Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 1997

Flash Flood Warning 11, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

July 28, 1997Weld County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this flash flood warning at Jul 28, 1997, 4:57 PM MDT for Weld County, Colorado. It was in force for 2 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline the Iowa Environmental Mesonet reconstructed for it; the warning itself named whole counties.

The facts

Issued
Jul 28, 1997, 4:57 PM MDT (22:57 UTC)
Expired
Jul 28, 1997, 7:00 PM MDT
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Area
Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

County Weld County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 39 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:56 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, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 128 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 1997-07-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 49 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, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 1997-07-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 23 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
49 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-20 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
819 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
4 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
23 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
78 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 282313
FFWDEN
COC123-290100-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
457 PM MDT MON JUL 28 1997

CORRECTED HEADER

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 700 PM MDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES

IN NORTHEAST COLORADO
     SOUTHWESTERN WELD

INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
     FORT LUPTON AND LOCHBUIE

AT 457 PM MDT WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED VERY HEAVY RAIN
OVER SOUTHWESTERN WELD COUNTY.  THE HEAVIEST RAIN WAS OCCURRING 
ABOUT 4 MILES NORTHWEST OF HUDSON...OR ABOUT 25 MILES NORTHEAST OF 
DENVER.  UP TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN HAD ALREADY FALLEN...AND ADDITIONAL 
RAIN WILL FALL AT THE RATE OF 2 INCHES IN 45 MINUTES OR LESS.  

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM THIS STORM WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING OF SMALL 
CREEKS AND STREAMS...HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES. ADDITIONALLY...COUNTRY
ROADS AND FARMLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS AND STREAMS AND OTHER 
LOW LYING AREAS ARE SUBJECT TO FLASH FLOODING.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY
AUTOMOBILE. IF YOUR VEHICLE STALLS, ABANDON IT IMMEDIATELY AND SEEK
HIGHER GROUND.

LAT...LON 4021  10457 4012 10458 4001 10471 4000 10497 4016 10478

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 28, 11:01 AM MDT, 5 hours 56 minutes before
COZ030-032>050-290600-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL COLORADO
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
1115 AM MDT DAY MON JUL 28 1997

THIS OUTLOOK PERTAINS TO THE FOLLOWING COLORADO COUNTIES

ADAMS     ARAPAHOE     BOULDER   CLEAR CREEK   DENVER       DOUGLAS
ELBERT    GILPIN       GRAND     JACKSON       JEFFERSON    LARIMER
LINCOLN   LOGAN        MORGAN    PARK          PHILLIPS     SEDGWICK
SUMMIT    WASHINGTON   WELD

SYNOPSIS:  A MOIST AND RELATIVELY UNSTABLE AIRMASS WILL CONTINUE
OVER THE REGION TODAY.  WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP BY MID AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY IN AN NEAR
THE FOOTHILLS AND OVER THE PALMER DIVIDE AREA.  AS A RESULT LOCALLY
HEAVY RAINFALL WILL AGAIN CAUSE SOME FLOODING PROBLEMS.

RADAR ESTIMATED UP TO 4 INCHES OF RAINFALL SINCE 6 AM THIS MORNING
SOUTHWEST OF POUDRE PARK IN EASTERN LARIMER COUNTY.  AS A RESULT
MINOR FLOODING PROBLEMS BEEN REPORTED IN THIS AREA.

LOW LEVEL UPSLOPE WILL CONTINUE OVER THE AREA THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.
EXTENSIVE CLOUD COVER WILL LIMIT THE AMOUT OF HEATING WE RECIEVE
THIS AFTERNOON.

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TODAY BUT ANY RAINFALL AND ANY
REPORTS OF FLOODING WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

CONTINUE TO MONITOR NOAA RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL NEW MEDIA FOR THE
POSSIBLE ISSUANCE OF A FLASH FLOOD WATCH LATER TODAY.

FMC
Special weather statement, Jul 28, 11:02 AM MDT, 5 hours 55 minutes before
COZ030-032>050-290600-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL COLORADO
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
1115 AM MDT MON JUL 28 1997

THIS OUTLOOK PERTAINS TO THE FOLLOWING COLORADO COUNTIES

ADAMS     ARAPAHOE     BOULDER   CLEAR CREEK   DENVER       DOUGLAS
ELBERT    GILPIN       GRAND     JACKSON       JEFFERSON    LARIMER
LINCOLN   LOGAN        MORGAN    PARK          PHILLIPS     SEDGWICK
SUMMIT    WASHINGTON   WELD

SYNOPSIS:  A MOIST AND RELATIVELY UNSTABLE AIRMASS WILL CONTINUE
OVER THE REGION TODAY.  WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP BY MID AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY IN AN NEAR
THE FOOTHILLS AND OVER THE PALMER DIVIDE AREA.  AS A RESULT LOCALLY
HEAVY RAINFALL WILL AGAIN CAUSE SOME FLOODING PROBLEMS.

RADAR ESTIMATED UP TO 4 INCHES OF RAINFALL SINCE 6 AM THIS MORNING
SOUTHWEST OF POUDRE PARK IN EASTERN LARIMER COUNTY.  AS A RESULT
MINOR FLOODING PROBLEMS BEEN REPORTED IN THIS AREA.

LOW LEVEL UPSLOPE WILL CONTINUE OVER THE AREA THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.
EXTENSIVE CLOUD COVER WILL LIMIT THE AMOUT OF HEATING WE RECIEVE
THIS AFTERNOON.

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TODAY BUT ANY RAINFALL AND ANY
REPORTS OF FLOODING WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

CONTINUE TO MONITOR NOAA RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL NEW MEDIA FOR THE
POSSIBLE ISSUANCE OF A FLASH FLOOD WATCH LATER TODAY.

FMC
Special weather statement, Jul 28, 11:15 AM MDT, 5 hours 42 minutes before
COZ030-032>050-290600-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL COLORADO
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
1115 AM MDT MON JUL 28 1997

THIS OUTLOOK PERTAINS TO THE FOLLOWING COLORADO COUNTIES

ADAMS     ARAPAHOE     BOULDER   CLEAR CREEK   DENVER       DOUGLAS
ELBERT    GILPIN       GRAND     JACKSON       JEFFERSON    LARIMER
LINCOLN   LOGAN        MORGAN    PARK          PHILLIPS     SEDGWICK
SUMMIT    WASHINGTON   WELD

SYNOPSIS:  A MOIST AND RELATIVELY UNSTABLE AIRMASS WILL CONTINUE
OVER THE REGION TODAY.  WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP BY MID AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY IN AN NEAR
THE FOOTHILLS AND OVER THE PALMER DIVIDE AREA.  AS A RESULT LOCALLY
HEAVY RAINFALL WILL AGAIN CAUSE SOME FLOODING PROBLEMS.

RADAR ESTIMATED UP TO 4 INCHES OF RAINFALL SINCE 6 AM THIS MORNING
SOUTHWEST OF POUDRE PARK IN EASTERN LARIMER COUNTY.  AS A RESULT
MINOR FLOODING PROBLEMS BEEN REPORTED IN THIS AREA.

LOW LEVEL UPSLOPE WILL CONTINUE OVER THE AREA THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.
EXTENSIVE CLOUD COVER WILL LIMIT THE AMOUT OF HEATING WE RECIEVE
THIS AFTERNOON.

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TODAY BUT ANY RAINFALL AND ANY
REPORTS OF FLOODING WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

CONTINUE TO MONITOR NOAA RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL NEW MEDIA FOR THE
POSSIBLE ISSUANCE OF A FLASH FLOOD WATCH LATER TODAY.

FMC
Special weather statement, Jul 28, 3:44 PM MDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before
COZ043-282245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
344 PM MDT MON JUL 28 1997

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN SOUTHERN WELD COUNTY..

AT 341 PM MDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF FORT LUPTON...OR ABOUT 20 MILES
SOUTH OF GREELEY.

THIS STORM WAS PRODUCING A FUNNEL CLOUD.  PERSONS BETWEEN FORT
LUPTON AND MILTON RESERVOIR SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER.  MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IF A FUNNEL CLOUD APPROACHES.

THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MILES PER HOUR.  DUE TO THE
SLOW MOVEMENT...VERY HEAVY RAIN CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED WITH THE
STORM.  UP TO 2 INCHES WILL FALL IN LESS THAN AN HOUR.

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 28, 3:59 PM MDT, 58 minutes before
COZ034-036-037-040-282300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
400 PM MDT MON JUL 28 1997

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN IN THE FOOTHILLS WEST OF
DENVER...

AT 400 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM JUST WEST OF GOLDEN TO BAILEY...AND
THEN INTO CENTRAL PARK COUNTY.  THE STRONGEST STORM WAS OVER
EVERGREEN...OR ABOUT 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DOWNTOWN DENVER.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING VERY SLOWLY NORTHEAST AT 5 MILES PER HOUR.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR GOLDEN...ANTERO RESERVOIR...ASPEN PARK...BAILEY...
BERGEN PARK...COMO...CONIFER...EVERGREEN...FAIRPLAY...PARK...
HARTSEL...HIGHLAND PARK...IDLEDALE...INDIAN HILLS...JEFFERSON...
KITTREDGE...PINE...RED HILL PASS...SHAWNEE...TARRYALL
RESERVOIR...TINY TOWN...WELLINGTON LAKE AND WHITE RANCH OPEN SPACE
SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR VERY HEAVY RAIN.

THE STRONGEST STORMS IN THIS LINE WILL PRODUCE BETWEEN 1 AND 2
INCHES OF RAIN IN AN HOUR.

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...THEREFOtRE SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF THREATENED BY FLOOD
WATERS.

BARJENBRUCH
Special weather statement, Jul 28, 4:00 PM MDT, 57 minutes before
COZ034-036-037-040-282300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
400 PM MDT MON JUL 28 1997

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN IN THE FOOTHILLS WEST OF
DENVER...

AT 400 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM JUST WEST OF GOLDEN TO BAILEY...AND
THEN INTO CENTRAL PARK COUNTY.  THE STRONGEST STORM WAS OVER
EVERGREEN...OR ABOUT 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DOWNTOWN DENVER.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING VERY SLOWLY NORTHEAST AT 5 MILES PER HOUR.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR GOLDEN...ANTERO RESERVOIR...ASPEN PARK...BAILEY...
BERGEN PARK...COMO...CONIFER...EVERGREEN...FAIRPLAY...PARK...
HARTSEL...HIGHLAND PARK...IDLEDALE...INDIAN HILLS...JEFFERSON...
KITTREDGE...PINE...RED HILL PASS...SHAWNEE...TARRYALL
RESERVOIR...TINY TOWN...WELLINGTON LAKE AND WHITE RANCH OPEN SPACE
SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR VERY HEAVY RAIN.

THE STRONGEST STORMS IN THIS LINE WILL PRODUCE BETWEEN 1 AND 2
INCHES OF RAIN IN AN HOUR.

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

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.