Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 13, NWS Pueblo, CO

August 3, 20114 counties in Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Aug 3, 2011, 4:52 PM MDT for 4 counties in 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 3, 2011, 4:52 PM MDT (22:52 UTC)
Expired
Aug 3, 2011, 7:46 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, Saguache County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 115 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:52 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, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 260 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 2011-08-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 15 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 2011-08-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -14 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
15 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-54 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1190 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
13 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-14 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
4 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.

824 
WGUS55 KPUB 032252
FFWPUB
COC027-043-101-109-040200-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0013.110803T2252Z-110804T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
452 PM MDT WED AUG 3 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  EAST CENTRAL SAGUACHE COUNTY IN CENTRAL COLORADO...
  NORTHERN CUSTER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO...
  SOUTHWESTERN FREMONT COUNTY IN CENTRAL COLORADO...
  WEST CENTRAL PUEBLO COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO...

* UNTIL 800 PM MDT

* AT 450 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE      
  WARNED AREA. DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATED UP TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN 
  PER HOUR WITH THESE STORMS.

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...    
  COALDALE...COTOPAXI AND TEXAS CREEK.

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.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN HILLY TERRAIN THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS WHICH ARE
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL ACROSS
FLOODED ROADS. FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES. IT ONLY TAKES A FEW INCHES OF
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER TO CARRY VEHICLES AWAY.

&&

LAT...LON 3847 10533 3812 10493 3813 10590 3842 10597

$$
STARK
3 follow-up statements
013 
WGUS75 KPUB 032345
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
545 PM MDT WED AUG 3 2011

COC027-043-101-109-040200-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-110804T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CUSTER CO-FREMONT CO-PUEBLO CO-SAGUACHE CO-
545 PM MDT WED AUG 3 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EAST CENTRAL SAGUACHE...
WEST CENTRAL PUEBLO...SOUTHWESTERN FREMONT AND NORTHERN CUSTER
COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM MDT...

AT 542 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. 
DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATED UP TO 2 INCHES OF RAINFALL HAS FALLEN ACROSS 
PORTIONS OF THE WARNED AREA.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
COALDALE...COTOPAXI AND TEXAS CREEK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE WEAKENED SOMEWHAT ACROSS THE WARNED AREA... 
HOWEVER RUNOFF WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT RURAL ROADS AND LOW LYING 
AREAS. REMEMBER THAT BURN SCARS AND CANYON ROADS ARE ESPECIALLY 
PRONE TO DEBRIS FLOW AND ROCK SLIDES.

REPORT FLOODING TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SO THAT THEY
MAY TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO CLOSE FLOODED ROADWAYS. THEY WILL
RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO.

&&

LAT...LON 3847 10533 3812 10493 3813 10590 3842 10597

$$
STARK
462 
WGUS75 KPUB 040105
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
705 PM MDT WED AUG 3 2011

COC027-043-101-109-040200-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-110804T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CUSTER CO-FREMONT CO-PUEBLO CO-SAGUACHE CO-
705 PM MDT WED AUG 3 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EAST CENTRAL SAGUACHE...
WEST CENTRAL PUEBLO...SOUTHWESTERN FREMONT AND NORTHERN CUSTER
COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM MDT...

AT 701 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED AN 
AREA OF VERY HEAVY RAINFALL HAS OCCURRED ACROSS THE WARNED AREA 
EARLIER THIS EVENING.  ALTHOUGH THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE 
WARNED AREA...PUEBLO DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATED UP TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN 
HAS FALLEN ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE AREA WITH THE HEAVIEST AMOUNTS 
FALLING AROUND 3 MILES EAST NORTHEAST OF WESTCLIFFE.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO 
CONTINUE IN LOW SPOTS UNTIL THE WATER HAS TIME TO RECEDE. SOME 
LOCATIONS THAT MAY CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE FLOODING 
INCLUDE...COTOPAXI...AND TEXAS CREEK.

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.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REPORT FLOODING TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SO THAT THEY
MAY TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO CLOSE FLOODED ROADWAYS. THEY WILL
RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO.

&&

LAT...LON 3847 10533 3812 10493 3813 10590 3842 10597

$$
206 
WGUS75 KPUB 040146
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
746 PM MDT WED AUG 3 2011

COC027-043-101-109-040201-
/O.CAN.KPUB.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-110804T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CUSTER CO-FREMONT CO-PUEBLO CO-SAGUACHE CO-
746 PM MDT WED AUG 3 2011

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR EAST CENTRAL
SAGUACHE...WEST CENTRAL PUEBLO...SOUTHWESTERN FREMONT AND NORTHERN
CUSTER COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

EXCESS RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAIN HAS ENDED OVER THE WARNED AREA. STREAMS
AND CREEKS IN THE WARNED AREA HAVE RECEDED OR WERE BEGINNING TO
RECEDE...ENDING THE FLOOD THREAT. IF FLOODING HAS BEEN OBSERVED...
PLEASE REPORT IT TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

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 3847 10533 3812 10493 3813 10590 3842 10597

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 2, 6:04 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBCrowley, Otero, Pueblo56 min
Aug 2, 6:10 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBBaca, Las Animas, Otero3 hr
Aug 2, 7:56 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBEl Paso3 hr
Aug 2, 8:04 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBBent, Prowers3 hr
Aug 2, 8:06 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBCrowley, Kiowa, Otero3 hr
Aug 2, 9:27 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBKiowa2 hr
Aug 2, 9:34 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBEl Paso, Pueblo5 hr
Aug 3, 5:20 AM MDTRiver Flood WarningPUBPueblo78 min
Aug 3, 5:26 AM MDTFlash Flood WatchPUBCuster, El Paso, Fremont, Huerfano, Pueblo, Teller16 hr
Aug 3, 1:35 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBLas Animas3 hr
Aug 3, 2:40 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBLas Animas62 min
Aug 3, 3:35 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBLas Animas3 hr
Aug 3, 3:50 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBFremont2 hr
Aug 3, 4:19 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBCuster, Fremont41 min
Aug 3, 4:47 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBTeller2 hr
Aug 3, 5:17 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBEl Paso, Teller2 hr

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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.