Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2018

Flash Flood Warning 2, NWS Pueblo, CO

July 5, 2018Costilla County, Huerfano County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Jul 5, 2018, 3:02 PM MDT for Costilla County, Huerfano County, Colorado. 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 5, 2018, 3:02 PM MDT (21:02 UTC)
Expired: Jul 5, 2018, 7:34 PM MDT
In force: 5 hr
Issued by: NWS Pueblo, CO
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Costilla County, CO, Huerfano County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 136 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:05 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Jul 5, 4:02 PM MDT	FLASH FLOOD	6 N Cuchara, CO	DELAYED REPORT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED EVIDENCE OF FLASH FLOODING AND/OR DEBRIS FLOWS.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM (KABQ), launched 12:00Z, 9.0 hours before the alert went out and 302 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: 7 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -239 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 2321 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 6 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -53 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 11 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

110 
WGUS55 KPUB 052102
FFWPUB
COC023-055-052345-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0002.180705T2102Z-180705T2345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
302 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2018

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  The Spring Fire burn scar area in South central Huerfano County in 
  southeastern Colorado and Northeastern Costilla County in south 
  central Colorado...

* Until 545 PM MDT.

* At 249 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Flash flooding is expected to
  begin shortly.

* Some locations that may experience flooding include...
  Areas in and near the Spring Fire burn scar including La Veta.

Excessive rainfall over the burn scar may result in flash flooding 
or debris flow moving through the Cuchara River Basin.  If it holds 
together, it may also impact Indian, Oak and Middle Creeks and their 
tributaries. A debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and 
other loose materials.

Rainfall amounts up to around 1/2 inch or more will be possible.  As 
little as a third of an inch of rain on a fresh burn scar has been 
known to create dangerous flash flooding and debris flows.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move away from recently burned areas. Life-threatening flooding of
creeks, roads and normally dry arroyos is likely. The heavy rains
will likely trigger rockslides, mudslides and debris flows in steep
terrain, especially in and around these areas.

&&

LAT...LON 3753 10498 3743 10501 3738 10509 3740 10521
      3747 10532 3762 10523 3754 10513

$$

lw

5 follow-up statements

891 
WGUS75 KPUB 052203
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
403 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2018

COC023-055-052345-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-180705T2345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Huerfano CO-Costilla CO-
403 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2018

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM MDT FOR
SOUTH CENTRAL HUERFANO AND NORTHEASTERN COSTILLA COUNTIES...

At 359 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area.  Flash flooding is expected to begin
shortly.

Excessive rainfall over the burn scar will result in debris flow 
moving through the Cuchara River Basin.  If it holds together, it 
may also impact Indian, Oak and Middle Creeks and their tributaries. 
The debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose 
materials.

Some locations that will experience flooding include...
The Spring Fire burn scar and surrounding areas including La Veta.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain.
Arroyos, streams, and rivers can become raging killer currents in a
matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.

Move away from recently burned areas. Life-threatening flooding of
creeks, roads and normally dry arroyos is likely. The heavy rains
will likely trigger rockslides, mudslides and debris flows in steep
terrain, especially in and around these areas.

&&

LAT...LON 3753 10498 3743 10501 3738 10509 3740 10521
      3747 10532 3762 10523 3754 10513

$$

lw

519 
WGUS75 KPUB 052255
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
455 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2018

COC023-055-052345-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-180705T2345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Huerfano CO-Costilla CO-
455 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2018

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM MDT FOR
SOUTH CENTRAL HUERFANO AND NORTHEASTERN COSTILLA COUNTIES...

At 453 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
moderate to heavy rain across the warned area.  Flash flooding is 
expected.

Excessive rainfall over the Spring burn scar will result in debris 
flow moving through the Cuchara River Basin, and may impact Indian, 
Oak and Middle Creeks and their tributaries. Debris flows can 
consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose materials.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain.
Arroyos, streams, and rivers can become raging killer currents in a
matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.

Move away from recently burned areas. Life-threatening flooding of
creeks, roads and normally dry arroyos is likely. The heavy rains
will likely trigger rockslides, mudslides and debris flows in steep
terrain, especially in and around these areas.

&&

LAT...LON 3753 10498 3743 10501 3738 10509 3740 10521
      3747 10532 3762 10523 3754 10513

$$

28

751 
WGUS55 KPUB 052342
FFWPUB
COC023-055-060245-
/O.EXT.KPUB.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-180706T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
542 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2018

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has extended the

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  The Spring Fire burn scar area in south central Huerfano County  
  in southeastern Colorado and Northeastern Costilla County in south 
  central Colorado...

* Until 845 PM MDT.

* At 537 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated light rain continuing over 
  much of the Spring Fire burn scar. Flash flooding is already 
  occurring.

Excessive rainfall that occurred late this afternoon, along with the 
continued light rain over the Spring Fire burn scar, will result in 
debris flow moving through the Cuchara River Basin, and may also 
impact Indian, Oak and Middle Creeks and their tributaries. The 
debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose 
materials.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain.
Arroyos, streams, and rivers can become raging killer currents in a
matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.

Move away from recently burned areas. Life-threatening flooding of
creeks, roads and normally dry arroyos is likely. The heavy rains
will likely trigger rockslides, mudslides and debris flows in steep
terrain, especially in and around these areas.

&&

LAT...LON 3753 10498 3743 10501 3738 10509 3740 10521
      3747 10532 3762 10523 3754 10513

$$

28

095 
WGUS75 KPUB 060051
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
651 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2018

COC023-055-060245-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-180706T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Huerfano CO-Costilla CO-
651 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2018

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM MDT FOR
SOUTH CENTRAL HUERFANO AND NORTHEASTERN COSTILLA COUNTIES...

At 647 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated light rain falling over the 
Spring Fire burn scar. Heavy rain occurred earlier today, and this 
additional rainfall will add to the flooding problems. Flash 
flooding will continue.

Debris flows will be possible through the Cuchara River Basin, and 
may impact Indian, Oak and Middle Creeks and their tributaries.  The 
debris flows can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose 
materials.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain.
Arroyos, streams, and rivers can become raging killer currents in a
matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.

Move away from recently burned areas. Life-threatening flooding of
creeks, roads and normally dry arroyos is likely. The heavy rains
will likely trigger rockslides, mudslides and debris flows in steep
terrain, especially in and around these areas.

&&

LAT...LON 3753 10498 3743 10501 3738 10509 3740 10521
      3747 10532 3762 10523 3754 10513

$$

28

891 
WGUS75 KPUB 060134
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
734 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2018

COC023-055-060143-
/O.CAN.KPUB.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-180706T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Huerfano CO-Costilla CO-
734 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2018

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL HUERFANO AND
NORTHEASTERN COSTILLA COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

The heavy rain has ended over the Spring Fire burn scar. Flooding is 
no longer a concern at this time.

LAT...LON 3753 10498 3743 10501 3738 10509 3740 10521
      3747 10532 3762 10523 3754 10513

$$

28

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 4, 8:13 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	El Paso	17 min
Jul 4, 8:38 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	El Paso	22 min
Jul 4, 8:45 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	El Paso	15 min
Jul 4, 9:02 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	El Paso	13 min
Jul 4, 9:29 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	Chaffee	31 min
Jul 4, 9:45 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	Chaffee	15 min
Jul 4, 9:58 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	El Paso	17 min
Jul 5, 11:17 AM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	Baca	43 min
Jul 5, 3:46 PM MDT	Flash Flood Warning	PUB	Custer, Fremont	103 min
Jul 5, 4:59 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	Teller	31 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Colorado, 2018 Every flash flood warning in 2018

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.