Alert archive / California / Flash Flood Warnings in 2017

Flash Flood Warning 5, NWS Hanford, CA

January 7, 2017Tulare County, California

NWS Hanford, CA issued this flash flood warning at Jan 7, 2017, 4:24 PM PST for Tulare County, California. 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: Jan 7, 2017, 4:24 PM PST (00:24 UTC)
Expired: Jan 7, 2017, 7:30 PM PST
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Hanford, CA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

County Tulare County, CA

The radar

The San Joaquin Valley radar (KHNX), 86 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:25 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

Vandenberg AFB, CA (KVBG), launched 00:00Z, 0.4 hours before the alert went out and 236 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: 30 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -17 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 607 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -316 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 21 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: -0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

653 
WGUS56 KHNX 080024
FFWHNX
CAC107-080330-
/O.NEW.KHNX.FF.W.0005.170108T0024Z-170108T0330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
424 PM PST SAT JAN 7 2017

The National Weather Service in Hanford CA has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Central Tulare County in central California...

* Until 730 PM PST

* At 423 PM PST, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated
  heavy rain falling across the warned area. Up to three inches of
  rain have already fallen. Flash flooding is expected to begin
  shortly. Rock and mud slides will be possible in the warned area
  as well as rapid rises on creeks and rivers.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
  Oak Opening, Johnsondale, Wolverton Point, Marble Fork Kaweah,
  Ponderosa, Springville, Wet Meadows, Farewell Gap, Peppermint, Uhl,
  Case Mountain, Camp Nelson, Lodgepole, Quaking Aspen and Giant
  Forest.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Flooding is occurring or is imminent. It is important to know where
you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks which can become
killers in heavy rains. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or
creeks.

&&

LAT...LON 3669 11855 3581 11838 3582 11868 3592 11877
      3612 11884 3632 11879 3663 11887

$$

Riley

2 follow-up statements

104 
WGUS76 KHNX 080212
FFSHNX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
612 PM PST SAT JAN 7 2017

CAC107-080330-
/O.CON.KHNX.FF.W.0005.000000T0000Z-170108T0330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Tulare CA-
612 PM PST SAT JAN 7 2017

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM PST FOR
CENTRAL TULARE COUNTY...

At 610 PM PST, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated
that heavy rain continues to fall over the area.  Flash flooding is
expected to begin shortly.

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...
Oak Opening, Johnsondale, Wolverton Point, Marble Fork Kaweah,
Ponderosa, Springville, Wet Meadows, Farewell Gap, Peppermint, Uhl,
Case Mountain, Camp Nelson, Lodgepole, Quaking Aspen and Giant
Forest.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Flooding is occurring or is imminent. It is important to know where
you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks which can become
killers in heavy rains. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or
creeks.

&&

LAT...LON 3669 11855 3581 11838 3582 11868 3592 11877
      3612 11884 3632 11879 3663 11887

$$

Rowe

244 
WGUS76 KHNX 080328
FFSHNX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley CA
728 PM PST SAT JAN 7 2017

CAC107-080337-
/O.EXP.KHNX.FF.W.0005.000000T0000Z-170108T0330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Tulare CA-
728 PM PST SAT JAN 7 2017

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR CENTRAL TULARE COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
730 PM PST...

A new flash flood warning has been issued to replace this
warning.

LAT...LON 3669 11855 3581 11838 3582 11868 3592 11877
      3612 11884 3632 11879 3663 11887

$$

Dudley

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 Jan 7, 3:49 PM PST, 35 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 7, 3:49 PM PST, 35 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Joaquin Valley - Hanford CA
349 PM PST Sat Jan 7 2017

.SYNOPSIS...Periods of heavy rain and high Sierra snow will continue
over the central California interior through Sunday night. Much of
next week will be mild and wet as additional storm systems track
inland from the Pacific.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Very wet conditions today as an atmospheric river continues to
affect central CA. Radar has been estimating very heavy rainfall
over the sierra along the West slopes of Tulare and Fresno
counties. Some gages have recorded over an inch of rain in the
past six hours. The morning sounding from Vandenberg AFB show a
strong onshore flow with a low level flow from ssw at 40kt and a
mid level flow around 10kft WSW 50-60kt. This flow is creating
some gusty winds along and below the West side hills of the San
Joaquin Valley. The freezing level is fairly high 10kft at KVBG.
This will keep the threat of heavy snow above 9kft and maintain a
threat of damaging weather to flash flooding in the mountains and
areal flooding in the valley.

In the short Term...A fetch of tropical moisture continues to
move onshore over the central coast. Wind direction at mid levels
will be favorable for orographic lift over the Sierra Nevada
through Sunday night and expected to receive very heavy
precipitation. Rain in the lower elevations adjacent in the San
Joaquin Valley will be heavy at times through at least this
evening. High resolution models show potential for Gusty winds
developing in Merced county and along the West side of San
Joaquin Valley early Sunday due a disturbance and surface low
pushing through the delta area.

Satellite images show the atmospheric river shifting North off
the CA coastal waters due a a deepening low upstream in the Epac.
The ridge amplifies northward shifting the fetch of moisture
toward N CA. This should provide a break in rainfall in Kern
County later tonight and much of the South Valley on Sunday.
Precipitation will likely continue in the orographic regions of
the Sierra and in the extreme northern parts of the San Joaquin
valley. A cold front approaching from the northwest will bring a
southward shift of the atmospheric river Sunday evening.
Precipitation should return to Kern County late Sunday night and
continue into Monday as the cold front exits South and East of the
area. A slow drying, clearing trend should take place Monday
afternoon behind the weather system. The North sectors of the
central valley and Sierra Nevada towards Yosemite may likely
continue to see precipitation Monday night as another trough moves
into N CA. Snow levels will lower to about 5500 feet in the Sierra
Monday afternoon, then fluctuate little through Tuesday night. The
latter part of the forecast will remain unsettled due to a series
of disturbances moving through the North and Central CA.

&&

.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
None.

&&

.CERTAINTY...

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

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 Monday afternoon CAZ093>097.

Wind Advisory until 5 PM PST this afternoon CAZ092-095.

Flood Watch through Monday afternoon CAZ089>092.

&&

public...MV
avn/fw...MV
prev discussion...Durfee
synopsis...MV

weather.gov/hanford

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 7, 12:32 PM PST, 3 hours 52 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
1232 PM PST SAT JAN 7 2017

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

1231 PM     FLOOD            11 W CALIFORNIA HOT SPR 35.89N 118.86W
01/07/2017                   TULARE             CA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            REPORTED AT 35.891299 -118.861304, ROAD M-62
            IS 'WASHED OUT", REPORTED BY CHP.

&&

WP

Local storm report, Jan 7, 12:34 PM PST, 3 hours 50 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
1234 PM PST SAT JAN 7 2017

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

1231 PM     FLOOD            11 W CALIFORNIA HOT SPR 35.89N 118.86W
01/07/2017                   TULARE             CA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            REPORTED AT 35.891299 -118.861304, ROAD M-52
            IS 'WASHED OUT", REPORTED BY CHP.

&&

WP

Local storm report, Jan 7, 1:31 PM PST, 2 hours 53 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
131 PM PST SAT JAN 7 2017

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

0129 PM     FLOOD            5 N LIVINGSTON          37.46N 120.74W
01/07/2017                   MERCED             CA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            REPORTED AT 37.462962 -120.739831. ROADWAY
            FLOODING AT HARDING/CORTEZ REPORTED BY CHP.

&&

WP

Local storm report, Jan 7, 2:42 PM PST, 1 hour 42 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
242 PM PST SAT JAN 7 2017

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

0241 PM     DEBRIS FLOW      11 SSE SHAVER LAKE      36.97N 119.22W
01/07/2017                   FRESNO             CA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            REPORTED AT 36.969361 -119.216689.
            BASKETBALL SIZE BOULDERS IN ROADWAY.

&&

WP

Local storm report, Jan 7, 2:45 PM PST, 1 hour 39 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
245 PM PST SAT JAN 7 2017

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

0244 PM     FLOOD            2 ENE THREE RIVERS      36.46N 118.87W
01/07/2017                   TULARE             CA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            REPORTED AT 36.459673 -118.871483. ROADWAY
            FLOODED REPORTED BY CHP.

&&

WP

Local storm report, Jan 7, 3:01 PM PST, 1 hour 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
301 PM PST SAT JAN 7 2017

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

0300 PM     FLOOD            4 NW CARUTHERS          36.59N 119.89W
01/07/2017                   FRESNO             CA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            REPORTED AT 36.590273 -119.888709. ROADWAY
            FLOODING REPORTED BY CHP.

&&

WP

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jan 7, 4:37 PM PST	Flash Flood Warning	HNX	Kern	53 min
Jan 7, 6:20 PM PST	Areal Flood Advisory	HNX	Fresno, Madera, Tulare	6 hr
Jan 7, 7:06 PM PST	Areal Flood Advisory	HNX	Kern	114 min
Jan 7, 7:27 PM PST	Flash Flood Warning	HNX	Tulare	3 hr
Jan 7, 10:39 PM PST	Areal Flood Advisory	HNX	Tulare	6 hr
Jan 8, 1:16 AM PST	Special Weather Statement	HNX	Merced	44 min
Jan 8, 2:27 AM PST	Special Weather Statement	HNX	Mariposa	48 min
Jan 8, 2:56 AM PST	Wind Advisory	HNX		22 hr
Jan 8, 3:14 AM PST	Special Weather Statement	HNX	Madera	46 min

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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.