Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 1993

Flash Flood Warning 25, NWS Tucson, AZ

August 28, 1993Cochise County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Aug 28, 1993, 12:33 PM MST for Cochise County, Arizona. It was in force for 117 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 28, 1993, 12:33 PM MST (19:33 UTC)
Expired
Aug 28, 1993, 2:30 PM MST
In force
117 min
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ
Area
Whole counties

County Cochise County, AZ

The nearest sounding before it

Tuscon, AZ (KTUS), launched 12:00Z, 7.6 hours before the alert went out and 113 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 12:00Z on 1993-08-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1202 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 12:00Z on 1993-08-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 38 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
1202 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-7 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
672 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
13 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
38 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
53 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 KTUS 281938
FFWTUS
AZC003-282130-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON ARIZONA
1233 PM MST SAT AUG 28 1993
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TUCSON ARIZONA HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  230 PM MST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN SOUTHEAST ARIZONA
 
   ...SOUTHERN COCHISE COUNTY
 
AT 1231 PM MST THE WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN TUCSON RECEIVED A
REPORT RELAYED BY THE BISBEE SHERIFFS OFFICE IN COCHISE COUNTY
OF FLASH FLOODING IN THE CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS IN SOUTHEAST
COCHISE COUNTY.  WATERS IN AT LEAST ONE UNDISCLOSED WASH OR STREAM
HAD RISEN TO 3 FEET...TO THE DOOR HANDLES OF SEVERAL CARS.
 
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY.  THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO
CROSS SAFELY.  VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE
ABANDONED QUICKLY.  MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.
 
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT.  IT'S
IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE RELATIVE TO STREAMS...RIVERS...OR
CREEKS WHICH CAN BECOME KILLERS IN HEAVY RAINS.  CAMPERS SHOULD
AVOID CAMPING ALONG STREAMS OR CREEKS DURING THREATENING RAINS.
 
MEYER

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, Aug 28, 10:03 AM MST, 2 hours 30 minutes before
AZC003-019-023-282100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON ARIZONA
1003 AM MST SAT AUG 28 1993

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN AFFECT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN ARIZONA TODAY...

AT 10 AM THIS MORNING WEATHER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS WERE
OCCURING IN CENTRAL COCHISE COUNTY ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE-10
FROM ABOUT BENSON TO WILCOX. THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTH AT ABOUT
10 MPH.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO BEGINNING TO DEVELOP IN EASTERN PIMA COUNTY AND
IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY AT 10 AM.

THE AIRMASS OVER SOUTHEAST ARIZONA IN VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE THIS
MORNING AND WITH ADDITIONAL SUNSHINE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT MAY BECOME
RATHER EXPLOSIVE TODAY.

THE GROUND IS ALREADY SATURATED IN MANY AREAS FROM RECENT RAINS SO
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL QUICKLEY RUN OFF INTO STREAMS AND WASHES.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN AFFECT THROUGHOUT THE DAY...A FLASH FLOOD
WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE PRIME FOR FLOODING AND FLASH FLOODING. THIS
IS NOT A GOOD TIME TO BE OUT HIKING OR CAMPING.  IF YOU ARE IN A FLOOD
PRONE AREA TAKE PRECAUTIONS...FLOODING CAN OCCUR SUDDENLY...EVEN FROM
THUNDERSTORMS THAT ARE SEVERAL MILES AWAY.  STRONG WINDS AND SMALL HAIL
ARE ALSO A POSSIBLITY WITH THUNDERSTORMS TODAY.

NWS TUS/CRIMMINS
Special weather statement, Aug 28, 10:08 AM MST, 2 hours 25 minutes before
AZC003-019-023-282100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON ARIZONA
1003 AM MST SAT AUG 28 1993

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN AFFECT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN ARIZONA TODAY...

AT 10 AM THIS MORNING WEATHER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS WERE
OCCURING IN CENTRAL COCHISE COUNTY ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE-10
FROM ABOUT BENSON TO WILCOX. THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTH AT ABOUT
10 MPH.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO BEGINNING TO DEVELOP IN EASTERN PIMA COUNTY AND
IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY AT 10 AM.

THE AIRMASS OVER SOUTHEAST ARIZONA IN VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE THIS
MORNING AND WITH ADDITIONAL SUNSHINE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT MAY BECOME
RATHER EXPLOSIVE TODAY.

THE GROUND IS ALREADY SATURATED IN MANY AREAS FROM RECENT RAINS SO
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL QUICKLEY RUN OFF INTO STREAMS AND WASHES.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN AFFECT THROUGHOUT THE DAY...A FLASH FLOOD
WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE PRIME FOR FLOODING AND FLASH FLOODING. THIS
IS NOT A GOOD TIME TO BE OUT HIKING OR CAMPING.  IF YOU ARE IN A FLOOD
PRONE AREA TAKE PRECAUTIONS...FLOODING CAN OCCUR SUDDENLY...EVEN FROM
THUNDERSTORMS THAT ARE SEVERAL MILES AWAY.  STRONG WINDS AND SMALL HAIL
ARE ALSO A POSSIBLITY WITH THUNDERSTORMS TODAY.

NWS TUS/CRIMMINS
Special weather statement, Aug 28, 12:31 PM MST, 2 minutes before
AZC003-019-023-282130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON ARIZONA
1231 PM MST SAT AUG 28 1993

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MOST OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN ARIZONA UNTIL
9 PM MST...

AT 1215 PM MST WEATHER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS WERE BECOMING MORE
WIDESPREAD AND ACTIVE THROUGHOUT SOUTHEAST ARIZONA.  THE MOST ACTIVE
THUNDERSTORM AREAS WERE SOTHERN AND CENTRAL COCHISE COUNTY...THE NOGALES
AREA...AND THE GREATER TUCSON AREA.  BY NOON...SEVERAL RAIN GUAGES
AROUND THE OUTSKIRTS OF TUCSON HAD REGISTERED RELATIVELY HEAVY RAINFALL
TOTALS OVER SHORT PERIODS OF TIME.  ONE GUAGE 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF TOWN
NEAR I-10 REPORTED 0.63 BETWEEN 1120 AND 1150 AM...ANOTHER GUAGE BETWEEN
ORACLE AND TUCSON SHOWED 0.59 BETWEEN 1140 AND 1210.  MOST CELL MOVEMENT
APPEARED TO BE TO THE NORTH AT 5 TO 10 MPH.

THE AIRMASS OVER SOUTHEAST ARIZONA CONTINUES TO BE VERY MOIST AND
UNSTABLE...EXPECT COVERAGE AND INTENSITY OF THUNDERSTORMS TO INCREASE
THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

REMEMBER...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM...A FLASH FLOOD
WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE PRIME FOR FLOODING AND FLASH FLOODING.  IF
YOU ARE IN A FLOOD PRONE AREA TAKE PRECAUTIONS...FLOODING CAN OCCUR
SUDDENLY...EVEN FROM THUNDERSTORMS THAT ARE SEVERAL MILES AWAY.  MANY
OF THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT
LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN...AND POSSIBLY SMALL HAIL.

MEYER
Special weather statement, Aug 28, 12:31 PM MST, 2 minutes before
AZC003-019-023-282130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON ARIZONA
1231 PM MST SAT AUG 28 1993

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MOST OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN ARIZONA UNTIL
9 PM MST...

AT 1215 PM MST WEATHER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS WERE BECOMING MORE
WIDESPREAD AND ACTIVE THROUGHOUT SOUTHEAST ARIZONA.  THE MOST ACTIVE
THUNDERSTORM AREAS WERE SOTHERN AND CENTRAL COCHISE COUNTY...THE NOGALES
AREA...AND THE GREATER TUCSON AREA.  BY NOON...SEVERAL RAIN GUAGES
AROUND THE OUTSKIRTS OF TUCSON HAD REGISTERED RELATIVELY HEAVY RAINFALL
TOTALS OVER SHORT PERIODS OF TIME.  ONE GUAGE 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF TOWN
NEAR I-10 REPORTED 0.63 BETWEEN 1120 AND 1150 AM...ANOTHER GUAGE BETWEEN
ORACLE AND TUCSON SHOWED 0.59 BETWEEN 1140 AND 1210.  MOST CELL MOVEMENT
APPEARED TO BE TO THE NORTH AT 5 TO 10 MPH.

THE AIRMASS OVER SOUTHEAST ARIZONA CONTINUES TO BE VERY MOIST AND
UNSTABLE...EXPECT COVERAGE AND INTENSITY OF THUNDERSTORMS TO INCREASE
THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

REMEMBER...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM...A FLASH FLOOD
WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE PRIME FOR FLOODING AND FLASH FLOODING.  IF
YOU ARE IN A FLOOD PRONE AREA TAKE PRECAUTIONS...FLOODING CAN OCCUR
SUDDENLY...EVEN FROM THUNDERSTORMS THAT ARE SEVERAL MILES AWAY.  MANY
OF THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT
LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN...AND POSSIBLY SMALL HAIL.

MEYER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 27, 5:18 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima117 min
Aug 28, 3:07 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima2 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Arizona, 1993Every flash flood warning in 1993

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.