Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990

Flash Flood Warning 20, NWS Phoenix, AZ

July 15, 1990Pinal County, Arizona

NWS Phoenix, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Jul 15, 1990, 4:41 AM MST for Pinal County, Arizona. It was in force for 4 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 15, 1990, 4:41 AM MST (11:41 UTC)
Expired
Jul 15, 1990, 9:00 AM MST
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Phoenix, AZ
Area
Whole counties

County Pinal County, AZ

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Tuscon, AZ (KTUS), launched 00:00Z, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 92 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, Tuscon, AZ at 00:00Z on 1990-07-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 146 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Tuscon, AZ at 00:00Z on 1990-07-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -1 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
146 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-17 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1914 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
5 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-1 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-3 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KPHX 151145
FFWPHX
AZC021-151600-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX ARIZONA
441 AM MST SUN JUL 15 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX ARIZONA HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  900 AM MST
FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS......
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL ARIZONA
 
   ...PINAL COUNTY...INCLUDING THE HIGHWAYS CONNECTING CASA
GRANDE...COOOLIDGE...FLORENCE...AS WELL AS OTHER SMALLER COMMUNITIES
IN THE COUNTY.
 
 
 
A LARGE THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX WITH INTENSE RAINFALL DEVELOPED OVER
PINAL COUNTY DURING THE PAST HOUR. AN AUTOMATIC RAIN GAUGE 7 MILES
NORTH OF FLORENCE RECORDED 2.04 INCHES OF RAIN IN ONE HOUR. AN
OBSERVER IN THE CITY OF FLORENCE REPORTED 1.64 INCHES IN 30 MINUTES.
 
FLORENCE POLICE AUTHORITIES REPORT MAIN STREET IS FLOODED WITH WATER
RUNNING OVER THE CURB INTO THE BUSINESSES.
 
SATELLITE AND RADAR INFORMATION SUGGEST INTENSE RAINFALL COULD OR
SHORTLY OCCUR IN OTHER PINAL COUNTY CITIES LIKE COOLIDGE...CASA
GRANDE...AND ELOY.  HIGHWAYS AND ROADWAYS CONNECTING THE PINAL COUNTY
COMMUNITIES MAY ALSO BE FLOODED.
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION.  RESIDENTS AND TRAVELLERS SHOULD
CONSIDER DELAYING TRAVEL FOR SEVERAL HOURS.
 
THIS THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX IS DRIFTING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH TOWARDS
TUCSON.
 
 
FLASH FLOODING IS ALREADY HAPPENING OR ABOUT TO HAPPEN. MOVE AWAY
FROM STREAMS OR WASHES. HEAD FOR HIGHER GROUND. ON THE HIGHWAY...SLOW
DOWN AND KEEP A SHARP LOOKOUT AHEAD FOR FLOODING.
 
URBAN FLOODING IS OVERFLOW OF CITY STREETS AND DRAINAGE SYSTEMS...
ENOUGH TO FLOOD RESIDENCES AND BUSINESSES AND CLOSE CITY STREETS.
POSTPONE ANY UNNECESSARY DRIVING UNTIL THE STORM IS OVER.
 
VASQUEZ

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.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 15, 2:37 AM MST, 2 hours 4 minutes before
AZZ008>010-141030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
235 PM MST SUN JUL 15 1990

...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH HEAVY RAINS AND HIGH WINDS
DEVELOPING OVER CENTRAL ARIZONA THIS MORNING...

AT 230 AM SATELLITE PICTURES AND RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS
DEVELOPING OVER MOST OF PINAL COUNTY AND SOUTHERN MARICOPA COUNTY.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING SLOWLY TO THE SOUTH AT AROUND
10 TO 20 MPH. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAINS...
GUSTY WINDS...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

SOME OF THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS LOCATED IN WESTERN
PINAL COUNTY...AND SOUTHEAST MARICOPA COUNTY...BETWEEN CASA GRANDE
AND GILA BEND...AND JUST SOUTH OF THE PHOENIX AREA. THIS ACTIVITY
SHOULD MOVE SLOWLY SOUTH OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS AND COULD
PRODUCE STRONG WINDS FROM 30 TO NEAR 50 MPH...ALONG WITH LOCALLY
>
HEAVY RAINS WITH SOME LOCALIZED STREET FLOODING.

THIS ACTIVITY SHOULD DIMINISH OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS...HOWEVER
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS COULD CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OVER MOST OF
SOUTHEAST ARIZONA THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.

STAY TUNED TO YOUR  NOAA  WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER BROADCASTS FOR  ANY
UPDATES OR  WARNINGS.

BRECKENRIDGE
Special weather statement, Jul 15, 2:40 AM MST, 2 hours 1 minute before
AZZ008>010-141030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
235 AM MST SUN JUL 15 1990

...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH HEAVY RAINS AND HIGH WINDS
DEVELOPING OVER CENTRAL ARIZONA THIS MORNING...

AT 230 AM SATELLITE PICTURES AND RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS
DEVELOPING OVER MOST OF PINAL COUNTY AND SOUTHERN MARICOPA COUNTY.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING SLOWLY TO THE SOUTH AT AROUND
10 TO 20 MPH. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAINS...
GUSTY WINDS...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

SOME OF THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS LOCATED IN WESTERN
PINAL COUNTY...AND SOUTHEAST MARICOPA COUNTY...BETWEEN CASA GRANDE
AND GILA BEND...AND JUST SOUTH OF THE PHOENIX AREA. THIS ACTIVITY
SHOULD MOVE SLOWLY SOUTH OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS AND COULD
PRODUCE STRONG WINDS FROM 30 TO NEAR 50 MPH...ALONG WITH LOCALLY
>
HEAVY RAINS WITH SOME LOCALIZED STREET FLOODING.

THIS ACTIVITY SHOULD DIMINISH OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS...HOWEVER
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS COULD CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OVER MOST OF
SOUTHEAST ARIZONA THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.

STAY TUNED TO YOUR  NOAA  WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER BROADCASTS FOR  ANY
UPDATES OR  WARNINGS.

BRECKENRIDGE
Special weather statement, Jul 15, 2:43 AM MST, 1 hour 58 minutes before
AZZ008>010-141030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
235 PM MST SUN JUL 15 1990

...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH HEAVY RAINS AND HIGH WINDS
DEVELOPING OVER CENTRAL ARIZONA THIS MORNING...

AT 230 AM SATELLITE PICTURES AND RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS
DEVELOPING OVER MOST OF PINAL COUNTY AND SOUTHERN MARICOPA COUNTY.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING SLOWLY TO THE SOUTH AT AROUND
10 TO 20 MPH. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAINS...
GUSTY WINDS...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

SOME OF THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS LOCATED IN WESTERN
PINAL COUNTY...AND SOUTHEAST MARICOPA COUNTY...BETWEEN CASA GRANDE
AND GILA BEND...AND JUST SOUTH OF THE PHOENIX AREA. THIS ACTIVITY
SHOULD MOVE SLOWLY SOUTH OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS AND COULD
PRODUCE STRONG WINDS FROM 30 TO NEAR 50 MPH...ALONG WITH LOCALLY
>
HEAVY RAINS WITH SOME LOCALIZED STREET FLOODING.

THIS ACTIVITY SHOULD DIMINISH OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS...HOWEVER
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS COULD CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OVER MOST OF
SOUTHEAST ARIZONA THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.

STAY TUNED TO YOUR  NOAA  WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER BROADCASTS FOR  ANY
UPDATES OR  WARNINGS.

BRECKENRIDGE

The office that day

Everything else NWS Phoenix, AZ issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 14, 11:07 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningPSRMohave3 hr
Jul 14, 11:07 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMohave3 hr
Jul 14, 11:13 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningPSRMohave3 hr
Jul 14, 11:13 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMohave3 hr
Jul 15, 12:44 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningPSRLa Paz, Yuma3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Arizona, 1990Every flash flood warning in 1990

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.