Alert archive / California / Flash Flood Warnings in 1992
Flash Flood Warning 9, NWS Los Angeles, CA
NWS Los Angeles, CA issued this flash flood warning at Feb 15, 1992, 5:33 AM PST for Santa Barbara County, California. It was in force for 117 min.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Feb 15, 1992, 5:33 AM PST (13:33 UTC)
- Expired
- Feb 15, 1992, 7:30 AM PST
- In force
- 117 min
- Issued by
- NWS Los Angeles, CA
- Area
- Whole counties
County Santa Barbara County, CA
The nearest sounding before it
Vandenberg AFB, CA (KVBG), launched 12:00Z, 1.6 hours before the alert went out and 48 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 4 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -3 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 517 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 50 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -15 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 21 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KSMX 151333 FFWSMX CAC083-151530- BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED FLASH FLOOD WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SANTA MARIA CA 533 AM PST SAT FEB 15 1992 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SANTA MARIA HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 730 AM PST FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION... IN WEST CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ...SOUTH CENTRAL SANTA BARBARA COUNTY AUTOMATIC RAIN GAGES AND STREAM FLOW INDICATORS ARE SHOWING HEAVY PRECIPITATION AND STREAM FLOWS IN SOUTH CENTRAL SANTA BARBARA COUNTY. AT 530 THIS MORNING MARIA IGNACIO CREEK WAS REPORTED TO BE FULL AND A WEATHER SERVICE SPOTTER REPORTED RAINFALL RATES OF ONE INCH PER HOUR. THE AREA NEAR ALISAL RESERVOIR WITH ADJACENT STREAMS FEEDING INTO THE SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATERSHED WAS ALSO REPORTING FLOODING. RADAR AND SATELLITE IMAGES INDICATE THE POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL HEAVY PRECIPITATION OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS IMMINENT. MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS BRIDGES...DIPS...OR LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON FOOT. TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TOv HIGHER GROUND. NNNN
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, Feb 15, 2:02 AM PST, 3 hours 31 minutes before
CAZ003-004-151300- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SANTA MARIA CA 205 AM PST SAT FEB 15 1992 ...MINOR FLOODING IN THE SAN LUIS OBISPO AREA AND OF THE CENTRAL COAST... AT 130 AM...RADAR AND SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATED CONTINUOUS SHOWER ACTIVITY OVER PORTIONS OF NORTHERN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY. ATASCADERO...LOCATED 20 MILES NORTH OF SAN LUIS OBISPO...HAS RECEIVED JUST OVER 1 INCH OF RAIN....LOS OSOS...LOCATED ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF SAN LUIS OBISPO...HAS RECEIVED OVER 1 1/4 INCHES OF RAIN...WHILE CAMP SAN LUIS HAS RECEIVED OVER 1 1/2 INCHES OF RAIN OVER THE PAST 3 HOURS. ACCORDING TO THE SAN LUIS OBISPO SHERIFFS OFFICE AND THE CALIFRONIA HIGHWAY PATROL...LOCAL FLOODING OF A FEW ROADS IN THE AREA HAVE OCCURRED INCLUDING TWIN BRIDGES AND STATE PARK ROADS. MINOR MUD SLIDES WERE ALSO REPORTED ON PORTIONS OF HIGHWAY 41...EAST OF ATASCADERO. ALSO...A FALLEN TREE WAS REPORTED IN THE SAN LUIS OBISPO AREA. ALL PEOPLE ARE URGED TO TAKE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN VENTURING OUTDOORS TONIGHT. LOCAL FLOODING IS QUITE POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY IN LOW LYING AREAS IN THE LOS OSOS AND THE SANTA YNEZ VALLEYS...AND PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHERN SALINAS RIVER VALLEY. IF YOU DO ENCOUNTER A FLOODED RAODWAY...DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE ACROSS IT. MONITOR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADIO ON FREQUENCIES ON 162.40 OR 162.55 MHZ FOR OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION STATION FOR ANY UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION. DLR
Special weather statement, Feb 15, 2:11 AM PST, 3 hours 22 minutes before
CAZ003-004-151300- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SANTA MARIA CA 205 AM PST SAT FEB 15 1992 ...MINOR FLOODING IN THE SAN LUIS OBISPO AREA OF THE CENTRAL COAST... AT 130 AM...RADAR AND SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATED CONTINUOUS SHOWER ACTIVITY OVER PORTIONS OF NORTHERN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY. ATASCADERO...LOCATED 20 MILES NORTH OF SAN LUIS OBISPO...HAS RECEIVED JUST OVER 1 INCH OF RAIN....LOS OSOS...LOCATED ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF SAN LUIS OBISPO...HAS RECEIVED OVER 1 1/4 INCHES OF RAIN...WHILE CAMP SAN LUIS HAS RECEIVED OVER 1 1/2 INCHES OF RAIN OVER THE PAST 3 HOURS. ACCORDING TO THE SAN LUIS OBISPO SHERIFFS OFFICE AND THE CALIFRONIA HIGHWAY PATROL...LOCAL FLOODING OF A FEW ROADS IN THE AREA HAVE OCCURRED INCLUDING TWIN BRIDGES AND STATE PARK ROADS. MINOR MUD SLIDES WERE ALSO REPORTED ON PORTIONS OF HIGHWAY 41...EAST OF ATASCADERO. ALSO...A FALLEN TREE WAS REPORTED IN THE SAN LUIS OBISPO AREA. ALL PEOPLE ARE URGED TO TAKE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN VENTURING OUTDOORS TONIGHT. LOCAL FLOODING IS QUITE POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY IN LOW LYING AREAS IN THE LOS OSOS AND THE SANTA YNEZ VALLEYS...AND PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHERN SALINAS RIVER VALLEY. IF YOU DO ENCOUNTER A FLOODED RAODWAY...DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE ACROSS IT. MONITOR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADIO ON FREQUENCIES ON 162.40 OR 162.55 MHZ OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION STATION FOR ANY UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION. DLR
Special weather statement, Feb 15, 4:24 AM PST, 1 hour 9 minutes before
CAZ011>021-151800- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES CA 425 AM PST SAT FEB 15 1992 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR SOUTHERN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY...AND FOR VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES UNTIL NOON TODAY... ...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR MOUNTAINS NORTH OF THE SAN JACINTO RANGE ABOVE 4000 FT THROUGH TONIGHT... ...WINTER STORM WATCH SAN JACINTO RANGE SOUTH ABOVE 5000 FT LATE TODAY AND TONIGHT... A LARGE STORM SYSTEM WAS CENTERED IN THE PACIFIC ABOUT 400 MILES WEST OF ASTORIA OREGON EARLY THIS MORNING. THE COLD FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS STORM WAS JUST WEST OF SANTA BARBARA AT 4 AM THIS MORNING...AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME HEAVY RAIN...ESPECIALLY IN THE FOOTHILL AND MOUNTAIN AREAS. SEVERAL BANDS OF HEAVY SHOWERS FOLLOW THE FRONT. THE FRONT WILL MOVE SLOWLY SOUTHEAST THROUGH SOUTHERN CA TODAY WITH THE SNOW LEVEL LOWERING ON THE MOUNTAINS TO NEAR 4000 FT IN THE NORTH AND 5000 FT IN THE SOUTH. A WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR FOR THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS DUE TO UP TO A FOOT OR MORE OF SNOW EXPECTED IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS TODAY WITH SNOW CONTINUING TONIGHT. IN ADDITION...THERE IS A WINTER STORM WATCH FOR THE SOUTHERN RANGES. SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED TODAY. AS A RESULT... DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS WILL BE HAZARDOUS DUE TO LOW VISIBILITIES IN FOG...SNOW...AND BLOWING SNOW. PEOPLE TRAVELLING IN THE MOUNTAINS TODAY SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS. CARRY CHAINS ...EXTRA FOOD...WARM CLOTHING AND BLANKETS. DUE TO THE SATURATED SOIL CONDITIONS IN MOST ALL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN OF ANY SIGNIFICANT DURATION WILL POSE A STRONG THREAT OF CAUSING MUD AND ROCK SLIDES IN THE FOOTHILLS AND CANYONS. LOCAL URBAN FLOODING WILL ALSO OCCUR WITH HEAVY SHOWERS. IN ADDITION... INTENSE RAIN OF SIGNIFICANT DURATION WILL POSE A MUCH HIGHER THAN NORMAL FLASH FLOODING THREAT. PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS WILL BE QUITE VARIABLE WITH THIS STORM...BUT SHOULD AVERAGE NEAR AN INCH IN COASTAL AREAS WITH UP TO 3 INCHES IN THE MOUNTAINS. WE SUGGEST YOU STAY CURRENT WITH OFFICIAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS...STATEMENTS...ADVISORIES...WATCHES...AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS DURING THE STORM. e ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS CONDITIONS WARRANT. HAMILTON
Special weather statement, Feb 15, 4:58 AM PST, 35 minutes before
CAZ003-004-151400- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SANTA MARIA CA 500 AM PST SAT FEB 15 1992 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPING OVER PISMO BEACH TO SAN LUIS OBISPO AND VICINTY THIS MORNING... AT 450 AM THIS ..RADAR AND SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM MAY BE DEVLOPING OVER THE PISMO BEACH TO SAN LUIS OBISPO AREA IN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY. MOVEMENT OF THE STORM WAS ABOUT 10 MPH TO THE NORTHEAST. IF YOU LIVE IN THE PISMO BEACH TO SAN LUIS OBISPO AREAS AND ENCOUNTER A THUNDERSTORM TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POTENTIALY DANGEROUS...WITH LIGHTNING...HAIL...HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS. IN ADDITION...MOTORISTS SHOULD TRAVEL WITH EXTREME CAUTION THROUGH THESE AREAS...AS SLICK ROADS FROM HEAVY RAIN AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES MAY MAKE DRIVING HAZARDOUS. ALL PEOPLE ARE URGED TO TAKE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN VENTURING OUTDOORS THIS MORNING. LOCAL FLOODING IS QUITE POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY IN LOW LYING AREAS OF THE CENTRAL COAST. IF YOU DO ENCOUNTER A FLOODED RAODWAY...DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE ACROSS IT. MONITOR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADIO ON FREQUENCIES ON 162.40 OR 162.55 MHZ OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION STATION FOR ANY UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION. FELSCH
The office that day
Everything else NWS Los Angeles, CA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 15, 7:16 AM PST | Flash Flood Warning | LOX | Santa Barbara | 104 min |
| Feb 15, 7:40 AM PST | Flash Flood Warning | LOX | Los Angeles, Ventura | 3 hr |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in California, 1992Every flash flood warning in 1992
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.