Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2017

Flash Flood Warning 48, NWS Tucson, AZ

July 30, 2017Pima County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Jul 30, 2017, 3:08 PM MST for Pima County, Arizona. It was in force for 5 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
Jul 30, 2017, 3:08 PM MST (22:08 UTC)
Expired
Jul 30, 2017, 8:00 PM MST
In force
5 hr
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Pima County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 52 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:10 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 30, 5:30 PM MSTFLASH FLOODSabino Canyon, AZSABINO CREEK AT SABINO DAM SPIKED TO 2.68 FEET IN 30 MINUTES.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Tuscon, AZ (KDMA), launched 12:00Z, 10.1 hours before the alert went out and 25 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, Tuscon, AZ at 12:00Z on 2017-07-30Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1621 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, Tuscon, AZ at 12:00Z on 2017-07-30The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -11 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
1621 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-23 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
753 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
3 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-11 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.

589 
WGUS55 KTWC 302208
FFWTWC
AZC019-310300-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0048.170730T2208Z-170731T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
308 PM MST SUN JUL 30 2017

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northeastern Pima County in southeastern Arizona...

* Until 800 PM MST

* At 304 PM MST, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated 
  thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the higher elevations 
  of the Santa Catalina Mountains. An automated rain gauge at White 
  Tail near Palisades Ranger Station indicated 2 inches of rain in 
  in one hour. This heavy rain will flow into Sabino Canyon, Bear 
  Canyon and Seven Falls later this afternoon and early this 
  evening with Flash Flooding expected across these areas. 
  
* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
  Tanque Verde, Sabino Canyon, Bear Canyon, Mount 
  Lemmon/Summerhaven, Seven Falls and Catalina Foothills.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.

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 3240 11064 3234 11067 3231 11072 3225 11079
      3225 11087 3241 11079 3244 11076

$$

GL
3 follow-up statements
192 
WGUS75 KTWC 310029
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
529 PM MST SUN JUL 30 2017

AZC019-310300-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0048.000000T0000Z-170731T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima-
529 PM MST SUN JUL 30 2017

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM MST FOR
NORTHEASTERN PIMA COUNTY...

At 528 PM MST, flash flooding is expected to be making its way down 
the canyons within the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains 
including Sabino Canyon, Bear Canyon and the Seven Falls area. 
Hikers and other recreational interests in these areas are urged to 
seek higher ground and stay clear of washes. 

Normally dry washes and low water crossings may be inundated in the
following locations...
Tanque Verde, Sabino Canyon, Seven Falls and Catalina Foothills.

This includes the following streams and drainages...Agua Caliente
Wash...Bird Canyon...Pantano Wash...Ventana Canyon Wash...Sabino
Creek...Esperero Wash and Tanque Verde Wash.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.

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 3237 11068 3234 11067 3231 11072 3225 11079
      3225 11087 3241 11079

$$

GL
780 
WGUS75 KTWC 310127
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
627 PM MST SUN JUL 30 2017

AZC019-310300-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0048.000000T0000Z-170731T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima-
627 PM MST SUN JUL 30 2017

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM MST FOR
EASTERN PIMA COUNTY...

At 625 PM MST, gauge reports indicated flash flooding occurring in 
Sabino Canyon at Sabino Dam. Flash flooding is also expected to be 
occuring in Bear Canyon and the Seven Falls area. Hikers and other 
recreational interests in these areas are urged to seek higher 
ground and stay clear of washes. 

This includes the following streams and drainages...Agua Caliente
Wash...Bird Canyon...Pantano Wash...Ventana Canyon Wash...Sabino
Creek...Esperero Wash and Tanque Verde Wash.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.

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 3235 11070 3232 11071 3231 11072 3225 11079
      3225 11087 3238 11080

$$

GL
378 
WGUS75 KTWC 310251
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
751 PM MST SUN JUL 30 2017

AZC019-310300-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0048.000000T0000Z-170731T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima-
751 PM MST SUN JUL 30 2017

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR EASTERN PIMA COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 800
PM MST...

Flood waters are receding and flooding is no longer expected to 
pose a threat. Thus, the Flash Flood Warning will be allowed to 
expire. However, flow will continue across area washes through the 
night. 

LAT...LON 3235 11070 3232 11071 3231 11072 3225 11079
      3225 11087 3238 11080

$$

GL

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tucson, AZ issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 29, 5:40 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima6 hr
Jul 29, 6:49 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementTWCGreenlee41 min
Jul 29, 8:14 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCGraham31 min
Jul 29, 8:34 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCGraham116 min
Jul 30, 11:36 AM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCGraham3 hr
Jul 30, 1:09 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise, Graham, Pinal3 hr
Jul 30, 1:17 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCGraham3 hr
Jul 30, 1:40 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima, Pinal3 hr
Jul 30, 1:55 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise3 hr
Jul 30, 1:57 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise3 hr
Jul 30, 3:34 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Arizona, 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.