History of Flash flood warning in Timeline

A flash flood warning is a critical alert issued by weather forecasting agencies, like the National Weather Service, to inform the public about an imminent or ongoing flash flood. These floods are characterized by their sudden and violent nature, often triggered by intense rainfall or dam failures. Several factors influence the likelihood of flash flooding, including the intensity and duration of rainfall, the topography of the land, soil conditions, and the type of ground cover in the area.

August 27, 2017: Flash Flood Emergency for Catastrophic Life Threatening Flooding

On August 27, 2017, the NWS issued a "Flash Flood Emergency for Catastrophic Life Threatening Flooding" as Hurricane Harvey brought torrential rain to southeast Texas.

September 10, 2017: Flash Flood Emergency for life-threatening storm surge due to Hurricane Irma

On September 10, 2017, the NWS issued a Flash Flood Emergency for life-threatening storm surge because of Hurricane Irma in southwestern Florida at the eye landfall.

February 6, 2020: Flash Flood Emergency for Tazewell County, Virginia due to major storm

On February 6, 2020, the NWS issued a Flash Flood Emergency for Tazewell County, Virginia, due to a major storm moving through the area which caused the Clinch River to rise to its highest crest in 40 years.

May 20, 2020: Flash Flood Emergency for the Tittabawassee River in Midland County, Michigan

On May 20, 2020, the NWS issued a Flash Flood Emergency for the Tittabawassee River in Midland County, Michigan, due to multiple dam failures causing the river to overflow and reach its highest crest since 1986.

July 6, 2020: Flash Flood Emergency for Tacony Creek and Frankford Creek

On July 6, 2020, the NWS issued a Flash Flood Emergency for Tacony Creek and Frankford Creek, the former situated along Montgomery County and North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the latter along Philadelphia's Frankford neighborhood.

September 2, 2021: First ever Flash Flood Emergency for New York City, Philadelphia, Fairfield and New Haven Counties

On September 2, 2021, the NWS issued a first-ever Flash Flood Emergency for New York City, Philadelphia, Fairfield and New Haven Counties in Connecticut, and most of Central New Jersey, as the remnants of Hurricane Ida transitioned and intensified into a post-tropical cyclone, causing torrential rains.

July 28, 2022: Flash Flood Emergencies in eastern Kentucky for catastrophic and deadly flooding

On July 28, 2022, the NWS issued several Flash Flood Emergencies in eastern Kentucky for catastrophic and deadly flooding.

March 27, 2023: Flash Flood Emergency for a dam break on the Head's Creek Reservoir in Spaulding County, Georgia

On March 27, 2023, the NWS issued a Flash Flood Emergency for a dam break on the Head's Creek Reservoir in Spaulding County, Georgia. A statement was later posted on Twitter.

September 27, 2024: Flash Flood Emergency for Metro Atlanta as Hurricane Helene

On September 27, 2024, a Flash Flood Emergency was issued for Metro Atlanta as Hurricane Helene brought catastrophic flooding to the area.

October 9, 2024: Flash Flood Emergency in Tampa Bay and Big Bend areas of Florida as Hurricane Milton

On October 9, 2024, a Flash Flood Emergency was issued for several counties in the Tampa Bay and Big Bend areas of Florida as Hurricane Milton posed life-threatening flooding to a large portion of the West Coast.

Mentioned in this timeline

Connecticut is a state located in the New England region...

Pennsylvania a Commonwealth in the US bridges multiple regions Mid-Atlantic...

Virginia officially the Commonwealth of Virginia is a state located...

Florida a southeastern U S state is a peninsula between...

Pittsburgh the county seat of Allegheny County Pennsylvania is the...

Philadelphia or Philly is the most populous city in Pennsylvania...