Alert archive / Texas / Flash Flood Warnings in 2002

Flash Flood Warning 245, NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX

October 23, 2002Bexar County, Guadalupe County, Texas

NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued this flash flood warning at Oct 23, 2002, 3:25 AM CDT for Bexar County, Guadalupe County, Texas. It was in force for 4 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
Oct 23, 2002, 3:25 AM CDT (08:25 UTC)
Expired
Oct 23, 2002, 7:15 AM CDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Bexar County, TX, Guadalupe County, TX

The radar

The Austin/San Antonio radar (KEWX), 37 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:24 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

Corpus Christi, TX (KCRP), launched 00:00Z, 8.4 hours before the alert went out and 219 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, Corpus Christi, TX at 00:00Z on 2002-10-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2192 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Corpus Christi, TX at 00:00Z on 2002-10-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 90 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
2192 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-3 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
529 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
90 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
129 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.2
Supercell composite
5.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WGUS54 KEWX 230825
FFWSAT
TXC029-187-231215-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
325 AM CDT WED OCT 23 2002

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AUSTIN SAN ANTONIO HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
  GUADALUPE
  BEXAR

* UNTIL 715 AM CDT

* AT 322 AM...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED VERY HEAVY 
RAIN  AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER EASTERN BEXAR COUNTY INTO GUADALUPE 
COUNTY...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.  RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO 1 AND A 
HALF TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR WERE OCCURRING IN THESE STORMS.    

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.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT
QUICKLY. MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY
IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY. VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY.
MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS
IMMINENT. MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO CROSS BRIDGES...DIPS...OR OTHER LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS
THE ROADWAY. NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL
ONE...ON FOOT. TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND.


LAT...LON 2952 9856 2938 9842 2952 9794 2956 9817
3 follow-up statements
000 
WGUS74 KEWX 230900
FFSSAT
TXC029-187-231045-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
358 AM CDT WED OCT 23 2002

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR GUADALUPE AND BEXAR COUNTIES
UNTIL 715 AM CDT...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS 
PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINFALL FROM EASTERN BEXAR COUNTY EXTENDING 
INTO GUADALUPE COUNTY.  RAINFALL RATES OF UP TO 1 AND A HALF INCHES 
PER HOUR WERE OCCURRING ACROSS EASTERN PORTIONS OF BEXAR AND 
GUADALUPE COUNTIES AS OF 355 AM. 

RAINFALL AMOUNTS AS OF 355 AM WERE 1.45 INCHES AT SAN ANTONIO 
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...STINSON AIRPORT WITH 2 INCHES EVEN AND 
DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO HAD 2.5 INCHES. THESE AMOUNTS HAD ALL FALLEN 
SINCE 1 AM.

HIGH WATER RESCUES WERE ONGOING EARLY THIS MORNING ACROSS SOUTHERN 
BEXAR COUNTY...AT HIGHWAY 90 AT W T MONTGOMERY AND AT DONOP AND 
INTERSTATE 37. 

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT
QUICKLY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN
AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.
VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY. MOVE TO
HIGHER GROUND. STAY TUNED TO LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR THE LATEST
WEATHER INFORMATION.
000 
WGUS74 KEWX 231038
FFSSAT
TXC029-187-231215-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
535 AM CDT WED OCT 23 2002

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR GUADALUPE AND BEXAR COUNTIES
UNTIL 715 AM CDT...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED LIGHT TO MODERATE 
RAINS MOVING EAST ACROSS GUADALUPE COUNTY. RAINS HAVE MOVED OUT 
OF BEXAR COUNTY HOWEVER HIGH WATER MAY STILL BE IMPACTING PORTIONS 
OF THE COUNTY. 

THE GUADALUPE COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT REPORTED MANY LOW WATER 
CROSSINGS AND ROADS INUNDATED BY HIGH WATER...WITH ONE TO TWO FEET 
OF WATER FLOWING OVER FM ROAD 467 SOUTH OF SEGUIN.  ALSO ALONG 
HIGHWAY 78 AT 1044 AND AT PIONEER...REPORTS OF WATER COVERING THE 
ROADWAYS.   

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT
QUICKLY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN
AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.  

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.
VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY. MOVE TO 
HIGHER GROUND. AND DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH BARRICADES. STAY TUNED TO 
LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.
000 
WGUS74 KEWX 231217
FFSSAT
TXC029-187-231315-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
715 AM CDT WED OCT 23 2002

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR GUADALUPE AND BEXAR COUNTIES HAS 
EXPIRED...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED THE RAINFALL WAS ENDING
ACROSS THE WARNED AREA...AND THE FLOOD THREAT WAS DIMINISHING. SOME
MINOR FLOODING MAY CONTINUE...BUT THE THREAT OF SERIOUS FLOODING HAS 
ENDED...AND THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

SOME LOW WATER CROSSINGS ACROSS GUADALUPE AND SOUTHERN BEXAR 
COUNTIES MAY STILL HAVE WATER FLOWING OVER THEM...SO BE CAREFUL WHEN 
APPROACHING AND DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GO THROUGH BARRICADES. 
 
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.
VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY. MOVE TO
HIGHER GROUND. STAY TUNED TO LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR THE LATEST
WEATHER INFORMATION.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 22, 9:19 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXVal Verde3 hr
Oct 22, 11:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXEdwards, Val Verde64 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Texas, 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.