Alert archive / Texas / Flash Flood Warnings in 2009

Flash Flood Warning 2, NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX

April 18, 20098 counties in Texas

NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued this flash flood warning at Apr 18, 2009, 6:45 AM CDT for 8 counties in Texas. It was in force for 4 hr. 3 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
Apr 18, 2009, 6:45 AM CDT (11:45 UTC)
Expired
Apr 18, 2009, 10:45 AM CDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Bastrop County, TX, Bexar County, TX, Caldwell County, TX, Fayette County, TX, Gonzales County, TX, Guadalupe County, TX, Lee County, TX, Wilson County, TX

The radar

The Austin/San Antonio radar (KEWX), 34 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:45 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 18, 8:50 AM CDTFLASH FLOOD2 N Nixon, TXHIGHWAYS 80 AND 97 AND 87 WERE CLOSED FOR A SHORT TIME.
Apr 18, 9:00 AM CDTFLASH FLOOD3 Nw Giddings, TXFM2440 WAS CLOSED
Apr 18, 9:15 AM CDTFLASH FLOOD5 E Seguin, TXNASH CREEK ROAD WAS CLOSED...ALONG WITH A PART OF HIGHWAY 90E...DUE TO 6.34 INCHES OF RAINFALL IN LESS THAN 3 HOURS.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Corpus Christi, TX (KCRP), launched 00:00Z, 11.8 hours before the alert went out and 236 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, Corpus Christi, TX at 00:00Z on 2009-04-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3044 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, Corpus Christi, TX at 00:00Z on 2009-04-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -22 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
3044 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-54 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
729 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-22 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-85 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
-0.6
Supercell composite
-2.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WGUS54 KEWX 181145
FFWEWX
TXC021-029-055-149-177-187-287-493-181545-
/O.NEW.KEWX.FF.W.0002.090418T1145Z-090418T1545Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
645 AM CDT SAT APR 18 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AUSTIN SAN ANTONIO HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  BASTROP COUNTY...
  BEXAR COUNTY...
  CALDWELL COUNTY...
  WESTERN FAYETTE COUNTY...
  GONZALES COUNTY...
  GUADALUPE COUNTY...
  LEE COUNTY...
  WILSON COUNTY...

* UNTIL 1045 AM CDT.

* AT 639 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DETERMINED THAT
  RAINFALL ESTIMATES FROM DOPPLER RADAR INDICATE FLASH FLOODING FROM
  A THUNDERSTORM OVER THE WARNED AREA.

A LARGE COMPLEX OF THUNDERSTORMS IS MOVING SLOWLY NORTH ACROSS AN 
AREA THAT HAS ALREADY SATURATED FROM RECENT RAINFALL. RAINFALL 
AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE WARNED AREA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WHEN WATER COVERS THE ROAD...TURN AROUND DONT DROWN. THE LIFE YOU
SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN.

&&

LAT...LON 3009 9694 2964 9713 2893 9820 2911 9838
      2922 9869 2952 9865 2966 9835 2962 9835
      2960 9832 2969 9809 2985 9792 2994 9772
      3039 9728 3041 9733 3057 9697 3033 9675
      3031 9665

$$
4 follow-up statements
000 
WGUS74 KEWX 181229
FFSEWX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
729 AM CDT SAT APR 18 2009

TXC021-029-055-149-177-187-287-493-181545-
/O.CON.KEWX.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-090418T1545Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
LEE TX-BASTROP TX-FAYETTE TX-CALDWELL TX-GUADALUPE TX-GONZALES TX-
BEXAR TX-WILSON TX-
729 AM CDT SAT APR 18 2009

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1045 AM CDT FOR
WILSON...SOUTHEASTERN BEXAR...GONZALES...GUADALUPE...CALDWELL...
WESTERN FAYETTE...BASTROP AND LEE COUNTIES...

AT 729 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS CONTINUED TO 
DETECT NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING RAINS OVER 
THE WARNED AREA.

THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL HAS OCCURRED FROM BRAUNIG LAKE IN SOUTH BEXAR 
COUNTY TO LAVERNIA AND NEW BERLIN...EXTENDING NORTHEAST TO 
LULING...BASTROP...AND GIDDINGS. OVER THE PAST THREE HOURS...DOPPLER 
RAINFALL ESTIMATES SUGGEST THAT 2 TO 3 INCHES HAS FALLEN OVER MUCH 
OF THIS AREA...WITH ISOLATED 4 INCH TOTALS POSSIBLE. THIS RAINFALL 
IS IN ADDITION TO THE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL TOTALS THAT HAD FALLEN 
ON FRIDAY.

NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO SLOWLY MOVE THROUGH THE 
AREA...BUT WILL DECREASE FROM WEST TO EAST THROUGH 9 AM. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAIN WILL FLOOD CREEKS, STREAMS, STREET 
INTERSECTIONS, CULVERTS AND UNDERPASSES. LOW LYING PLACES THAT 
NORMALLY FLOOD COULD BECOME DEATH TRAPS. DO NOT CROSS ANY FLOODED 
AREA. TURN AROUND DONT DROWN. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS 
IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 AM CDT SATURDAY MORNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS.

&&

LAT...LON 3009 9694 2964 9713 2893 9820 2911 9838
      2914 9846 2960 9834 2979 9789 3039 9728
      3041 9733 3046 9716 3057 9697 3033 9675
      3031 9665

$$
000 
WGUS74 KEWX 181337
FFSEWX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
837 AM CDT SAT APR 18 2009

TXC021-029-055-149-177-187-287-493-181545-
/O.CON.KEWX.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-090418T1545Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
LEE TX-BASTROP TX-FAYETTE TX-CALDWELL TX-GUADALUPE TX-GONZALES TX-
BEXAR TX-WILSON TX-
837 AM CDT SAT APR 18 2009

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1045 AM CDT FOR
WILSON...SOUTHEASTERN BEXAR...GONZALES...GUADALUPE...CALDWELL...
WESTERN FAYETTE...BASTROP AND LEE COUNTIES...

AT 832 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS CONTINUED TO 
DETECT THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING OVER THE WARNED AREA. 
HEAVY RAINS WERE NOTED NEAR GONZALES AND BETWEEN WAEDLER...MULDOON 
AND ROSANKY. RAINFALL RATES OF NEAR 2 INCHES PER HOUR WERE 
ESTIMATED. ELSEWHERE...ISOLATED SHOWERS AND LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINS 
WERE NOTED. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING AREA INCLUDE WYLDWOOD...TANGLEWOOD...
SMITHVILLE...ROSANKY...PAIGE...LEXINGTON...GIDDINGS...FEDOR...DIME
BOX...CIRCLE D-KC ESTATES...CEDAR CREEK...CAMP SWIFT AND BASTROP.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WHEN WATER COVERS THE ROAD...TURN AROUND DONT DROWN. THE LIFE YOU
SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN.

&&

LAT...LON 3009 9694 2964 9713 2893 9820 2911 9838
      2914 9846 2960 9834 2979 9789 3039 9728
      3041 9733 3046 9716 3057 9697 3033 9675
      3031 9665

$$
000 
WGUS74 KEWX 181418
FFSEWX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
918 AM CDT SAT APR 18 2009

TXC029-181426-
/O.CAN.KEWX.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-090418T1545Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BEXAR TX-
918 AM CDT SAT APR 18 2009

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR SOUTHEASTERN BEXAR
COUNTY...

ONLY PATCHY LIGHT SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE. THE THREAT FOR FLASH 
FLOODING HAS ENDED. 

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 AM CDT
SATURDAY MORNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS.

LAT...LON 3009 9694 2964 9713 2918 9788 2931 9792
      2970 9777 2991 9751 3039 9728 3057 9697
      3033 9675 3031 9665

$$

TXC021-055-149-177-187-287-493-181545-
/O.CON.KEWX.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-090418T1545Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
LEE TX-BASTROP TX-FAYETTE TX-CALDWELL TX-GUADALUPE TX-GONZALES TX-
WILSON TX-
918 AM CDT SAT APR 18 2009

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1045 AM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN WILSON...GONZALES...SOUTHEASTERN GUADALUPE...
SOUTHEASTERN CALDWELL...WESTERN FAYETTE...BASTROP AND LEE COUNTIES...

AT 916 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS CONTINUED TO 
DETECT THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING OVER THE WARNED AREA.
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINS WERE NOTED BETWEEN NIXON...LULING...WAEDLER 
AND GONZALES WITH LIGHT RAIN ELSEWHERE. RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 
INCHES PER HOUR WERE ESTIMATED. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING AREA INCLUDE TANGLEWOOD...SMITHVILLE...
ROSANKY...PAIGE...LEXINGTON...GIDDINGS...FEDOR...DIME BOX...CIRCLE
D-KC ESTATES...CAMP SWIFT AND BASTROP.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WHEN WATER COVERS THE ROAD...TURN AROUND DONT DROWN. THE LIFE YOU
SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 AM CDT
SATURDAY MORNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS.

&&

LAT...LON 3009 9694 2964 9713 2918 9788 2931 9792
      2970 9777 2991 9751 3039 9728 3057 9697
      3033 9675 3031 9665

$$
000 
WGUS74 KEWX 181543
FFSEWX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
1043 AM CDT SAT APR 18 2009

TXC021-055-149-177-187-287-493-181551-
/O.EXP.KEWX.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-090418T1545Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
LEE TX-BASTROP TX-FAYETTE TX-CALDWELL TX-GUADALUPE TX-GONZALES TX-
WILSON TX-
1043 AM CDT SAT APR 18 2009

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 1045 AM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN WILSON...GONZALES...SOUTHEASTERN GUADALUPE...
SOUTHEASTERN CALDWELL...WESTERN FAYETTE...BASTROP AND LEE COUNTIES...

AT 1040 AM CDT...WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS 
PERSISTED ACROSS THE AREA. RAINFALL RATES WERE LESS THAN ONE INCH 
PER HOUR. THE THREAT FOR FLASH FLOODING HAS ENDED. THE FLASH FLOOD 
WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. HOWEVER...SOME STREAMS MAY 
CONTINUE TO RUN HIGH AND PONDING OF WATER IN LOW LYING AREAS MAY 
PERSIST FOR THE NEXT HOUR OR SO. 

LAT...LON 3009 9694 2964 9713 2918 9788 2931 9792
      2970 9777 2991 9751 3039 9728 3057 9697
      3033 9675 3031 9665

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 17, 9:20 PM CDTFlash Flood WatchEWXAtascosa, Bastrop, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, DeWitt and 10 more19 hr
Apr 18, 3:03 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXVal Verde27 min
Apr 18, 3:45 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXUvalde, Zavala60 min
Apr 18, 4:57 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryEWXFrio, Medina, Uvalde, Zavala2 hr
Apr 18, 5:11 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryEWXAtascosa, Caldwell, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Wilson2 hr
Apr 18, 5:46 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryEWXBexar119 min
Apr 18, 5:49 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXDimmit56 min
Apr 18, 7:47 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXDeWitt, Fayette, Gonzales, Karnes, Lavaca, Lee and 1 more4 hr
Apr 18, 8:44 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXDeWitt, Lavaca29 min
Apr 18, 10:50 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryEWXAtascosa, Bastrop, Caldwell, Fayette, Gonzales, Guadalupe and 1 more115 min
Apr 18, 11:45 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXDeWitt, Gonzales, Lavaca3 hr
Apr 18, 12:01 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningEWXCaldwell, Gonzales24 hr
Apr 18, 4:13 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningEWXDeWitt60 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Texas, 2009Every flash flood warning in 2009

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.