Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2013

Flash Flood Warning 6, NWS Pueblo, CO

July 14, 2013Huerfano County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Jul 14, 2013, 5:51 PM MDT for Huerfano County, Colorado. It was in force for 3 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 14, 2013, 5:51 PM MDT (23:51 UTC)
Expired
Jul 14, 2013, 9:00 PM MDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Huerfano County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 125 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:50 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

Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM (KABQ), launched 12:00Z, 11.9 hours before the alert went out and 312 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, Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM at 12:00Z on 2013-07-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 65 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, Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM at 12:00Z on 2013-07-14The 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
65 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-300 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2177 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
14 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
30 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
28 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.

028 
WGUS55 KPUB 142351
FFWPUB
COC055-150300-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0006.130714T2351Z-130715T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
551 PM MDT SUN JUL 14 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SOUTH CENTRAL HUERFANO COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO...

* UNTIL 900 PM MDT

* AT 548 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED   
  THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE EAST PEAK  
  BURN SCAR. PUEBLO DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF UP 
  TO 1.5 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN OVER THE EAST PEAK BURN 
  SCAR...WITH ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAINFALL 
  MOVING INTO THE REGION. 

* THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. RUNOFF FROM THIS
  EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO OCCUR.


THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING STREAMS AND DRAINAGES...
SOUTH SANTA CLARA CREEK...CHERRY CREEK...SANTA CLARA CREEK...SALADO
CREEK...MAYNE ARROYO...WALSEN ARROYO AND WAHATOYA CREEK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF UP TO AN INCH ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED 
AREA.

IN HILLY TERRAIN THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS WHICH ARE
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL ACROSS
FLOODED ROADS. FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES. IT ONLY TAKES A FEW INCHES OF
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER TO CARRY VEHICLES AWAY.

&&

LAT...LON 3739 10495 3747 10495 3755 10469 3750 10465
      3749 10469 3744 10470 3740 10490

$$
3 follow-up statements
338 
WGUS75 KPUB 150121
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
721 PM MDT SUN JUL 14 2013

COC055-150300-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0006.000000T0000Z-130715T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HUERFANO CO-
721 PM MDT SUN JUL 14 2013

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL HUERFANO
COUNTY UNTIL 900 PM MDT...

AT 720 PM MDT...LIGHT RAINFALL CONTINUES TO FALL OVER THE EAST PEAK 
BURN SCAR.  HOWEVER MORE THUNDERSTORMS OVER WALSENBURG WILL MOVE TO 
THE SOUTHWEST INTO THE BURN SCAR THROUGH 820 PM PRODUCING MORE HEAVY 
RAINFALL AND EXACERBATING FLASH FLOODING ON THE EAST PEAK BURN SCAR. 

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING STREAMS AND DRAINAGES...
SOUTH SANTA CLARA CREEK...CHERRY CREEK...SANTA CLARA CREEK...SALADO
CREEK...MAYNE ARROYO...WALSEN ARROYO AND WAHATOYA 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...

IN HILLY TERRAIN...THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS WHICH
ARE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL
ACROSS FLOODED ROADS. FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES. IT ONLY TAKES A FEW
INCHES OF SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER TO CARRY VEHICLES AWAY.

&&

LAT...LON 3739 10495 3747 10495 3755 10469 3750 10465
      3749 10469 3744 10470 3740 10490

$$
245 
WGUS75 KPUB 150210
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
810 PM MDT SUN JUL 14 2013

COC055-150300-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0006.000000T0000Z-130715T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HUERFANO CO-
810 PM MDT SUN JUL 14 2013

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL HUERFANO
COUNTY UNTIL 900 PM MDT...

AT 808 PM MDT...HEAVY RAIN HAS MOVED OFF THE EAST PEAK BURN SCAR.  
HOWEVER...PUEBLO DOPPLER RADAR SHOWS UP TO 1.5 INCHES OF RAIN HAS 
FALLEN OVER THE BURN SCAR EARLIER THIS EVENING.  ADDITIONAL 
THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING IN THE WALSENBURG AREA AND WILL BE 
MOVING INTO THE AREA BEFORE 9 PM AND COULD BRING ADDITIONAL HEAVY 
RAINFALL. 

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING STREAMS AND DRAINAGES...
SOUTH SANTA CLARA CREEK...CHERRY CREEK...SANTA CLARA CREEK...SALADO
CREEK...MAYNE ARROYO...WALSEN ARROYO AND WAHATOYA 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...

IN HILLY TERRAIN...THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS WHICH
ARE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL
ACROSS FLOODED ROADS. FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES. IT ONLY TAKES A FEW
INCHES OF SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER TO CARRY VEHICLES AWAY.

&&

LAT...LON 3739 10495 3747 10495 3755 10469 3750 10465
      3749 10469 3744 10470 3740 10490

$$
941 
WGUS75 KPUB 150250
FFSPUB

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
850 PM MDT SUN JUL 14 2013

COC055-150305-
/O.EXP.KPUB.FF.W.0006.000000T0000Z-130715T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HUERFANO CO-
850 PM MDT SUN JUL 14 2013

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL
HUERFANO COUNTY WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 900 PM MDT...

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.

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 3739 10495 3747 10495 3755 10469 3750 10465
      3749 10469 3744 10470 3740 10490

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 14, 12:22 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBMineral3 hr
Jul 14, 1:19 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBCuster, Pueblo3 hr
Jul 14, 2:41 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBHuerfano3 hr
Jul 14, 2:55 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBHuerfano3 hr
Jul 14, 3:31 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBFremont3 hr
Jul 14, 4:46 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBLas Animas3 hr
Jul 14, 5:05 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBChaffee3 hr
Jul 14, 5:05 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBHuerfano3 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.