Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 19, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

July 13, 2011Boulder County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this flash flood warning at Jul 13, 2011, 6:17 PM MDT for Boulder 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
Jul 13, 2011, 6:17 PM MDT (00:17 UTC)
Expired
Jul 13, 2011, 9:15 PM MDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Boulder County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 78 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:18 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
Jul 13, 7:00 PM MDTFLASH FLOOD7 W Boulder, COGOLD RUN CREEK HAD 3 TO 4 RISE WITH LOGS AND DEBRIS ALONG GOLD RUN ROAD.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 00:00Z, 0.3 hours before the alert went out and 185 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 00:00Z on 2011-07-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 856 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 00:00Z on 2011-07-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -31 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
856 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-22 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2153 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-31 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
110 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

124 
WGUS55 KBOU 140017
FFWBOU
COC013-140315-
/O.NEW.KBOU.FF.W.0019.110714T0017Z-110714T0315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
617 PM MDT WED JUL 13 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  THE FOURMILE BURN AREA IN CENTRAL BOULDER COUNTY IN NORTHEAST
   COLORADO

* UNTIL 915 PM MDT

* AT 616 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM A THUNDERSTORM OVER THE FOURMILE BURN AREA
  ...OR 32 MILES NORTHWEST OF DENVER. THIS STORM WAS MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  WALLSTREET...SUNSHINE...SUMMERVILLE...SALINA...CRISMAN AND GOLD
  HILL.

DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES THAT UP TO THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH OF RAIN
CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE NEXT 20 MINUTES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING OF CREEKS...STREAMS...AND
DITCHES IN THE FOURMILE BURN AREA. SOME DRAINAGE BASINS AFFECTED BY
EXCESSIVE RUNOFF INCLUDE FOURMILE CREEK...GOLD RUN...AND FOURMILE
CANYON CREEK. WATER WILL BE FLOWING DOWN ROADWAYS. ROCK SLIDES OR
DEBRIS FLOWS CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED.

&&

LAT...LON 4008 10538 4005 10533 4002 10540 4005 10544

$$
BARJENBRUCH
4 follow-up statements
309 
WGUS75 KBOU 140034
FFSBOU

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
634 PM MDT WED JUL 13 2011

COC013-140315-
/O.CON.KBOU.FF.W.0019.000000T0000Z-110714T0315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BOULDER CO-
634 PM MDT WED JUL 13 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM MDT FOR THE 
FOURMILE BURN AREA IN BOULDER COUNTY...

AT 628 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM A THUNDERSTORM OVER SUNSHINE...OR ABOUT 32 MILES
NORTHWEST OF DENVER. THIS STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. A 
STORM SPOTTER IN GOLD HILL REPORTED 0.60 INCH OF RAIN IN 30 MINUTES 
AS THIS STORM MOVED THROUGH.

ANOTHER THUNDERSTORM WAS QUICKLY DEVELOPING SOUTH OF THE FOURMILE 
BURN AREA AND WILL MOVE ACROSS THE BURN THROUGH 710 PM.  THIS STORM 
MAY PRODUCE ANOTHER QUARTER TO HALF INCH OF RAIN WITH RAINFALL 
TOTALS IN THE BURN AREA OF THREE QUARTERS TO 1.25 INCHES POSSIBLE.

LOCATIONS REMAINING IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
WALLSTREET...SUNSHINE...SUMMERVILLE...SALINA...CRISMAN AND GOLD HILL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING OF CREEKS...STREAMS...AND
DITCHES IN THE FOURMILE BURN AREA. SOME DRAINAGE BASINS AFFECTED BY
EXCESSIVE RUNOFF INCLUDE FOURMILE CREEK...GOLD RUN...AND FOURMILE
CANYON CREEK. WATER WILL BE FLOWING DOWN ROADWAYS. ROCK SLIDES OR 
DEBRIS FLOWS CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY AS THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO 
CROSS SAFELY. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN FLOOD WATERS...ABANDON YOUR 
VEHICLE AND CLIMB TO HIGHER GROUND.

&&

LAT...LON 4008 10538 4005 10533 4004 10537 4002 10540
      4005 10544

$$
BARJENBRUCH
599 
WGUS75 KBOU 140107
FFSBOU

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
707 PM MDT WED JUL 13 2011

COC013-140315-
/O.CON.KBOU.FF.W.0019.000000T0000Z-110714T0315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BOULDER CO-
707 PM MDT WED JUL 13 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM MDT FOR
CENTRAL BOULDER COUNTY...

AT 703 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED VERY
HEAVY RAIN FROM A THUNDERSTORM NEAR SUNSHINE...OR ABOUT 32 MILES 
NORTHWEST OF DENVER. THIS STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH...
AND HEAVY RAIN WILL END BY 720 PM.

AUTOMATED RAIN GAUGES AND WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED BETWEEN FOUR 
TENTHS AND 1.18 INCHES OF RAINFALL IN THE FOURMILE BURN AREA.  THE 
HEAVIEST RAINFALL HAD OCCURRED OVER THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN 
PORTIONS OF THE BURN AREA.

THE BOULDER COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTED DEBRIS FLOWS IN THE 
FOURMILE BURN AREA.  IN ADDITION...FOURMILE CREEK WAS ALSO RISING.

LOCATIONS REMAINING IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
WALLSTREET...SUNSHINE...SUMMERVILLE...SALINA...CRISMAN AND GOLD HILL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE
EXTENSIVE AND SEVERE FLASH FLOODING OF CREEKS...STREAMS...AND DITCHES
IN THE FOURMILE BURN AREA. SOME DRAINAGE BASINS IMPACTED INCLUDE
FOURMILE CREEK...GOLD RUN...AND FOURMILE CANYON CREEK. SEVERE DEBRIS
FLOWS CAN ALSO BE ANTICIPATED ACROSS ROADS. ROADS AND DRIVEWAYS MAY
BE WASHED AWAY IN PLACES. IF YOU ENCOUNTER FLOOD WATERS...CLIMB TO
SAFETY.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY AS THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO
CROSS SAFELY. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A
FEW INCHES OF RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR 
VEHICLE. TURN AROUND...DO NOT DROWN.

&&

LAT...LON 4008 10538 4005 10533 4004 10537 4002 10540
      4005 10544

$$
BARJENBRUCH
028 
WGUS75 KBOU 140141
FFSBOU

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
741 PM MDT WED JUL 13 2011

COC013-140315-
/O.CON.KBOU.FF.W.0019.000000T0000Z-110714T0315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BOULDER CO-
741 PM MDT WED JUL 13 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM MDT FOR
CENTRAL BOULDER COUNTY...

BOULDER COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS 
REPORTED NUMEROUS DEBRIS FLOWS AND SOME CARS HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE 
FOURMILE BURN AREA.  SOME ROADS ARE CLOSED AND WASHED OUT.  IN 
ADDITION...FOURMILE CREEK WAS ALSO RISING.

AUTOMATED RAIN GAUGES AND WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED BETWEEN FOUR 
TENTHS AND 1.34 INCHES OF RAINFALL IN THE FOURMILE BURN AREA.  THE 
HEAVIEST RAINFALL HAD OCCURRED OVER THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN 
PORTIONS OF THE BURN AREA.

LOCATIONS REMAINING IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
WALLSTREET...SUNSHINE...SUMMERVILLE...SALINA...CRISMAN AND GOLD HILL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE
EXTENSIVE AND SEVERE FLASH FLOODING OF CREEKS...STREAMS...AND DITCHES
IN THE FOURMILE BURN AREA. SOME DRAINAGE BASINS IMPACTED INCLUDE
FOURMILE CREEK...GOLD RUN...AND FOURMILE CANYON CREEK. SEVERE DEBRIS
FLOWS CAN ALSO BE ANTICIPATED ACROSS ROADS. ROADS AND DRIVEWAYS MAY
BE WASHED AWAY IN PLACES. IF YOU ENCOUNTER FLOOD WATERS...CLIMB TO
SAFETY.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY AS THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO
CROSS SAFELY. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A
FEW INCHES OF RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR 
VEHICLE. TURN AROUND...DO NOT DROWN.

&&

LAT...LON 4008 10538 4005 10533 4004 10537 4002 10540
      4005 10544

$$
BARJENBRUCH
288 
WGUS75 KBOU 140144
FFSBOU

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
744 PM MDT WED JUL 13 2011

COC013-140315-
/O.CON.KBOU.FF.W.0019.000000T0000Z-110714T0315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BOULDER CO-
744 PM MDT WED JUL 13 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM MDT FOR THE 
FOURMILE BURN AREA IN CENTRAL BOULDER COUNTY...

BOULDER COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS 
REPORTED NUMEROUS DEBRIS FLOWS AND SOME CARS HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE 
FOURMILE BURN AREA.  SOME ROADS ARE CLOSED AND WASHED OUT.  IN 
ADDITION...FOURMILE CREEK WAS ALSO RISING.

AUTOMATED RAIN GAUGES AND WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED BETWEEN FOUR 
TENTHS AND 1.34 INCHES OF RAINFALL IN THE FOURMILE BURN AREA.  THE 
HEAVIEST RAINFALL HAD OCCURRED OVER THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN 
PORTIONS OF THE BURN AREA.

RAIN HAD ENDED...AND THERE IS ONLY A CHANCE OF ADDITIONAL STORMS 
REDEVELOPING IN THE BURN AREA THIS EVENING.

LOCATIONS REMAINING IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
WALLSTREET...SUNSHINE...SUMMERVILLE...SALINA...CRISMAN AND GOLD HILL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE
EXTENSIVE AND SEVERE FLASH FLOODING OF CREEKS...STREAMS...AND DITCHES
IN THE FOURMILE BURN AREA. SOME DRAINAGE BASINS IMPACTED INCLUDE
FOURMILE CREEK...GOLD RUN...AND FOURMILE CANYON CREEK. SEVERE DEBRIS
FLOWS CAN ALSO BE ANTICIPATED ACROSS ROADS. ROADS AND DRIVEWAYS MAY
BE WASHED AWAY IN PLACES. IF YOU ENCOUNTER FLOOD WATERS...CLIMB TO
SAFETY.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY AS THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO
CROSS SAFELY. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A
FEW INCHES OF RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR 
VEHICLE. TURN AROUND...DO NOT DROWN.

&&

LAT...LON 4008 10538 4005 10533 4004 10537 4002 10540
      4005 10544

$$
BARJENBRUCH

The office that day

Everything else NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 13, 6:32 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOUAdams, Arapahoe, Denver, Jefferson43 min
Jul 13, 6:40 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUAdams, Arapahoe, Denver, Jefferson19 min
Jul 13, 6:54 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOUGrand22 hr
Jul 13, 7:13 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUBoulder, Larimer34 min
Jul 13, 7:34 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULarimer26 min
Jul 13, 7:59 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULarimer, Weld28 min
Jul 13, 8:08 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningBOUBoulder103 min
Jul 13, 8:37 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOUBoulder75 min
Jul 13, 9:01 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUDouglas, Jefferson44 min
Jul 13, 9:05 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUAdams, Arapahoe, Denver55 min
Jul 13, 9:28 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOUAdams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson77 min
Jul 13, 9:55 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUAdams, Weld33 min
Jul 13, 10:58 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOUArapahoe, Douglas92 min
Jul 13, 11:15 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningBOUBoulder3 hr
Jul 13, 11:16 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningBOUBoulder3 hr
Jul 13, 11:48 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOUAdams, Morgan, Washington87 min
Jul 14, 12:35 AM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOUAdams, Arapahoe, Morgan, Washington81 min
Jul 14, 5:25 AM MDTFlash Flood WatchBOUAdams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver and 10 more16 hr
Jul 14, 11:03 AM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOUMorgan, Weld71 hr
Jul 14, 1:00 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningBOUBoulder3 hr
Jul 14, 1:10 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBOUJefferson35 min
Jul 14, 1:48 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOUDouglas87 min
Jul 14, 1:57 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUDouglas, Elbert48 min
Jul 14, 2:09 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningBOUBoulder2 hr
Jul 14, 2:40 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUArapahoe, Denver, Douglas50 min
Jul 14, 3:02 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOUArapahoe, Denver26 min
Jul 14, 3:22 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningBOUArapahoe, Denver, Jefferson2 hr
Jul 14, 3:28 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUAdams, Arapahoe, Denver47 min
Jul 14, 4:00 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUAdams, Arapahoe22 min
Jul 14, 4:16 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOUArapahoe, Elbert89 min
Jul 14, 4:31 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOUGrand71 hr
Jul 14, 5:10 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOUBoulder55 min
Jul 14, 5:21 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBOUAdams24 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Colorado, 2011Every flash flood warning in 2011

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.