Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 18, NWS Phoenix, AZ

July 14, 2012Maricopa County, Pinal County, Arizona

NWS Phoenix, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Jul 14, 2012, 3:48 PM MST for Maricopa County, Pinal County, Arizona. It was in force for 117 min. 7 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 14, 2012, 3:48 PM MST (22:48 UTC)
Expired
Jul 14, 2012, 5:45 PM MST
In force
117 min
Issued by
NWS Phoenix, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Maricopa County, AZ, Pinal County, AZ

The radar

The Phoenix radar (KIWA), 15 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:50 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 14, 4:01 PM MSTHEAVY RAIN 1.12 Sw Gilbert, AZ1.1 INCHES OF RAIN BETWEEN 330PM AND 400PM
Jul 14, 4:10 PM MSTHEAVY RAIN 0.711 Nw Chandler Fashion C, AZMEASURED IN 20 MINUTES AT RAY AND MCCLINTOCK
Jul 14, 4:20 PM MSTHEAVY RAIN 1Seville, AZ1 INCH MEASURED IN A HALF HOUR
Jul 14, 4:28 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD2 S Mesa, AZFOUR LANES OF US-60 BLOCKED IN EACH DIRECTION DUE TO FLOODING - FROM ADOT
Jul 14, 4:36 PM MSTHEAVY RAIN 2.251 N Gilbert, AZ2.25 INCHES OF RAIN IN LAST HOUR AT HOME AT VAL VISTA AND ELLIOT. MARBLE SIZED HAIL...TREE DAMAGE...AND STREET FLOODING AT SAN TAN VILLAGE MALL.
Jul 14, 4:42 PM MSTHEAVY RAIN 0.932 W Apache Junction, AZMEASURED IN ONE HALF HOUR
Jul 14, 4:54 PM MSTFLOOD3 W Mesa, AZMINOR URBAN FLOODING AT THE INTERSECTION OF BROADWAY AND GILBERT

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

The nearest sounding before it

Phoenix, AZ (KPSR), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 27 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, Phoenix, AZ at 12:00Z on 2012-07-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1064 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, Phoenix, AZ at 12:00Z on 2012-07-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 40 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
1064 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-45 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1390 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
40 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
113 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.

923 
WGUS55 KPSR 142248
FFWPSR
AZC013-021-150045-
/O.NEW.KPSR.FF.W.0018.120714T2248Z-120715T0045Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
348 PM MST SAT JUL 14 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL MARICOPA COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ARIZONA...
  THIS INCLUDES GLENDALE...EAST MESA...AHWATUKEE...TEMPE...SUN
  LAKES...PHOENIX...PARADISE VALLEY...MESA...LAVEEN...GILBERT...
  CHANDLER...
  NORTHWESTERN PINAL COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ARIZONA...
  THIS INCLUDES FLORENCE...COOLIDGE...CASA GRANDE...APACHE
  JUNCTION...

* UNTIL 545 PM MST
 
* AT 340 PM MST...THE PUBLIC REPORTED VERY HEAVY RAIN IN EXCESS 
  OF ONE INCH IN ONE HALF HOUR DUE TO THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE WARNED 
  AREA. HEAVY RAIN WILL LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING OF AREA ROADS...
  STREAMS AND NORMALLY DRY WASHES.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO GRANITE
  REEF DAM...PIESTEWA PEAK PARK...FALCON FIELD AIRPORT...SEVILLE...
  TUMBLEWEED PARK...PAPAGO PARK...SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS...LOST
  DUTCHMAN STATE PARK...CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN...FIESTA MALL...MESA
  RIVERVIEW MALL...TEMPE MARKETPLACE...ARIZONA MILLS MALL...ARIZONA
  STATE FAIRGROUNDS...SOUTH MOUNTAIN PARK...CHANDLER FASHION CENTER
  MALL...SAN TAN VILLAGE MALL...SAN TAN MOUNTAIN PARK...USERY
  MOUNTAIN PARK...SUPERSTITION SPRINGS MALL...PHOENIX MESA GATEWAY
  AIRPORT...SOUTH PHOENIX...DOWNTOWN PHOENIX...DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDALE...
  SKY HARBOR AIRPORT...ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY...CHANDLER HEIGHTS...
  KINGS RANCH...SAN TAN VALLEY...MAGMA...BAPCHULE...OLBERG...QUEEN
  CREEK AND FLORENCE JUNCTION

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF NORMALLY
DRY WASHES AND CREEKS STREETS AND UNDERPASSES AND DETENTION BASINS
AFFECTING SOME COMMUNITY PARKS. UNBRIDGED CROSSINGS WILL BE
ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS.

&&

LAT...LON 3355 11224 3353 11140 3305 11126 3287 11150
      3282 11221

$$

CB
1 follow-up statement
670 
WGUS75 KPSR 142333
FFSPSR

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
433 PM MST SAT JUL 14 2012

AZC013-021-150045-
/O.CON.KPSR.FF.W.0018.000000T0000Z-120715T0045Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
PINAL AZ-MARICOPA AZ-
433 PM MST SAT JUL 14 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM MST FOR
CENTRAL MARICOPA AND NORTHWESTERN PINAL COUNTIES...

AT 422 PM MST...THE PUBLIC REPORTED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY 
HEAVY RAIN OVER THE WARNED AREA...PRIMARILY ENCOMPASSING THE EAST 
AND SOUTHEAST PORTIONS OF THE GREATER PHOENIX AREA SUCH AS CHANDLER 
AND GILBERT. RAINFALL HAD DIMINISHED SINCE 415 PM AND WAS MOVING 
TOWARDS THE NORTHEAST HOWEVER DUE TO THE VERY HEAVY RAIN THAT FELL 
EARLIER...THERE WILL STILL BE FLOODING OF AREA WASHES AS WELL AS 
WATER RUNNING OVER ROADS SUCH AS HIGHWAY 202. THE FLASH FLOOD 
WARNING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 545 PM. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO GRANITE REEF
DAM...PIESTEWA PEAK PARK...FALCON FIELD AIRPORT...SEVILLE...
TUMBLEWEED PARK...PAPAGO PARK...SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS...LOST
DUTCHMAN STATE PARK...CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN...FIESTA MALL...MESA
RIVERVIEW MALL...TEMPE MARKETPLACE...ARIZONA MILLS MALL...ARIZONA
STATE FAIRGROUNDS...SOUTH MOUNTAIN PARK...CHANDLER FASHION CENTER
MALL...SAN TAN VILLAGE MALL...USERY MOUNTAIN PARK...SUPERSTITION
SPRINGS MALL...PHOENIX MESA GATEWAY AIRPORT...GLENDALE...SOUTH
PHOENIX...DOWNTOWN PHOENIX...DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDALE...EAST MESA...SKY
HARBOR AIRPORT...ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY...CHANDLER HEIGHTS...KINGS
RANCH...SAN TAN VALLEY...AHWATUKEE...TEMPE...SUN LAKES...QUEEN
CREEK...PHOENIX...PARADISE VALLEY...MESA...LAVEEN...GILBERT...
FLORENCE JUNCTION...CHANDLER AND APACHE JUNCTION

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.

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. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3355 11224 3353 11140 3305 11126 3287 11150
      3282 11221

$$

CB

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 13, 5:16 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRYuma59 min
Jul 13, 5:21 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRYuma54 min
Jul 13, 5:30 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRLa Paz60 min
Jul 13, 5:37 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR38 min
Jul 13, 6:02 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningPSRLa Paz, Yuma118 min
Jul 13, 6:42 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRLa Paz, Yuma43 min
Jul 13, 6:54 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningPSRLa Paz, Yuma111 min
Jul 13, 7:30 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRLa Paz2 hr
Jul 13, 7:57 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRLa Paz, Yuma2 hr
Jul 13, 8:33 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRLa Paz117 min
Jul 13, 8:38 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningPSRYuma112 min
Jul 13, 9:47 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRLa Paz118 min
Jul 13, 10:28 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRLa Paz, Yuma3 hr
Jul 14, 11:01 AM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRLa Paz44 min
Jul 14, 11:37 AM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRLa Paz113 min
Jul 14, 11:40 AM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRLa Paz2 hr
Jul 14, 11:52 AM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRLa Paz38 min
Jul 14, 12:15 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRLa Paz2 hr
Jul 14, 12:34 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningPSRLa Paz3 hr
Jul 14, 12:38 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningPSRLa Paz3 hr
Jul 14, 12:49 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningPSRMaricopa3 hr
Jul 14, 1:20 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRMaricopa115 min
Jul 14, 2:02 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningPSRMaricopa3 hr
Jul 14, 2:28 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR47 min
Jul 14, 2:32 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRMaricopa, Pinal118 min
Jul 14, 2:42 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRMaricopa, Pinal2 hr
Jul 14, 2:51 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRGila114 min
Jul 14, 2:53 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRLa Paz, Maricopa112 min
Jul 14, 3:01 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRGila59 min
Jul 14, 3:14 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningPSRLa Paz2 hr
Jul 14, 3:21 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRMaricopa114 min
Jul 14, 3:23 PM MSTBlowing Dust AdvisoryPSR97 min
Jul 14, 3:27 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningPSRLa Paz, Maricopa2 hr
Jul 14, 3:35 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRMaricopa115 min
Jul 14, 3:35 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR40 min
Jul 14, 3:43 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMaricopa, Pinal47 min
Jul 14, 3:44 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR46 min
Jul 14, 4:30 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRLa Paz, Yuma90 min
Jul 14, 4:50 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningPSRMaricopa2 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Arizona, 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.