Journal article
The 23 June 2016 West Virginia Flash Flood Event as Observed through Two Hydrometeorology Testbed Experiments
Weather and forecasting, Vol.35(5), pp.2099-2126
10/01/2020
DOI: 10.1175/WAF-D-20-0016.1
Abstract
The flash flood event of 23 June 2016 devastated portions of West Virginia and west-central Virginia, resulting in 23 fatalities and 5 new record river crests. The flash flooding was part of a multiday event that was classified as a billion-dollar disaster. The 23 June 2016 event occurred during real-time operations by two Hydrometeorology Testbed (HMT) experiments. The Flash Flood and Intense Rainfall (FF aIR) experiment focused on the 6-24-h forecast through the utilization of experimental high-resolution deterministic and ensemble numerical weather prediction and hydrologic model guidance. The HMT Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor Hydro (HMT-Hydro) experiment concentrated on the 0-6-h time frame for the prediction and warning of flash floods primarily through the experimental Flooded Locations and Simulated Hydrographs product suite. This study describes the various model guidance, applications, and evaluations from both testbed experiments during the 23 June 2016 flash flood event. Various model outputs provided a significant precipitation signal that increased the confidence of FFaIR experiment participants to issue a high risk for flash flooding for the region between 1800 UTC 23 June and 0000 UTC 24 June. Experimental flash flood warnings issued during the HMT-Hydro experiment for this event improved the probability of detection and resulted in a 63.8% increase in lead time to 84.2 min. Isolated flash floods in Kentucky demonstrated the potential to reduce the warned area. Participants characterized how different model guidance and analysis products influenced the decision-making process and how the experimental products can help shape future national and local flash flood operations.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The 23 June 2016 West Virginia Flash Flood Event as Observed through Two Hydrometeorology Testbed Experiments
- Creators
- Steven M. Martinaitis - Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological StudiesBenjamin Albright - Syst Res Grp Inc, College Pk, MD USAJonathan J. Gourley - NOAA National Severe Storms LaboratorySarah Perfater - IM SystemsTiffany Meyer - Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological StudiesZachary L. Flamig - University of OklahomaRobert A. Clark - Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological StudiesHumberto Vergara - Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological StudiesMark Klein - Predict
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Weather and forecasting, Vol.35(5), pp.2099-2126
- Publisher
- Amer Meteorological Soc
- DOI
- 10.1175/WAF-D-20-0016.1
- ISSN
- 0882-8156
- eISSN
- 1520-0434
- Number of pages
- 28
- Grant note
- NOAA's Hydrometeorology Testbed Program NA15OAR4590158 / HMT Program NA11OAR4320072 / NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research under NOAA-University of Oklahoma, U.S. Department of Commerce; National Oceanic Atmospheric Admin (NOAA) - USA U.S. Weather Research Program (USWRP)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 10/01/2020
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9984446404102771
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