Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 7, NWS Pueblo, CO

July 30, 2012El Paso County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Jul 30, 2012, 5:18 PM MDT for El Paso County, Colorado. It was in force for 3 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, 5:18 PM MDT (23:18 UTC)
Expired
Jul 30, 2012, 8:00 PM MDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County El Paso County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 89 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:20 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 12:00Z, 11.3 hours before the alert went out and 178 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 12:00Z on 2012-07-30Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 36 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 12:00Z on 2012-07-30The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 4 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
36 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-260 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2058 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
4 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
48 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.

889 
WGUS55 KPUB 302318
FFWPUB
COC041-310200-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0007.120730T2318Z-120731T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 800 PM MDT

* AT 513 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE 
  WARNED AREA. RAINFALL WILL LIKELY EXCEED ONE INCH  ACROSS THE 
  NORTHERN PART OF THE WALDO CANYON BURN SCAR.

* THIS IS DANGEROUS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. RUNOFF FROM 
  THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO OCCUR.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING STREAMS AND DRAINAGES...MONUMENT 
CREEK...CAMP CREEK...INCLUDING QUEENS CANYON...GARDEN OF THE 
GODS...ROCKLEDGE RANCH...31ST STREET CHANNEL...WELLINGTON 
GULCH...INCLUDING CHIPITA PARK...SAND GULCH...INCLUDING CHIPITA 
PARK...FOUNTAIN CREEK AND WEST MONUMENT CREEK...INCLUDING EXTREME 
SOUTHERN AIR FORCE ACADEMY.

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.

LAT...LON 3902 10491 3896 10491 3894 10496 3894 10503
      3902 10503

$$
4 follow-up statements
786 
WGUS75 KPUB 302348
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
548 PM MDT MON JUL 30 2012

COC041-310200-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0007.000000T0000Z-120731T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
548 PM MDT MON JUL 30 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN EL PASO
COUNTY UNTIL 800 PM MDT...

AT 546 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. 
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF OVER ONE INCH ARE LIKELY ACROSS THE BURN SCAR. 

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...CRYSTOLA.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING STREAMS AND DRAINAGES...MONUMENT 
CREEK...CAMP CREEK...INCLUDING QUEENS CANYON...GARDEN OF THE 
GODS...ROCKLEDGE RANCH...31ST STREET CHANNEL...WELLINGTON 
GULCH...INCLUDING CHIPITA PARK...SAND GULCH...INCLUDING CHIPITA 
PARK...FOUNTAIN CREEK AND WEST MONUMENT CREEK...INCLUDING EXTREME 
SOUTHERN AIR FORCE ACADEMY.

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.

LAT...LON 3902 10491 3896 10491 3894 10496 3894 10503
      3902 10503

$$
117 
WGUS75 KPUB 310002
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
602 PM MDT MON JUL 30 2012

COC041-310200-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0007.000000T0000Z-120731T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
602 PM MDT MON JUL 30 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN EL PASO
COUNTY UNTIL 800 PM MDT...

AT 600 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. 
RAINFALL OF UP TO ON INCH HAVE BEEN ESTIMATED BY DOPPLER RADAR OVER 
THE NORTHERN SECTION OF THE WALDO CANYON BURN SCAR.

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...CRYSTOLA.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING STREAMS AND DRAINAGES...MONUMENT 
CREEK...DEADMANS CREEK...CAMP CREEK...INCLUDING QUEENS 
CANYON...GARDEN OF THE GODS...ROCKLEDGE RANCH...31ST STREET 
CHANNEL...WELLINGTON GULCH...INCLUDING CHIPITA PARK...SAND 
GULCH...INCLUDING CHIPITA PARK...FOUNTAIN CREEK AND WEST MONUMENT 
CREEK...INCLUDING EXTREME SOUTHERN AIR FORCE ACADEMY.

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.

LAT...LON 3902 10491 3896 10491 3894 10496 3894 10503
      3902 10503

$$
979 
WGUS75 KPUB 310032
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
632 PM MDT MON JUL 30 2012

COC041-310200-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0007.000000T0000Z-120731T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
632 PM MDT MON JUL 30 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN EL PASO
COUNTY UNTIL 800 PM MDT...

AT 627 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THAT RAINFALL HAS ENDED ACROSS THE NORTHERN PART OF THE BURN SCAR.  

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING STREAMS AND DRAINAGES...MONUMENT 
CREEK...DEADMANS CREEK...CAMP CREEK...INCLUDING QUEENS 
CANYON...GARDEN OF THE GODS...ROCKLEDGE RANCH...31ST STREET 
CHANNEL...WELLINGTON GULCH...INCLUDING CHIPITA PARK...SAND 
GULCH...INCLUDING CHIPITA PARK...FOUNTAIN CREEK AND WEST MONUMENT 
CREEK...INCLUDING EXTREME SOUTHERN AIR FORCE ACADEMY.

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.

LAT...LON 3902 10491 3896 10491 3894 10496 3894 10503
      3902 10503

$$
165 
WGUS75 KPUB 310112
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
712 PM MDT MON JUL 30 2012

COC041-310200-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0007.000000T0000Z-120731T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
712 PM MDT MON JUL 30 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN EL PASO
COUNTY UNTIL 800 PM MDT...

AT 705 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. THE 
NORTHERN PORTION OF THE WALDO CANYON BURN SCAR RECEIVED 
APPROXIMATELY ONE INCH OF RAINFALL.  THE RUNOFF IN WILDCAT GULCH 
FLOWS INTO THE RAMPART RESERVOIR AND NICHOLS RESERVOIR. RUNOFF IN 
THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE WARNING FLOWS INTO UTE PASS.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL HAS CAUSED FLASH FLOODING TO 
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE... 
CRYSTOLA...GREEN MOUNTAIN FALLS...CHIPITA PARK...AND CASCADE.

PORTIONS OF US HIGHWAY 24 IN UTE PASS HAVE BEEN CLOSED DUE TO A 
DEBRIS FLOW.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING STREAMS AND DRAINAGES...MONUMENT 
CREEK...CAMP CREEK...INCLUDING QUEENS CANYON...GARDEN OF THE 
GODS...ROCKLEDGE RANCH...31ST STREET CHANNEL...WELLINGTON 
GULCH...INCLUDING CHIPITA PARK...SAND GULCH...INCLUDING CHIPITA 
PARK...FOUNTAIN CREEK AND WEST MONUMENT CREEK...INCLUDING EXTREME 
SOUTHERN AIR FORCE ACADEMY.

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.

LAT...LON 3902 10491 3896 10491 3894 10496 3894 10503
      3902 10503

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 30, 2:45 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBEl Paso105 min
Jul 30, 2:55 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso33 min
Jul 30, 5:37 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBEl Paso3 hr
Jul 30, 5:46 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso44 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.