Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 15, NWS Pueblo, CO

August 4, 2011Las Animas County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Aug 4, 2011, 1:23 PM MDT for Las Animas County, Colorado. It was in force for 2 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 4, 2011, 1:23 PM MDT (19:23 UTC)
Expired
Aug 4, 2011, 3:47 PM MDT
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Las Animas County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 149 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:24 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

Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM (KABQ), launched 12:00Z, 7.4 hours before the alert went out and 307 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, Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM at 12:00Z on 2011-08-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2 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, Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM at 12:00Z on 2011-08-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 9 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
2 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-159 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1837 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
20 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
9 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
79 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.

406 
WGUS55 KPUB 041923
FFWPUB
COC071-042230-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0015.110804T1923Z-110804T2230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
123 PM MDT THU AUG 4 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SOUTH CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO...

* UNTIL 430 PM MDT

* AT 120 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE      
  WARNED AREA. DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES BETWEEN 1 AND 3 INCHES HAVE   
  FALLEN WITH ANOTHER 1 TO 2 INCHES POSSIBLE AS THESE STORMS MOVE    
  SLOWLY TO THE SOUTH AND EAST. 

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...     
  TRINIDAD...BONCARBO...COKEDALE AND SEGUNDO AND THE TRACK AND BEAR  
  WILDFIRE BURN SCARS.

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...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...COUNTRY ROADS...AS WELL AS FARMLAND ALONG THE
BANKS OF CREEKS AND STREAMS.

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 3710 10409 3700 10409 3700 10479 3735 10482
      3722 10420

$$
3 follow-up statements
372 
WGUS75 KPUB 042016
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
216 PM MDT THU AUG 4 2011

COC071-042230-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0015.000000T0000Z-110804T2230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
LAS ANIMAS CO-
216 PM MDT THU AUG 4 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS
COUNTY UNTIL 430 PM MDT...

AT 210 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL MOST CONCENTRATED ALONG I-25 
AND HIGHWAY 160 JUST NORTHEAST OF TRINIDAD. DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES 
BETWEEN 1 AND 3 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN OVER THE PAST HOUR WITH 
ANOTHER 1 TO 2 INCHES POSSIBLE...AS THESE STORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE 
SLOWLY TO THE SOUTH AND EAST. 

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING 
TO OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING 
INCLUDE...TRINIDAD...BONCARBO...COKEDALE...GULNARE AND SEGUNDO AND 
THE TRACK AND BEAR WILDFIRE BURN SCARS.

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 3710 10409 3700 10409 3700 10479 3735 10482
      3722 10420

$$
995 
WGUS75 KPUB 042056
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
256 PM MDT THU AUG 4 2011

COC071-042230-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0015.000000T0000Z-110804T2230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
LAS ANIMAS CO-
256 PM MDT THU AUG 4 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS
COUNTY UNTIL 430 PM MDT...

AT 248 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE WARNED AREA HAVE DIMINISHED IN INTENSITY. 
HOWEVER...MORE STORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAINFALL WERE LOCATED NEAR 
RATON...NEW MEXICO...WHICH ARE MOVING SLOWLY TO THE NORTH AND EAST 
AND ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE TRACK AND BEAR BURN 
SCARS WITHIN IN THE NEXT HOUR. DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUES TO INDICATE 1 
TO 3 INCHES OF RAINFALL ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS 
COUNTY OVER THE PAST TWO HOURS...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR MORE HEAVY 
RAIN OVER THE NEXT HOUR. 

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING 
INCLUDE...TRINIDAD...BONCARBO...COKEDALE...GULNARE AND SEGUNDO AND 
THE TRACK AND BEAR BURN SCARS. 

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 3710 10409 3700 10409 3700 10479 3735 10482
      3722 10420

$$
163 
WGUS75 KPUB 042147
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
347 PM MDT THU AUG 4 2011

COC071-042202-
/O.CAN.KPUB.FF.W.0015.000000T0000Z-110804T2230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
LAS ANIMAS CO-
347 PM MDT THU AUG 4 2011

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL LAS
ANIMAS COUNTY 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 3710 10409 3700 10409 3700 10479 3735 10482
      3722 10420

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 3, 7:45 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBHuerfano, Las Animas54 min
Aug 4, 4:36 AM MDTFlash Flood WatchPUBCuster, El Paso, Fremont, Huerfano, Las Animas, Teller15 hr
Aug 4, 12:54 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBLas Animas34 min
Aug 4, 3:07 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBTeller82 min
Aug 4, 3:41 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBFremont112 min
Aug 4, 4:00 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBEl Paso2 hr
Aug 4, 4:22 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBEl Paso2 hr
Aug 4, 5:05 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBEl Paso115 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.