Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2019

Flash Flood Warning 21, NWS Tucson, AZ

August 22, 2019Santa Cruz County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Aug 22, 2019, 4:10 PM MST for Santa Cruz County, Arizona. It was in force for 3 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
Aug 22, 2019, 4:10 PM MST (23:10 UTC)
Expired
Aug 22, 2019, 7:15 PM MST
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Santa Cruz County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 57 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:10 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
Aug 22, 5:21 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD11 Sse Patagonia, AZMULTIPLE VIDEOS RECORDING FLASH FLOODING CAUSED BY HEAVY RAIN AT WASHINGTON CAMP IN THE PATAGONIA MOUNTAINS WERE UPLOADED VIA TWITTER.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Tuscon, AZ (KTUS), launched 12:00Z, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 91 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 2019-08-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 230 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 2019-08-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 25 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
230 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-312 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2459 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
12 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
25 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
49 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

676 
WGUS55 KTWC 222310
FFWTWC
AZC023-230215-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0021.190822T2310Z-190823T0215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
410 PM MST Thu Aug 22 2019

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southeastern Santa Cruz County in southeastern Arizona...

* Until 715 PM MST.

* At 409 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  intense and heavy rain across the warned area. Up to two inches of 
  rain have already fallen. Flash flooding is expected to begin 
  shortly.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
  Lochiel.

Additional rainfall amounts of two inches are possible in the warned 
area.

This includes the following streams and drainages and Harshaw Creek.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of washes
and streams, country roads, farmland, and other low lying spots.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3138 11076 3145 11073 3145 11064 3140 11061
      3139 11058 3134 11059 3133 11060 3133 11073
      3134 11073

$$

JRM
2 follow-up statements
523 
WGUS75 KTWC 230022
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
522 PM MST Thu Aug 22 2019

AZC023-230215-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0021.000000T0000Z-190823T0215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Santa Cruz-
522 PM MST Thu Aug 22 2019

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM MST FOR
SOUTHEASTERN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY...

At 516 PM MST, Doppler radar continues to indicate moderate rain 
across the warned area. Nearly five inches of rain have already 
fallen with widespread two to four inches of rain across the warned 
area. Flash flooding is likely occurring and could be significant in 
area washes. Use extreme caution if in the area and move away from 
washes. Flows are likely on the Santa Cruz River from Lochiel and 
across the International Border into Mexico.   

Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Lochiel, the eastern slopes of the Patagonia Mountains, and western 
portions of the San Rafael Valley. 

Additional rainfall amounts of one half inch or greater are possible 
in the warned area.

This includes the following streams and drainages...Harshaw Creek 
and portions of the Santa Cruz River along the International Border.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of washes
and streams, country roads, farmland, and other low lying spots.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3138 11076 3145 11073 3145 11064 3140 11061
      3139 11058 3134 11059 3133 11060 3133 11073
      3134 11073

$$

JRM
545 
WGUS75 KTWC 230210
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
710 PM MST Thu Aug 22 2019

AZC023-230219-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0021.000000T0000Z-190823T0215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Santa Cruz-
710 PM MST Thu Aug 22 2019

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY WILL
EXPIRE AT 715 PM MST...

The heavy rain has ended. Flood waters are likely receding. Flooding 
is no longer expected to pose a threat, but minor flows are likely 
to continue in areas washes into the night. Use caution if traveling 
through the area after dark as roads could be damaged.  

LAT...LON 3138 11076 3145 11073 3145 11064 3140 11061
      3139 11058 3134 11059 3133 11060 3133 11073
      3134 11073

$$

JRM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 22, 1:31 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise, Santa Cruz44 min
Aug 22, 1:34 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementTWCSanta Cruz26 min
Aug 22, 2:01 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise, Santa Cruz119 min
Aug 22, 2:04 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementTWCCochise26 min
Aug 22, 2:21 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise, Santa Cruz54 min
Aug 22, 2:50 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise40 min
Aug 22, 2:53 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise2 hr
Aug 22, 3:14 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCCochise4 hr
Aug 22, 4:02 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementTWCSanta Cruz43 min
Aug 22, 4:34 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementTWCSanta Cruz41 min
Aug 22, 4:42 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCSanta Cruz48 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Arizona, 2019Every flash flood warning in 2019

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.