Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 1992

Flash Flood Warning 9, NWS Phoenix, AZ

July 29, 1992Maricopa County, Pinal County, Arizona

NWS Phoenix, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Jul 29, 1992, 7:32 PM MST for Maricopa County, Pinal County, Arizona. It was in force for 118 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 29, 1992, 7:32 PM MST (02:32 UTC)
Expired
Jul 29, 1992, 9:30 PM MST
In force
118 min
Issued by
NWS Phoenix, AZ
Area
Whole counties

Counties Maricopa County, AZ, Pinal County, AZ

The nearest sounding before it

Tuscon, AZ (KTUS), launched 00:00Z, 2.5 hours before the alert went out and 143 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 1992-07-30Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1352 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 1992-07-30The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 39 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
1352 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-18 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2273 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
39 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
177 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 300238
FFWPHX
AZC013-021-300430-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX ARIZONA
732 PM MST WED JUL 29 1992
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX ARIZONA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND FLASH FLOOD WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL  930 PM MST
FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL ARIZONA
 
   ...SOUTHEASTERN MARICOPA COUNTY...NORTH CENTRAL PINAL COUNTY ...
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF FLORENCE...FLORENCE JUNCTION...COOLIDGE...
KEARNY...QUEEN CREEK...AND CHANDLER HEIGHTS.
 
AT 715 PM INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING OVER NORTHEAST
PINAL COUNTY NEAR SUPERIOR...AND FLORENCE JUNCTION...MOVING
TOWARDS THE WEST.
 
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 57 MPH
AND HEAVY RAIN THAT COULD LEAD TO FLOOD OR FLASH FLOODING.
 
THESE ARE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS STORMS.  TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY
IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES TO AVIOD FLYING DEBRIS.
 
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY MOVE WEST TOWARDS THE CASA GRANDE
AREA IN AN HOUR OR SO.
 
MOST DEATHS IN FLASH FLOODING OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. DONT TRY TO CROSS
FLOODING WASHES OR STREAMS. NEVER DRIVE ONTO A BRIDGE COVERED BY
WATER. STAY OFF FLOODED CITY STREETS. OUTSIDE THE CITY...STAY ON MAIN
HIGHWAYS. AVOID SECONDARY ROADS AND FARM ROADS...ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.
 
 
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 29, 2:49 PM MST, 4 hours 43 minutes before
AZZALL-300100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX ARIZONA
245 PM MST WED JUL 29 1992

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS ARE DEVELOPING
      IN ARIZONA THIS AFTERNOON AND ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THIS EVENING...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AND SATELLITE PICTURES SHOWED NUMEROUS
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE MOGOLLON RIM...WHITE MOUNTAINS AND
IN FAR SOUTHERN ARIZONA EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. THERE WERE ALSO SCATTERED
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING IN NORTHWEST ARIZONA. SOME
THUNDERSTORMS WERE PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN AND POSSIBLY STRONG GUSTY WINDS.
MOVEMENT OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS SLOWLY TOWARD THE
SOUTHWEST.

A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM ALOFT WAS MOVING NORTHWARD FROM THE NORTHERN GULF
OF CALIFORNIA TOWARD ARIZONA THIS AFTERNOON. THIS SYSTEM...IN
COMBINATION WITH A VERY UNSTABLE AND MOIST AIRMASS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
PRODUCING THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...ESPECIALLY IN THE DESERTS.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE
DEVELOPING FARTHER NORTH THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS THE LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM MOVES INTO THE STATE. MEANWHILE...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT
WERE ALONG THE MOGOLLON RIM AND WHITE MOUNTAINS EARLY THIS AFTERNOON ARE
EXPECTED TO MOVE AND DEVELOP TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST.

AN EXPLOSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IS POSSIBLE IN
THE SOUTHCENTRAL...SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHERN DESERTS OF ARIZONA LATE THIS
AFTERNOON OR TONIGHT. THIS IS DUE TO THE EXPECTED INTERACTION OF
OUTFLOW FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS THAT WERE ALONG THE MOGOLLON RIM AND THE
THUNDERSTORMS THAT WERE IN FAR SOUTHERN ARIZONA EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.

STRONG...GUSTY...POSSIBLY DAMAGING WINDS WITH BLOWING DUST MAY PRECEDE
THUNDERSTORMS IN THE DESERTS...PARTICULARLY BETWEEN PHOENIX...TUSCON...
AND GILA BEND. AND...SOME THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE
HEAVY RAIN.

PLEASE BE ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER IN ARIZONA THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT. IF YOU OBSERVE THREATENING WEATHER...SUCH AS LIGHTNING...MOVE
TO A SAFE PLACE INDOORS. IF YOU ARE DRIVING...BE ALERT FOR SUDDEN
REDUCTION OF VISIBILITY DUE TO BLOWING DUST IN THE DESERT. IF YOU
ENCOUNTER POOR VISIBILITY...PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD...PARK...
TAKE YOUR OFF THE BRAKE AND TURN YOUR LIGHTS ALL THE WAY OFF. ALSO...BE
ALERT FOR FLOODING OF HIGHWAY DIPS. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHETHER OR NOT IT
IS SAFE FOR YOUR VEHICLE TO DRIVE THROUGH A FLOODED ROAD...STAY AWAY
FROM THE FLOODED AREA...BETTER TO PLAY IT SAFE. STAY AWAY FROM FLASH
FLOOD PRONE AREAS...SUCH AS LOW AREAS...NORMALLY DRY WASHES...AND
NARROW STEEP-WALLED CANYONS.

STAY TUNED TO YOUR RADIO...TV...OR WEATHER RADIO ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE
BAND FOR THE LATEST STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WATCHES OR WARNINGS FROM THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

CRAIG ELLIS
Special weather statement, Jul 29, 2:54 PM MST, 4 hours 38 minutes before
AZZALL-300100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX ARIZONA
245 PM MST WED JUL 29 1992

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS ARE DEVELOPING
      IN ARIZONA THIS AFTERNOON AND ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THIS EVENING...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AND SATELLITE PICTURES SHOWED NUMEROUS
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE MOGOLLON RIM...WHITE MOUNTAINS AND
IN FAR SOUTHERN ARIZONA EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. THERE WERE ALSO SCATTERED
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING IN NORTHWEST ARIZONA. SOME
THUNDERSTORMS WERE PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN AND POSSIBLY STRONG GUSTY WINDS.
MOVEMENT OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS SLOWLY TOWARD THE
SOUTHWEST.

A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM ALOFT WAS MOVING NORTHWARD FROM THE NORTHERN GULF
OF CALIFORNIA TOWARD ARIZONA THIS AFTERNOON. THIS SYSTEM...IN
COMBINATION WITH A VERY UNSTABLE AND MOIST AIRMASS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
PRODUCING THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...ESPECIALLY IN THE DESERTS.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE
DEVELOPING FARTHER NORTH THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS THE LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM MOVES INTO THE STATE. MEANWHILE...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT
WERE ALONG THE MOGOLLON RIM AND WHITE MOUNTAINS EARLY THIS AFTERNOON ARE
EXPECTED TO MOVE AND DEVELOP TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST.

AN EXPLOSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IS POSSIBLE IN
THE SOUTHCENTRAL...SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHERN DESERTS OF ARIZONA INCLUDING
PHOENIX...TUCSON AND YUMA LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR TONIGHT. THIS IS DUE TO
THE EXPECTED INTERACTION OF OUTFLOW FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS THAT WERE
ALONG THE MOGOLLON RIM AND THE THUNDERSTORMS THAT WERE IN FAR SOUTHERN
ARIZONA EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.

STRONG...GUSTY...POSSIBLY DAMAGING WINDS WITH BLOWING DUST MAY PRECEDE
THUNDERSTORMS IN THE DESERTS...PARTICULARLY BETWEEN PHOENIX...TUSCON...
AND GILA BEND. AND...SOME THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE
HEAVY RAIN.

PLEASE BE ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER IN ARIZONA THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT. IF YOU OBSERVE THREATENING WEATHER...SUCH AS LIGHTNING...MOVE
TO A SAFE PLACE INDOORS. IF YOU ARE DRIVING...BE ALERT FOR SUDDEN
REDUCTION OF VISIBILITY DUE TO BLOWING DUST IN THE DESERT. IF YOU
ENCOUNTER POOR VISIBILITY...PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD...PARK...
TAKE YOUR OFF THE BRAKE AND TURN YOUR LIGHTS ALL THE WAY OFF. ALSO...BE
ALERT FOR FLOODING OF HIGHWAY DIPS. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHETHER OR NOT IT
IS SAFE FOR YOUR VEHICLE TO DRIVE THROUGH A FLOODED ROAD...STAY AWAY
FROM THE FLOODED AREA...BETTER TO PLAY IT SAFE. STAY AWAY FROM FLASH
FLOOD PRONE AREAS...SUCH AS LOW AREAS...NORMALLY DRY WASHES...AND
NARROW STEEP-WALLED CANYONS.

STAY TUNED TO YOUR RADIO...TV...OR WEATHER RADIO ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE
BAND FOR THE LATEST STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WATCHES OR WARNINGS FROM THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

CRAIG ELLIS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 29, 6:15 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMaricopa2 hr
Jul 29, 7:32 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMaricopa118 min
Jul 29, 9:16 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningPSRMaricopa, Pinal104 min
Jul 29, 9:16 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMaricopa

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Arizona, 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.