Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Watches in 2012

Flash Flood Watch 3, NWS Pueblo, CO

July 7, 20129 counties in Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood watch at Jul 7, 2012, 4:55 AM MDT for 9 counties in Colorado. It took effect at Jul 7, 2012, 9:00 AM MDT. It was in force for 10 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 7, 2012, 4:55 AM MDT (10:55 UTC)
In effect from
Jul 7, 2012, 9:00 AM MDT
Expired
Jul 7, 2012, 7:15 PM MDT
In force
10 hr
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Flood severity
None

Counties Chaffee County, CO, Conejos County, CO, El Paso County, CO, Fremont County, CO, Lake County, CO, Mineral County, CO, Rio Grande County, CO, Saguache County, CO, Teller County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 154 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:56 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

Grand Junction, CO (KGJT), launched 00:00Z, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 241 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, Grand Junction, CO at 00:00Z on 2012-07-07Temperature 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, Grand Junction, CO at 00:00Z on 2012-07-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 5 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
3414 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
5 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
50 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.

878 
WGUS65 KPUB 071055
FFAPUB

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
455 AM MDT SAT JUL 7 2012

...FLASH FLOODING POSSIBLE OVER PARTS OF SOUTHERN COLORADO
TODAY...

.A MOIST MONSOONAL FLOW WILL RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH
FLOODING OVER PARTS OF SOUTHERN COLORADO TODAY. THE AREAS OF
CONCERN INCLUDE THE WALDO CANYON FIRE SCAR...THE EASTERN SAN JUAN
MOUNTAINS...THE LA GARITA MOUNTAINS AND THE EASTERN SAWATCH
MOUNTAINS.

COZ060-061-065>068-081-084-085-071900-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.A.0003.120707T1500Z-120708T0900Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EASTERN SAWATCH MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FT-
WESTERN CHAFFEE COUNTY BETWEEN 9000 AND 11000 FT-
SAGUACHE COUNTY EAST OF CONTINENTAL DIVIDE BELOW 10000 FT-
LA GARITA MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT-
UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY/EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS BELOW 10000 FT-
EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT-
TELLER COUNTY/RAMPART RANGE ABOVE 7500 FT/PIKES PEAK BETWEEN
7500 AND 11000 FT-
NORTHERN EL PASO COUNTY/MONUMENT RIDGE/RAMPART RANGE BELOW
7500 FT-
COLORADO SPRINGS VICINITY/SOUTHERN EL PASO COUNTY/RAMPART RANGE
BELOW 7400 FT-
INCLUDING...INDEPENDENCE PASS...MT ELBERT...MT MASSIVE...
GRANITE...BONANZA...NORTH PASS...SOUTH FORK...CREEDE...
CUMBRES PASS...WOLF CREEK PASS...WOODLAND PARK...BLACK FOREST...
AIR FORCE ACADEMY...COLORADO SPRINGS
455 AM MDT SAT JUL 7 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM MDT THIS MORNING THROUGH
LATE TONIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN COLORADO INCLUDING
  THE WALDO CANYON FIRE SCAR...THE EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS...THE
  LA GARITA MOUNTAINS AND THE EASTERN SAWATCH MOUNTAINS.

* FROM 9 AM MDT THIS MORNING THROUGH 3 AM MDT SUNDAY

* A MOIST MONSOON MOISTURE PLUME WILL TRACK OVER SOUTHERN COLORADO
  TODAY. MOISTURE AVAILABLE FOR PRECIPITATION IN THE PLUME WILL
  RANGE FROM 150 TO 200 PERCENT OF NORMAL. RAINFALL RATES OF AN
  INCH PER HOUR OR MORE WILL BE POSSIBLE UNDER THE HEAVIER SHOWERS.
  IN ADDITION...SOME STORMS MAY TRAIN...OR REPEATEDLY TRACK OVER
  THE SAME LOCATION...EXACERBATING THE FLASH FLOOD THREAT.

* THE WALDO CANYON FIRE SCAR WILL BE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE AS
  WILL ANY OTHER BURN SCARS ACROSS SOUTHERN COLORADO. THESE AREAS
  WILL SEE RAPID RUNOFF OF WATER RESULTING FROM HYPER PHOBIC SOILS
  AND VEGETATION LOSSES THAT RESULT FROM FIRE.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OF RAINFALL ON A FIRE 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.
ADDITIONALLY...THE SOILS IN A BURN SCAR BECOME UNSTABLE WHEN IT
RAINS...SOMETIMES RESULTING IN DEBRIS FLOWS AND FALLING ROCK.
ROADWAYS CAN BE WASHED OUT BY THE FORCE OF RUSHING WATER AND
DEBRIS.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF
RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

&&

$$
3 follow-up statements
036 
WGUS65 KPUB 071113 CCA
FFAPUB

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WATCH...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
511 AM MDT SAT JUL 7 2012

...FLASH FLOODING POSSIBLE OVER PARTS OF SOUTHERN COLORADO
TODAY...

.A MOIST MONSOONAL FLOW WILL RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH
FLOODING OVER PARTS OF SOUTHERN COLORADO TODAY. THE AREAS OF
CONCERN INCLUDE THE WALDO CANYON FIRE SCAR...THE EASTERN SAN JUAN
MOUNTAINS...THE LA GARITA MOUNTAINS AND THE EASTERN SAWATCH
MOUNTAINS.

COZ060-061-065>068-081-084-085-071930-
/O.COR.KPUB.FF.A.0003.120707T1500Z-120708T0900Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EASTERN SAWATCH MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FT-
WESTERN CHAFFEE COUNTY BETWEEN 9000 AND 11000 FT-
SAGUACHE COUNTY EAST OF CONTINENTAL DIVIDE BELOW 10000 FT-
LA GARITA MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT-
UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY/EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS BELOW 10000 FT-
EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT-
TELLER COUNTY/RAMPART RANGE ABOVE 7500 FT/PIKES PEAK BETWEEN
7500 AND 11000 FT-
NORTHERN EL PASO COUNTY/MONUMENT RIDGE/RAMPART RANGE BELOW
7500 FT-
COLORADO SPRINGS VICINITY/SOUTHERN EL PASO COUNTY/RAMPART RANGE
BELOW 7400 FT-
INCLUDING...INDEPENDENCE PASS...MT ELBERT...MT MASSIVE...
GRANITE...BONANZA...NORTH PASS...SOUTH FORK...CREEDE...
CUMBRES PASS...WOLF CREEK PASS...WOODLAND PARK...BLACK FOREST...
AIR FORCE ACADEMY...COLORADO SPRINGS
511 AM MDT SAT JUL 7 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM MDT THIS MORNING THROUGH
LATE TONIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN COLORADO INCLUDING
  THE WALDO CANYON FIRE SCAR...THE EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS...THE
  LA GARITA MOUNTAINS AND THE EASTERN SAWATCH MOUNTAINS.

* FROM 9 AM MDT THIS MORNING THROUGH 3 AM MDT SUNDAY

* A MOIST MONSOON MOISTURE PLUME WILL TRACK OVER SOUTHERN COLORADO
  TODAY. MOISTURE AVAILABLE FOR PRECIPITATION IN THE PLUME WILL
  RANGE FROM 150 TO 200 PERCENT OF NORMAL. RAINFALL RATES OF AN
  INCH PER HOUR OR MORE WILL BE POSSIBLE UNDER THE HEAVIER SHOWERS.
  IN ADDITION...SOME STORMS MAY TRAIN...OR REPEATEDLY TRACK OVER
  THE SAME LOCATION...EXACERBATING THE FLASH FLOOD THREAT.

* THE WALDO CANYON FIRE SCAR WILL BE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE AS
  WILL ANY OTHER BURN SCARS ACROSS SOUTHERN COLORADO. THESE AREAS
  WILL SEE RAPID RUNOFF OF WATER RESULTING FROM HYDRO PHOBIC SOILS
  AND VEGETATION LOSSES THAT RESULT FROM FIRE.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OF RAINFALL ON A FIRE 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.
ADDITIONALLY...THE SOILS IN A BURN SCAR BECOME UNSTABLE WHEN IT
RAINS...SOMETIMES RESULTING IN DEBRIS FLOWS AND FALLING ROCK.
ROADWAYS CAN BE WASHED OUT BY THE FORCE OF RUSHING WATER AND
DEBRIS.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF
RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

&&

$$
241 
WGUS65 KPUB 071905
FFAPUB

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
105 PM MDT SAT JUL 7 2012

...FLASH FLOODING POSSIBLE OVER PARTS OF SOUTHERN COLORADO
TODAY...

.A MOIST MONSOONAL FLOW WILL RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH
FLOODING OVER PARTS OF SOUTHERN COLORADO TODAY. THE AREAS OF
CONCERN INCLUDE THE WALDO CANYON FIRE SCAR...EL PASO AND TELLER COUNTIES...THE
EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS...THE LA GARITA MOUNTAINS AND THE
EASTERN SAWATCH MOUNTAINS.

COZ060-061-065>068-081-084-085-080315-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.A.0003.000000T0000Z-120708T0900Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EASTERN SAWATCH MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FT-
WESTERN CHAFFEE COUNTY BETWEEN 9000 AND 11000 FT-
SAGUACHE COUNTY EAST OF CONTINENTAL DIVIDE BELOW 10000 FT-
LA GARITA MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT-
UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY/EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS BELOW 10000 FT-
EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT-
TELLER COUNTY/RAMPART RANGE ABOVE 7500 FT/PIKES PEAK BETWEEN
7500 AND 11000 FT-
NORTHERN EL PASO COUNTY/MONUMENT RIDGE/RAMPART RANGE BELOW
7500 FT-
COLORADO SPRINGS VICINITY/SOUTHERN EL PASO COUNTY/RAMPART RANGE
BELOW 7400 FT-
INCLUDING...INDEPENDENCE PASS...MT ELBERT...MT MASSIVE...
GRANITE...BONANZA...NORTH PASS...SOUTH FORK...CREEDE...
CUMBRES PASS...WOLF CREEK PASS...WOODLAND PARK...BLACK FOREST...
AIR FORCE ACADEMY...COLORADO SPRINGS
105 PM MDT SAT JUL 7 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* THE WALDO CANYON FIRE SCAR...EL PASO AND TELLER COUNTIES...THE EASTERN
  SAN JUAN AND LA GARITA MOUNTAINS...AND THE EASTERN SAWATCH
  MOUNTAINS.

* UNTIL 3 AM MDT SUNDAY.

* A PLUME OF MONSOON MOISTURE WILL REMAIN OVER SOUTHERN COLORADO
  TODAY AND TONIGHT. RAINFALL RATES OF AN INCH PER HOUR OR MORE
  WILL BE POSSIBLE UNDER THE HEAVIER SHOWERS. IN ADDITION...SOME
  STORMS MAY REPEATEDLY TRACK OVER THE SAME LOCATION...EXACERBATING
  THE FLASH FLOOD THREAT.

* THE WALDO CANYON FIRE SCAR WILL BE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE AS
  WILL ANY OTHER BURN SCARS ACROSS SOUTHERN COLORADO. THESE AREAS
  WILL SEE RAPID RUNOFF OF WATER RESULTING FROM HYDROPHOBIC
  SOILS AND VEGETATION LOSSES THAT RESULT FROM FIRE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OF RAINFALL ON A FIRE 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.
ADDITIONALLY...THE SOILS IN A BURN SCAR BECOME UNSTABLE WHEN IT
RAINS...SOMETIMES RESULTING IN DEBRIS FLOWS AND FALLING ROCK.
ROADWAYS CAN BE WASHED OUT BY THE FORCE OF RUSHING WATER AND
DEBRIS.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO
CROSS SAFELY.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES
OF RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

&&

$$
833 
WGUS65 KPUB 080115
FFAPUB

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
715 PM MDT SAT JUL 7 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED...

.FLASH FLOODING IS NO LONGER LIKELY TONIGHT ACROSS THE WALDO
CANYON BURN SCAR REGION. THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL HAS MOVED NORTH AND
EAST OF THE AREA. ALTHOUGH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL STILL BE POSSIBLE
THROUGH THE EVENING...THE HEAVIER RAIN WILL LIKELY REMAIN
SPOTTY...AND LESS LIKELY TO IMPACT THE BURN SCAR.

COZ060-061-065>068-081-084-085-080215-
/O.CAN.KPUB.FF.A.0003.000000T0000Z-120708T0900Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EASTERN SAWATCH MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FT-
WESTERN CHAFFEE COUNTY BETWEEN 9000 AND 11000 FT-
SAGUACHE COUNTY EAST OF CONTINENTAL DIVIDE BELOW 10000 FT-
LA GARITA MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT-
UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY/EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS BELOW 10000 FT-
EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT-
TELLER COUNTY/RAMPART RANGE ABOVE 7500 FT/PIKES PEAK BETWEEN
7500 AND 11000 FT-
NORTHERN EL PASO COUNTY/MONUMENT RIDGE/RAMPART RANGE BELOW
7500 FT-
COLORADO SPRINGS VICINITY/SOUTHERN EL PASO COUNTY/RAMPART RANGE
BELOW 7400 FT-
INCLUDING...INDEPENDENCE PASS...MT ELBERT...MT MASSIVE...
GRANITE...BONANZA...NORTH PASS...SOUTH FORK...CREEDE...
CUMBRES PASS...WOLF CREEK PASS...WOODLAND PARK...BLACK FOREST...
AIR FORCE ACADEMY...COLORADO SPRINGS
715 PM MDT SAT JUL 7 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL COLORADO...EAST
CENTRAL COLORADO AND SOUTH CENTRAL COLORADO HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL HAS MOVED NORTH OF THE AREA. ISOLATED SHOWERS
ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE NIGHT...BUT THE GREATEST THREAT OF
FLASH FLOODING HAS ENDED FOR TONIGHT. SOME LOCALIZED RAINFALL
AMOUNTS OF UP TO A QUARTER INCH WILL STILL BE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT.


$$
SR/EP

Nearby

Flash Flood Watches in Colorado, 2012Every flash flood watch 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.