed May 5 2021

OHZ075-076-085-WVZ007>011-014>020-027>031-051300-
/O.EXP.KRLX.FF.A.0001.000000T0000Z-210505T1200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Athens-Washington-Meigs-Mason-Jackson WV-Wood-Pleasants-Tyler-Putnam-
Kanawha-Roane-Wirt-Calhoun-Ritchie-Doddridge-Clay-Braxton-Gilmer-
Lewis-Harrison-
Including the cities of South Charleston, Harrisville, Parkersburg, 
Hurricane, Athens, Clarksburg, Pennsboro, Burnsville, Paden City, 
Gassaway, Bridgeport, Vienna, St. Marys, Pomeroy, Grantsville, 
Marietta, Saint Albans, Glenville, Middlebourne, Sutton, Ravenswood, 
Belpre, Ripley, Clay, Point Pleasant, Charleston, Spencer, 
Elizabeth, New Haven, Teays Valley, Belmont, Weston, West Union, and 
Sistersville
752 AM EDT Wed May 5 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH WILL EXPIRE AT 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING...

The Flash Flood Watch for portions of southeast Ohio and West 
Virginia, including the following areas, in southeast Ohio, Athens, 
Meigs and Washington. In West Virginia, Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, 
Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Jackson WV, Kanawha, Lewis, Mason, 
Pleasants, Putnam, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt and Wood will expire 
at 8 AM EDT this morning.

The Flash Flood Watch will expire at 8 AM EDT this morning. Flooding 
is no longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to heed 
remaining road closures.

$$

JP

The office that day

Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 4, 11:01 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXPleasants, Ritchie, Tyler, Wirt, Wood3 hr
May 4, 11:59 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningRLXDoddridge, Harrison, Ritchie, Tyler5 hr
May 4, 2:06 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningRLXRitchie, Tyler3 hr
May 4, 7:31 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementRLXMorgan44 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Watches in West Virginia, 2021Flash Flood Watches in Ohio, 2021Every flash flood watch in 2021

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.