Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2008

Flash Flood Warning 8, NWS Pueblo, CO

August 22, 2008Huerfano County, Las Animas County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Aug 22, 2008, 11:13 PM MDT for Huerfano County, Las Animas County, Colorado. It was in force for 3 hr. 1 report 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 22, 2008, 11:13 PM MDT (05:13 UTC)
Expired: Aug 23, 2008, 2:15 AM MDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Pueblo, CO
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Huerfano County, CO, Las Animas County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 142 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:14 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 22, 11:45 PM MDT	HEAVY RAIN 2.75	Cuchara, CO	RAIN FELL BETWEEN 945 AND 1145 PM MDT. CHUCHARAS RIVER RUNNING FULL AND FAST.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM (KABQ), launched 00:00Z, 5.2 hours before the alert went out and 294 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: 4789 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 4 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -9 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 36 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 KPUB 230513
FFWPUB
COC055-071-230815-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0008.080823T0513Z-080823T0815Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1113 PM MDT FRI AUG 22 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SOUTH CENTRAL HUERFANO COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO...
  WEST CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO...

* UNTIL 215 AM MDT...

* AT 1100 PM MDT...A TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTED 2.25 INCHES    
  OF RAIN IN 45 MINUTES FROM THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE WARNED AREA.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SPANISH
  PEAKS...LA VETA AND CUCHARA.

DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES THAT RAIN TOTALS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES HAVE 
OCCURRED OVER THE UPPER CUCHARAS...UPPER APISHAPA...AND UPPER 
PURGATOIRE RIVER BASINS.  ADDITIONAL RAINFALL OF AN INCH OR MORE IS 
EXPECTED IN THOSE AREAS.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
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. BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN
IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF YOU DRIVE INTO
WATER THAT IS TOO DEEP...BACK UP. IF YOU ENCOUNTER A ROAD BARRIER IN
FRONT OF WATER ON THE ROAD...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

LAT...LON 3738 10514 3754 10500 3747 10475 3730 10477
      3712 10485 3720 10513

$$

3 follow-up statements

000 
WGUS75 KPUB 230551
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1151 PM MDT FRI AUG 22 2008

COC055-071-230815-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0008.000000T0000Z-080823T0815Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HUERFANO CO-LAS ANIMAS CO-
1151 PM MDT FRI AUG 22 2008

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 AM MDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS AND SOUTH CENTRAL HUERFANO COUNTIES...

AT 1142 PM MDT...A TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTED RAINFALL OF 2.75 
INCHES SINCE 950 PM MDT.  THE SPOTTER ALSO REPORTED THAT THE 
CUCHARAS RIVER WAS RUNNING FULL AND FAST IN THE WARNED AREA.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SPANISH
PEAKS...LA VETA AND CUCHARA.

DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES THAT RAIN TOTALS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES HAVE 
OCCURRED OVER THE UPPER CUCHARAS...UPPER APISHAPA...AND UPPER 
PURGATOIRE RIVER BASINS.  ADDITIONAL RAINFALL UP TO A HALF INCH
IS POSSIBLE.

HIGH WATER IS MOVING DOWN THE CUCHARAS RIVER FROM CUCHARAS TO LA 
VETA.  HIGH WATER MAY ALSO BE FLOWING DOWN THE UPPER APISHAPA AND 
UPPER PURGATOIRE RIVER BASINS.

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. BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN
IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF YOU DRIVE INTO
WATER THAT IS TOO DEEP...BACK UP. IF YOU ENCOUNTER A ROAD BARRIER IN
FRONT OF WATER ON THE ROAD...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

LAT...LON 3738 10514 3754 10500 3747 10475 3730 10477
      3712 10485 3720 10513

$$

000 
WGUS75 KPUB 230717
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
117 AM MDT SAT AUG 23 2008

COC055-071-230815-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0008.000000T0000Z-080823T0815Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HUERFANO CO-LAS ANIMAS CO-
117 AM MDT SAT AUG 23 2008

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 AM MDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS AND SOUTH CENTRAL HUERFANO COUNTIES...

AT 114 AM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A STORM PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING OVER THE WARNED AREA.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SPANISH 
PEAKS...LA VETA AND CUCHARA.

DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES THAT RAIN TOTALS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES HAVE 
OCCURRED OVER THE UPPER CUCHARAS...UPPER APISHAPA...AND UPPER 
PURGATOIRE RIVER BASINS.  ADDITIONAL RAINFALL UP TO A HALF INCH
IS POSSIBLE.

HIGH WATER IS MOVING DOWN THE CUCHARAS RIVER FROM CUCHARAS TO LA 
VETA.  HIGH WATER MAY ALSO BE FLOWING DOWN THE UPPER APISHAPA AND 
UPPER PURGATOIRE RIVER BASINS.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.

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. BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN
IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF YOU DRIVE INTO
WATER THAT IS TOO DEEP...BACK UP. IF YOU ENCOUNTER A ROAD BARRIER IN
FRONT OF WATER ON THE ROAD...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

LAT...LON 3738 10514 3754 10500 3747 10475 3730 10477
      3712 10485 3720 10513

$$

000 
WGUS75 KPUB 230806
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
206 AM MDT SAT AUG 23 2008

COC055-071-230816-
/O.EXP.KPUB.FF.W.0008.000000T0000Z-080823T0815Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HUERFANO CO-LAS ANIMAS CO-
206 AM MDT SAT AUG 23 2008

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 215 AM MDT FOR WEST CENTRAL
LAS ANIMAS AND SOUTH CENTRAL HUERFANO COUNTIES...

LAT...LON 3738 10514 3754 10500 3747 10475 3730 10477
      3712 10485 3720 10513

$$

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 22, 11:38 PM MDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PUB	Huerfano, Pueblo	3 hr
Aug 23, 12:49 AM MDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PUB	Crowley, El Paso, Otero, Pueblo	3 hr
Aug 23, 2:50 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PUB	El Paso, Teller	55 min
Aug 23, 2:56 PM MDT	Tornado Warning	PUB	El Paso, Teller	35 min
Aug 23, 3:33 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PUB	El Paso, Teller	42 min
Aug 23, 4:37 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PUB	Las Animas	28 min
Aug 23, 4:48 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PUB	Custer, Fremont	57 min
Aug 23, 5:34 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PUB	Custer, Huerfano, Pueblo	50 min
Aug 23, 5:46 PM MDT	Flash Flood Warning	PUB	Custer, Fremont, Pueblo	3 hr
Aug 23, 5:47 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PUB	Custer, Fremont	58 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Colorado, 2008 Every flash flood warning in 2008

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.