Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2002

Flash Flood Warning 5, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

July 3, 2002Douglas County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this flash flood warning at Jul 3, 2002, 1:01 PM MDT for Douglas County, Colorado. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jul 3, 2002, 1:01 PM MDT (19:01 UTC)
Expired
Jul 3, 2002, 4:00 PM MDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Douglas County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 66 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:05 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, 7.0 hours before the alert went out and 157 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 2002-07-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 295 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 2002-07-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -30 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
295 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-378 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2757 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
8 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-30 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-17 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 
WGUS55 KBOU 031901
FFWDEN
COC035-032200-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
1257 PM MDT WED JUL 3 2002

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY IN NORTHEAST COLORADO

* INCLUDING THE DRAINAGE AREA OF EAST PLUM CREEK AND INTERSTATE 25 
OVER THE PALMER DIVIDE.

* UNTIL 400 PM MDT

* AT 1257 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  VERY HEAVY RAIN 6 MILES NORTH OF LARKSPUR...OR ABOUT 27 MILES NORTH
  OF COLORADO SPRINGS. THE STORM PRODUCING THE HEAVY RAIN WAS MOVING
  NORTH AT 5 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...LARKSPUR.

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.

DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATED THAT UP TO 3.5 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN 
ABOUT 3 MILES NORTH OF LARKSPUR SINCE 11:30 AM MDT. 

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.

LAT...LON 3920 10493 3915 10489 3918 10476 3933 10478
          3936 10490 3931 10497

RJK
3 follow-up statements
000 
WGUS55 KBOU 031957
FFSDEN
COC035-032200-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
157 PM MDT WED JUL 3 2002

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY REMAINS IN 
EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM...

THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY REMAINS IN EFFECT 
THROUGH 4 PM.  THIS INCLUDES THE DRAINAGE AREA OF EAST PLUM CREEK 
AND INTERSTATE 25 OVER THE PALMER DIVIDE.

AT 157 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A  
HEAVY RAIN PRODUCING THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CASTLE ROCK
THE STORM PRODUCING THE HEAVY RAIN WAS MOVING NORTH-NORTHWEST AT 7 
MPH.

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.

DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATED THAT UP TO 3.5 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN 
ABOUT 3 MILES NORTH OF LARKSPUR SINCE 11:30 AM MDT.  ANOTHER AREA OF 
RAINFALL WAS ESTIMATED UP TO 2.5 INCHES ABOUT 9 MILES 
SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF CASTLE ROCK.  

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.

LAT...LON 3920 10493 3915 10489 3918 10476 3933 10478
          3936 10490 3931 10497

RJK
000 
WGUS55 KBOU 032053
FFSDEN
COC035-032200-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
255 PM MDT WED JUL 3 2002

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY REMAINS IN 
EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM...

THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY REMAINS IN EFFECT 
THROUGH 4 PM.  THIS INCLUDES THE DRAINAGE AREA OF EAST PLUM CREEK 
AND INTERSTATE 25 OVER THE PALMER DIVIDE.

AT 255 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A  
HEAVY RAIN PRODUCING THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF CASTLE 
ROCK.  THE STORM PRODUCING THE HEAVY RAIN WAS MOVING VERY LITTLE AND 
IS PRODUCING HAIL AT LEAST THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER.

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.

DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATED THAT 4 TO 5 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN IN AN 
AREA 7 MILES NORTH OF LARKSPUR SINCE 11:30 AM MDT.  RADAR INDICATES 
THE ENTIRE AREA BETWEEN 2 MILES SOUTH OF CASTLE ROCK AND LARKSPUR 
HAVE HAD AT LEAST 2 INCHES OF RAIN.

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.

LAT...LON 3920 10493 3915 10489 3918 10476 3933 10478
          3936 10490 3931 10497

RJK
000 
WGUS55 KBOU 032158
FFSDEN
COC035-032204-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
400 PM MDT WED JUL 3 2002

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY HAD EXPIRED AT 
400 PM...

THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY HAS EXPIRED AT 400 
PM. 

AT 400 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A  
HEAVY RAIN PRODUCING THUNDERSTORMS OVER DOUGLAS COUNTY HAD DECREASED 
CONSIDERABLY AND DRIFTED NORTHWARD.  

DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATED THAT FROM 3-5 INCHES OF RAIN HAD FALLEN IN 
THE AREA FROM CASTLE ROCK TO LARKSPUR OF CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY.

SOME FLOODING WAS REPORTED IN THE MOUNTAIN RANCH SUBDIVISION NEAR 
CASTLE ROCK.

LAT...LON 3920 10493 3915 10489 3918 10476 3933 10478
          3936 10490 3931 10497

RJK

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 2, 7:37 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUElbert53 min
Jul 2, 11:49 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUArapahoe, Denver, Jefferson56 min
Jul 3, 12:05 AM MDTFlash Flood WarningBOUDenver, Jefferson115 min
Jul 3, 12:32 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningBOUJefferson118 min
Jul 3, 2:05 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWeld55 min
Jul 3, 2:29 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUDouglas61 min
Jul 3, 2:31 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWeld59 min
Jul 3, 3:23 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUWeld52 min
Jul 3, 3:51 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULarimer84 min
Jul 3, 4:22 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningBOUDouglas, Jefferson, Park3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Colorado, 2002Every flash flood warning in 2002

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.