Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2013

Flash Flood Warning 20, NWS Pueblo, CO

August 12, 2013El Paso County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Aug 12, 2013, 2:31 PM MDT for El Paso County, Colorado. It was in force for 3 hr. 1 report 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
Aug 12, 2013, 2:31 PM MDT (20:31 UTC)
Expired
Aug 12, 2013, 5:30 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), 80 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:30 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 12, 2:40 PM MDTFLASH FLOOD1 S Cascade, COONE FOOT OF WATER OVER US HIGHWAY 24.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDEN), launched 12:00Z, 8.5 hours before the alert went out and 180 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 2013-08-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 539 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 2013-08-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 4 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
539 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-148 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1291 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
18 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
4 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
33 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.

071 
WGUS55 KPUB 122031
FFWPUB
COC041-122330-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0020.130812T2031Z-130812T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
231 PM MDT MON AUG 12 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 530 PM MDT

* AT 222 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE WALDO CANYON
  BURN SCAR. RAINFALL AMOUNTS AND RATES ARE OVER 1/2 INCH. 

* THIS IS DANGEROUS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. RUNOFF FROM THIS
  EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO OCCUR. SOME 
  LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...WESTERN  
  COLORADO SPRINGS...CASCADE...CHIPITA PARK AND MANITOU SPRINGS.

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 3894 10484 3883 10488 3886 10500 3895 10500

$$
7 follow-up statements
455 
WGUS75 KPUB 122044
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
244 PM MDT MON AUG 12 2013

COC041-122330-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0020.000000T0000Z-130812T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
244 PM MDT MON AUG 12 2013

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL EL PASO
COUNTY UNTIL 530 PM MDT...

AT 241 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING MODERATE TO VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE 
SOUTHERN PART OF THE WALDO CANYON BURN SCAR. DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES 
THAT 3/4 OF AN INCH TO OVER ONE INCH OF RAIN HAS FALLEN NEAR CASCADE.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. RUNOFF FROM THIS 
EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS
THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...WESTERN COLORADO 
SPRINGS...CASCADE...CHIPITA PARK AND MANITOU SPRINGS.

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 3894 10484 3883 10488 3886 10500 3895 10500

$$
879 
WGUS75 KPUB 122056
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
256 PM MDT MON AUG 12 2013

COC041-122330-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0020.000000T0000Z-130812T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
256 PM MDT MON AUG 12 2013

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL EL PASO
COUNTY UNTIL 530 PM MDT...

AT 252 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE 
SOUTHERN PART OF THE WALDO CANYON BURN SCAR. DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
AROUND AN INCH OF RAIN NEAR CASCADE.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. RUNOFF FROM THIS 
EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS
THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...COLORADO SPRINGS...CASCADE...
CHIPITA PARK AND MANITOU SPRINGS.

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 3894 10484 3883 10488 3886 10500 3895 10500

$$
359 
WGUS75 KPUB 122102
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
302 PM MDT MON AUG 12 2013

COC041-122330-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0020.000000T0000Z-130812T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
302 PM MDT MON AUG 12 2013

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL EL PASO
COUNTY UNTIL 530 PM MDT...

AT 300 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PART 
OF THE WALDO CANYON BURN SCAR. 

AROUND ONE INCH OF RAIN HAS FALLEN NEAR CASCADE.  LAW ENFORCEMENT 
REPORTS ONE FOOT OF WATER OVER HIGHWAY 24 NEAR CASCADE.

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...COLORADO SPRINGS...CASCADE...
CHIPITA PARK AND MANITOU SPRINGS.

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 3894 10484 3883 10488 3886 10500 3895 10500

$$
172 
WGUS75 KPUB 122116
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
316 PM MDT MON AUG 12 2013

COC041-122330-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0020.000000T0000Z-130812T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
316 PM MDT MON AUG 12 2013

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL EL PASO
COUNTY UNTIL 530 PM MDT...

AT 313 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE EXTREME 
SOUTHERN PART OF THE WALDO CANYON BURN SCAR. RAINFALL RATES WERE 1.5 
TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR SOUTH OF THE BURN SCAR AND AROUND 6/10 OF AN 
INCH PER HOUR IN THE BURN SCAR IN WALDO CANYON AND WILLIAMS CANYON. 

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

BEFORE 3 PM...ONE FOOT OF WATER WAS OVER HIGHWAY 24 NEAR CASCADE. 

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 3894 10484 3883 10488 3886 10500 3895 10500

$$
305 
WGUS75 KPUB 122138
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
338 PM MDT MON AUG 12 2013

COC041-122330-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0020.000000T0000Z-130812T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
338 PM MDT MON AUG 12 2013

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL EL PASO
COUNTY UNTIL 530 PM MDT...

AT 330 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINFALL IN MANITOU SPRINGS.  
RAINFALL RATES AND AMOUNTS WERE ESTIMATED BY DOPPLER RADAR TO BE 
AROUND 1.5 INCHES IN MANITOU SPRINGS.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. RUNOFF FROM THIS 
EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS
THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...COLORADO SPRINGS...CASCADE...
CHIPITA PARK AND MANITOU SPRINGS.

AT 330 PM...MEDIA REPORTS SHOWED SOME FLOODING AROUND THE ARCADE AND 
SPA BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN MANITOU SPRINGS.

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 3894 10484 3883 10488 3886 10500 3895 10500

$$
756 
WGUS75 KPUB 122158
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
358 PM MDT MON AUG 12 2013

COC041-122330-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0020.000000T0000Z-130812T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
358 PM MDT MON AUG 12 2013

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL EL PASO
COUNTY UNTIL 530 PM MDT...

AT 353 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINFALL HAVE MOVED OUT OF 
THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING AREA. 

RUNOFF FROM THIS RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING TO OCCUR. SOME 
LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...WESTERN COLORADO 
SPRINGS AND MANITOU SPRINGS.

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 3894 10484 3883 10488 3886 10500 3895 10500

$$
483 
WGUS75 KPUB 122215
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
415 PM MDT MON AUG 12 2013

COC041-122230-
/O.CAN.KPUB.FF.W.0020.000000T0000Z-130812T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL PASO CO-
415 PM MDT MON AUG 12 2013

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL EL
PASO COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

EXCESS RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAIN HAS ENDED OVER THE WARNED AREA. STREAMS
AND CREEKS IN THE WARNED AREA HAVE RECEDED OR WERE BEGINNING TO
RECEDE...ENDING THE FLOOD THREAT. IF FLOODING HAS BEEN OBSERVED...
PLEASE REPORT IT TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF FLOODING WAS OBSERVED PLEASE RELAY YOUR REPORT TO LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT OR TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO.

&&

LAT...LON 3894 10484 3883 10488 3886 10500 3895 10500

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 11, 6:41 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBEl Paso3 hr
Aug 12, 4:19 AM MDTFlash Flood WatchPUBEl Paso, Fremont, Teller17 hr
Aug 12, 1:06 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBEl Paso114 min
Aug 12, 3:26 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBEl Paso3 hr
Aug 12, 3:49 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBEl Paso3 hr
Aug 12, 4:18 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBEl Paso2 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Colorado, 2013Every flash flood warning in 2013

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.