Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2008

Flash Flood Warning 9, NWS Pueblo, CO

August 23, 2008Custer County, Fremont County, Pueblo County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Aug 23, 2008, 5:46 PM MDT for Custer County, Fremont County, Pueblo 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
Aug 23, 2008, 5:46 PM MDT (23:46 UTC)
Expired
Aug 23, 2008, 8:45 PM MDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Custer County, CO, Fremont County, CO, Pueblo County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:46 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 12:00Z, 11.8 hours before the alert went out and 259 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 12:00Z on 2008-08-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 5 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 12:00Z on 2008-08-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 34 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
5 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-484 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1604 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
34 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
71 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 232346
FFWPUB
COC027-043-101-240245-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0009.080823T2346Z-080824T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
546 PM MDT SAT AUG 23 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN FREMONT COUNTY IN CENTRAL COLORADO...
  CUSTER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO...
  WEST CENTRAL PUEBLO COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO...

* UNTIL 845 PM MDT...

* AT 537 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED   
  VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM STORMS OVER THE WARNED AREA.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
  WESTCLIFFE...GRAPE CREEK AND HARD SCRABBLE CREEK.

DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES THAT RAIN TOTALS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES HAVE 
OCCURRED OVER THE WARNED AREA AND ADDITIONAL RAINFALL OF 1 TO 2 
INCHES IS EXPECTED.  THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN WILL LIKELY LEAD TO
FLASH FLOODING...CAUSING FLOODED STREAMS AND ROAD WASHOUTS.

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.

JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OF RAINFALL ON A BURN SCAR CAN LEAD TO FLASH
FLOODING. WATER THAT IS NORMALLY ABSORBED BY VEGETATION...RUNS OFF
ALMOST INSTANTLY. THIS CAUSES CREEKS AND DRAINAGE AREAS TO FLOOD AT A
MUCH FASTER RATE THAN NORMAL. ADDITIONALLY...THE SOILS IN A BURN SCAR
BECOME UNSTABLE WHEN IT RAINS...RESULTING IN MUD FLOWS AND FALLING
ROCK. ROADWAYS CAN BE WASHED OUT BY THE FORCE OF THE RUSHING WATER.

LAT...LON 3821 10553 3844 10532 3843 10525 3838 10495
      3809 10495 3802 10516 3797 10558 3812 10565

$$
3 follow-up statements
000 
WGUS75 KPUB 240031
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
631 PM MDT SAT AUG 23 2008

COC027-043-101-240245-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-080824T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CUSTER CO-FREMONT CO-PUEBLO CO-
631 PM MDT SAT AUG 23 2008

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM MDT FOR
EXTREME WEST CENTRAL PUEBLO...SOUTHEASTERN FREMONT AND CUSTER
COUNTIES...

AT 625 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A STORM PRODUCING RAIN OVER THE WARNED AREA.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
WESTCLIFFE...GRAPE CREEK AND HARD SCRABBLE CREEK. 

DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES THAT RAIN TOTALS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES HAVE 
OCCURRED OVER THE AREA AND ADDITIONAL RAINFALL UP TO 1 INCH IS 
POSSIBLE.  THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN WILL LIKELY LEAD TO FLASH 
FLOODING...CAUSING FLOODED STREAMS AND ROAD WASHOUTS.

JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OF RAINFALL ON A BURN SCAR CAN LEAD TO FLASH
FLOODING. WATER THAT IS NORMALLY ABSORBED BY VEGETATION...RUNS OFF
ALMOST INSTANTLY. THIS CAUSES CREEKS AND DRAINAGE AREAS TO FLOOD AT A
MUCH FASTER RATE THAN NORMAL. ADDITIONALLY...THE SOILS IN A BURN SCAR
BECOME UNSTABLE WHEN IT RAINS...RESULTING IN MUD FLOWS AND FALLING
ROCK. ROADWAYS CAN BE WASHED OUT BY THE FORCE OF THE RUSHING WATER.

LAT...LON 3821 10553 3844 10532 3843 10525 3838 10495
      3809 10495 3802 10516 3797 10558 3812 10565

$$
000 
WGUS75 KPUB 240137
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
737 PM MDT SAT AUG 23 2008

COC027-043-101-240245-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-080824T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CUSTER CO-FREMONT CO-PUEBLO CO-
737 PM MDT SAT AUG 23 2008

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM MDT FOR
EXTREME WEST CENTRAL PUEBLO...SOUTHEASTERN FREMONT AND CUSTER
COUNTIES...

AT 736 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
ONLY LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS OVER THE WARNED AREA.  HOWEVER...RUNOFF
FROM EARLIER STORMS IS STILL POSING A FLASH FLOOD THREAT.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
WESTCLIFFE...GRAPE CREEK AND HARD SCRABBLE CREEK.

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

JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OF RAINFALL ON A BURN SCAR CAN LEAD TO FLASH
FLOODING. WATER THAT IS NORMALLY ABSORBED BY VEGETATION...RUNS OFF
ALMOST INSTANTLY. THIS CAUSES CREEKS AND DRAINAGE AREAS TO FLOOD AT A
MUCH FASTER RATE THAN NORMAL. ADDITIONALLY...THE SOILS IN A BURN SCAR
BECOME UNSTABLE WHEN IT RAINS...RESULTING IN MUD FLOWS AND FALLING
ROCK. ROADWAYS CAN BE WASHED OUT BY THE FORCE OF THE RUSHING WATER.

LAT...LON 3821 10553 3844 10532 3843 10525 3838 10495
      3809 10495 3802 10516 3797 10558 3812 10565

$$
000 
WGUS75 KPUB 240256
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
856 PM MDT SAT AUG 23 2008

COC027-043-101-240304-
/O.EXP.KPUB.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-080824T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CUSTER CO-FREMONT CO-PUEBLO CO-
856 PM MDT SAT AUG 23 2008

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR EXTREME WEST CENTRAL
PUEBLO...SOUTHEASTERN FREMONT AND CUSTER COUNTIES...

A NEW ROUND OF RAIN SHOWERS ARE MOVING INTO THE AREA...BUT IT HAS 
BEEN SEVERAL HOURS SINCE THE VERY HEAVY RAIN THAT FELL EARLIER TODAY.
FLOOD WATERS HAVE LIKELY RECEDED.

LAT...LON 3821 10553 3844 10532 3843 10525 3838 10495
      3809 10495 3802 10516 3797 10558 3812 10565

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 22, 11:13 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBHuerfano, Las Animas3 hr
Aug 22, 11:38 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBHuerfano, Pueblo3 hr
Aug 23, 12:49 AM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBCrowley, El Paso, Otero, Pueblo3 hr
Aug 23, 2:50 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso, Teller55 min
Aug 23, 2:56 PM MDTTornado WarningPUBEl Paso, Teller35 min
Aug 23, 3:33 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso, Teller42 min
Aug 23, 4:37 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBLas Animas28 min
Aug 23, 4:48 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBCuster, Fremont57 min
Aug 23, 5:34 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBCuster, Huerfano, Pueblo50 min
Aug 23, 5:47 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBCuster, Fremont58 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Colorado, 2008Every 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.