Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2003

Flash Flood Warning 4, NWS Pueblo, CO

June 30, 2003Otero County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Jun 30, 2003, 12:41 AM MDT for Otero 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
Jun 30, 2003, 12:41 AM MDT (06:41 UTC)
Expired
Jun 30, 2003, 3:45 AM MDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Otero County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 81 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:45 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 00:00Z, 6.7 hours before the alert went out and 217 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 00:00Z on 2003-06-30Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 293 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, Denver, CO at 00:00Z on 2003-06-30The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 24 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
293 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-77 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1769 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
24 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
60 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WGUS55 KPUB 300653
FFWPUB
COC089-300945-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1241 AM MDT MON JUN 30 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  OTERO COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO

* UNTIL 345 AM MDT

* STRONG AND SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS...PRODUCED RAINFALL AMOUNTS  
  ESTIMATED TO BE 2.5 INCHES OR GREATER OVER SOME LOCATIONS IN 
  SOUTHERN OTERO COUNTY.  EVEN THOUGH THE RAIN HAS ENDED...SMALL 
  CREEKS AND ARROYOS ARE STILL RUNNING HIGH...AND WILL CONTINUE TO 
  RUN HIGH THROUGH 4 AM.

* DEPUTIES REPORT THAT ANDERSON ARROYO IS RUNNING OUT OF ITS BANKS
  SOUTH OF LA JUNTA...AND THE WATER HAS REACHED THE DOOR STEPS OF  
  SOME HOMES.  ANDERSON ARROYO WILL CONTINUE TO FLOW OUT OF ITS  
  BANKS AS THE HIGH WATER MOVES NORTHWARD...INTO THE CITY OF LA 
  JUNTA.  SOME FLASH FLOODING IS LIKELY ALONG ANDERSON ARROYO AS IT  
  PASSES THROUGH LA JUNTA.  THE DEPUTIES REPORT THAT OTHER       
  ARROYOS...MAINLY KING AND CROOKED ARROYOS...ARE RUNNING HIGH...BUT
  THEY REMAIN WITHIN THEIR BANKS.

IF YOU ARE IN OR CLOSE TO THE WARNED AREA GO TO HIGHER GROUND 
IMMEDIATELY. PEOPLE ALONG CREEKS AND DRAINAGE AREAS SHOULD TAKE 
IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
CROSS SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER OR STILL WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH ON FOOT 
OR BY VEHICLE. AS LITTLE AS 6 INCHES OF WATER MAY CAUSE YOU TO LOSE 
CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE...AND 2 FEET OF RUSHING WATER CAN CARRY AWAY 
MOST VEHICLES...INCLUDING SUVS AND PICKUPS. NEARLY HALF OF ALL FLOOD 
FATALITIES ARE VEHICLE RELATED. IF YOUR VEHICLE STALLS IN WATER 
ABANDON IT IMMEDIATELY AND GO TO HIGHER GROUND.

LAT...LON 3800 10351 3783 10347 3782 10362 3800 10359

$$
4 follow-up statements
000 
WGUS75 KPUB 300710
FFSPUB
COC089-300945-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
102 AM MDT MON JUN 30 2003

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 AM MDT MONDAY 
MORNING FOR OTERO COUNTY ...

STRONG AND SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS...PRODUCED RAINFALL AMOUNTS    
ESTIMATED TO BE 2.5 INCHES OR GREATER OVER SOME LOCATIONS IN   
SOUTHERN OTERO COUNTY.  THE HEAVY RAIN HAS ENDED...BUT SMALL CREEKS 
AND ARROYOS CONTINUE TO RUN HIGH...AND FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE 
THROUGH 345 AM.

DEPUTIES REPORTS THAT ANDERSON ARROYO IS FLOODING SOUTH OF LA 
JUNTA.  THE HIGH WATER HAS REACHED THE DOORSTEPS OF SOME HOMES SOUTH 
OF LA JUNTA...AND ANDERSON ARROYO IS FLOWING OVER COUNTY ROAD 28 
SOUTH OF LA JUNTA.

AS THE HIGH WATER IN ANDERSON ARROYO FLOWS NORTHWARD...FLASH 
FLOODING IS LIKELY ALONG ANDERSON ARROYO IN LA JUNTA.  PERSONS 
CLOSE TO ANDERSON ARROYO SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR FLASH FLOODING WITH 
A RAPID RISE IN WATER LEVEL.  THE HIGH WATER IN ANDERSON ARROYO MAY 
CAUSE FLOODING OF ROADS IN LA JUNTA...INCLUDING HIGHWAY 50. 

BE ALERT FOR FAST RISING WATER AND BE READY TO TAKE QUICK ACTION IF
NECESSARY. DO NOT DRIVE OR WALK INTO WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH. AS
LITTLE AS 6 INCHES OF WATER MAY CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR
VEHICLE...AND 2 FEET OF RUSHING WATER CAN CARRY AWAY MOST VEHICLES...
INCLUDING SUVS AND PICKUPS. NEARLY HALF OF ALL FLOOD FATALITIES ARE
VEHICLE RELATED. KEEP CHILDREN AND OTHERS AWAY FROM FAST FLOWING
WATER AND STORM DRAINS...WHICH COULD BECOME DEADLY DURING HIGH WATER.
FLOODING WILL OCCUR ALONG CREEKS...IN DRAINAGE AREAS...IN
UNDERPASSES...OVER STREETS AND RURAL ROADS...IN NORMALLY DRY WASHES
AND ARROYOS...AND OVER LOW LYING LAND ALONG CREEK BANKS.

LAT...LON 3798 10344 3771 10342 3773 10373 3792 10369

$$
000 
WGUS75 KPUB 300716 CCA
FFSPUB
COC089-300945-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
102 AM MDT MON JUN 30 2003...CORRECTED TYPO

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 AM MDT MONDAY
MORNING FOR OTERO COUNTY...

STRONG AND SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS...PRODUCED RAINFALL AMOUNTS
ESTIMATED TO BE 2.5 INCHES OR GREATER OVER SOME LOCATIONS IN
SOUTHERN OTERO COUNTY.  THE HEAVY RAIN HAS ENDED...BUT SMALL CREEKS
AND ARROYOS CONTINUE TO RUN HIGH...AND FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE
THROUGH 345 AM.

DEPUTIES REPORTS THAT ANDERSON ARROYO IS FLOODING SOUTH OF LA
JUNTA.  THE HIGH WATER HAS REACHED THE DOORSTEPS OF SOME HOMES SOUTH
OF LA JUNTA...AND ANDERSON ARROYO IS FLOWING OVER COUNTY ROAD 28
SOUTH OF LA JUNTA.

AS THE HIGH WATER IN ANDERSON ARROYO FLOWS NORTHWARD...FLASH
FLOODING IS LIKELY ALONG ANDERSON ARROYO IN LA JUNTA.  PERSONS
CLOSE TO ANDERSON ARROYO SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR FLASH FLOODING WITH
A RAPID RISE IN WATER LEVEL.  THE HIGH WATER IN ANDERSON ARROYO MAY
CAUSE FLOODING OF ROADS IN LA JUNTA...INCLUDING HIGHWAY 50.

BE ALERT FOR FAST RISING WATER AND BE READY TO TAKE QUICK ACTION IF
NECESSARY. DO NOT DRIVE OR WALK INTO WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH. AS
LITTLE AS 6 INCHES OF WATER MAY CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR
VEHICLE...AND 2 FEET OF RUSHING WATER CAN CARRY AWAY MOST VEHICLES...
INCLUDING SUVS AND PICKUPS. NEARLY HALF OF ALL FLOOD FATALITIES ARE
VEHICLE RELATED. KEEP CHILDREN AND OTHERS AWAY FROM FAST FLOWING
WATER AND STORM DRAINS...WHICH COULD BECOME DEADLY DURING HIGH WATER.
FLOODING WILL OCCUR ALONG CREEKS...IN DRAINAGE AREAS...IN
UNDERPASSES...OVER STREETS AND RURAL ROADS...IN NORMALLY DRY WASHES
AND ARROYOS...AND OVER LOW LYING LAND ALONG CREEK BANKS.

LAT...LON 3798 10344 3771 10342 3773 10373 3792 10369

$$
000 
WGUS75 KPUB 300759
FFSPUB
COC089-300945-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
151 AM MDT MON JUN 30 2003

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 AM MDT MONDAY 
MORNING FOR OTERO COUNTY...

STRONG AND SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS...PRODUCED RAINFALL AMOUNTS    
ESTIMATED TO BE 2.5 INCHES OR GREATER OVER SOME LOCATIONS IN   
SOUTHERN OTERO COUNTY.  THE HEAVY RAIN HAS ENDED...BUT SMALL CREEKS 
AND ARROYOS CONTINUE TO RUN HIGH...AND FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE 
THROUGH 345 AM.

AT 145 PM...DEPUTIES REPORTED THAT THE HIGH WATER IN ANDERSON ARROYO 
IS JUST SOUTH OF LA JUNTA.  ANDERSON ARROYO SOUTH OF LA JUNTA 
FLOWING OUTSIDE OF ITS BANK AT SOME SPOTS.  THE FAST FLOWING ARROYO 
CONTAINS SOME DEBRIS INCLUDING TREES.

AS THE HIGH WATER FLOWS THROUGH LA JUNTA...SOME FLASH FLOODING ALONG 
ANDERSON ARROYO IS LIKELY.  PERSONS NEAR ANDERSON ARROYO SHOULD BE 
PREPARED FOR SOME FLASH FLOODING.  THE HIGH WATER MAY ALSO CAUSE 
FLOODING OF SOME ROADWAYS ALONG ANDERSON ARROYO...INCLUDING HIGHWAY 
50.

BE ALERT FOR FAST RISING WATER AND BE READY TO TAKE QUICK ACTION IF
NECESSARY. DO NOT DRIVE OR WALK INTO WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH. AS
LITTLE AS 6 INCHES OF WATER MAY CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR
VEHICLE...AND 2 FEET OF RUSHING WATER CAN CARRY AWAY MOST VEHICLES...
INCLUDING SUVS AND PICKUPS. NEARLY HALF OF ALL FLOOD FATALITIES ARE
VEHICLE RELATED. KEEP CHILDREN AND OTHERS AWAY FROM FAST FLOWING
WATER AND STORM DRAINS...WHICH COULD BECOME DEADLY DURING HIGH WATER.
FLOODING WILL OCCUR ALONG CREEKS...IN DRAINAGE AREAS...IN
UNDERPASSES...OVER STREETS AND RURAL ROADS...IN NORMALLY DRY WASHES
AND ARROYOS...AND OVER LOW LYING LAND ALONG CREEK BANKS.

LAT...LON 3797 10347 3784 10344 3784 10363 3797 10363

$$
000 
WGUS75 KPUB 300908
FFSPUB
COC089-300945-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
259 AM MDT MON JUN 30 2003

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 AM MDT MONDAY 
MORNING FOR OTERO COUNTY...

ON SUNDAY EVENING...STRONG AND SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS...PRODUCED 
RAINFALL AMOUNTS ESTIMATED TO BE 2.5 INCHES OR GREATER OVER SOME 
LOCATIONS IN SOUTHERN OTERO COUNTY.  EVEN THOUGH THE RAIN HAS 
ENDED...SMALL CREEKS AND ARROYOS ARE STILL RUNNING HIGH...AND WILL 
CONTINUE TO RUN HIGH THROUGH 4 AM.

DEPUTIES REPORT THAT THE HIGH WATER IN ANDERSON ARROYO REACH LA 
JUNTA AROUND 230 AM.  THE WATER LEVEL WAS JUST ABOVE BANK 
FULL...WITH SOME WATER ON STREETS NEAR THE ARROYO.

THE WATER LEVELS IN ANDERSON ARROYO ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN NEAR OR 
ABOVE BANK FULL THROUGH 345 AM.  SOME FLOODING OF NEARBY ROADS IS 
LIKELY.  

BE ALERT FOR FAST RISING WATER AND BE READY TO TAKE QUICK ACTION IF
NECESSARY. DO NOT DRIVE OR WALK INTO WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH. AS
LITTLE AS 6 INCHES OF WATER MAY CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR
VEHICLE...AND 2 FEET OF RUSHING WATER CAN CARRY AWAY MOST VEHICLES...
INCLUDING SUVS AND PICKUPS. NEARLY HALF OF ALL FLOOD FATALITIES ARE
VEHICLE RELATED. KEEP CHILDREN AND OTHERS AWAY FROM FAST FLOWING
WATER AND STORM DRAINS...WHICH COULD BECOME DEADLY DURING HIGH WATER.
FLOODING WILL OCCUR ALONG CREEKS...IN DRAINAGE AREAS...IN
UNDERPASSES...OVER STREETS AND RURAL ROADS...IN NORMALLY DRY WASHES
AND ARROYOS...AND OVER LOW LYING LAND ALONG CREEK BANKS.

LAT...LON 3797 10344 3783 10348 3783 10361 3798 10364

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Pueblo, CO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 29, 6:19 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBLas Animas86 min
Jun 29, 7:23 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBOtero67 min
Jun 29, 8:33 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBOtero42 min
Jun 29, 8:36 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBOtero39 min
Jun 29, 8:45 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBBent90 min
Jun 30, 3:39 AM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBOtero2 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Colorado, 2003Every flash flood warning in 2003

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.