Alert archive / Nevada / Flash Flood Warnings in 2017

Flash Flood Warning 2, NWS Elko, NV

February 8, 2017Elko County, Nevada

NWS Elko, NV issued this flash flood warning at Feb 8, 2017, 12:00 PM PST for Elko County, Nevada. It was in force for 12 hr. 3 reports 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 8, 2017, 12:00 PM PST (20:00 UTC)
Expired
Feb 9, 2017, 12:00 AM PST
In force
12 hr
Issued by
NWS Elko, NV
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
Unknown

County Elko County, NV

The radar

The Salt Lake City radar (KMTX), 155 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:05 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
Feb 8, 1:06 PM PSTFLASH FLOOD21 Nnw Montello, NVTIME IS ESTIMATED. COMPLETE BREACH AND FAILURE OF THE TWENTYONE MILE DAM NW OF MONTELLO. THOUSAND SPRINGS CREEK WAS FLOODED. RANCHES WERE FLOODED WITH IMPACTS TO THE GAMBLE RANCH. LAW ENFORCEMENT EVACUATED RESIDENTS DOWNSTREAM OF THE DAM. RAIL TRAFFIC WAS CLOS
Feb 8, 3:00 PM PSTFLOODMontello, NVTIME ESTIMATED WITH CURRENT FLOODING. SIGNIFICANT AND WIDESPREAD FLOODING OCCURRING IN MONTELLO. FLOOD WATERS POSSIBLY ENTERED HOMES AND THE US POST OFFICE. CREWS WERE ACTIVELY SANDBAGGING TO HELP WITH FLOODING. NUMEROUS AREAS WERE ALSO FLOODED AS THE CREEK FL
Feb 8, 4:01 PM PSTFLOOD20 Nnw Montello, NVCOUNTY ROUTE 765 CLOSED DUE TO WASHOUTS FROM THE DAM FAILURE AND THOUSAND SPRINGS CREEK. .

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

The nearest sounding before it

Elko, NV (KLKN), launched 12:00Z, 8.0 hours before the alert went out and 59 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, Elko, NV at 12:00Z on 2017-02-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Elko, NV at 12:00Z on 2017-02-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 259 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1826 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
82 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
259 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
325 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

434 
WGUS55 KLKN 082000
FFWLKN
NVC007-090200-
/O.NEW.KLKN.FF.W.0002.170208T2000Z-170209T0200Z/
/00000.U.DM.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Elko NV
1200 PM PST WED FEB 8 2017

The National Weather Service in Elko Nevada has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  A Dam Break in...
  East central Elko County in northeastern Nevada...

* Until 600 PM PST Wednesday

* At 1154 AM PST, local law enforcement reported the failure of 
  Twentyone Mile Dam. This is a breach of an earthen dam. Reports of 
  at least two to three feet of water is rapidly moving downstream. 
  The depth of water may increase as the dam continues to fail. Take 
  immediate action and move to higher ground. This is a life 
  dangerous and threatening situation. County road 765, Twentyone 
  Mile Ranch, Eighteen Mile Ranch are downstream of the dam and 
  could see dangerous flash flooding. Eventually Montello and State 
  Route 233 could be impacted.  

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life.

&&

LAT...LON 4127 11434 4145 11452 4162 11447 4152 11404
      4122 11404

$$

JRM/LW
2 follow-up statements
870 
WGUS75 KLKN 082317
FFSLKN

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Elko NV
317 PM PST WED FEB 8 2017

NVC007-090200-
/O.CON.KLKN.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-170209T0200Z/
/00000.U.DM.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ELKO NV-
317 PM PST WED FEB 8 2017

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR A DAM BREAK REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600
PM PST WEDNESDAY FOR EAST CENTRAL ELKO COUNTY...

At 306 PM PST local law enforcement confirmed failure of Twentyone 
Mile Dam. This water has already impacted the Gamble Ranch, flooding 
multiple buildings. The water has slowed, but is still steadily 
moving downstream toward Dake Reservoir. This reservoir has the 
potential to over top and could result in additional flooding 
downstream. Public and Law Enforcement reported significant flash 
flooding in Montello and the water is continuing to rise. This will 
impact State Route 233, which is already closed. Residents living in 
Montello and near and downstream of Twentyone Mile Dam and Thousand 
Springs Creek should take immediate action to protect life and 
property. It is unknown how the water will funnel through streams 
and fill low spots.  

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life. Do not 
be caught off guard by the flood waters. 

&&

LAT...LON 4127 11434 4145 11452 4162 11447 4152 11404
      4122 11404

$$

JRM
706 
WGUS55 KLKN 090125
FFWLKN
NVC007-090800-
/O.EXT.KLKN.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-170209T0800Z/
/00000.U.DM.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Elko NV
525 PM PST WED FEB 8 2017

The National Weather Service in Elko Nevada has extended the

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  A Dam Break in...
  East central Elko County in northeastern Nevada...

* Until midnight PST Thursday

* At 516 PM PST, local law enforcement and confirmed media reports a 
  full dam breach and failure. Water in the reservoir continues to 
  rapidly empty and is heading downstream. Ongoing flash flooding 
  will continue and could potentially get worse. As additional water 
  flows into the Dake Reservoir, overtopping could occur. This could 
  lead to unexpected and additional flash flooding moving downstream 
  toward state route 233 north of montello. The railroad near the 
  Utah and Nevada border will continue to be impacted. This is a 
  dangerous and life threatening situation. Do not drive through 
  flooded roadways and seek higher ground immediately. Due to 
  uncertainty in how the flood wave will progress, it is strongly 
  recommended to stay away from the area.  

* Locations impacted include...
  Montello, State Route 233, Ranches in the area.

Flood waters are moving down Thousand Springs Creek from 23 Mile 
Reservoir to Dakes Reservoir and on to State Route 233. The flood 
crest is likely already impacting many area ranches and roads, and 
the flooding could worsen.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

&&

LAT...LON 4127 11434 4145 11452 4162 11447 4152 11404
      4122 11404

$$

JRM/DW

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 7, 6:24 PM PSTRiver Flood WarningLKNElko7 days
Feb 7, 6:25 PM PSTAreal Flood WarningLKNHumboldt36 hr
Feb 7, 9:21 PM PSTRiver Flood WarningLKNLander22 days
Feb 7, 9:40 PM PSTFlash Flood WarningLKNLander8 hr
Feb 8, 5:30 AM PSTAreal Flood WarningLKNLander12 hr
Feb 8, 12:35 PM PSTFlash Flood WarningLKNElko5 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Nevada, 2017Every 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.