Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 9, NWS Pueblo, CO

August 2, 2011Baca County, Las Animas County, Otero County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Aug 2, 2011, 6:10 PM MDT for Baca County, Las Animas County, Otero County, 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 2, 2011, 6:10 PM MDT (00:10 UTC)
Expired
Aug 2, 2011, 9:00 PM MDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Baca County, CO, Las Animas County, CO, Otero County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 125 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:11 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 00:00Z, 0.2 hours before the alert went out and 280 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 2011-08-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 65 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 2011-08-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -57 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
65 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-137 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1274 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
7 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-57 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-9 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.

033 
WGUS55 KPUB 030010
FFWPUB
COC009-071-089-030300-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0009.110803T0010Z-110803T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
610 PM MDT TUE AUG 2 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO...
  EXTREME SOUTHERN OTERO COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO...
  EXTREME WESTERN BACA COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO...

* UNTIL 900 PM MDT

* AT 606 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE  
  WARNED AREA. 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED THROUGH THE  
  EVENING HOURS.

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  BRANSON...DELHI...KIM...THATCHER...TRINCHERA AND TYRONE.

THIS INCLUDES...BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO...THE FOLLOWING STREAMS AND 
DRAINAGES...PURGATOIRE RIVER...APISHAPA RIVER...TIMPAS CREEK...VAN 
BREMER ARROYO...TRINCHERA CREEK...SAND ARROYO CREEK...AND MUDDY 
CREEK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY
AUTOMOBILE.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF
RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE. TURN 
AROUND...DONT DROWN!

&&

LAT...LON 3766 10421 3764 10304 3699 10306 3699 10420

$$
3 follow-up statements
913 
WGUS75 KPUB 030038
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
638 PM MDT TUE AUG 2 2011

COC009-071-089-030300-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-110803T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BACA CO-OTERO CO-LAS ANIMAS CO-
638 PM MDT TUE AUG 2 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN LAS ANIMAS...
EXTREME SOUTHERN OTERO AND EXTREME WESTERN BACA COUNTIES UNTIL 900 PM
MDT...

AT 637 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. 1 TO 
3 INCHES OF RAINFALL IS EXPECTED.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
BRANSON...DELHI...KIM...THATCHER...TRINCHERA AND TYRONE.

THIS INCLUDES...BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO...THE FOLLOWING STREAMS AND 
DRAINAGES...PURGATOIRE RIVER...APISHAPA RIVER...TIMPAS CREEK...VAN 
BREMER ARROYO...TRINCHERA CREEK...SAND ARROYO CREEK...AND MUDDY 
CREEK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF 
RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE.

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 3766 10421 3764 10304 3699 10306 3699 10420

$$
981 
WGUS75 KPUB 030137
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
737 PM MDT TUE AUG 2 2011

COC009-071-089-030300-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-110803T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BACA CO-OTERO CO-LAS ANIMAS CO-
737 PM MDT TUE AUG 2 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN LAS ANIMAS...
EXTREME SOUTHERN OTERO AND EXTREME WESTERN BACA COUNTIES UNTIL 900 PM
MDT...

AT 734 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. 1 TO 
3 INCHES OF RAINFALL HAS FALLEN ACROSS THE WARNED AREA...WITH AN 
ADDITIONAL 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN EXPECTED THIS EVENING.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
BRANSON...DELHI...KIM...THATCHER...TRINCHERA AND TYRONE.

THIS INCLUDES...BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO...THE FOLLOWING STREAMS AND 
DRAINAGES...PURGATOIRE RIVER...APISHAPA RIVER...TIMPAS CREEK...VAN 
BREMER ARROYO...TRINCHERA CREEK...SAND ARROYO CREEK...AND MUDDY 
CREEK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF 
RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE. DO NOT 
DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY.

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 3766 10421 3764 10304 3699 10306 3699 10420

$$
626 
WGUS75 KPUB 030251
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
851 PM MDT TUE AUG 2 2011

COC009-071-089-030306-
/O.EXP.KPUB.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-110803T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BACA CO-OTERO CO-LAS ANIMAS CO-
851 PM MDT TUE AUG 2 2011

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN LAS
ANIMAS...EXTREME SOUTHERN OTERO AND EXTREME WESTERN BACA COUNTIES
WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 900 PM MDT...

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 3766 10421 3764 10304 3699 10306 3699 10420

$$

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, 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, 4:52 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBCuster, Fremont, Pueblo, Saguache3 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.