Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 4, NWS Pueblo, CO

July 24, 2011El Paso County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Jul 24, 2011, 4:03 PM MDT for El Paso County, Colorado. It was in force for 2 hr. 5 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
Jul 24, 2011, 4:03 PM MDT (22:03 UTC)
Expired
Jul 24, 2011, 6:03 PM MDT
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County El Paso County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 54 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:04 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 24, 4:08 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 2.54 Nnw Schriever Afb, COFELL IN 30 MINUTES
Jul 24, 4:30 PM MDTFLASH FLOOD4 W Ellicott, COWATER COVERING ROADWAYS AT PEYTON HIGHWAY AND HIGHWAY 94
Jul 24, 4:39 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 1.664 W Ellicott, COIN PAST 30 MINUTES. WATER FLOWING OVER ROAD ON PAYTON HWY NORTH OF HWY 94.
Jul 24, 4:44 PM MDTFLASH FLOOD4 Nnw Schriever Afb, COCREEK OVERFLOWING ITS 4 FOOT BANKS.
Jul 24, 4:44 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 2.754 Nnw Schriever Afb, COFELL BETWEEN 338 PM UNTIL 444 PM...WITH 2.30 INCHES FALLING BETWEEN 338 PM AND 408 PM.

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, 10.1 hours before the alert went out and 161 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 2011-07-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 55 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 2011-07-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -13 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
55 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-273 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2077 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
12 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-13 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-25 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.

377 
WGUS55 KPUB 242203
FFWPUB
COC041-250100-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0004.110724T2203Z-110725T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
403 PM MDT SUN JUL 24 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 700 PM MDT

* AT 402 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE      
  WARNED AREA. A WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTED 2 INCHES OF RAINFALL IN 20 
  MINUTES NEAR SCHRIEVER AFB.

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...     
  COLORADO SPRINGS...ELLICOTT...PETERSON AFB...AND SCHRIEVER AFB.  

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...URBAN AREAS...HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES
AS WELL AS OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3893 10436 3875 10432 3873 10485 3892 10489

$$
5 follow-up statements
557 
WGUS75 KPUB 242218
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
418 PM MDT SUN JUL 24 2011

COC041-250100-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-110725T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
418 PM MDT SUN JUL 24 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL EL PASO COUNTY
UNTIL 700 PM MDT...

AT 415 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. 
RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR WERE OCCURRING IN PORTIONS 
OF COLORADO SPRINGS...WITH 3 INCH PER HOUR RATES OCCURRING EAST OF 
COLORADO SPRINGS ALONG HIGHWAY 94 OUT TO ELLICOTT.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
COLORADO SPRINGS...ELLICOTT...PETERSON AFB...SCHRIEVER AFB AND
SECURITY.

FLOODING OF ROADWAYS SHOULD BE EXPECTED ALONG HIGHWAY 94...AND AREAS 
WITHIN ABOUT 4 MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 94.  ALSO SOME 
STREET FLOODING SHOULD BE EXPECTED IN PORTIONS OF COLORADO SPRINGS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY.

MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
CROSS BRIDGES...DIPS...OR OTHER LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON
FOOT OR IN A VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 3893 10436 3875 10432 3873 10485 3892 10489

$$
734 
WGUS75 KPUB 242233
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
433 PM MDT SUN JUL 24 2011

COC041-250100-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-110725T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
433 PM MDT SUN JUL 24 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL EL PASO COUNTY
UNTIL 700 PM MDT...

AT 429 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. 
RAINFALL RATES OF 2 TO 3 INCHES PER HOUR WERE OCCURRING IN AN 
AREA AROUND HIGHWAY 94 EAST OF SCHRIEVER AFB...INCLUDING THE 
ELLICOTT AREA.  IN COLORADO SPRINGS...RAINFALL RATES HAVE DECREASED 
TO AROUND 1 OR 1.5 INCHES PER HOUR.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
COLORADO SPRINGS...ELLICOTT...PETERSON AFB...SCHRIEVER AFB AND
SECURITY.

FLOODING OF ROADWAYS SHOULD BE EXPECTED IN PORTIONS OF COLORADO 
SPRINGS...ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WHERE DRAINAGE IS NORMALLY POOR.  
FLOODED ROADWAYS SHOULD ALSO BE EXPECTED ALONG HIGHWAY 94 AND IN 
AREAS WITHIN ABOUT 4 MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 
94...ESPECIALLY FROM SCHRIEVER AFB TO ELLICOTT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY.

MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
CROSS BRIDGES...DIPS...OR OTHER LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON
FOOT OR IN A VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 3893 10436 3875 10432 3873 10485 3892 10489

$$
182 
WGUS75 KPUB 242256
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
456 PM MDT SUN JUL 24 2011

COC041-250100-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-110725T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
456 PM MDT SUN JUL 24 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL EL PASO COUNTY
UNTIL 700 PM MDT...

AT 453 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS WITH LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINFALL ACROSS THE WARNED 
AREA. RAINFALL RATES HAVE DECREASED BUT FLOODING OF 
ROADWAYS...CREEKS AND STREAMS...WILL CONTINUE TO BE A THREAT THROUGH 
7 PM.

RUNOFF FROM EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CONTINUE TO CAUSE FLASH 
FLOODING. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING 
INCLUDE...COLORADO SPRINGS...ELLICOTT...PETERSON AFB...SCHRIEVER AFB 
AND SECURITY.

A SPOTTER 4 MILES NORTH NORTHWEST OF SCHRIEVER AFB REPORTED A RAIN 
TOTAL OF 2.75 INCHES...AND THAT A CREEK WITH 4 FOOT BANKS WAS 
OVERFLOWING.  FLOODING OF THE AREA OF PEYTON HIGHWAY AND HIGHWAY 94 
WAS ALSO REPORTED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY.

MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
CROSS BRIDGES...DIPS...OR OTHER LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON
FOOT OR IN A VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 3893 10436 3875 10432 3873 10485 3892 10489

$$
958 
WGUS75 KPUB 242313
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
513 PM MDT SUN JUL 24 2011

COC041-250100-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-110725T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
513 PM MDT SUN JUL 24 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL EL PASO COUNTY
UNTIL 700 PM MDT...

AT 511 PM MDT...WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED FLOODING OF ROADWAYS EAST 
OF COLORADO SPRINGS...ALONG AND NORTH OF HIGHWAY 94...WHERE NEARLY 3 
INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN A SHORT PERIOD.  STREET FLOODING WAS ALSO 
REPORTED IN PORTIONS OF COLORADO SPRINGS.

THE RAINFALL HAS ENDED OR DECREASED IN THE WARNING AREA...BUT WATER 
LEVELS WILL REMAIN HIGH IN LOW LYING AREAS...AND IN CREEKS AND 
STREAMS THROUGH 7 PM.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
COLORADO SPRINGS...ELLICOTT...PETERSON AFB...SCHRIEVER AFB AND
SECURITY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY.

MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
CROSS BRIDGES...DIPS...OR OTHER LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON
FOOT OR IN A VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 3893 10436 3875 10432 3873 10485 3892 10489

$$
069 
WGUS75 KPUB 250003
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
603 PM MDT SUN JUL 24 2011

COC041-250018-
/O.CAN.KPUB.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-110725T0100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
603 PM MDT SUN JUL 24 2011

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL EL PASO
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.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF FLOODING WAS OBSERVED PLEASE RELAY YOUR REPORT TO LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT OR TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO.

&&

LAT...LON 3893 10436 3875 10432 3873 10485 3892 10489

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 23, 7:08 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBLas Animas112 min
Jul 24, 3:51 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBEl Paso2 hr
Jul 24, 4:41 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBPueblo94 min
Jul 24, 4:47 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBLas Animas28 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.