Alert archive / California / Flash Flood Warnings in 2017

Flash Flood Warning 25, NWS Hanford, CA

February 17, 2017Kern County, California

NWS Hanford, CA issued this flash flood warning at Feb 17, 2017, 4:16 PM PST for Kern County, California. 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: Feb 17, 2017, 4:16 PM PST (00:16 UTC)
Expired: Feb 17, 2017, 7:15 PM PST
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Hanford, CA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

County Kern County, CA

The radar

The Edwards AFB radar (KEYX), 40 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:18 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
Feb 17, 6:32 PM PST	FLASH FLOOD	8 Wnw Randsburg, CA	KERN COUNTY ROADS REPORTS MUD AND FLOODING ALONG REDROCK RANDSBURG AND GARLOCK RD BETWEEN SR-14 AND US-395. ROADWAY CLOSED AT 720 PM.

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

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this flash flood warning; the first came 136 minutes after it went out.

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

Las Vegas, NV (KVEF), launched 00:00Z, 0.3 hours before the alert went out and 231 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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 1800 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 77 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 297 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 468 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

988 
WGUS56 KHNX 180016
FFWHNX
CAC029-180315-
/O.NEW.KHNX.FF.W.0025.170218T0016Z-170218T0315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
416 PM PST FRI FEB 17 2017

The National Weather Service in Hanford CA has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Eastern Kern County in central California...

* Until 715 PM PST

* At 414 PM PST, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain across the 
  warned area. Flash flooding is expected to begin shortly if not 
  already occurring.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
  Ridgecrest, California City, Edwards AFB, China Lake Acres,
  Randsburg, Inyokern, Boron, Government Peak, Indian Wells Canyon,
  Laurel Mountain and North Edwards.

Excessive rainfall over the warned area will cause mud slides near
steep terrain. The mud slide can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and
other loose materials.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

A Flash Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring.
If you are in the warned area move to higher ground immediately.
Residents living along streams and creeks should take immediate
precautions to protect life and property.

&&

LAT...LON 3482 11804 3520 11813 3579 11798 3580 11764
      3571 11763 3569 11766 3568 11761 3565 11764
      3483 11763

$$

DCH/ROWE

2 follow-up statements

179 
WGUS76 KHNX 180132
FFSHNX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
532 PM PST FRI FEB 17 2017

CAC029-180315-
/O.CON.KHNX.FF.W.0025.000000T0000Z-170218T0315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Kern CA-
532 PM PST FRI FEB 17 2017

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM PST FOR
EASTERN KERN COUNTY...

At 531 PM PST, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated 
that heavy rain was continuing over the area.

Excessive rainfall over the warned area will cause mud slides near
steep terrain. The mud slide can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and
other loose materials.

Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Ridgecrest, California City, Edwards AFB, China Lake Acres,
Randsburg, Inyokern, Boron, Government Peak, Indian Wells Canyon,
Laurel Mountain and North Edwards.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

A Flash Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring.
If you are in the warned area move to higher ground immediately.
Residents living along streams and creeks should take immediate
precautions to protect life and property.

&&

LAT...LON 3482 11804 3520 11813 3579 11798 3580 11764
      3571 11763 3569 11766 3568 11761 3565 11764
      3483 11763

$$

DCH

943 
WGUS76 KHNX 180310
FFSHNX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
710 PM PST FRI FEB 17 2017

CAC029-180319-
/O.EXP.KHNX.FF.W.0025.000000T0000Z-170218T0315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Kern CA-
710 PM PST FRI FEB 17 2017

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR EASTERN KERN COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 715
PM PST...

A new flash flood warning has been issued for portions of Kern 
County. The threat of flooding still exists in the new warning.

LAT...LON 3482 11804 3520 11813 3579 11798 3580 11764
      3571 11763 3569 11766 3568 11761 3565 11764
      3483 11763

$$

Rowe

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 Hanford, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Feb 17, 3:43 PM PST, 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 17, 3:43 PM PST, 33 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley - Hanford CA
343 PM PST Fri Feb 17 2017

.SYNOPSIS...Unsettled weather will continue across central
California through at least the middle of next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
A storm system off the coast continues to affect central CA with
rain, high elevation snow and high winds. Satellite images show
a moisture band of high precipitable water stretching from the
Channel Islands northward through the San Joaquin Valley. The
heaviest rain is falling in the south facing slopes of the
Tehachapi Mountains due strong south winds. The Vandenberg
Sounding shows South wind at 60kt around 5kft and numerous reports
of high winds have been reported especially towards the Tehachapi
mountains and along the coastal mountains. Models prog the high
wind potential decreasing during the evening. Heavy snow should
continue over the Sierra with rising snow levels. No changes
anticipated at the moment for the current watches and warnings.

The moderate to heavy rain should continue over the Kern county
mountains...especially the south facing slopes into the evening.
Thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon into the early
evening hours...especially along the west side of the San Joaquin
Valley.

Models prog the upper low pushing onshore tonight and over the
SJV early Saturday morning...with scattered showers across the
area Saturday into Sunday.

Another upper low will approach the Pacific Northwest coastline
Sunday night into Monday morning...bringing another round of
widespread precipitation to central California Monday into
Tuesday morning. Unsettled weather remains in the area through at
least next Friday. There will be breaks in the weather during this
time frame...we will continue to nail down timing over the weekend
into early next week.

The main concern of the forecast will be over the next 12
hours...with extremely strong winds and flash flooding especially
over the mountains below 7000 feet. Please continue to maintain
weather awareness today and stay safe.

&&

.AVIATION...IFR conditions will prevail over the mountains due
to precipitation, low ceilings and mountain obscurations. Local
MVFR conditions can be expected in the Sierra foothills in
episodes of heavy rain during the next 24 hours. Additionally,
strong winds gusting over 35 knots will occur in the northern
San Joaquin Valley and through and below the mountain passes of Kern
County as well as the south end and west side of the San Joaquin
Valley through 03z Saturday.  VFR conditions can be expected
elsewhere over the central California interior during the next
24 hours.

&&

.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
None.

&&

.CERTAINTY...

The level of certainty for days 1 and 2 is medium.
The level of certainty for days 3 through 7 is medium.

Certainty levels include low...medium...and high. Please visit
www.weather.gov/hnx/certainty.php for additional information
an/or to provide feedback.

&&

.HNX Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
Flash Flood Watch through late tonight CAZ093>099.

Wind Advisory until 7 PM PST this evening CAZ089>092.

High Wind Warning until 7 PM PST this evening CAZ095.

Winter Storm Warning until 4 AM PST Saturday ABOVE 7000 FEET FOR
THE CAZ096-097.

&&

public...MV
avn/fw...DCH
prev discussion...Riley
synopsis...MV

weather.gov/hanford

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 17, 12:09 PM PST, 4 hours 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
1209 PM PST FRI FEB 17 2017

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

1113 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SSE GRAPEVINE         34.90N 118.90W
02/17/2017  M97 MPH          KERN               CA   MESONET

            MESONET STATION GRAPEVINE PEAK /GVPC1/.

&&

WP

Local storm report, Feb 17, 12:41 PM PST, 3 hours 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
1241 PM PST FRI FEB 17 2017

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

1213 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SSE GRAPEVINE         34.90N 118.90W
02/17/2017  M108 MPH         KERN               CA   MESONET

            MESONET STATION GRAPEVINE PEAK /GVPC1/.

&&

WP

Local storm report, Feb 17, 1:28 PM PST, 2 hours 48 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
128 PM PST FRI FEB 17 2017

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

0126 PM     DEBRIS FLOW      3 NW LEBEC              34.88N 118.90W
02/17/2017                   KERN               CA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            REPORTED AT 34.882222 -118.900556. REPORTED
            BY CHP AND TV MEDIA. ROCK SLIDE BLOCKING 3
            LANES OF SB I-5. LARGE ROCK ALSO IN THE
            ROAD.

&&

WP

Local storm report, Feb 17, 2:00 PM PST, 2 hours 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
200 PM PST FRI FEB 17 2017

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

1213 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 12 WNW MCKITTRICK       35.36N 119.82W
02/17/2017  M59 MPH          KERN               CA   MESONET

            MESONET STATION TWISSELMAN /TWMC1/.

&&

WP

Local storm report, Feb 17, 2:01 PM PST, 2 hours 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
201 PM PST FRI FEB 17 2017

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

1150 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 E AVENAL              36.03N 120.06W
02/17/2017  M58 MPH          KINGS              CA   MESONET

            MESONET STATION KETTLEMAN HILLS /KTLC1/.

&&

WP

Local storm report, Feb 17, 2:58 PM PST, 1 hour 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
258 PM PST FRI FEB 17 2017

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

0222 PM     DEBRIS FLOW      1 W FRAZIER PARK        34.82N 118.97W
02/17/2017                   KERN               CA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            REPORTED AT 34.821249 -118.969707. MAJOR MUD
            SLIDE REPORTED BY CHP AND MEDIA.

&&

WP

The office that day

Everything else NWS Hanford, CA issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Feb 17, 4:03 PM PST	Areal Flood Advisory	HNX	Kern	3 hr
Feb 17, 4:22 PM PST	Areal Flood Advisory	HNX	Kern, Tulare	3 hr
Feb 17, 5:08 PM PST	Areal Flood Advisory	HNX	Kern	2 hr
Feb 17, 6:16 PM PST	Areal Flood Advisory	HNX	Kern	59 min
Feb 17, 6:50 PM PST	Areal Flood Advisory	HNX	Kern	3 hr
Feb 17, 7:03 PM PST	Flash Flood Warning	HNX	Kern	2 hr
Feb 17, 9:20 PM PST	Areal Flood Advisory	HNX	Kern	3 hr
Feb 18, 3:02 PM PST	Flood Watch	HNX		3 days
Feb 18, 3:30 PM PST	Winter Storm Watch	HNX		13 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in California, 2017 Every flash flood warning in 2017

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.