Alert archive / Oregon / Flash Flood Warnings in 1996

Flash Flood Warning 4, NWS Medford, OR

November 18, 1996Douglas County, Josephine County, Oregon

NWS Medford, OR issued this flash flood warning at Nov 18, 1996, 5:00 PM PST for Douglas County, Josephine County, Oregon. It was in force for 19 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Nov 18, 1996, 5:00 PM PST (01:00 UTC)
Expired
Nov 19, 1996, 12:00 PM PST
In force
19 hr
Issued by
NWS Medford, OR
Area
Whole counties

Counties Douglas County, OR, Josephine County, OR

The nearest sounding before it

Medford/Jackson, OR (KMFR), launched 00:00Z, 1.0 hours before the alert went out and 69 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, Medford/Jackson, OR at 00:00Z on 1996-11-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Medford/Jackson, OR at 00:00Z on 1996-11-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 374 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
732 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
86 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
374 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
850 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 KMFR 190102
FFWMFR
ORC033-019-210030-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
500 PM PST MON NOV 18 1996

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEDFORD OR HAS ISSUED A SMALL RIVER
AND STREAM FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR PEOPLE
IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...

IN SOUTHWEST OREGON

  ...ALL OF JOSEPHINE COUNTY
  ...ALL OF DOUGLAS COUNTY
  ...ALL OF JACKSON COUNTY

RADAR AND SATELLITE INFORMATION CONTINUES TO SHOW PERSISTENT MODERATE
TO HEAVY RAIN FROM THE EASTERN PACIFIC INTO SOUTHWEST OREGON LATE
THIS AFTERNOON. THIS BROAD AREA OF RAIN WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD OVER
THE AREA TONIGHT AND TUESDAY...IN ADVANCE OF A STRONG STORM SYSTEM
ABOUT 500 MILES WEST OF BROOKINGS.

RUNOFF IN URBAN AREAS AND SMALL STREAMS HAVE RISEN DRAMATICALLY THE
PAST FEW HOURS...AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO AS HEAVY RAINS FALL OVER
THE AREA. WATER HAS BEEN REPORTED OVER ROADWAYS IN THE ROSEBURG AREA
AND ALSO IN JOSEPHINE COUNTY. 

RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN THE APPLEGATE RIVER BASIN HAVE BEEN ALSO QUITE
IMPRESSIVE DURING THE DAY TODAY...AND MIGHT POSE PROBLEMS FOR LOW
BRIDGES ALONG THE APPLEGATE RIVER. 

THIS URBAN AND SMALL STREAM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL AREAS OF
JOSEPHINE...JACKSON...AND DOUGLAS COUNTIES.

DO NOT TRY TO CROSS FLOODED HIGHWAYS. MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR
IN AUTOMOBILES.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS.
 
DO NOT CAMP OR PARK YOUR VEHICLE NEAR STREAMS OR OTHER AREAS SUBJECT
TO FLOODING...ESPECIALLY DURING THREATENING AND RAINY WEATHER
SITUATION.

BURBACK

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.

NWS Medford, OR wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Nov 18, 2:15 PM PST, 2 hours 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 18, 2:15 PM PST, 2 hours 45 minutes before
SOUTHWEST OREGON/NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
230 PM PST MON NOV 18 1996

E-W JUICY BAROCLINIC BAND WILL CONTINUE AS IS INTO TONIGHT. BAND
EXPECTED TO BECOME MORE SW-NE ORIENTED LATER TONIGHT AND TUESDAY AM
WITH MAIN FOCUS OF HEAVY RAINS CONTINUING COAST AND COAST RANGE.
STRONG SHRT WV NEAR 40/140 THIS AFTERNOON WILL APPROACH THE COAST TUE
AM AND MOVE INLAND TUE AFTERNOON. SFC LOW NEAR 40/140 NOT SHOWING ANY
SIG DEEPENING AT THIS TIME...HOWEVER GRADUAL DEEPENING WILL TAKE PLACE
OVER THE NEXT 12HRS AND WILL MOVE TO JUST OFF THE S OREGON COAST BY
12Z TUE...THEN CONTINUE NE AND INLAND BY AFTERNOON. EXPECT HIGH WINDS
S COAST AND HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF CWA TO CONTINUE INTO TUE AM...THEN
DECREASE LATER TUE AFTERNOON.  HOLTZ

.KMAX...VCP 21...

.MFR...FLW...COQUILLE R.
       FFW...SMALL STREAM/RIVER WARNING S COAST/W SISKIYOU COUNTY
       FFA...MAINSTEM S COAST/W SISKIYOU COUNTY

...SEE PDXCCFPDX FOR CODED CITIES FORECAST.

MFR RC 046/053 039/050 034 05++63
LMT RC 043/050 030/044 030 057743
RBG RC 046/052 040/049 040 05++75
4BK RC 052/057 045/055 045 05++75
OTH RC 050/055 045/053 045 05++75
YKA RC 040/052 030/048 030 059963
M(HS RC 041/049 035/046 030 059963
S11 RC 037/054 030/050 025 059753

In the hours before

Local storm report, Nov 18, 2:49 PM PST, 2 hours 11 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OREGON
248 PM PST MON NOV 18 1996

TIME(PST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0245 PM    MEDFORD                   OR
11/18/96   JACKSON                        NE MEDFORD 4PM TO 9AM
                                          RAINFALL 1.87 IN. 9AM TO
                                          230 PM RAI.NFALL 1.10 IN.
Local storm report, Nov 18, 3:26 PM PST, 1 hour 34 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OREGON
326 PM PST MON NOV 18 1996

TIME(PST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0316 PM    PORT ORFORD               OR   FLOODING
11/18/96   CURRY                          RESIDENTS OF THE HUNTER
                                          CREEK ARE BEING EVACUATED
                                          AS OF 3PM.

0323 PM                              OR   FLOODING
11/18/96   CURRY                          CU11 SIXES RIVER HAS LOW
                                          LAND FLOODING.

0325 PM                              OR   FLOODING
11/18/96   CURRY                          ELK RIVER HAS LOWLAND
                                          FLOODING. UNCONFIRMED
                                          REPORT THAT THE FISH
                                          HATCHERY IS FLOODED.
Local storm report, Nov 18, 3:28 PM PST, 1 hour 32 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OREGON
326 PM PST MON NOV 18 1996

TIME(PST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0316 PM    PORT ORFORD               OR   FLOODING
11/18/96   CURRY                          RESIDENTS OF THE HUNTER
                                          CREEK ARE BEING EVACUATED
                                          AS OF 3PM.

0323 PM                              OR   FLOODING
11/18/96   CURRY                          CU11 SIXES RIVER HAS LOW
                                          LAND FLOODING.

0325 PM                              OR   FLOODING
11/18/96   CURRY                          ELK RIVER HAS LOWLAND
                                          FLOODING. UNCONFIRMED
                                          REPORT THAT THE FISH
                                          HATCHERY IS FLOODED.
Local storm report, Nov 18, 3:42 PM PST, 1 hour 18 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OREGON
342 PM PST MON NOV 18 1996

TIME(PST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0327 PM                              OR
11/18/96   DOUGLAS                        DO21 NEAR GLIDE 2.12
                                          INCHES OF RAIN SINCE 8AM

0328 PM                              OR
11/18/96   COOS                           2 MILES FROM ALLEGANY 24
                                          HR PRECIP AS OF 7AM 2.28.
                                          07AM-310PM 1.76 MORE.
                                          RIVER AT MODERATE HEIGHT
                                          ON BANKS.
Local storm report, Nov 18, 3:44 PM PST, 1 hour 16 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OREGON
342 PM PST MON NOV 18 1996

TIME(PST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0327 PM                              OR
11/18/96   DOUGLAS                        DO21 NEAR GLIDE 2.12
                                          INCHES OF RAIN SINCE 8AM

0328 PM                              OR
11/18/96   COOS                           2 MILES FROM ALLEGANY 24
                                          HR PRECIP AS OF 7AM 2.28.
                                          07AM-310PM 1.76 MORE.
                                          RIVER AT MODERATE HEIGHT
                                          ON BANKS.
Local storm report, Nov 18, 4:45 PM PST, 15 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OREGON
444 PM PST MON NOV 18 1996

TIME(PST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0355 PM    GRANTS PASS               OR
11/18/96   JOSEPHINE                      JO03 NEAR GRANTS PASS 2.64
                                          INCHES OF RAIN FROM 6PM
                                          SUNDAY UNTIL 245PM TODAY.

0357 PM                              OR
11/18/96   COOS                           3S OF MYRTLE POINT 2.5
                                          INCHES OF RAIN PAST 2 DAYS
                                          AS OF 5AM. 3.75 SINCE 5AM.

0358 PM    COPPER                    OR
11/18/96   JACKSON                        COPPER 4NE 1.57 INCHES OF
                                          RAIN 4PM-4PM.

0359 PM                              OR   FLOODING
11/18/96   JOSEPHINE                      NEAR CAVE JUNCTION WATER
                                          OVER THE ROAD HWY 199
                                          MP30.

0400 PM    NORTH BEND                OR   FLOODING
11/18/96   COOS                           NORTH BEND 2.50 INCH OF
                                          RAIN 4PM-4PM. FAIRLY
                                          EXTENSIVE URBAN FLOODING
                                          IN COOS BAY AND NORTH
                                          BEND.

0401 PM    PORT ORFORD               OR
11/18/96   CURRY                          PORT ORFORD 5E 5.25 INCES
                                          OF RAIN 8AM-4PM WIND
                                          25-30G60MPH.

0403 PM    NORTH BEND                OR
11/18/96   COOS                           SPOTTER #47 NORTH BEND 24
                                          HOUR PRECIPITATION ENDING
                                          AT 4PM 3.20 INCHES.
                                          MODERATE RAIN CONTINUES AT
                                          4PM.

0440 PM    PORT ORFORD               OR
11/18/96   CURRY                          SPOTTER REPORTED 1.50
                                          INCHES RAIN FROM 2PM-4PM
                 b                         PST.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Medford, OR issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 18, 8:48 PM PSTFlash Flood WarningMFRDouglas, Jackson, Josephine12 hr
Nov 18, 8:48 PM PSTFlash Flood WarningMFRCoos, Curry12 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Oregon, 1996Every flash flood warning in 1996

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.