Alert archive / Nevada / Flash Flood Warnings in 2015

Flash Flood Warning 27, NWS Reno, NV

July 6, 2015Churchill County, Lyon County, Nevada

NWS Reno, NV issued this flash flood warning at Jul 6, 2015, 5:16 PM PDT for Churchill County, Lyon County, Nevada. 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 6, 2015, 5:16 PM PDT (00:16 UTC)
Expired: Jul 6, 2015, 8:15 PM PDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Reno, NV
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Churchill County, NV, Lyon County, NV

The radar

The Reno radar (KRGX), 65 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:17 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Reno, NV (KREV), launched 00:00Z, 0.3 hours before the alert went out and 73 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: 177 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -69 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 2526 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 11 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 58 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.

425 
WGUS55 KREV 070016
FFWREV
NVC001-019-070315-
/O.NEW.KREV.FF.W.0027.150707T0016Z-150707T0315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
516 PM PDT MON JUL 6 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL LYON COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL NEVADA...
  SOUTHWESTERN CHURCHILL COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL NEVADA...

* UNTIL 815 PM PDT
    
* AT 512 PM PDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING
  HEAVY RAIN ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. FLASH FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR
  EXPECTED TO BEGIN SHORTLY.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  FORT CHURCHILL STATION...SILVER SPRINGS...ALT HWY 95 BETWEEN SILVER SPRINGS
  AND YERINGTON...AND HWY 95 SOUTH OF FALLON. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. 

DEBRIS FLOWS OFTEN CONTAIN MASSIVE BOULDERS AND CONTAIN MUDSLIDES COVERING ROADWAYS. 
PEOPLE LIVING BELOW BURNED AREAS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.
MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND NOW. ACT QUICKLY TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE.

&&

LAT...LON 3941 11876 3911 11871 3916 11932 3943 11932

$$

TF

1 follow-up statement

208 
WGUS75 KREV 070137
FFSREV

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
637 PM PDT MON JUL 6 2015

NVC001-019-070147-
/O.CAN.KREV.FF.W.0027.000000T0000Z-150707T0315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
LYON NV-CHURCHILL NV-
637 PM PDT MON JUL 6 2015

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR CENTRAL LYON AND SOUTHWESTERN
CHURCHILL COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

THE HEAVY RAIN HAS ENDED...AND FLOODING IS NO LONGER EXPECTED TO POSE
A THREAT TO THE AREA.

LAT...LON 3941 11876 3911 11871 3916 11932 3943 11932

$$

TF

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Reno, NV wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jul 6, 2:11 PM PDT, 3 hours 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 6, 2:11 PM PDT, 3 hours 5 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
211 PM PDT MON JUL 6 2015

.SYNOPSIS...

LOW PRESSURE NEAR THE CALIFORNIA COAST WILL SLOWLY MOVE ONSHORE
AND BRING THE THREAT FOR THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE WEEK,
ESPECIALLY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE HIGHEST
PROBABILITY OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR TODAY AND TOMORROW,
BUT LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE ANY DAY THIS WEEK.

&&

.SHORT TERM...

ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS REMAIN IN PLACE TODAY FOR STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A FLASH
FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE EASTERN SIERRA AND WESTERN
NV FROM RENO-SPARKS SOUTH TO LYON-MINERAL COUNTIES WHERE THE
COVERAGE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO BE GREATEST. LOCATIONS
IN NORTHEAST CA AND WESTERN NV THAT ARE NORTH AND EAST OF THIS
AREA COULD ALSO SEE ISOLATED STORMS PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY RAIN,
AND MAY ACTUALLY HAVE A BETTER CHANCE FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO
CREATE HAIL UP TO ONE INCH IN DIAMETER AND STRONG OUTFLOW WINDS
50-60 MPH.

THE MORNING ATMOSPHERIC SOUNDING AT THE RENO FORECAST OFFICE
SHOWED STEEP MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES BUT WITH A CAP AROUND 600 MB.
THIS CAP IS EXPECTED TO ERODE BY MID-AFTERNOON AS TEMPERATURES
HEAT UP ALLOWING CONVECTION TO BECOME DEEPER AND STRONGER. THOUGH
NOT STRONG, THERE IS ALSO MODERATE 0-6K SHEAR THIS AFTERNOON
WHICH INCREASES THE POTENTIAL FOR LONGER-LASTING STRONG UPDRAFTS
WITHIN ANY STORMS.

THE ACTIVE THUNDERSTORM PATTERN WILL CONTINUE ALL WEEK AS A LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEM SLOWLY MOVES EAST OVER CA/NV. CURRENT SATELLITE
ESTIMATES SHOW ABUNDANT MOISTURE OFFSHORE WHICH WILL PROVIDE A
MOIST SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY. BY TUESDAY, THE LOW
WILL HAVE MOVED FAR ENOUGH ONSHORE TO INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR
UPPER IMPULSES TO INFLUENCE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. CURRENT MODELS
SHOW POTENTIAL FOR AN IMPULSE TO ARRIVE EARLY TUESDAY MORNING WITH
A STRONGER UPPER WAVE FOR AFTERNOON. TIMING THESE IMPULSES IS
DIFFICULT BUT ANOTHER FLASH FLOOD WATCH MAY BE WARRANTED FOR
TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THE ONLY LIMITING FACTOR COULD BE IF THE
MORNING IMPULSE CREATES ENOUGH CLOUD COVER TO LIMIT INSTABILITY
DURING THE AFTERNOON.

FOR WEDNESDAY, A BROAD AREA OF SLOW RISING MOTION IN THE
NORTHEAST QUADRANT OF THE UPPER-LOW SHOULD LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN
CLOUD COVER AND RAIN SHOWERS BUT COULD LEAD TO A DECREASE IN THE
NUMBER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN. HOWEVER,
MODEL GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO SHOW THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG
INSTABILITY, AND ANY CLOUD BREAKS WOULD AGAIN PROVIDE A THREAT FOR
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
AND EVENING. JCM

.LONG TERM...THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY...

AN UPPER LOW OFF THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST WILL MOVE INLAND
ACROSS NEVADA BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON. THIS WILL PROVIDE MUCH COOLER
TEMPERATURES WITH A BETTER POTENTIAL TO SEE WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION
ACROSS THE REGION. OVERALL LOOKING FOR AMPLE MOISTURE/CLOUD COVER TO
SPREAD INLAND WITH THE LOW WHICH MAY INHIBIT INSTABILITY AND LEAD TO
MORE WIDESPREAD SHOWER ACTIVITY WITH ISOLATED STORM COVERAGE. THE
INCREASED CLOUDS COULD ALSO KEEP HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 70S
TO LOWER 80S ACROSS WESTERN NEVADA WITH UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S
ACROSS SIERRA VALLEYS. MAIN CHANGES TO THE FORECAST FOR THURSDAY
WERE TO INCREASE PRECIP CHANCES, INCREASE CLOUD COVER, AND ALSO TO
LOWER HIGH TEMPERATURES.

AN UPPER LOW WILL THEN DEVELOP JUST OFF THE WEST COAST BY FRIDAY
WITH ADDITIONAL CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND STORMS ACROSS THE SIERRA AND
INTO FAR NORTHWESTERN NEVADA. THE LOW WILL MAINTAIN CHANCES FOR
SHOWERS AND STORMS ON SATURDAY BUT CHANCES WILL SLIP MAINLY ACROSS
THE NORTHERN FORECAST AREA ROUGHLY NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80. BY
SUNDAY, MODEL GUIDANCE INTRODUCES A DRY SOUTHWEST FLOW WHICH WILL
TRANSITION US INTO A DRIER PATTERN INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. HIGH
TEMPERATURES LOOK TO RETURN TO NEAR SEASONABLE LEVELS WITH UPPER 80S
ACROSS WESTERN NEVADA AND MID TO UPPER 70S ACROSS THE SIERRA. FUENTES

&&

.AVIATION...

THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE SIERRA AND NORTHEAST CA WILL BECOME
STRONGER AND SPREAD EASTWARD THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ERRATIC
OUTFLOW WINDS UP TO 50 KTS AND LOW VSBY DUE TO HEAVY RAIN ARE THE
MAIN AVIATION THREATS FROM THESE STORMS. MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION IS
ALSO LIKELY ESPECIALLY NEAR THE CREST OF THE SIERRA. STORMS SHOULD
BECOME LESS INTENSE AFTER 0900 PDT BUT SHOWERS MAY PERSIST
OVERNIGHT.

EXPECT SIMILAR CONDITIONS TOMORROW (TUESDAY), EXCEPT THUNDERSTORMS
MAY START EARLIER THAN TODAY, ESPECIALLY OVER THE SIERRA WHERE
STORMS MAY INITIATE BY MID-MORNING. JCM

&&

.REV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NV...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 9 PM PDT THIS EVENING NVZ001>003.

CA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 9 PM PDT THIS EVENING CAZ072-073.

&&

FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO (ALL LOWER CASE)

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 6, 4:41 PM PDT, 35 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
441 PM PDT MON JUL 6 2015

CAZ072-NVZ002-003-070045-
GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA CA-GREATER RENO-CARSON CITY-MINDEN AREA NV-
GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA NV-
441 PM PDT MON JUL 6 2015

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...

AT 438 PM PDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
KINGSBURY...OR NEAR STATELINE...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 15 MPH.

DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM. THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE TORRENTIAL RAIN WITH AREAS OF
LOCALIZED FLOODING. THIS WILL PRODUCE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS
ON LAKE TAHOE. BOATERS SEEK SHELTER IMMEDITATELY.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...STATELINE...SOUTH LAKE TAHOE...KINGSBURY
...ZEPHYR COVE-ROUND HILL VILLAGE... ZEPHYR COVE...GENOA...
JUNCTION NV 88 AND NV 756...STATELINE... HEAVENLY VALLEY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF ON OR NEAR A LAKE...GET OUT OF THE WATER AND MOVE INDOORS OR
INSIDE A VEHICLE NOW. DON'T BE CAUGHT ON THE WATER IN A THUNDERSTORM.
STRONG WIND GUSTS AND LIGHTNING POSE AN IMMEDIATE DANGER TO BOATERS.
GUSTY WINDS WILL CAUSE A RAPID INCREASE IN WAVE HEIGHTS WHICH MAY
CAPSIZE SMALL BOATS.

&&

LAT...LON 3889 11977 3886 11997 3903 12006 3910 11978
TIME...MOT...LOC 2338Z 131DEG 11KT 3895 11990

TF

Local storm report, Jul 6, 4:45 PM PDT, 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
445 PM PDT MON JUL 06 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0445 PM     HEAVY RAIN       5 N RENO                39.61N 119.82W
07/06/2015  M0.47 INCH       WASHOE             NV   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE RECORDED 0.47
            INCHES OF RAINFALL IN 30 MINUTES.

&&

MCGUIRE

Local storm report, Jul 6, 4:56 PM PDT, 20 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
456 PM PDT MON JUL 06 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0447 PM     HEAVY RAIN       4 SSW RENO              39.48N 119.84W
07/06/2015  U0.00 INCH       WASHOE             NV   TRAINED SPOTTER

            VERY HEAVY RAIN LAST 25 MINUTES

0451 PM     HAIL             4 SSW RENO              39.48N 119.84W
07/06/2015  M0.50 INCH       WASHOE             NV   TRAINED SPOTTER

            3/8 INCH HAIL IN CAUGHLIN RANCH

0455 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 W GARDNERVILLE        38.94N 119.77W
07/06/2015                   DOUGLAS            NV   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE IS REPORTING FLASH
            FLOODING IS OCCURRING IN VARIOUS PLACES ALONG FOOTHILL
            ROAD. ROADS ARE IMPASSABLE AND LAST REPORT WAS FLOODING
            WAS GETTING WORSE.

&&

MCGUIRE

Local storm report, Jul 6, 5:09 PM PDT, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
509 PM PDT MON JUL 06 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0508 PM     FLASH FLOOD      3 WSW RENO              39.53N 119.87W
07/06/2015                   WASHOE             NV   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTED FLASH FLOODING IS
            OCCURRING IN THE NORTHWEST RENO AREA. VERY HEAVY RAINFALL
            IS STILL OCCURRING.

&&

MCGUIRE

Local storm report, Jul 6, 5:11 PM PDT, 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
511 PM PDT MON JUL 06 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0511 PM     HAIL             LEMMON VALLEY           39.64N 119.84W
07/06/2015  M0.25 INCH       WASHOE             NV   AMATEUR RADIO

            PEA SIZED HAIL REPORTED ALONG WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL.

&&

MCGUIRE

Local storm report, Jul 6, 5:15 PM PDT, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
515 PM PDT MON JUL 06 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0515 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 SSW GARDNERVILLE      38.91N 119.75W
07/06/2015  M1.65 INCH       DOUGLAS            NV   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTED 1.65 INCHES OF RAINFALL
            IN 45 MINUTES. FLASH FLOODING IS OCCURRING.

&&

MCGUIRE

The office that day

Everything else NWS Reno, NV issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 6, 5:47 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	REV		43 min
Jul 6, 6:12 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning	REV	Washoe	3 hr
Jul 6, 9:32 PM PDT	Flash Flood Watch	REV	Douglas, Lyon, Mineral, Storey, Washoe	21 hr
Jul 7, 12:14 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	REV	Douglas	46 min
Jul 7, 12:52 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	REV	Washoe	38 min
Jul 7, 1:03 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning	REV	Douglas, Lyon	3 hr
Jul 7, 1:03 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	REV		87 min
Jul 7, 1:30 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	REV		45 min
Jul 7, 1:43 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning	REV	Douglas, Lyon, Storey, Washoe	3 hr
Jul 7, 1:59 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	REV	Storey	31 min
Jul 7, 2:19 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning	REV	Mineral	3 hr
Jul 7, 2:23 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	REV	Lyon	22 min
Jul 7, 2:24 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning	REV	Storey, Washoe	3 hr
Jul 7, 2:49 PM PDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	REV	Washoe	41 min
Jul 7, 2:57 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	REV		48 min
Jul 7, 3:09 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	REV	Lyon	36 min
Jul 7, 3:48 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning	REV	Churchill	3 hr
Jul 7, 4:04 PM PDT	Special Weather Statement	REV	Churchill	41 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Nevada, 2015 Every flash flood warning in 2015

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.