Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2012

Flash Flood Warning 4, NWS Tucson, AZ

July 4, 2012Pima County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Jul 4, 2012, 1:45 PM MST for Pima County, Arizona. It was in force for 111 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Jul 4, 2012, 1:45 PM MST (20:45 UTC)
Expired: Jul 4, 2012, 3:36 PM MST
In force: 111 min
Issued by: NWS Tucson, AZ
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

County Pima County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 51 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:46 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Jul 4, 1:48 PM MST	FLASH FLOOD	Tucson, AZ	SWIFT WATER RESCUE AT TANGERINE AND LA CANADA AT 1.30 PM.
Jul 4, 3:19 PM MST	FLASH FLOOD	10 Sw Tucson, AZ	SWIFT WATER RESCUE AT 7693 S. GILA AVE ON SW SIDE OF TUCSON. TRUCK STUCK IN WASH...OCCUPANTS RESCUED SUCCESSFULLY.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Tuscon, AZ (KTUS), launched 12:00Z, 8.8 hours before the alert went out and 14 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 613 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -63 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 876 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 12 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 33 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 40 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.

268 
WGUS55 KTWC 042045
FFWTWC
AZC019-042345-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0004.120704T2045Z-120704T2345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
145 PM MST WED JUL 4 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TUCSON HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  EAST CENTRAL PIMA COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL ARIZONA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF TUCSON...

* UNTIL 445 PM MST

* AT 137 PM MST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED   
FLASH FLOODING FROM THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS SOUTH TUCSON 
NEAR THE TUCSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THESE THUNERSTORMS ARE MOVING
TO THE NORTH AT ABOUT 10 MPH AND WILL MOVE FARTHER NORTH INTO THE 
CENTRAL TUCSON. RAINFALL AMOUNTS WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE 
ONE TO TWO INCHES. 

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SAN XAVIER
  MISSION...TUCSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...SOUTH TUCSON...SAGUARO
  NATIONAL PARK WEST...DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE AND CATALINA
  FOOTHILLS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF WASHES
AND STREAMS...URBAN AREAS...HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES AS
WELL AS OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3221 11118 3233 11124 3233 11079 3201 11080
      3201 11112

$$

GL

3 follow-up statements

895 
WGUS75 KTWC 042112
FFSTWC

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
212 PM MST WED JUL 4 2012

AZC019-042345-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120704T2345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
PIMA AZ-
212 PM MST WED JUL 4 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM MST FOR EAST
CENTRAL PIMA COUNTY...

AT 205 PM MST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING OVER THE CITY OF 
TUCSON. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE INCREASED IN AREAL COVERAGE 
ACROSS THE CITY OF TUCSON WITH HEAVY RAINFALL NOW OCCURRING ACROSS 
MUCH OF THE CITY WITH AUTOMATED GAUGE REPORTS INDICATING UP TO ONE 
HALF OF AN INCH OF RAIN. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE INCH 
WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS UP TO TWO INCHES ARE POSSIBLE AS THESE STORMS 
MOVE THROUGH. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CATALINA
FOOTHILLS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY
AUTOMOBILE.

&&

LAT...LON 3221 11118 3233 11124 3233 11079 3201 11080
      3201 11112

$$

GL

857 
WGUS75 KTWC 042148
FFSTWC

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
248 PM MST WED JUL 4 2012

AZC019-042345-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120704T2345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
PIMA AZ-
248 PM MST WED JUL 4 2012

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM MST FOR EAST
CENTRAL PIMA COUNTY...

AT 238 PM MST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE TUCSON METRO AREA PRODUCING 
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL. SPOTTER REPORTS INDICATE ONE HALF OF AN 
INCH TO ONE INCH OF RAINFALL IN MUCH OF THE CITY OF TUCSON. THIS IS 
RESULTING IN FLASH FLOODING ACROSS AREA WASHES AND STREETS. ALTHOUGH 
THESE STORMS HAVE TRENDED WEAKER OVER THE LAST 30 MINUTES...AN 
ADDITIONAL HALF INCH OF RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE AND FLASH FLOODING WILL 
CONTINUE. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SAGUARO
NATIONAL PARK WEST AND CATALINA FOOTHILLS.

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.

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. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

&&

LAT...LON 3221 11118 3233 11124 3233 11079 3201 11080
      3201 11112

$$

GL

555 
WGUS75 KTWC 042236
FFSTWC

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TUCSON AZ
336 PM MST WED JUL 4 2012

AZC019-042245-
/O.CAN.KTWC.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120704T2345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
PIMA AZ-
336 PM MST WED JUL 4 2012

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR EAST CENTRAL PIMA
COUNTY...

FLASH FLOODING HAS NOW SUBSIDED ACROSS THE TUCSON METRO AREA AS 
RAINFALL INTENSITIES HAVE DIMINISHED. HOWEVER...ELEVATED FLOWS WILL 
CONTINUE IN AREA WASHES THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. THIS IS COVERED BY 
THE URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM 
MST. 

LAT...LON 3221 11118 3233 11124 3233 11079 3201 11080
      3201 11112

$$

GL

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tucson, AZ issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 3, 8:21 PM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Cochise	3 hr
Jul 3, 9:14 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	TWC	Cochise	2 hr
Jul 3, 9:25 PM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pima	3 hr
Jul 3, 10:02 PM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Santa Cruz	3 hr
Jul 3, 10:15 PM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pima	3 hr
Jul 4, 12:00 AM MST	Flash Flood Watch	TWC	Cochise, Graham, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz	17 hr
Jul 4, 12:59 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Cochise, Pima, Santa Cruz	2 hr
Jul 4, 10:00 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pinal	3 hr
Jul 4, 10:48 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pima	12 min
Jul 4, 10:58 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pima	82 min
Jul 4, 12:16 PM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pima	3 hr
Jul 4, 12:48 PM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Pima	117 min
Jul 4, 12:59 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	TWC	Pima	2 hr
Jul 4, 1:32 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	TWC	Pima	118 min
Jul 4, 2:24 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	TWC	Pinal	3 hr
Jul 4, 2:55 PM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz	3 hr
Jul 4, 4:11 PM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	TWC	Graham, Greenlee	3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Arizona, 2012 Every 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.