Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 17, NWS Pueblo, CO

September 14, 2011El Paso County, Teller County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Sep 14, 2011, 4:32 PM MDT for El Paso County, Teller County, Colorado. It was in force for 3 hr. 24 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
Sep 14, 2011, 4:32 PM MDT (22:32 UTC)
Expired
Sep 14, 2011, 7:30 PM MDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties El Paso County, CO, Teller County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 61 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:33 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
Sep 14, 4:47 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 0.154 W Ellicott, CO
Sep 14, 5:00 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 2.114 Ssw Black Forest, CO1.76 INCHES IN PAST 2 HOURS...
Sep 14, 5:25 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 1.12 Wnw Colorado Springs, CO
Sep 14, 5:30 PM MDTFLASH FLOOD5 Ne Colorado Springs, CONEWS VIDEO AT DATE AND SIFRED STREETS HAD FAST FLOWING WATER OVER ROADWAYS WITH A STALLED CAR.
Sep 14, 5:31 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 1Manitou Springs, CO
Sep 14, 5:31 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 1.255 Ne Air Force Academy, CO
Sep 14, 5:31 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 1.538 N Colorado Springs, CO
Sep 14, 5:31 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 1.545 Ene Colorado Springs, CO
Sep 14, 5:31 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 1.696 E Colorado Springs, CO
Sep 14, 5:31 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 2.31Falcon, CO
Sep 14, 5:32 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 25 Ne Colorado Springs, COE-SPOTTER REPORT
Sep 14, 5:37 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 1.473 S Monument, CO
Sep 14, 5:37 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 1.824 Nne Colorado Springs, COSINCE 215 PM...
Sep 14, 6:37 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 2.068 Ene Colorado Springs, CO
Sep 14, 7:20 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 1.565 Ne Air Force Academy, CO
Sep 14, 7:20 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 2.192 Nne Security, CO
Sep 14, 7:36 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 1.17Sw Colorado Springs, CO
Sep 14, 7:36 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 1.19Monument, CO
Sep 14, 7:36 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 1.24Manitou Springs, CO
Sep 14, 7:36 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 1.63Fountain, CO
Sep 14, 7:36 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 25 Ene Colorado Springs, CO
Sep 14, 7:36 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 2.026 E Colorado Springs, CO
Sep 14, 7:36 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 2.2212 N Colorado Springs, CO
Sep 14, 7:36 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 2.6Falcon, CO

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 12:00Z, 10.5 hours before the alert went out and 163 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 2011-09-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 6 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 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 2011-09-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -21 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
6 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-188 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1171 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-21 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-22 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.

200 
WGUS55 KPUB 142232
FFWPUB
COC041-119-150130-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0017.110914T2232Z-110915T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
432 PM MDT WED SEP 14 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN TELLER COUNTY IN CENTRAL COLORADO...
  WESTERN EL PASO COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL COLORADO...

* UNTIL 730 PM MDT

* AT 424 PM MDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED SLOW MOVING      
  THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE WARNED AREA.     
  RAINFALL OF 1 TO 2 INCHES HAS ALREADY FALLEN ACROSS PORTIONS OF    
  THE AREA.  ANOTHER 1 INCH OR MORE OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE.

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT MAY EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  COLORADO SPRINGS...AIR FORCE ACADEMY...BLACK FOREST...CASCADE...
  CHIPITA PARK...CRYSTOLA...ELLICOTT...FALCON...FOUNTAIN...GREEN
  MOUNTAIN FALLS...MANITOU SPRINGS...MONUMENT...PALMER LAKE...
  PETERSON AFB...PEYTON...SCHRIEVER AFB...SECURITY AND WOODLAND PARK.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING STREAMS AND DRAINAGES...FOUNTAIN 
CREEK...MONUMENT CREEK AND ALL SMALLER TRIBUTARIES TO THESE CREEKS.  
FOUNTAIN CREEK WAS ALREADY REPORTED AT BANKFULL LEVELS NEAR 
INTERSTATE 25 AND SOUTH ACADEMY...SOUTH OF COLORADO SPRINGS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL 
CREEKS AND STREAMS...HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES. ADDITIONALLY...ROADS 
AND LOWLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS...STREAMS AND OTHER LOW LYING 
AREAS WILL BE SUBJECT TO FLOODING.

DO NOT DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY.  THE WATER 
IS LIKELY DEEPER AND MORE FORCEFUL THAN YOU EXPECT.  AS LITTLE AS 6 
INCHES OF FLOWING WATER CAN CARRY YOUR VEHICLE AWAY...OUT OF YOUR 
CONTROL.  TURN AROUND...DON'T DROWN.  FIND AN ALTERNATE ROUTE.

&&

LAT...LON 3912 10433 3852 10443 3852 10486 3912 10517

$$
2 follow-up statements
704 
WGUS75 KPUB 142352
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
552 PM MDT WED SEP 14 2011

COC041-119-150130-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0017.000000T0000Z-110915T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
TELLER CO-EL PASO CO-
552 PM MDT WED SEP 14 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN EL PASO AND
NORTHEASTERN TELLER COUNTIES UNTIL 730 PM MDT...

AT 539 PM MDT...WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY 
HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. OVER 2 INCHES OF RAIN HAVE 
BEEN REPORTED IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS.  ANOTHER INCH OF RAIN IS 
POSSIBLE THROUGH 730 PM MDT.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
COLORADO SPRINGS...AIR FORCE ACADEMY...BLACK FOREST...CASCADE...
CHIPITA PARK...CRYSTOLA...ELLICOTT...FALCON...FOUNTAIN...GREEN
MOUNTAIN FALLS...MANITOU SPRINGS...MONUMENT...PALMER LAKE...PETERSON
AFB...PEYTON...SCHRIEVER AFB...SECURITY AND WOODLAND PARK.

NUMEROUS REPORTS OF FLASH FLOODING HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY LOCAL 
BROADCAST MEDIA...INCLUDING DEEP...RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER FLOWING 
OVER THE ROAD AT DATE AND SIFRED STREETS...NEAR AUSTIN BLUFFS AND 
ACADEMY...WITH WATER HALF WAY UP THE DOOR OF AN ABANDON VEHICLE.

IN ADDITION...FOUNTAIN CREEK AT NEVADA AVENUE IN COLORADO SPRINGS IS 
ABOVE MINOR FLOOD STAGE...WITH MINOR FLOODING OF LOWLANDS ALONG THE 
RIVER OCCURRING.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING STREAMS AND DRAINAGES...FOUNTAIN 
CREEK...MONUMENT CREEK...AND ALL TRIBUTARY STREAMS.

LAT...LON 3912 10433 3852 10443 3852 10486 3912 10517

$$
068 
WGUS75 KPUB 150040
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
640 PM MDT WED SEP 14 2011

COC041-119-150130-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0017.000000T0000Z-110915T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
TELLER CO-EL PASO CO-
640 PM MDT WED SEP 14 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN EL PASO AND
NORTHEASTERN TELLER COUNTIES UNTIL 730 PM MDT...

AT 629 PM MDT...WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS 
THE WARNED AREA.  2 TO NEARLY 2.75 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN OVER 
PORTIONS OF THE AREA.  ANOTHER 1/2 INCH OF RAIN OR MORE IS POSSIBLE 
THROUGH 730 PM MDT.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
COLORADO SPRINGS...AIR FORCE ACADEMY...BLACK FOREST...CASCADE...
CHIPITA PARK...CRYSTOLA...ELLICOTT...FALCON...FOUNTAIN...GREEN
MOUNTAIN FALLS...MANITOU SPRINGS...MONUMENT...PALMER LAKE...PETERSON
AFB...PEYTON...SCHRIEVER AFB...SECURITY AND WOODLAND PARK.

NUMEROUS REPORTS OF FLASH FLOODING HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY LOCAL 
BROADCAST MEDIA...INCLUDING DEEP...RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER FLOWING 
OVER THE ROAD AT DATE AND SIFRED STREETS...NEAR AUSTIN BLUFFS AND 
ACADEMY...WITH WATER HALF WAY UP THE DOOR OF AN ABANDON VEHICLE.

IN ADDITION...FOUNTAIN CREEK AT NEVADA AVENUE IN COLORADO SPRINGS IS 
NEAR MINOR FLOOD STAGE...WITH MINOR FLOODING OF LOWLANDS ALONG THE 
RIVER OCCURRING.

MONUMENT CREEK...INCLUDING THE AREA NEAR THE CONFLUENCE WITH 
FOUNTAIN CREEK...IS ALSO FLOWING AT BANKFULL LEVELS...WITH SOME
MINOR OVERBANK FLOW OCCURRING.

NUMEROUS INTERSECTIONS ARE UNDER POOLED WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH... 
WITH FLOWING WATER IN SOME CASES.

THIS WARNING INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING STREAMS AND DRAINAGES...FOUNTAIN 
CREEK...MONUMENT CREEK...AND ALL TRIBUTARY STREAMS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL 
CREEKS AND STREAMS...HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES. ADDITIONALLY...ROADS 
AND LOWLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS...STREAMS AND OTHER LOW LYING 
AREAS WILL BE SUBJECT TO FLOODING.

DO NOT DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY.  THE WATER 
IS LIKELY DEEPER AND MORE FORCEFUL THAN YOU EXPECT.  AS LITTLE AS 6 
INCHES OF FLOWING WATER CAN CARRY YOUR VEHICLE AWAY...OUT OF YOUR 
CONTROL.  TURN AROUND...DON'T DROWN.  FIND AN ALTERNATE ROUTE.

LAT...LON 3912 10433 3852 10443 3852 10486 3912 10517

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 14, 2:56 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBEl Paso102 min
Sep 14, 4:54 PM MDTRiver Flood WarningPUBEl Paso4 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.