Alert archive / Missouri / Flash Flood Warnings in 2005

Flash Flood Warning 21, NWS St. Louis, MO

December 14, 2005Reynolds County, Missouri

NWS St. Louis, MO issued this flash flood warning at Dec 14, 2005, 8:39 AM CST for Reynolds County, Missouri. It was in force for 6 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: Dec 14, 2005, 8:39 AM CST (14:39 UTC)
Expired: Dec 14, 2005, 2:45 PM CST
In force: 6 hr
Issued by: NWS St. Louis, MO
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Reynolds County, MO

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 159 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 14:40 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

Springfield, MO (KSGF), launched 12:00Z, 2.7 hours before the alert went out and 261 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 488 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 55 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 299 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 324 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 
WGUS53 KLSX 141456
FFWLSX
MOC179-142045-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
839 AM CST WED DEC 14 2005

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ST LOUIS HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN REYNOLDS COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

* UNTIL 245 PM CST

* AT ABOUT 530 AM CST...THE UPPER RESERVOIR AT THE TAUM SAUK POWER
  PLANT FAILED. FLOODING HAS BEEN REPORTED ON THE BLACK RIVER IN
  LESTERVILLE AND MORE FLOODING WILL LIKELY OCCUR DOWNSTREAM. 
  IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT THE LOWER RESERVOIR HAS BEEN OVER TOPPED
  BUT IS STILL HOLDING. 
  
  A 20 FOOT CREST IS EXPECTED ON THE BLACK RIVER FROM LESTERVILLE
  SOUTH TO NEAR HIGHWAY K. FLOOD STAGE AT THE FORECAST POINT NEAR 
  HIGHWAY K IS 8 FEET. THE RECORD CREST IS 27 FEET. 

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION RESIDENTS ALONG THE BLACK 
RIVER SHOULD MOVE TO HIGH GROUND IMMEDIATELY. 

LAT...LON 3707 9097 3706 9077 3733 9076 3759 9080
      3758 9113

$$

JPK

4 follow-up statements

000 
WGUS73 KLSX 141623
FFSLSX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1000 AM CST WED DEC 14 2005

MOC179-142045-
REYNOLDS MO-
1020 AM CST WED DEC 14 2005

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 245 PM CST FOR 
EASTERN REYNOLDS COUNTY...

WATER HAS COMPLETELY DRAINED FROM THE UPPER RESERVOIR OF THE TAUM 
SAUK HYDROELECTRIC PLANT.  THE LOWER RESERVOIR IS COMPLETELY FILLED 
AND HAS 6 TO 8 INCHES OF WATER FLOWING OVER THE TOP OF THE DAM.  
CURRENTLY...THE STRUCTURE OF THE LOWER RESERVOIR IS HOLDING.  

PARTS OF THE CITY OF LESTERVILLE ARE BEING EVACUATED.  THE FLOOD 
WATERS ARE EXPECTED TO CREST AT LESTERVILLE THIS AFTERNOON.

THE BLACK RIVER NEAR ANNAPOLIS IS EXPECTED TO CREST AT 20 FEET THIS 
AFTERNOON...WHICH IS 12 FEET ABOVE FLOOD STAGE.  THIS FORECAST IS 
BASED ON THE WORST CASE SCENARIO OF BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER 
RESERVOIRS FAILING.  

THE FLOOD WATERS DOWNSTREAM FROM ANNAPOLIS WILL FLOW INTO CLEARWATER 
LAKE.   THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS EXPECT CLEARWATER TO RISE 6 FEET.
AT THIS TIME...THERE IS NO DANGER TO CLEARWATER LAKE...OR AREAS 
DOWNSTREAM FROM CLEARWATER DAM.

WHILE THERE WAS RAIN ACROSS THE AREA LAST NIGHT...IT DOES NOT APPEAR 
THAT THE RAINFALL WAS ESPECIALLY HEAVY.  IN GENERAL...IT APPEARS 
RAINFALL TOTALS WERE ONE THIRD OF AN INCH OR LESS.

HERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TAKEN FROM A PRESS RELEASE 
ISSUED BY AMEREN UE...

AMEREN UE TAUM SAUK HYDROELECTRIC PLANT...LOCATED NEAR LESERVILLE IN 
REYNOLDS COUNTY MISSOURI EXPERIENCED AN APPARENT BREACH IN THE UPPER 
RESEROIR THAT CAUSED FLOODING IN THE JOHNSON SHUT-INS AND RESULTED 
IN THE CLOSING OF ONE ROAD.

THE PLANTS 1.5 BILLION GALLON UPPER RESERVOIR APPEARS TO HAVE A 
RUPTURE IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER CAUSING WATER TO FLOW DOWNWARD AND 
RESULTING IN THE CLOSING OF ROUTE N.
  
THE INCIDENT APPEARED TO HAVE OCCURRED AROUND 5:30 AM TODAY WITH THE 
UPPER RESERVOIR AT ITS NORMAL LEVEL.  AT THIS POINT...IT APPEARS 
THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE OF EQUIPMENT USED TO MOVE WATER UPWARD OR 
ANY EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY.

BUILT IN 1963...AMEREN UE TAUM SAUK IS A ...PUMPED STORAGE... 
HYRDOELECTRIC PLANT.  IT STORES WATER FROM THE BLACK RIVER IN THE 
UPPER RESERVOIR...BUILT ATOP 15900 FOOT HIGH PROFFIT MOUNTAIN...AND 
RELEASES WATER TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY WHEN POWER IS NEEDED.
THE WATER FLOWS DOWN A MILE LONG TUNNEL INSIDE THE 
MOUNTAIN...TURNING TURBINE GENERATORS TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY.   

LAT...LON 3707 9097 3706 9077 3733 9076 3759 9080
      3758 9113

$$

DUMMER/TRUETT

000 
WGUS73 KLSX 141712 CCA
FFSLSX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT...CORRECTED TO HEIGHT OF MOUNTAIN
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1020 AM CST WED DEC 14 2005

MOC179-142045-
REYNOLDS MO-
1020 AM CST WED DEC 14 2005

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 245 PM CST FOR 
EASTERN REYNOLDS COUNTY...

WATER HAS COMPLETELY DRAINED FROM THE UPPER RESERVOIR OF THE TAUM 
SAUK HYDROELECTRIC PLANT.  THE LOWER RESERVOIR IS COMPLETELY FILLED 
AND HAS 6 TO 8 INCHES OF WATER FLOWING OVER THE TOP OF THE DAM.  
CURRENTLY...THE STRUCTURE OF THE LOWER RESERVOIR IS HOLDING.  

PARTS OF THE CITY OF LESTERVILLE ARE BEING EVACUATED.  THE FLOOD 
WATERS ARE EXPECTED TO CREST AT LESTERVILLE THIS AFTERNOON.

THE BLACK RIVER NEAR ANNAPOLIS IS EXPECTED TO CREST AT 20 FEET THIS 
AFTERNOON...WHICH IS 12 FEET ABOVE FLOOD STAGE.  THIS FORECAST IS 
BASED ON THE WORST CASE SCENARIO OF BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER 
RESERVOIRS FAILING.  

THE FLOOD WATERS DOWNSTREAM FROM ANNAPOLIS WILL FLOW INTO CLEARWATER 
LAKE.   THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS EXPECT CLEARWATER TO RISE 6 FEET.
AT THIS TIME...THERE IS NO DANGER TO CLEARWATER LAKE...OR AREAS 
DOWNSTREAM FROM CLEARWATER DAM.

WHILE THERE WAS RAIN ACROSS THE AREA LAST NIGHT...IT DOES NOT APPEAR 
THAT THE RAINFALL WAS ESPECIALLY HEAVY.  IN GENERAL...IT APPEARS 
RAINFALL TOTALS WERE ONE THIRD OF AN INCH OR LESS.

HERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TAKEN FROM A PRESS RELEASE 
ISSUED BY AMEREN UE...

AMEREN UE TAUM SAUK HYDROELECTRIC PLANT...LOCATED NEAR LESERVILLE IN 
REYNOLDS COUNTY MISSOURI EXPERIENCED AN APPARENT BREACH IN THE UPPER 
RESEROIR THAT CAUSED FLOODING IN THE JOHNSON SHUT-INS AND RESULTED 
IN THE CLOSING OF ONE ROAD.

THE PLANTS 1.5 BILLION GALLON UPPER RESERVOIR APPEARS TO HAVE A 
RUPTURE IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER CAUSING WATER TO FLOW DOWNWARD AND 
RESULTING IN THE CLOSING OF ROUTE N.
  
THE INCIDENT APPEARED TO HAVE OCCURRED AROUND 5:30 AM TODAY WITH THE 
UPPER RESERVOIR AT ITS NORMAL LEVEL.  AT THIS POINT...IT APPEARS 
THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE OF EQUIPMENT USED TO MOVE WATER UPWARD OR 
ANY EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY.

BUILT IN 1963...AMEREN UE TAUM SAUK IS A ...PUMPED STORAGE... 
HYRDOELECTRIC PLANT.  IT STORES WATER FROM THE BLACK RIVER IN THE 
UPPER RESERVOIR...BUILT ATOP 1590 FOOT HIGH PROFFIT MOUNTAIN...AND 
RELEASES WATER TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY WHEN POWER IS NEEDED.
THE WATER FLOWS DOWN A MILE LONG TUNNEL INSIDE THE 
MOUNTAIN...TURNING TURBINE GENERATORS TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY.   

LAT...LON 3707 9097 3706 9077 3733 9076 3759 9080
      3758 9113

$$

DUMMER/TRUETT

000 
WGUS73 KLSX 141743 CCA
FFSLSX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
1140 AM CST WED DEC 14 2005

MOC179-142045-
REYNOLDS MO-
1140 AM CST WED DEC 14 2005

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 245 PM CST FOR 
EASTERN REYNOLDS COUNTY...

THE LATEST INFORMATION FROM OFFICIALS AT THE TAUM SAUK RESERVOIR 
INDICATE THAT THE FLOW OUT OF THE UPPER RESERVOIR HAS SLOWED 
CONSIDERABLY AND THAT THE UPPER RESERVOIR STILL HAS ABOUT 20 FEET OF 
WATER IN IT. THE DAM AT THE LOWER RESERVOIR HAS ABOUT 1 TO 2 FEET OF 
WATER FLOWING OVER IT...BUT IS HOLDING.   

BASED ON THIS INFORMATION...IF THE LOWER RESERVOIR CONTINUES TO 
HOLD...THE FLOOD CREST ON THE BLACK RIVER NEAR HIGHWAY K IN 
SOUTHEAST REYNOLDS COUNTY WILL BE AROUND 12 FEET. FLOOD STAGE IS 8 
FEET. HOWEVER IF THE LOWER RESERVOIR DOES NOT HOLD...THE FLOOD CREST 
COULD BE AROUND 20 FEET. OFFICIALS ARE MONITORING THE LOWER 
RESERVOIR CLOSELY. AT THIS TIME IS APPEARS TO BE SOUND AND IS 
EXPECTED TO HOLD. 

THE FLOOD WATERS WILL FLOW INTO CLEARWATER LAKE. THE CORPS OF 
ENGINEERS EXPECT CLEARWATER TO RISE ABOUT 6 FEET. AT THIS 
TIME...THERE IS NO DANGER TO CLEARWATER LAKE...OR AREAS DOWNSTREAM 
FROM CLEARWATER DAM.

WHILE THERE WAS RAIN ACROSS THE AREA LAST NIGHT...IT DOES NOT APPEAR 
THAT THE RAINFALL WAS ESPECIALLY HEAVY.  IN GENERAL...IT APPEARS 
RAINFALL TOTALS WERE ONE THIRD OF AN INCH OR LESS.

HERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TAKEN FROM A PRESS RELEASE 
ISSUED BY AMEREN UE...

AMEREN UE TAUM SAUK HYDROELECTRIC PLANT...LOCATED NEAR LESTERVILLE 
IN REYNOLDS COUNTY MISSOURI EXPERIENCED AN APPARENT BREACH IN THE 
UPPER RESERVOIR THAT CAUSED FLOODING IN THE JOHNSON SHUT-INS AND 
RESULTED IN THE CLOSING OF ONE ROAD.

THE PLANTS 1.5 BILLION GALLON UPPER RESERVOIR APPEARS TO HAVE A 
RUPTURE IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER CAUSING WATER TO FLOW DOWNWARD AND 
RESULTING IN THE CLOSING OF ROUTE N.
  
THE INCIDENT APPEARED TO HAVE OCCURRED AROUND 5:30 AM TODAY WITH THE 
UPPER RESERVOIR AT ITS NORMAL LEVEL.  AT THIS POINT...IT APPEARS 
THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE OF EQUIPMENT USED TO MOVE WATER UPWARD OR 
ANY EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY.

BUILT IN 1963...AMEREN UE TAUM SAUK IS A ...PUMPED STORAGE... 
HYDROELECTRIC PLANT.  IT STORES WATER FROM THE BLACK RIVER IN THE 
UPPER RESERVOIR...BUILT ATOP 1590 FOOT HIGH PROFFIT MOUNTAIN...AND 
RELEASES WATER TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY WHEN POWER IS NEEDED.
THE WATER FLOWS DOWN A MILE LONG TUNNEL INSIDE THE 
MOUNTAIN...TURNING TURBINE GENERATORS TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY.   

LAT...LON 3707 9097 3706 9077 3733 9076 3759 9080
      3758 9113

$$

JPK

000 
WGUS73 KLSX 142047 CCA
FFSLSX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
247 PM CST WED DEC 14 2005

MOC179-142100-
REYNOLDS MO-
247 PM CST WED DEC 14 2005

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR EASTERN REYNOLDS COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...

A CHECK WITH NUMEROUS OFFICIALS IN THE VICINITY OF THIS MORNINGS DAM 
BREAK INDICATES THAT THE FLASH FLOOD THREAT HAS SUBSIDED.  THE 
PRIMARY AREA OF DAMAGE WAS IN AND NEAR JOHNSONS SHUT-INS STATE PARK. 
THE PARK WAS IN THE DIRECT PATH OF THE FLOOD WATERS AS THEY DRAINED 
FROM THE BREACH IN THE UPPER RESERVOIR...INTO THE EAST FORK OF THE 
BLACK RIVER.

MOST OF THIS FLOOD WATER HAS BEEN CAPTURED BY THE LOWER RESERVOIR OF 
THE TOM SAUK HYDROELECTRIC FACILITY...AND A CHECK WITH AMEREN UE 
OFFICIALS INDICATE THAT THE LOWER RESERVOIR IS STRUCTURALLY SOUND.

SOME OF THE WATER IN THE LOWER RESERVOIR HAS FLOWED INTO THE BLACK 
RIVER...AND IS CONTRIBUTING TO A RISE IN THE RIVER BETWEEN 
LESTERVILLE AND THE NORTHERN SECTIONS OF CLEARWATER LAKE.  IT NOW 
APPEARS THAT THE RIVER WILL BE CRESTING NEAR FLOOD STAGE.

LAT...LON 3707 9097 3706 9077 3733 9076 3759 9080
      3758 9113

$$

TRUETT

The office that day

Everything else NWS St. Louis, MO issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Dec 14, 6:27 AM CST	Flash Flood Warning	LSX	Reynolds	2 hr
Dec 14, 6:52 AM CST	Flash Flood Warning	LSX	Reynolds	113 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Missouri, 2005 Every flash flood warning in 2005

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.