Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 9, NWS Pueblo, CO

July 30, 2012El Paso County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Jul 30, 2012, 6:20 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, 6:20 PM MDT (00:20 UTC)
Expired
Jul 30, 2012, 8:21 PM 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), 78 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:20 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 00:00Z, 0.3 hours before the alert went out and 174 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.

662 
WGUS55 KPUB 310020
FFWPUB
COC041-310230-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0009.120731T0020Z-120731T0230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
620 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 830 PM MDT

* AT 618 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE   
WARNED AREA. RAINFALLS OVER ONE INCH WILL BE LIKELY ACROSS PARTS OF 
THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY...WESTERN COLORADO SPRINGS GENERALLY WEST OF 
I-25.

* THIS IS 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...AIR FORCE ACADEMY AND MANITOU SPRINGS.

FLOODING HAS BEEN REPORTED AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE WALDO CANYON 
BURN SCAR IN UTE PASS...AND ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF COLORADO 
SPRINGS.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING STREAMS AND DRAINAGES...
PINE CREEK...FOUNTAIN CREEK...DEADMANS CREEK...MONUMENT CREEK...
CHEYENNE CREEK...SHOOKS RUN...NORTH DOUGLAS CREEK...INCLUDING OAK
VALLEY...AND SUBDIVISIONS TO MONUMENT CREEK...COTTONWOOD CREEK...
KETTLE CREEK...WEST MONUMENT CREEK...INCLUDING EXTREME SOUTHERN AIR
FORCE ACADEMY...BLACK SQUIRREL CREEK...CAMP CREEK...INCLUDING QUEENS
CANYON...GARDEN OF THE GODS...ROCKLEDGE RANCH...31ST STREET
CHANNEL...CABIN CREEK...DRY CREEK...INCLUDING PEREGRINE AND
ROCKRIMMON SUBDIVISIONS...SOUTH DOUGLAS CREEK...INCLUDING MOUNTAIN
SHADOWS...HOLLAND PARK AND EAST TO MONUMENT CREEK...WILLIAMS
CANYON...INCLUDING MANITOU SPRINGS AND SOUTH CHEYENNE CREEK.

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...

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3902 10473 3880 10482 3879 10492 3887 10493
      3892 10484 3896 10491 3902 10491

$$
3 follow-up statements
302 
WGUS75 KPUB 310045
FFSPUB

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

COC041-310230-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120731T0230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
645 PM MDT MON JUL 30 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL EL PASO
COUNTY UNTIL 830 PM MDT...

AT 642 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PART OF 
THE WARNED AREA...INCLUDING NORTH CHEYENNE CANYON...THE SKYWAY 
SUBDIVISION...AND THE BROADMOOR AREA.

THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE 
RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT 
WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...COLORADO SPRINGS...AIR FORCE 
ACADEMY AND MANITOU SPRINGS.


THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING STREAMS AND DRAINAGES...
PINE CREEK...FOUNTAIN CREEK...DEADMANS CREEK...MONUMENT CREEK...
CHEYENNE CREEK...SHOOKS RUN...NORTH DOUGLAS CREEK...INCLUDING OAK
VALLEY...AND SUBDIVISIONS TO MONUMENT CREEK...COTTONWOOD CREEK...
KETTLE CREEK...WEST MONUMENT CREEK...INCLUDING EXTREME SOUTHERN AIR
FORCE ACADEMY...BLACK SQUIRREL CREEK...CAMP CREEK...INCLUDING QUEENS
CANYON...GARDEN OF THE GODS...ROCKLEDGE RANCH...31ST STREET
CHANNEL...CABIN CREEK...DRY CREEK...INCLUDING PEREGRINE AND
ROCKRIMMON SUBDIVISIONS...SOUTH DOUGLAS CREEK...INCLUDING MOUNTAIN
SHADOWS...HOLLAND PARK AND EAST TO MONUMENT CREEK...WILLIAMS
CANYON...INCLUDING MANITOU SPRINGS AND SOUTH CHEYENNE CREEK.

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 10473 3880 10482 3879 10492 3887 10493
      3892 10484 3896 10491 3902 10491

$$
890 
WGUS75 KPUB 310133
FFSPUB

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

COC041-310230-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120731T0230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
733 PM MDT MON JUL 30 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL EL PASO
COUNTY UNTIL 830 PM MDT...

AT 729 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THAT RAIN HAS ENDED ACROSS NORTHWEST COLORADO SPRINGS...BUT A FEW 
LIGHT SHOWERS MAY MOVE THROUGH THAT AREA THROUGH 830 PM. 

SOME LOCATIONS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED HIGH WATER AND SOME FLOODING 
INCLUDE...COLORADO SPRINGS...AIR FORCE ACADEMY AND MANITOU SPRINGS.

AT 730 PM...SPOTTERS REPORT NO FLOODING IN DOUGLAS CREEK DRAINAGE 
AND CAMP CREEK DRAINAGE.

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 10473 3880 10482 3879 10492 3887 10493
      3892 10484 3896 10491 3902 10491

$$
848 
WGUS75 KPUB 310221
FFSPUB

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

COC041-310229-
/O.CAN.KPUB.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120731T0230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
821 PM MDT MON JUL 30 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING THAT WAS ISSUED AT 537 PM MDT FOR 
WEST CENTRAL EL PASO COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

HOWEVER...A NEW FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE ENTIRE 
WALDO CANYON BURN SCAR AND ADJACENT TOWNS AND NEIGHBORHOODS UNTIL 10 
PM MDT...DUE TO MORE RAINFALL ACROSS THE BURN SCAR.

LAT...LON 3902 10473 3880 10482 3879 10492 3887 10493       3892 
10484 3896 10491 3902 10491

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
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 30, 11:55 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBEl Paso2 hr
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.