Alert archive / California / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 28, NWS Phoenix, AZ

July 31, 2012Imperial County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, California; La Paz County, Arizona

NWS Phoenix, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Jul 31, 2012, 10:16 AM PDT for Imperial County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, California; La Paz County, Arizona. It was in force for 3 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 31, 2012, 10:16 AM PDT (17:16 UTC)
Expired
Jul 31, 2012, 1:15 PM PDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Phoenix, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties La Paz County, AZ, Imperial County, CA, Riverside County, CA, San Bernardino County, CA

The radar

The Yuma radar (KYUX), 152 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:20 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 31, 10:27 AM PDTFLASH FLOOD2 N Desert Center, CAKAISER ROAD UNDERWATER. WATER IS THREATENING INTERSTATE 10 IN THE AREA. SPOTTER ID RIE009.
Jul 31, 11:15 AM PDTFLASH FLOOD2 Wsw Ehrenberg, AZPARKER SO REPORTS FLOODED HIGHWAY IN EHRENBERG
Jul 31, 12:30 PM PDTFLASH FLOOD13 Ne Desert Center, CAREPORTED BY CAL TRANS. HIGHWAY 177 CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING.
Jul 31, 12:30 PM PDTFLASH FLOOD8 E Mecca, CABOX CANYON FLOODED. ROAD CLOSED. PER CAL TRANS.
Jul 31, 12:40 PM PDTFLASH FLOOD21 Ne Eagle Mtn, CAROAD FLOODED FROM 29 PALMS TO US95. CLOSED ENTIRE LENGTH. PER CALTRANS

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 12:00Z, 5.3 hours before the alert went out and 207 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, San Diego, CA at 12:00Z on 2012-07-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, San Diego, CA at 12:00Z on 2012-07-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -27 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1285 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-27 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
72 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

241 
WGUS55 KPSR 311716
FFWPSR
AZC012-CAC025-065-071-312015-
/O.NEW.KPSR.FF.W.0028.120731T1716Z-120731T2015Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
1016 AM PDT TUE JUL 31 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTH CENTRAL IMPERIAL COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA...
  EASTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA...
  THIS INCLUDES DESERT CENTER...CHIRIACO SUMMIT...
  SOUTH CENTRAL SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA...
  WEST CENTRAL LA PAZ COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ARIZONA...

* UNTIL 115 PM PDT/115 PM MST/

* AT 1010 AM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED
  VERY HEAVY RAIN THAT WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
MIDLAND...EAGLE MTN...CHIRIACO SUMMIT...DESERT CENTER...COTTONWOOD 
VISITOR CENTER...JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK...STATE ROUTE 177...STATE 
ROUTE 111...BOX CANYON ROAD

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3408 11454 3389 11447 3344 11455 3335 11562
      3350 11596 3373 11595 3374 11597 3403 11598

$$

DEWEY
3 follow-up statements
692 
WGUS75 KPSR 311735
FFSPSR

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
1035 AM MST TUE JUL 31 2012

AZC012-311745-
/O.CAN.KPSR.FF.W.0028.000000T0000Z-120731T2015Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
LA PAZ AZ-
1035 AM MST TUE JUL 31 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR WEST CENTRAL LA PAZ
COUNTY...

LAT...LON 3408 11454 3388 11455 3344 11465 3335 11562
      3350 11596 3373 11595 3374 11597 3403 11598

$$

CAC025-065-071-312015-
/O.CON.KPSR.FF.W.0028.000000T0000Z-120731T2015Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
RIVERSIDE CA-IMPERIAL CA-SAN BERNARDINO CA-
1035 AM PDT TUE JUL 31 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 115 PM PDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL SAN BERNARDINO...NORTH CENTRAL IMPERIAL AND EASTERN RIVERSIDE
COUNTIES...

AT 1029 AM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN THAT WILL CAUSE FLASH
FLOODING.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO MIDLAND...
EAGLE MTN AND COTTONWOOD VISITOR CENTER

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3408 11454 3388 11455 3344 11465 3335 11562
      3350 11596 3373 11595 3374 11597 3403 11598

$$

DEWEY
269 
WGUS75 KPSR 311820
FFSPSR

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
1120 AM PDT TUE JUL 31 2012

CAC025-065-071-312015-
/O.CON.KPSR.FF.W.0028.000000T0000Z-120731T2015Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
RIVERSIDE CA-IMPERIAL CA-SAN BERNARDINO CA-
1120 AM PDT TUE JUL 31 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 115 PM PDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL SAN BERNARDINO...NORTH CENTRAL IMPERIAL AND EASTERN RIVERSIDE
COUNTIES...

AT 1116 AM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS CONTINUED 
TO MONITOR THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN THAT WILL CAUSE 
FLASH FLOODING. TRAINED SPOTTERS REPORTED WATER ON ROADWAYS AND 
STREET FLOODING.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
MIDLAND...EAGLE MTN...COTTONWOOD VISITOR CENTER...STATE ROUTE 
177...STATE ROUTE 111...BOX CANYON ROAD...AND INTERSTATE 10...

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3408 11454 3388 11455 3360 11491 3335 11562
      3350 11596 3373 11595 3374 11597 3403 11598

$$

DEWEY
976 
WGUS75 KPSR 312015
FFSPSR

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
115 PM PDT TUE JUL 31 2012

CAC025-065-071-312024-
/O.EXP.KPSR.FF.W.0028.000000T0000Z-120731T2015Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
RIVERSIDE CA-IMPERIAL CA-SAN BERNARDINO CA-
115 PM PDT TUE JUL 31 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 115 PM PDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL SAN BERNARDINO...NORTH CENTRAL IMPERIAL AND EASTERN RIVERSIDE
COUNTIES...

HEAVY RAINFALL HAS DECREASED GRADUALLY...HOWEVER THE THREAT FOR 
RUNNING WASHES CONTINUES FOR SEVERAL HOURS.

LAT...LON 3408 11454 3388 11455 3360 11491 3335 11562
      3350 11596 3373 11595 3374 11597 3403 11598

$$

DEWEY

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 30, 6:15 PM PDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRImperial2 hr
Jul 30, 7:31 PM PDTAreal Flood WarningPSRImperial15 hr
Jul 31, 3:42 AM PDTFlash Flood WatchPSR15 hr
Jul 31, 4:49 AM PDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRImperial116 min
Jul 31, 4:58 AM PDTFlash Flood WarningPSRImperial3 hr
Jul 31, 9:02 AM PDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRRiverside, San Bernardino3 hr
Jul 31, 12:12 PM PDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRRiverside, San Bernardino49 min
Jul 31, 1:28 PM PDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRImperial, Riverside3 hr
Jul 31, 1:31 PM PDTFlash Flood WarningPSRSan Bernardino119 min
Jul 31, 3:40 PM PDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRRiverside, San Bernardino2 hr
Jul 30, 5:12 PM PDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRLa Paz2 hr
Jul 30, 11:26 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementPSRGila79 min
Jul 31, 12:31 AM PDTSpecial Weather StatementPSRGila59 min
Jul 31, 1:15 AM PDTSpecial Weather StatementPSR45 min
Jul 31, 10:47 AM PDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRLa Paz, Yuma52 min
Jul 31, 11:06 AM PDTSpecial Weather StatementPSRLa Paz39 min
Jul 31, 11:37 AM PDTFlash Flood WarningPSRLa Paz, Yuma113 min
Jul 31, 12:05 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementPSRLa Paz40 min
Jul 31, 4:10 PM PDTBlowing Dust AdvisoryPSR19 min
Jul 31, 4:29 PM PDTDust Storm WarningPSR82 min
Jul 31, 4:48 PM PDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMaricopa27 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in California, 2012Flash 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.