Alert archive / Texas / Flash Flood Warnings in 2006

Flash Flood Warning 6, NWS Amarillo, TX

August 21, 2006Randall County, Texas

NWS Amarillo, TX issued this flash flood warning at Aug 21, 2006, 12:13 AM CDT for Randall County, Texas. It was in force for 3 hr. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Aug 21, 2006, 12:13 AM CDT (05:13 UTC)
Expired: Aug 21, 2006, 3:15 AM CDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Amarillo, TX
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Randall County, TX

The radar

The Amarillo radar (KAMA), 35 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:13 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Aug 21, 1:00 AM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Palo Duro Canyon, TX	PALO DURO STATE PARK OFFICIAL SAID THAT THE WATER DEPTH AT THE FIRST CROSSING WAS STILL FOUR FEET. CAMPERS WERE NOT ABLE TO EXIT THE PARK UNTIL LATER MONDAY
Aug 21, 1:00 AM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Palo Duro Canyon, TX	PALO DURO STATE PARK OFFICIAL SAID THAT THE WATER DEPTH AT THE FIRST CROSSING WAS STILL FOUR FEET. CAMPERS WERE NOT ABLE TO EXIT THE PARK UNTIL LATER MONDAY MORNING AT THE EARLIEST.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 2 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 47 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Amarillo Airport, TX (KAMA), launched 00:00Z, 5.2 hours before the alert went out and 35 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: 704 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -75 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1069 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 28 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 58 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WGUS54 KAMA 210515
FFWAMA
TXC381-210815-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
1213 AM CDT MON AUG 21 2006

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AMARILLO HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR
  EASTERN RANDALL COUNTY IN THE PANHANDLE OF TEXAS

* UNTIL 315 AM CDT

* AT 1213 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED  
  SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PALO DURO          
  CANYON...OR ABOUT 16 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CANYON...MOVING            
  NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. ALTHOUGH THE VERY HEAVY RAINS HAVE            
  ENDED...EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM PREVIOUS HEAVY RAINFALL WILL         
  CONTINUE THROUGH THE NIGHT. 

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO LAKE
  TANGLEWOOD

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...COUNTRY ROADS...AS WELL AS FARMLAND ALONG THE
BANKS OF CREEKS AND STREAMS.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. 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.

FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS IMMINENT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE
YOU ARE RELATIVE TO STREAMS...RIVERS...OR CREEKS WHICH CAN BECOME
KILLERS IN HEAVY RAINS. CAMPERS AND HIKERS SHOULD AVOID STREAMS OR
CREEKS.

LAT...LON 3479 10192 3478 10165 3513 10164 3513 10183

$$

KJS

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 Amarillo, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Aug 20, 6:28 PM CDT, 5 hours 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 20, 6:28 PM CDT, 5 hours 45 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
628 PM CDT SUN AUG 20 2006

.UPDATE...
UPDATED THE FORECAST TO INTRODUCE THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE
CENTRAL TO WESTERN CWA. WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE
PANHANDLES HAVE ALREADY PRODUCED URBAN FLOODING IN AMARILLO AND MORE
ACTIVITY IS ON THE WAY BASED ON RADAR. MULTIPLE OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES
ARE ENABLING CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT AND ATMOSPHERE SHOULD SUPPORT THE
STORMS INTO THE EARLY MORNING. DECIDED AGAINST A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN
THE EAST MOSTLY BASED ON THE LACK OF PRECIP OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS
AND MODEL GUIDANCE SHOWING LIMITED PRECIP. MODIFIED POP GRIDS A BIT
TO INDICATE THE INCREASED CHANCE FOR RAIN IN THE CENTRAL TO WESTERN
CWA.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... (ISSUED 231 PM CDT SUN AUG 20 2006)

DISCUSSION...
UPPER HIGH OVER NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS/SOUTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA CONTINUES
TO ROTATE SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE AND SHORT WAVE TROUGHS AROUND IT
THROUGH WEST TEXAS AND EASTERN NEW MEXICO. ONE SUCH SHORT WAVE IS
ROTATING AWAY FROM THE AREA...IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO...BUT IT WILL
STILL HAVE AN INFLUENCE ON OUR WEATHER THROUGH THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
ANOTHER SHORT WAVE NEAR ABQ SEEMS TO BE FIRING THE CONVECTION IN
EASTERN NEW MEXICO.  THE LEAD COLORADO WAVE WILL PROVIDE LIFT FOR
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE NORTHERN ZONES AS IT MOVES ACROSS SOUTHWEST
KANSAS LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY MONDAY. THE NEXT SHORT WAVE WILL OFFER
LIFT TO THE STORMS FURTHER SOUTH. WITH THIS IN MIND HAVE INCREASED
POPS A LITTLE FOR TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY.

MORE WAVES WILL MOVE THROUGH THE UPPER RIDGE AS IT SLOWLY MIGRATES
BACK TO THE WEST THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...SO WILL KEEP POPS IN THE
CHANCE CATEGORY.

AS THE RIDGE BUILDS BACK ACROSS THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES AND ADJACENT
SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS...WE THINK OUR THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE WILL
LESSEN SOMEWHAT AS FLOW ALOFT BECOMES WEAK AND THE BETTER QUALITY
SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE GETS SHUNTED WESTWARD.  IT APPEARS THAT THE
PANHANDLES WILL COME UNDER A WEAK NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT BY THE END OF
THE WEEK AND THIS MAY BRING MOUNTAIN CONVECTION THIS WAY IF IT HAS
A SHORT WAVE WITH IT TO SUSTAIN ITSELF THROUGH THE NIGHT. THE GFS
HAS NOW BACKED OFF ON ITS COLD FRONT FOR EARLY NEXT WEEKEND. WOULD
NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE IT SHOW BACK UP IN THE MODEL AS WE GO THROUGH
THE WEEK. HAVE GENERALLY FOLLOWED THE COOLEST GUIDANCE NUMBERS FOR
TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS AND THEN WENT A
DEGREE OR TWO BELOW THE MEX NUMBERS THROUGH THE REST OF THE FORECAST
CYCLE AS THE GFS SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE TOO AGGRESSIVE ON THE WARM UP.

&&

.AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 6 AM MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     CIMARRON...AND TEXAS.

TX...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 6 AM MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     ARMSTRONG...CARSON...DALLAM...DEAF SMITH...HANSFORD...
     HARTLEY...HUTCHINSON...MOORE...OLDHAM...POTTER...RANDALL...
     AND SHERMAN.

&&

11/14

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 20, 7:00 PM CDT, 5 hours 13 minutes before

TEXAS/OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
700 PM CDT SUN AUG 20 2006

OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-211100-
ARMSTRONG-BEAVER-CARSON-CIMARRON-COLLINGSWORTH-DALLAM-DEAF SMITH-
DONLEY-GRAY-HANSFORD-HARTLEY-HEMPHILL-HUTCHINSON-LIPSCOMB-MOORE-
OCHILTREE-OLDHAM-POTTER-RANDALL-ROBERTS-SHERMAN-TEXAS-WHEELER-
700 PM CDT SUN AUG 20 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA
PANHANDLES.

.DAY ONE...

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT. THOUGH
STORMS ARE LIKELY TO MOVE FASTER THAN IN RECENT DAYS...BRIEF HEAVY
RAINS MAY STILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING ISOLATED FLOODING...
PARTICULARLY IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT
FOR THE WESTERN TWO-THIRDS OF THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES
UNTIL 6 AM MONDAY MORNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE MONDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY NIGHT. AT THIS TIME...ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP ARE EXPECTED TO
REMAIN BELOW SEVERE LEVELS. HOWEVER...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL
CONTINUE TO BE A CONCERN AS HIGH LEVELS OF MOISTURE REMAIN ACROSS
THE AREA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER GROUPS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS MAY BE CALLED UPON
FOR FLOODING REPORTS.

SCHNEIDER

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 20, 9:21 PM CDT, 2 hours 52 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
921 PM CDT SUN AUG 20 2006

..TIME..    ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE..    ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION.. ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0745 PM     FLASH FLOOD      PALO DURO CANYON        34.95N 101.67W
08/20/2006                   RANDALL            TX   PARK SERVICE

            PARK RANGER IN PALO DURO CANYON SAID HE CLOSED PARK ROAD
            5 AT THE NUMBER 1 WATER CROSSING DUE TO FLOODING.

&&

JJB

Local storm report, Aug 20, 10:27 PM CDT, 1 hour 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
1027 PM CDT SUN AUG 20 2006

..TIME..    ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE..    ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION.. ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1024 PM     FLOOD            14 ESE CANYON           34.90N 101.69W
08/20/2006                   RANDALL            TX   PARK SERVICE

            PALO DURO CANYON STATE PARK RANGER SAID 5 FEET OF WATER
            AT THE FIRST WATER CROSSING WITH WATER GETTING UP INTO
            THE HACKBERRY CAMPSITE. THERE IS LIKELY 6 FEET OF WATER
            IN THE BACK PART OF THE PARK AND CAMPERS WILL NOT BE
            ABLE TO GET OUT UNTIL TXDOT CLEARS OUT THE WATER
            CROSSINGS AFTER THE WATER SUBSIDES TOMORROW.

&&

KJS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Amarillo, TX issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 20, 9:10 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	AMA	Potter, Randall	3 hr
Aug 21, 3:40 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	AMA	Randall	5 hr
Aug 21, 8:50 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	AMA	Randall	6 hr
Aug 21, 6:57 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	AMA	Moore	2 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Texas, 2006 Every flash flood warning in 2006

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.