Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2017

Flash Flood Warning 21, NWS Pueblo, CO

July 15, 2017Chaffee County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Jul 15, 2017, 7:53 PM MDT for Chaffee County, Colorado. It was in force for 112 min. 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
Jul 15, 2017, 7:53 PM MDT (01:53 UTC)
Expired
Jul 15, 2017, 9:45 PM MDT
In force
112 min
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Chaffee County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 177 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:54 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
Jul 15, 8:10 PM MDTFLASH FLOOD3 Sse Buena Vista, COMUD FLOW ON HIGHWAY 285 JUST SOUTH OF MILE MARKER 148 AS CLOSED THE ROAD.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Grand Junction, CO (KGJT), launched 00:00Z, 1.9 hours before the alert went out and 205 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, Grand Junction, CO at 00:00Z on 2017-07-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 121 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, Grand Junction, CO at 00:00Z on 2017-07-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 32 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
121 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-38 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
3542 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
7 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
32 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
46 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

902 
WGUS55 KPUB 160153
FFWPUB
COC015-160345-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0021.170716T0153Z-170716T0345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
753 PM MDT SAT JUL 15 2017

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Central Chaffee County in central Colorado...

* Until 945 PM MDT

* At 752 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Up to one inch of rain has
  already fallen. Flash flooding is expected to begin shortly.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
  Buena Vista and Nathrop. 

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.

This includes the following streams and drainages...Cottonwood 
Creek...and Chalk Creek.

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 3866 10623 3887 10627 3886 10612 3870 10606

$$

KT
3 follow-up statements
900 
WGUS75 KPUB 160220
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
820 PM MDT SAT JUL 15 2017

COC015-160345-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0021.000000T0000Z-170716T0345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Chaffee CO-
820 PM MDT SAT JUL 15 2017

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 PM MDT FOR
CENTRAL CHAFFEE COUNTY...

At 818 PM MDT, local law enforcement reported a mud flow due to 
flash flooding on highway 285 just south of the highway 24 junction. 
Up to one inch of rain has already fallen. Flash flooding is already 
occurring.  Additional heavy rain continues to fall across th lower 
reaches of the Cottonwood Creek and Chalk Creek drainages.  This may 
cause mud flows in the Chalk Creek drainage as well.  

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...
Buena Vista and Nathrop. 

This includes the following streams and drainages...Trout Creek...
Arkansas River...Little Browns Creek...Cottonwood Creek...South
Cottonwood Creek...Powell Creek...Middle Cottonwood Creek...North
Cottonwood Creek...Eddy Creek...Hughes Creek...Browns Creek...Silver
Creek and Chalk Creek.

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 3866 10623 3887 10627 3886 10612 3870 10606

$$

KT
958 
WGUS75 KPUB 160301
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
901 PM MDT SAT JUL 15 2017

COC015-160345-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0021.000000T0000Z-170716T0345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Chaffee CO-
901 PM MDT SAT JUL 15 2017

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 PM MDT FOR
CENTRAL CHAFFEE COUNTY...

At 858 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy 
rain have exited the warned area.  However flash flooding will 
continue across the area until the water has a chance to recede. 
Highway 285 just south of the highway 24 intersection was closed due 
to a mud slide shortly after 800 PM this evening.  Heavy rain also 
fell across the lower reaches of the Cottonwood Creek and Chalk 
Creek basins which are also prone to mud flows. 

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...
Buena Vista and Nathrop. 

This includes the following streams and drainages...Cottonwood and 
Chalk Creek.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

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 3866 10623 3887 10627 3886 10612 3870 10606

$$

KT
878 
WGUS75 KPUB 160335
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
935 PM MDT SAT JUL 15 2017

COC015-160345-
/O.EXP.KPUB.FF.W.0021.000000T0000Z-170716T0345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Chaffee CO-
935 PM MDT SAT JUL 15 2017

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR CENTRAL CHAFFEE COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
945 PM MDT...

The heavy rain has ended. Flood waters have receded. Flooding is no
longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to heed any
remaining road closures.

LAT...LON 3866 10623 3887 10627 3886 10612 3870 10606

$$

KT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 15, 6:08 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBBent, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero, Prowers3 hr
Jul 15, 6:08 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBChaffee37 min
Jul 15, 6:35 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBProwers40 min
Jul 15, 6:39 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBChaffee111 min
Jul 15, 6:39 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBBaca, Prowers18 min
Jul 15, 6:43 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBChaffee, Fremont32 min
Jul 15, 7:00 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBProwers30 min
Jul 15, 7:15 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBChaffee45 min
Jul 15, 7:19 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBChaffee116 min
Jul 15, 7:38 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBMineral, Rio Grande112 min
Jul 15, 8:04 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBCuster, Fremont3 hr
Jul 15, 8:17 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBSaguache28 min
Jul 15, 10:48 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBCuster, Fremont3 hr
Jul 16, 12:34 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBChaffee116 min
Jul 16, 1:18 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBChaffee117 min
Jul 16, 2:27 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBChaffee3 hr
Jul 16, 2:41 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBCuster, Fremont4 hr
Jul 16, 3:03 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBFremont21 min
Jul 16, 3:17 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryPUBChaffee3 hr
Jul 16, 3:18 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUB42 min
Jul 16, 3:28 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBSaguache32 min
Jul 16, 3:39 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBLas Animas66 min
Jul 16, 3:47 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBCuster, Saguache43 min
Jul 16, 3:59 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBMineral, Rio Grande, Saguache31 min
Jul 16, 4:12 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBBaca, Las Animas33 min
Jul 16, 4:35 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBRio Grande40 min
Jul 16, 4:45 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBBaca, Las Animas30 min
Jul 16, 5:45 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBAlamosa45 min
Jul 16, 5:51 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBCuster39 min
Jul 16, 5:57 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBCuster, Pueblo3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Colorado, 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.