Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 1998

Flash Flood Warning 17, NWS Tucson, AZ

July 10, 1998Cochise County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Jul 10, 1998, 3:52 PM MST for Cochise County, Arizona. It was in force for 58 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 10, 1998, 3:52 PM MST (22:52 UTC)
Expired
Jul 10, 1998, 4:50 PM MST
In force
58 min
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ
Area
Whole counties

County Cochise County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 83 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:51 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

Tuscon, AZ (KTUS), launched 12:00Z, 10.9 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 1998-07-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 33 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 1998-07-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -31 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
33 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-276 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2741 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-31 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-29 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 102254
FFWTUS
AZC003-102350-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
352 PM MST FRI JUL 10 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TUCSON HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN COCHISE COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA

* UNTIL 450 PM MST

* AT 350 PM MST... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  A THUNDERSTORM WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN OVER THE CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS
  5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PORTAL...NEARLY STATIONARY. THIS STORM MAY
  ALSO CONTAIN STRONG WINDS AND HAIL...BUT FLASH FLOODING IS THE
  PRIMARY THREAT.

  DRAINAGES IN THE VICINITY OF THE NATURAL BRIDGE TO HORSESHOE
  CANYON ARE PARTICULARILY SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLOODING. THIS IS A
  DANGEROUS SITUATION...SEEK HIGH GROUND IMMEDIATELY.

  LUDWIG

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 Tucson, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jul 10, 2:15 PM MST, 1 hour 37 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 10, 2:15 PM MST, 1 hour 37 minutes before
SOUTHEAST ARIZONA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
215 PM MST FRI JUL 10 1998

SYNOPSIS...STRONG HIGH PRESSURE WILL EXPAND WESTWARD INTO NORTHWEST
MEXICO AND ARIZONA THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. AS A RESULT DAYTIME
TEMPERATURES WILL BE ON THE INCREASE WITH A CONTINUED THREAT OF
ISOLATED AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS.

DISCUSSION...MONSOON SLOWS TO A CRAWL FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS OR SO AS
A RIDGE BUILDS IN FROM TEXAS AND SQUEEZES OFF SOME OF THE MOISTURE.
WE'LL KEEP ENOUGH AROUND FOR A FEW BUILDUPS AND STORMS OVER THE
MOUNTAINS...BUT WILL STRUGGLE TO SUSTAIN ANY SIGNIFICANT VALLEY
ACTIVITY. COMBINATION OF STRONG HEIGHT INCREASES WITH LOWER MOISTURE
LEVELS WILL ALLOW STRONG WARMING. WE'LL NEED SOME HELP FROM MEXICO
IN THE FORM OF OUTFLOWS FROM ORGANIZED CONVECTION OR SOME KIND OF
SURGE IF WE ARE TO BREAK OUT OF THIS QUICKLY. WILL GO AHEAD AND KEEP
A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE EXTENDED. MEYER TUS 111.

.TWC...NONE.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 10, 12:45 PM MST, 3 hours 7 minutes before
AZZ019-026>030-110700-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...SOUTHEAST ARIZONA CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
1245 PM MST FRI JUL 10 1998...THIS PRODUCT IS NOT UPDATED

                        *CONDITIONAL*    *CONDITIONAL*
                AREAL    PROBABILITY   RAIN GREATER THAN   STORM
              COVERAGE    OF SEVERE     1.00       2.00    MOTION

COCHISE          25           0          30          0      N 5
GRAHAM           25           0          30          0      N 5
GREENLEE         30           0          30          0      N 5
TUCSON/ERN PIMA  20           0          25          0     NE 5
TOHONO OODHAM   15           0          20          0     NE 5
WESTERN PIMA     10           0          20          0     NE 5
SOUTHEAST PINAL  15           0          20          0     NE 5
SANTA CRUZ       25           0          25          0     NE 5

SYNOPSIS...
UGH. DRIER AND A LITTLE MORE STABLE TODAY...EVEN MOUNTAIN
THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE AN ENDANGERED SPECIES THIS AFTERNOON. ANY THAT
DO FORM WONT BE TERRIBLY INCLINED WANDER OFF INTO THE VALLEYS.

*****************************************************************
KEY...
AREAL COVERAGE - PERCENT OF COUNTY OR AREA THAT WILL EXPERIENCE
                  THUNDERSTORMS
PROB OF SEVERE - THE PROBABILITY THAT ANY ONE OF THE STORMS WILL
                  REACH SEVERE LEVELS (DAMAGING WIND AND/OR
                  LARGE HAIL)
RAIN GRTR THAN - THE PROBABILITY THAT ANY ONE OF THE STORMS WILL
                  PRODUCE RAIN EXCEEDING 1 INCH OR 2 INCHES IN
                  ANY LOCATION
STORM MOTION   - GENERAL DIRECTION TO WHICH THE STORMS WILL
                  LIKELY MOVE AND SPEED IN MPH

NOTE...
VALID TIME IS FROM 12:45 PM TO 12 MIDNIGHT OF THE DAY OF ISSUANCE.
THIS PRODUCT IS NOT TO BE USED IN PLACE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR
FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS OR WATCHES. THIS PRODUCT IS ONLY USED FOR
OUTLOOK PURPOSES. CORRESPONDING GRAPHICS MAY BE FOUND ON THE NWS
TUCSON INTERNET PAGE AT
HTTP://NIMBO.WRH.NOAA.GOV/TUCSON/SWO/SWO.SHTML

END/WJM
Special weather statement, Jul 10, 12:45 PM MST, 3 hours 7 minutes before
AZZ019-026>030-110700-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...SOUTHEAST ARIZONA CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
1245 PM MST FRI JUL 10 1998...THIS PRODUCT IS NOT UPDATED

                        *CONDITIONAL*    *CONDITIONAL*
                AREAL    PROBABILITY   RAIN GREATER THAN   STORM
              COVERAGE    OF SEVERE     1.00       2.00    MOTION

COCHISE          25           0          30          0      N 5
GRAHAM           25           0          30          0      N 5
GREENLEE         30           0          30          0      N 5
TUCSON/ERN PIMA  20           0          25          0     NE 5
TOHONO OODHAM   15           0          20          0     NE 5
WESTERN PIMA     10           0          20          0     NE 5
SOUTHEAST PINAL  15           0          20          0     NE 5
SANTA CRUZ       25           0          25          0     NE 5

SYNOPSIS...
UGH. DRIER AND A LITTLE MORE STABLE TODAY...EVEN MOUNTAIN
THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE AN ENDANGERED SPECIES THIS AFTERNOON. ANY THAT
DO FORM WONT BE TERRIBLY INCLINED WANDER OFF INTO THE VALLEYS.

*****************************************************************
KEY...
AREAL COVERAGE - PERCENT OF COUNTY OR AREA THAT WILL EXPERIENCE
                  THUNDERSTORMS
PROB OF SEVERE - THE PROBABILITY THAT ANY ONE OF THE STORMS WILL
                  REACH SEVERE LEVELS (DAMAGING WIND AND/OR
                  LARGE HAIL)
RAIN GRTR THAN - THE PROBABILITY THAT ANY ONE OF THE STORMS WILL
                  PRODUCE RAIN EXCEEDING 1 INCH OR 2 INCHES IN
                  ANY LOCATION
STORM MOTION   - GENERAL DIRECTION TO WHICH THE STORMS WILL
                  LIKELY MOVE AND SPEED IN MPH

NOTE...
VALID TIME IS FROM 12:45 PM TO 12 MIDNIGHT OF THE DAY OF ISSUANCE.
THIS PRODUCT IS NOT TO BE USED IN PLACE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR
FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS OR WATCHES. THIS PRODUCT IS ONLY USED FOR
OUTLOOK PURPOSES. CORRESPONDING GRAPHICS MAY BE FOUND ON THE NWS
TUCSON INTERNET PAGE AT
HTTP://NIMBO.WRH.NOAA.GOV/TUCSON/SWO/SWO.SHTML

END/WJM

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Arizona, 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.