Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Watches in 2012

Flash Flood Watch 4, NWS Pueblo, CO

July 8, 2012El Paso County, Fremont County, Teller County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood watch at Jul 8, 2012, 4:20 AM MDT for El Paso County, Fremont County, Teller County, Colorado. It took effect at Jul 8, 2012, 11:00 AM MDT. It was in force for 12 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 8, 2012, 4:20 AM MDT (10:20 UTC)
In effect from
Jul 8, 2012, 11:00 AM MDT
Expired
Jul 8, 2012, 11:14 PM MDT
In force
12 hr
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Flood severity
None

Counties El Paso County, CO, Fremont County, CO, Teller County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 81 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:23 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, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 302 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 2012-07-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 428 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, Grand Junction, CO at 00:00Z on 2012-07-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -30 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
428 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-121 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1591 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
5 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-30 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
38 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.

141 
WGUS65 KPUB 081020
FFAPUB

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
420 AM MDT SUN JUL 8 2012

...FLASH FLOODING CONTINUES TO BE POSSIBLE OVER PORTIONS OF
SOUTHERN COLORADO TODAY...

.ABUNDANT SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE IN PLACE ACROSS THE STATE WILL RESULT
IN THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN COLORADO
LAT THIS MORNING THROUGH THE LATE EVENING. THE MAIN AREA OF CONCERN
IS ACROSS THE PIKES PEAK REGION...INCLUDING THE WALDO CANYON FIRE
SCAR IN EL PASO AND TELLER COUNTIES.

COZ081-084-085-081830-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.A.0004.120708T1700Z-120709T0600Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
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...WOODLAND PARK...BLACK FOREST...AIR FORCE ACADEMY...
COLORADO SPRINGS
420 AM MDT SUN JUL 8 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM MDT THIS MORNING
THROUGH THIS EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR A PORTION OF EAST CENTRAL COLORADO...
  INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS...EL PASO COUNTY...TELLER COUNTY
  AND THE RAMPART RANGE.

* FROM 11 AM MDT THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING

* A PLUME OF MONSOON MOISTURE WILL PERSIST OVER SOUTHERN COLORADO
  THROUGH TONIGHT. THE ABUNDANT MOISTURE COMBINED WITH WEAK FLOW
  ALOFT WILL SUPPORT HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE AREA...WITH
  RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR 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 CAUSED BY FIRE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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
471 
WGUS65 KPUB 081805
FFAPUB

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1205 PM MDT SUN JUL 8 2012

...FLASH FLOODING CONTINUES TO BE POSSIBLE OVER PORTIONS OF
SOUTHERN COLORADO TODAY...

.ABUNDANT MOISTURE IN PLACE ACROSS THE STATE WILL RESULT IN THE
POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN COLORADO
THROUGH THE LATE EVENING. THE MAIN AREA OF CONCERN IS ACROSS THE
PIKES PEAK REGION...INCLUDING THE WALDO CANYON FIRE SCAR IN EL
PASO COUNTY.

COZ081-084-085-090215-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.A.0004.000000T0000Z-120709T0600Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
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...WOODLAND PARK...BLACK FOREST...AIR FORCE ACADEMY...
COLORADO SPRINGS
1205 PM MDT SUN JUL 8 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* A PORTION OF EAST CENTRAL COLORADO...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING 
  AREAS...EL PASO COUNTY AND TELLER COUNTY AND THE RAMPART 
  RANGE. 

* THROUGH THIS EVENING

* A PLUME OF MONSOON MOISTURE WILL PERSIST OVER SOUTHERN 
  COLORADO THROUGH TONIGHT. THE ABUNDANT MOISTURE COMBINED WITH 
  WEAK FLOW ALOFT WILL SUPPORT HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE AREA... 
  WITH RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR 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 CAUSED BY FIRE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

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.

&&

$$
317 
WGUS65 KPUB 090220
FFAPUB

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
820 PM MDT SUN JUL 8 2012

...FLASH FLOODING STILL POSSIBLE LATE THIS EVENING OVER PORTIONS
OF SOUTHERN COLORADO...

.ABUNDANT MOISTURE IN PLACE ACROSS THE STATE WILL RESULT IN THE
POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN COLORADO
THROUGH THE LATE EVENING. THE MAIN AREA OF CONCERN IS ACROSS THE
PIKES PEAK REGION...INCLUDING THE WALDO CANYON FIRE SCAR IN EL
PASO COUNTY.

COZ081-084-085-090600-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.A.0004.000000T0000Z-120709T0600Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
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...WOODLAND PARK...BLACK FOREST...AIR FORCE ACADEMY...
COLORADO SPRINGS
820 PM MDT SUN JUL 8 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT
TONIGHT...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* A PORTION OF EAST CENTRAL COLORADO...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING 
  AREAS...EL PASO COUNTY AND TELLER COUNTY AND THE RAMPART 
  RANGE. 

* UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT

* A PLUME OF MONSOON MOISTURE WILL PERSIST OVER SOUTHERN COLORADO
  THROUGH TONIGHT. THE ABUNDANT MOISTURE COMBINED WITH WEAK FLOW
  ALOFT WILL SUPPORT HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE AREA... WITH
  RAINFALL RATES OF 1 INCH PER HOUR 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 CAUSED BY FIRE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

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.

&&

$$
869 
WGUS65 KPUB 090514
FFAPUB

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1114 PM MDT SUN JUL 8 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH CANCELLED...

.ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY
MORNING...BUT ADDITIONAL PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS SHOULD REMAIN
GENERALLY LIGHT.

COZ081-084-085-090615-
/O.CAN.KPUB.FF.A.0004.000000T0000Z-120709T0600Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
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...WOODLAND PARK...BLACK FOREST...AIR FORCE ACADEMY...
COLORADO SPRINGS
1114 PM MDT SUN JUL 8 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR A PORTION OF EAST CENTRAL COLORADO HAS
BEEN CANCELLED. MUCH OF THE WATCH AREA RECEIVED BETWEEN ONE AND
THREE INCHES OF RAIN THIS EVENING...BUT THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL HAS
ENDED OVER THE AREA. SCATTERED SHOWERS WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE
THROUGH MONDAY MORNING...AND THE AREA WILL REMAIN VULNERABLE TO
FLOODING AS ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS AND STORMS DEVELOPS LATER
MONDAY.

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 8, 4:35 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBEl Paso3 hr
Jul 8, 5:02 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBBaca29 min
Jul 8, 5:55 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBEl Paso112 min

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.