Alert archive / California / Flash Flood Warnings in 1998

Flash Flood Warning 19, NWS Los Angeles, CA

February 23, 1998Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, California

NWS Los Angeles, CA issued this flash flood warning at Feb 23, 1998, 9:35 AM PST for Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, California. It was in force for 8 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
Feb 23, 1998, 9:35 AM PST (17:35 UTC)
Expired
Feb 23, 1998, 6:00 PM PST
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Los Angeles, CA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Santa Barbara County, CA, Ventura County, CA

The radar

The Los Angeles radar (KVTX), 37 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:39 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

Vandenberg AFB, CA (KVBG), launched 12:00Z, 5.6 hours before the alert went out and 90 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, Vandenberg AFB, CA at 12:00Z on 1998-02-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 13 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, Vandenberg AFB, CA at 12:00Z on 1998-02-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 163 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
13 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-23 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
612 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
70 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
163 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
220 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 KLAX 231740 COR
FFWLAX
CAC083-111-231900-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING...CORRECTED...EXPIRES AT 6PM TODAY...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
935 AM PST MON FEB 23 1998

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 6 PM
   FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

   SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SOUTH COAST
   SANTA YNEZ MOUNTAIN RANGE
   WESTERN VENTURA COUNTY

MODERATE RAINFALL HAS BEEN FALLING FOR SEVERAL HOURS ACROSS
PORTIONS OF SANTA BARBARA AND WESTERN VENTURA COUNTIES THIS
MORNING. THUS...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 6 PM
FOR THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SOUTH COAST AND THE SANTA YNEZ MOUNTAIN
RANGE AS WELL AS THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF VENTURA COUNTY.

SYCAMORE CREEK IS NEAR BANKFULL AND MISSION CREEK IS RISING
RAPIDLY. RAINFALL RATES HAVE BEEN OVER 1 INCH AN HOUR SINCE 7 AM
WITH OVERNIGHT TOTALS OF NEAR 5 INCHES BEING REPORTED AT GIBRALTER
DAM.

OVERNIGHT RAINFALL REPORTS ACROSS THE WARNING AREA INCLUDE:

MATILIJA DAM..............................4.96 INCHES
WHITE LEDGE PEAK..........................5.43 INCHES

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLASH FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS
IMMINENT.  FOLLOW DIRECTIONS OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OFFICIALS AND
EVACUATE IF R&EQUESTED TO DO SO.  PERSONS IN THE WARNING AREA SHOULD
BE PREPARED TO MOVE IMMEDIATELY TO HIGHER GROUND...WITHOUT WAITING
FOR INSTRUCTIONS...IF HEAVY FLOWS OF WATER OR DEBRIS ARE OBSERVED
IN THEIR AREA.

BURKE/MCCLUNG

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, Feb 23, 5:00 AM PST, 4 hours 35 minutes before
CAZ034>041-044>047-051>054-059-231800-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
500 AM PST MON FEB 23 1998

...FORECAST RAINFALL TOTALS FOR THE STORM TODAY...

A STRONG PACIFIC STORM WILL MOVE INTO CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA TODAY AND ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TONIGHT.

THE FOLLOWING ARE FORECAST RAINFALL TOTALS FOR 4 AM TODAY
THROUGH 4 AM TUESDAY.

...SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY...
   CENTRAL COAST.................1.5 TO 2.5 INCHES.
   INTERIOR VALLEYS..................1 TO 2 INCHES.
   MOUNTAINS.....................2.5 TO 3.5 INCHES.

...SANTA BARBARA COUNTY...
   CENTRAL COAST.....................2 TO 4 INCHES.
   SOUTH COAST.......................3 TO 5 INCHES.
   SANTA YNEZ VALLEY.................5 TO 9 INCHES.
   SANTA YNEZ MOUNTAINS..............5 TO 9 INCHES.
   SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAINS............4 TO 8 INCHES.
   CUYAMA VALLEY.................1.5 TO 2.5 INCHES.

...VENTURA COUNTY...
   COAST AND VALLEYS.................3 TO 6 INCHES.
   MOUNTAINS.........................5 TO 9 INCHES.

...LOS ANGELES COUNTY...
   COASTAL PLAIN.....................2 TO 4 INCHES.
   SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS............4 TO 7 INCHES.
   COASTAL VALLEYS...................3 TO 6 INCHES.
   SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS.............5 TO 9 INCHES.
   ANTELOPE VALLEY...................1 TO 3 INCHES.

MARTIN
Special weather statement, Feb 23, 5:00 AM PST, 4 hours 35 minutes before
CAZ034>041-044>047-051>054-059-231800-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
500 AM PST MON FEB 23 1998

...FORECAST RAINFALL TOTALS FOR THE STORM TODAY...

A STRONG PACIFIC STORM WILL MOVE INTO CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA TODAY AND ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TONIGHT.

THE FOLLOWING ARE FORECAST RAINFALL TOTALS FOR 4 AM TODAY
THROUGH 4 AM TUESDAY.

...SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY...
   CENTRAL COAST.................1.5 TO 2.5 INCHES.
   INTERIOR VALLEYS..................1 TO 2 INCHES.
   MOUNTAINS.....................2.5 TO 3.5 INCHES.

...SANTA BARBARA COUNTY...
   CENTRAL COAST.....................2 TO 4 INCHES.
   SOUTH COAST.......................3 TO 5 INCHES.
   SANTA YNEZ VALLEY.................5 TO 9 INCHES.
   SANTA YNEZ MOUNTAINS..............5 TO 9 INCHES.
   SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAINS............4 TO 8 INCHES.
   CUYAMA VALLEY.................1.5 TO 2.5 INCHES.

...VENTURA COUNTY...
   COAST AND VALLEYS.................3 TO 6 INCHES.
   MOUNTAINS.........................5 TO 9 INCHES.

...LOS ANGELES COUNTY...
   COASTAL PLAIN.....................2 TO 4 INCHES.
   SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS............4 TO 7 INCHES.
   COASTAL VALLEYS...................3 TO 6 INCHES.
   SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS.............5 TO 9 INCHES.
   ANTELOPE VALLEY...................1 TO 3 INCHES.

MARTIN
Special weather statement, Feb 23, 5:45 AM PST, 3 hours 50 minutes before
CAZ034>041-044>047-051>054-059-231445-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
545 AM PST MON FEB 23 1998

FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF ALL WARNINGS...WATCHES AND ADVISORY
CURRENTLY IN EFFECT FOR THE FORECAST AREA COVERED BY
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OXNARD CALIFORNIA

...A URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6
   PM FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

      LOS ANGELES COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE ANTELOPE VALLEY...

...A URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6
   PM FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

      SANTA BARBARA COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE CUYAMA VALLEY
      VENTURA COUNTY...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM FOR THE FOLLOWING
   LOCATIONS:

      SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE INTERIOR VALLEYS
      SANTA BARBARA COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE CUYAMA VALLEY
      VENTURA COUNTY
      LOS ANGELES COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE ANTELOPE VALLEY...

...A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL  FOR TONIGHT BETWEEN
     5000 AND 7000 FEET FEET FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

            VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS
            LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS EXCLUDING THE SANTA MONICA RANGE...

...A HEAVY SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL TUESDAY

      FROM POINT PIEDRAS BLANCAS TO THE MEXICAN BORDER...
Special weather statement, Feb 23, 5:45 AM PST, 3 hours 50 minutes before
CAZ034>041-044>047-051>054-059-231445-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
545 AM PST MON FEB 23 1998

FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF ALL WARNINGS...WATCHES AND ADVISORY
CURRENTLY IN EFFECT FOR THE FORECAST AREA COVERED BY
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OXNARD CALIFORNIA

...A URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6
   PM FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

      LOS ANGELES COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE ANTELOPE VALLEY...

...A URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6
   PM FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

      SANTA BARBARA COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE CUYAMA VALLEY
      VENTURA COUNTY...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM FOR THE FOLLOWING
   LOCATIONS:

      SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE INTERIOR VALLEYS
      SANTA BARBARA COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE CUYAMA VALLEY
      VENTURA COUNTY
      LOS ANGELES COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE ANTELOPE VALLEY...

...A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL  FOR TONIGHT BETWEEN
     5000 AND 7000 FEET FEET FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

            VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS
            LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS EXCLUDING THE SANTA MONICA RANGE...

...A HEAVY SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL TUESDAY

      FROM POINT PIEDRAS BLANCAS TO THE MEXICAN BORDER...
Special weather statement, Feb 23, 6:45 AM PST, 2 hours 50 minutes before
CAZ034>041-044>047-051>054-059-231545-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT   ...CORRECTION...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
645 AM PST MON FEB 23 1998

FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF ALL WARNINGS...WATCHES AND ADVISORY
CURRENTLY IN EFFECT FOR THE FORECAST AREA COVERED BY
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OXNARD CALIFORNIA

...A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT ABOVE
   7000 FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

      VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS
      LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS EXCLUDING THE SANTA MONICA RANGE...

...A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH  FOR TONIGHT
   BETWEEN 5000 AND 7000 FEET FEET FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

      VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS
      LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS EXCLUDING THE SANTA MONICA RANGE...

...A URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM
   FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

      SANTA BARBARA COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE CUYAMA VALLEY
      VENTURA COUNTY...
      LOS ANGELES COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE ANTELOPE VALLEY...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM FOR THE FOLLOWING
   LOCATIONS:

      SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE INTERIOR VALLEYS
      SANTA BARBARA COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE CUYAMA VALLEY
      VENTURA COUNTY
      LOS ANGELES COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE ANTELOPE VALLEY...

...A HEAVY SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL TUESDAY

      FROM POINT PIEDRAS BLANCAS TO THE MEXICAN BORDER...
Special weather statement, Feb 23, 6:45 AM PST, 2 hours 50 minutes before
CAZ034>041-044>047-051>054-059-231545-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT   ...CORRECTION...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
645 AM PST MON FEB 23 1998

FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF ALL WARNINGS...WATCHES AND ADVISORY
CURRENTLY IN EFFECT FOR THE FORECAST AREA COVERED BY
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OXNARD CALIFORNIA

...A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT ABOVE
   7000 FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

      VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS
      LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS EXCLUDING THE SANTA MONICA RANGE...

...A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH  FOR TONIGHT
   BETWEEN 5000 AND 7000 FEET FEET FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

      VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS
      LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS EXCLUDING THE SANTA MONICA RANGE...

...A URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM
   FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

      SANTA BARBARA COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE CUYAMA VALLEY
      VENTURA COUNTY...
      LOS ANGELES COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE ANTELOPE VALLEY...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM FOR THE FOLLOWING
   LOCATIONS:

      SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE INTERIOR VALLEYS
      SANTA BARBARA COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE CUYAMA VALLEY
      VENTURA COUNTY
      LOS ANGELES COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE ANTELOPE VALLEY...

...A HEAVY SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL TUESDAY

      FROM POINT PIEDRAS BLANCAS TO THE MEXICAN BORDER...

The office that day

Everything else NWS Los Angeles, CA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 23, 12:40 PM PSTFlash Flood WarningLOXLos Angeles, Ventura5 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in California, 1998Every flash flood warning in 1998

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.