Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 66, NWS Phoenix, AZ

September 4, 2012Gila County, Arizona

NWS Phoenix, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Sep 4, 2012, 4:25 PM MST for Gila County, Arizona. It was in force for 2 hr. 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
Sep 4, 2012, 4:25 PM MST (23:25 UTC)
Expired
Sep 4, 2012, 6:30 PM MST
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Phoenix, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Gila County, AZ

The radar

The Phoenix radar (KIWA), 127 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:26 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
Sep 4, 5:15 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD1 E San Carlos, AZMULTIPLE PEOPLE BEING RESCUED DUE TO HIGH WATER ALONG SR 170 IN SAN CARLOS

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

The nearest sounding before it

Tuscon, AZ (KTUS), launched 12:00Z, 11.4 hours before the alert went out and 150 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, Tuscon, AZ at 12:00Z on 2012-09-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 46 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, Tuscon, AZ at 12:00Z on 2012-09-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 41 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
46 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-288 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1563 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
6 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
41 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
102 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.

961 
WGUS55 KPSR 042325
FFWPSR
AZC007-050130-
/O.NEW.KPSR.FF.W.0066.120904T2325Z-120905T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
425 PM MST TUE SEP 4 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN GILA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ARIZONA...

* UNTIL 630 PM MST

* AT 422 PM MST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED
  VERY HEAVY RAIN THAT WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING. RADAR ESTIMATED
  THAT OVER 1.5 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN NORTH OF SAN CARLOS SINCE
  330 PM. AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 2 INCHES IS POSSIBLE.

* THE HEAVY RAIN WILL AFFECT SYCAMORE CREEK NORTH OF SAN
  CARLOS...NATURAL CORRAL CREEK...AND THE COMMUNITY OF SAN CARLOS.

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.

NEVER ATTEMPT TO CROSS FLOWING WATER OR WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH.

&&

LAT...LON 3346 11013 3346 11016 3343 11021 3343 11032
      3340 11035 3340 11040 3338 11043 3327 11044
      3324 11048 3353 11056 3354 11030 3348 11009

$$

WOODALL
3 follow-up statements
565 
WGUS75 KPSR 050007
FFSPSR

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
507 PM MST TUE SEP 4 2012

AZC007-050130-
/O.CON.KPSR.FF.W.0066.000000T0000Z-120905T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
GILA AZ-
507 PM MST TUE SEP 4 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM MST FOR
SOUTHEASTERN GILA COUNTY...

AT 503 PM MST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED 
THUNDERSTORMS VERY HEAVY RAIN JUST EAST OF SAN CARLOS. MOVEMENT WAS 
SLOWLY SOUTH.

UP TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN NORTH OF SAN CARLOS SINCE 400 PM. 
RUNOFF AND FLOODING IS MOST LIKELY TO AFFECT SAN CARLOS... 
PERIDOT...NATURAL CORRAL CREEK...AND THE SAN CARLOS RIVER.

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.

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN MOTORIZED VEHICLES. WHEN ENCOUNTERING
FLOODED ROADS...MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

&&

LAT...LON 3346 11013 3346 11016 3343 11021 3343 11032
      3340 11035 3340 11040 3338 11043 3327 11044
      3324 11048 3353 11056 3354 11030 3348 11009

$$

WOODALL
015 
WGUS75 KPSR 050042
FFSPSR

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
542 PM MST TUE SEP 4 2012

AZC007-050130-
/O.CON.KPSR.FF.W.0066.000000T0000Z-120905T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
GILA AZ-
542 PM MST TUE SEP 4 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM MST FOR
SOUTHEASTERN GILA COUNTY...

OVER 2 INCHES OF RAIN FELL NORTH OF SAN CARLOS THIS AFTERNOON. 
ALTHOUGH THE RAIN HAS DECREASED SINCE 515 PM...RUNOFF FROM THE 
EARLIER HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE THE FLOOD THREAT INTO THE EARLY 
EVENING. 

THE SAN CARLOS POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED FLOODING IN TOWN...AND 
SEVERAL VEHICLES WERE STRANDED IN WATER ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN.

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.

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN MOTORIZED VEHICLES. WHEN ENCOUNTERING
FLOODED ROADS...MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

&&

LAT...LON 3346 11013 3346 11016 3343 11021 3343 11032
      3340 11035 3340 11040 3338 11043 3327 11044
      3324 11048 3350 11055 3354 11030 3348 11009

$$

WOODALL
463 
WGUS75 KPSR 050132
FFSPSR

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
632 PM MST TUE SEP 4 2012

AZC007-050140-
/O.EXP.KPSR.FF.W.0066.000000T0000Z-120905T0130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
GILA AZ-
632 PM MST TUE SEP 4 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR SOUTHEASTERN GILA
COUNTY...

THE HEAVY RAIN WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA. 
THE SAN CARLOS POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED THAT FLOODING IN THE 
COMMUNITY HAS DIMINISHED. THEREFORE...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WAS 
ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

LOCAL PONDING OF WATER MAY CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING HOURS. IF YOU 
ARE TRAVELING THIS EVENING...BE CAUTIOUS AND STAY CLEAR OF AREAS 
WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

LAT...LON 3346 11013 3346 11016 3343 11021 3343 11032
      3340 11035 3340 11040 3338 11043 3327 11044
      3324 11048 3350 11055 3354 11030 3348 11009

$$

WOODALL

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 3, 5:09 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningPSRLa Paz, Yuma3 hr
Sep 3, 5:42 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningPSRMaricopa3 hr
Sep 3, 6:20 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR55 min
Sep 4, 1:37 AM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRPinal38 min
Sep 4, 1:59 AM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRPinal2 hr
Sep 4, 1:40 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR50 min
Sep 4, 2:31 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR59 min
Sep 4, 2:39 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMaricopa66 min
Sep 4, 3:12 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR48 min
Sep 4, 3:19 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningPSRGila101 min
Sep 4, 3:28 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryPSRMaricopa2 hr
Sep 4, 3:49 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRGila26 min
Sep 4, 4:17 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRGila43 min
Sep 4, 4:48 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR57 min

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.