Alert archive / New Mexico / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 9, NWS Albuquerque, NM

July 11, 20124 counties in New Mexico

NWS Albuquerque, NM issued this flash flood warning at Jul 11, 2012, 4:54 PM MDT for 4 counties in New Mexico. It was in force for 3 hr. 3 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 11, 2012, 4:54 PM MDT (22:54 UTC)
Expired
Jul 11, 2012, 8:00 PM MDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Albuquerque, NM
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Los Alamos County, NM, Rio Arriba County, NM, Sandoval County, NM, Santa Fe County, NM

The radar

The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 98 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:54 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 11, 5:00 PM MDTFLASH FLOODLos Alamos, NMMUD...LOGS AND LARGE ROCKS WASHED ONTO ROUTE 501 NEAR ROUTE 4...ROAD THROUGH LOS ALAMOS CANYON...AND CAMP MAY ROAD. WILL NEED HEAVY EQUIPMENT TO CLEAR.
Jul 11, 7:15 PM MDTFLASH FLOODLos Alamos, NMINTERSECTION OF NM HIGHWAYS 4 AND 501 CLOSED DUE TO FLASH FLOODING
Jul 11, 7:25 PM MDTFLASH FLOODSanta Clara Pueblo, NM8 FT SURGE OF WATER AND DEBRIS FLOWING DOWN SANTA CLARA CANYON. VOLUNTARY EVACUATIONS ORDERED FOR SANTA CLARA PUEBLO.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM (KABQ), launched 12:00Z, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 101 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 2012-07-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 73 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 2012-07-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -29 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
73 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-46 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1163 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-29 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.

695 
WGUS55 KABQ 112254
FFWABQ
NMC028-039-043-049-120200-
/O.NEW.KABQ.FF.W.0009.120711T2254Z-120712T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
454 PM MDT WED JUL 11 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN LOS ALAMOS COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO
  EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN RIO ARRIBA COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO
  EAST CENTRAL SANDOVAL COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO
  NORTHWESTERN SANTA FE COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO

* UNTIL 800 PM MDT

* AT 448 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM A THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES NORTH OF LOS ALAMOS.   
  THE STORM PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS DRIFTING SOUTHWEST ACROSS  
  THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE LAS CONCHAS BURN SCAR.

  THIS WILL IMPACT THE LAS CONCHAS BURN SCAR INCLUDING BUT NOT
  LIMITED TO LOS ALAMOS...SANTA CLARA CANYON...RIO DEL OSO...CAMP MAY
  ROAD...QUEMAZAN TRAIL..HIGHWAY 4 FROM STATE ROAD 501 JUNCTION TO
  LAS CONCHAS CAMPGROUND..INDIAN SERVICE ROUTE 602 AND EASTERN
  PORTION OF VALLES CALDERA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

RUNOFF FROM RAINFALL WILL CAUSE ELEVATED WATER LEVELS WITHIN 
VULNERABLE DRAINAGES IN AND DOWNSTREAM OF THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE 
LAS CONCHAS FIRE BURN AREA.

&&

LAT...LON 3582 10654 3600 10654 3605 10607 3599 10606
      3591 10611 3584 10615

$$
3 follow-up statements
708 
WGUS75 KABQ 112322
FFSABQ

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
522 PM MDT WED JUL 11 2012

NMC028-039-043-049-120200-
/O.CON.KABQ.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120712T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
LOS ALAMOS-SANDOVAL-SANTA FE-RIO ARRIBA-
522 PM MDT WED JUL 11 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM MDT FOR EXTREME
SOUTHEASTERN RIO ARRIBA...NORTHWESTERN SANTA FE...EAST CENTRAL
SANDOVAL AND NORTHERN LOS ALAMOS COUNTIES...

AT 506 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
SHOW A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS OVER THE LAS 
CONCHAS BURN SCAR. THIS STORM WAS DRIFTING SOUTHWEST OVER THE BURN 
SCAR...GENERALLY WEST OF LOS ALAMOS. 

A RAIN GAUGE JUST NORTH OF THE LOS ALAMOS COUNTY BORDER NEAR SANTA 
CLARA CANYON REPORTED 1 INCH OF RAIN IN 35 MINUTES. THESE HIGH 
RAINFALL RATES WILL CAUSE SIGNIFICANT FLOWS IN SANTA CLARA 
CANYON...EAST INTO THE PUEBLO AND EVENTUALLY INTO THE RIO GRANDE 
SOUTH OF ESPANOLA. 

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  SANTA CLARA PUEBLO...
  ESPANOLA...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

RUNOFF FROM RAINFALL WILL CAUSE ELEVATED WATER LEVELS WITHIN 
VULNERABLE DRAINAGES IN AND DOWNSTREAM OF THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE 
LAS CONCHAS FIRE BURN AREA...ESPECIALLY IN SANTA CLARA CANYON.

&&

LAT...LON 3582 10654 3600 10654 3605 10607 3599 10606
      3591 10611 3584 10615

$$
302 
WGUS75 KABQ 112337
FFSABQ

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
537 PM MDT WED JUL 11 2012

NMC028-039-043-049-120200-
/O.CON.KABQ.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120712T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
LOS ALAMOS-SANDOVAL-SANTA FE-RIO ARRIBA-
537 PM MDT WED JUL 11 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM MDT FOR EXTREME
SOUTHEASTERN RIO ARRIBA...NORTHWESTERN SANTA FE...EAST CENTRAL
SANDOVAL AND NORTHERN LOS ALAMOS COUNTIES...

AT 524 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A MODERATE RAIN CONTINUING OVER THE LAS CONCHAS BURN 
SCAR...BUT INTENSITY WAS TRENDING DOWN. HOWEVER...VERY HEAVY 
DOWNPOURS HAD OCCURRED OVER THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE BURN SCAR AND 
RAPID RUNOFF AND FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE. 

FLASH FLOODING OF STATE HIGHWAY 501 SOUTHWEST OF LOS ALAMOS IS 
EXPECTED WITH RADAR ESTIMATES OF ONE AND ONE HALF INCHES OVER THE 
PAST HOUR THERE.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  SANTA CLARA PUEBLO...
  ESPANOLA...

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3582 10654 3600 10654 3605 10607 3599 10606
      3591 10611 3584 10615

$$
771 
WGUS75 KABQ 120129
FFSABQ

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
729 PM MDT WED JUL 11 2012

NMC028-039-043-049-120200-
/O.CON.KABQ.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120712T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
LOS ALAMOS-SANDOVAL-SANTA FE-RIO ARRIBA-
729 PM MDT WED JUL 11 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM MDT FOR EXTREME
SOUTHEASTERN RIO ARRIBA...NORTHWESTERN SANTA FE...EAST CENTRAL
SANDOVAL AND NORTHERN LOS ALAMOS COUNTIES...

AT 718 PM MDT...LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED ROADS CLOSED IN 
WEST LOS ALAMOS DUE TO FLOODING...INCLUDING STATE HIGHWAY 501 
SOUTHWEST OF TOWN. IN ADDITION...FLOODING IN THE SANTA CLARA PUEBLO 
WAS REPORTED WITH DEBRIS FLOW MOVING DOWN SANTA CLARA CANYON. 
ALTHOUGH HEAVY RAIN HAS ENDED AND ONLY SPRINKLES CONTINUE OVER THE 
BURN SCAR...RUNOFF FROM EARLIER HEAVY RAINS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 
THE EVENING HOURS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  SANTA CLARA PUEBLO...
  ESPANOLA...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FLOOD WATERS ARE MOVING DOWN SANTA CLARA CANYON TOWARD THE RIO 
GRANDE. WATER IN ARROYOS AND CANYONS MAY TRAVEL MANY MILES AND TAKE 
HOURS TO REACH YOUR LOCATION FROM UPSTREAM RAIN AREAS. REMAIN ALERT 
TO FLOODED ROAD CROSSINGS EVEN HOURS LATER.

&&

LAT...LON 3582 10654 3600 10654 3605 10607 3599 10606
      3591 10611 3584 10615

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Albuquerque, NM issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 10, 8:34 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryABQMcKinley, Rio Arriba, Sandoval86 min
Jul 10, 9:34 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryABQCibola, McKinley, Sandoval3 hr
Jul 10, 11:21 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryABQCibola, McKinley, Sandoval114 min
Jul 11, 1:14 AM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryABQCatron, Cibola, Socorro106 min
Jul 11, 3:28 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementABQTaos47 min
Jul 11, 3:51 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryABQRio Arriba, Taos114 min
Jul 11, 5:22 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryABQRio Arriba, Sandoval3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in New Mexico, 2012Every flash flood warning in 2012

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.