Alert archive / Alaska / Flash Flood Warnings in 2010

Flash Flood Warning 3, NWS Fairbanks, AK

July 2, 2010

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this flash flood warning at Jul 2, 2010, 8:52 AM AKDT. It was in force for 7 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: Jul 2, 2010, 8:52 AM AKDT (16:52 UTC)
Expired: Jul 2, 2010, 3:26 PM AKDT
In force: 7 hr
Issued by: NWS Fairbanks, AK
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

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

Fairbanks, (PFAI), launched 12:00Z, 4.9 hours before the alert went out and 89 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: 1820 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 11 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -31 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 2 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.

420 
WGAK59 PAFG 021652
FFWAFG
AKZ220>222-021715-
/O.NEW.PAFG.FF.W.0003.100702T1652Z-100702T2000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
852 AM AKDT FRI JUL 2 2010

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  THE ELLIOT HIGHWAY BETWEEN MILE POSTS 70 AND 85

* UNTIL 1200 PM AKDT

* AT 830 AM AKDT FRIDAY...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR
  INDICATED VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE WARNED AREA.
  THIS SAME AREA EXPERIENCED VERY HEAVY RAINFALL BOTH WEDNESDAY AND 
  THURSDAY EVENINGS.

* THE STORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER    
  THE AREA FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT         
  WITH THIS HEAVY RAINFALL THAT THE ROAD COULD BECOME WASHED OUT OR  
  BECOME IMPASSABLE DUE TO HIGH WATER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS 
IMMINENT OR OCCURRING. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS SWIFTLY MOVING WATERS 
OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR AUTOMOBILEEXCESSIVE RUNOFF 
FROM 
HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS....

&&

LAT...LON 6561 14838 6545 14805 6530 14820 6552 14903
      6581 14937

$$

CF

4 follow-up statements

937 
WGAK59 PAFG 021702
FFWAFG
AKZ220>222-022015-
/O.EXT.PAFG.FF.W.0003.000000T0000Z-100702T2000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
902 AM AKDT FRI JUL 2 2010

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS EXTENDED THE

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  THE ELLIOT HIGHWAY BETWEEN MILE POSTS 70 AND 85

* UNTIL 1200 PM AKDT

* AT 830 AM AKDT FRIDAY...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR
  INDICATED VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM A THUNDERSTORM OVER THE WARNED 
  AREA. THIS SAME AREA EXPERIENCED VERY HEAVY RAINFALL BOTH          
  WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY EVENINGS.

* THE STORM PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER     
  THE AREA FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WITH 
  THIS HEAVY RAINFALL THAT THE ROAD COULD BECOME WASHED OUT OR
  BECOME IMPASSABLE DUE TO HIGH WATER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING. 
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN 
DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY AUTOMOBILE. EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL
WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS...

&&

LAT...LON 6561 14838 6545 14805 6530 14820 6552 14903
      6581 14937

$$

CF

281 
WGAK59 PAFG 021943
FFWAFG
AKZ220>222-022015-
/O.EXT.PAFG.FF.W.0003.000000T0000Z-100702T2015Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1143 AM AKDT FRI JUL 2 2010

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS EXTENDED THE

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  THE ELLIOT HIGHWAY BETWEEN MILE POSTS 70 AND 85

* UNTIL 400 PM AKDT

* AT 1130 AM AKDT FRIDAY...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR    
  INDICATED VERY HEAVY RAIN OVER THE WARNED AREA. THIS SAME AREA HAS 
  EXPERIENCED VERY HEAVY RAINFALL BOTH WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY        
  EVENINGS.

* THE STORM PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER     
  THE AREA FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. IT IS POSSIBLE              
  THAT ADDITIONAL RAINFALL MAY DEVELOP LATER THIS AFTERNOON AS 
  WELL. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WITH THIS HEAVY RAINFALL THAT THE 
  ROAD COULD BECOME WASHED OUT OR BECOME IMPASSABLE DUE TO HIGH      
  WATER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY
AUTOMOBILE.

&&

LAT...LON 6561 14838 6545 14805 6530 14820 6552 14903
      6581 14937

$$

CF

635 
WGAK59 PAFG 021949
FFWAFG
AKZ220>222-030000-
/O.EXT.PAFG.FF.W.0003.000000T0000Z-100703T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1149 AM AKDT FRI JUL 2 2010

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS EXTENDED THE

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  THE ELLIOT HIGHWAY BETWEEN MILE POSTS 70 AND 85

* UNTIL 400 PM AKDT

* AT 1130 AM AKDT FRIDAY...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR    
  INDICATED VERY HEAVY RAIN OVER THE WARNED AREA. THIS SAME AREA HAS 
  EXPERIENCED VERY HEAVY RAINFALL BOTH WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY        
  EVENINGS.

* THE STORM PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER     
  THE AREA FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. IT IS POSSIBLE              
  THAT ADDITIONAL RAINFALL MAY DEVELOP LATER THIS AFTERNOON AS 
  WELL. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WITH THIS HEAVY RAINFALL THAT THE 
  ROAD COULD BECOME WASHED OUT OR BECOME IMPASSABLE DUE TO HIGH      
  WATER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING. 
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY. 
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE 
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS 
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY 
AUTOMOBILE.

&&

LAT...LON 6561 14838 6545 14805 6530 14820 6552 14903
      6581 14937

$$

CF

560 
WGAK79 PAFG 022326
FFSAFG

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
326 PM AKDT FRI JUL 2 2010

AKZ220>222-022333-
/O.CAN.PAFG.FF.W.0003.000000T0000Z-100703T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
YUKON FLATS AND SURROUNDING UPLANDS AK-CENTRAL INTERIOR AK-
MIDDLE TANANA VALLEY AK-
326 PM AKDT FRI JUL 2 2010

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE ELLIOT HIGHWAY 
BETWEEN MILE POSTS 70 AND 85...

THE HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE AREA EARLY TODAY HAS ENDED...AND THE 
THREAT OF FLASH FLOODING HAS ENDED FOR THE TIME BEING.  HOWEVER...
ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL ARE 
POSSIBLE THIS EVENING...WHICH MAY PROMPT ADDITIONAL ADVISORIES OR 
WARNINGS FOR THIS PORTION OF THE ELLIOT HIGHWAY

LAT...LON 6561 14838 6545 14805 6530 14820 6552 14903
      6581 14937

$$

CB

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 Fairbanks, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jul 2, 12:16 AM AKDT, 8 hours 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 2, 12:16 AM AKDT, 8 hours 36 minutes before

NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1216 AM AKDT FRI JUL 2 2010

.DISCUSSION...
06Z SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS A 1005 MB THERMAL LOW CENTERED
NEAR HOG RIVER WITH TROUGH AXIS EXTENDING EASTWARD TO ABOUT
30 NM NORTH OF EAGLE...AND NORTHWESTWARD FROM THE LOW CENTER
TO KIVALINA. A SECONDARY TROUGH EXTENDS SOUTHWEST FROM THE
LOW CENTER ACROSS EASTERN NORTON SOUND. A SLIGHT NORTHWARD
SHIFT OF THE TROUGH POSITION IS PROGGED TODAY. TROUGH AXIS
THIS AFTERNOON EXPECTED TO EXTEND RED DOG-20 NM NORTH AMBLER-
CHANDALAR LAKE-EAST SOUTHEASTWARD INTO THE YUKON TERRITORY.
UNSTABLE HIGH DEW POINT AIR MASS COVERS MOST OF THE INTERIOR-
BROOKS RANGE-WEST COAST FROM THE SEWARD PENINSULA NORTH-
MOUNTAIN AREAS OF ZONES 205-206. THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED
IN THESE AREAS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH THE MOST
ACTIVITY ALONG AND NEAR THE MAIN THERMAL TROUGH AXIS.
SOME THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE HEAVY DOWNPOURS WITH
PRECIPITABLE WATERS RUNNING FROM 0.8 TO 1.0 INCH.

THE THERMAL TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO SHIFT SOUTHWARD TONIGHT...
TROUGH AXIS 4 AM SAT EXTENDING KIVALINA-INDIAN MOUNTAIN-30 NM
NORTH OF FAIRBANKS-SOUTHEASTWARD INTO THE YUKON TERRITORY...WITH
ELONGATED LOW CENTER OVER THE SOUTHERN AND EASTERN INTERIOR.
LITTLE CHANGE IN THE TROUGH POSITION IS EXPECTED THROUGH
SAT AFTERNOON...BUT IT IS EXPECTED TO DEEPEN A FEW MB. UNSTABLE
HIGH DEW POINT AIR MASS PERSISTING OVER THE SAME AREAS AS
FRI...EXPECT ANOTHER ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE SAME AREAS
AS FRI...SOME PRODUCING HEAVY DOWNPOURS. PRECIPITABLE WATERS
REMAINING MAINLY IN THE 0.8 TO 1.0 INCH RANGE.

ON SUN...THE THERMAL TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO DRIFT BACK TO
THE NORTH...TROUGH AXIS EASTERN INTERIOR SEWARD PENINSULA-
AMBLER-EASTWARD TO OLD CROW...LOW CENTERS NEAR AMBLER AND
NORTH OF FT YUKON. EXPECT THUNDERSTORMS OVER MOST OF
THE INTERIOR EXCEPT THE SOUTHWEST PARTS-CENTRAL/EASTERN
SEWARD PENINSULA-CENTRAL/EASTERN BROOKS RANGE. A FEW CELLS
POSSIBLE OVER THE MOUNTAINS IN ZONE 206.

ALONG THE ARCTIC COAST...MAINLY NORTHEAST SURFACE WINDS
CONTINUING INTO SAT NIGHT. LOW STRATUS AND FOG PERSISTING...
FOG WILL BE DENSE IN SOME AREAS DURING THE NIGHT AND
EARLY MORNING HOURS.

MARINE AREA WINDS EXPECTED TO BE 20 KT OR LESS TODAY
AND TONIGHT...NO ADVISORIES.

COASTAL HAZARD POTENTIAL DAYS 3 AND 4...NONE

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
GENERAL WINDS IN THE INTERIOR EXPECTED TO BE 10 MPH OR LESS
THROUGH SAT. MIN RH 30-45 PERCENT MOST AREAS OF THE INTERIOR
TODAY THROUGH SAT. NO RED FLAGS. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOSTLY
WET.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
WITH HIGH PRECIPITABLE WATERS AND LIGHT WIND FLOW ALOFT...
THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE SLOW MOVING...HEAVIEST STORMS COULD
PRODUCE TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS AND FLASH FLOODING.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.

&&

RF JUL 10

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Alaska, 2010 Every flash flood warning in 2010

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.