Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 1997

Flash Flood Warning 10, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

July 27, 1997Jefferson County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this flash flood warning at Jul 27, 1997, 4:35 PM MDT for Jefferson County, Colorado. It was in force for 85 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 27, 1997, 4:35 PM MDT (22:35 UTC)
Expired
Jul 27, 1997, 6:00 PM MDT
In force
85 min
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Area
Whole counties

County Jefferson County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 64 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:39 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 12:00Z, 10.6 hours before the alert went out and 176 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, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 1997-07-27Temperature 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, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 1997-07-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 43 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1981 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
15 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
43 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-24 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 KDEN 272234
FFWDEN
COC059-280000-

FLASH FLOOD WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
435 PM MDT SUN JUL 27 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD 
WARNING UNTIL 600 PM MDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES

IN NORTHEAST COLORADO
     CENTRAL JEFFERSON

INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
     GOLDEN...PLEASANT VIEW...AND IDLEDALE

AT 433 PM MDT...THE JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTED THAT LENA 
GULCH WAS ALREADY 2 FEET ABOVE BANKFULL LEVELS.  PERSONS LIVING 
ALONG LENA GULCH AND OTHER SMALL STREAMS SHOULD MOVE TO HIGHER 
GROUND IMMEDIATELY!  

AT 435 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED VERY 
HEAVY RAIN OCCURRING JUST SOUTHEAST OF DOWNTOWN GOLDEN.  THIS STORM 
WAS MOVING NORTH AT JUST 5 MPH.  

RADAR AND SURFACE REPORTS ALREADY INDICATED ABOUT 1.6 INCHES OF RAIN 
JUST SOUTHEAST OF GOLDEN.  ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE 
FLOODING OF SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS...URBAN AREAS...STREETS AND6 
UNDERPASSES...AS WELL AS OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.

DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED AREAS.

BARJENBRUCH

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 27, 2:51 PM MDT, 1 hour 44 minutes before
COZ040-272145-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
248 PM MDT SUN JUL 27 1997

...THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO SOUTHERN AND EASTERN SECTIONS OF
DENVER...

AT 245 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM NEAR LOUVIERS...OR ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN
DENVER.

THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTH/NORTHEAST AT 15 MILES PER HOUR.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR AURORA...CHERRY CREEK RESERVOIR... DENVER...
ENGLEWOOD...LITTLETON... ARAPAHOE PARK...BEVERLY HILLS...GREENWOOD
VILLAGE...HIGHLANDS RANCH...LOUVIERS...PARKER...AND SURREY RIDGE
SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR VERY HEAVY RAIN AS THESE STORMS MOVE
THROUGH YOUR AREA.  BETWEEN 1 AND 2 INCHES OF RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED
IN 30 MINUTES OR LESS.

HEAVY RAINS MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES.  AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS AS
THEY MAY BE WASHED OUT.  WATER LEVELS OF SMALL STREAMS AND RIVERS
MAY ALSO RISE...THEREFORE SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF THREATENED BY FLOOD
WATERS.

SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED WITH
THE STORMS.

BARJENBRUCH
Special weather statement, Jul 27, 3:03 PM MDT, 1 hour 32 minutes before
COZ041-272200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
303 PM MDT SUN JUL 27 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN WESTERN ELBERT COUNTY...

AT 303 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER KIOWA...OR ABOUT 39 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
DENVER.

THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MILES PER HOUR.  PERSONS FROM
KIOWA AND POINTS NORTH AND EAST SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR VERY
HEAVY RAIN.  UP TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED IN 30 MINUTES OR
LESS.  A BRIEF WEAK TORNADO IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...MOVE TO A STURDY STRUCTURE AND
STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH CAN
ALSO BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

HEAVY RAINS MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES. AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS AS THEY
MAY BE WASHED OUT. WATER LEVELS OF SMALL STREAMS AND RIVERS MAY ALSO
RISE...THEREFORE SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS.

BARJENBRUCH
Special weather statement, Jul 27, 3:06 PM MDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
COZ041-272200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
303 PM MDT SUN JUL 27 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN WESTERN ELBERT COUNTY...

AT 303 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER KIOWA...OR ABOUT 39 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
DENVER.

THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MILES PER HOUR.  PERSONS FROM
KIOWA AND POINTS NORTH AND EAST SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR VERY
HEAVY RAIN.  UP TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED IN 30 MINUTES OR
LESS.  A BRIEF WEAK TORNADO IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...MOVE TO A STURDY STRUCTURE AND
STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH CAN
ALSO BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

HEAVY RAINS MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES. AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS AS THEY
MAY BE WASHED OUT. WATER LEVELS OF SMALL STREAMS AND RIVERS MAY ALSO
RISE...THEREFORE SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS.

BARJENBRUCH
Special weather statement, Jul 27, 3:22 PM MDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before
COZ046-049-272215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
322 PM MDT SUN JUL 27 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN IN EXTREME NORTHEASTERN
LINCOLN COUNTY...

AT 319 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES SOUTH OF THURMAN...OR ABOUT 30 MILES NORTHEAST
OF LIMON.

THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT JUST 5 MILES PER HOUR.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR ANTON...ARICKAREE SCHOOL AND THURMAN SHOULD BE ON
THE LOOKOUT FOR VERY HEAVY RAIN.  BETWEEN 2 AND 3 INCHES OF RAIN
CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM IN AN HOUR OR LESS.

HEAVY RAINS MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES LOW SPOTS IN
ROADS.  AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS AS THEY MAY
BE WASHED OUT.  WATER LEVELS OF SMALL STREAMS AND RIVERS MAY ALSO
RISE...THEREFORE SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS.

BARJENBRUCH
Special weather statement, Jul 27, 3:59 PM MDT, 36 minutes before
COZ041-045-046-272300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
400 PM MDT SUN JUL 27 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN SOUTHEASTERN ARAPAHOE AND NORTHEASTERN
   ELBERT COUNTIES OF COLORADO...

AT 400 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM 16 MILES SOUTHWEST OF AGATE...OR ABOUT 24 MILES WEST OF
LIMON.

THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 MILES AN HOUR.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR AGATE AND DEER TRAIL

SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND MOVE TO A PLACE
OF SAFETY IF BAD WEATHER APPROACHES.

DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...SMALL HAIL...BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...AND GUSTY WINDS
WILL OCCUR WITH THIS STORM UNTIL 500 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON.

HEAVY RAINS...UP TO 2.00 INCHES AN HOUR...MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS
SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES.  AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS
FLOODED ROADS AS THEY MAY BE WASHED OUT.  WATER LEVELS OF SMALL
STREAMS AND RIVERS MAY ALSO RISE...THEREFORE SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF
THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS.

GARD...WSFO DENVER
Special weather statement, Jul 27, 4:00 PM MDT, 35 minutes before
COZ041-045-046-272300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
400 PM MDT SUN JUL 27 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN SOUTHEASTERN ARAPAHOE AND NORTHEASTERN
   ELBERT COUNTIES OF COLORADO...

AT 400 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM 16 MILES SOUTHWEST OF AGATE...OR ABOUT 24 MILES WEST OF
LIMON.

THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 MILES AN HOUR.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR AGATE AND DEER TRAIL

SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND MOVE TO A PLACE
OF SAFETY IF BAD WEATHER APPROACHES.

DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...SMALL HAIL...BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...AND GUSTY WINDS
WILL OCCUR WITH THIS STORM UNTIL 500 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON.

HEAVY RAINS...UP TO 2.00 INCHES AN HOUR...MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS
SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES.  AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS
FLOODED ROADS AS THEY MAY BE WASHED OUT.  WATER LEVELS OF SMALL
STREAMS AND RIVERS MAY ALSO RISE...THEREFORE SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF
THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS.

GARD...WSFO DENVER

The office that day

Everything else NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 27, 4:57 PM MDTTornado WarningBOUElbert, Lincoln33 min
Jul 27, 5:30 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULincoln45 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Colorado, 1997Every flash flood warning in 1997

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.