Alert archive / California / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 11, NWS Phoenix, AZ

July 13, 2012Imperial County, California; Yuma County, Arizona

NWS Phoenix, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Jul 13, 2012, 8:38 PM PDT for Imperial County, California; Yuma County, Arizona. It was in force for 112 min. 1 report 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 13, 2012, 8:38 PM PDT (03:38 UTC)
Expired: Jul 13, 2012, 10:30 PM PDT
In force: 112 min
Issued by: NWS Phoenix, AZ
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Yuma County, AZ, Imperial County, CA

The radar

The Yuma radar (KYUX), 19 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:39 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Jul 13, 10:15 PM PDT	HEAVY RAIN 2.4	1 Ssw Yuma, AZ	FELL IN A 4 HOUR TIME FRAME

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

The nearest sounding before it

San Diego, CA (KNKX), launched 00:00Z, 3.6 hours before the alert went out and 239 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 1903 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 11 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 0 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 76 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.

259 
WGUS55 KPSR 140338
FFWPSR
AZC027-CAC025-140530-
/O.NEW.KPSR.FF.W.0011.120714T0338Z-120714T0530Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
838 PM MST FRI JUL 13 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN IMPERIAL COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA...
  THIS INCLUDES MARTINEZ LAKE...
  WEST CENTRAL YUMA COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ARIZONA...
  THIS INCLUDES YUMA...SOMERTON...GADSDEN...FORTUNA FOOTHILLS...

* UNTIL 1030 PM MST/1030 PM PDT/

* AT 834 PM MST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED
  THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM NEAR GADSDEN...TO EAST OF
  DOME...TO NEAR MARTINEZ LAKE.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  ARABY...BLAISDELL...KINTER...ANDRADE...LIGURTA AND WINTERHAVEN.

RADAR ESTIMATES APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN 
SOUTHEAST OF YUMA SINCE 730 PM. ALTHOUGH THE HEAVY RAIN HAS MOVED 
OUT OF YUMA...CONTINUED RUNOFF AND FLOODING IS EXPECTED IN THE CITY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT PEOPLE ALONG THE BANKS OF WASHES AND
CREEKS SHOULD MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY. NORMALLY DRY WASHES
AND STREAMS WILL SUDDENLY HAVE RUNNING WATER AND MAKE UNBRIDGED
CROSSINGS IMPASSABLE. STREETS...UNDERPASSES...AND LOW SPOTS WILL
BECOME INUNDATED MAKING DRIVING HAZARDOUS IN THE WARNED AREA.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE 
DANGERS OF FLOODING. REMEMBER...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

&&

LAT...LON 3249 11481 3262 11482 3265 11477 3271 11473
      3271 11483 3298 11485 3297 11433 3270 11423
      3236 11435

$$

WOODALL

2 follow-up statements

122 
WGUS75 KPSR 140408
FFSPSR

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
908 PM MST FRI JUL 13 2012

AZC027-CAC025-140530-
/O.CON.KPSR.FF.W.0011.000000T0000Z-120714T0530Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
YUMA AZ-IMPERIAL CA-
908 PM MST FRI JUL 13 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1030 PM MST/1030 PM
PDT/ FOR EAST CENTRAL IMPERIAL AND WEST CENTRAL YUMA COUNTIES...

AT 902 PM MST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED 
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN CONTINUING FROM EAST OF SAN 
LUIS...TO NEAR YUMA...TO NEAR IMPERIAL DAM.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ARABY...
BLAISDELL...KINTER...ANDRADE...YUMA...SOMERTON...MARTINEZ 
LAKE...LIGURTA...FORTUNA FOOTHILLS AND WINTERHAVEN.

RAINFALL OF 1 TO 2 INCHES HAS FALLEN IN AND SOUTHEAST OF YUMA SINCE 
800 PM. THIS WILL CONTINUE THE RUNOFF AND THE THREAT OF FLOODING... 
ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY OF YUMA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE 
DANGERS OF FLOODING. 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. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS MAKE THE 
SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

&&

LAT...LON 3249 11481 3262 11482 3265 11477 3271 11473
      3271 11483 3298 11485 3297 11433 3270 11423
      3236 11435

$$

WOODALL

431 
WGUS75 KPSR 140458
FFSPSR

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
958 PM MST FRI JUL 13 2012

AZC027-CAC025-140530-
/O.CON.KPSR.FF.W.0011.000000T0000Z-120714T0530Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
YUMA AZ-IMPERIAL CA-
958 PM MST FRI JUL 13 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1030 PM MST/1030 PM
PDT/ FOR SOUTHEASTERN IMPERIAL AND WEST CENTRAL YUMA COUNTIES...

AT 955 PM MST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED 
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN FROM EAST OF GADSDEN...TO YUMA...TO SOUTH OF 
MARTINEZ LAKE. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO BLAISDELL... 
KINTER...ANDRADE AND WINTERHAVEN.

RADAR INDICATED THAT RAINFALL INTENSITY HAS DECREASED OVER THE YUMA 
AREA SINCE 930 PM. HOWEVER...RUNOFF AND CONTINUED FLOODING WILL 
LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH THE LATE EVENING HOURS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. MOVE
UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS
SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN 
AROUND...DONT DROWN.

FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS IMMINENT. MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR
IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER COVERED BRIDGES...
DIPS...OR LOW WATER CROSSINGS. NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...
EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON FOOT. TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER
GROUND.

&&

LAT...LON 3289 11461 3297 11433 3278 11427 3238 11444
      3249 11481 3262 11482 3265 11477 3271 11473
      3271 11483

$$

WOODALL

The office that day

Everything else NWS Phoenix, AZ issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 13, 5:30 PM PDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PSR	Imperial, Riverside	60 min
Jul 13, 5:45 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Riverside	2 hr
Jul 13, 6:08 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning	PSR	Riverside	112 min
Jul 13, 6:35 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Imperial	115 min
Jul 13, 6:42 PM PDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PSR	Imperial	43 min
Jul 13, 6:54 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning	PSR	Imperial	111 min
Jul 13, 7:30 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Imperial, Riverside	2 hr
Jul 13, 10:05 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Imperial	3 hr
Jul 13, 10:28 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Imperial	3 hr
Jul 14, 4:35 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	PSR	Imperial	55 min
Jul 14, 4:44 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Riverside	78 min
Jul 13, 5:16 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	PSR	Yuma	59 min
Jul 13, 5:21 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	PSR	Yuma	54 min
Jul 13, 5:37 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	PSR		38 min
Jul 13, 6:02 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning	PSR	La Paz, Yuma	118 min
Jul 13, 7:57 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	La Paz, Yuma	2 hr
Jul 13, 8:33 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	La Paz	117 min
Jul 13, 9:47 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	La Paz	118 min
Jul 14, 11:01 AM PDT	Special Weather Statement	PSR	La Paz	44 min
Jul 14, 11:37 AM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	La Paz	113 min
Jul 14, 11:40 AM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	La Paz	2 hr
Jul 14, 11:52 AM PDT	Special Weather Statement	PSR	La Paz	38 min
Jul 14, 12:15 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	La Paz	2 hr
Jul 14, 12:34 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning	PSR	La Paz	3 hr
Jul 14, 12:38 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning	PSR	La Paz	3 hr
Jul 14, 12:49 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning	PSR	Maricopa	3 hr
Jul 14, 1:20 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Maricopa	115 min
Jul 14, 2:02 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning	PSR	Maricopa	3 hr
Jul 14, 2:28 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	PSR		47 min
Jul 14, 2:32 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Maricopa, Pinal	118 min
Jul 14, 2:42 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Maricopa, Pinal	2 hr
Jul 14, 2:51 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Gila	114 min
Jul 14, 2:53 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	La Paz, Maricopa	112 min
Jul 14, 3:01 PM PDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PSR	Gila	59 min
Jul 14, 3:14 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning	PSR	La Paz	2 hr
Jul 14, 3:21 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Maricopa	114 min
Jul 14, 3:23 PM PDT	Blowing Dust Advisory	PSR		97 min
Jul 14, 3:27 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning	PSR	La Paz, Maricopa	2 hr
Jul 14, 3:35 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Maricopa	115 min
Jul 14, 3:35 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	PSR		40 min
Jul 14, 3:43 PM PDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PSR	Maricopa, Pinal	47 min
Jul 14, 3:44 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	PSR		46 min
Jul 14, 3:48 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning	PSR	Maricopa, Pinal	117 min
Jul 14, 4:30 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	La Paz, Yuma	90 min
Jul 14, 4:50 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning	PSR	Maricopa	2 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in California, 2012 Flash Flood Warnings in Arizona, 2012 Every 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.