Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 13, NWS Pueblo, CO

July 30, 2012El Paso County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Jul 30, 2012, 11:55 PM MDT for El Paso County, Colorado. It was in force for 2 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jul 30, 2012, 11:55 PM MDT (05:55 UTC)
Expired
Jul 31, 2012, 2:00 AM MDT
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County El Paso County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 84 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:55 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 00:00Z, 5.9 hours before the alert went out and 180 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, Denver, CO at 00:00Z on 2012-07-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 144 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, Denver, CO at 00:00Z on 2012-07-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -3 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
144 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-163 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1672 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-3 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
63 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
-0.0
Supercell composite
-0.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

718 
WGUS55 KPUB 310555
FFWPUB
COC041-310800-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0013.120731T0555Z-120731T0800Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1155 PM MDT MON JUL 30 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  WEST CENTRAL EL PASO COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL COLORADO...

* UNTIL 200 AM MDT

* AT 1152 PM MDT...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED FLASH FLOODING   
  ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. MUD AND DEBRIS FLOWS WERE CONTINUING TO 
  IMPACT HIGHWAY 24

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...COLORADO
  SPRINGS...CASCADE...CHIPITA PARK AND MANITOU SPRINGS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FLASH FLOODING AND DEBRIS FLOWS CAN STILL OCCUR AFTER THE HEAVY RAIN 
HAS ENDED IN A BURN SCAR. SEVERAL ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS IMPACTED 
THE UPPER REACHES OF BASINS IN THE WALDO CANYON BURN SCAR MONDAY 
EVENING. DEBRIS...MUD AND WATER MAY STILL COME DOWN THE CREEKS AND 
STREAMS CREATING HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS...ESPECIALLY FOR AREAS ALONG 
HIGHWAY 24 IN UTE PASS.

TO REPORT FLOODING...HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RELAY
YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN
PUEBLO.

&&

LAT...LON 3899 10499 3897 10490 3893 10484 3885 10488
      3885 10492 3892 10502

$$


STARK
2 follow-up statements
593 
WGUS75 KPUB 310648
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1248 AM MDT TUE JUL 31 2012

COC041-310800-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-120731T0800Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
1248 AM MDT TUE JUL 31 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL EL PASO
COUNTY UNTIL 200 AM MDT...

AT 1152 PM MDT...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED FLASH FLOODING   
ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. MUD AND DEBRIS FLOWS WERE CONTINUING TO 
IMPACT HIGHWAY 24.

THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. RUNOFF FROM THIS
EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS
THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...COLORADO SPRINGS...CASCADE...
CHIPITA PARK AND MANITOU SPRINGS.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES FELL ACROSS THE WALDO CANYON
BURN SCAR MONDAY EVENING. THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN HAS LIKELY CAUSED 
WATER...ASH AND MUD TO BUILD UP BEHIND DEBRIS JAMS AT VARIOUS POINTS 
ACROSS THE WALDO CANYON SCAR.  THESE DEBRIS JAMS COULD GIVE WAY AT 
ANY MOMENT. WITH THE CURRENT LOAD OF WATER AND DEBRIS AND ADDITIONAL 
SHOWERS POSSIBLE...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR AREAS IN AND AROUND 
THE WALDO CANYON BURN SCAR WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 2 AM MDT.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING STREAMS AND DRAINAGES...MONUMENT 
CREEK...SEVERY CREEK...FOUNTAIN CREEK...FRENCH CREEK...NORTH DOUGLAS 
CREEK...INCLUDING OAK VALLEY...AND SUBDIVISIONS TO MONUMENT 
CREEK...WEST MONUMENT CREEK...INCLUDING EXTREME SOUTHERN AIR FORCE 
ACADEMY...CAMP CREEK...INCLUDING QUEENS CANYON...GARDEN OF THE 
GODS...ROCKLEDGE RANCH...31ST STREET CHANNEL...CABIN CREEK...WALDO 
CANYON...INCLUDING MANITOU SPRINGS...WELLINGTON GULCH...INCLUDING 
CHIPITA PARK...SAND GULCH...INCLUDING CHIPITA PARK...DRY 
CREEK...INCLUDING PEREGRINE AND ROCKRIMMON SUBDIVISIONS...SOUTH 
DOUGLAS CREEK...INCLUDING MOUNTAIN SHADOWS...HOLLAND PARK AND EAST TO
MONUMENT CREEK AND WILLIAMS CANYON...INCLUDING MANITOU SPRINGS.

JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OF RAINFALL ON A BURN SCAR CAN LEAD TO FLASH
FLOODING. WATER THAT IS NORMALLY ABSORBED BY THE SOILS AND
VEGETATION...RUNS OFF ALMOST INSTANTLY. THIS CAUSES CREEKS AND
DRAINAGE AREAS TO FLOOD AT A MUCH FASTER RATE THAN NORMAL. IN
ADDITION...THE SOILS IN A BURN SCAR BECOME UNSTABLE WHEN IT RAINS...
SOMETIMES RESULTING IN DEBRIS AND FALLING ROCK. ROADS CAN BE WASHED
OUT BY THE FORCE OF THE RUSHING WATER AND DEBRIS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REPORT FLOODING TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SO THAT THEY
MAY TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO CLOSE FLOODED ROADWAYS. THEY WILL
RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO.

&&

LAT...LON 3899 10499 3897 10490 3893 10484 3885 10488
      3885 10492 3892 10502

$$
617 
WGUS75 KPUB 310724
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
124 AM MDT TUE JUL 31 2012

COC041-310800-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-120731T0800Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
124 AM MDT TUE JUL 31 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL EL PASO
COUNTY UNTIL 200 AM MDT...

AROUND MIDNIGHT...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED FLASH FLOODING   
ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. MUD AND DEBRIS FLOWS WERE CONTINUING TO 
IMPACT HIGHWAY 24.  

AT 118 AM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
ADDITIONAL HEAVY SHOWERS HEADED FOR THE WALDO CANYON BURN SCAR WHICH 
WILL LIKELY CONTINUE THE THREAT OF FLASH FLOODING.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...COLORADO
SPRINGS...CASCADE...CHIPITA PARK AND MANITOU SPRINGS.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING STREAMS AND DRAINAGES...
MONUMENT CREEK...SEVERY CREEK...FOUNTAIN CREEK...FRENCH CREEK...NORTH
DOUGLAS CREEK...INCLUDING OAK VALLEY...AND SUBDIVISIONS TO MONUMENT
CREEK...WEST MONUMENT CREEK...INCLUDING EXTREME SOUTHERN AIR FORCE
ACADEMY...CAMP CREEK...INCLUDING QUEENS CANYON...GARDEN OF THE
GODS...ROCKLEDGE RANCH...31ST STREET CHANNEL...CABIN CREEK...WALDO
CANYON...INCLUDING MANITOU SPRINGS...WELLINGTON GULCH...INCLUDING
CHIPITA PARK...SAND GULCH...INCLUDING CHIPITA PARK...DRY CREEK...
INCLUDING PEREGRINE AND ROCKRIMMON SUBDIVISIONS...SOUTH DOUGLAS
CREEK...INCLUDING MOUNTAIN SHADOWS...HOLLAND PARK AND EAST TO
MONUMENT CREEK AND WILLIAMS CANYON...INCLUDING MANITOU SPRINGS.

JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OF RAINFALL ON A BURN SCAR CAN LEAD TO FLASH
FLOODING. WATER THAT IS NORMALLY ABSORBED BY THE SOILS AND
VEGETATION...RUNS OFF ALMOST INSTANTLY. THIS CAUSES CREEKS AND
DRAINAGE AREAS TO FLOOD AT A MUCH FASTER RATE THAN NORMAL. IN
ADDITION...THE SOILS IN A BURN SCAR BECOME UNSTABLE WHEN IT RAINS...
SOMETIMES RESULTING IN DEBRIS AND FALLING ROCK. ROADS CAN BE WASHED
OUT BY THE FORCE OF THE RUSHING WATER AND DEBRIS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REPORT FLOODING TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SO THAT THEY
MAY TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO CLOSE FLOODED ROADWAYS. THEY WILL
RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO.

&&

LAT...LON 3899 10499 3897 10490 3893 10484 3885 10488
      3885 10492 3892 10502

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Pueblo, CO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 30, 6:20 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBEl Paso2 hr
Jul 30, 7:05 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso38 min
Jul 30, 7:12 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso25 min
Jul 30, 7:32 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso58 min
Jul 30, 8:01 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBHuerfano, Pueblo59 min
Jul 30, 8:06 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBEl Paso114 min
Jul 30, 9:04 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBEl Paso3 hr
Jul 30, 10:02 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBEl Paso118 min
Jul 31, 1:54 AM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBEl Paso3 hr
Jul 31, 12:38 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBLas Animas2 hr
Jul 31, 2:09 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBLas Animas32 min
Jul 31, 2:28 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBLas Animas112 min
Jul 31, 2:59 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso, Fremont, Teller18 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Colorado, 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.